Memberbrianinbuffalo

Real Name

Brian

About My Library

Most of the books on my online list are only those works in my 2,500+ title collection that I've actually read cover-to-cover or listened to in audio form (versus works that I use for reference.) I spend lots of time on the road, so at least half of the books on my list are CDs (many of them from the local library). I try not to get stuck in genre "ruts," although I tend to favor contemporary fiction, classics, historical fiction, journalism/mass media and business-related books. I do not review any of the regional books that my publishing company is responsible for distributing. But I do post many of the books on my LibraryThing site.
A quick overview of my rating system for books:
5 stars -- Stunning in every way; A book I'll remember 25 years from now.
4 1/2 stars -- Exceptional, with long-term staying power.
4 stars -- Well-worth reading. A few flaws prevent it from elevating to "exceptional," but a book that should definitely be explored.
3 1/2 stars -- A solid work, but with recurring flaws (often a storyline that doesn't consistently deliver)
3 stars -- Largely forgettable with isolated bursts of inspiration and/or enlightenment.

2 to 2 1/2 stars -- Disappointing to the extent that I stopped reading after the first half (less than 5% of my books).

1 to 1 1/2 stars -- A total waste; stopped reading within a couple chapters (less than 1% of my books.)

About Me

Journalist, communications professor, author, publisher.

Retired senior director of news and public affairs at WNED|WBFO (PBS/NPR stations in Western New York.) Former reporter and managing editor of news at WBEN Radio (Buffalo, NY). Covered government, business/economic development, courts, environmental issues and other news arenas. Filed 40,000+ print, broadcast and digital reports throughout career.

Worked in various full-time, part-time and freelance roles at The Buffalo News for 20 years, covering municipal government, business/economic development and other issues. Spent seven years working at The News in digital media, curating a digital newsletter and producing online videos.

Journalism/communications adjunct professor. Taught more than 120 courses at several Western New York colleges/universities since 1987, including SUNY Buffalo State University, Medaille University, University at Buffalo, Canisius College and Empire State College.
Founder and president of Western New York Wares Inc., a small publishing firm that markets non-fiction works about the Buffalo-Niagara region. As of 2021, the company had published 70 regional books and served as consultant and/or distributor for many other regional titles.
Chair, Greater Buffalo Society of Professional Journalists' Scholarship Fund.
Inducted into the Buffalo Broadcasters' Hall of Fame in 2010, becoming one of the youngest professional inductees.

Location

Buffalo, NY

Memberships

LibraryThing Early Reviewers

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Favorite Authors

Ray Bradbury, John Irving, Jon Krakauer, Joyce Carol Oates, Philip Roth, J. D. Salinger

Member Connections

Friends

cdyankeefan, JeremyCShipp, mariaretz, theoldman, virgingloves

Interesting Library

aaronz82, alycesquire, arubabookwoman, AzureMountain, BALE, baoyu, bibliophileofalls, bookworm12, brenzi, bribre01, carterchristian1, cjneary, ConsortiumLibrary, cotto, Coyote99, cskowronski, curiousjones, DaveFragments, edwardhenry, eringoblog, GerrysBookshelf, Griff, hippietrail, jaharnick, JamiSautter, jillzeman, jmjchria, JonathanGorman, jpackham, justindise, karenthecroccy, Kelberts, LauGal, maryanntherese, maryolliffe, MikeFarquhar, mikerizzo, mikewomack, msjoanna, ndrose, nivramkoorb, Nodressrehearsal, notime4badwine, phillyexpat, readaholic57, rmckeown, samfsmith, scofer, strandbooks, TheMetro, TheTwoDs, watertiger, Whisper1