The Reader’s Corner

Being home sick has its advantages. When I wasn’t passed out in a fever-induced coma this past week, I actually got some recreational reading done. Not much, but I managed to finish a couple of books.

Making Toast - this short memoir-of-sorts is sad and tragic. It doesn’t move quickly, it’s not a story with a chronological line, and it didn’t provide me with any great insight when it was over. And yet, Rosenblatt does such a remarkable job of capturing the moments of life, especially life after loss, in such an honest and true way, that I am glad I read this book. It absorbed me in the life of these people and I could feel the sort of surreal stupor that we exist in after our lives have been dramatically altered by a loved one’s death.

Free For All: Oddballs, Geeks, and Gangstas in the Public Library - I’m not sure this book would appeal to anyone other than a fellow library employee. Borchert also does a remarkable job of capturing true-to-life moments, only in this case it’s the ones that make up life inside a library. I found myself nodding, commiserating, and chuckling at the familiarity within the pages. However, I read a passage out loud to my husband and he seemed less entertained than I. I think it’s because he lacks that bond of a common experience. I can see where from an outsider’s view this book might be rather dull and pointless. If you’re a library employee and want to read about experiences remarkably similar to your own, or if you do not work in a library and would like an honest glimpse into what it’s like on the other side, then give this one a try. I hope to now read This Book is Overdue for a sort of comparison. Unfortunately, I am feeling much better and must return to work and have no idea when I will find the time to do this!