"Connecting" with Nancy Pearl

Anyone lucky enough to attend the upcoming Connections 2011 Women's Philanthropy event is sure to enjoy a lively, engaging presentation by one of our nation's foremost authorities on books. Nancy Pearl, NPR Commentator, author of books such as Book Lust, and recently named Librarian of the Year by the Library Journal, was called "one lusty librarian" by the Los Angeles Times. She is the headliner for "Discovering Community Through Books", January 30 at the Hyatt Regency Bellevue. Come learn how you can add exciting new horizons to your life through books, and get Nancy's exclusive Connections TOP 20 BOOKS NOT TO MISS.

To register for Connections 2011 and enjoy Nancy Pearl's book wit and wisdom, click here.

We asked Nancy a few questions as a 'preview' to her presentation.

How do you find and select books for your lists?
I pick books that I love - there's no other criteria than that. I have very catholic tastes, so I read almost everything - or almost everything that crosses my desk.

Why do you feel reading is so vital to building community?
Reading helps us expand our horizons - to see the world in ways that are unfamiliar to us.

How would you recommend women begin expanding their reading?
Read a book outside your normal reading tastes and see how it goes, if you hate it, stop reading it. Ask a librarian or an independent bookseller for a suggestion.

What is your one favorite book for this year?
One of my favorite books this year is Edmund de Waal's "The Hare with Amber Eyes: A family's Century of Art and Loss."