Female Celebrity Memoirs | Christy, Steph, Kim, and Shan

Celebrities seem to exist in a world apart. Fame and fortune serve to separate them from the rest of society. Perhaps this is why celebrity memoirs captivate readers so fully; they give us a glimpse into the very human lives of these elusive individuals. Without the mask of money and glamour, we can see the real human vulnerability underneath. These stories allow the teller to control their own narrative and help the reader see a much fuller picture of the life behind the screen. In today's conversation, Christy chats with Stephanie, Shan, and Kim about some of their favorite female celebrity memoirs. Whether you're looking for  salacious gossip or raw truth-telling, these books will keep you coming back for more. It's time to pull back the veil, whose tale will you pull off the shelf? 

Book Recommendations

Yours Cruelly Elvira by Cassandra Peterson

Just Kids by Patti Smith 

Finding Me by Viola Davis 

Intro Music by nikitsan

Transcript

Female Celebrity Memoirs

Christy: [00:00:00] Cheers. Welcome to Top Shelf with the librarians of Russell Library. I'm Kristy Billings. Joined today by Shannon Elli. Kim Sparkman and Stephanie Rush. Hi. Hey. Thank you for joining us today. On Top Shelf, you'll hear about compelling reads from the people who know books best. Our librarians will share titles that connect a unique theme with each episode.

Christy: This show will also invite you to learn about the many services offered here at Russell Library. If you're not local, no worries because chances are high that your local library will have similar gifts to offer. We are very excited to turn the page with you. The focus of today's show is Women's Celebrity Memoirs.

Christy: The Celebrity [00:01:00] memoir Boom is here to stay from Viola Davis to Patty Smith and Yara Garten, to Cher, Jeanette McCurdy to Julia Fox, Macy Neely, and also the Ladies of Giggly Squad. It seems like everyone is spilling their secrets via book deal from a December 20, 24 Vogue article quote. At their best celebrity memoirs provide unusually candid portraits of the real person behind the public persona.

Christy: Only if they don't skimp on the dirty details. And at worst, they can be ghostwritten fluff, whether offering vibrant views of iconic periods in time or shining a light on fame. Grief explosive relationships and the sinister underbelly of show business celebrity memoirs Have G Fans plenty to talk about.

Christy: End quote. So Steph, let's start with you. Can you tell us what you're reading along with a brief description of the book? 

Stephanie: Sure. So today I brought yours cruelly [00:02:00] Elvira Memoirs of the Mistress of the Dark, by Cassandra Peterson. So Cassandra Peterson is best known for portraying the horror hostess character of Elvira, mistress of the Dark.

Stephanie: It's a. She's like, that's her character, um, in the eighties and being a member of the Groundlings and her iconic cameos in films and tv and her memoir reflects back on her career in Hollywood, and it's the first time she got up close and personal with fans. She was previously pretty private, and when this memoir came out, it was like kind of a big deal because she was really spilling all her secrets for the first time.

Christy: How were those secrets? 

Stephanie: Juicy. 

Christy: I bet 

Stephanie: she's wild. I 

Christy: bet 

Stephanie: she is. She's wild. 

Christy: Is she a lot like the person that she portrays as her character, or is that like various, a separate 

Stephanie: personality? Um, it's a little bit of both. There's a little bit of blending. She's definitely got that cheekiness, that's all her, uh, that, that the character is really iconic, iconically known for.

Stephanie: But um, she's definitely got more depth than that character. So it's a little bit, it's a little bit of a mix. Yeah. 

Christy: And what drew you [00:03:00] to this book? 

Stephanie: So I was never, I never watch her, uh, because when I was growing up, I was not allowed to, um, my older sister. I wonder 

Christy: why. 

Stephanie: Yeah. My older sister was watching Elvira because my sister's nine years older than me and was really into horror, but.

