LibraryReads: October 2021

   It's LibraryReads day and that means four things here on RA for All

1. I post the list and tag it “Library Reads” so that you can easily pull up every single list with one click.
2. I can remind you that even though the newest list is always fun to see, it is the older lists where you can find AWESOME, sure bet suggestions for patrons that will be on your shelf to actually hand to them right now. The best thing about LibraryReads is the compound interest it is earning. We now have hundreds and hundreds of titles worth suggesting right at our fingertips through this archive OR the sortable master list allowing you to mix and match however you want.
3. You have no excuse not to hand sell any LibraryReads titles because there is a book talk right there in the list in the form of the annotation one of your colleagues wrote for you. All you have to say to your patron is, “such and such library worker in blank state thought this was a great read,” and then you read what he or she said.
4. Every upcoming book now has at least 1 readalike that is available to hand out RIGHT NOW. Book talk the upcoming book, place a hold for it, and then hand out that readalike title for while they wait. If they need more titles before their hold comes in, use the readalike title to identify more readalike titles. And then keep repeating. Seriously, it is that easy to have happy, satisfied readers.

So get out there and suggest a good read to someone today. I don’t care what list or resource you use to find the suggestion, just start suggesting books.

Please remember to click here for everything you need to know about how to participate. Click here to see a database of eligible diverse titles sorted by month.

And finally, here is LibraryReads' extremely helpful Resources page.

Now let's get to that list.... 

 

Announcing the October 2021 LibraryReads List!

And it features THREE! Horror Novels [with links to the 2 books I have reviewed already]

 

All the Feels: A Novel 

by Olivia Dade

Avon

Alex is an actor on a Game of Thrones type TV show entering its final season. Lauren’s job is to keep him out of trouble. Their relationship develops over forced proximity, a road trip, and tons of fanfic tropes (only one bed!). This steamy romance, with flawed, genuine characters and sensitive treatment of mental health and body issues, is a delight from start to finish. For fans of Spoiler Alert, Girl Gone Viral, and One To Watch.”

 

Lauren Mitchell, Neenah Public Library, Neenah, WI

NoveList read-alike: Incense and Sensibility by Sonali Dev

 

Cackle 

by Rachel Harrison

Berkley

“Annie is floundering after an unexpected breakup and a subsequent move to a small, quirky town. Her new friend Sophie is a little strange, but Annie is so happy to have someone who has chosen her that she ignores her concerns. This delightfully creepy fall story will work well for those who like paranormal fiction and light horror, and fans of The Year of the Witching and The Deep.”

—Rebecca Swanson, Fitchburg Public Library, Fitchburg, WI 

NoveList read-alike: We Ride Upon Sticks by Quan Barry

Death at Greenway: A Novel

By Lori Rader-Day

William Morrow Paperback

“In this departure from RaderDay’s usual thrillers, two young women, hired as nurses to care for a group of children, are evacuated to Agatha Christie’s country estate during WWII. Then a dead body shows up, and suddenly there's no telling what is safe and who can be trusted. For fans of Agatha Christie and Louise Penny.”

—Linda Quinn, Fairfield Public Library, Fairfield, CT 

NoveList read-alike: In Farleigh Field by Rhys Bowen 

The Death of Jane Lawrence: A Novel

by Caitlin Starling

St. Martin's Press

“Jane, a sensible young woman, decides that she must get married. Her first choice is Dr. Lawrence, but she soon discovers his dark, terrifying secrets and becomes engulfed in a tangled mystery of magic, ghosts, demons, and bizarre rituals. A well-written story for fans of gothic fantasy and horror like Gideon the Ninth and Mexican Gothic.”

—Sandra Allen, South Community Library, St. Petersburg, FL 

NoveList read-alike: The Silent Companions by Laura Purcell

Last Girl Ghosted

by Lisa Unger

Park Row

“Wren meets Adam on a dating app, and they seem to hit it off. After she tells him a secret, though, he ghosts her. She refuses to let it go and starts searching for him. What she finds is shocking, but she can match him in the secret department. Chilling, twisty, and hard to put down. Give to fans of Ghosted and The Couple Next Door.”

—Shari Suarez, Genesee District Library, Goodrich, MI 

NoveList read-alike: The Date by Louise Jensen

The Lincoln Highway: A Novel 

by Amor Towles

Viking

“In 1952, castoffs from a Nebraska juvenile detention camp embark on a road trip that takes them in different directions than initially intended. There’s so much genuine sweetness and aching loss in this exuberant book full of characters you’ll care about deeply. For fans of John Irving and Ann Patchett.”

