A Tiger's Voyage
Neg told me he was formerly a police officer, but now found himself camping at Occupy Portland. He was drawn to the book, "tiger's voyage", though it took him three tries to grab the tiger by the tail. Let us know where the voyage takes you.
Lost, Then Found at Naito Fountain
Earl came to our new location at the Naito Fountain under the Burnside Bridge looking for books of poetry. In lieu of poetry, he took a book of Native American short stories for his friend, Pamela. I wrote down his request and told him we would have some books for him next shift.
Taking Four to Replace the Third
Billi was disappointed that we didn't have the third Harry Potter book on the cart today, but he managed to find four books to console him until next time.
Street Books: Ever More Mobile
This fall and winter will find us operating shifts under the roof structure at the Bill Naito fountain, but we will also be biking around the blocks in the Old Town/China Town areas in order to reach as many patron as possible. We will begin bike shifts at 10 a.m., Mondays and Wednesdays, and after making stops through the area, we'll park at Bill Naito from 11:30-1 on those days.
Richard Was Thirsty
And took M.T. Anderson's vampire novel by the same name. Richard is a big fan of Ann Rice, and told a great story of how he once upon a time met her in New Orleans, at a big gathering she threw for her fans. Streets were blocked off, and Rice sat and signed copies of her books for hours. Then at some point she apparently got dressed in Victorian gothic dress, climbed into a glass coffin, and was driven around the city, (all research for a character she was working on, Richard said). That's pretty elaborate research, we're thinking. Richard put in a request for Rice's Lasher, and we're aiming to get that to him this coming week.
Tanya Checked Out My Side of the Mountain
And she and Josh decided they'd read aloud to one another.
Detroit Took Fun Home
Fun Home: A Family Tragicomic is the great graphic memoir by Alison Bechdel. One of our summer patrons returned it with a high review, and Detroit decided to try it out.
Justin Chose Peace is Every Step
It's by the Vietnamese monk, Thich Nhat Hanh, and has suggestions for living more mindfully. We joked that perhaps the next time we see Justin, he'll be too enlightened to talk with us. But we hope not. Quite.
Lorraine Takes One For the Road
Lorraine was front and center as Laura and I set up the Street Books library outside of the Right 2 Dream Too camp on 4th and Burnside. She loves to read and was thrilled to borrow a copy of The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo. The book is quite popular on the street - we can barely keep one of our three copies on the shelf!
Motley Crew
A motley crew, indeed! I am bouncing off the gate to China Town hovering over a stoic looking duo: Street Books founder, Laura Moulton, and long time Street books patron, Eric, who is camping in the Right 2 Dream Too camp on 4th and Burnside.
The Tipping Point
I called out to Patrick as he passing the Street Books cart. He didn't remember me at first, but then I reminded him that I am a volunteer at Street Roots and he smiled at me. He was pleased to find that we carry both fiction and non-ficiton selections and found a book that was right for him: The Tipping Point, by Malcolm Gladwell.
A Family Affair
Marie and Troy (holding a book) asked that I take a family photo outside the Right 2 Dream Too camp Monday morning.
To See Or Not To See
Jim was happy to find Edward Abbey's Desert Solitaire on the Street Books cart. He also suggested that we consider providing some large print books after telling me that he has a hard time keeping a pair of reading glasses around. One pair was stolen and the other pair he forgot he had in his pocket and they were smashed last week. This gave me an idea....anyone want to donate reading glasses to Street Books?
Street Books and Right 2 Dream Too
Laura and I stopped by the Right 2 Dream Too (R2DToo) camp on 4th and Burnside in Portland, Oregon Monday morning.
It was a bit crisp on this fine Monday morning, but there was coffee brewing in the camp and many people came out to see what Street Books is all about.
Billi Chose Harry Potter
And a children's Halloween book, which he read & returned on the spot. Happy reading, Billi.
Larry Liked The Dark is Rising
When I asked him if he'd like to check out a book, he first said, "Nope, not into books." I told him he was welcome to come have a look if he changed his mind, and after a while he did. He liked the look of Susan Cooper's The Dark is Rising, and he also chose Nightlife, a small collection of illustrated dreams by local artist, bicyclist and just general rabble rouser Tom Lechner. Thanks to Tom, who attended the Street Books reception in September and donated copies of his collection.
Eric Chose Catlow, & Treasure Mountain
He's our most die-hard Louis L'Amour fan, and this week Eric found 2 titles to his liking. Catlow begins: "Wherever buffalo grazed, cattle were rounded up, or mustangs tossed their tails in flight, men talked of Bijah Catlow." Eric was also one of our most faithful regulars in the summer, and it was really great to see him walking across the square toward us on Wednesday. Happy reading, Eric.
