People of Georgian: Avid reader finds community at libraries and online
March 12, 2025
What’s your story?
The Georgian community is full of unique, inspiring perspectives —and we’re sharing them as part of an ongoing series.
People of Georgian: Meet Michelle Dowzer
Reading has always been a big part of my life.
My mom is a reader, and she started me on books pretty much right when I was born. She was always reading stories around me.
The library was always a big part of my life. I would go there and get 20 books with my mom. I was always excited to be at the library.
I moved around a lot, but there was always a library, no matter what town I lived in. It was always a centered place where I felt safe. I’ve been to so many different libraries, but they all have a warm environment.
Having such a strong connection with books, too, helped me feel welcome, along with the supportive staff that libraries typically hire. And it’s one of the only places I can think of where you don’t need to spend money, and you can be there for hours and it’s OK.
‘Reading is a centered part of my life’
At home, I have a huge library of hundreds of books across six bookshelves that are filled to the brim.
One of my favorite book series is Red Rising by Pierce Brown. I’ve read the series over and over and over again, and no matter how many times I’ve read it, it never gets old. I actually met the author about a year ago, and I totally freaked out. I felt like I blacked out when I was talking to him, as if I was meeting a famous actor or something. I don’t really care about actors, but Pierce Brown is like my movie star.
Reading is a centered part of my life; I always have my e-reader or book with me, or I’m listening to an audio book.
When you’re reading a really good book, you get fully immersed in it. In my head, it’s like watching a movie; I can picture everything going on. There will be times when I’m reading for over an hour, and I’ll forget everything around me.
‘Reading can always make your day a little bit better’
My favourite genres of books are fantasy, romance and science fiction.
When I moved to Barrie, I didn’t find many other readers who liked the same kinds of books, so for the last 11 years I’ve been posting and talking about books I read on social media. I’ve created connections and made some really good friends I otherwise wouldn’t have had.
Meeting people who like the same books as me or who have the same passion for reading is freeing. I love books as much as you love books, and we form a community.
Reading can always make your day a little bit better.
Michelle Dowzer (they/them), a full-time Academic Support Officer at the Robbert Hartog Midland Campus and an alum of Georgian’s Office Administration – Executive program (class of 2021).
Looking for a book to read? Michelle’s three picks:
- Red Rising by Pierce Brown.
- The City of Brass by S.A. Chakraborty.
- Black Sun by Rebecca Roanhorse.