About
Why “Crystal the Librarian”?
Because “book influencer” doesn’t quite cover it—and “librarian” isn’t just a job title, it’s a philosophy.
I’m Crystal: a librarian, former lit professor, and lifelong book obsessive. I created Crystal the Librarian to bridge the gap between the stacks and the screen—to take bookish conversations beyond Goodreads and into a more irreverent, intelligent space.
This isn’t a space for vanilla reviews or 5-star fangirling. It’s for real readers who want sharp notes, spicy takes, and maybe a little side-eye for outdated canon picks.
Professional Background
I’ve worn a lot of bookish hats:
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Librarian – Currently Head of Collections at a state library, with a deep love for special collections and rare books.
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Academic – Former literature and film professor at Texas Tech. My specialties? Southern Gothic, postmodern fiction, and women who write like knives.
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Reader – Not a casual one. A write-in-the-margins, follow-the-footnotes, re-read-until-it-hurts kind of reader.
I bring that critical eye (and low tolerance for bad writing) into every post.
What You’ll Get Here
This site is for readers who want more. If you’re tired of empty reviews and want notes that dig deeper, welcome. Here's what to expect:
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Book Notes & Reviews that go beyond “I liked it”
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Quotes Worth Annotating (the underlined, dog-eared kind)
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Connections to broader themes, history, and culture
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Links to essays, videos, author interviews, and weird book-adjacent rabbit holes
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A Dash of Opinionated Chaos – because I have literary beef and I’m not afraid to air it.
Whether you're a former English major, a fellow librarian, or just someone who wants to read smarter, this space is for you.
Fun Facts + Hot Takes
Fun Facts:
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My dog is named Pocket. She only chews bad books.
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I just moved from Texas to the Pacific Northwest, and the culture shock is real and happy-making.
Hot Takes:
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You don’t need to finish a book that isn’t serving you.
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The Southern Gothic genre is the most underrated lens for understanding American history—and we’re not talking about it enough.
Blog Posts
