Review from a Page: Welcome Dear Readers

Let me introduce myself. I am Suzanne, a 23 year old woman born in Missouri, residing in Florida, working at one of Gainesville's finest public libraries. Currently, I am but a humble page.

It struck me as funny that the part-time workers putting away books, pushing carts around, and generally doing entry level work for a library would be called 'pages' - what a horrible pun. Yet, the longer I work at the library the more I see that, really, what is a library without it's pages? One horrid pun deserves another...but I digress.

This is not the first time in my life I have found myself intertwined with a library. When I was in middle school I would spend every recess my teachers and our wonderful librarian would allow volunteering in our schools little library, whether it be stamping cards or putting away stacks of books. When there wasn't all that much to do, we [the librarian and I] would discuss everything; the news, our families, books coming out, books up for awards...

It is here, in the library, that I found myself actually talking. Those who know me currently as I am may [or may not] be surprised to know I didn't really talk much in grade school and middle school. I was the kind of awkward kid who would rather read about other people having fun and going out rather than try it herself. Only in the quiet of the library on those still afternoons would I divulge my thoughts and opinions.

Returning to the library after so many years (even though it is a very different, and much bigger library), it is almost like I had never left. This time around, I have the added bonus of having dozens of coworkers who are just as in love with a good story as I am - if not more. This is where this blog comes in, dear readers.

I won't be so ego-centrical as to think this is going to be one of those blogs that has thousands of followers, or even hundreds. This blog isn't about that. This is about getting back to something I love, and something I just want to put out there and share.

I made a promise to myself that, by the end of this year, I will have read 50 books. This is where I will post what I am reading, where I am in the book, and what I think of it. If you would like to read along with me, go for it. If you have already read the book, feel free to leave a review (just be sure to label if there are spoilers!) If you think I have horrible taste in books, that's fine.

Just a few rules:

1. If you think the books I read are awful, don't just say that - tell me why and recommend a book that you love or think is great. Unless I have already read it, I will read it.

2. If you want to comment on a book I am reading or respond to a question, please elaborate. As much as I love seeing every "Katniss is awesome!!!!!" comment, I think you could do better: tell me why.

3. No personal attacks. Opinions are opinions, folks. You have one, I have one, it's just how it is. Let's be mature.

So here's to 2012 - may the stories be great, the characters dynamic, and endings unexpected.