lower east side librarian

Excerpted from Lower East Side Librarian Winter Solstice Shout Out 2010 (detail on that TK)

I was tagged by multiple people in the 15 authors game on Facebook. I didn’t get around to making my list there, and I also thought it would be good to publish it in a more archival environment than Fb. It’s supposed to be 15 authors who have influenced you or will always stay with you or whatever, and you’re not supposed to think about it for very long.

I don’t have it in me to contemplate and discuss 15 authors or books that Changed My Life. As committed and voracious a reader as I am, I’m not sure that I am especially influenced by any one writer. I have quite likely been molded by the books I read, but I think it’s the totality of them, rather than any one particular person or book.

Note: ZOMG Thank you, Marissa Falco for the drawing!!!

Beginning in December of last year I have been reviewing all the books I read and some of my favorite zines right here on my blog. From 12/1/08 to 11/30/09 I reviewed 96 books and zines. Here are some statistics and links to my top 20 of the year...

If you must involve yourself with holiday related consumption, consume this: Tales for Little Rebels: A Collection of Radical Children's Literature.

According to this MainStreet post I originally saw on LISNews the book release Breaking Dawn is a pretty big deal.

Sadly, while that's true at libraries in Cuyahoga County, Ohio, and at the Carnegie Library in Pittsburgh, and while the book release inspired a long wiki post and discussion list brainstorming session, my own branch of NYPL is sadly lacking.

I'm now in two book clubs, the first with c-dog, and now this one with pals I met working at the Public Theater. (Heather and Kim did carpentry and other tasks for the operations department, Kate and Laura did props, Susan was a sound guy and painter, and I was an electrician.)

This is to keep track of our selections. Not really a blog post. Sorry if it's dull.

The Lower East Side Librarian Reading Log is also coming soon to a mailbox near you. The reading log is part of the Winter Solstice Shout Out and also a standalone publication that mostly goes to family members instead of the Shout Out, and when I'm especially neurotic, to friends, as well.

It's reviews/descriptions of all the books I've read between December 2006 and December 2007. ...

Here's another book recommendation. Stephanie McMillan, a cartoon artist whose work I admire, has illustrated a graphic novel called As the World Burns: 50 Simple Things You Can Do to Stay in Denial by Derrick Jensen that I bet will be kinda yummy. ...

This is to keep track of mine and Celia's book club selections. Not really a blog post. Sorry if it's dull.

Librarians are not supposed to judge anyone's choice of reading material. Therefore I'll direct my hate at the publishers of Loving Natalee: A Mother's Testament of Hope and Faith By Beth Holloway, HarperCollins. ...