Autumn is a season of change, not only in nature, but in perspective. For many, a new appreciation for leaves develops as they change from hues of green to brilliant yellows and fiery oranges. The crunch of a crisp apple is even sweeter as it is baked into pies and sauces or dipped in caramel. Even the call of the couch grows louder as the temperatures drops, begging us to get cozy with favorite mugs and fuzzy blankets.
Autumn compels us to slow down and savor the very best parts of life. We earn a greater perspective on the world and the pieces that are often taken for granted, including the arts. Creators pour their heart and soul into their work for others to simply enjoy and appreciate. Art, much like autumn, breathes more color into life.
This month, we invite you to “Fall for the Arts,” as Naperville Public Library highlights dozens of titles featuring the arts and their impact on our everyday life. From music and dance to visual art, the following titles reflect the passions and perspectives of those who create.
In addition to these recommendations, check out www.naperville-lib.org/fall-arts for more arts-related books.
MUSIC
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“Let Me Hear A Rhyme,” Tiffany D. Jackson
In this striking new novel, Tiffany D. Jackson tells the story of three Brooklyn teens who plot to turn their murdered friend into a major rap star by pretending he’s still alive.
“The Happy Hour Choir,” Sally Kilpatrick
Life has dealt Beulah Land a tough hand to play. After a teenage pregnancy estranged her from her Baptist family, she spends her nights playing the piano at a honky-tonk located just across the road from County Line Methodist. But when she learns that a dear friend’s dying wish is for her to take over as the church’s piano player, she realizes it may be time to face the music.
“The Queen of the Night,” Alexander Chee
“The Queen of the Night” tells the mesmerizing story of Lilliet Berne, an orphan who left the American frontier for Europe, was swept into the glamour and terror of Second Empire France and became a sensation of the Paris Opera. When an original role is offered to her, she finds the libretto is based on her deepest secret, something only four people have ever known.
DANCE
“The Walls Around Us,” Nova Ren Suma
“The Walls Around Us” is a ghostly story of suspense told in two voices — one still living and one dead. Orianna and Violet are ballet dancers and best friends, but when the ballerinas who have been harassing Violet are murdered, Orianna is accused of the crime. She is sent to a juvenile detention center where she meets Amber, and they experience supernatural events linking the girls together.
“Snake Hips,” Anne Thomas Soffee
This hilariously uplifting memoir follows an Arab American woman’s merry life as she shimmies her way from being dumped by her tattoo-artist boyfriend to coming to grips with being single, ample and 30. Against the wishes of her extended family and friends, Soffee enrolls in a belly dancing class hoping to heal her heart and reconnect with her Lebanese roots.
“Juba!” Walter Dean Myers
In bestselling author Walter Dean Myers’s last novel, he delivers a gripping story based on the life of a real dancer known as Master Juba, who lived in the 19th century. This engaging historical novel is based on the true story of the meteoric rise of an immensely talented young black dancer, William Henry Lane, who influenced today’s tap, jazz and step dancing.
VISUAL ART
“The Woman Who Stole Vermeer,” Anthony M. Amore
“The Woman Who Stole Vermeer” is the story of Rose Dugdale, from her idyllic upbringing in Devonshire and her presentation to Elizabeth II as a debutante to her university years and her eventual radical lifestyle. Her life of crime and activism is unbelievable, awe-inspiring and sure to engross readers.
“The Muralist,” B. A. Shapiro
When Alizée Benoit vanishes in New York City in 1940, no one knows what happened to her. Not her Jewish family living in German-occupied France. Not her close-knit group of friends and fellow WPA painters. Some 70 years later, her great-niece, Danielle Abrams, working at Christie’s auction house, uncovers enigmatic paintings hidden behind abstract works created decades earlier.
Ashlee Conour is the marketing specialist at Naperville Public Library.