If you’re reading this, you probably love books. You’ve probably stepped into a bookstore and felt an immediate rush of comfort, along with the thrill of getting to browse the bestsellers in your favorite genres, be it poetry or romance or biography. You might’ve grown up frequenting your local library, searching for obscure titles in the computer catalog or laughing at the absurd comments left in well-worn paperbacks. While most book fans are familiar with the experience of visiting bookstores, libraries and other delightful book places, few of us have had the privilege of discovering what goes on behind the scenes.
That’s where The Secret Lives of Booksellers and Librarians comes in. This project from internationally bestselling author James Patterson and frequent collaborator Matt Eversmann highlights dozens of dedicated, on-the-ground booksellers and librarians to give readers an inside look at the joys and challenges of working amid shelves of books. After taking the time to meet and interview industry experts from around the country, Patterson and Eversmann tell their stories in short, first-person vignettes. Readers will delight in the New York librarian championing literary programs in the prison complex on Rikers Island, the Barnes & Noble manager who started a young adult book club for teens and the independent bookstore owner who fell in love at the store she now runs.
Of course, the stories in The Secret Lives of Booksellers and Librarians are not all optimistic. Patterson and Eversmann’s heroes face a number of serious problems, from lack of funding to natural disasters to book bans. Although the featured booksellers and librarians handle conflict with competence and goodwill, it is clear that their efforts alone are not enough to save an industry that is threatened by political tension, monopolies and new technologies. The Secret Lives of Booksellers and Librarians is an unique and enchanting work of nonfiction, but it’s also a call to action, a cry for communities to rally around their booksellers.
Patterson is well-known for the millions of dollars and years of work he has already poured into promoting access to literature. There is no better mouthpiece for this project. The Secret Lives of Booksellers and Librarians is an homage to anyone who felt the tingle of magic that only comes with reading, and who made it their mission to share their love with everyone. The first thing you’ll do after reading this book is take a visit to your local bookstore or library!