—Diana Armstrong, Multnomah County Library, Portland, OR 

NoveList read-alike: Last Bus to Wisdom by Ivan Doig

Nothing But Blackened Teeth 

by Cassandra Khaw

Tor Nightfire

“This short, creepy haunted house tale, brimming with Japanese folklore, cleverly reveals the 

monstrousness in ordinary human callousness--we’re awful not from horrendous actions or beliefs, but because we just react and shout each other down. For fans of My Heart is a Chainsaw and The Toll.”

—Matthew Galloway, Anythink Libraries, Thornton, CO 

NoveList read-alike: Slade House by David Mitchell

Once More Upon a Time

by Rohani Chokshi

Sourcebooks Casablanca

“In this classic fairytale with a twist, a prince and princess who became a cursed king and queen are given a second chance at a future. The storyline and characters are engaging, but it’s the beautiful, flowing writing that really stands out. Recommended for readers of Stardust and Kill the Farmboy.”

—Sandra Woodbury, Burlington Public Library, Burlington, MA 

NoveList read-alike: Monkey Around by Jadie Jang

Payback's a Witch 

by Lana Harper

Berkley Jove

“Emmy reluctantly returns to her hometown to serve as arbiter of a magical tournament. But the town now seemingly has much more to offer, including a gorgeous witch. Will she be enough incentive for Emmy to stay? Romance and a welldeveloped magical system make this perfect for fans of TJ Klune and Seanan McGuire.”

—Alicia Ahlvers, Henrico County Public Library, Henrico, VA 

NoveList read-alike: The Ex Hex by Erin Sterling

 

A Spindle Splintered 

by Alix E. Harrow

Tordotcom

“Harrow delights with a queer fractured fairy tale novella. Zinnia Grey, forever obsessed with the Sleeping Beauty story, gets a spindle for her 21st birthday. When she pricks her finger, she’s transported to another dimension and finds a princess who'd rather not marry the dashing prince. For fans of Naomi Novik and Margaret Atwood.”

—Jill Minor, Washington County Public Library, Abingdon, VA 

NoveList read-alike: Briar Rose by Jane Yolen

The LibraryReads Hall of Fame designation honors authors who have had multiple titles appear on the monthly LibraryReads list since 2013. When their third title places on the list via library staff votes, the author moves into our Hall of Fame.

Click here to access the Hall of Fame Archive with annotations and readalikes

 

The Book of Magic: A Novel 

by Alice Hoffman

Simon & Schuster

A Line to Kill: A Novel 

by Anthony Horowitz

Harper

Oh William!: A Novel 

by Elizabeth Strout

Random House

The Vanished Days 

by Susanna Kearsley

Sourcebooks Landmark

Well Matched 

by Jen DeLuca

Berkley Jove

New Booklist Reader Magazine is Live

Booklist has debuted a new publication, and this one is public facing. Booklist Reader is now a Readers' Advisory product for you to share far and wide, with your patrons. 

This month it is all about Crime Fiction and includes extensive annotated reading lists of titles by age level and format. There are also interviews with authors and every month will feature that month's LibraryReads list and Hall of Fame authors.

It is useful? Yes! 100% yes. Everything in here can be used by you immediately to help patrons.

But even more important, it looks great! This is a professional magazine crew putting out this information. Your patrons will want to click through and read it. You can print out lists to hand out to patrons of all ages. You can build displays and offer a print take away. And each list is not only filled with some of the best RA info you can find anywhere, but it also makes you look like you upped your graphics game and or budget, which will impress your patrons [or at the very least grab their attention better].

And all of it is included with your Booklist subscription. In other words, you are getting more help for the same amount of money!

When you click through to read the digital issue, you will see in the Editor's Note stating that sharing this magazine far and wide is highly encouraged. 

Click here to see the digital magazine or click the cover image below. 

I have also reposted the landing page information below. Most libraries already have a subscription, bu,m you at the desk may not know how to access everything. See below or click here for contact information on how to fix that. 

Click here to access the magazine

What is Booklist Reader?

Booklist Reader is Booklist’s new library patron–facing magazine, featuring diverse readers' advisory recommendations, in print and on audio, for readers of all ages.

