What do you think?
Rate this book
Feeding the Dragon
For a book-obsessed kid with a big imagination and a flair for drama, could anything be luckier than living in a library? Capturing her remarkable childhood and its impact, Sharon Washington's autobiographical Off-Broadway show brings its sense of wonder and bittersweet realism into your home and heart as an enthralling audio experience. Only from Audible, Feeding the Dragon celebrates the role of books in opening Washington's mind to worlds of possibilities—including a career in acting.
As part of our mission to offer listeners outstanding performances in contemporary theater, we are thrilled to present acclaimed stage actor Washington’s debut as a playwright. Intimate and emotionally nuanced, Sharon Washington's reckoning of childhood, race, and memory is, as one listener says, a "feast for the creative soul."
© 2018 Sharon Washington (P) 2018 AO Media, LLC
As part of our mission to offer listeners outstanding performances in contemporary theater, we are thrilled to present acclaimed stage actor Washington’s debut as a playwright. Intimate and emotionally nuanced, Sharon Washington's reckoning of childhood, race, and memory is, as one listener says, a "feast for the creative soul."
© 2018 Sharon Washington (P) 2018 AO Media, LLC
1 pages, Audible Audio
First published June 26, 2018
19 people are currently reading
606 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 390 reviews
October 8, 2018
Part of the Audible original selection the month of September, this was an instant click when I read the subtitle The Story of the little girl who lived in the library. Hello! This is my #1 fantasy (a bit of a disappointment to all the boys I have loved) to live in a library, lock the doors, fellas!! Actress Sharon Washington takes us back to her childhood in NYC with her South Carolina father and born and bred New Yorker mother in the 1970's. My only wish is that it had been longer because I enjoyed Sharon's lively narration. Of course, since it is short, Sharon doesn't have a lot of time to paint us a detailed picture and a downside is there are things about her parents that are lightly brushed instead of in depth memoir style. Audio written and narrated by Sharon Washington 1h 18 m
January 26, 2022
Once upon a time a little black girl lived above a library... I don't know about you, but imagining that is all that I would ever need to be totally interested in a story. And the best part? It's a true story!
I listened to this engaging and beautifully told snapshot from Sharon Washington's childhood today and I was absolutely blown away! Feeding The Dragon is a perfect example of a short story told right. Washington manages to allow the listener to feel as if we get a full picture of her family dynamics and challenges during a brief moment in her life. At the end I felt both satisfied with the tale told yet wishing that I had been gifted with more. If you have not seen this Audible original yet, I highly recommend downloading it right away and experiencing this wonderful vignette of a memoir.
P.S. Ms Washington PLEASE give us a full memoir!!
Where you can find me:
•(♥).•*Monica Is Reading*•.(♥)•
Twitter: @monicaisreading
Instagram: @readermonica
Goodreads Group: The Black Bookcase
I listened to this engaging and beautifully told snapshot from Sharon Washington's childhood today and I was absolutely blown away! Feeding The Dragon is a perfect example of a short story told right. Washington manages to allow the listener to feel as if we get a full picture of her family dynamics and challenges during a brief moment in her life. At the end I felt both satisfied with the tale told yet wishing that I had been gifted with more. If you have not seen this Audible original yet, I highly recommend downloading it right away and experiencing this wonderful vignette of a memoir.
P.S. Ms Washington PLEASE give us a full memoir!!
Where you can find me:
•(♥).•*Monica Is Reading*•.(♥)•
Twitter: @monicaisreading
Instagram: @readermonica
Goodreads Group: The Black Bookcase
September 10, 2018
This is a memoir. The book is very short. I obtained it for free from Audible as part of their new Audible Originals’ program. Washington grew up in an apartment inside one of the New York Library branches. This was written as a one woman play and performed by Washington. Washington grew up in the library and her excitement and love of books feeds the story. Her father was the library custodian and every day he shoveled coal into the furnace. As a child Washington pretended this was a dragon. I enjoyed this memoir. If you are looking for a short book, try this one.
I read this as an audiobook downloaded from Audible. The book is one hour and 17 minutes. Washington does an excellent job narrating the book/ acting the play. Washington is an actress, voice over artist, audiobook narrator and an author.
I read this as an audiobook downloaded from Audible. The book is one hour and 17 minutes. Washington does an excellent job narrating the book/ acting the play. Washington is an actress, voice over artist, audiobook narrator and an author.
September 11, 2018
This isn't really a book.
It's a performance.
A powerful, brilliant, thought provoking performance by an African American woman.
5 Stars.
Everyone should listen to this.
It's a performance.
A powerful, brilliant, thought provoking performance by an African American woman.
5 Stars.
Everyone should listen to this.
October 6, 2018
I am reviewing the content and performance of the Audible Original Feeding the Dragon, performed and written by Sharon Washington. She is apparently both actress and author.
My expectations were high at the start, but I was disappointed at the end. Here we were to be told about the author’s life as a girl growing up in the 1970s, living in a library in the Upper West Side of New York City. I figured she had a story to tell, and maybe she does, bit it is not told here. Here is delivered merely a taste of what might be told of her life. It was her father’s job to feed the furnace in the basement of the library. Unfortunately, he was addicted to drink. Escapades about their dog are cute, but is the book for a child or an adult?
The performance dissatisfied me too. I found it childish and overdramatized. Sound effects, such as yawns and squeaking doors, don’t make a book for me.