Stephanie: My sister was all into that stuff. So I took in a lot of stuff through cultural osmosis, but I was not allowed to watch Elvira. And if anybody has ever seen a picture of Elvira, you will probably know why. She has a very iconic plunging neckline. Um, even the cover of the memoir is very, um, cleavage heavy.

Shannon: You said that so nicely. 

Stephanie: Thank you. I was trying to say it politely. 

Shannon: You said it so politely. 

Stephanie: Thank you. Um, so no, I was not allowed to watch Elvira. I didn't even know Elvira was not her real name until I was an adult. I just assumed her name was Elvira. And then I grew up and realized, oh, she's playing a character.

Stephanie: So this book was actually recommended, uh, by Mallory Mira on the Reading Glasses podcast, which was my favorite book podcast. Um, and she sold me on it. I didn't really know much about this person, but I have found that I will pick up a [00:04:00] memoir about someone I barely know anything about if they seem like an interesting person with an interesting life story.

Stephanie: Um, and this book really worked for me for that reason. 

Christy: So she is called the Mistress of the Dark though, 

Stephanie: right? So Yes. That is like her title. Yeah. Elvira Mistress of the Dark. 

Christy: Yes. So I can see how that was sort of like frowned upon. 

Stephanie: Yeah. And it wasn't, that horror wasn't allowed in my house. It was just this was a very mature version of horror.

Stephanie: Yes. That I was not exposed to because I was not old enough to be exposed to this portion of the horror genre. 

Christy: So how did you feel about how she told her story? 

Stephanie: This is one of those memoirs that reads like fiction. Which I'm always, yeah, that's nice. A really big fan of, yeah, because it's full of like hot Hollywood gossip, but you feel like she's your friend spilling the tea about her really wildlife.

Stephanie: So the pages just fly right by. And there are definitely scenes that stuck with me for better and for worse from this memoir, and I read it a couple years ago. But when I think about female celebrity memoirs, this one always comes back to me because there were just scenes in this book that stuck with me and there's this one [00:05:00] particular celebrity named in the book that I will not.

Stephanie: Name, but um, I, you have to read the book. Yeah, you have to read the book. I will never think of this person the same after reading. And I'm really glad that she named names because she had an opportunity to say, this person did these bad things to me and I think people should know, which I found really powerful.

Christy: Wow. That's 

Shannon: amazing's brave. 

Stephanie: That's really brave. Yes, very brave. Like especially. Some of the experiences she had in this, in this book, I mean in her life, but through this book. Very brave woman. Very, very brave. 

Shannon: It seems like that's with the genre itself, with like celebrity female memoirs. Yes. Even if they're not celebrities or like just female memoirs, like a huge thing.

Shannon: And I think we'll probably both talk about this is the bravery that these women have. Yes. And the way they can go about it through words and being able to put it on a page, which. Like, we'll get to my book later, but honestly I'm like, 

Stephanie: yeah, 

Shannon: they're so raw and like naked. Yes, and honest that it's, that is why [00:06:00] it sticks with you a 

Stephanie: hundred percent.

Shannon: You know? 

Christy: And those make the best books. Yes. They do appreciate when people tell about the parts of them, not necessarily. That they have to be vulnerable, but they're honest. Yes. 

Shannon: Yeah. 

Christy: And you know, they're like, I made a mistake here and I did this. And it's like, oh yeah, no, same. 

Stephanie: And 

here's 

Christy: what 

Stephanie: I learned from that 

Christy: experience 

Stephanie: upon reflecting.

Stephanie: Mm-hmm. 

Shannon: Yes. But that honesty is also, it is a vulnerability. Mm-hmm. At 

Christy: certainly is end of the 

Shannon: day. 

Christy: Yeah, for sure. So our wild card question today is, was this book Fluff? Sure enough. But enjoyable or stuff and substance? 

Stephanie: I would say yours cruel. Elvira is a little bit of both. Um, which for me really worked it's, it leans more into the substance, but she's really witty and self-deprecating, so it reads a little fluffier even when the topics get darker.

Stephanie: So it's a nice balance. 

