Goucher Reads
What do you read?
The Goucher community loves to read,
and I want to keep talking about it.
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Jen Schiller
1. Who are you and what are you interested in?
I’m Jen Schiller, a 2010 alum and former library worker. I just finished my Masters degree in Theatre Studies, and now I’m looking for a big-girl job. My absolute passion is writing (my BA from Goucher is in creative writing), I’m a three-time winner of National Novel Writing month and I love throwing together staged readings of my plays with the very talented people I call friends. This summer I’ll be hosting at least one writers retreat with some of those very talented people.
When I’m not writing, I’m usually reading, watching television or movies, or playing any of a variety of video games. I’m also an entertainment blogger for International House of Geek, where I write about everything from the Muppets to Doctor Who to Dragon Ball Z. I had an awesome internship last summer at Kotaku writing video game news.I’m also a dramaturg, which means I sit around in theatres and help contextualize shows for the directors and cast. It also means I’m always interested in new research. Currently, I’m working on two major projects, one related to Harry Potter and the other about the new Doctor Who series. I love sinking my teeth into a new research project.
The short list of my interests related to all that jazz includes (but is definitely not limited to) early 20th century history, comic books, young adult fiction, classic science-fiction, fanfiction, American musicals, British television, tea, Disney (not just the movies. history, philosophy, technology, etc.), anime, and…well…the list goes on.
When I get my butt back into gear, you can read all about it on my personal blog, theempirestrikesforward.
2. What are you currently reading?I try to switch back and forth between fiction and non-fiction. I just finished Zen in the Art of Writing, by Ray Bradbury, so I have to decide what to read next. My boyfriend is really into Patrick Rothfuss, so he stuck The Name of the Wind into my purse the other day, but I also want to finish the Hunger Games trilogy.
My next non-fictions are going to be Chicks Dig Timelords, an anthology of essays by female fans of Doctor Who and American Eve, Evelyn Nesbit’s biography.
3. What is the most important book you have ever read?Rainbow Brite and the Big Color Mix-Up is the book I learned to read on, so probably that one, since it opened the door for every other book I’ve ever read. Since then, though, I’d have to say Dangerous Angels by Francesca Lia Block (which was also the book I had donated to the Goucher library when I graduated) and A Tree Grows in Brooklyn, which were the first books I read that are almost entirely character studies, and that’s how I like to write.
The Hobbit was when I stopped exclusively reading crappy teen drama and started challenging myself with classics. I was in the seventh grade. Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead was the first play I read that made me want to write theatre of my own, and The Fervent Years, which is a book about the Group Theatre, helped shape my philosophies about what theatre should and shouldn’t be.
4. If you could suggest one book to read, what would it be and why?Other than every book I’ve mentioned so far, I guess as an advocate for young adult literature, I’d recommend Looking for Alaska, by John Green. He’s such a smart author, and Alaska is a great example of complex, thought-provoking young adult fiction. I also can’t stress enough how much I enjoy Beowulf (technically not a book, I know) and The Canterbury Tales. But seriously, read Rainbow Brite and the Big Color Mix-up. The metaphors are amazing.
You can find me all over online, but mostly on twitter, facebook, and tumblr.
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Randalynn Kennedy
1. Who are you and what are you interested in?
My name is Randi Kennedy and I am the Assistant to the College Librarian in the Goucher College Library. I am interested in Religious Studies, Linguistics, Medieval History, and especially reading: historical fiction, literary fiction, young adult fiction, fantasy, etc. Besides academic interests, I also enjoy exercising—especially running and swimming—as well as spending time with my cats and napping.
2. What are you reading currently?
I just finished a fantastic YA audiobook named Chime by Franny Billingsley. It was magical, frustrating, beautifully written, and unforgettable. I might have to buy a copy.
I am currently reading Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children and will start my next audiobook, The Little Stranger by Sarah Waters, at the gym this evening.
3. What is the most important book you have ever read?
The book that got me to study English literature would be one: Seamus Heaney’s poetic rendering of Beowulf. The book that got me interested in reading for pleasure would be the other: J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings introduced me to a type of literature that isn’t read because it’s classwork but because it takes you to new worlds, new ways of thinking and being.
4. If you could suggest one book to read, what would it be and why?
It really depends on the person I’m suggesting the book to, but I think I would suggest Christopher Moore’s Fool to just about anybody. It’s rooted in a classic of English literature, King Lear by Shakespeare, but Moore makes it into a witty, moving comedy about the nature of power, language, and time. It’s a laugh out loud read that earned me a lot of confused looks at the gym (as a laughed so hard I almost fell off my treadmill). Pretty much anything by Christopher Moore will make you wet yourself laughing.
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Kristen Welzenbach
1. Who are you and what are you interested in?
My name is Kristen Welzenbach and I am the Digital Systems and Services Librarian at Goucher College Library. I graduated from the University of Maryland with a Masters Degree in Library Science and a Masters in History. I am a sports junkie, beach lover, obsessive reader, master list maker, and wannabe techie geek. I am a huge supporter of early literacy and encourage people to read whatever, whenever. You don’t have to read the classics or academic publications- read what you enjoy and it will stay with you for life.
2. What are you reading now?
The good thing about not being in school is that I can read whatever I want. I love the Young Adult and Middle Grades genres. Some of my favorites are The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate, Savvy, Wonderstruck, and Just Listen. My daughter and I are reading the Ramona Quimby books together so that has been a blast to revisit them. I just finished Marcelo in the Real World (excellent) and I am plodding through Walter Isaacson’s biography, Steve Jobs.
3. What is the most important book you have ever read?
To Kill a Mockingbird was such a pivotal book for me. I read it when I was 13 and I can perfectly remember all the emotions I went through while reading it. I was outraged that Tom Robinson was convicted when it was clear he was innocent, I pictured my father as Atticus the lawyer who fights for good even when it wasn’t the most popular stance, and I hoped that I had a little bit of Scout’s spunk.
I am a huge fan of the Harry Potter series, not because I think they are literary masterpieces, but because they encouraged people (adults, teenagers, middle schoolers, parents reading to children) to read. I also thoroughly enjoyed being swept away in Harry’s life and in the lives of all of those who attended Hogwarts.
4. If you could suggest one book, what would it be and why?
I really love Brian Selznick’s work. He wrote The Invention of Hugo Cabret and Wonderstruck. The way he weaves the story between words and pictures is so moving. It reminds me that stories aren’t always about words and what is being said. Sometimes we need to stop and look at the illustrations so we can understand even more of what is happening at a particular time. His books are truly magical!
For those interested, Kristen is running the new e-reader program at the library. Many of the books mentioned in these interviews are available through the e-readers. And the program is free!
