What Does a Librarian WANT to read?

How's your summer reading so far? Are you reading some good books? Still working on your TBR (to be read) list?

You may recall that last time I talked about recently published books I've read and enjoyed. In this post I'm going to share with you some new books that I would like to read but haven't gotten around to just yet:

• All the Beauty in the World by Patrick Bringley  Can you imagine what it would be like to work as a guard in the Metropolitan Museum of Art with all those priceless masterpieces? This book is a firsthand account of one guard's experiences.
• Your Table is Ready by Michael Cecchi-Azzolina  I'm sure a maître d’ of swanky New York restaurants serving celebrities and the elite has a few stories to tell, and I'm curious to read about them.
• Spectacular by Fiona Davis  If you didn't know, I'm a New Yorker, born and bred. Having been in Radio City Music Hall in the past and reading some of Davis' books about other New York City landmarks, I'm excited to see how she presents the story of this famous Art Deco theatre.
• Don't Think, Dear by Alice Robb  I've always found the behind-the-scenes ballet world fascinating, and this book was written by a former student of the School of American Ballet. She discusses how the school affected her and other women, both positively and negatively, whether they went on to become professional dancers or not.
• Beyond That, The Sea by Laura Spence-Ash  This book is about an 11-year old English girl sent by her parents to a family in Boston to keep her safe from German bombs during World War II. After first adapting to life in America, she must then re-acquaint herself with life in England when she returns to her parents after the war.
• The Little Wartime Library by Kate Thompson  As I mentioned in my previous post, I enjoy reading about libraries and other librarians, real or fictional. This novel is based on a true story about a librarian who creates a library in a London Underground station to help others get through the air raids of World War II.

George R.R. Martin said, "A reader lives a thousand lives before he dies." I don't know how many lives I've lived up to this point, but I do know that I love reading about different people and their lives, past and present, familiar and different.

What books would you like to read but haven't gotten around to reading? Share with us!

Wishing you many literary adventures from the perch.

What Does a Librarian Read?

With the start of the Summer Reading Program, you might be thinking about books you're going to read. If I may, I'd like to share some books that I've enjoyed recently, all of which were published over the last several years and can either be found in our library or on Libby/Overdrive.

• The Lonely Hearts Book Club by Lucy Gilmore  I love this book not only because it's about a librarian and about people coming together to help each other, but also because it's written by a local Spokane author and takes place in nearby Coeur d'Alene. Who doesn't enjoy reading about familiar places?
• Listening Still by Anne Griffin  The setting and topic of this book are a little off the beaten path--in a small Irish town, a funeral home director's daughter is able to hear the thoughts of the newly deceased. Although it may sound macabre, the book is more about the choices we make, the outcomes of those choices, and accepting those outcomes.
• The Librarian Spy by Madeline Martin  I can't speak for all librarians, but I find it interesting to read about others in my profession, fictional or real. The story of a librarian from the Library of Congress working covertly in Portugal may be fictional, but the World War II events and circumstances depicted are not.
• Stupid Things I Won't Do When I Get Old by Steven Petrow  We may see our grandparents, parents, or other relatives aging and think we're going to age more gracefully. History, though, has a habit of repeating itself. I like how this author examines his parents' aging as well as his own with a mix of humor, frustration, surprise, and ultimately compassion.
• The Authenticity Project by Clare Pooley  I guess I have a soft spot for lonely characters who eventually come together and support each other. This one, however, takes place in London and centers around a notebook in which the characters write about what their lives are really like rather than the façades they present to others everyday.
• Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt  This is a different kind of feel-good book told from the perspective of an octopus and an older woman who cleans a fictional aquarium near Seattle. The two form an unlikely friendship of sorts and unexpected things happen. Just take my word and give this one a try.

If none of these titles rings your bell, that's okay. Stop by the perch and I'll help you find a book that does.

Wishing you many good reads this summer from the perch.