Looking for a thrill? A mystery? A romance?
Want to travel to the past? The future? Another country? Another dimension?
Don’t be shy. Just ask us. We’ll make the perfect match for you.
The Heights Libraries Matchmakers are librarians dedicated to connecting you with your next great adult reading, listening, or viewing experience. Books, audiobooks, CDs, DVDs – no matter what you’re looking for, we can help you find your next great love!
Send us an email, tell us all about what you like and what you’re looking for, and we’ll send you a personalized list of suggested titles. Email us at: matchmakers@heightslibrary.flywheelstaging.com.
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Current Matchmakers
Lisa (Lee Road) adores almost any sort of non-fiction, including memoir and adventure stories as well as scientific and medical non-fiction. Some of her favorite non-fiction authors include Oliver Sacks, Joan Didion and Jon Krakauer. When she does pick up a fiction read, it tends to be a noteworthy new horror title or the latest Pulitzer winner, although she’s well versed in horror classics as well (Lovecraft, Poe, King). She’s also an aficionado of horror films—a lifelong interest that has led to distinct preferences for paranormal and ghost stories over the bloodier aspects of that genre.
Jenny Groh loves music. She enjoys listening to all different genres but indie rock, folk, and bluegrass are at the top of the list. Jenny enjoys talking about music with others and she’s been known to make mix CDs for her friends. According to Jenny, there’s nothing better than spending an evening at one of our great local music venues seeing a live show. But if she cannot do that, Jenny enjoys taking in a new movie, reading contemporary literature, and watching highly addictive television dramas.
Louise is a Children’s Librarian with a deep appreciation for a well-made picture book and a carefully plotted novel. When she’s not catching up on the latest middle grade contemporary fiction, Louise is usually reading a paranormal murder mystery, a melodramatic YA paperback from the 80s, or a focused history of a seemingly mundane topic with hidden complexity (think: home addresses, beaver dams, melodramatic YA paperbacks). Between mind-blowing books, fiction and nonfiction alike, Louise can be found doing jigsaw puzzles, listening to music, baking, or creating paper and textile art.
Andrea Lynn (Lee Road) likes to read English and American classics, literary fiction, women’s fiction, and Golden Age detective novels, with occasional forays into sci-fi, fantasy, mystery, and romance. Her favorite authors include Margaret Atwood, Anna Quindlen, and Connie Willis. Andrea is a Life Member of the Jane Austen Society of North America.
Amanie has a wide range of interests with favorite books across all genres, especially Young Adult and Middle Grade horror and fantasy reads. These interests can span from lengthy novels with wonderful world building and realistic characters to short and fun graphic novels with beautiful illustrations and heart-warming stories. As the teen librarian (Lee Rd), she’s always prepared with a list of YA books that someone of any age may enjoy.
Sara reads primarily domestic thrillers, but also enjoys escaping reality by reading romantic comedies when she needs a break from unrealiable narrators and twisted minds. Her favorite authors include Christina Lauren, Ruth Ware, T. Greenwood, and Riley Sager, but she is always on the lookout for releases from new authors. A recent convert to using a Kindle eReader, Sara can rarely be found without a book on her at all times.
Stephen (or Steve, whichever is easier for you to remember) tends to read plenty of Science Fiction/Fantasy novels. He also reads biographies, history books, and has been experimenting with Lovecraftian-esque horror stories. From time to time he will also read young adult books, especially graphic novels. He enjoys music of many different genres, and prefers video games to movies or TV.
A’Lanna Wells is an avid reader of contemporary YA and adult fiction with the occasional mystery, sci-fi or fantasy novel thrown in to keep things interesting. Though she prefers standalone novels, once she finds a book series she really likes, she’ll immerse herself in its world and characters until she’s either caught up with new releases or completely finished with the franchise. When not reading, she loves watching movies and TV shows of all genres. Her favorite authors include Taylor Jenkins Reid, Juneau Black, Shauna Robinson, Celeste Ng and John Green.
