Ben Checked Out 3 Books
One of them was Trevayne, by Robert Ludlum. It's about Andrew Trevayne, a powerful, self-made millionaire who is "swept up in a tidal wave of intrigue and danger," according to the back of the book. Ben definitely appreciates reading as a way to get out of his head for a while. Hope this one helps.
John Chose the Mysteries
Our regular patron, Ben, loaned him Persuader, by Lee Child, and he liked it, so they both came to the street library to get John's name on it. He also checked out a J.A. Jance novel.
Kate Chose The Electric Kool-Aid Acid Test
I was off-duty but happened to be carrying 2 giant bags of paperbacks, and she was happy to get a book. The paintings she showed me were really lovely -- she's talented, for sure. She suggested I stock some art books in the street library, and I think that's a great idea.
John Took Motherless Brooklyn
One of my favorites, a novel by Jonathan Lethem. John's been making it to both the Wednesday & Saturday Street Books shifts to get new books, and it's always a pleasure to talk with him.
Chris Chose MacBeth
It's a gorgeous graphic novel, and we both decided it was a very tasty way to ingest some Shakespeare.
AB Came Around
I sort of think of him as someone who has been there since the very beginning, since that first fateful Street Books shift when he rolled up and studied our contraption and said, "Have you got a permit for that thing?" The rest is history, and AB is a great supporter of our project these days. He said he's going to retire in a few years and become a gypsy. I'll bet we'll have a couple of paperbacks to send along with him, when the times comes.
Lucie Chose Vonnegut & Saramago
She struck a pose that would allow a nice shot of her new tattoo. Cat's Cradle & Blindness are the novels she chose. Happy reading, Lucie.
Matt Checked Out Ask the Dust & the Kabbalah
Here he demonstrates his "discriminating reader" expression. Matt's a regular, and has plowed through a couple of Steinbecks and more, since the street library began.
Randy Went Home With Bukowski
Also has his eye on the copy of Don Quixote, but said he'd finish Post Office first.
John Took The Untethered Soul & The Moon is Down
The first is a book by spiritual teacher Michael Singer. It explores questions of identity and consciousness. The second is a John Steinbeck novel. We had a nice conversation about books, and John mentioned that he'd been to the Steinbeck museum down in Salinas, back in the day. He said, "Hey, tell Sue I found my wallet!" I knew he meant Sue, our Guest Librarian at Street Books. "Yeah, she was really worried," John said. Then he grinned. "Found it in my backpack."
Divine Went for Diversity
She checked out a little of everything: How Philosophy Can Save Your Life (Marietta McCarthy), Needful Things (Stephen King), and Girl Factory (by Jim Krusoe, a freshly donated Tin House title). Divine carried a little transistor radio that played the nicest classical music.
Tin House Throws In
Street Books got a visit from the lovely Vanessa Hargett of Tin House, Portland's own stellar literary magazine and publishing house. She brought along a box of their finest titles to donate to our library. Thanks again to Tin House, and to Vanessa for coming down to deliver books.
Geoff Brunk Brought Books to Give
Really great titles, too. The kind that you might expect a librarian from Multnomah County to bring. Geoff works in Library Outreach Services, as the Shelter Program Coordinator, directing volunteers who take books to shelters, halfway houses, drop-in centers and etc. We appreciate his support at Street Books so much. Hats off to Geoff, who made time to come and donate 2 boxes of books to our library.
Jason Breedlove Donated His Own Books
He visited the Street Books library to say hello, and to contribute 2 of his own titles to our collection. He said he spent about six years incarcerated, and has captured the stories from those times in his books. He is currently working on new publishing projects, and studying to be a personal trainer. Check out his website, buy his books & follow his great new trajectory.
Ben Was Persuaded
He found 3 he decided to try: Persuader, by Lee Child, The Black Dahlia by James Ellroy, and Outbreak, by Robin Cook. Ben is definitely a tough customer -- I'm on a quest to match him with a book that will rock his world. So far, each week it's a shake of the head and two thumbs down. Ben has a wonderful, wry sense of humor, and it's been a pleasure to get to know him.
Lonnie Went With Westerns
He chose Under the Saltwater Rim by Louis L'Amour and Tavor Evans' book, Longarm & the Killer Countess. He sat in the sunshine next to the fountain and dug into his L'Amour. When he posed for his photo, he smiled and said "Very few photos of me out in the world. 'Cept the ones the cops have."