Who benefits from Booklist Reader?

All library patrons and all readers’ advisory specialists, and everyone who loves to read!

Where and when can you find Booklist Reader?

Starting this September, Booklist Reader will be available monthly at www.booklistonline.com.

Why Booklist Reader?

• Booklist Reader is now part of the Booklist and Book Links subscription: three magazines for the price of one!
• Booklist Reader is patron friendly. Filled with high-interest, themed lists that showcase books patrons can read and check out now, Booklist Reader is designed to be a readers’ advisory tool and time-saver in one.
• Booklist Reader is sharable: the digitalonly format means you can feature articles in newsletters or on your library’s home page— and print them to keep by the circ desk, too.
• Booklist Reader is librarian and readers’ advisory approved! Every issue includes the LibraryReads roundup of the top 10 books published that month, voted on by library staff across the country.

How can my library offer this to our patrons?

Subscribe today! Does your professional review source publication give you additional monthly printable lists, including LibraryReads and roundups of books and audiobooks for all ages? Booklist and Booklist Reader do. Subscribe today and get:

• 22 print and digital issues of Booklist
• 4 print and digital issues of Book Links
• 2 digital issues of Booklist Reader
• Booklist Online archive access

Already a subscriber? Set up a Booklist Online profile so you can access the digital-only Booklist Reader, the perfect readers' advisory tool for your staff. Questions about how to sign up? Call 1-888-350-0949 or email info@booklistonline.com.

Get Prepared for the Busy Fall Release Season

Fall is a very busy release time and it is easy to get overwhelmed, both my the number of HUGE titles coming out and by the patron reaction to the long holds queues. 

First and foremost, be aware of the release calendar. My favorite resources to stay on top of the current news and upcoming releases are:

• Book Pulse, PW Newsletters, Shelf Awareness: any and all of these newsletters can be delivered to your in box daily or you can check the sites on your own. I appreciate receiving them automatically, and while I do not read them all completely every single day [there isn't always time], I do skim them at the least. Even a quick perusal of these every day keeps you up to date on the current news.
• The Millions and Lit Hub: Those links go to the best places to find their lists of upcoming books. They both do extensive coverage and it is geared toward those who work in the book industry like us.

Second, and actually more important, let's talk about using the backlist for while you wait suggestions. We often get caught up in our patrons' excitement for the newest titles we forget a few things.

1. While people like Colson Whitehead and Lauren Groff have new titles coming out, titles everyone is talking about, most of your patrons have NOT read their backlist. Making a suggestion of a past book by someone who has a hot Fall title coming out is an easy and satisfying option for your readers.
2. Last year's hot Fall books are also EXCELLENT suggestions. The Millions is a great resource here. Click the search I ran, " Top Ten October 2020." That's how easy it is to pull up any month's back list of "hot" books. But its success comes from how you sell it to the patron. You tell them that you know they have to wait for the current hot books, but what about books from a year ago, 6 months ago, etc..... Just run the search and you have dozens of "hot" titles at your disposal.
3. Good old fashioned readalikes. Use Novelist or Booklist [they had this article about how they are constantly updating their readalikes for perennial favorites here] or simply Goggle, "Lauren Groff readalikes" [or whatever author you need to match up]. These will get great reads in your patrons heads, yes, but even better, it will show them how important you are in their search for their next good read. 
4. Always remember, it is important that you ask every patron if they want something while they wait. Just the offer that you can do that will remind them that you are there for them; even those who leave in a huff because they can't get the book they want that second.

Finally, sometimes you just need a humor break during this very busy release season. For that I pass you off to Lit Hub and this fun flow chart of how you should pick you big Fall read. 

While it is a bit silly, like the best jokes, there is a lot of truth here. Pass it off to patrons and then put them on hold for the title that best matches what they are looking for and then use what you learn by them going through the flowchart in combination with my tips above to find them something to read right now.

Start a Book and Don't Finish It: A Call to Action Flashback

Earlier this month, I had this post about the importance of reading what you want. It struck a chord with many so I thought I would end this week with another reminder on this same topic.

This post comes from my Call To Action series [access the the archived series is here]. It is entitled, " Start a Book and Don't Finish It."

But before I get to the specific post, a note about my Call to Action posts. Although I don't do them as regularly as before, this series is full of useful information. These are my no holds barre, tough love rants, posts where I tell you the way it really is and challenge the status quo.

