Libraries and Books

This morning, as I do once a month,  I chose books for homebound folks at the downtown library.  Three of them wanted large print Amish romances, mysteries, and general fiction; the fourth one regular print fiction but not mysteries. I have lists of books they have already read so I try to focus on the new book shelves.  It was easy this morning.  Sometimes when someone wants 10 or more volumes and they've read almost everything by Patterson and Steele, it gets time-consuming.   I hope that someday, when I may be homebound, someone will bring me books too.

On Wednesdays I scan and induct at our local Francis Branch Library.  It's 1 1/2 hours of intake, sorting, and putting books on carts ready to  be shelved.  Sometimes, it's alphabetizing too.  It is pretty boring and yet fairly intense as I work mostly non-stop.  It is my thank-you to the librarians who fill my requests for new books or books from other branches.

Today's finds--How many will I actually read? 

If I have any hobby, it might be reading.  I spend a fair amount of time looking at book suggestions from the New York Times, Lithub,  NPR, and  lists others (like my daughter) post.  I record "Want to Read" books on my Goodreads page and on the local library site.  I frequently order out of print books from Better World Books--often only $3.98 each.  Sometimes I find books at Notre Dame's Hesburgh Library and
check them out with my spousal ID.

Goodreads says I have read 459 books in the last six years.  That includes 134 mysteries, 16 biographies, and 76 memoirs.  I created a category for "intrepid women" which includes 27 books.   I have abandoned far more  books than are listed in my "abandoned" category.   My guess is that I actually read about half of the books I bring home.  If I start a book and it doesn't interest me, I go no further.  If I find a book I really love and finish, it is often hard to pick up another one immediately.

Sometimes my favorite books have been serendipitous finds at a used book store or a for sale shelf at a library.  "Insomniac City" was one such find recently at the St Pete Beach Library--a memoir by Bill Hayes which was a tribute to New York City and his lover Oliver Sacks.  I needed a real book, not another Kindle one.

Today I came home with five books from the downtown library; five more came in the mail from Better World Books.  I have already dipped into three and rejected them.   But there are seven to go!