Emily Blodget,’02, is obsessed with reading. Whether it is classic fiction, histories of feudal Japan, or the magazine “Scientific American,” she simply loves it all.

To nurture her obsession, Blodget has found the perfect job—SCDS library assistant—where she is surrounded by books and readers.

A smile darts across Blodget’s face as she recalls reading “The Orphan’s Tales” last March. The culture, language, and mystery incorporated into Catherynne Valente’s writing is what attracts Blodget to unusual science fiction.

Blodget has been collecting books like Valente’s for years, and now owns 0ver 450 books. She reads about 50 books per year, she said.

Besides “The Orphan’s Tales,” Blodget’s recent sci-fi favorites include the works of Joan Slonczewski and Nalo Hopkinson. Slonczewski’s novel “Daughter of Elysium” investigates the future in a tale of engineered immorality. Hopkinson’s book “Brown Girl in the Ring” deals with a post-apocalyptic Toronto.

Blodget is drawn to science fiction because of its “infinite possibilities.” She can recall that when she was five, her dad explained how the sun will one day turn into a red giant, and “how the earth will fry.”

“I was a little freaked out by that at first, but eventually I realized there are fascinating things that people never take the time to see—but they’re there,” Blodget said.

Fortunately, Blodget’s parents bought her all the books her heart desired.  

Because her parents no longer pay for books and magazine subscriptions, Blodget’s horde of volumes now changes regularly, thanks to “PaperbackSwap.com.” 

“I can trade in books that I’ve already read for new ones that someone else is done with,” she said.

Apart from reading fantasy and science fiction, Blodget can also “get lost” in ancient manuscripts and philosophical works. One of her biggest regrets is misplacing her copy of “Complete Works of Aristotle” while at St. John’s College in Santa Fe, New Mexico, which she attended in 2002-04.

Prior to starting high school at Country Day in 1998, Blodget attended Golden Hills Middle School. Choosing SCDS, Blodget said, was the best decision she made for her love of reading.

“People thought I was the biggest freak in the world just for reading in elementary school. Here it was just something people did all the time,” Blodget said.

Blodget took advantage of her ability to read freely. Former librarian Sheila Hefty remembers that there was a period during which Blodget would come into the library every day after school to spend 5-10 minutes reading a book that was on the display shelf. 

It took her almost two weeks to finish it, but she never checked it out because she didn’t want someone else to miss out, Hefty said. 

In terms of classes, Blodget especially enjoyed current librarian Joanne Melinson’s creative writing elective.

“Sometimes we’d just do quick, warm-up exercises, or five-minute fiction pieces. [English teacher] Ron Bell came to class sometimes too, which was always fun,” Blodget said.

Bell and Blodget forged a connection through literature.

“She and I have discussed some of the books we’ve both read, which include “The Lord of the Rings,” “The Chronicles of Narnia,” science fiction by Ray Bradbury, Orson Scott Card and others,” Bell said.

Blodget credits her interest in writing to her love of reading.  

“I love stories and the things you can do with words. I remember that as a child, I just wanted to tell stories. I liked finding out how the world works and being able to explain it to other people,” Blodget said.

 Blodget chose St. John’s because she liked the idea of a community centered on books. St. John’s students read from the “Great Books” only, learning math from Greek philosopher Euclid and psychology from psychologist Sigmund Freud.

Additionally, Blodget wanted the opportunity to discuss books in depth. The discussion-based curriculum ended up being one of the best and worst parts of her time at St. John’s.

“A lot of the time a small group of students would overshadow the others in discussions. Sixteen out of 18 people would agree with Plato’s ideas, while I would be one of the two who questioned them,” Blodget said.

After two years, Blodget felt that the balance between lecture and discussion tipped too far to one side, and transferred to UC Davis.

Davis proved to be a different but comfortable environment, in which Blodget found more time to read selections of her own.

Blodget was first employed in the SCDS admissions office while Dana Vargo, associate director of admissions,  was on maternity leave. After Hefty retired, Melinson’s job as library assistant opened up. In 2008, Blodget took over Melinson’s position.

Besides making catalog cards and displays, Blodget helps students do research, makes up link lists for specific projects, and talks to students about topics to guide them in the right direction. She recently checked MLA formatting on the sophomores’ preliminary bibliographies for. their projects

Blodget is also involved with the lunch-time Book Club, for which she regularly writes novel summaries. As a student, Blodget never missed a Book Club meeting.

In addition, Blodget is attending college classes in library science at Drexel University in Sacramento.

Few understand Blodget’s passion for books as well as her mother. She remembers once losing track of Blodget while touring a model home, only to find her “fixing” the books on the shelves of the model den. 

Patiently, Blodget’s mother explained that the decorator had artfully arranged the books in that manner. “I know that!” replied Emily, “but the priority is the books. These are old books, and their spines just can’t take this!”

Judging from the past, books will remain very much a priority in Blodget’s future.