The archive is worth a look as many of the topics are [unfortunately] timeless. 

But today....today I want to remind you why it is NOT necessary to finish every book you start.

Have a great weekend. I hope you have the chance to start [and stop, if you want] a book or two.

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 2018

Call to Action: Start a Book and Don't Finish It

To end this week I wanted to have a Call to Action that requires you NOT do something for a change.

Consider this post your permission to stop reading any book, ever, that you are not personally enjoying. Just put it down. Right now. Seriously. Stop and back away from the book.

I am not sure when it became a badge of honor to finish a book you aren't enjoying. People complain when they are slogging through something, and then pat themselves on the back when they finally finish it, like they deserve recognition or a medal.

WHY?

We should read widely to help the greatest number of patrons. Yes, this statement is true. But, we also have a limited amount of time to read. It is actually just as important that we spend enough time reading what we want to, for fun, because that is what keeps our passion for what we do alive. How can we help match people with the books they will love if we aren't in touch with what we love and why? You use the same skills and enthusiasm to help others that you gain from your own experiences. You might be suggesting different books, but the sentiment and the goals are the same. You want to capture for the person in front of you, the joy and pleasure of a good read, by suggesting the perfect book for them, but if you don't have your own joy of reading and an understanding of what you love and why as a basis, you cannot begin to help others.

This is the basic principle to all of my RA training sessions by the way. I spend most of the time allowing the group to reconnect with a favorite book and fall in love with it all over again. We don't even worry about helping others find a good read, rather we focus on each individual being able to share their book to others.

This strategy is a huge departure from the way RA Service is usually taught, and I can tell you first hand, it works.

But back to the issue at hand today-- not finishing a book you aren't enjoying.

As I say in my 10 Rules of Basic RA Service:

5.   Read widely (at least speed read widely)     -- reading ABOUT books is just as important as reading the book

I stand by this. If you aren't enjoying a book personally but feel like you either should know about it because it is an area you don't normally read in OR you think you have patrons who will enjoy it, read about it. Go to NoveList and Goodreads in particular to see reviews and actual reader comments [5 star and 2 star are the best]. Go to my 10 Rules page and scroll to the bottom for more resources.

The point is, there is absolutely NO REASON you have to finish a book you are not personally enjoying....ever. Well, there is one reason: if you are leading it in a book club. But other than that, you can stop.

I am making this a Call to Action though because when we refuse to stop books we aren't enjoying, we make it harder for our patrons to also do this. We tell them to stop after 50 pages if they don't like it. We tell them it's fine, we didn't write the book, why do we care if they read the whole thing and like it. We tell them to come back and try something else instead. But our actions speak louder than our words. 

If we make a big deal about slogging through books we hate, they will be embarrassed and ashamed if they stop. I stopped reading books I didn't like personally years ago. I still have former patrons who tell me that the best thing I ever did for them was give them the freedom to do the same- by my words and my actions.

So for today's Call to Action, let's all start a book and not finish it. Let's make sure we let others know we did it too. Be proud of the DNF designation. Don't be ashamed. Let's admit that there are books we didn't finish just because we didn't want to. And let's remind ourselves, our coworkers, and our patrons that this act of not finishing a book is not only okay, it is good for us all. It frees us up to rekindle our joy of reading a good story, which in turn will make us better at matching patrons with their perfect read.

Let yourself off the hook. It really is no big deal to start a book and not finish it. I promise you because I do it all of the time and the library police have not put me in jail. This is not life or death here. It's reading. And yes, it is my career and I am very serious about it, but I also know there are no consequences from NOT finishing a book, but there very well could be some negative ones if I did force myself through it.

For past Call to Action posts [but be warned most ask you to do something] click here.

What Books Are People Actually Enjoying and a Reminder About the Importance of Interactive RA Service

One of the hardest things for those of use who are entrenched in the book world to understand is what books the general public, as a whole, are actually reading and enjoying. 

That is not to say that we don't know what is popular. Of course we know what books are on the bestseller list, which titles are filling up our holds queues, and what is showing up on the return carts. But here is something important to remember admit this onslaught of data... none of this information tells us if the readers are enjoying these titles. This is much harder to figure out and requires more, and different, work.

Let me take a step back for a moment and remind you, while we know that people are buying certain titles  and/or checking them out in high numbers, we have NO IDEA if any of these readers are enjoying said titles, or quite honestly, even reading them at all. I make this comment in a lot of my presentations and it is often an eye opening reminder to many library workers. It is something we forget that we don't really know. 

