The CSPL Reader of the Month for February is one of the Recommendations Librarians, Thea Dement. Thea's verve for adventure, fantasy, and thought-provoking reads come through in her answers to these questions.
Q & A with Thea
Q. What is the best book you’ve read this year?
A. I haven’t read any noteworthy
titles yet in 2019, but my favorite books from 2018 were both from series that
I enjoy (and have read every book in).
The first is
The Mortal Word by
Genevieve Cogman. It is the 5
th book in the
Invisible Library Series. This series combines the best of fantasy, science fiction, steampunk,
and of course books. It follows Irene, a librarian that works for The Library,
which is a place that balances the forces of good and evil by collecting books
from worlds controlled by each side. The coolest part of this series is the
fact that the librarians are really more like secret agents and get to go on a
variety of dangerous missions to help save the world.
The second is
The Demon Crown by
James Rollins, which is the 13
th book in the
Sigma Force Series. This
series follows a secret government agency that works under DARPA and goes on
missions to save the world from various threats. The reason I love this series
is that Rollins combines actual events, historical knowledge, and scientific
facts into very plausible scenarios that are both terrifying and exhilarating
(and hopefully remain fiction!). The Demon Crown features an ancient species
from prehistoric times being revived using genetic engineering and wreaking
havoc upon the world (no, not dinosaurs!). Sigma Force races against the clock
to not only survive but neutralize the threat before it destroys mankind. Each
book is action-packed and will leave you on the edge of your seat!
Q. What’s your ideal reading environment (location, sound, snacks, etc.)?
A. I enjoy reading pretty much
anywhere. I’ve been known to even walk down the street reading (although I do
look when crossing at intersections!). My ideal reading environment would include
a comfy chair (or bed) that I can read in for hours without getting
uncomfortable and the sound of a purring cat (which is most likely sleeping on
me somewhere).
Q. What book are you most excited about reading next and what about it is
most exciting?
A. I’m most excited about reading a
bunch of fantasy, science fiction, mystery, and action books this year as well
as expanding my reading tastes to be able to give better recommendations to
others. I also enjoy keeping up-to-date on a number of non-fiction subjects
including business and self-help books.
Specific titles I’m looking
forward to include the 14
th book in the Sigma Force series by James
Rollins,
Crucible, and the latest
Thomas Harris book,
Cari Mora. Both
of these books are scheduled to come out later this year so I’m impatiently
waiting for them!
One title that is out that I’m
looking forward to reading is called
Deadly Rising by
Jeri Westerson. It is the 2
nd book in the
Booke of the Hidden Series. It is a fun combination of fantasy and a little romance and
follows Kylie, a girl who inadvertently releases demonic creatures in her small
town and must work to re-capture them. I really enjoyed the first book so I’m
looking forward to seeing what happens in this one!
Q. What book do you think more people should read and why do you think
they should read it?
A. Atlas Shrugged by
Ayn Rand. This book is a literary classic and in
my opinion should be required reading for everyone. I think more people should
read it because it draws many parallels to today’s world and would help answer
a lot of questions people have about why things are going the way they are.
Even though it was written in 1957, you could easily replace the events in the
book with current events, which is very unsettling. Rand gives a vision of what
will happen if things continue to go the way they are. Perhaps if more people
read the book and understood its implications there would be a greater push to
change the society we live in.
Q. What book has been the most challenging for you to read? How did it
challenge you?
A. I have a habit of reading
negative utopia books. These are books that look at a futuristic society that
generally appears to be wonderful but in reality is horrible for its citizens,
who are generally living in some form of slavery. Each one I read is
challenging in its own way, mostly because of the parallels I can draw between
the book and the real world. I like to read them in order to get a sense of how
society could go terribly wrong, in the hopes of doing my part to ensure that
it doesn’t become a reality during my lifetime. There are also many life
lessons that can be learned from these kinds of books, many of which are
challenging to accept, especially when they challenge one’s current worldview.
Q. When do you decide to stop reading a book?
A. I used to read every book all the
way through, but I’ve learned that this isn’t necessary. Now, I usually give a
book a few chapters and if I’m not feeling it by then I stop reading it. There
are way too many good books that I need to read!
For more titles, check out
Thea's Favorite Books list!
