Category: Reader Profiles

Jenn Beideman is the Advocacy Manager at Common Ground Health in Rochester, NY. Jenn provides expertise on advocacy opportunities to advance whole child health in the region. A Canadian native, Jenn brings to the position more than a decade of experience in policy research and government relations from a variety of settings. She currently leads several campaigns across the City of Rochester that advocate for play, child-centered placemaking and whole child health. Prior to joining the organization, Jenn worked at the Legislative Assembly of Ontario in Toronto, Canada where she provided procedural research and policy support to several Standing Committees of the House, and World Vision Canada. She is currently the Vice President of the Board of Directors for the Child Care Council and a member of the PlayMakers, the Strong Museum of Play’s Young Professional Board. Jenn holds an M.P.A from SUNY Brockport and a B.A. in Political Science from the University of Toronto. Jenn is a proud City of Rochester Resident where she lives with her husband in the North Winton neighborhood.

Write a one-sentence description of yourself as a Reader.

I’m a juggler and physical book snob. I love reading multiple books at once – throughout my house you’ll see piles of things I’m part way through in every type of genre. I always like to keep things interesting and so variety is key to that!

What are you reading right now?

I’m currently reading

• The Deepest Well by Dr. Nadine Burke Harris,
• There There by Tommy Orange,
• How to be an Antiracist by Ibram X. Kendi
• The Testaments by Margaret Atwood

The desert island question – What 5 books would you have to have with you if you were stranded on a desert island?

• The Princess Bride by William Goldman
• A Visit from the Goon Squad by Jennifer Egan
• Pilgrim by Timothy Findley
• Alias Grace by Margaret Atwood
• The Harry Potter series (I know, that’s more than 5!)

Are you a finisher? In other words, are you compelled to finish a book even if you hate it? What are some books that you’ve had to force yourself to finish, or which you’ve bailed on?

I really do want to finish most of the books I read, but there’s been a few that I’ve bailed on. This includes:

• Anything by JR Tolkien
• Poorly written autobiographies
• The Goldfinch (I can’t stand to read very long run on stories).

Do you ever read the end of a book first? Why or why not?

Never!

What is at the top of your To Be Read pile?

• Little Fires Everywhere by Celeste Ng
• The Water Dancer by Ta-Nehisi Coates
• The Nickel Boys by Colson Whitehead

Who is your go-to author when someone asks you for a recommendation?

Yikes – it would depend on what they’d like to read. I’d want to learn more about their interests first. I typically try to refer people to Canadian authors – mostly because they don’t get the credit they deserve here. That being said, lately I’ve been recommending to everyone read Exit West by Mohsin Hamid because it’s so beautiful.

Would you rather be your favorite author or your favorite character?

Favourite author for sure – I know their lives aren’t super glamourous but the thought of being able to drink tea and write all day seems lovely.

What book do you wish you’d never read?

The Twilight series – blargh!

Has any book defined your life, as in you would be a different person if you hadn’t read it?

We Wish to Inform You That Tomorrow We Will be Killed With Our Families by Phillip Gourevitch

I remember reading this in my fourth year political science class, it had a profound impact on me and it transformed the way I thought about social justice in the world. It catapulted by desire to get involved in and learn more about government systems, advocacy and social justice movements. Without this book, I don’t think I’d have the career I do now.

Book or movie? Is there a movie that you think was better than the book?

Book – always the book.

If you were to get a bookish tattoo, what would it be?

It would mostly likely be a quote like “be the change” by Gandhi or “Happiness can be found, even in the darkest of times, if one only remembers to turn on the light” by J.K. Rowling.

Share a favorite quote from a book you’ve read. Why is it meaningful to you?

The same as above – both really demonstrate that we can be agents of change in our own lives, and that even when times get hard or tough, there’s always a way to move forward. Progress isn’t easy – it’s tough, messy and not always straightforward, but we keep moving forward because it’s what’s right.

What book are you recommending that everyone read right now?

