Thursday, February 28, 2008

The Immortal Class: Bike Messengers and the Cult of Human Power by Travis Hugh Culley


Recommended by: Stephan J. Macaluso, Librarian
Culley came to Chicago with thoughts of a career in art and theatre, and after rekindling his love of bicycles, he took a “day job” as a bike messenger. His newfound career consumed him. This lyrical memoir introduces us to the perilous life of a courier and urban cyclist: bike messengers have their own culture, honor code and language; the good ones, like Culley, live for speed and their passion for bikes runs deep. Culley vividly describes life at the intersection of art, physical labor, noise pollution, and [poor] urban planning. His descriptions of Critical Mass rides and urban racing are inspiring. His reflections on rage, fatigue, police altercations and the Chicago landscape are unforgettable. You need not be a cyclist nor a gearhead to approach this book, but if you aren’t one, it will surely entice you to ride!

Monday, February 11, 2008

Cuando era Puertorriqueña (When I was Puerto Rican) by Esmeralda



Recommended by: Wilma Feliciano, Professor of Spanish
Call Number: F128.9.P85 S2718 1994 (Spanish)

Call Number: F128.9.P85 S27 1994 (English)


The bittersweet coming-of age story of a girl trapped in a conflicted cultural identity: Is she black or white, rural or urban, Puerto Rican or American? The story begins on the island with family turmoil and tenderness in an idyllic setting dotted by economic distress, then moves to New York where the protagonist suffers a bewildering transition to American culture and loss of innocence.