About the book:
Shannon Reed argues that we should read for pleasure above all else. In this funny and clever collection, she shares surprising stories from her life as a reader and the poignant impact books have had on her students. Reed takes us on an exciting tour through the heartwarming world of literature.
About Shannon:
Shannon Reed is a writer and professor living in a small town just outside of Pittsburgh.
Shannon grew up in Johnstown, Pennsylvania, and lived in Brooklyn for 14 years, where she taught high school English and theater. In 2012, she began studying the writing program at the University of Pittsburgh, where she earned a master's degree in creative writing (fiction) in 2015. She joined the faculty shortly after and is now director of studies undergraduate for the University of Pittsburgh's writing program, as well as an associate teaching professor, specializing in fiction and humor writing courses.
Shannon's first book, Why Did I Get a B? : And Other Mysteries We Discuss in the Teachers' Lounge, was a semi-finalist for the Thurber Prize for American Humor. His second, Why We Read: On Bookworms, Libraries, and Just One More Page Before Lights Out, will be published on February 6, 2024. It is a Next Big Idea Club staple and will be featured in the Substack newsletter. George Saunders, Office. Hours.
Shannon's writing has appeared in The New Yorker, McSweeney's Internet Tendency (where one of her articles was the most read article of 2018, and another was in the Top Three for 2023), The Paris Review, The Washington Post, Slate, Buzzfeed. , the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette and many other publications.
This program is sponsored by the Friends of the Ashland Public Library and in partnership with a multitude of MA libraries.
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