Exit West or Lincoln in the Bardo by George Saunders

Does reading influence your decision-making process?

Definitely! Whenever I make decisions I want to know all the facts, which requires me to dig deep and learn different perspectives. Reading is so wonderful and helps me do all of those things.

Why do you read?

It’s fun, and allows me to learn about new perspectives, ideas, and research. It also opens up a whole new world of possibilities and story lines.

Alex Yudelson serves as Chief of Staff for the City of Rochester. He oversees the Mayor’s office and serves as the Mayor’s senior advisor, assisting her with the day-to-day operations of City Hall. He also manages intergovernmental affairs with local, state, and federal elected officials. Alex returned home to the City of Rochester from the White House, where he served as a Policy Advisor in the office of the President’s senior advisor, Valerie Jarrett. He served as President Obama’s primary liaison to sports teams, leagues, and athletes, and helped coordinate the President’s relationship with local and state elected officials and other constituencies. During college, Alex studied abroad at the University at Oxford and was chosen to be a delegate for President Obama at the 2012 Democratic National Convention in Charlotte. Alex graduated Phi Beta Kappa from George Washington University in 2014 with a degree in Political Science and Philosophy.

What are you reading right now?

Master of the Senate, by Robert Caro.

The desert island question – What 5 books would you have to have with you if you were stranded on a desert island?

• The Great Gatsby, by F. Scott Fitzgerald
• Plato’s Republic
• As I Lay Dying, by William Faulkner
• Civilization and its Discontents, by Sigmund Freud
• The entire Harry Potter Series

Do you ever read the end of a book first? Why or why not? Never – I didn’t even know that was a thing!

What is at the top of your To Be Read pile?

Ulysses, by James Joyce

Is there a genre or type that you are over and wish would just go away?

I hate to say it, but the old Victorian literature is just… not good. Sure, they might paint a beautiful picture of a scene in your imagination, but the characters and plot are almost never compelling.

Describe your favorite place to read.

As I get older (I’m 26 going on 70) I find myself falling asleep while reading, so I need to be sitting upright at a coffee shop or in the living room.

Book or movie? Is there a movie that you think was better than the book?

Most books are better than the movies, because they can include more substance. The only exception I’d say would be the Lord of the Rings trilogy. The books are good; the movies are better.

What is your preferred format? Hardcover, paperback, digital, audio, doesn’t matter?

I have some sort of mental block with audio books – I can’t focus. Has to be either hardcover or paperback, but no preference between the two.

Share a favorite quote from a book you’ve read. Why is it meaningful to you?

“So we beat on, boats against the current, borne back ceaselessly into the past” from The Great Gatsby. To me, it perfectly sums up the human condition of being unable to move beyond (and learn from) the past.

What book would you love to see made into a movie? Who would play the lead role?

Things Fall Apart, by Chinua Achebe, with Mahershala Ali and Daniel Kaluuya.

What book are you recommending that everyone read right now?

Shortest Way Home, by Pete Buttigieg

Is there a book you feel is highly overrated?

Catcher in the Rye and any book by Ayn Rand.

Why do you read?

Reading helps my critical thinking and decision-making processes. It’s important to keep your reading skills sharp for any job – and it’s a healthy alternative to so many of the other leisure options in our life.

 

 

Melanie Lewis started out as an avid Library Patron
Became:
Library Page
Library Aide
Clerk
Library Assistant
Librarian
Currently : Monroe County (NY) Library System Outreach Coordinator
Who knows what’s next in the evolution?

What are you reading right now?

I am usually reading one, listening to another… Currently:

• Listening: Washington Black by Esi Edugyan
• Reading: What Doesn’t Kill you Makes You Blacker by Damon Young (I also follow this writer on Facebook)

The desert island question – What 5 books would you have to have with you if you were stranded on a desert island?

• Invisible Man, Ralph Ellison
• Known World, Edward P. Jones
• Warmth of Other Suns, Isabel Wilkerson
• The Life of Pi, Yann Martel
• The Coming, Daniel Black

If you ask me tomorrow, this list will change!