Christy: And that's so surprising for mm-hmm. Like this particular person Yeah. And her character. So I really like that. 

Stephanie: Yeah. 

Christy: That's very fun. Would you recommend this book, and if so, to whom? 

Stephanie: I would, um, especially if you [00:07:00] like some salacious details about Hollywood, which I really enjoy in a celebrity memoir.

Stephanie: Um, and if you like a fun female voice and if you like reading about people that you don't know much about, but who I have an interesting story to tell. I think this is a good one. 

Shannon: Oh, 

Christy: salacious details is the 

best. 

Christy: Mm-hmm. 

Stephanie: That's very, there's some juicy stuff in here. 

Shannon: I think I'm gonna read it now. You should.

Shannon: Her movies are all over Tuby. Yeah. I don't know if anyone's a Tubie user out there. Well, they're hard to 

Stephanie: find anywhere else. 

Shannon: They're all over Tuby. 

Stephanie: You can't get 'em on D. 

Shannon: No. And it's always like the image of her. 

Stephanie: Yeah. 

Shannon: That you described so nicely and correctly. Mm-hmm. 

Stephanie: Yeah. She's also got that like bouffant hair too.

Stephanie: She does, she 

Shannon: does. She does. 

Stephanie: Yeah. That like slicked back high up hair with the bangs and then the plunging neckline. Black dress and the iconic silhouette. Yeah. If you've seen Elvira, you know Elvira. Even if you don't know who she is, you've, you've sure. Yeah. 

Shannon: You know what I wonder sometimes with, you said that she.

Shannon: Is [00:08:00] also a little bit of her character as well. Like was she always that character or did she later then become that character because she has been that character? Like it always makes me think of David Bowie. Mm-hmm. And Ziggy Stardust. I know this is about women, so I apologize, but like he had to kill Ziggy to be Bowie.

Stephanie: Yes. 

Shannon: But he will always still be Ziggy in a way to me. Yeah. Mm-hmm. He is Bowie at the same time. 

Stephanie: That's a really interesting question, especially for Cassandra. Um, because because she hadn't been public about a lot of information up until this point. Um, she also comes out in this memoir 

Kim: Oh, no 

Stephanie: Way. Which I don't, I don't think is a spoiler 'cause it's a real life person.

Stephanie: But, um, fans were actually really surprised and delighted that she, uh, had been seeing women mm-hmm. For years and nobody knew about it until she wrote about it in this book. Um, and so it was really nice for her to be able to be like, this is who I am. So. She revealed that part of herself, but at the same time, it's like, oh, I don't know if mentally that tracks for people as an Elvira choice.

Stephanie: So it's a little bit of both, which [00:09:00] I mean, I can be like, yeah, I can see Elvira as being a queer woman. Me too. Me too. Yeah, a hundred percent. But like if you think about her just from the eighties with the whole look and then her being like, actually, I am a queer woman. I think that's such a fascinating journey.

Stephanie: Yeah. And so there's a little bit of Cassandra in there, a little bit of Elvira in there. It's kind of, I think she's kind of always been inside there. 

Christy: Yeah. 

Stephanie: And when you read about her like teen years, I think you'll kind of see where she gets it from and how she got into it. But I think the Elvira has always been inside her.

Christy: Mm-hmm. 

Stephanie: Um, 

Christy: I love that though. 'cause people are like, oh, it's for the male gaze. And she's like, think again. 

Stephanie: Exactly. Think again, buddy. Exactly. Yeah. It's a little bit of a surprise there. Yeah. Yeah. 

Christy: I love that. I love that. 

Stephanie: Yeah. 

Christy: Well now we're all gonna put it on hold. You better right here.

Christy: So Han, can you tell us what you were reading along with a brief description of your book? 

Shannon: Of course I can. So the book I brought today is Just Kids by Patty Smith. 

Stephanie: Everybody is shocked. 

Shannon: Really? I [00:10:00] know. Well she has a new book that came out, bread of Angels and um, this, that was a different time in her life.

