I’ve worked in libraries for four decades, but I’ve been a reader for even longer—since I was four years old and first discovered that books could take me wherever I wanted to go.
School and I never got along. Libraries became my place of solace, books my real teachers, and reading my rebellion against an educational system that felt more like intellectual prison than enlightenment.
Forty years in the library profession has given me a front-row seat to our relationship with books and the need to make sense of our lives through stories. I’ve watched reading habits evolve, witnessed reluctant readers fully embrace books of all sorts, and fielded approximately ten thousand requests for “you know, that book with a red cover.”
This journal is where I record what I’ve read with notes to help me remember them later. Sometimes I’ll offer a review or a suggestions for something similar.
I believe the right book at the right time can save your life, or at least make it better. I believe in the radical act of reading deeply in a world that profits from our distraction.
On AI and Authenticity
I use AI as a writing companion and editor to help me think more deeply about what I’ve read. Every book discussed in this journal has been read by me, cover to cover, but I sometimes use AI to explore ideas, challenge my interpretations, or articulate thoughts that are rattling around in my head. Think of it as having a very well-read, occasionally helpful writing partner who never gets tired of discussing books. The opinions, reactions, and ultimate judgments about these books are entirely my own—the AI just helps me get them down on paper more clearly.
Affiliate Disclosure
I’m an affiliate of Bookshop.org, which means I may receive a small commission if you purchase books through links on this site. And when I say small, I mean embarrassingly small—we’re talking coffee money, not mortgage payments. The real purpose of this journal is to share what I’ve read and, more importantly, to encourage you to visit your local bookstore or library. Independent bookstores are treasures that deserve your support, and libraries are the closest thing we have to magic in this world. If my book links help you discover something new, great. If they send you to your neighborhood bookshop or library instead, even better.