I have a tag, "Interactive RA," where I call out posts where I write about being more proactive in encouraging patrons to share their experiences with a book. You can check out the tag or go here to my most popular post on the topic for more.

Those posts are about working with your local patrons, but you also need a sense of the larger picture. What are readers all over the country enjoying right now? This information is a great resource for some sure bet suggestions that you might not have thought of yourself.

Over on Book Riot, one of their writers used Goodreads to suss out this information. Entitled, "TOP BOOKS 2021: THE MOST HIGHLY RANKED AND WIDELY READ BOOKS ON GOODREADS THIS YEAR" took a deep dive into the 2021 reader rankings. From the introduction to the piece:

Have you been googling “top books 2021” lately? So have lots of people! Obviously there are lots of ways you could go about looking into this, but I’ve gone to Goodreads to investigate. Focusing on books published in 2021, I’ve looked at the top ranked books. Goodreads, as you might know, allows you to rate books by whole stars out of five (no half stars!) and then provides an average rating out of five. For the purposes of narrowing down the choices for this top books 2021 list, I decided the cut-off for high rankings would be an average of 4.25 out of five. If we’re really talking about the top ranked books, I thought, the average rating should be at least that high.

The other issue I took into consideration was how many Goodreads users had ranked the books. I found some very highly ranked 2021 books, but under 10,000 people had read and ranked them. This to me felt like it was easier statistically for these books to be highly rated. Also, if a relatively small number of people are reading a certain book, is it really a top book of 2021? I decided no. You might disagree, which is fine! 

So here’s my list of the top books of 2021. They all have an average rating of 4.25 out of five stars or higher and have been ranked by 10,000 people or more. A few books that could have otherwise made the list were cut (the lowest ranked ones) since there was already ample representation of their genre. Speaking of genres/forms, the ones that made it onto the list are: literary fiction, historical fiction, fantasy, science fiction, romance, nonfiction, and young adult. Onto the list!

 Click here to see the list.

Of course, this is not a perfect list as it only considers Goodreads, but it is a great resource for suggestions of proven, new titles, information we have trouble collecting in real time.

Scan the list and make sure, at the very least, you own all of these titles. And then make a display of any that are on your shelf right now. And include the full list on all of your digital platforms and social media. Book Riot has given you the eye catching title already. 

But then also, take it a step further, and ask you patrons to leave their top titles of 2021-- either on a slip of paper near a physically display or in the comments online. Then you can crowdsource your library's more local version of this list. And if you have a staff Goodreads page [which I have encouraged numerous times] you can also promote it by posting this list.

For more posts about Interactive RA click here.

RA for All Virtual Appearance Today and Coming Soon to Niche Academy

Today I am presenting my Actively Anti-Racist Service to Leisure Reader introductory program for PCI to a national audience. I have the current slides below.

I work very hard with Robin Bradford to bring this program to as many people as possible [click here for details]. While the two of us can only do this program once a month together, I present a shortened version alone, interjecting some of Robin's key points throughout [with her permission].

I go to state library conference and present for PCI for this reason-- it costs you, the average library worker, way less to access this important information in this manner.

Click here for today's slides or on the screen shot at the bottom of this post. 

And check out Niche Academy later this Fall for affordable access to 5 of my most popular programs under the PCI umbrella. PCI is packaging the work of some of their most popular presenters to offer of this popular training platform. I am thankful too Andrew,  PCI's owner, for doing all of the organizing to make this happen before the end of 2021.  

[Side note: Not only does Andrew provide effective and affordable training options for libraries, he is an excellent person to work for. He pays fairly and in a timely fashion. He also has support staff who make presenting a breeze.]

If you want Robin and I to appear at your state library conference or for your larger system, contact me. We are appearing for the entire state of Wisconsin later this month, the Illinois Library Association Annual Conference in October, and are in discussions with other states right now. 

This is the most affordable way for you to bring our training to your staff. While this is my full time job and I need to be paid for my work, I am committed to bringing this Anti-Racist training to as many people as possible. 

See some of you at 2pm eastern.

Click here to access slides

RA for All Is off for Rosh Hashanah

I will be back on Wednesday.

What I'm Reading: STAR for On the Hierophant Road

The September issue of Booklist features my STAR review of a speculative fiction collection for which I had high hopes going in, and it still blew me away. 

