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The Texas Gaggle Recommends

By Linda Stevens, Contributing writer | April 10, 2018

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Linda Stevens from Harris County Public Library attended the annual Texas Library Association Conference and is part of the Lariat Reading List committee, in which she will help compile a list of 25 fiction books for adults that are "a pleasure to read." She spotlights some of the authors on the 2018 Lariat list here. (Photo courtesy of Texas Library Association)

Several years ago, library guru Stephen Abram asked the question "What's the collective noun for a group of librarians?" He got many clever responses, including a collection, a catalog, a volume, even a shush of librarians, but my favorite is gaggle. Not because I think we resemble geese, but in the informal sense of gaggle, a disorderly or noisy group of people. Which, contrary to stereotype, we actually are when gathered together. Plus, I like the way the word sounds.

Anyway, the Texas gaggle got together last week for our annual Texas Library Association Conference in Dallas, where we got inspired and learned about new services and explored innovative products and generally replenished our librarian batteries for the upcoming year.

I have been part of TLA since I was a newly hatched librarian and have served in various ways throughout the years. This year, I am really excited about being appointed as a member of the Lariat Reading List committee, where we annually compile a list of 25 fiction books for adults that are "a pleasure to read."

At this year's conference, we were treated to a visit from three of the authors on the 2018 Lariat list, Lisa Wingate, Benjamin Ludwig and Matt Goldman. After hearing them speak, I am spending my weekend binge reading their books! Here's a teaser for each:

Lisa Wingate's Before We Were Yours uses fiction to explore the real story of the infamous Tennessee Children's Home, that stole poor children from their families and sold them for profit. I am from Memphis and never heard this story, so I am completely intrigued.

I adore a first novel, and Benjamin Ludwig's Ginny Moon features a teenage girl with autism in the foster system who finally finds a home, only to try to leave to pursue a personal quest. Mr. Ludwig's own experiences as a foster parent provided his inspiration and I am looking forward to reading about Ginny.

Matt Goldman is an award-winning comedy writer for television and you've probably seen some of his work. Now he's writing mysteries and has a series set in Minnesota beginning with Gone to Dust, featuring a murder scene covered in so much vacuum cleaner dust that forensic evidence is almost useless. He said it was created from his hatred of CSI.

Need more pleasure reads? FInd the full 2018 Lariat List here.