Little Free Libraries Rule
Editor’s Note: this article was originally published 1-19-18.
"I haven’t been everywhere, but it’s on my list." -Susan Sontag
They're all over Everett.
Little Free Libraries. Little waterproof micro-houses posted in people's yards.
They work on a "take a book, leave a book" policy.
According to littlefreelibrary.org there are 9 registered little free libraries in my zip code (98201). I know of at least four others not on the map.
My favorite one is in Summit Park. It's shaped like a tv (social commentary noted) and seems to be curated by someone with great taste in literary fiction. This one's always packed with distinguished novels like Mrs. Dalloway or A Room with a View 👇
"Take a book leave a book" at the Summit Park library. Photo credit: Christa Porter
I've found some good reads in Everett's Little Free Libraries.
Here are some of the gems I've discovered in the Riverside Neighborhood alone.
I, etcetera by Susan Sontag- Experimental short fiction that is described by one reader on Goodreads as "trashing narrative continuity." Hell yeah. Take that, narrative continuity.
Olivia Goes to Venice by Ian Falconer- A charming illustrated book about a gelato-pounding pig who is insatiably curious. My kid loves this book.
Canal House Cookbook Vol. 4 by by Hamilton & Hirsheimer- this farm-to-table book has sexy pictures of plum pastries, crostini, and muddled cocktails. I love this sort of thing. I cribbed a few recipes from this little number.
Taken together, the above books paint a portrait of the readership in my neck of the woods. You have intellectual activists types (Sontag), young families (Falconer), and foodies (Canal House). Why is North Everett so cool? Who are all these cool people? My neighbors. We're curating reading experiences for one another, having a conversation through shared texts.
What about you? Have you read anything good from a local Little Free Library? Or left any books that were important to you? If so, which titles?
Leave us a comment.
And, before you go, check this one out 😮 (#littlefreelibrarygoals):
Want to help curate the conversation?
Richard Porter is a writer for Live in Everett.
