This month's Cover-to-Cover interview is with Shani Williams, a manager at Anytime Fitness in Monroe. A Bronx, New York, native, Shani has had a lifelong love of reading instilled by her mother. Shani, accompanied by her very sweet 3-year-old daughter, Annabelle, sat down with us for a conversation on her reading life.
What are you reading now?
Right now, I am reading two things. Chuck Palahniuk's "Choke," which is a dark novel. And I'm also reading "The Hormone Diet," just because I'm very interested in how we can hormonally balance ourselves through nutrition.
I'm usually going through a couple of books at a time. Some, the textbook material, I usually just skim through and others, for stress release.
Do you gravitate towards fiction or nonfiction?
Honestly, it depends on what's going on in my life. If I'm in a learning curve, where I just want to get as much information as I can around me or into me, obviously, I'll be reading a couple of textbooks. But if I'm in a downswing, where I'm just looking to have some fun and de-stress, maybe things around me are particularly stressful and I need a release, then I lean towards fiction. I really love the emotional stuff. I really like some of the dark novels, like Chuck Palahniuk, the guy who wrote "Fight Club," but that's not, in my opinion, anywhere near his best novel. Yeah, I like those kinds of things.
Is there a particular book that has inspired you?
I've been inspired by so many books. A particular author that I found inspiring, has made me step out of my comfort zone and just realize the world is there for exploring and taking the most out of is Hunter S. Thompson. I love him as a political journalist and just as a person, as well.
What was your favorite book growing up?
Growing up, I was sort of the quintessential child in a sense. I read of lot of Judy Blume.
When you were younger, how did you get your books? Did your parents read? Or did you go to the library a lot?
I spent a lot of time at the library. My mom was actually very involved in a literacy program in the Bronx Public Library system. For several years, somewhere between ages 5 and 10, she taught adults to read, who hadn't had that opportunity for whatever reason in their own life. And oftentimes, I would meet her there after school, and not only to just hang out in the library, but assist her in teaching these adults to empower themselves and take ownership of their life. It was unbelievably inspiring and it led me to a love of libraries, a love of reading and a love of helping.
If you could be a character in a book that you've read, who would it be?
This is exciting. I can be a character in a book. Right now, I might dip into some of Annabelle's books. I switched jobs recently to a job that I love, but that transition has actually made me look for reasons to de-stress. So Annabelle and I are reading a lot of books. I guess one of the characters would maybe be Mr. Panda. It's a really simple book. It's only got a couple pages, just a panda who goes around offering people something. And when they don't use "please," he doesn't give it to them. I think that's a lesson that we forget as adults, that courtesy, that gratitude. That's something that every time I read to her, I kind of take a little bit back with me, as well.
Do you ever listen to audiobooks?
I do, actually. They're a great time-saver. I've listened to Game of Thrones during a road trip on audiobook. Currently now, I'm reaching into the hormonal/nutritional connection, listening to a couple seminars and lectures here and there when I have time.
How do you think the experience of listening to a book and reading a book is different?
That's a great question. They are vastly different. There's something to be gained from the textural experience, of touching a book, smelling the pages, physically flipping it and almost turning that chapter in your mind as you open that book, that I don't feel you get from listening to a book. And depending on how you learn, one could be more advantageous than the other. I'm a very textural person. I like to touch and stuff like that. So for me, I miss that when I have the audio. But the audio allows you to kind of do that multitasking that our life really demands most of the time. That in itself is huge.
Do you have a treasured book at home that you love because it's your favorite, or you love it because of who gave it to you?
I have multiple books with a sentimental connection. My husband actually gave me a Hunter S. Thompson book and a Hunter S. Thompson print. So, "Rum Diaries" is a treasured book close to my heart. It is a short read, it's fictional, but I really enjoy it because of the connection my husband and I share with each other and our love of Hunter S. Thompson.
Is there a particular book you've read that really disappointed you?
Jodi Picoult, I believe, is the author. I don't remember the particular name of the book, but I was looking for that deep emotional connection that people really say a lot of her books have. And I just personally couldn't connect in the way I was hoping to at the time. Maybe I just needed more tears than the book was willing to give.
If you were stranded on a desert island and could only have one book, what would you want it to be?
I love this question. Can I say something very, very sentimental here? As a present for our anniversary, my husband gave me a book that he put together of all of our great moments, stuff like that. He's a beautiful writer. He has such a way with the word. It's so romantic, and it just really takes you back to that moment. I would take that book with me, hands down.
Is there anything that you would like to tell us about books, reading, libraries, anything like that, that we haven't brought up?
Well again, I'd like to reference my experience as a young child, witnessing adults who couldn't read, and not only hearing about their experiences, but hearing about the way that they functioned throughout life and got around such a skill that is absolutely necessary in today's world. You know that they couldn't read a street sign, asking someone, "I forgot my glasses, could you just read that for me?" Those little things, having to live your life in this constant place of struggle and fear. So, my biggest thing is teaching Annabelle, and every child that is in my life and I have access to, not only how to read, but how important it is that we work on this skill throughout our whole life. Because it just enhances us in so many ways, creatively, cognitively, emotionally. I love it. And people forget life isn't just about walking down the street. It's also about being introspective and reading.