Shannon: So she actually. Quite a few memoirs, but this one I think like hit the ground running and is amazing for all those who are not familiar with Patty Smith. She's famously like, came out in the punk scene even though she was around before that in New York. Um, she could be seen as the queen of punk. Patty is an artist, a musician, a writer, a poet.

Shannon: She is like everything in between and I think just a wonderful person. But the book itself was written wonderfully. It's of prose that hones in on Patty's relationship with photographer Robert. Mapplethorpe in the wild times of New York City, living in the Chelsea Hotel in the late sixties and early seventies, and this memoir is like a tribute to youth, to coming of age, to love to art.

Shannon: I think art is a huge concept in between all of [00:11:00] this and friendship. So I, 

Christy: yeah, 

Shannon: such 

Christy: tumultuous times. So. 

Shannon: Yeah. New York at that time, that 

Stephanie: also sounds wild. 

Shannon: And they were living in the Chelsea Hotel. Yeah. And they were poor as anything. And they were living for themselves and living for their art. And as an artist, you're like.

Shannon: Oh my God, 

Stephanie: in my brain I can almost see like faded photographs of this time. 

Shannon: Yeah. 

Stephanie: Like I can't necessarily see photographs of her, but I, I know the image in my mind of what, what this book feels like. 

Shannon: Well, there are, so, like, there are so many photographs from this time because Robert Mapplethorpe is a, was a famous photographer.

Shannon: Yeah. So, uh, funny story before I was at the Guggenheim one day and I'm like, I know this photographer. Why do I know this photographer? And I was like, I look, I'm like, it's Robert, 

Stephanie: my guy. 

Shannon: You can look up his artwork. It is significant. And is, um, it defines a period in a certain scene, I'd say in New York, 

Christy: very much.

Shannon: I 

Stephanie: feel like I can, I feel like I know his style. If I saw it, I [00:12:00] would know it, but I don't know it off the top of my head. 

Shannon: Yeah, 

Stephanie: yeah, yeah, yeah. 

Shannon: Uh, so what drew you to read this book? I first came across this book when I was 15, so 

Stephanie: Me too. 

Shannon: We're going back. 

Christy: A year or two. 

Shannon: A year or two. Let's be nice. Um, so I actually found it, I in Rolling Stone magazine, so I had this, I subscribed to Rolling Stone.

Shannon: It came to my house. Like, uh, anything Rolling Stone said at the time. I'm like, this is gold. This is mine, this is everything. Um, so of course I read. Little did I know, like going into it at 15, what I was reading. And I can say at that time, like, did I understand everything? 

Christy: Probably not, 

Shannon: no. But what I really loved with the, was the relationship between Patty and Robert.

Shannon: Um, it really holds a special place in my heart because. My best friend at the time, and still today, he's my best friend forever. This is a similar relationship that we have. Did we, like, we didn't have any type of romantic relationship that [00:13:00] Patty and Robert, um, have, but it was more like the bond that you have with somebody.

Shannon: And that's just why I keep coming back to this book. And I actually listened to it not that long ago, and Patty is speaking. Wow. Mm-hmm. And. So reading it at 15, you have one way of looking at it. Mm-hmm. And I'm thinking, this is so cool. They're artists, they're living in New York, they're doing the thing I wanna do, and they're best friends.

Shannon: And Will and I were like, we should be these people. But then there's so many other things that go on that you don't recognize at that young age. And then listening to her and her telling her story and sharing her relationship, um, much later on in life, maybe 15 years or so later. Um. I had a totally different view on the book and the memoir, and I think it just opened it up further and it let me see more what was happening and I loved it even more.

Christy: Sure. Like seeing it at different times in your life. 

Shannon: Yeah. 

Christy: So I [00:14:00] think you kind of said how you feel about the book, but just like. Different times in your life reading it. Did you still, did it evoke the same kind of feelings? 

