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Meet the C-SPL May 2025 Reader of the Month, Natalie Droeske!
Hello! Originally from the Chicago-land area, I moved to Dubuque in 2015 and fell in love with this lovely little community!
I am the Senior Marketing Manager at MedOne Pharmacy Benefit Solutions and am the President of the Carnegie-Stout Public Library Foundation Board, as well as the Marketing Chair on the Chamber’s Young Professionals Board. I also sling tees at The Midwest Girl on weekends and help out with their marketing campaigns as well.
This community offers so much; from an extensive library collection to a bustling small business community to endless recreational opportunities, Dubuque is just the best!
C-SPL May 2025 Reader of the Month Q & A:
Q: What book(s) are you currently reading?
A: I just finished “The Let Them Theory” by Mel Robbins and, WOW, has that changed the way I think and go about my day-to-day. I had not previously read her or listened to her podcast, but you can bet I’m going to start! “The Midnight Feast” (and anything by Lucy Foley) is giving me the heebie-jeebies, but I’m enjoying it.
Next up is John Green’s “Everything is Tuberculosis” and Abby Jimenez’s “Say You’ll Remember Me.” Wildly different selections, I know!
Q: What is the best book you have read within the last year (or ever)?
A: There are so many to choose from! I think I have to go with “None of This is True” by Lisa Jewell. Believe me when I say I DEVOURED this book on a rainy afternoon and found myself flipping back and forth, trying to piece the whole story together. This would be a GREAT book club selection if you’re looking for one. Lots to talk about!
Honorable Mentions:
“Remarkably Bright Creatures” by Shelby Van Pelt
“Tom Lake” by Ann Patchett
“ Mad Honey” by Jodi Piccoult
Oh, and anything by Kristen Hannah (I read “The Women” and got hooked, so “The Four Winds” and “The Great Alone” quickly followed.)
Q: What is your ideal reading environment (location, sound, snacks, etc.)?
A: While I am one to whip out a book anywhere—and I do mean anywhere; it’s not unusual to see me enjoying a beer at the brewery by myself with a book. I prefer the corner of a couch, by a window on a rainy day with nothing on the calendar. Throw in some black coffee and a Millwork Bakery pastry and I’m not moving for AT LEAST two to three hours.
Q: What book are you most excited about reading next, and what about it is exciting?
A: “Station Eleven” by Emily St. John Mandel is the next selection for my work book club. It’s a dystopian novel that follows a world post-pandemic… you can see why I’m intrigued! This one is a little out of my comfort zone genre-wise and not something I would typically pick up so I’m excited. “The Anxious Generations” by Jonathan Haidt is also on my list. I really enjoyed “Stolen Focus” by Johann Hari, which is on a similar topic, so I’m looking forward to drawing some connections between the two works.
“Say You’ll Remember Me” by Abby Jimenez is one I’m looking forward to enjoying on a beach next month. My book club has enjoyed two of her other works (“Part of Your World” and “Just for the Summer”) so I’m looking forward to seeing her style again with a lighter rom-com read.
Q: Can you tell us about your reading interests in general?
A: While this is true for me for movies and TV shows, too, I really like to go into a book blind. I’m not one to pour over summaries or synopses; I like to let the author take me where they’re going. I think this creates a more authentic experience with the work because they I have no pre-conceived notions about the content or where the book is heading. Try it out sometime! Grab a book just based on the cover (I know, I know) and give it a read! I’m curious if others have the same heightened experience going in blind that I tend to.
My other “strategy” is referrals. Just like any nail salon, recipe, or sunscreen, I love a suggestion! Please tell me what you’re reading and how you’re liking it! I will likely hop online two seconds later to see if Carnegie-Stout has it. This is why my TBR is several dozen books; I take suggestion from friends, coworkers, strangers, the internet…
As mentioned already, though, I do have several favorite authors that, when they come out with something new, I like to be on top of those new works. It’s like seeing an old friend again, reading something new but written in their style. Always exciting to see what’s coming to market.
Q: What format do you prefer and why (physical book, ebook, audiobook)?
A: I primarily like to read a good, old-fashioned paperback; there’s something about the sound of a turning page, the smell of the ink on the paper, and visually seeing your progress as you work through the book. It’s the best! I have come to appreciate audiobooks, though, as well. They make time in the car go by much quicker, though I’m not an auditory learner, so I often miss a lot of the details (haha!).
Q: Have you discovered any exciting new authors or genres?
A: I’m usually not into period pieces when it comes movies or TV shows; they’re just really not my thing. So I was pleasantly surprised to find that I really enjoyed historical fiction books, especially when real people, events, or details are brought in. Kristen Hannah and Kate Quinn both are MASTERS of this genre, and I’m excited to explore this new way of learning! I pick up so much when information about different periods of history are portrayed in this way.
Q: When do you decide to stop reading a book? In other words, do you read every book to the last page, or is there a moment when you decide to stop?
A: I studied Creative Writing at Loras College so I know only a small bit about what it takes to create a publication these days. Spoiler: It’s A LOT. So, knowing this, I do like to finish whatever work I start. If I’m reading a book and am not really jiving with it, I still like to ride it out (read it out?) out of respect for the author. I find that this helps me get deeper into the syntax and enjoy the author’s style, even if the subject matter or plot isn’t my thing.
Q: Do you remember when your love for reading began?
A: I’ve always been a reader! Growing up, I amazed those around me with my ability to block out noise and put my nose in a book. I have two (very athletic) older brothers who played sports all year long. Being the younger sister, I therefore attended more than my fair share of baseball and basketball tournaments. I didn’t mind, though, especially the weekend-long basketball tournaments because it allowed me to sit up in the stands with my book. I also grew up walking distance from my village’s library, so I was ALWAYS there. It seemed I had a new stack of books every week that I powered through during the summers, reading under our honey locust tree in the backyard.
Still today, my ears perk up when I hear someone mention a book club. I LOVE talking books, it’s my go-to small talk conversation starter.
Check out Natalie’s Favorite Books
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