The Libob

When my sister was little, she called the library "the libob," so now we all call it that. I love the libob, with all my heart and soul. Sometimes, when I'm depressed, I just go there. I don't even need to check out any books, or even read anything. I can just sit there, and start to feel better.

But of course I never leave empty-handed. I love the fact that the books are free. I am a greedy patron, and take home any book that looks remotely interesting. I judge books by their covers all the time.

I've been going to the same branch of my library for more than 20 years. I know the fiction collection intimately. Recently I've started playing this game where I stand in front of a section of shelves, and I have to find at least one book that I've read on every shelf. I almost never lose.

Almost all of the books I read I get from the library. I go to bookstores, but almost never buy books. Instead, I buy coffee, and then I wander around looking at all the latest releases, armed with a small pad of a paper and a pen. I write down the names of books that look interesting, and then request them from the library.

I know we should buy books so that authors can keep their publishing contracts and keep writing. I am grateful to the authors I read, and want them to keep writing, so I do buy their books, sometimes. Especially if they are not best sellers; some of those people don't need my help, so I save my dollars for those authors whose appeal seems narrower, but who nevertheless please me with their work. I recently purchased Case Histories by Kate Atkinson, but haven't read it yet. I also bought A Feast for Crows, but that was because it was the only way to get it without waiting for months for the library's copy, and I couldn't wait any longer than I had already waited.