Our annual literary love event came to a close at the end of February, and it's been exciting to see the results of everyone's bookish, romantic rendezvous. Even though we choose titles that are well-reviewed, on "best of" lists, and often award-winning, the reactions of our ravenous readers always vary quite a bit. The content, style, even the reader's mood or perspective can affect their feelings about potential literary love, just like love of any kind! If a book is wrapped up and returned, we try to re-enter it into the "dating pool" to see what another local reader thinks, and those ratings are rarely the same. This year, 9 readers fell in love, 12 just made new friends and 6 report that they have permanently parted ways.
Below is a sampling of how our daters fared in love, in February. All of the ratings will soon be in a notebook in the library!
True Love
"I loved this book! Catalina is an unforgettable character - witty, loving, complicated. Timely read to bring empathy and understanding to experiences of undocumented immigrants."
"As soon as I finished the book, I wanted to read it all over again! The connections between the stories and each one's relationship to 'rejection' left me rethinking everything by the end."
"Fabulous novel! At just 230 pages, this smart novel touches on Covid lockdown, the internet, MeToo, parenting, aging, coming of age, at and creativity, while giving us three very real characters in crisis."
"So pleasantly surprised - never sure what to expect with poetry but I found myself enthralled, transfixed and moved to tears by Carl Phillips' poetry. Memory, love, faith, regret - lots of big concepts along with observations of the tiniest details of the natural world."
Just Friends...
"Like many first dates with strangers (and even friends of friends - the first blurb is from a poet I adore!), there were moments (ie. phrases, images, lines) of promise, but nothing sparked into full-fledged feelings."
"Zero stars - I had to stop reading it because the elite entitled and their behavior were all too real. I read to escape from all that."
"The dilemma that drives this story - will the main character make it off the island - is so clearly presented and well-written, that it feels almost unbearable. I chose to read quickly. I took a lot of breaks. I was glad when it was over."
"This graphic novel guidebook is perfect for anyone moving to NYC - very informative and fun! It has me itching to head into "Town" for a visit :)."
"It was fun and a little different from what I normally read. The mom parts hit a little too close to home for my typical read."
Never Again!
"The book is introspective, with the main character writing about two relationships in his life. There isn't really a plot, the story just meanders."
"A true account of Nazi death camps. Did not realize before reading this account how, sadly, the 'slaves' became the 'slave drivers.' Yes, a 'haunting memoir.'"
"I was prepared to laugh. This book was going to be fun but how could I laugh at someone who was part of a scam. I didn't want to blame my date for falling for subliminal messaging but really, not funny, just kind of sad!"
"I fell for the pickup line, 'I am going to die. My body contracts the second the plane descends from thirty thousand feet' and I kind of wish I didn't. I met this date with optimism and was very disappointed."
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