- Cover to Cover is
provided by the Monroe Public Library and is
published the fourth Wednesday of the month.
What are you reading now?
Right now, I am reading two things. Chuck Palahniuk's "Choke," which is a dark novel. And I'm also reading "The Hormone Diet," just because I'm very interested in how we can hormonally balance ourselves through nutrition.
I'm usually going through a couple of books at a time. Some, the textbook material, I usually just skim through and others, for stress release.
Do you gravitate towards fiction or nonfiction?
Honestly, it depends on what's going on in my life. If I'm in a learning curve, where I just want to get as much information as I can around me or into me, obviously, I'll be reading a couple of textbooks. But if I'm in a downswing, where I'm just looking to have some fun and de-stress, maybe things around me are particularly stressful and I need a release, then I lean towards fiction. I really love the emotional stuff. I really like some of the dark novels, like Chuck Palahniuk, the guy who wrote "Fight Club," but that's not, in my opinion, anywhere near his best novel. Yeah, I like those kinds of things.
Is there a particular book that has inspired you?
I've been inspired by so many books. A particular author that I found inspiring, has made me step out of my comfort zone and just realize the world is there for exploring and taking the most out of is Hunter S. Thompson. I love him as a political journalist and just as a person, as well.
What was your favorite book growing up?
Growing up, I was sort of the quintessential child in a sense. I read of lot of Judy Blume.
When you were younger, how did you get your books? Did your parents read? Or did you go to the library a lot?
I spent a lot of time at the library. My mom was actually very involved in a literacy program in the Bronx Public Library system. For several years, somewhere between ages 5 and 10, she taught adults to read, who hadn't had that opportunity for whatever reason in their own life. And oftentimes, I would meet her there after school, and not only to just hang out in the library, but assist her in teaching these adults to empower themselves and take ownership of their life. It was unbelievably inspiring and it led me to a love of libraries, a love of reading and a love of helping.
If you could be a character in a book that you've read, who would it be?
This is exciting. I can be a character in a book. Right now, I might dip into some of Annabelle's books. I switched jobs recently to a job that I love, but that transition has actually made me look for reasons to de-stress. So Annabelle and I are reading a lot of books. I guess one of the characters would maybe be Mr. Panda. It's a really simple book. It's only got a couple pages, just a panda who goes around offering people something. And when they don't use "please," he doesn't give it to them. I think that's a lesson that we forget as adults, that courtesy, that gratitude. That's something that every time I read to her, I kind of take a little bit back with me, as well.
Do you ever listen to audiobooks?
I do, actually. They're a great time-saver. I've listened to Game of Thrones during a road trip on audiobook. Currently now, I'm reaching into the hormonal/nutritional connection, listening to a couple seminars and lectures here and there when I have time.
How do you think the experience of listening to a book and reading a book is different?
That's a great question. They are vastly different. There's something to be gained from the textural experience, of touching a book, smelling the pages, physically flipping it and almost turning that chapter in your mind as you open that book, that I don't feel you get from listening to a book. And depending on how you learn, one could be more advantageous than the other. I'm a very textural person. I like to touch and stuff like that. So for me, I miss that when I have the audio. But the audio allows you to kind of do that multitasking that our life really demands most of the time. That in itself is huge.
Do you have a treasured book at home that you love because it's your favorite, or you love it because of who gave it to you?
I have multiple books with a sentimental connection. My husband actually gave me a Hunter S. Thompson book and a Hunter S. Thompson print. So, "Rum Diaries" is a treasured book close to my heart. It is a short read, it's fictional, but I really enjoy it because of the connection my husband and I share with each other and our love of Hunter S. Thompson.
Is there a particular book you've read that really disappointed you?
Jodi Picoult, I believe, is the author. I don't remember the particular name of the book, but I was looking for that deep emotional connection that people really say a lot of her books have. And I just personally couldn't connect in the way I was hoping to at the time. Maybe I just needed more tears than the book was willing to give.
If you were stranded on a desert island and could only have one book, what would you want it to be?
I love this question. Can I say something very, very sentimental here? As a present for our anniversary, my husband gave me a book that he put together of all of our great moments, stuff like that. He's a beautiful writer. He has such a way with the word. It's so romantic, and it just really takes you back to that moment. I would take that book with me, hands down.
Is there anything that you would like to tell us about books, reading, libraries, anything like that, that we haven't brought up?
Well again, I'd like to reference my experience as a young child, witnessing adults who couldn't read, and not only hearing about their experiences, but hearing about the way that they functioned throughout life and got around such a skill that is absolutely necessary in today's world. You know that they couldn't read a street sign, asking someone, "I forgot my glasses, could you just read that for me?" Those little things, having to live your life in this constant place of struggle and fear. So, my biggest thing is teaching Annabelle, and every child that is in my life and I have access to, not only how to read, but how important it is that we work on this skill throughout our whole life. Because it just enhances us in so many ways, creatively, cognitively, emotionally. I love it. And people forget life isn't just about walking down the street. It's also about being introspective and reading.
- Cover to Cover is
provided by the Monroe Public Library and is
published the fourth Wednesday of the month.