We recently had the chance to connect with Emily Malek and have shared our conversation below.
Good morning Emily, we’re so happy to have you here with us and we’d love to explore your story and how you think about life and legacy and so much more. So let’s start with a question we often ask: Have any recent moments made you laugh or feel proud?
I recently went to a book fair in Windsor, Canada, where one of the vendors gladly showed off their items supporting library workers. I’ve worked in libraries for over ten years, and when I saw that, I felt extremely proud, especially in a time where people are trying to ban books left from right.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I run a book review website called “Book Reviews by a Chick Who Reads Everything.” Like the title of the website implies, I read everything from the serious to the downright silly.
I also work as a full-time archivist at the Romeo District Library in Romeo, Michigan. I run a local archives that preserves the histories of Romeo and its neighboring towns Washington and Bruce Township. In addition, I help people find and utilize various documents for their research. We recently digitized all of the newspapers in our collection, and they are now available to look through online.
I previously worked as a librarian at the same library, and this exposed me to a variety of books that I wouldn’t have encountered on my own. The broad range of novels that I evaluate for the website is what sets me apart from other book review blogs.
I also review movie and television adaptations of the books evaluated for the website. This includes almost every version of the same story like “Wuthering Heights” by Emily Bronte.
Moreover, I have a podcast called the Adapt Me Podcast. With a guest, we discuss a book that has never been adapted, why that’s so, and how we would go about it. You can find on wherever one gets their podcasts.
Great, so let’s dive into your journey a bit more. What’s a moment that really shaped how you see the world?
I used to watch “America’s Next Top Model” when I was younger. On one cycle, there was an autistic model. Being on the spectrum, it was empowering when I heard that she was autistic from her own mouth. However, Tyra Banks condenscended and ridiculed her, enabling other contestants to do the same. Despite the cruelty, she remained resolved and refused to back down. It made me realize that there will always people who will discriminate against you for a variety of reasons. All I have to do is not let it get the best of me.
When did you stop hiding your pain and start using it as power?
I stopped hiding my pain of being on the spectrum when I felt more comfortable revealing to people that I’m neurodivergent. It took me years to do this because I wanted to be around people who accepted me as I am. When that happened, I opened up to them more, knowing that nothing fundamental was going to change. I’ve learned about people’s experiences on the spectrum and educated others on my own.
Alright, so if you are open to it, let’s explore some philosophical questions that touch on your values and worldview. What’s a cultural value you protect at all costs?
I strive to protect empathy at all costs. Ever since I started this website, I’ve read books that I never would have looked at. They have taught me so much about experiences I never would have imagined. There’s a reason why books are seen as windows into other people’s lives. When we protect books, we safeguard empathy.
Thank you so much for all of your openness so far. Maybe we can close with a future oriented question. Are you tap dancing to work? Have you been that level of excited at any point in your career? If so, please tell us about those days.
There have been plenty of books, movies, and television shows that I would drop everything to read or watch. This included some that no one asked me to do, but I wanted to review because I could. I felt this way when reviewing “Dog Man,” adaptations of “Goodbye, Mr. Chips” and “Wuthering Heights,” and even an obscure Snow White movie called “Snow White and the Three Stooges.”
Contact Info:
- Website: https://chick-who-reads-everything.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/emily_blakowski/
- Twitter: https://x.com/ejb0092
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/readseverything
- Other: Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/ejm0092.bsky.social
Image Credits
Carl Malek
