LibraryThing Author: Barbara Fister

About me I'm an avid reader (99% crime fiction these days), an academic librarian (we don't pay as much attention to books and reading as public librarians, alas) and a writer (I just sent in a round of edits for a book coming out next year with St. Martin's - woo hoo!) I thought it's time I check out the famous LibraryThing and perhaps share some of my reading with other avid readers.

About my library Cataloging was not my favorite subject in library school, but since joining a wonderful online reading group, 4MA, I've been jotting down my thoughts about books. That was so much fun I'm now reviewing books for Mystery Scene Magazine. I'm looking forward to sharing my favorites with others and picking up some new ideas about what to read next while I'm at it.

By the way - not that anyone will notice or care - I've stopped giving books stars. It always made me slightly uncomfortable. If it's a book that totally knocked my socks off, a five star rating is easy. But what if it was good, but not great? What if it's a book that has elements that were great and some that happen to be pet peeves of mine? What if I was just having a bad week and my inner red pencil was over agitated? And what if it's a book that just isn't entirely my kind of book - but would be totally another person's cup of tea?

So, no more stars from me. But if it's here, I liked it. If I don't enjoy a book, I put it down unfinished, and those don't get listed in my catalog.

Homepagehttp://www.barbarafister.com

Also onFacebook

Real nameBarbara Fister

LocationSt. Peter, Minnesota

Emailbfisterhickorytech.net

Favorite authorsNone specified

Account typepublic, lifetime

Connection NewsConnection News

URLs http://www.librarything.com/profile/bfister (profile)
http://www.librarything.com/catalog/bfister (library)

Member sinceMay 4, 2007

Comments from other LibraryThing-ers

(Leave a comment.)

I am really disappointed about In Deep. I was looking forward to learning more about Konstantine.(Sigh). Hey, you can pass that draft to me. heeheehee... I'll read it. Not even an independent publisher will pick it up? Well, that stinks. I guess I'll just enjoy On Edge as a stand alone novel. But I will search for your new book in April.

Have a great day and thanks for the response.

Aggie

posted by BananaHead at 2:14 am (EST) on Mar 20, 2008

Barbara, I really enjoyed On Edge and I have been waiting for a sequel.Will there be one?

posted by BananaHead at 6:24 am (EST) on Mar 19, 2008

I'm so sad The Wire is ending. Do you know of any view-alikes?

(I think I just made that up.)

posted by sonyagreen at 1:43 pm (EST) on Mar 10, 2008

Well, I know we talked a while back and I had some concerns. So now I have my library here, on my desktop and goodreads. I'm not sure how I'll maintain them all, but we'll see.

Talk to you soon.
Dave

posted by MugsyNoir at 12:36 am (EST) on Jan 16, 2008

It's taken me the better part of a year to enter the books I have in my catalog. It's not just the books I have now. It's all the books I've read since 1978. Well, all the books up through authors whose names start with R. Another six months and I may have them all entered in one place.

posted by magsmom89 at 9:03 pm (EST) on Dec 8, 2007

Hi Barbara!
Glad to see another Reaves fan. Will look for you in Mystery Scene, and congratulations on your upcoming novel! - Sophie

posted by swl at 3:44 pm (EST) on Dec 5, 2007

Hi Barbara! I hadn't logged in to LibraryThing for about half a year, but I'm back now. What fun.

posted by jgilbert at 3:09 pm (EST) on Dec 5, 2007

Hi there, librarian, reader, and writer! Thank you for all of your help with my article. I hope you'll stay in touch and let me know when your book is out. Congratulations! ... Katie

posted by brassgoggles at 2:57 pm (EST) on Dec 3, 2007

Hey Barfly,
It's Jean langlais from 4MA and I love to make LibraryThing friends. Iam afraid I don't use this tool as much as I would like, but I find it valuable nonetheless.
Jean

posted by Jeanhl at 4:35 pm (EST) on Nov 22, 2007

Thanks!

Sometimes I get a little fed up with the Irish bias in this city, frankly. But I also read "Mystic River" and saw the movie and I can understand the connection.

There used to be a huge Swedish neighborhood in Andersonville (northwest side), but now it's turned gay (hard to know how the Swedes feel about that) and only the restaurants are left. Ann Sather's has the best breakfast's with sweet rolls that are out of this world. It's the only place that makes food that tastes like my grandmother used to make.

All the Swedes are in the suburbs now. Wimps.

But, yeah, the Irish are still there in Chicago and they make up a sizable population.

Lynn

posted by bastet at 5:05 pm (EST) on Sep 26, 2007

Thanks - I stand corrected (and so does the review).

posted by bfister at 12:01 pm (EST) on Sep 26, 2007

I saw your comment on "The Blade Itself." As a life-long Chicagoan, I can tell you that the Irish community is huge (Mayor Daley!). The names like Patrick and Seamus are commonplace. I know more Irish people than I do members of my own ethnicity (Swedish), and the tales they tell are truly amazing. Most describe themselves as "recovering Catholics." :-)

I know that Boston got the Irish rep., but we have a St. Patrick's Day to rival Boston's every year.

Lynn (not a drop Irish, but my brother-in-law is a McSweeeney and named his boy Dylan. Can you get more Irish than that?)

Lynn

posted by bastet at 3:07 am (EST) on Sep 26, 2007

I have all my books cataloged on an Excel spreadsheet but haven't figured out how to get that on the internet so I can access it so have started (slowly) putting them on here. It has been really nice being able to see Stop You're Killing Me when I am at the library or the bookstore and hopefully having my books on this website will save me money as I won't buy so many duplicates. I have a Blackjack phone and accessing the internet is about as techy as I can get.

posted by mdevere at 10:08 pm (EST) on Sep 12, 2007

Hi, Barbara. I am a lurker on 4MA and have decided to try this site out so I can access what books I own using the internet on my phone. I always enjoy your posts at the group.

posted by mdevere at 9:38 pm (EST) on Sep 12, 2007

Hi Barbara - I think it might be time for a 4MA Group around here :)

Karen C

posted by austcrimefiction at 4:46 am (EST) on Jul 17, 2007

I'm surprised that so far we 'share' only one book - but I am putting in some back records and maybe we'll have more coincidences

posted by smik at 8:58 pm (EST) on Jun 1, 2007

Good to meet up here too Barbara. An Interesting place. I like the chance to see what other people have said about books I've read.

posted by smik at 8:57 pm (EST) on Jun 1, 2007

Hey there--I don't get onto Library Thing nearly often enough myself. Just trying to update my library a little today and noticed you'd stopped by. Good to see you here! Cheryl

posted by Spuddie at 10:44 pm (EST) on May 23, 2007

Hi Barbara - yes, Born on a blue day was interesting - I think I read it in one go.

best wishes :-)

sunny

posted by sunny at 3:22 am (EST) on May 21, 2007

Thanks for stopping by my library. One of the reasons why I like this place so much is that I can have a good nosey through other people's books! I really appreciated the LT interface as well, since it imported my Excel catalog and saved me typing everything all over again.

posted by cathyskye at 12:04 pm (EST) on May 9, 2007

I've noticed ning is a bit of a hog for resources.

posted by bfister at 8:56 am (EST) on May 7, 2007

Hello - thanks for stopping by my library page - I am happier in here, and on my blog, than crimespace - which keeps crashing my computer ")

posted by sally906 at 5:11 am (EST) on May 7, 2007

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