By the Book: Liz Waltman
Liz Waltman (she/her) joined the Swarthmore Community in August as the new Performing Arts Librarian. Outside of work, she continues to make music on the bass trombone and pursue some very stereotypical librarian hobbies, including cross-stitching, crocheting, baking, and watching British murder mysteries. Recommendations for the best spots to enjoy a walk in nature with a small dog are always welcome.
What are you reading these days? I have been working on Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver for about two months. It is truly excellent, but I find myself needing to take frequent breaks since it deals with such heavy topics. During the pauses, I enjoyed The Wedding People by Alison Espach, Vera Wong's Guide to Snooping (on a Dead Man) by Jesse Q. Sutanto, Sunrise on the Reaping by Suzanne Collins, and Anxious People by Fredrik Backman.
Is there a book you've read multiple times? Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen. I find comfort in revisiting those characters and setting no matter what mood I am in, and Mr. Darcy never fails to sweep me off my feet.
Is there a book you pretend to have read? The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald. I know enough lingo to skate by in conversations (green light! jazz!) and at this point it feels like a badge of honor to commit to never reading it.
What's the latest book you could not finish, even though you thought you should? The Lord of Rings: The Two Towers. I am a big fan of the entire series, watch the movies regularly, and if you stop by my office there is a good chance one of the soundtracks will be playing. Something about that book being split in two though, with the back half only following Frodo, Sam, and Gollum, really broke my spirit. We never made it to Mordor.
Do you have a literary nemesis? Publishers that change a book's cover or slap on a giant sticker to promote the movie or television adaptation. Also Dolores Umbridge from the Harry Potter series, the true face of evil in those books.
What book do you recommend most often? There have been two in the last year. For fans of literary fiction and video games, I love Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin. And for everyone who craves a cozy British murder mystery, The Thursday Murder Club by Richard Osman really hits the spot.
What author would you like to meet, and what would you ask them? George R.R. Martin. It is his choice whether or not another book ever gets published, but I would like to ask how he imagines A Song of Ice and Fire wrapping up and the final outcome for some of my favorite characters.
What book made an early impact on you, and why? Matilda by Roald Dahl. I had a hard time learning to read in early elementary school and this was the first book I remember being really captivated by. It definitely sparked my interest in reading - Matilda being a book lover was also a great motivator - and I went on to read most of Roald Dahl's other works that same year.