Are you a finisher? In other words, are you compelled to finish a book even if you hate it? What are some books that you’ve had to force yourself to finish, or which you’ve bailed on?

I used to be a finisher, but within the last year or two, I decided my time is too precious, but I MADE myself finish Roxane Gay’s Untamed State…It was a thriller, which I usually don’t do..but I had to find out what happened at the end even though the book upset me.
I bailed on Lovecraft Country, Matt Ruff, to weird.

What is at the top of your To Be Read pile?

When Breath Becomes Air, by Paul Kalanaithi….every time I think about reading it, it makes me sad, but I feel it’s a must read for me.

Would you rather be your favorite author or your favorite character?

My favorite book character is Toni Morrison’s “Sula”..but I would not want to be her. It would be too hard to be that free.

Toni is one of my favorite authors; I would rather be her.

What book do you wish you’d never read?

Sorry library people…but I just never felt all that Harry Potter madness. I tried.

Has any book defined your life, as in you would be a different person if you hadn’t read it?

Not any individual book, but being a reader has made me a different person.

Is there a genre or type that you are over and wish would just go away?

In my department, we are inundated with Amish Fiction. I wouldn’t miss those.

Book or movie? Is there a movie that you think was better than the book?

The Queen Sugar television series by Ava DuVernay, is better than the book by Natalie Baszile.

What is your preferred format? Hardcover, paperback, digital, audio, doesn’t matter?

Soft cover, large print .Then audio. The audio productions keep getting better and better.

What book would you love to see made into a movie? Who would play the lead role?

Audra Macdonald narrates the audio version of Jodi Picoult’s Small Great Things. I would like to see her star in the movie version. I loved the book.

What book are you recommending that everyone read right now?

Michelle Obama’s Becoming and Heavy by Kiese Laymon. It’s a tie.

Do you read with your children? What are some of their favorite books?

I did. One of them became a Librarian, the other an avid reader. Some great recommendations I’ve gotten from them: Mornings in Jenin, The Truth About Awiti, The Forty Rules of Love, The Coming, Forty Acres, Well Read Black Girl, Post Traumatic Slave Syndrome, The Alchemist, and Shade.

Yes. THEY tell ME what to read now.

Does reading influence your decision-making process?

I hope so.

Why do you read?

To be entertained, to learn, to grow.

 

Erin Egloff was born and raised in Lowville, NY, and graduated from Pitzer College in Claremont, California. She developed a career in the Los Angeles nonprofit sector for 14 years and moved to Rochester in 2017 with her husband and felines. Erin is a lifelong learner who is particularly passionate about intersectional feminism, racial justice, sexual violence and misconduct, education equity, and government transparency. She is on the board of 540 West Main Communiversity, sits on the RCSD R.E.A.L. Team, and is the Education Committee Secretary for Rochester’s chapter of Citizen Action NY. Twitter: @ShePersisted03

Write a one-sentence description of yourself as a Reader.

I’m an overly ambitious reader whose only fear of dying is that I won’t be able to finish my To Read list.

What are you reading right now?

I’m finishing Race Manners by Bruce Jacobs and The Meaning of Freedom by Angela Davis; I’m halfway through Biblioholism by Tom Raabe, and I’ve been staring longingly at Ian McEwan’s Nutshell for a month.

The desert island question – What 5 books would you have to have with you if you were stranded on a desert island?

I suppose I’d take Finnegan’s Wake so I could do the work that I gave up on during undergrad. Song of Solomon would provide comfort and a dreamy escape from my inevitable anxiety; I’d also bring National Geographic’s Concise History of the World, The Wheel of Life, and The Year of Magical Thinking.

Are you a finisher? In other words, are you compelled to finish a book even if you hate it? What are some books that you’ve had to force yourself to finish, or which you’ve bailed on?

