East Baton Rouge Parish Library

Alan Opts Out by Courtney Maum "Alan Anderson is a powerful advertising executive who has built a successful life and thriving business by making people buy stuff they don’t actually need. He’s up for the biggest pitch of his career and the account everyone wants, US cow’s milk sales are plummeting, and the C-Suite wants to see trendy oat milk kicked to the curb. But when an anarchist farmer tanks Alan’s presentation, Alan bombs the pitch but ends the day with an epiphany. No longer will he exploit the insecurities of others in the service of capitalism. Alan is opting out.

This development is anathema to his wife, Vivian. She’s just a few positive affirmations, a swimming pool, and an exacting series of social tests away from finally becoming part of the elite women’s club, the Queen Annes, in their adopted town of Greenwich, Connecticut. As if contending with a daughter who wants to write plays (!) and another who has an unnatural empathy with animals isn’t enough to manage, she can only watch as Alan moves into their backyard playhouse to live off the land and—worse—spend time with the family. But instead of shocking the neighbors, Alan’s commitment to a less-is-more lifestyle seems to be catching on. Could everyone want what Alan’s not selling?"

A Taste of the Deep South Festival is celebrating 10 years! Join us at the Main Library at Goodwood next weekend for live music, food, shopping and family fun!

Today marks 25 years since September 11, 2001.
Remember and reflect with a book or DVD, available at our Library locations or digitally on Libby. Find stories of remembrance, resilience and the lasting impact of 9/11. https://ebr.overdrive.com/collection/1840722

This photo from August 13, 1925, shows the Central Fire Station, which is now The Robert A. Bogan Baton Rouge Fire Museum.
In honor of first responders and the 25th anniversary of 9/11, join us tomorrow at noon at the Main Library at Goodwood for a genealogy discussion focusing on the history of the Bogan Fire Museum and its place in Baton Rouge history.

🎤 Our Hip Hop Night artist spotlight continues! Meet International Bleuski, one of five local artists taking the stage on Saturday, October 3 from 5–7 p.m. at the Main Library at Goodwood!

Born and raised in Baton Rouge, Bleuski began making music after high school, but his love of words started much earlier. He has been writing poetry since he was 7 years old and considers himself a poet above all.

Bleuski is always writing—on envelopes, on his phone or simply in his head. Once he shapes his lyrics into stanzas, he draws inspiration from sounds all around him, from nature to something as unexpected as an elevator jingle. From there, he says, “the song writes itself.”

For Bleuski, the words tell the story, while the music amplifies the message. 🎶

Come hear International Bleuski live at Red Stick Rhythms Hip Hop Night!

📅 Saturday, October 3
⏰ 5–7 p.m.

📍 Main Library at Goodwood

Happy Labor Day! All of our libraries are closed today.
The 10th Annual Capital City Car Show will be held today from 4–7 p.m. in the parking lot at the Main Library at Goodwood. Tickets may be purchased in advance at capitalcitycarshowbr.com or at the event. Kids ages 12 and under get in free!

The Infamous Gilberts by Angela Tomaski "Thornwalk, a once-stately English manor, is on the brink of transformation. Its keys are being handed over to a luxury hotelier who will undertake a complete renovation—but in doing so, what will they erase? Through the keen eyes of an enigmatic neighbor, the reader is taken on a guided tour into rooms filled with secrets and memories, each revealing the story of the five Gilbert siblings.

Spanning the eve of World War II to the early 2000s, this contemporary gothic novel weaves a rich tapestry of English country life. As the story unfolds, the reader is drawn into a world where the echoes of an Edwardian idyll clash with the harsh realities of war, neglect, and changing times. The Gilberts’ tale is one of great loves, lofty ambitions, and profound loss, and Angela Tomaski’s mordantly witty yet loving account is an immersive experience. Reminiscent of the haunting atmospheres in Daphne du Maurier’s Rebecca and Shirley Jackson’s We Have Always Lived in the Castle, The Infamous Gilberts offers a fresh take on a classic genre, capturing the essence of a troubled but fascinating family."

The 10th Annual Capital City Car Show rolls into the parking lot of the Main Library at Goodwood on Monday, September 7, from 4–7 p.m. Come check out some of the hottest cars and trucks in Louisiana! Tickets may be purchased in advance at capitalcitycarshowbr.com or at the event. Kids ages 12 and under get in free!

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