It is published by Raw Dog Screaming Press who are one of my favorite independent presses [see the full list here]. Their books are well made, of excellent writing quality, and easy to get though our normal ordering channels. Please check out all of their other titles, but get this one ordered immediately.

On the Hierophant Road

By James Chambers

Oct. 2021. 232p. Raw Dog Screaming, paper, $15.95  (9781947879379). 
First published September 1, 2021 (Booklist).

In his new collection of mostly previously published stories, Chambers [On The Night Border] has found the sweet spot where Science Fiction, Fantasy, and Horror meet, and fans of richly drawn, addictively compelling, speculative tales overflowing with dread and discomfort are in for a treat. Featuring well trod tropes as varied as faeries, space exploration, the muti-verse, dragons, steampunk, and more, Chambers brings something new with each entry. Standout examples include, “The Price of Faces,” a dystopian, near future body horror with Bradbury vibes, “Upon Waves, Wind and Tide,” a dark mermaid tale for McGuire fans, “ Grilg Friendly,” an alien invasion story set in a well manicured neighborhood, and the superb dark fantasy, “Meet the Tuskersons,” both a magical fantasy and an expose of a classic [fictional] TV show, with walruses! These tales are united by their proximity to reality, slightly askew, with just enough detail to immerse readers in the well built worlds and sympathetic protagonists, both of which drive each story, keeping readers turning the page and begging for more. All are satisfyingly unsettling, with tones ranging from existential terror to an uneasy sense of awe. For fans of the new breed of dark speculative fiction writers who actively play with genre confines to create reads that are inventive, thought-provoking and creepily fun like C. Robert Cargill, Caitlin Starling, and Cassandra Khaw.

Further Appeal: I cannot stress enough how fantastic these stories are. Each one is different, taking a different speculative angle, and yet the collection is united as I say above. Framed around themes as varied as body horror, dystopia, mermaids, aliens, space, faeries, dragons, steampunk noir, military horror, road trips, and more.

These titles were scattered throughout the publishing landscape but by gathering them together, readers will be able to get a full sense of Chambers' breadth.

From my notes which are longer than what I included above:

"All are united by being just slightly askew of reality to easily draw the reader in. All are unsettling, some veer all the way into outright terror, some have a dark sense of awe. The strong world building in each story is anchored by superior character development, thought provoking story lines, and an immersive and compelling pace. Dark and Speculative !!!!"

I have too many favorites to list them all but the first 4-- all different-- had me hooked; there was no stopping after that. 

I was also impressed by how each story connected me to the emotions of dread and unease so quickly. Such connection to the emotion, the fear, the dread so quickly in each story. "Upon Waves, Wind and Tide" is a great example of how well it is done quickly. And entire world is built with emotion in this short story.

The only complaint I can muster here is that for some of these stories, the reader will be begging for more. I demand a novel for a few of them. I knew I would give it a star because as I kept reading, I kept changing what my favorite story was.

Three Words That Describe This Book: unsettling, character centered, immersive

Readalikes: While the three up above link to more options, I would also suggest people who like this story also try the short fiction of Lucy Snyder or John Hornor Jacobs.

Becky on Reading Glasses Podcast and Why You Should Listen Even When I Am NOT a Guest

Recently, I got to chat with Mallory O'Meara, author of The Lady From The Black Lagoon [one of my favorite reads of 2019] and co-host of Reading Glasses podcast. 

Each week they take a bookish topic and often also talk to an author. Recent topics include, discussion of ISBN, how to find the most comprehensive lists of upcoming books [this week's topic], discussions of tropes, how to write a review of a book you hated, and more. As I told Mallory before we started recording, Reading Glasses is the most librarian of non librarian book podcasts. I have been a listener for years and appreciate how they articulate the tips and tricks of bookish people and explain the behind the scenes info, clearly and for a general audience.

To be fair, they do a MUCH better job than we do, as a profession, communicating bookish topics to avid readers. So, my advice, if you aren't already listening to Reading Glasses, start with my appearance and subscribe. Yes, you may know just as much as they do about some of the topics, but explain it as readers to readers. 

See below to listen to my appearance or click here. And become a regular listener of this weekly podcast.

And while we are on the topic, make sure you have pre-ordered O'Meara's upcoming book-- Girly Drinks: A World History of Women and Alcohol.