Shannon: No. 'cause the second time when I came back to it, it was a sense of nostalgia and a way of how I felt when I was younger, and then putting in the pieces of the things I didn't recognize at the time.

Shannon: But I will say like this book makes you feel regardless, even at any age. Like it makes you angry, it makes you sad, it makes you happy, but. I just, I thought it was really good. But when I go back to like how it makes you feel, like we were saying earlier, like these celebrity memoirs, these women, they're so brave.

Shannon: The way Patty writes it is so beautiful and it's full of such raw emotion with simplistic language that is also like, not at the same time, 

Christy: but really capturing it, 

Shannon: but captures everything. [00:15:00] As I said, she like totally revealed herself, like she was completely naked for this book. Mm-hmm. And like a vulnerability, but capping it on like.

Shannon: Honesty and growth in everything that it means to be like a artist, a woman, a friend in everything. So I thought it was just, ugh. 

Christy: So I'm gonna ask you, Shannon, was it fluffer enough but enjoyable or stuff and substance? 

Shannon: Oh, definitely stuff and substance. Um, just kids depicts two young people who are lost.

Shannon: An idea of coming of age in a time of art and confusion. It was two young souls finding themselves and defining their art. So it's coming back to this whole thing that what they have, this bond, it's more, it's more than just themselves. It's their art, which. Is what they live, breathe, eat, everything. It's their soul.

Shannon: Their shared interests was themselves in finding their true art. Something that we sometimes lose as we get older and see the truth of it when we're youthful. [00:16:00] So I think also that was a sense of nostalgia that I had when coming back and listening to this book. Because when I was 15, my art was everything.

Shannon: I was going to be an artist. I was going to art school. I was doing that, whoa, wake up call. That didn't happen. Um, but. It still remind, it reminded me to still put my art first in other ways. And what their art did was also define their relationship and their closeness and all like the craziness of New York City in the sixties and seventies, which was just, I kind of wish I was there.

Stephanie: Mm. 

Shannon: I kind, but then I kind of don't. 

Christy: Yeah, I can see that. 

Stephanie: Yes. I think you would've been fine. 

Shannon: I would've had like. Uh, like Studio and soho and spent $300 and had a wonderful time. 

Stephanie: Like, I don't think, I don't think that time and place is great for everybody, but I feel like you would've been fine. 

Shannon: I think I would've.

Shannon: You would've made it. He would've. I would. No, definitely would've. Yes. Definitely. 

Christy: So who would you recommend this book to? 

Shannon: As you can say, I'm recommending it to all [00:17:00] of you right now, but I think any artist should read this, especially if you're in a time when you're like in a lull. And you need to get back to it.

Shannon: Like, I read Stephen King on writing. 

Christy: Oh yeah. 

Shannon: Amazing. Yep. Um, I think anyone who likes New York in the seventies mm-hmm. Anyone who has to kind of like read a coming of age novel or have like, just like read a deep book with like, that's written well, or just like anybody, I think I would really send this off.

Shannon: There are. Some triggering and it's like a tumultuous time and there's all these things that go on that you compare with the sixties and seventies, but yeah. 

Christy: That sounds awesome. 

Shannon: I know. Sorry. It was like a 

Christy: list. That, that's, that's really cool. Um, so we're gonna move onto our last person, Dante Kim, can you tell us what you brought today along with a brief description of your book?

Kim: Sure. Um, I brought a cel celebrity memoir that a lot of people know. It's an, an award-winning, uh, book. It spawned an award winning [00:18:00] audio book. Um, and that's Viola Davis is finding me. 

Christy: Oh, fun. 

We 

Kim: love her. I mean, I think we've all. Viola Davis is one of those, uh, actresses that you think, you know, and you kind of enter into her career at various points.

Kim: I remember her from Law and Order back in the day, ah, and she was somebody who just commanded the small screen from the beginning. And so. I, I knew anything that she was going to write about would be interesting. Um, I think it's really interesting that we've been talking about memoirs and how they're different from biographies.