I used to feel obligated to finish books, but I quickly realized life is too short and there are too many books on my To Read list to get through. I can’t really recall the books I stopped reading, because I just toss them into a bag and give them to the library. I do recall that I ditched Eat, Pray, Love and Swann’s Way. I also abandoned The Canterbury Tales after 20 minutes, though that’s not particularly unique…

Do you ever read the end of a book first? Why or why not?

Blasphemy!

What is at the top of your To Be Read pile?

Nutshell by Ian McEwan, Feminasty by Erin Gibson, and What is the What by Dave Eggers

Who is your go-to author when someone asks you for a recommendation?

It depends on what they’re looking for; someone recently asked for a suspense recommendation, and the first author that came to mind is Tana French. For other genres, I often suggest Roxane Gay, Joan Didion, James Baldwin, Lawrence Sanders, Doris Lessing, Roald Dahl, Sherwin Nuland, and Kay Redfield Jamison.

Would you rather be your favorite author or your favorite character?

My favorite characters tend to be miserable or deeply troubled, so I’d probably rather be an author. Though most of them are also likely miserable and deeply troubled… so perhaps I should give this more thought.

What book do you wish you’d never read?

The Devil Wears Prada. What a waste of time.

Has any book defined your life, as in you would be a different person if you hadn’t read it?

Reading Song of Solomon in high school hit me like a ton of bricks; the allegory and imagery is so thick and magical that I decided I’d have to major in literature in college. If I hadn’t read that book, I may have ended up majoring in business and been miserable.

Is there a genre or type that you are over and wish would just go away?

There are genres of which I’m not personally a fan, but I’d never wish any book to go away. Someone will want to read it, someone might love it, and as long as people are reading, I’m happy.

Describe your favorite place to read.

I love to read while sitting in my blue chair in my living room, feet on the ottoman, blanket on lap, with one cat by my side and one on my feet. Sometimes the cliché really is the way to go.

Book or movie? Is there a movie that you think was better than the book?

I’ve given this a lot of thought and the only one I can come up with is Lee Daniels’ movie Precious, which was based on the novel Push. Something about the book didn’t resonate with me, but I was very moved by the film.

What is your preferred format? Hardcover, paperback, digital, audio, doesn’t matter?

If I’m driving for hours at a time, I like to listen to audiobooks, but normally I prefer hardcovers or paperbacks. I do enjoy the Kindle when I’m in bed, but I don’t usually read in bed because I fall asleep as soon as I feel the pillow.

If you were to get a bookish tattoo, what would it be?

I’m pretty fond of a quote from Station Eleven: “It is sometimes necessary to break everything.”

If you’d like to be featured in a Reader Profile, contact me at patricia.uttaro @ gmail.com.

Emily Hessney Lynch is a digital marketer at a nonprofit by day; she also runs her own business called Serve Me the Sky Digital, where she offers freelance social media strategy, management, and writing. Additionally, Emily is the Director of Content at I Heart ROC, a local website that tells the stories of fascinating Rochesterians. She loves volunteering, reading obsessively, taking long walks, and hanging out with her husband and their two rescue dogs. In 2019, Emily is on a quest to read 100 books. You can follow along with #emilys100books2019 or by following @servemethesky.

What are you reading now?

I just finished my advance reader copy of Red, White & Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston, out May 14th from St. Martin’s/Griffin. It was spectacular. You may not realize you need a book about the First Son of the United States falling in love with the Prince of England, but you definitely do.

Are you a fiction or nonfiction reader?

I read way more fiction than nonfiction, but I do occasionally dive into nonfiction.

Share a favorite quote from a book you’ve read. Why is it meaningful to you?

“Every moment in your life is a turning and everyone one a choosing.” — Cormac McCarthy.

This one rings so true to me, because so often we think of choice in our lives only in the really big moments, but it’s actually all around us, in every second of every day. We are constantly choosing to stay in our jobs, our relationships, our homes, or to change and evolve. It’s a good reminder that we have the power of choice at our fingertips, all the time.

What book would you love to see made into a movie? Who would play the lead role?

