About Me



Hi, I'm Catherine! I'm a school librarian with a passion for all things books and learning. I'm an alumna of both UMass Boston and Simmons University and have several master's degrees under my belt. I have spent my career helping others discover the joy of reading and the power of education and lifelong learning. As a lover of literature, I enjoy recommending books and discussing the latest trends in publishing and the literary world with my fellow book lovers.

I'm a huge fan of fantasy and sci-fi (especially dystopian and speculative fiction), and I LOVE horror. Like, a lot. I do admittedly tend to read quite a bit of juvenile and young adult fiction, given my line of work. I also love history and historical fiction, and am a devourer of the classics. I love Victorian literature and the Romantic poets as well as Old English poetry and medieval literature. I'm especially interested in literary theory and in different philosophical readings of literature that focus on critical animal studies, posthumanism, object oriented ontology, and phenomenology. Ever the Derrida fan, I love to deconstruct everything I come across in language and literature.

When I'm not surrounded by books, you can find me binge-watching my favorite series on Netflix or attending live music events. I also have a deep appreciation for museums, archives, and historic sites, and I love exploring the rich history and culture of our world. I share my love for Massachusetts history specifically over on my other blog, Bay State Backstory.

Through my shawcatreads blog and socials, I hope to share my love of books, libraries, and education with others, and connect with like-minded individuals who share these interests. Thank you for joining me on this journey of lifelong learning and discovery.

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