Kim: I mean, a biography, you know, definitely starts at the beginning of somebody's life. Mm-hmm. And then kind of tries to go through, like up to the present time when they're writing. Whereas a memoir sort of focuses on a specific snapshot. Of time. And so in that way, I mean her memoir is very much about the early part of her life, um, which was very difficult.

Kim: Um, and very, um, [00:19:00] she grew up in poverty. Um, she had parents who were, who loved each other, but had a lot of chaos surrounding them. And that sort of infused the relationship. Um, and so I think. I had always known her as somebody who was tremendously strong, even the most, even in the most problematic of performances.

Kim: And so, um, I was really interested to hear just what she had to say, um, about a specific time in her life. 

Christy: Was there a performance that you think of when you think of her? Like is there a 

Kim: So many, I mean, like, I 

Christy: think they 

Kim: all have. Oh yeah. Um, the visual memories of Viola Davis, I mean, I certainly, like most, um, audiences probably became aware of her during the help.

Kim: Yes. Because again mm-hmm. The award, uh, that went with it and sort of the controversy of, um, an African American actress winning mm-hmm. Um, for a role that in a lot of ways is stereotypical. 

Shannon: Yep. Right. 

Kim: Uh, because she played a housemate at the [00:20:00] time, um, and she did it with strength and gravitas. And a regal bearing.

Kim: But you know, again, for whose for whose lens. 

Stephanie: Right? 

Shannon: Right. Yes. 

Stephanie: Yeah. It's actually, yeah, reflecting back on the help however many years later is a very different conversation. 

Kim: It really is. 

Shannon: Totally different conversation. 

Kim: Mm-hmm. 

Shannon: And Viola's actually very open to have that conversation in which she's done.

Kim: Exactly. Exactly. Um, and so when I was listening to the audio book at the time, you know, I was sort of. Not prepared, not sure what I was going to get. I was like, oh, you know, is this going to be, talk her talking about, you know, um, her performance in Fences on Broadway. Mm-hmm. 

Christy: So that's the one that I think of.

Kim: Right. Oh, and then again, you know. On film and how that's different. Mm-hmm. You know how as an actor 

Christy: right, 

Kim: you prepare differently, um, for 

Christy: film or for Broadway. Right. Very 

Kim: Exactly. 

Christy: Very different. 

Kim: Exactly. And 

Stephanie: then the TV too. She's done it all. 

Kim: She's done 

Christy: everything. 

Kim: Because I'm like, how To Get Married With 

Stephanie: [00:21:00] Murder?

Christy: I love that show. 

Kim: Right. I love that show where she was again, you know, applauded for, you know, showing herself in a very unflattering unglamorous light. Yes. And, uh, you know. Again, I think this book in particular, and her audio book sort of, um, amp, you know, goes back to the experiences that sort of made it possible for her to do that.

Christy: So what drew you to read this book? 

Kim: Well, again, it was Viola Davis, a hundred percent. I didn't know that much about her. Um, and so I have to admit I was a complete neophyte going in. Um, and I, looking back on it now, it's like, it's very much, and it was an award-winning audiobook. Again, just the strength of her performance, talking about very humble circumstances in her life, very painful circumstances in her life, and making clear that, you know.

Kim: She was, while she was experiencing all of these difficult things, she was still trying to find a sense of herself, [00:22:00] which I think as an actor is very hard to do because it's very easy to get lost in a role. 

Christy: Mm-hmm. 

Kim: Or lost in your persona, or lost in an awards race or something like that. 

Christy: Oh, very much. And she's been in many, so that's, 

Kim: yes.

Christy: Yeah. That's pretty cool. So how did you feel about this book? 

Kim: You know, I think at the time, um, again, like you were saying with your memoir stuff, it, it like. So much. There's a lot that's triggering in this particular story. Mm-hmm. Um, and I, I think at the time, needed to hear that some of the most humbling things in your life can be the things that give you the most strength 

Christy: and the most growth 

Kim: later on.

