Readerville: It's a Wonderful Day in the Neighborhood

As an Air Force brat I spent my whole childhood moving. As an adult I had no greater goal than to find someplace to settle into. Much to my surprise, I ended up firmly entrenched in a small town, which was never my first choice. But I love it. Every time I run to the grocery or go out to eat or visit the library, I stop and exchange at least a few words with someone I know.

Seven and a half years ago, I was brought to visit another small town. And all the people in that town read. Everyone is always ready to talk about books. The teachers and librarians and parents can recommend titles for a beginning reader who loves pirates and princesses, and pandas, and bats. Adults and college students and younger folk can suggest enthralling fantasy series other than Harry Potter. Someone is up on the latest in archeology, or novels about plague, or romantic thrillers of the sixties and seventies, and someone else can suggest fat fiction about the war of the roses.

No matter how odd and specific my reading tastes are (Arctic exploration, monsters), not only is there someone who shares my taste, but there's someone who wants to talk about how amazing the sense of place was in The Terror.

Seven and a half years ago, six months after the launch of Readerville, I finally gave in to the friends telling me I had to try it out. (Thanks, PCashwell and sprout) Friends brought me to Readerville then, and friends bring me back every day. Stop by anytime; no one ever locks their doors.