Ron Does Stuff

In this week’s edition, we’ve got the National Library of the Philippines, the Valenzuela City Library, and 25 Books for 2025!

The National Library of the Philippines call for books

I’ll be the first to say that our library system here in the Philippines is…not great. But all the more reason to support it when it tries its best to work for its constituents. The National Library of the Philippines (NLP) is calling on local authors and publishers to send their book lists to them so that the NLP can buy their books from them and include it in their Filipiniana section. Check out the details in their Facebook post!

British author David Lodge, dead at 89

The Associated Press reports that British author David Lodge, who was twice nominated for the Booker Prize, has passed away at the age of 89. Vintage Books shared that Lodge died on Wednesday, January 1, with his family by his side.

The Guardian also has an essay from British novelist Jonathan Coe who fondly remembers David Lodge’s role in the British literary scene.

25 Books for 2025

The Philippine Daily Inquirer has a list of the 25 books for 2025 compiled by former National Book Development Board chair Neni Sta. Romana Cruz. I picked this one because it looks beyond the traditionally published books here in the Philippines and features work from self-published authors as well.

Some of the books mentioned are Beginner’s Guide to Love and Other Chemical Reactions by Six De Los Reyes, If the Dress Fits by Carla de Guzman, Iris After the Incident by Mina V. Esguerra, and You, Me U.S. by Brigitte Bautista.

Valenzuela City Library activities

Bringing it back to libraries, the Valenzuela City Library has released a list of activities it will be hosting this January. Go and check it out if you’re in the area because our libraries need all the help they can get!