Running the Books: The Adventures of an Accidental Prison Librarian Audiobook

" I was interested in the prisoners rather than the author. He lost me when he started filling in his own backstory. I feel bad about admitting I was reading to learn about the prison library, rather than the prison librarian. I stopped reading rather than be frustrated. "

" Now this was a strange and unusual combination - a former Orthodox Jew who ends up as the librarian in a New York prison. The writing is a bit disjointed but the ruminations on the multifaceted role of a prison library and the dilemma of a sympathetic librarian who tries not to cross the line is strangely compelling. "

" A bit too long and wordy, but this memoir about a Harvard-educated prison librarian is revealing for what it says about social class, the neglected, and humanity. "

" I loved this book. As a librarian, I was at first annoyed that Avi Steinberg referred to himself as a librarian, while admitting that he had no training (formal or informal) as such. However, once I got over that, I found it a fascinating story. It's much more about prisons and people than about libraries. I thought it interesting that the author found that a common factor amongst the prisoners was a lack of maturity - an inability to deal with problems in an "adult" way. I was also amused to note the parallels between the roles and dilemmas of a prison librarian and a school librarian! The book was funny and sad and compassionate and beautifully written. I look forward to discussing it at Book Club. "

" I wanted to like this book but could not get used to the author's style. It's more a book of short (less than a page) essays than a cohesive book about working in a prison library. And a librarian's quibble: he's not actually a librarian. "

" I really enjoy the "interesting job" genre of memoir. "

" This book needs some serious editing. The story isn't bad-but way, way too long. Also, the author takes himself way too seriously. "

" loved it, was an impulse snag from the new non-fiction shelf at the library but has fascinating moving details of lives you would otherwise maybe not encounter, the author's as a former yeshiva student and his patrons at the Boston prison library where he works "

" Interesting story about being a prison librarian. I liked it more than I thought I would, given the topic. "

" It was a little slow...I think it could have been about 70 pages shorter, but overall a good read! "

" Candid and well written. The subject and setting of the book make it intriguing, because it is one we don't see or think of particularly often.The narration was very absorbing. Made me appreciate books from a different perspective. "

" The book is about prison and for the first hundred pages I felt like I was inside one. After that it was okay. "

" Liked it a lot. Made me think about some of the real purposes of libraries, and how people use them. Also interesting to learn more about prison libraries, which I briefly considered working in years ago. "

" Much more a "life of prisoners" story than a librarian tale. Jessica and her son's story broke my heart. "

" Could not finish this. I tried to put it down and come back, but I could not get back into it. Found the author/narrator whiny and not very engaging. "

" Rather interesting read. A window into a prison library, its purpose/use and the patrons it serves. Some noted similarities with the public library and some definitely not! I got the impression that the author matured a bit through his experience and has moved on to other pursuits. "

" A little too rambling, but not poorly written enough to deserve only 2 stars. "

" I am convinced that anyone who gave this book five stars did not read it. "

" This book was interesting, but not really a "story." So, I found it kinda slow. It's more just a retelling of his time spent as a prison librarian. "

" Eh. I was really intrigued at the beginning and excited to be hearing this story. Then, it just got tedious. I'd recommend only reading about half the book and you'll get the point and won't really miss anything. He was also a little heavy-handed in his "introspective" and moralizing parts. "

" This is one of the best books I have read in a long time. Reading it for a book club and I have really enjoyed it! Avi Steinberg is a great story teller. "

" I loved this and his view of the inmates and the stories of their lives.<br/>I have wondered if he has continued to work within the prison system.<br/>A great read! "

" This was just delightful. Former Orthodox boy writes a memoir without being ridiculous, has a wacky job without being ridiculous, and has stuff to say, again, without being ridiculous. Also, it has the coolest cover, if not ever, then recently. "

" This is one of the best books I have read in a long time. Reading it for a book club and I have really enjoyed it! Avi Steinberg is a great story teller. "

" This memoir by a 20-something Harvard graduate who spends 2 years as a prison librarian had its good moments but overall it was somewhat boring. Maybe I just wasn't in the mood for the depressing saga of convicts (although there was some humor---so a bit of a highlight there). "

" Don't look for any happy endings for the author nor any of the prison inmates. &quot;In a world where nothing, not even God's promies, is reliable, at least one can rely on disappointment.&quot; That sums up the book, life and prsion. "

" I am returning this to the library before I finish it because I don't really like it. I really wanted to like this book - it is about a librarian! But I find Steinberg's tone very condescending. "

" Engrossing read, though felt a bit long since observations and questions have no clear beginning and end. "

" I really enjoyed this book. It gives a good look into what it's like to be a prison librarian and if I wasn't such a pushover, I'd try to find a gig like that myself. "

" The book has it's moments and certainly has some unique characters, but the story itself feels as aimless as the author when he lived this story. It feels like he's appropriated other people's stories in order to come to some half revelations of his own. "