Monthly Archives: September 2019

The Gilded Years by Karen Tanab

cover from The Gilded Years by Karen Tanab

Based on the real life of Anita Hemmings, The Gilded Years is a fictionalized account of the first African-American woman to graduate from the prestigious Vassar College in 1897 (Vassar did not openly admit African-American students until the 1940s). Anita was able to do this because she was light skinned enough to pass as white and she kept this secret for three years. But during her senior year she fell in love with a Harvard student and her roommate became attracted to Anita’s equally fair skinned brother, both situations which would jeopardize everything she had accomplished so far.

She had the typical student experience, studying, socializing, and visiting friends but with the constant undercurrent that she was playing a part and keeping a secret that if discovered could get her expelled. She had to decide who she was, who she wanted to be and what was most important to her, which had no easy answers.

There is also a section that tells about the life of the real Anita Hemmings (with photo), her life before and at Vassar and what happened to her after leaving college.

I’ve read some articles from 2017 and 2018 reporting that this book will be made into a film called ‘A White Lie’ starring Zendaya and Reese Witherspoon but have not found more recent information about it.

As a fan of both school stories (whether day schools, boarding schools or college/ university) and historical fiction this book is a great mix of both!

 

Vellore Village Library Recognized in American Libraries’ 2019 Library Design Showcase

Once again, one of Vaughan Public Libraries’ locations was recognized for its exceptional and innovative architecture! Vellore Village Library, our tenth and newest branch, was featured in the American Libraries’ 2019 Library Design Showcase as one of 13 top libraries in the United States and Canada. The library was recognized for its visionary and interesting infrastructure that provides exciting spaces to address library user needs for community learning, gathering and creating.
A mix of public, academic, school and special libraries that were completed between May 1, 2018 and April 30, 2019 were recognized for the 2019 Library Designs. The highlighted projects are available to view in the American Libraries September/October magazine’s issue.

Vellore Village Library Exterior

Vellore Village Library beautiful interior architect

 

Vellore Village Library outdoor sitting patio

 

Reading spaces filled with abundant natural light with various seating options

 

 

The Ins and Outs of TIFF

Image result for tiff 2019The 2019 Toronto International Film Festival kicks off tomorrow with it’s opening night screening of Once Were Brothers: Robbie Robertson and the Band, with eleven jam-packed days of film screenings, press conferences, red carpets, and celebrity sightings to follow. Are you a newbie to TIFF? Want to dip your toe into the festival waters? Don’t fret! Because the festival is located right in downtown Toronto, it’s easy for locals to pop over to King St and take in the spectacle. Literally, you don’t even have to pay a single dollar (ok, maybe transportation fare) to attend the festival. If you’re inclined to dish out some cash on some screenings, that’s an option too! Below, check out the various ways to enjoy the festival! 

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