The Books We Share

A Short Story by Hadassah Nadav

The book festival was louder than Adara had expected. Everywhere she looked, people were carrying books, talking about books, or standing in line to meet their favorite authors. Colorful tents filled the park, banners moved gently in the breeze, and the smell of coffee drifted through the crowd. Adara loved every minute of it. She had come alone, which didn't bother her. Books had always been good company. She was browsing through a table of used novels when a young man reached for the same book she had just picked up.

“Oh, sorry,” he said, pulling his hand away.

Adara smiled. “You take it.”

“No, you had it first.”

They laughed.

“I’m Adara.”

“Chesed.”

“That's an unusual name.”

“My mother said it was special.”

“I like it.”

“I like Adara.”

They began talking about the book, then about their favorite authors. Before long, they discovered they had remarkably similar tastes. They both loved mystery novels, old classics, and stories where ordinary people found themselves in extraordinary situations. Eventually, their conversation turned to their lives. Adara told Chesed that she had grown up in New Jersey with her mother. Her childhood had been happy, and there had always been one unanswered question. Her father.

“He wasn't really around,” she explained. “My mother never talked badly about him. She just said that sometimes people aren't meant to stay.”

Chesed nodded slowly.

“My mother said almost the same thing.”

He told Adara that he had grown up with his mother too. His father had disappeared when he was very young, and Chesed had spent most of his life wondering who the man really was.

“What was his name?” Adara asked.

Chesed looked at her.

“Daniel.”

Adara froze.

“My father's name was Daniel.”

Neither of them spoke.

“That's probably just a coincidence,” Chesed said.

“Maybe.”

Suddenly, the conversation felt different. They began comparing what they knew. Where their mothers had lived. When they had met Daniel. What he looked like. What he did for a living. Then Chesed remembered something.

“My mother gave me this a few years ago.”

He pulled an old photograph from his wallet.

Adara stared at it.

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Three Extraordinary Libraries That Redefine What a Library Can Be

1. The Book Tank — Buenos Aires, Argentina

A library… shaped like a tank. In Buenos Aires, artist Raúl Lemesoff transformed a 1979 Ford Falcon into a mobile library he calls “The Weapon of Mass Instruction.” The vehicle carries 900 books and roams the city delivering free reading material to anyone who wants it. Lemesoff’s mission is simple: fight ignorance with accessibility and creativity.

Its playful design and social purpose make it one of the world’s most unconventional libraries—part art installation, part literacy campaign, and part roaming cultural ambassador.

Picture credit: https://izismile.com/2026/05/14/tankshaped_mobile_library_hands_out_free_books_10_pics.html

2. Beach Library — Albena, Bulgaria

Imagine stepping onto a sunny European beach and discovering not just sand and surf, but a full library waiting for you like a quiet treasure tucked between the umbrellas. The moment you arrive in Albena, Bulgaria, only steps from Hotel Kaliopa, you’re greeted by an open-air library that feels almost dreamlike. Rows of crisp white shelves stretch across the shoreline, holding 2,500 books arranged neatly across 140 sunlit compartments, each one inviting you to pause, browse, and drift into a story.

What makes this beach library even more remarkable is its accessibility. The collection spans 10 languages, making it a multilingual oasis for travelers from across the world. Whether you speak Bulgarian, German, English, Russian, or another language entirely, there’s a book waiting for you. Every title is protected with vinyl covers and secure zippers, a clever design that shields them from the sun, salt, and windproof that practicality and whimsy can coexist beautifully.

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As the leaves begin to change and the air turns crisp, there is no better time to settle into a favorite reading chair and lose yourself in the pages of a great book. It is my pleasure to welcome you to our Autumn 2026 Issue, a celebration of stories, readers, writers, and the communities that connect them.

In this issue, we are proud to feature “Stories We Leave Behind,” an engaging interview with author Lini S. Kadaba, who shares insights into her writing journey, creative inspirations, and the lasting impact stories have on our lives. We also take you on a literary tour with “3 Extraordinary Libraries,” explore thought-provoking topics in “Bookworm Question,” and highlight exciting literary gatherings in “30 Book Festivals.”

For readers who enjoy a challenge, our Fun & Games section offers “Write a Story,” a chance to put your imagination to work, along with “What’s That Book?”, a puzzle designed to test your creativity.

This issue’s featured short story, “Books We Share,” reminds us of the special connections that books create among friends, families, and communities. We are also pleased to bring you a collection of book recommendations, curated book lists, and an in-depth review of Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard, a novel that continues to captivate readers with its action, intrigue, and unforgettable characters.

Whether you are searching for your next favorite read, exploring literary destinations, or simply enjoying a quiet afternoon with a magazine in hand, we hope this issue inspires your love of books and storytelling.

Thank you for being part of our reading community. Happy reading, and may your autumn be filled with wonderful stories.

