Sebastian White :: Library Lovin'

BOOKS

Library Lovin'

The Fiat-Lux | December 10, 2002
By Sebastian White

On a recent morning, as an early winter snowstorm whirled its way through Alfred, my sociology class found itself deeply engaged in discussion over one of life's little imponderables.

A solution to the problem of grinding poverty around us in Allegany County? Nope.

Theories on petty crime in Openhym, Tefft, and other football player-friendly freshman dorms? Sadly, no.

Rather, a group of us were debating—partly in an effort to delay a boring lecture—about the epicenter of social life in Alfred. We have the Jet, Alfred's own "90210"-style Peach Pit; Nana's, for the grain-fed, free-range, dye-free hipsters, and my local favorite; the frat house-style Alex's, and for a few daring souls, the bordering on the burlesque GJ's.

But where do most people go to hang out when they're actually on campus?

The answer turned out to be fairly simple: Herrick Library.

In fact, an informal survey of students reveals that the library is the place to be for budding socialites on campus weeknights from roughly seven to ten o'clock.

The "Book Reading Hour" (really three or more hours), as I like to call it—much like the Dog Walking Hour at home where singles parade their poodles around city parks in hopes of finding a potential partner—is the perfect time to visit Herrick.

Not only can you reconnect with friends and perhaps find some new ones, but more importantly, you can check out the wide selection of new best-selling books Herrick has to offer while all this is happening.

The library receives a rotating selection of popular titles throughout the year, the same general interest books you'll find on best seller lists, in stores, and on the Internet. After being catalogued, these books—the McNaughton Collection—head for the shelves to the right of Herrick's main circulation desk. Chances are, most of the popular books you're looking for are in the library, but if not, talk to a staff member and they will work diligently to get it for you (it certainly doesn't hurt to tell them I sent you).

Here is a sampling of some of the new and interesting books available now at Herrick. They are a great antidote to the winter blues, an alternative to trudging up to Frat Row on a snowy Saturday night, and the perfect way to (intellectually) avoid studying for the impending onslaught of finals week.

So get to Herrick early tonight, grab one of these fun new books before anyone else does, cop a squat in one of the library's comfy chairs, and stick around for a while. Your new book is sure to entertain, but so will the Book Reading Hour itself. That's the great thing about Herrick: you really never know what will happen, who you'll see, or what treasure you'll unearth among the scores of great books.

"I Thought My Father Was God" by Paul Aster: Real people, real stories, real short. This fantastic book is a collection of works from National Public Radio's National Story Project—many are funny, some are downright depressing, but all are worth reading. The book begins with "The Chicken," a hilarious account of a woman observing a chicken out for an afternoon stroll. "At the fourth house along," the story begins, "it turned in at the walk, hopped up the front steps, and rapped sharply on the metal storm door with its beak. After a moment, the door opened and the chicken went in."

"The Whore's Child and Other Stories" by Richard Russo: An ancient nun crashes a college writing class. A man questions his manhood post-prostate operation. A disenchanted mother runs off with her teenage son on a cross-country road trip to find herself. These exciting plot lines grace Russo's excellent collection of short fiction. The best thing is, with stories that are both gripping and quick to read, it's the perfect way to make that 9 a.m. lecture fly by.

"Fresh Air Fiend" by Paul Theroux: From Africa to Hawaii to Singapore and everywhere in between, Paul Theroux has been there. This collection of travel writings and other essays is both amusing and insightful. The great thing about this book is that the author doesn't simply describe the places he's visited or the things he's done as much as he uniquely recounts the experience of travel itself (one critic wrote that this book is really about a "self-inflicted lifestyle of compulsive travel, writing, and alienation"). If you are a compulsive traveler like me, you'll love "Fresh Air Fiend."

"Murder in the Sentier" by Cara Black: Many authors have tried to capture the romantic, mysterious ambience of Paris, but few have done so as successfully as Black. In this layered whodunnit set in the city's once sleazy Sentier district, private detective Aimee Leduc is on a mission looking for her long-lost (and terrorist) mother. Not only is Black's tale gripping, but the book itself is tres petit, meaning this quick read is perfect for a student's hurried schedule. If you've never been to Paris before, pick up this book and be transported there with one of the most realistic views of the place I've read.