My name is Kariana (KAR-ee-ahn-ah) and I’m not really sure how my mom came up with that. Once, I Googled “Kariana” and found somewhere deep in the depths of the internet that the name also belongs to a viking princess in Norse mythology. Sometimes I lie to people and tell them that’s where my name comes from, but I respect you more than I do most, so I’ll be real with you: my name has no sentimental backstory. But it was given to me which must make it special in some way, right?
I have been working for BCPL since June 2021. I started off as a page (my first job!) at the Main Library and became a YS circ assistant there in May! My favorite part about our library is the sense of community we foster. I have been a patron of BCPL since I was eight years old (when my family moved to Kentucky) and was basically raised in a library setting. In high school, I led the Youth Writers’ Group at the Florence Branch and from 2015-2020, I attended Pokémon Club, Anime & Manga Club, Teen Nights, the yearly library lock-in, and any other youth program I could get my hands on. Most of these programs no longer exist (curse you, 2020, for taking away my final lock-in!), but I still hold them near and dear to my heart.
During my three years working for BCPL, I have made friends that I cherish so dearly, they are likely sick of how often I bombard them with stories, book/ movie recommendations, and general affection. Our library attracts the coolest people ever, so of course I’m excited to be surrounded by them!
At home, I live a gorgeously messy life with my mom, my dad, my younger sister, my cat, and my dog! We constantly run all over the place, so we very much value any time we get to spend together and typically celebrate with eating homemade dinner followed by watching commentary videos on YouTube or whatever show we’re binging (right now we’re in series 7 of Taskmaster!).
I’m in my Senior year at NKU! I’m an English major (creative writing track) and a Cinema Studies minor, so it’s easy to see I live life on the edge. Since my Sophomore year, I’ve worked as an editor for Loch Norse Magazine, NKU’s student-led literary magazine. For two years, I was a poetry editor, but I now work as co-editor-in-chief alongside two other brilliant writers!
During my time in college, I have written dark comedies about the never-ending struggles of being a woman, ekphrastic poetry featuring magazine covers that make me angry, academic essays on the importance of cartoons, and strangely impassioned Adam Sandler movie reviews. I enjoy frequenting my school’s open-mic nights so that I can share whatever weirdness I’ve conjured as well as relish in the weirdness of my wildly talented peers!
While I have fallen out of practice, I also play the viola (it’s basically a violin with cello strings: the Frankenstein’s monster of the orchestra)! Being a full-time college student and a part-time employee at the library, it’s difficult finding time to dedicate to music, but I hope to bring my viola back into my daily routine soon! Last October, Charlotte Webster and I saw the CSO perform Stravinsky’s The Rite Of Spring, my favorite ballet and possibly my favorite creation in the history of art. Did I let out a horrible scream and clap for five minutes straight at the end of that performance? Only Charlotte and those sitting in the three rows ahead of us know.
Aside from all that, I’m simply a person who loves to love things! I will now dedicate the rest of my Spotlight to listing a few many of my favorite things: My favorite books are Little Weirds by Jenny Slate, My Ántonia by Willa Cather, A Clockwork Orange by Anthony Burgess, and My Year Of Rest And Relaxation by Ottessa Moshfegh. In terms of poetry, I find Willie Carver and Clint Smith to be the best things to ever happen to the genre and authors Hanif Abdurraqib and C.J. Hauser write essays so enjoyable, I almost forget I’m actually learning things while reading their work!
I’m majorly a fan of cartoons! My favorites are BoJack Horseman, Over the Garden Wall, Gravity Falls, South Park, The Amazing World of Gumball, Bob’s Burgers, King of the Hill, seasons 1-8 of The Simpsons (the writing was just so much better back then) and seasons 1-3 of SpongeBob Squarepants (without a doubt the greatest piece of media to grace my childhood). So basically everything! It wouldn’t surprise me if I found out I quote these shows more often than I formulate my own unique sentences. Don’t blame me, I voted for Kodos!
When it comes to movies, it’s pretty much impossible to get me to stop talking (and my coworkers can attest to that!). Let’s all take a deep breath now. My favorite movies are Clerks, Who Framed Roger Rabbit, The Florida Project, The Graduate, Shiva Baby, Hereditary, Beau Is Afraid, JoJo Rabbit, What’s Up, Doc?, Treasure Planet, Fantastic Mr. Fox, and Isle Of Dogs. Woo!
Aaand that’s all, folks! I am very talkative (a surprise to no one) and always looking for opportunities to geek out, so please feel free to reach out if you want to share with me anything you love!
