Audio Books Through Library Novels & Stories

ISLA'S POV Wednesday. 9:47 AM. The second floor of the Astoria Public Library smells like industrial lemon disinfectant fighting a losing war against the scent of decaying paperbacks. I find a computer bank near the back, tucked away from the children's section where a toddler is currently screaming. I plug in my headphones—cheap, wired earbuds I bought at the bodega for $3.99 because my wireless ones died and I can't afford the electricity to charge them, let alone a replacement.

“Except for the new Nesmir Christie book, they did.” “Darn it, that book is the one we need to boost our new membership drive.” Her boss sounded aggrieved. “We did get the new books by Devlin Geris and John Rood.” She held up a copy each of the two writers whom she considered among the best in the business. “Hm, I suppose those will have to do.” Hamby shrugged indifferently. “We could get them to do a reading here at the library...” Doris looked at her boss expectantly. “Or at least one of them, John Rood maybe... ”

And no doubt, have hot dreams about it. It’s another book suggestion from her. I’ve just finished the last one she recommended, and honestly, I shouldn’t dive into another. Once I start reading, I lose myself completely. But this time, she’s telling me to listen to it. Audiobook. That’s new. Before I even realize what I’m doing, I click the link she sent, and in a matter of seconds, the book is purchased and playing through my home speakers. I settle back in bed, letting the narrator’s deep voice wash over me, and within moments, I realize Lucy’s sent me a stalker romance. Great.

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A librarian who was passing by overheard me and replied, "Most of the pack members prefer to hunt or train rather than read, so the library is not very well-visited. But Alpha Matthew loves books and encourages us to read, so we keep it well-stocked for those who are interested." I smiled and said, "Thank you. I love reading too, it's a great way to learn and escape from reality for a while." The librarian smiled back and said, "Yes, it is. If you need anything else, don't hesitate to ask." I thanked the librarian and continued to browse the books. A few minutes later, Alpha Matthew entered the library. "Good morning, Lauryn. I see you found the library," he said with a smile. "Yes, I did. I

I close the door quietly. I spend an hour in the smaller library looking at the books. He has everything. Fiction. Nonfiction. Art books. History. A whole shelf of poetry that looks like it has never been touched. I pull out a volume of Mary Oliver and flip through it. Someone has dog-eared a page. I read the poem. "Wild Geese." I read it twice.

"You are the 'Rot' in the library. You must be 'Excised' so that the Great Record can remain pure." Audrey stood on the bridge of her half-faded ship, her eyes burning with a silver-and-gold fire. "The library is 'Dead', Librarian. A book that is never read is just a stack of paper. A world that never changes is just a tomb. We didn't come to excise you. We came to 'Open-the-Windows'."

"He hasn't been able to read since the overdose. We read to him, but I don't know how much he really takes in anymore. I just think how much he would've loved this place before and knowing he can't truly enjoy it now, I just...it's unbearably sad." In contrast to her words, she fixed a smile on her face and pulled open the door. The big room was lined with bookcases that stretched all the way to the top of the vaulted ceiling. Huge picture windows looked out over more of the grounds, and there were groupings of comfortable chairs and couches, tables and chairs. The only patrons seemed to be a man in a wheelchair wearing headphones and a woman who sat knitting beside him. Athena strode straig

James had no concept of indoor voice when he was performing. "This is the market." August was pointing at a cluster of blue blocks with the authority of a tiny city planner. "And this is the library. Libraries are important because they have books." "They are very important." Patricia was nodding seriously, cross-legged on my living room floor in her expensive slacks, not a single complaint about the carpet or the noise. "What kind of books do you like?" "All of them." August considered. "But mostly the ones about animals. And space. And animals in space."

“I need to return these for Alexa.” Book-man looked back and forth between the two of us for a moment, evaluating if he wanted to stay in the conversation, and then stepped back from the desk and pretended to look at the books lining the walls. I knew he could still hear every word, but I appreciated the gesture of giving us space. Darcie winked at me as she picked up the first book and scanned it into the computer. “It says they're checked out to you, not Alexa.” Darcie frowned at the computer and double-checked the title of the book. Her voice grew cold. “This book isn't supposed to leave the library. I've been searching for it for two days.”