Nonfiction Book Reviews

A while ago, I wrote a review of The Romance of Libraries by Madeleine Lefebvre, which was full of romantic stories of how people met and fell in love at the library (some of the love stories working out, and some of them not).  I thought it was sweet that some people actually got in engaged in a library, and I was a little sad that nothing that romantic has happened in our library (at least that I know of).

Well, all of that has changed.

On Thursday night, I was standing at the front counter, doing nothing in particular, when Ann came running over, flashing her hand at me (Ann is a reference librarian at my library, and she also made it onto my Top Ten Coolest People You’ll Ever Meet list.  Just to help you guys place her).  Anyway, on her hand was a beautiful classy engagement ring.  We hugged and jumped up and down and squealed together (sorry guys, that’s just what happens when someone gets engaged - can’t help it!) and when we finally stopped squealing (five minutes later) Anne told me the story.

Her fiancee (who was standing right there, btw) had given her a book that he had illustrated and written himself.  It was an absolutely awesome book.  Professionally printed, beautifully drawn - it looked like something you could buy at the store.  Except this was the only copy of it made.

It was entitled The Librarian and the Geek, and was the story of how they met and fell in love.  At the end of the story, the geek asks the librarian to marry him, she says yes, and they live happily ever after.  When she got that point in the book, he dropped to one knee and asked her to marry him, and she did indeed manage to squeak out a yes.  Afterwards, they came upstairs, where she showed everyone in the library the beautiful ring and the amazing book.

I have to say - I love the ring.  It looks just like something I would have picked out for myself.  But the book - now that’s the really cool part.  Anyone can buy a ring - it only requires a credit card with a high enough limit on it.  But to spend a month writing out a story and drawing up illustrations for a book to be published just this once for a very special occasion?  That makes it by far the most romantic proposition I’ve ever heard.

Congratulations, Ann, you’ve found a keeper!!!!  Your mother gives her stamp of approval.

I wanted to take a picture of the glowing Ann (I swear she is letting off waves of happiness - you can’t help but smile when you’re around her!) and of the ultra-cool book, but my camera battery just died.  Maybe I’ll see what I can do on Tuesday when the library is open again.

In the meanwhile, I had to post a picture of me wearing my brother’s birthday present to me.  In case you can’t read the writing on the shirt, it says “Librarian” across the front of it.  Now I can be known as a librarian wherever I go! LOL! Thanks brother.

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