What are you reading?
As the interim director of the Swissvale Library, I love books and libraries, and I'm always interested in what others are reading and where they get their books to read. So I'm writing this occasional blog for Patch.
I just finished Emily, Alone by Stewart O'Nan. Living in Pittsburgh, the author writes a story full of references to East End places we all know and love. Emily is an 80-something year old woman. We read of her life during several months as she gardens, visits her children, goes to EatNPark with her sister-in-law Arlene, and worries her way through her days. I found myself caught up in her life and was glad to read her story, plus the East End references were fun.
What are you reading? Where do you get your books? Library? Amazon? Store like Giant Eagle or Walmart? Half-Price or another used book store? Used book sales?
I'm partial to getting books at the library. We're so fortunate with the libraries we have in our eastern neighborhoods. We have the Carnegie Free Library of Swissvale on Monongahela Avenue, CC Mellor Library on Pennwood in Edgewood, the Forest Hills branch of CC Mellor, and the Braddock Carnegie Library. Not far from us are the Wilkinsburg Library (borough building), Eastridge branch of Wilkinsburgh Library, Squirrel Hill Library on Forbes and Murray, and the gorgeous Homewood Library on Frankstown.
Your library card works at every single library in the county. You can get books at one library and return them to another. You can order books online from any library in the county and have them sent to your neighborhood library to pick up there.
If you haven't been to the library lately, why not go - borrow some books, audio books and DVD's - and enjoy the fun of a good read. And if you stop by the Swissvale Library, say hi, I'd like to meet you and hear what you're reading!
Kate Grannemann
Swissvale Library
Stephanie Rex
7:32 am on Thursday, June 21, 2012
Thanks for this great blog, Kate! Currently, I just started reading "Freedom" by Jonathan Franzen. While I usually get my books from CC Mellor, I picked this book up from the "Give One, Take One" library on Biddle Avenue. Check it out!
Kate Grannemann
5:52 pm on Thursday, June 21, 2012
Stephanie, where is the "Give One, Take One" Library? At Biddle's Escape, or nearby, or where? Cool idea, I have a few treasures to add to its supply.
Kelly Carter Uzzo
8:01 am on Thursday, June 21, 2012
I absolutely love libraries, the smell of books, and the quiet concentration... I am currently reading a couple of books, my favorite so far is "I Thought It Was Just Me, But It Isn't" by Brene Brown. I highly recommend it to all women!!!
Kate Grannemann
5:54 pm on Thursday, June 21, 2012
Hi Kelly, which libraries are your favorites? I figure you've probably got more than one!
William McCloskey
8:52 am on Thursday, June 21, 2012
Kate, good to see you writing here. The Irish crime novels of Ken Bruen are great favorites of mine.
Kate Grannemann
5:53 pm on Thursday, June 21, 2012
Hi Bill, I'm not familiar with this author. Where do his stories take place? Do we have any of his in our libraries?
Kelly Carter Uzzo
6:00 pm on Thursday, June 21, 2012
Hi Kate! I love the Murrysville Library... but my favorite library is in Park City, Utah where I grew up. It was in the old Miner's Hospital. So cool. So many memories. :)
sue
10:06 pm on Thursday, June 21, 2012
Hi. I'm only one book in on my summer reading list, but, it was a great read. State of Wonder by Ann Patchett.
Kate Grannemann
10:39 pm on Thursday, June 21, 2012
Sue, I read State of Wonder recently and was moved and amazed by the depth of Ann Patchett's storytelling. It's one of my all-time favorite books. (It's available at the Swissvale Library, either in print or as an audio book ...as well as from most other nearby libraries.)
Stephanie Rex
7:20 am on Friday, June 22, 2012
Hey Kate! The little library looks like a birdhouse but it's filled with books and it's right on Biddle Avenue near Biddle's Escape...the folks there can point you in the right direction!
Allison K
10:04 am on Friday, June 22, 2012
I just stopped by the "give one, take one" library last night. Such an awesome idea....Stephanie, let us know when you take Freedom back to pick up a new book ;) As far as where I get my books, sometimes Amazon wins out (although mostly for textbooks for school), sometimes brick-and-mortar Barnes and Noble, or else Carnegie LIbrary (downtown, since I work there, or Squirrel Hill). I also LOVE used book sales! Soooo, I get my books pretty much anywhere I can find them, is the gist of my story?
Stephanie Rex
10:08 am on Friday, June 22, 2012
I'll definitely let you know! I got lucky!
Kate Grannemann
11:38 am on Friday, June 22, 2012
Hi Allison, I'll definitely check out the "Give One, Take One" library. I really like Biddle's Escape and was there this morning. Isn't it great working at a library? And yes, used book sales are treasure troves. Have you ever been to the Swissvale Library's used book sales? We have them twice a year, spring and fall. Next one will be some time in October. Lots of books plus cookes. What could be better?