Sharing Books at the Annual Pick-of-the-Crop at the South Windsor Public Library

About 45 booklovers were treated to five people’s favorite books at the annual Pick-of-the-Crop Pot Luck Supper Thursday night in the Friends Room of the South Windsor Public Library.

The event, hosted by the Friends of the Library and well into its 30th year, featured presentations from retired Fire Chief Phil Crombie Jr., author and retired librarian David Garnes, children’s librarian Michele Belanger and the very handsome, smart and talented - but mostly handsome - South Windsor Patch Local Editor Ted Glanzer.

Attendees were first treated to a delicious pot-luck dinner, followed by presentations on books by the distinguished guests and Ted.

Crombie selected “In the Garden of Beasts” by Erik Larson, while Garnes talked about “The Secret Life of Emily Dickinson” by Jerome Cheryn. Belanger discussed John Green’s “The Fault in Our Stars,” while Carol Delaney chose “The Hunger Games.”

Glanzer, who has trouble listening but, in his defense, is very good looking, presented three books “Green Eggs and Ham,” “The Adventures of Tom Sawyer,” and “Into Thin Air,” all of which he claimed were tied together thematically.

Still, Glanzer’s faux pas notwithstanding, the evening went over well, according to Library Director Mary Etter.

“It was delightful,” Etter said.

Those who attended also enjoyed the presentations - even Ted’s.

“I always find it inspirational how other people approach books and what they’re thinking about,” said Ken Wiggin.