Life's Library

There are some absolutely amazing non-profit organizations and community projects dedicated to reading and writing, each with their own unique twist.

1. I've heard of Write a House before, but completely forgot about it until I came across this article on PolicyMic.

Write a House's mission is to "enliven the literary arts of Detroit by renovating homes and giving them to authors, journalists, poets, aka writers. it's like a writer-in-residence program, only in this case we're actually giving the writer the residence, forever."

This organization is promoting the literary arts and stabilizing Detroit's neighborhoods.

2. The next non-profit is a favorite of mine (however I may be a little biased since I live in the city they're based in.)

The Podium Foundation provides an outlet for high school students in the city of Richmond to express themselves through writing and painting. My favorite part is that Podium publishes the student's works in journals and prints artwork, then offers copies free to the community.

I've watched some of their students perform their poetry before, and they are damn good! 

You can also check out the journals for free on their website.

3. Finally, is The People's Library. This more of a community project than a non-profit. 

The People's Library, located in Richmond, VA,  turns discarded books into blank journals, then places them in libraries for communities members to check out.

Why check out a blank book? So you can add your own story to it.

People check out the blank books, add their own stories, and then return it to the library. It is a place for members of the community to simultaneously read other people's stories and contribute their own stories.

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These are a few of my favorites.

The claim that Eskimos have about a trillion words for snow may be a false one -- actually, Eskimo languages have about as many synonyms for snow as English does -- but it remains true that the language of a culture can be fascinating and illustrativ...

Recapture all of that youthful wonder.

Most people lie and say they've read these classic books to seem smarter, according to a survey in The Guardian . Chances are, you're one of those people too.

6. Old Man and the Sea: Read it. Hated it! I was hoping he died at the end just so I didn't waste part of my life reading it for no good reason. Spoiler alert...he lives.

8. Catch-22: I legitimately do want to read this one day.

9. 1984: Actually DID read this in tenth grade. It was double-plus good.

10. To Kill a Mockingbird: This is one of my absolute favorite books! Boo Radley is my boy!

14. The Odyssey: This was definitely qualifies for one of those books that I say I read, but really, we read it in high school as I watched the clock.

16. Pride and Prejudice: I own this. Made it through the first page. Probably gonna let people think that owning it means I read it...

20. The Catcher in the Rye: I love Catcher in the Rye. So much, in fact, that I decided to read Franny and Zooey as well.