The post-it note book club

For me, there is nothing quite so good as diving into a book from which I don't want to come up for air. To be in the pages of a story, created by a writer with command not only of that story but of the words used to tell it — their selection, rhythm and structure — is a wonder and a delight. All the more so, because it doesn’t always happen, despite what the reviews might promise. So when it does, it’s an experience I want to share.

But, please, not in a book club. I am not drawn to a formal discussion of a specific book. I prefer the more ad hoc “I loved this book; maybe you will, too” approach to sharing with other readers.

Recently, I wondered about taking a sort of guerrilla approach to book recommendations and reviews: The other day, I finished reading Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus. I absolutely loved it. The protagonist, Elizabeth Zott, is a bit zany and a lot bright. She takes on patriarchy via the chemistry lab, and raises a daughter along the way. It’s a wonderful story about character, chemistry, and connection. As soon as I got to the end, I started back over at the beginning. But then it was due back at the library and I hadn’t yet managed to share my enjoyment of the book with anyone. That’s when I got the idea: Put a post-it note message in the book, telling the next reader how much I had loved the story and that I hoped they would, too. In the end, I chickened out and returned the book unadorned.

And then I heard about the Oakland Public Library’s “Found in a library book” exhibit.

It turns out that my idea of leaving a note in a returned library book is not so odd, after all. One creative librarian in Oakland, California has made it her mission over the years to gather them up and turn them into a public collection. These notes range from grocery lists and love messages to everything in between; some are clearly intentionally left in the book, while others have been included inadvertently when the book was returned. Had I written it, my deliberately placed short post-it note of enthusiasm for Lessons in Chemistry would have fit right in.

So, next time I’m ready to return a book I’ve thoroughly enjoyed to the library — or even just to my own shelf — I’ll be sure to include a post-it note comment. The next reader — or the next creative librarian — may be pleased to find it.

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Land acknowledgement: I respectfully recognize that I live on the original lands of Anishinaabe, Cree, Oji-Cree, Dakota and Dene peoples, and on the homeland of the Métis Nation.