I think the Saga graphic novels would make an incredible movie. Apparently Lin Manuel-Miranda made a comment about how much he loves to get lost in the world of Saga, and now the writer, Brian K. Vaughn, and artist, Fiona Staples, are joking in interviews about a Saga musical co-created with Lin Manuel. I’d be so down for that.

What book are you recommending that everyone read right now?

Lately I’ve been making an effort to read more books by women and people of color. I’m always recommending Angie Thomas’s books to people; another great one I read during Black History Month and have recommended widely is How Long Til Black Future Month by N.K. Jemisin.

Is there a book you feel is highly overrated?

On the Road by Jack Kerouac. I found all the characters pretty vacant, and couldn’t find much meaning in the story, at least not enough to justify the cult following.

Are there any other books that marked milestones in your life?

I used to reread the entire Harry Potter series every summer. The summer between high school and college, I was staying up late every night to read and working two jobs before heading off to U of R. One night, I came home from work exhausted, and scraped the side of my car on the basketball hoop as I pulled into the driveway. My dad was livid and blamed it on me staying up too late to read Harry Potter. He banned me from reading it for the rest of the summer! I still look back on that and laugh, even though it was horrifying in the moment.

What book challenged you the most when you read it?

I read Ulysses by James Joyce in my modern lit class in college. It was incredibly challenging, but I felt so triumphant when I finished it.

Does reading influence your decision-making process?

I think it does, but in very unconscious ways. Studies have shown that reading fiction makes people more empathetic, and I think everything I’ve learned from books (both fact-wise and compassion-wise) is at play when I’m moving through the world and making decisions.

Are you a “finisher” or do you stop reading a book if you’re not connecting with it?

I have a hard time abandoning books. I’ll power through even if I’m not enjoying it. I like to give books the chance to redeem themselves, or sometimes I just end up “hate reading” them, as I call it. I’ve been known to pick up a book I put down for six months or even a year and just jump back in and finish it, even after that long a break.

Why do you read?

I read to feel more like myself. The act of sitting down and reading centers and grounds me. I also read to have experiences beyond my day-to-day by escaping into a novel and a world other than my own. I read because it’s a habit, too—I’ve been doing it consistently my whole life, and something feels off if I don’t read.

Write a one-sentence description of yourself as a Reader.

I’m the kind of reader who will try anything once and have strong opinions about it afterwards—I’ll either end up either loving it and raving about it to everyone I know, or loathing it and warning everyone against it!

What is at the top of your TBR pile?

Karamo from Queer Eye’s book. It’s called Karamo: My Story of Embracing Purpose, Healing, and Hope. My hold just came in from the library and I’m definitely pushing some others back in the stack to read this one next!

What book do you wish you’d never read?

I was very close to saying You are a Badass by Jen Sincero for this question, because I think she has some super problematic ideas (for example, she’s fat-phobic and fat-shaming, she doesn’t believe depression is real, and she encourages people to buy Audis they can’t afford “so they can become the type of person who drives an Audi” / end rant). However, I learn something from each book I read, even if the takeaway is “that’s not for me,” and a firmer understanding of my own beliefs and where I stand in the world.

Describe your favorite place to read.

I have a cozy cheetah print chair in the corner of my living room—one of my dogs will curl up in the crook of my knee and the other one will lay at my feet. It’s basically the ideal reading scenario. In the summertime, we migrate to the back deck or a hammock in the backyard.

Cara Rager is the Manager of Educational Training and Family Engagement at WXXI in Rochester, NY. In her role, she works to engage, support, and empower Rochester’s families and educators using public media and PBS resources. In case you’re wondering, that’s Cara between D.W. and Buster!

What are you reading now?
I just finished reading The Burning Girl by Claire Messud and now I’m reading Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman. I have a pretty hefty “to-read” list.

