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3.94 AVERAGE
3.94 AVERAGE
This book was different for me because it’s a collection of short essays, but once I read the summary, I knew I had to read it. It spoke to my inner wish of always wanting to work in the book industry. I highly recommend this book! It’s a quick read and it’s especially important to remember how precious, librarians and booksellers are in our current climate.
Hi, I'm So and So, and I am a bookshop owner/bookseller/librarian! I love books! I love helping people who come to me looking for books! I especially love helping people who don't like books to like books! Here are a couple of cute and heartwarming anecdotes about a book I like, and me helping someone who does/doesn't like books!
That's pretty much it. So I'm a big meanie for picking on this book, because its intentions are good, but it's very repetitious and all blends together. On the plus side, if you drop the book and lose your place, you can just open it at random and keep reading, chances are you won't notice any difference.
That's pretty much it. So I'm a big meanie for picking on this book, because its intentions are good, but it's very repetitious and all blends together. On the plus side, if you drop the book and lose your place, you can just open it at random and keep reading, chances are you won't notice any difference.
slow-paced
This was a joy to read and I was so bummed when it was all over. It is a collection of short stories from booksellers and librarians across the country talking about how their lives lead them to where they are and the impact books and reading has had on themselves and the world around them. If you are a lover of books I highly recommend. 5*
If you consider librarians enjoying reading a “secret”, you may enjoy this book. Would be one star, but there are a few vignettes in here that do deserve a star. Don’t get me wrong, librarians do amazing work, but this wasn’t the best way of showcasing that.
This was like a warm hug for me (a librarian). It validated everything I do as a librarian and reminded me to focus on some of the smaller things that make a big impact - like making a connection. This book will stay in my collection and be read over and over again.
I honestly had trouble getting through this. I can easily read a long book in 1-2 days, and this took me nearly two weeks because I found it so boring.
The stories, written by booksellers and librarians (but possibly heavily edited afterwards) are cute, but the present-tense writing style they ALL use (hence my suspicion they’re heavily edited) and a propensity for name-dropping Patterson (who compiled the book) got tiresome. Even the ending was odd; the second to last story would have made a pretty good ending, but it ended with a random one that wasn’t particularly compelling in any way, and that was it. No conclusion or wrap-up of any kind.
I’m a crier, and some of the more heartwarming stories made me tear up, but it wasn’t really an enjoyable or interesting book overall. As a librarian myself, I was sorely disappointed with it.
The stories, written by booksellers and librarians (but possibly heavily edited afterwards) are cute, but the present-tense writing style they ALL use (hence my suspicion they’re heavily edited) and a propensity for name-dropping Patterson (who compiled the book) got tiresome. Even the ending was odd; the second to last story would have made a pretty good ending, but it ended with a random one that wasn’t particularly compelling in any way, and that was it. No conclusion or wrap-up of any kind.
I’m a crier, and some of the more heartwarming stories made me tear up, but it wasn’t really an enjoyable or interesting book overall. As a librarian myself, I was sorely disappointed with it.
Affirming, but nothing new here for someone who’s been a librarian for 35 years.
This was a joy to read. A book full of librarians and bookstore owners who romanticize books as much as I do? Me gusta. While the essays (after a while) began to sound similar, there were some that stood out to me and really enjoyed. However, as a former Barnes and Noble bookseller, there was too much Barnes and Noble talk. (Long live the independent bookstore!) But hey, there are some towns where they may only have the big-box store like B&N and Books-A-Million; but that just shows how important libraries are too! (Hug your local librarian please - but only if you get consent.)
I think my fave was about the man who works at the Holocaust Museum in Houston, TX. It was only a paragraph, but he mentioned a few facts about WW2 that I didn't know about, and it got me interested in doing more research on the countries that people don't normally hear about during that time. For example: Did you know that Mexico was the only country in the world to officially protest against Germany annexing Austria in 1938? And that there is a square in Vienna named "Mexikoplatz" on behalf of their support? Because I sure as heck didn't, and that made me realize how little I know about the country my grandparents are from!
I'm a sucker for a book that makes me want to read and learn more.
I think my fave was about the man who works at the Holocaust Museum in Houston, TX. It was only a paragraph, but he mentioned a few facts about WW2 that I didn't know about, and it got me interested in doing more research on the countries that people don't normally hear about during that time. For example: Did you know that Mexico was the only country in the world to officially protest against Germany annexing Austria in 1938? And that there is a square in Vienna named "Mexikoplatz" on behalf of their support? Because I sure as heck didn't, and that made me realize how little I know about the country my grandparents are from!
I'm a sucker for a book that makes me want to read and learn more.
informative