Here on the blog the other Matchmakers and I share what we are reading, watching, or listening to quite frequently, but we don’t often hear from our other staff members all over the library system. Now, we will be sharing interviews from other staff members so that you the reader can see what we’re reading/watching/listening to all over the Heights Library system!

This interview comes from our Director Nancy Levin!

Read

What book are you reading at the moment? What are your thoughts on it?

 I just completed Just Mercy by Bryan Stevenson about the experiences of a lawyer working on behalf of death row inmates in the South. I listened to it in my car and it was read by the author. I learned so much about the criminal justice system in America and I actually wept at times over the fate of some of the wrongly convicted inmates.  Stevenson won a MacArthur genius grant for his work. Before that I read the memoir of Shirin Ebadi, Until We Are Free.

What kind of books do you typically read?

I love historical fiction, teen fiction, biography and poetry. I read the Matchmaker’s blog to get recommendations so books like Last Night at the Lobster and the Billy Lynn’s Long Halftime Walk came to me through the blog. In the last year I read all of the Mary Russell mysteries by Laurie King and I pick up Jacqueline Windspear’s Maisie Dobbs mysteries when there is a new one. I also read business books for work, most recently What Happy Companies Know.  As you might imagine I often have more than one book going at time.

Have you ever pretended to have read a book? If so, which one and why?  

For years I refused to read Moby Dick and I would boast about how I wouldn’t read it. But a few years ago I listened to it on CD. The story line—as dramatized in movies-is very thin– but the encyclopedia of whaling was really interesting.

Watch

Which do you prefer: movies or television?

I rarely watch television unless there is some live sporting event on. I love movies, especially when they surprise me, so some of my movie favorites are rather dark. I am a fan of indie films.

Have you ever binge-watched a show? If so, what was it?

Honestly, no. When I had babies in the house I would be up all night with them and watch the Turner Classic Movie channel. That is as close as I come to a binge.

Listen

What kind of music do you enjoy? 

I have extremely eclectic musical taste. I like classical, country, punk rock, jazz and acoustic, and classic rock. Of course I listen to the music of my youth-70s-80s as well.

Have you found any new or new-to-you artists/bands lately?  

Regina Spektor is a new to me artist/band that I like. Lately I have been listening to the musical Hamilton all of the time.

Do you listen to different music based on the seasons? 

It depends if I have been to a concert lately. I listen to a classical music because we attend the orchestra concerts at Blossom and Severance. I like Christmas music too! Lately I have listened to Yo-Yo Ma’s Silk Road Ensemble because we saw the documentary at the Cedar Lee and then went to the concert at Blossom. Next month I am being taken to the Maroon 5 concert so I should start listening to some Adam Levine soon.

Thanks Nancy!