Are you a fiction or non-fiction reader?
I mostly read fiction – I’m a big fan of psychological thrillers like The Woman in Cabin 10 by Ruth Ware, Into the Water by Paula Hawkins, and The Girls by Emma Cline. Lately, though, I’ve been getting more into biographies. I’m loving reading about the lives of comedians, such as Bossypants by Tina Fey, The Girl with the Lower Back Tattoo by Amy Schumer, and Sick in the Head by Judd Apatow. But my most favorite recent bio read was Jim Henson: The Biography by Brian Jay Jones. Given my work at WXXI Education and growing up with Sesame Street, The Muppets, and Fraggle Rock, I learned so much about Jim Henson, his creativity, the people he worked with, and all the places and spaces that he impacted.

What book are you recommending that everyone read right now?
Educated by Tara Westover. I couldn’t put the book down and I’m pretty sure I was in shock reading most of the book because I couldn’t wrap my mind around the idea that it was a true story. I’ve been telling everyone to read it and even bought it as a Christmas gift for my mom to read! Highly recommend.

Is there a book you feel is highly overrated?
Lean In by Sheryl Sandberg. I read it, I think the basic message is there but to me, I felt like a lot of women were left out of her picture. I do think it’s important for women to be empowered to shake up the status quo in places where they feel like they are not being supported or treated equally, such as their workplace. And I also think it’s really important to hear stories from lots of different women who have been able to make serious change. But, given all the praise the book got in the beginning, I wasn’t as impressed when I read it.

What book changed your life, or changed how you view the world? In what way?
I actually have two books that changed my view of the world and specifically my philosophy of education – Lies My Teacher Told Me: Everything Your American History Textbook Got Wrong by James W. Loewen and The People’s History of the United States by Howard Zinn. I read both books when I was in my undergraduate education program at St. John Fisher College. As someone who loved school and learning and was going to school to be a teacher, this was the first moment that I realized that the whole picture was not being taught in school AND that it was my charge as a teacher to make sure my students left with a variety of perspectives of history to build the full picture. I definitely felt cheated when reading these books and learning how much I didn’t know.

Do you read with your children? What are some of their favorite books?
While I don’t have kids of my own yet, I do have 6 nieces and nephews and I love children’s books! I love to read with them when I can, but I especially love choosing books for them. Gifting books is one of my favorite things; I like to collect some information about books/topics/genres they like and then see what treasures I can find. I love that they all have such different reading preferences even being so young. My niece, Ruby, is 2 years old and loves dinosaurs (like her older brother), cooking, and dress-up. For Christmas, I gave her Brontorina by James Howe (from Webster!) about a dinosaur who wants to be a ballerina but is too big and Razzle-Dazzle Ruby by Masha D’yans about a spunky little girl who uses her imagination to go on adventures with her dog. I have another niece, Lila, who is 8 years old and devouring books like crazy right now. She loves comic books (like Garfield!) and graphic novels and she’s really enjoying book series. For her birthday in November I gave her Narwhal: Unicorn of the Sea (A Narwhal and Jelly Book #1) by Ben Clanton which is the first book in a super silly series about a friendship between a narwhal and a jellyfish who both love waffles, parties, and adventures. She loved it!

Are you a “finisher” or do stop reading a book if you’re not connecting with it?
My personal philosophy is that reading should be enjoyable – that said, there are times when you must read something – but if I’m reading for pleasure, I’m happy to discard a book if it’s not grabbing me. I think choice is a big part of getting people hooked on reading – especially kids. I love getting lost inside books and then sharing what I’ve read or learned. Not everything is interesting to me and I’m okay leaving a book behind. Perfect example: Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follet.

Why do you read?
I read to relax, escape, exercise my brain, and learn.

What is at the top of your To Be Read pile?
Michelle Obama’s Becoming. I’m on the waitlist for the ebook but I might have to just buy it because I’m #138 of 30 copies!

Describe your favorite place to read.
My favorite place to read is on the couch, under a blanket, with a cup of coffee, and in between my two dogs. It’s the best, coziest spot.

