Library staff offer reading suggestions over breakfast

By JOHN HOWELL
Posted 1/28/20

By JOHN HOWELL It was the books, not the breakfast, that had an audience "e;chewing"e; Tuesday morning at the Warwick Public Library. The library holds "e;Breakfast with Books"e; semiannually. The winter breakfast focuses on prize-winning books, and in the late

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Library staff offer reading suggestions over breakfast

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It was the books, not the breakfast, that had an audience “chewing” Tuesday morning at the Warwick Public Library.

The library holds “Breakfast with Books” semiannually. The winter breakfast focuses on prize-winning books, and in the late spring the library staff comes up with summer reading suggestions.

Part of the appeal of the event – where coffee, juice and Danish is made available – is the apparent preferences by those giving the reviews. Some books got a synopsis worthy of a dust jacket, while others, like “American Eden: David Hosack, Botany and Medicine in the Garden of the Early Republic,” opened a window to a little known botanist and doctor of the late 18th and early 19th centuries. Hosack attended to Alexander Hamilton after Hamilton's deadly duel with Aaron Burr. The book is by Victoria Johnson and was a finalist for a Pulitzer Prize in Letters.

No question librarian Jennifer Linton who along with her colleagues Kristin Munson and Mary Anne Quinn talked of the books they read, had a fondness for “Disappearing Earth” by Julie Phillips. The fictional work is a finalist for the National Book Award.

Linton said the book portrays “how dangerous it is to be a young woman, especially in Russia.” Her recommendation is that it is “a solid pick if you enjoy thrillers with a bit of heft.”

The audience sat in silence as covers of each book flashed on the big screen and details of the work was outlined. Most attending held a stapled list of the 76 books previewed, checking those that interested them.

This was the first “Breakfast with Books” for Joyce Almedia. She said she belongs to a book club and was interested in hearing some suggestions. She said her club enjoys socializing, eating and drinking and she is hopeful of bringing back some ideas. Surely, she was intrigued by some of the books.

“I’m watching less and less TV,” she said.

The breakfast was a first, too, for Jan O’Donnell, who has more time to read now that she has retired from Hendricken, and Emma Gravel, who probably doesn’t have the time to read. Gravel left her older child in the Children’s Library while she balanced her younger daughter Debbie on her knee. Surely the youngest at the breakfast, Debbie grew antsy and she and her mother headed back up to the Children’s Library.

Joyce Lear, who directed the “Breakfast with Books” for eight years, handing it off to Mary Anne Quinn, couldn’t say how long the library has been running the event. The library hosts a number of book clubs and, in addition, the library offers reading incentives.

The list of books previewed is available at the library. And if you’re looking for a personal take from those who have read them, ask for Mary Anne, Kristin or Jennifer.

Comments

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  • Justanidiot

    i am glad that someone smarter than me tells me what to read and think. part of the tree hugging liberal socialist takeover of the real america.

    Tuesday, January 28, 2020 Report this

  • Drew

    I love nothing more than a book club and a free breakfast

    Wednesday, January 29, 2020 Report this

  • davebarry109

    Mr. Editor....where's the book list. Would be nice to see.

    Wednesday, January 29, 2020 Report this

  • thepilgrim

    The staff will promote only the books deemed commie-lib.

    Friday, January 31, 2020 Report this