Well Read
Ben searched for a good book. While he was browsing, we discussed Goethe's "Sorrows of Young Werther." He is no stranger to great literature, and says he used to fancy himself a wordsmith. Laura recently slipped him a small blank journal and a nice pen, in hopes he'll record some of his thoughts on paper.
Read more about the day at Skidmore Fountain at www.suezalokar.com
Making New Friends, Finding New Patrons
Mac came passing through the Skidmore Fountain area and stumbled upon me and the Street books cart. At first, he said he couldn't take a book because he was only in Portland every few months. After I explained our system I was able to coax him into taking a book with him. When I come back, I'll bring you a donation, he said. Sounds great. See you next time, Mac...
Read more about the day at Skidmore Fountain at www.suezalokar.com
Passersby Pedal Up to Street Books
Melinda pedaled 18 miles into Portland to grab some lunch, but not before stopping to give Street Books some grand accolades. So many folks stop by the library to find out what we are doing. Many already know and just want to say, "Thanks for doing this." And everybody wants to donate books! Thanks from the whole Street Books family -- we appreciate all of our patrons!
Read more about the day at Skidmore Fountain at www.suezalokar.com
Get Along, Little Doggies
Eric, a street cowboy himself, came looking for some more westerns to pass the time on a sunny day.
Read more about the day at Skidmore Fountain at www.suezalokar.com
Seek and Ye Shall Find
That's what Van did. He stopped by on a whim on his way to visit his friends at the waterfront. He wasn't sure why he stopped, but he found a book by Phil Lesh, Searching for the Sound that left him found.
Read more about the day at Skidmore Fountain at www.suezalokar.com
Impressive Memories
John was impressed that I remembered his name. "I can't remember yours," he laughed. No big thing. I wanted to know immediately, had he found his wallet? The last I saw John, he had spent some time at Street Books talking to filmaker, Travis Shields. He spent quite a bit of time at the book cart in general that day. He had indeed found it, in the most likely of places: his bag. We had a good laugh and then, while we were completing out library transaction, I realized I couldn't find my notebook. We both had an even bigger laugh together when I discovered it resting on top of the bike seat directly in front of me.
Read more about the day at Skidmore Fountain at www.suezalokar.com
Divine Renews
Divine walked right up to me, dropped her bag on the ground and started to fish through its contents. She drew out two books, held them out to me and said, "I want to renew these." I accepted the books. I held onto them for just a moment and then handed them right back to her. Bring them back when you are done I told her. She looked at me kind of sheepishly and then she said that she had requested The Catcher in the Rye. Was it in? She wondered. I had been surveying the shelf and restocking book returns. It was! And we both got a little giddy as I drew it out of the shelf.
Read more about the day at Skidmore Fountain at www.suezalokar.com
John Brought Back a Book of His Own, and One From a Friend
John arrived at Street Books with two books in hand. He said that he wouldn't be taking any books with him today - he still had plenty to read. Said he would stop back later in the week. Thanks, John!
Read more about the day at Skidmore Fountain at www.suezalokar.com
Keith Gets More Than He Bargained For
Keith was waiting for me when I arrived this morning. He was receptive to the idea of speaking to a film crew that was there to tape footage for an upcoming internet TV segment. He had two books to return and found two more. He told me he would visit us on Saturdays, but he can't because he helps out at the Portland Saturday Market. See you next week, Keith!
Read more about the day at Skidmore Fountain at www.suezalokar.com
Dante's On the Road
He made certain to return his book during today's shift. Said he's packing up to head for Georgia, where his parents are in failing health, and he wants to check on them. His current plan is to start off on bicycle, and hope for work along the way, and food and shelter where he can find it. Good luck and safe travels to you, Dante. Hope the road is kind to you.
Daniel Forbes Donated His Own Books
His novel Derail This Train Wreck came out this year, and is a "rollicking dystopian noir." Forbes has published widely in places like Salon, Slate, The Village Voice, and others. Thanks for the donation, Daniel, and best of luck with the book.
Linus Chose Kerouac Mixed With Burroughs
I'll bet that's a hell of a cocktail, those 2 authors. Haven't read And the Hippos Were Boiled in Their Tanks, but it's a book co-written by the authors in 1945, before they were famous Beat Generation writers. It's the story of a murder which actually took place -- both Burroughs & Kerouac went to jail for not turning their friend in, after he came to each of them and confessed. Burroughs' family bailed him out, but Kerouac's Pop let him serve the time. Both Ben and Linus were headed to San Francisco, so they were concerned about taking the books. When I told them I have a PO Box, they were relieved, and said they'll send the books back once they've made it.
Ben Wanted the Dharma Bums
He's headed to San Francisco, and then not sure where after that. His traveling companion, Linus, tried to convince him that On the Road (which I also had, since Dante had just returned a copy this morning) was a better Kerouac to start with, but Ben stuck with the Bums.
Mystic Miracle Chose a Steamy Romance
And she opted to have her dog pose with it, (to a marvelous effect, I think). "Your patrons are getting hairier and hairier," Dante observed. Mystic chose Johanna Lindsey's Love Only Once. I sped-read a J. Lindsey novel on the MAX train to my library shift one day, and she definitely doesn't scrimp on the sauce, if you know what I'm saying.
Eric Went West
He hails from Wyoming, and likes to read stories about cowboys and their horses. He's been my most faithful consumer of Louis L'Amour this summer. Today he checked out Close Range by E. Annie Proulx and All the Pretty Horses by Cormac McCarthy. Don't know yet whether Proulx's story "Brokeback Mountain" will be more than Eric can handle or not. Pretty sure L'Amour never wrote 2 cowboy characters that fell in love. But I could be wrong.
Cody's in From Seattle
He pushed off for Portland after his mom passed away, and is seeking his fortune in our fair city. He said, "People have certain ideas about the homeless, but it's just not right. I know how to do so many things..."
Ben Chose Naked Lunch & Don Quixote
That ought to keep him busy a while. Some might consider it an odd combination, but I'll bet it will work just fine.
