March 2025
March has been a bit too tumultuous (a fun word, but less fun to experience) around here. I keep trying to come up with something to say, but I'm tired.
Professionally, libraries are under attack across the country and IMLS is being dismantled. We knew this was coming and it's still awful in a way that I can't fully comprehend yet. On a personal level, I’ve had to take a bit of a step back from active library advocacy, because it was starting to become difficult to balance with doing my actual job at the same time. As I said on Bluesky, I've felt for a while now that it can't only be on librarians to fight this fight and that's feeling more and more accurate.
And there have been various major and minor personal crises all month, on top of everything else. It’s Lent, and that’s part of it, but oof. Even the things that aren’t actively stressful are still hard—there are several areas where I’m stuck in waiting mode and don’t know when that will change. I keep wondering when that feeling of always being on the lookout and never quite there will end; maybe it won’t.
Meanwhile, we keep trying to build community and make beautiful things. It’s hard, and there are times when I feel so existentially tired that I’m not sure how to keep going. But it is worth it when we’re able to have friends over to celebrate spring together and renew our strength for the next steps.
Favorite books read in 2025
Somehow, I've read quite a few books so far this year! Here are some favorites, organized by category.
Middle Grade
Fighting Words by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley: Bradley has been a favorite author of mine since The War That Saved My Life. In Fighting Words, she takes on another tough subject–childhood abuse–with grace. I particularly loved the way Della starts to understand the reactions of the people around her. That moment as a tween when you realize that other people have their own interiority is really difficult and fascinating!
Mountain Upside Down by Sara Ryan: A contemporary middle grade book that's a heartfelt look at the tween years. I enjoyed the way the story addresses complicated family dynamics and kids’ activism on current issues. In fact, I found it very clear-sighted in that last aspect–another, lesser book might end with a triumphant victory, but this one doesn't, while still remaining hopeful.
YA
The Making of Yolanda La Bruja by Lorraine Avila: Contemporary YA with brujeria elements. I found it a complex depiction of issues faced by today's teens with a lovely emphasis on family and community. Highly recommended for anyone who likes stories about teens coming into their own identity and power.
Legendborn by Tracy Deonn: Another contemporary YA fantasy, this time with Arthurian elements. It was an interesting take on the mythos, complete with a secret society. While I wasn't as invested in the romance, I found it a very engaging and readable story.
Adult Fiction
Merchanter’s Luck by C.J. Cherryh: Somehow, I had managed to skip over the whole Alliance-Union universe until now. I really enjoyed Merchanter’s Luck, and found the world both compelling and unsettling. While the Foreigner series deals with people at the heart of power, the Alliance-Union books I’ve read so far are almost the opposite of that, focusing on people who are desperately trying to make a small place in the world, and at the moment I'm resonating with that theme.
Motheater by Linda H. Codega: Do you ever read a book that seems to have been written for exactly your interests? That was Motheater for me, as it plays right into my love or stories that are rooted – more or less literally – in landscape. I really love the texture of the details in this one and the sense of wildness, magic, and power that pervades the world.
Persuasion by Jane Austen (reread): I re-read Persuasion recently, for fandom reasons, and was reminded how much I love it. I listened to an audiobook, read by Nadia May, this time, which was a fun way to revisit a familiar story. May did a lovely job of bringing the book to life and there’s something very comforting about returning to characters you’ve loved for so long.
Garden updates
The garden is finally coming back to life. I've been impatiently waiting for the first signs of spring, which have been slow to come. We're well over a week behind the timing from last year and it’s made for a somewhat gloomy start to the season.
But things are happening, at last. Snowdrops have been and gone. The forsythia is in full, beautiful flower. Some of the crocuses have bloomed. There are some other crocuses and a whole bunch of Dutch iris that are mysteriously missing at the moment. The bluebells are on the way, and the first daffodils are bursting out as I type.
I’ve planted hundreds of peas, and we’ll see if any of them come up, or survive the wildlife if they do. I always find the timing of peas a little tricky, but I keep trying! This year, I planted in three waves--one when the ground could first be worked, one when the forsythia bloomed, and one according to the plant-by dates on the packets. I’ve also planted garbanzo beans, and I think it’s about time to try cabbages and broccoli too.
Inside, I’ve started onions, leeks, peppers, eggplant, and tomatoes, along with some flowers. They’re all sprouted, but I think this weekend is the time to do some assessing and repotting as needed.
In general, I’m very happy to see that the work we’ve put into the garden over the past few years is bearing fruit (sometimes literally). Watching the return of the perennials is always a delight! I’m hoping to take a look at incorporating more of the edges and marginal areas of the yard this year, and I really want to put in a small pond of sorts.
Recipe of the month
Wild Chive Fritters
¼ c chickpea flour
1 egg
1 ¼ c wild chives, cleaned and roughly chopped*
¼ c onion, finely chopped
1 t salt
2 T olive oil
Pepper
Enough water to make a thin-ish paste
Mix all ingredients together. Drop by spoonfuls into an oiled pan over medium heat. Fry until deep golden brown, flip and repeat. Serve warm!
* You could substitute garlic chives or very thinly sliced leeks for this; green onion will probably be too soft to hold up to frying, but I also haven’t tried it.
Where to find me
Wishing you a joyful spring,
Maureen