Kim: Yeah. 

Christy: Mm-hmm. Yeah. 

Kim: Um, and, you know, I. You know, again, choosing those, um, particular moments in her life can be very controversial. Like, why do we decide to perform these particular things for an audience? Mm-hmm. Who do we think that we're performing them for? But I was just, again, I was just impressed by the power in her voice and her, her [00:23:00] bearing and her willingness to just say, yes, these things happen to me, but there's a lot more to who I am.

Christy: I love that. Yeah, so I, I'm quite sure this book was not fluff sure enough. But 

Kim: no, 

Christy: um, it's more, sounds like a stuff and substance kind of book. Right. 

Kim: Right. And definitely at a very, you know, a specific moment in time. 

Christy: Yeah. Yeah. And would you recommend this book? 

Kim: You know, it's interesting because she's been so public, um, about her persona, particularly in the awards field, particularly in the roles that she had available to her, much like other actors of color.

Kim: So, uh, you know, this was a really, I, this was a good launchpad. I think, um, looking back on some of her, some of the candor that she's had in the press, um, since this book was published. Yeah. I mean. I think as a performance, it's amazing. Um, and I think as a launchpad for understanding some of the comments [00:24:00] that came later.

Kim: And it's interesting 'cause this book came out in 2022, so it's a very short amount of time. Yeah. So 

Stephanie: I'm gonna say this is pretty recent to have had since so much after. 

Kim: Yes. Yeah. So it's almost hard for me to go back and remember, you know, as I'm explaining this to people, people are like, well, they have a lot of opinions since everything that happened, but I'm like.

Kim: You know, I, I like, I respect her as an artist and what she did very much so. 

Shannon: I love Viola Davis, anything I see And it's, Viola Davis is in it. I'm there, I'm watching it. I'm part of it. 

Stephanie: Mm-hmm. She's also been taking like really interesting roles. I love that. In the next, like the later part of her career, like every time I see her I'm like, she's playing like a kooky villain.

Stephanie: I'm like, yes, 

Shannon: yes, yes. It seems like a lot of. Her characters are powerful women. Yes. And that is what, like, I think even when 

Christy: it's, that's not the role that she's playing, even when it's 

Shannon: not 

Stephanie: the 

Shannon: role, she's still like a powerful, inspirational 

Stephanie: woman. She was the woman king. 

Shannon: Oh yeah. A hundred percent. But, 

Stephanie: but she was also like one of [00:25:00] the villains in the, the Last Hunger Games movie.

Stephanie: And I was, I love it. What? And she's excellent. 

Shannon: Yeah. But you still love her? 

Stephanie: Yes. 

Shannon: Exactly. 

Christy: Yeah, definitely. She still gives that, you know, you wanted, you wanna get to know where you wanna learn more about her. There's layers and she's, I wanna be 

Shannon: best 

Christy: friends 

Shannon: with 

her 

Stephanie: like, like she was un likable. Women who you still want to like, 

Shannon: yes, yes.

Stephanie: Mm-hmm. 

Shannon: It's like, well, I don't wanna compare her to Ursula, but as I've gotten older, I love her. Ursula, 

Stephanie: like from the little woman, right? 

Shannon: Yeah. 

Stephanie: Yeah. Yes. 

Shannon: She's great. 

Stephanie: Well, yeah. 'cause all the villains we were, we were taught to grow up with, were not actually necessarily villains in the way we were taught.

Stephanie: They were villains. 

Shannon: No. Like Maleficent, 

Stephanie: a lot of them were just really brassy women. 

Shannon: Yeah. 

Stephanie: Or queer characters. 

Shannon: Well, and knew what's great. Now we're changing that narrative. Yes. Viol, viol Davis is helping that narrative be changed. Mm-hmm. 

Christy: It's kind of like wicked, right? Yes. Yeah. Mm-hmm. Yeah, definitely. 

Shannon: Oh, definitely.

