Book Bucket List | Knowing your limits...

The Nancy Pearl Action Figure

I'm not ashamed to admit it.  I have, and will, stopped reading books and never finished them.  I hate the feeling when I absolutely HAVE to finish a book and dislike it so much I have to force myself to read it.  Sometimes I feel guilty, because it was a recommendation from a friend or a super popular best seller, but if I have no interest, I can't bring myself to pick it back up.  I feel even worse when it's a book that's been on my bucket list, and it turns out I can't finish.  I don't feel guilty as often any more though, because I was taught a very important lesson.  

This last September when Nancy Pearl kicked off the One Book, One San Joaquin program, she talked a little about how to determine if you should stop reading a book or not. Nancy talked about her "Rule of 50".  If you're 50 years old or younger, if you don't like a book by 50 pages, then it's time to stop.  If you're over 50, subtract your age from 100, and then that's how many pages you should stop after. (Her reasoning is "Why waste precious time?")

So the question is, after all of this, how do you find books that you'll actually like?  A great resource is Nancy Pearl's own books about books, Book Lust, More Book Lust, and Book Crush for younger readers. In each of these titles, Pearl gives her expert advice on what to read for every "mood, moment, and interest."  I've gotten a few good titles from these books, and am pleased to let you know that I've even stopped reading one after 50 pages. (And didn't feel bad!)

Book Bucket List | Nancy Pearl

This Saturday is a big day!  The library is welcoming celebrated librarian and author Nancy Pearl to kick off this year's One Book, One San Joaquin reading program.  Pearl, who is a regular on NPR and even has the Librarian Action Figure modeled in her likeness, will be speaking at University of the Pacific's Janet Leigh Theatre.  Pearl, author of Book lust : recommended reading for every mood, moment, and reason, More book lust : recommended reading for every mood, moment, and reason, and Book crush : for kids and teens : recommended reading for every mood, moment, and interest is known for her book recommendations and finding books for even the pickiest of readers.

 Join us as we welcome her Saturday, September 7 at 2:00 p.m. at University of the Pacific's Janet Leigh Theater.

In her books, Pearl has made it easy for those who are stuck in a reading rut. The books are organized by category.  Interested in Japanese Fiction?  She has a list for that with explanations of why she recommends them.  She has some really interesting categories thrown in there too.  My favorite is "First Lines to Remember".  She lists books that have first lines that really hook the reader into the story.  My favorite is from Robert Sapolsky's A Primate's Memoir: a Neuroscientist's Unconventional Life Among the Baboons.

"I joined the baboon troop during my twenty-first year.  I had never planned to become a savanna baboon when I grew up; instead, I had always assumed I would become a mountain gorilla."

 If you're interested in meeting this esteemed author, please join us as we welcome her Saturday, September 7 at 2:00 p.m. at University of the Pacific's Janet Leigh Theater.  We hope to see you there.