The zeitgeist of the year 1974 can be defined by a sense of revolution: “Champion of Freedom” Muhammad Ali defeated George Foreman, Led Zeppelin launched their own record label, Mel Brooks blessed the world not only with Blazing Saddles, but with Young Frankenstein, and Lynyrd Skynyrd’s discography became the soundtrack of everyone’s lives. While this information is readily available online, it’s difficult to really immerse yourself into this point in time just by simply reading about it.

To fully engage in the year 1974, let’s take a look at some of the most popular books of the year as we celebrate 50 years of BCPL!

One of literature’s most beloved epistolary novels, Carrie follows the story of the titular 16-year-old girl, her abusive mother, and her school bullies. The story is told through a combination of letters, news articles, and other pieces from the world within the book, establishing an air of realism and combining it with supernature (is this a word?) and horror.

An anti-imperialist espionage novel written by a former spy? Is there anything cooler than that? This book’s scathing political commentary is magnified by its exciting genre, proving once and for all that material written to entertain can absolutely be enriching, influential and academic.

With undertones of the political and religious variety, as well as a 1978 animated adaptation that fuels viewers’ nightmares to this day, the story of Watership Down was destined for infamy. While this book was initially published in the U.K in 1972, it topped The New York Times bestsellers list when it was first released in the U.S. in 1974.

The love veterinary surgeon, James Herriot, has for animals is zoo-sized. In his 1972 book All Creatures Great And Small (whose TV adaptation shares the same name), he recounts his personal experiences in the veterinary field and demonstrates how fulfilling it is to work with and relate to animals. All Things Bright and Beautiful is its warm, loving and humorous sequel.

After exploring Virginia’s Roanoke Valley, Annie Dillard weaves a personal narrative that doubles as a love letter to nature. A year after its publication, this book was awarded the Pulitzer Prize in General Non-Fiction. Color me unsurprised because no one makes me want to celebrate the great outdoors quite like Dillard!

Gouache and ink and geometric magnificence, oh my! In shocking shades of orange and yellow, this picture book acts as a retelling of an Acoma Pueblo tale and follows a young boy on a journey to find his father. In 1975, the book earned Caldecott Medal for illustration thanks to McDermott’s impeccable grasp on vibrancy.

Although Shel Silverstein’s works are primarily aimed at young audiences, his weirdness makes the work of Sylvia Plath and Allen Ginsburg feel warm, cozy and normal. Themes in this collection include near-death by a peanut butter sandwich, a sharp-toothed snail that bites off people’s fingers and more. Shel’s loveable eccentricity can be further enjoyed in his other collections of children’s poetry such as Falling Up, Every Thing On It, A Light In The Attic, Runny Babbit, and Runny Babbit Returns.

Featuring gorgeous hand-painted illustrations, an introduction to onomatopoeia, and the cutest little cats and dogs you’ve ever seen, Kitten for a Day is hard not to love! It tells the story of a puppy who plays with kittens in spite of not knowing exactly how to play like a kitten. Showcasing the power of friendship and the importance of accepting those who look different than yourself, it fits snugly alongside Keats’s many other triumphs.

So What?

With BookTok booming, Goodreads capturing the hearts of library workers worldwide, and Colleen Hoover making an appearance on my phone screen every single day, it’s sometimes difficult to consider reading material outside of current trends. While it’s important to recognize and celebrate what readers enjoy at the moment, it’s also important to understand the origins of contemporary literature.

Is it possible that C.J. Hauser’s love for the environment was amplified by Annie Dillard, leading them to write The Crane Wife? Would Ainslie Hogarth have so precisely captured the nuances of a toxic mother/daughter relationship without inspiration from Carrie and Margaret White? When Jenny Slate wrote Little Weirds, did she thumb through Shel Silverstein’s poetry and artwork to help her craft the perfect metaphor?

Today, I encourage you to explore the depths of the library. Seek out a book from an era long since passed, consider how it paved the way for today’s favorites, and relish in the fact that you have the power to access and enjoy such information!

Happy 50th birthday, Boone County Public Library!

Sources:

Best Kids Books – 1974

List of The New York Times number-one books of 1974

Biblioklept – Best Books of 1974