Music for Books : Henry Strauss (The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue)

I wanted to leave out Goodreads Monday for a while because there are some original posts that I would love to share with you guys and I know this one couldn’t wait!

My next guest is probably one of the hottest celebs in the book community right now and though how low-key he keeps himself, I’m so happy Henry managed to send through a playlist! (I have to say it might be my favorite one thus far)

Of course since it is Henry, he’s put it together via vinyl record. I picked a light teal mug from his “mug wall” with abstract silver cracks woven through them, and settled down across from him.

I told him I’m definitely stealing the mug wall idea and there’s nothing he can do about it. He laughed and that broke the ice it seems.

Well everyone, I present you the one and only Henry Strauss.

“Quite an introduction Jawahir, you made me sound too big for my own good. Yup that’s me Henry: avid bookseller, lost and reluctant adult, and not a storyteller as many would believe”

“I like collecting stories and finding the storyteller within others more. Everyone talks about the people who create but never those who collect. Those who collect may not always have the ability to create but they are just as important. They keep things from going into oblivion, in a way they’re a key basis to art, culture and history.”

“Thus I present you a poem by my fellow NYC creative Christi Steyn whose work may just kick off. From a lover of stories to another I hope you like this as much as I did.”

You are not your age, Nor the size of clothes you wear,

You are not a weight, Or the color of your hair.

You are not your name, Or the dimples in your cheeks,

You are all the books you read, And all the words you speak.

You are your croaky morning voice, And all the smiles you try to hide,

You’re the sweetness in your laughter, And every tear you’ve cried.

You’re the songs you sing so loudly, When you know you’re all alone,

You’re the places that you’ve been to, And the one that you call home.

You’re the things that you believe in, And the people that you love,

You’re the photos in your bedroom, And the future you dream of.

You’re made of so much beauty, But it seems that you forgot,

When you decided that you were defined, By all the things you’re not.

“I haven’t written any descriptions next to the songs because now this playlist is yours, draft your own story if you like or collect them, either way may our songs and stories never die.“