Cynthia is the Patron Services Manager at the Central Library of Rochester & Monroe County, where she began working at age 16. She loves her job and can’t think of a better place to work and grow up. Libraries have always been an important part of her life. She got her first card at a young age and read everything she could get her hands on. In her off time, she enjoys, yeah you guessed it—reading, but also enjoys traveling, watching stupid reality shows, attending local theatre, playing word games on her Kindle and being outside, soaking up the sun. Her latest passion – thanks to a class at the library—is making monster dolls!

What are you reading now?
All the Ever Afters: The Untold Story of Cinderella’s Stepmother by Danielle Teller

Are you a fiction or non-fiction reader?
I read both; my reading list has way more fiction on it though. I like memoirs and library related or current topic non-fiction books.

Share a favorite quote from a book you’ve read. Why is it meaningful to you?

“Sometimes life is just what it is, and the best you can hope for is ice cream.”
― Abbi Waxman, Other People’s Houses

This quote is meaningful because of its simplicity; also because it’s so true, life may not always be fair and sometimes what you see is what you get. I often say “it is what it is” for things I cannot change. And, ice cream DOES make everything better, right?

What book would you love to see made into a movie? Who would play the lead role?
I rarely enjoy the movies as much as the books; however the Harry Potter ones I knew from the get go would be made into movies and I LOVED them. Also, Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children. One of my favorite books is Widower’s Tale by Julia Glass. I would like to see Andy Garcia play the part of the widower. Or Richard Gere, who doesn’t like to look at Richard Gere?

What book are you recommending that everyone read right now?
My all-time favorite recommendation is Merle’s Door by Ted Kerasote. For a more current recommendation, everyone should read The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas.

Is there a book you feel is highly overrated?
Fifty Shades of Gray, all of them. Enough said.

What book changed your life, or changed how you view the world? In what way?
I’m not certain that any book changed my life, but I will say that I felt a deep sadness when I read The Underground Railroad by Colson Whitehead. I cannot fathom this type of treatment of ones’ fellow humans still going on today, albeit not to the same extreme but still upsetting.

Are there any other books that marked milestones in your life?
No particular title; however my mom took us to the library A LOT when we were growing up. I will never forget when the librarian said I was ready to go around the corner into the chapter books section! My mom had this little look she would give me when she knew I was excited about something; she raised her eyebrows and had this little grin on her face as I followed Lois Hoffman (librarian) to the chapter books. You’d think I would remember what I picked out, but I don’t!

What book challenged you the most when you read it?
Moby Dick; I was so determined to get through it even though I found it boring at times My friends all gave up. I have since read it twice more.

Do you read with your children? What are some of their favorite books?
I do not have children; however I LOVE children’s books; often read to my cat. He prefers picture books. We like the If You Give a Mouse a Cookie series, more recently we enjoyed Pete the Cat series and Julian is a Mermaid. So glad there are more LBGTQ books geared towards young readers.

Are you a “finisher” or do stop reading a book if you’re not connecting with it?
I was always a “finisher” until maybe 5 years ago when I finally decided life is too short to suffer through books that you are not enjoying.

Why do you read?
For knowledge, for pleasure, to escape, because I love it! I have a friend who said he has never finished a book in his life. I was horrified!

Hannah Ralston is still relatively new to “libraryland,” having just about 5 years of experience under her belt.  She’s worked in both academic and public libraries, and she considers herself to be the “swing” librarian at Webster (NY) Public Library because she’s happy to assist in the Children’s, Teen or Adult departments (even though technically she’s a grown up librarian – read that as you will). When not at the library, she likes to read. Surprise! She also enjoys yoga, swimming, beach and forest bathing, funny TV shows, and hanging out with her shaggy labradoodle.

Write a one-sentence description of yourself as a Reader.
I read all sorts of things and I read them slowly, taking time to absorb and digest, sometimes getting bored, always following my intuition.

What are you reading right now?
I’ve been reading a lot of poetry this year. Right now, I’m reading The Passages of Joy by Thom Gunn. I usually try to read a mix of fiction and non-fiction at the same time (even though fiction is incredibly difficult for me to stay interested in), so I’m also reading Dubliners by James Joyce.

