National Library Week is an annual celebration highlighting the valuable role libraries, librarians, and library workers play in transforming lives and strengthening our communities. Strengthening communities through welcoming and inspiring spaces is something that we care deeply about at Metcalfe.

Our team recently completed work at the Frankford Library branch of the Free Library of Philadelphia, so libraries—and books!— have naturally been on our mind a lot over the past few years.

Here are some of the books that our team members have been reading:

Recommended by Rae Munroe, Project Manager:

“I have two books that I have read recently that I have thoroughly enjoyed and highly recommend: 

The Color of Law: A Forgotten History of How Our Government Segregated America by Richard Rothstein

"A very detailed look at how government policies at federal, state and local levels reinforced segregation through zoning, insurance, etc. This book is a must read for everyone. Hard to put down and dense with detail."

She Come By It Natural: Dolly Parton and the Women Who Lived Her Songs by Sarah Smarsh

"As a diehard Dolly fan, I enjoyed this book tremendously. I read front to back in practically one sitting. Author Sarah Smarsh weaves the biographies of her mother, grandmother, and other rural women with that of one of the most famous country ladies out there - Dolly Parton. In this part biography, part social exploration, Smarsh explores the concept of feminist in practice vs feminist in name. If you like this book — or Dolly Parton (how could you not!)— I highly recommend the podcast "Dolly Parton's America"."

Recommended by Wil Hershner, Architectural Designer:

The Bright Sword by Lev Grossman

“I am in the beginnings of Lev Grossman's The Bright Sword, a fantasy novel that offers a contemporary twist on Arthurian legends by portraying what happens once all the epics have ended. Set after Arthur's death, the heroes of legend are dead or departed, the splendor of Camelot has faded, and those left behind are tasked with figuring out the real and gritty work of what comes next. Like all good works of speculative fiction, The Bright Sword uses an imagined world to reflect back on our own and to provide insight into aspects of the human condition.”

Recommended by Hayley Freilich, Director of Healthcare and Patient Experience:

The Aye Aye and I by Gerald Durrell

I first came across The Aye Aye and I on the shelves of a Goodwill store. Aye ayes are funky little nocturnal lemurs with a “they’re so ugly they’re cute” appearance. The book’s title made me laugh, as I’ve loved aye ayes for decades – and who can resist a title with such charming word play? With little expectation for this formerly discarded book beyond the initial novelty, Durrell’s writing is, in fact, delightfully transportive. Readers accompany Durrell on an adventure through the lush forests of Madagascar to find the elusive aye aye and other native species. I loved the book so much, I’ve already started another of his works, My Family and Other Animals.

Recommended by Kelsey Hoffman, Marketing Manager:

The Fragile Threads of Power by V.E. Schwab

“I just finished the fantasy novel The Fragile Threads of Power. It’s the fourth book set in a world where there are four versions of London—some magical, some not. In this one, a pirate thief, a magician who can’t use his own magic, and a magical tinkerer uncover a plot against the king. I loved the original trilogy and this one was a great addition.”

Recommended by Karlene Raines, Architectural Designer:

Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros, audiobook read by Rebecca Soler and Teddy Hamilton

"This was the first fantasy genre book I’ve listened to and was instantly hooked! The story follows a young woman named Violet who is faced with the daunting challenge of becoming a dragon rider. What I enjoyed most while listening to the book was the author’s plot twists and the narrator’s talented tonal expression."

Recommended by Candace Herbert, Office and Marketing Assistant:

“I don’t do horror—I’m a huge scaredy cat! But as a huge fantasy and folklore/mythology nerd, but when horror takes a supernatural/fantasy bent, I’m seated! So, right now I’m reading Never Whistle At Night by Shane Hawk and Theodore C. Van Last Jr. It’s a horror anthology of short stories by Indigenous authors. Some are ghost stories from myth and folklore, others are haunting and darkly humorous social commentaries, and others, social commentaries within a ghost story armed with dark humor and warning. Either way, reading this book has been both a delight and an exercise in being less of a wimp. “