Previous Matchmakers
I’m Baladine Culver, I’ve worked for Heights Libraries for nine years in various capacities. I read a wide variety of things but mostly Science Fiction, Mystery, and Historical Fiction with some Non-fiction, Classics, and YA Novels mixed in.
Hi, my name is Constance and I’m a readaholic. I enjoy reading memoirs by people who have overcome adversity. I also enjoy fiction about complicated, flawed, realistic characters and dysfunctional families. Reading about others is important because it puts us in their shoes and brings understanding (unless we’re psychopaths). Finally, I love the kind of writing that makes me read a passage over because of its sheer beauty or craft.
Pat Gray loves thrillers and also enjoys mysteries of all kinds, especially British mysteries.
Ben Gulyas likes books that highlight the landscape of the United States and poetry. He’s even been known to write a verse or two.
As a bookaholic, Raidene Hebert reads fiction, first time, or debut authors, general and quirky nonfiction, and culinary and travel memoirs. She is always looking for books with a strong sense of place. “Reading is the sole means by which we slip, involuntarily, often helplessly, into another’s skin, another’s voice, another’s soul.” –Joyce Carol Oates.
E loves to read poetry, creepy stories, and genre mashups. A fan of anything that goes bump in the night, E loves offbeat mysteries, supernatural twists, and almost anything set in a weird town or told in a quirky, first person narrative voice. Many of E’s favorite books respond to real-life questions with other-worldly solutions. A Youth Librarian (Lee Road), E also loves whimsically illustrated picture books, animal fantasies featuring heroic mice, and other stories about growing up with just a hint of magic.
Becky Katzenmeyer reads a little of everything–both fiction and nonfiction. Special interests are religion, biography, literary fiction, gentle “cottage fiction,” popular science and books about autism and other learning disabilities.
Maggie loves to explore and learn, whether that is out in the woods or mountains, in a new place, or in the pages of a book. She has hundreds of favorite children’s books spanning all genres and no, she cannot narrow down the list, but she can definitely expand it. She finds immense joy in connecting the right books with the right person at the right time.
Amy Marshalek likes to read biographies, non-fiction, graphic novels, literary fiction, and humor. Amy likes to watch foreign films, but doesn’t watch nearly enough! Instead, Amy watches cable TV shows in season stretches that she checks out for free from the library.
I’m a librarian and an all-around bon vivant. My interests are debauchery, lasciviousness, and karaoke. My special reading interests are African-American fiction, erotica, LGBT fiction, humor and subjects that are considered taboo. I have no shame in reading what I like and neither should you. “Everybody is somebody else’s weirdo.” –Douglas Adams “The hardest challenge is to be yourself in a world where everyone is trying to make you be somebody else.” — E. E. Cummings
Luke likes to read contemporary fiction and nonfiction, various topics. Some of his favorite authors include: Haruki Murakami, Milan Kundera, Paul Auster, Richard Brautigan. He also enjoys watching movies at Cleveland Cinemas on the big screen! Ask him about recent indie, drama and action films.
Jessica prefers to spend most of her spare time drinking coffee, playing and watching hockey, and reading a wide array of books on topics of interest to her, particularly those that involve poetry or poetic language, queer protagonists, strong female leads, and mythology or fairy tales. In addition, she loves watching the Marx brothers and classic cinema, obsesses over films from the 80’s, and has seen almost every movie featuring Robert Downey Jr.
Greg has difficulties finding time to read, so he uses his long commute to work to listen to audiobooks. He has always been a sci-fi junkie, and lately has been interested in stories set in the everyday world, but with a sci-fi twist. His favorite authors are Ernest Cline, Blake Crouch, and Andy Weir. Even when he ventures away from fiction, Greg still enjoys books on science, especially those by Bill Nye.
Carole Wallencheck reads fantasy (one of her special loves is Terry Pratchett), fiction dealing with art as well as nonfiction art books along with alternative health and spiritual biography
Amia Wheatley likes to read a bit of everything, from fiction and nonfiction, sci-fi and graphics novels, and young adult and women’s fiction. Amia also enjoys listening to audiobooks while catching up on her knitting. “My life is a reading list.” – John Irving, A Prayer for Owen Meany