Christy: Libraries are so much more than books and we would like you to know what's happening off the shelf. This month at Russell Library, we've been talking about the subject of women's [00:26:00] celebrity memoirs and we have our own celebrity here at Russell Library that not everyone may know about, and that's France Russell.

Christy: She is the person who had the forethought to purchase the land in the building that became the Russell Library in honor of the Russell family. The Russell Library has been the primary public library of Middletown, Connecticut for quite some time. For those who don't know the history, Russell Library was established in 1875 through the bequest of Mrs.

Christy: Francis Russell and memory of her late husband. Samuel Russell, the library officially opened its doors to the public as a reading room on April 5th, 1876, which means that we will soon be celebrating our hundred and 50th birthday. So I'd like to welcome our podcast leader, Kate. Welcome, Kate. Can you tell us a little, 

Cate: this is Christie.

Christy: You're welcome. Can you tell us a little bit about what the library has planned for this momentous occasion? 

Cate: Absolutely. So in [00:27:00] celebration of Russell's 150th year serving Middletown, we decided to spread some joy and have some fun in 2026. So we're having a party on Saturday, April 11th. We will be celebrating our birthday.

Cate: And kicking off the Russell Library games. 

Christy: That sounds so fun. I know that people won't wanna miss out. So how can people participate in the celebration? 

Cate: Well, between the date of our party, which is April 11th and the library's incorporation date, which is November 17th, individuals can participate in the Russell Library game.

Cate: So players will find opportunities around town to accumulate points and earn prizes. We'll be coupling with local businesses to drive players to their locations, as well as giving players the chance to discover new things within the library. It's just kind of an immersive way to encourage residents to engage with Middletown.

Cate: I've personally lived in Middletown for 25 years, and there are still places I haven't yet [00:28:00] explored. So participating in the Russell Library games is a perfect excuse to just get out there and have some fun. 

Christy: So the important question is, will there be cake at the 150th birthday party? 

Cate: That's what I was gonna ask.

Cate: Yes. So if you attend our party on April 11th, you can start with cake. In fact, there will probably be two cakes if I'm being very honest. So after you've feasted, you can then begin earning. So there's going to be games galore, including Find Francis, which is essentially like a real life version of Where's Waldo.

Cate: So, um, you can search for our founder Francis Russell, who will be wandering around the stacks. We'll have old school bingo, which I believe our director Ramona is going to be running. We'll have giant chess, air hockey, foosball, assorted board games and puzzles for all ages. 

Cate: So, [00:29:00] um, and it will be historically engaging as well. 'cause we're gonna have archival photos of the library scattered across the building. And by the end of that day, the first day, the party day, many players will have earned enough points to take home their first prize. So think Russell Library swag related.

Christy: Ooh, nice. And did I hear that the Eastern Paranormal Society is returning to Russell Library? Is that happening? Uh, April 11th? 

Cate: Yes. So you heard correct After hours, the Eastern Connecticut Paranormal Society will tell their tale of the encounters in our historic building. Um, I wanna add though, don't forget to register for this program because it is definitely going to reach capacity.

Cate: Probably quite quickly and the games themselves, like I said, are gonna start on April 11th. They're gonna run through November 17th. and one winner at the very end is going to receive a coveted grand prize and bragging rights.

Cate: Which is the most important as the most middle town of them all. I think it'll be fun. We want our community to feel some joy. We wanna highlight various places around our lovely city and we wanna honor all the years that Russell Library has served our community. 150 years is definitely worth celebrating.

Christy: Absolutely. Thank you so much, Kate, for the birthday scoop. Aw, 

Cate: my pleasure. Thanks for having me. 

Christy: It is time to close the book on today's episode. If you like what you've heard here, please subscribe to the show. This ensures you won't miss any episodes. And if you have a moment, kindly rate and review the podcast.

Christy: This helps other bookish people like yourself. Find the show. Tune in next month to find out what else is on the shelf. Bye-bye. Bye 

[00:31:00] bye.