Ep 219 – What Books Are Coming Out? Plus Spooky Season Kickoff with Becky Spratford

Reading Glasses

Episode 219

2nd September 2021

Click here for more info on
Reading Glasses podcast

The Best List of Books to Read Before You Die

I have long been a proponent of NOT making lists of the books you should read. In my 10 Rules of Basic RA Service and a few other places I have multiple links that address this issue. Yes, I train people who are helping leisure readers. Yes, my job is to know about all the books so I can help people find the best read for them. And yes, I want to read all the books. But here's the thing, I cannot read all the books and I never will. I have gotten over this, and it was not as hard as we make it.

Our job is to help people find books that are right for them. Most of us also like to read for fun. But, too many of us toxically combine these two truths and turn what we HAVE to read into an anxiety inducing problem that takes over our lives.

I say it over and over, but I know it needs to be repeated-- 1. You can read whatever you want and 2. you are not a better person to librarian if you read more than someone else. This is nonsense. Yes I believe in the work I do and I take it seriously, but it is work. It is not my life or reason for being. It does not define me.

Also, YOU WILL NEVER READ ALL THE BOOKS, SO STOP TRYING! You will never even read all the books you want to read. Get over it. I could go on and on, but below I have compiled a few of my best posts that address this issue from a variety of angles:

• Here is the link to my popular and helpful [so I've been told] post on handling TBR anxiety. I think this is the first step. Managing your personal stress about all the books you will never get to.
• The next step is understanding that you can help all the readers without reading all the books as long as you use resources to help you. This is a HUGE focus of my signature training program. The best way to start is to focus on reading ABOUT all the books, instead of trying to read all of them. You actually learn more about who would like the book and why if you read about a book. When you read it, it is easier to get caught up in your own opinions and experience. It takes a lot of practice to extricate yourself as a reader from the process. But, when you read multiple opinions, reviews, reader comments, and articles ABOUT a book, you get a fuller picture and can actually help more readers connect to it. Click here for one of my many posts on this topic. And also here for my 10 Rules of Basic RA, of which many delve into this more.
• There is also the issue of shaming others about how many more books you have read than them. It should be clear from the bullet points above that I don't care how many you read. And if I don't care, the leading provider of RA training in the country, who are you trying to impress? Seriously. Take a step back and check yourself. No one cares how many books you have read. And, furthermore, as I have established above, it doesn't make you better at your job.
• Click here for my post on how and why you should stop with the counting of books and shaming of others [because you are shaming others even if you don't do it on purpose].
• Click here for for a link to an article and podcast by others who are also top RA practitioners talking about how they are excellent at their jobs without being able to read many books.

But all of this work I have done over many years has never stopped the books you "should" read debate, and I am sick of it!

You should read whatever you want for whatever reason you want. And, just because you are a library worker or bookish person, you are not above others. We spend so much time shaming people for what they like to read-- especially genre readers-- and I am never here for this behavior. No matter what anyone wants to read, they should read it. End of sentence.

We are not the reading police. We should not be gatekeepers. We are simply guides, matching people with their best read. I explain it to library workers this way: your goal should be to have every single book in your collections checked out at the same time. Obviously this is impossible, but that is what you should be striving for. This means not only are you working to match people with books, but also that your collection is responsive to what they actually want to read. It is a whole library effort.

In my first rule of RA Service, I have long held up this excellent list of the books you "should" read. It is all about serendipity or based on what you want to read. It is 28 examples. But just the other day, I was alerted to this even better list of the Books Your Should Read Before You Die over on Twitter:

Click here to see the tweet

The image reads:

List of Books to Read Before You Die

1. Any book you want
2. Don't read books you don't want to read
3. That's it
4. Congratulations you did it

There is a comment: "I really like this list. All my favorite books are on it."

And a second comment: " Thanks! I worked really hard on it."

[Thanks to Twitter handle Library_Kevin for positing it and my colleague and LibraryReads Board Member, Joe Jones, for getting it into my timeline.] 

While this list is not perfect, the sentiment is EXACTLY what I have been trying to get across to all of us for years. Print this out, book mark it, whatever it takes to remind yourself  that we are not saving the world here, we are simply making it a more enjoyable experience for everyone. Read what you want. Stop making rules and judgments about what we should read. 

I hope all of the links here today will help you help yourself first, so that you can then pass this healthier attitude on to your colleagues and patrons.