Dirty Tricks Went Out Again
Can't find this kind gentleman's name tonight, but I reckon we'll see him in a week. Happy reading, friend.
Massoud Left With Living Cuisine
He told me he wasn't living outside but pinched his thumb and forefinger together to demonstrate how close he is. He said he liked to read real things, said "There's enough fiction already," and gestured in the air around his head. When I asked where he comes from originally, he said something like, "A place your country drops bombs on." I said, "You're going to have to be more specific, because I think we've got more than one these days." When I asked "Iraq? Afghanistan?" he said, "Yes, in that neighborhood." Massoud said that he was very glad to be here, and that America was a truly great place. He said there are many inspiring people here, doing good things. He opted out of a photo, but gladly held his book for a shot -- somewhere in the city of Portland, I hope Massoud is making a carrot beet salad from a recipe in his book.
Cory & Josie Brought Books
They stopped at a garage sale and bought heaps of titles they knew Street Books could use. Thanks again, friends.
j
Documentary in the Making
Local documentary filmmaker Travis Shields has been visiting the street library to get some film, and he's hoping to get a short documentary about us edited in time to submit to the NW Film Center. Check out his new blog, which features a photo of me taking a picture of Pamela. I'll let you know if his documentary is selected -- then we can all meet and watch it on the big screen.
Dante on Cervantes
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All the Leaves Are Brown, And the Sky is Gray
So sang the Mamas & the Papas in the Park Blocks, at the start of the Street Books library shift. Background music for the car show at the art museum, and a nice floaty backdrop for this librarian to listen to as she organized books, (subsequent songs weren't as good, sadly. A few were even bad). Ben came by and returned Dog Eats Dog ("Hated it. It's like it took the whole book just to tell a joke.") and Travels With Charley, John Steinbeck's book about traveling America with his dog, ("Didn't even like the dog," Ben said.) Ben's still working his way through A Prayer for Owen Meany, (isn't liking it, but now he feels compelled to find out what happens to Owen Meany), so he declined a new book. As he left, I asked him if there was any book I could get for him that he might like. "I dunno..you know, maybe international intrigue, tracking down a killer...that sort of thing." He smiled wryly and headed off.
Dante showed up on a bicycle, a gift from several of his newspaper customers. He had a hot shower today and was wearing clean clothes, and he looked and felt like a million bucks. Dante is a newspaper vendor for Street Roots and has developed a lot of great relationships with customers, has gotten some recent odd jobs to earn money, and is serious about getting a regular job. He's also quite articulate when it comes to explaining why everyone should read Don Quixote. (See video posted soon).
Jim-the-Walking-Stick-Maker stopped by to say hello, as he does most Saturdays.
Beth Chapman stopped by to observe the library shift and help out, (she even brought me an iced tea!). She is a librarian who is very interested in working with people who live outside, and it was great to have her today. Mycol requested a book about the raw food diet, so he'll know what vegetables to grow, and Beth took on the quest to find him the perfect book. Thanks again, Beth.
Chelle Dey stopped by the library and donated copies of Clan of the Cave Bear and Eclipse. Thanks again for the books and the great conversation.
Marjorie Sharp lives downtown and stopped by to let us know she's got lots of books to donate. Nice to meet you, Marjorie.
All in all, a really wonderful Saturday of book-lending and great conversations. Thanks again to all my patrons, and to all of you who have donated books, money, and time to the Street Books project.
KimKim Took A Common Pornography
She and her friends recommended a quick list of books for the Street Library, including authors like Vonnegut, Burroughs, and Emerson (The Pearls of Wisdom). Also Crime and Punishment by Dostoevsky, The Art of War, by Sun Tzu, and The Book of Five Rings by Miyamoto Musashi. KimKim said Brooklyn Bodhisattvas, A Book of Visions & Kabballistic Poetry (by Shulamit) really rocked her world. Drop me an email if you've been meaning to unload these very books to a street library. 
Mycol Devoured Fast Food Nation
Or appeared to, at least, in his photograph. Mycol has lived outside in the past, but has now secured housing. He talked eloquently about the challenges young people face even after they do find housing, especially if they are accustomed to living outside and not shaping their days to fit any schedule or rules. The adjustment is hard. But he is enjoying his apartment and has thrived, recently getting a certificate from Growing Gardens for work he did for the program. He articulated well the issues around hunger, farming and growing one's own food. A very impressive young man. And looking for work, I might add.
Isla Checked Out Portland Noir
She came through about a month back, and donated $5 before she checked out books. Thanks for coming back, Isla.
Chris Needed Homeland
As I filled out his Street Books library card, I asked him his name, and he said "Chris." Then he said, "Whoa, that's my real name," as if he hadn't given that to anybody in a while. "I'll guard it," I said. Safe travels, Chris.
B. Mr. Wree Chose the Dharma Bums
And the Umbrella Academy, which has now been checked out and returned several times. Said he was having a hard time right now. He sat along Salmon Street and sang "Hey Nah-nah, hey nah-nah" for a while, in a lovely rich voice that carried over the square.
Stephanie Chose Stephanie
She's read the Twilight series before, but Stephanie thought she'd like to read them again (and happens to share the author's name, first & last). She returned 2 books first, and then checked out Twilight. Good to see you again, Stephanie.
S
Ken Knew Pamela Likes Wolves
He read it on the Street Books website. So he brought a bag to the street library and said it was for Pamela. When I looked inside, I found a soft plush wolf, a beautiful book of colorful wolf photos and a wolf calendar. When I found Pamela later and passed the things on to her, she hugged the wolf to her chest and cried.
Zach Took Che Guevara
He made the request last week and I found the Journals of Che Guevara for him.
Tony Got His Salvatore
He said he didn't want to take the book to jail. "You're headed to jail?" I said. "Yeah," he said. "There's no warrant yet, but I've been doing bad stuff."Good luck, Tony.
A Group of Girls Came By the Library
They had just sold their books at Powells bookstore in exchange for a $100 gift card which they donated to Street Books. Thanks to Grace, Blakely, Holly, Avery, Helen, Macy and Kari.
Eric Went With To Tame a Land
And later he brought me a bottle of water. Bless your heart, Eric.
