Meet the March Reader of the Month: Paul Kilgore
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About Paul:
I’ve taught English at Senior High School for over 20 years. A perfect day for me is spending it with my wife, Michelle and daughter, Julia. My other passions include physical fitness, my pets (two Yorkshire terriers and a cat), and, of course, reading.
Q & A:
Q. What is the best book you have read within the last year (or ever)?
A. That’s a tough call. I’d say the most enjoyable book I’ve read within the last year is one I bought at Goodwill called Altamont: The Rolling Stones, the Hells Angels, and the Inside Story of Rock’s Darkest Day by Joe Selvin. I’ve always been interested in that era of Rock and Roll and the Altamont tragedy specifically. The enjoyment and enrichment came from learning a ton about a subject I thought I already knew everything about.
Q. What is your ideal reading environment (location, sound, snacks, etc.)?
A. It depends. If it’s something I’m reading for fun, I like coffee shops. If it’s something challenging that requires a lot of focus, I prefer someplace quiet.
Q. What book are you most excited about reading next, and what about it is most exciting?
A. I’m a fan of Angie Thomas’ The Hate You Give. I had always felt it would be interesting to know more about the background of Mav Carter, father of the novel’s protagonist, Starr. Sure enough, Thomas recently released Concrete Rose, which focuses on Mav’s upbringing. I plan on reading that one soon.
Q. What book do you think more people should read, and why do you think they should read it?
A. I recently read So you’ve Been Publicly Shamed by Jon Ronson. It’s an entertaining book dealing with the pitfalls of internet shaming mobs. Though published six years ago, I feel it’s more relevant now than it was then. Ronson’s final takeaway is that we should be kind to each other, especially on the internet where anonymity can bring out the worst in us. Though simplistic, I think it’s a philosophy more people should consider in our current cultural ethos.
Q. Do you remember when your love for reading began?
A. When I was seven or eight we inherited a set of Encyclopedias from my grandparents. At the time, I was obsessed with big cats. My love for reading first developed while pouring over the entries on lions, tigers, and other exotic animals from those encyclopedias (Britannica, I think).
Check out Paul Kilgore’s book list!
Apply to be the next C-SPL Reader of the Month!
See the past Reader of the Month posts here.