The desert island question – What 5 books would you have to have with you if you were stranded on a deserted island?

1. The first book I would make sure to have is a Field Guide/Plant Identification book specific to that region.
2. Crime and Punishment by Fyodor Dostoyevsky
3. Diving into the Wreck by Adrienne Rich
4. The Complete Tales of Winnie-The-Pooh by A.A. Milne
5. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by J.K. Rowling

Are you a finisher? In other words, are you compelled to finish a book even if you hate it? What are some books that you’ve had to force yourself to finish, or which you’ve bailed on?

Nope! Life is too short, and there is too much to read waste time on a book you don’t like. I recently quit two popular books:The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern and Ready Player One by Ernest Cline. They just weren’t catching my interest. I’ve heard that you should know by page 45 whether or not a book has grabbed you, but I usually give it 70 pages to be more forgiving. I also struggled, really fought with myself, through Milk and Honey by Rupi Kaur. I love poetry, and I wrote a lot in college, but it’s been really disappointing for me to slog through the poetry of my peers. Most millennial poetry seems like quick summaries of notes, jotted onto a legal pad during a therapy session. It’s whiny and aggressive, shallow and unskilled. I understand that it’s opened doors for many non-readers to get into poetry, so I’ll let that be the end of my rant for now.

Do you ever read the end of a book first? Why or why not?

Oh, I know that this is such a bad habit… It’s like the one thing that really makes me feel like I’m sinning as a reader. I do have a little bit of “story anxiety,” so every once in a while I’ll peek at the last line. It’s horrible! I wish I didn’t do it. It usually doesn’t help my nerves in any way! It’s been a while since I’ve done that, but I know my weakness.

Who is your go-to author when someone asks you for a recommendation?

It depends what type of book they are looking for… I don’t have a go-to author for non-fiction, but I have a few go-to books like The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks and Tiny Beautiful Things. For adult fiction, I like to recommend Donna Tartt and Sue Monk Kidd. If a teen or adult is looking to try graphic novels for the first time I’ll recommend Bryan Lee O’Malley. There are just too many great recommendations for kids! It really depends on the request.

What book do you wish you’d never read?

I really felt like Milk and Honey, as mentioned above, was a waste of my time and frustration. I’m also going to go ahead and just say it… I’ve read Fifty Shades of Grey, and for me that may have been a life mistake.

Has any book defined your life, as in you would be a different person if you hadn’t read it?

When I was ten years old, my father read the Chronicles of Narnia to me before bed every night. That was a life changing experience for me. I had always been a strong reader, but these books opened up a whole different world to me. It may have been the stories, or it may have been the time with my dad, but something about that ritual made me a life-long reader.

Describe your favorite place to read.

I will forever prefer to read in bed, which, according to The Atlantic (https://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2017/05/reading-in-bed/527388/), is dangerous and “depraved.” What can I say? I like to live on the wild side.

What is your preferred format? Hardcover, paperback, digital, audio, doesn’t matter?

I love audiobooks! For the first 2 years that I was working at Webster Public Library, I was commuting from Canandaigua. The long daily drive turned me into a huge fan of the audio format. Surprisingly, I’m not listening to anything right now, but I like to have one audio and one printed book going at the same time when they’re available.

If you were to get a bookish tattoo, what would it be?

I already have some brainstormed! I’ve wanted a Watchmen tattoo ever since I read it about 5 years ago. It would be an owl, with a stopwatch in its talons, and the following quote, which is too long for tattooing: “For you are life, rarer than a quark and unpredictable beyond the dreams of Heisenberg; the clay in which the forces that shape all things leave their fingerprints most clearly. Dry your eyes… and let’s go home.” Someday I’ll also have a Sylvia Plath tattoo. I’d like a bell jar, but I haven’t decided what I want in it yet. It will be slightly open, hovering above its base, ambiguous as to whether or not it will stay that way.