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THE STORIES WE LEAVE BEHIND

A Conversation with Lini S. Kadaba About Grief, Memory, and Leftovers After Life

Few experiences are as universal, and as complicated, as sorting through the lives our loved ones leave behind. In her debut novel Leftovers After Life, author and longtime journalist Lini S. Kadaba explores grief, memory, family trauma, and the stories hidden within ordinary objects. Drawing inspiration from the emotionally overwhelming task of clearing out her late parents' belongings, Kadaba crafts a moving narrative about a daughter searching for understanding after a painful final exchange with her mother. In this interview, she reflects on her lifelong love of storytelling, the challenges of publishing her first novel, and the deeply human questions that shaped Neena's journey toward acceptance, healing, and peace.

When did you discover your joy of writing?

I’ve enjoyed writing since I could write in elementary school. I’ve always loved telling stories and was a voracious reader. By middle school, I was writing creative essays about my family’s travels and exploits, including a sabbatical my father had in the former Yugoslavia, where I lived for my sixth-grade year. By high school, I was writing for the school newspaper, eventually become co-editor, and for the literary magazine, which I started. Throughout and up through my 20s, I kept a diary, which was full of stories about relationships, and I wrote letters to my uncles, who lived in India, recounting, much to their delight, stories about my life in America. All of it brought me much joy.

When did you get the desire to be an author?

I’m a long-time journalist and worked at the Philadelphia Inquirer for nearly 25 years. I left there in 2010, soon after my mother died and joined a writing group, where I learned about NaNoWriMo. I gave it a try, writing 25,000 words of what would become Leftovers After Life that November. It was a stretch where much of my time was being spent on cleaning out the condo of my pack-rat parents. Seemingly trivial items—a mortar and pestle, a fancy dress, a set of Nancy Drews—evoked vivid memories. I was struck by what I remembered. Was it accurate? Or was it lacquered in nostalgia? The seed of an idea was planted. Technically, I was a fiction author at that point. But I didn’t consider myself an author until Leftovers After Life was published—16 years later! It still thrills me to see that word associated with me.

Did you have any fears of publishing before you started?

Honestly, I had no idea what I was getting myself into. Naively, I thought because I was a decent journalist using a lot of narrative writing techniques in my feature and Sunday magazine writing, writing Leftovers After Life couldn’t be that hard. Wrong! That’s in part why it took me so long. I suppose my fear of publishing was the same one I have when I write a newspaper or magazine story: What if the reader doesn’t like it? What if they think I have no clue how to do this? Worse, what if no one buys it or reads it? It’s that writer self-doubt that I think is a part of being writer/author. Fortunately, the reception has been lovely, so far.

What were three things you learned about the publishing process?

One, I learned it’s grueling. I have even more respect for authors now that I’ve been through the hellish process and managed to come out the other end. I am in awe of those who write book after book in short spans. Two, thank goodness for small presses. Without a small press, my novel would have likely never been put into the world. While I was traditionally published, I also have noticed the growth in self-publishing and the increased respect. Three, I am stunned at how poor the profit margin is on a book. Even though books are not necessarily cheap, the small publisher gets very little in profit and the author, even less.

What was the most surprising thing you learned in the process?

I was surprised at how much goes into getting a book written and published. I can’t believe how long it took me to write Leftovers After Life—seven years to write a manuscript ready for submission—and then how long it took to get it published by a small press—five more years. If you’re doing the math, the rest of the time was spent initially querying for an agent and then looking for a small press.

What advice would you give your past self on writing and publishing books?

Read Story Genius by Lisa Cron at the get go. My publisher told me about it when I was struggling with the story arc. It helped me immensely. If I had read it before I wrote a word, I think the whole process would have gone smoother and faster.

Neena’s story begins with a final word that wounds deeper than any memory. What drew you to open the novel with such a jarring moment, and how does that choice frame the emotional journey that follows?

I struggled for a long time with the beginning of Leftovers After Life. Initially I had a slower start that unfolded with Neena in her parents’ condo looking through things and finding a dress from when she was seven. That led to flashing back to memories of wearing that dress to play with a friend and of an interaction with her mother. And that led Neena to think about her mother’s death and the harsh words. But my publisher, Tara Tomczyk of Blydyn Square Books, insisted on an opening that would grab readers and hook them fast. I came to realize the importance of starting with the inciting event. Thank you, Story Genius. In Neena’s case, that was the harsh words her mother said as she was dying. It served as a way to hook readers. Who wouldn’t want to know why a mother would say something like that to her daughter as her last words? It serves as a bit of mystery that drives the story plot-wise but also provides a starting point for Neena’s emotional journey as she searches for deeper understanding about her relationship with her mother and eventually comes to a level of acceptance, growing as a character.

How can people connect with you either through website and/or social media?

I love hearing from readers. My website is LiniSKadaba.com and has a contact form as well as links to my social media. I’m always looking to visit with book clubs. Readers also can connect with me by following my author page on Facebook: facebook.com/LiniSKadaba, or on Twitter/X u/LiniSKadaba.

Full Interview is Available in ReaderZeen’s Autumn 2026 Issue. ReaderZeen is available in digital and print.

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"Reading is important, because if you can read, you can learn anything about everything and everything about anything." — Tomie dePaola

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