u/CurlyMi

From “A History of Kindness” (2020)

Sittenfeld has been compared to Sylvia Plath & Salinger.

Her books are somehow light, deep, funny, then you cry & are compelled to re-read & think.

Prep is about adolescent angst as an outsider; Lee Fiora, the main character has been described as the “female Holden Caulfield”

other recent books have covered: identical twins with psychic powers & love in the pandemic

Sittenfeld moved to Mpls in 2018, hoping to get her take on MN life in 2026

As a part of the Renee Good memorial in Minneapolis, neighbors & guests are encouraged to post poems on the “poetree” in honor of Renee, a poet & mom.

➡️ Any poems you would recommend for Renee’s memorial? 

Info about Renee Good from Wikipedia:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Killing_of_Ren%C3%A9e_Good

Last pic from Renee Good memorial a few blocks down.

All pics from Friday, May 1.

Parade starts @ noon & will go down Bloomington Avenue from 28th to 34th Street landing in Powderhorn Park.

Parade map & other details in link: https://www.maydaympls.org/

Citation from “A Film in which I play everyone” 2023

Photo from Bomb Magazine: https://bombmagazine.org/articles/2021/10/01/mary-jo-bang-the-bride-of-alliteration/

Top challenged 2025 books 

Thanks to NPR for great article (link #1 below)

Good news for America, many states have freedom to read legislation protecting libraries, including anti-book banning  (link #2 below) MN’s legislation was designed to curb the rising trend of library material challenges, particularly regarding LGBTQ+ content and topics concerning racial minorities (link #3 below).

#1 Link: NPR article 2025 challenged books https://www.npr.org/2026/04/20/nx-s1-5791617/american-library-association-challenged-books?utm_source=npr_newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_content=20260425&utm_term=10726386&utm_campaign=books&utm_id=52197137&orgid=112&uniquet=KfFCKxdN5Ts8aRAiLJkUiQ&utm_att1=

#2 Link: Freedom to read legislation article 

https://stateline.org/2025/01/07/librarians-gain-protections-in-some-states-as-book-bans-soar/#:~:text=New%20Jersey%20just%20joined%20at,steps%20against%20school%20library%20censorship.

#3 Link: Example of freedom to read legislation (MN)

https://www.libraryjournal.com/story/minnesota-passes-bill-protecting-access-to-library-books#:~:text=The%20anti%E2%80%93book%20ban%20section,discrimination%20from%20administrators%20or%20boards.

Citation from Invisible Strings (2011)

Bio & photo  from poets.org:

https://poets.org/poem/so-be-it