I wanted more information about the author and her family and less theatrical side-effects.
When I give a book two stars, it means it is OK, but only OK.
My expectations were high at the start, but I was disappointed at the end. Here we were to be told about the author’s life as a girl growing up in the 1970s, living in a library in the Upper West Side of New York City. I figured she had a story to tell, and maybe she does, bit it is not told here. Here is delivered merely a taste of what might be told of her life. It was her father’s job to feed the furnace in the basement of the library. Unfortunately, he was addicted to drink. Escapades about their dog are cute, but is the book for a child or an adult?
The performance dissatisfied me too. I found it childish and overdramatized. Sound effects, such as yawns and squeaking doors, don’t make a book for me.
I wanted more information about the author and her family and less theatrical side-effects.
When I give a book two stars, it means it is OK, but only OK.
April 27, 2020
I found Feeding the Dragon by Sharon Washington while browsing Audible yesterday. It was being offered for free as an Audible special and since I love the theater I immediately clicked on the offer.
Equipped with phone and earbuds I began my constitutional, hiking in Corona mandated permissible circles of 100 meters from my house (OK I cheat a little, but no one expects me to walk around with a ruler), while listening to Sharon Washington in a brilliant performance of autobiographical vignettes, as seen through the eyes of a young girl growing up with her family on the top floor of a library where her father was employed as janitor. Among his duties was to stoke the coal furnace in the basement of the building - feeding the dragon. The stories were touching and at some points heartbreaking, but mostly they were beautiful (do I sound like Dorothy?). Although the author begins by expertly lulling the listener into a smiley euphoric stroll down memory lane, there are some heartbreaking observations, alongside a sharply dramatic scene which ripped my heart out.
Equipped with phone and earbuds I began my constitutional, hiking in Corona mandated permissible circles of 100 meters from my house (OK I cheat a little, but no one expects me to walk around with a ruler), while listening to Sharon Washington in a brilliant performance of autobiographical vignettes, as seen through the eyes of a young girl growing up with her family on the top floor of a library where her father was employed as janitor. Among his duties was to stoke the coal furnace in the basement of the building - feeding the dragon. The stories were touching and at some points heartbreaking, but mostly they were beautiful (do I sound like Dorothy?). Although the author begins by expertly lulling the listener into a smiley euphoric stroll down memory lane, there are some heartbreaking observations, alongside a sharply dramatic scene which ripped my heart out.
November 8, 2018
This was an Audible Original freebie and I thought it was pretty well done. It is only 1 hour 18 minutes long and takes the listener back in time to Sharon Washington's childhood when her family lived in the top floor of a library in New York City. She reflects on a variety of subject and paints a picture of what it must have been like. Sharon Washington did a great job with the narration and I liked that the theatrical quality of the original one-woman play was present in this production.
October 19, 2019
A one-woman dramatic memoir about Sharon's time living with her family in an apartment above the New York Public Library. Sharon's father was a live-in custodian tasked with keeping the furnace going 24/7. As a result, the family had full-time access to the library. (This seems like a dream to me!) Sharon's story is whimsical and fun with a few dark places. The narration is the best part.
November 13, 2018
This story tells the reader in a very creative way about how she grew up with her family in a library.
This specific video review will be included in the November 2018 wrap-up.
For other video book reviews check out my YouTube Channel: Steph's Romance Book Talk.
This specific video review will be included in the November 2018 wrap-up.
For other video book reviews check out my YouTube Channel: Steph's Romance Book Talk.
February 4, 2019
Thoughts over on my Sunday Shorts blog for the week.
September 20, 2018
Odd enough I enjoyed this story... MORE PLEASE!!!
November 12, 2018
Another Audible Original.
I’ve got to say, I was torn on this one. What had attracted me was what I thought would be a story about a girl growing up in a library with a side of a fantasy added to it. Maybe she would have a pet dragon no one knew about?
Well, it was about a girl who grew up in a library, so that was a good start. The rest, I was completely wrong about.
I’m going to go ahead and admit to not knowing who Sharon Washington is. It appears she is a Broadway personality, or something like that. I did not look her up, and neither am I going to. What I am going to do is give her full credit on narration. It was absolutely and without a doubt what had me interested in the story. If not for her, I would have been bored with another 2 stars waiting to ascend to the rating.
Because of her narration, instead of being disappointed about there not being any dragons (or any fantasy to make things worse), I actually felt sucked in her autobiographical tale. It is a sad tale or an underprivileged upbringing. Tale of a family who gave her the best life they could, and who sheltered her from the very racist world around her. (She did not even know what was going on, until she grew up).
It was a good hearted story and in the end I had to admit that despite the initial disappointment I did enjoy it. (Particularly the part about special adult watermelons. mmm. I might have to go ahead and try that next summer);
If you are looking to try some sort of a non-fiction or biographical tale about child’s perception of reality, this is definitely a very good pick.
If not...move on along.
Roman “Ragnar”
I’ve got to say, I was torn on this one. What had attracted me was what I thought would be a story about a girl growing up in a library with a side of a fantasy added to it. Maybe she would have a pet dragon no one knew about?
Well, it was about a girl who grew up in a library, so that was a good start. The rest, I was completely wrong about.
I’m going to go ahead and admit to not knowing who Sharon Washington is. It appears she is a Broadway personality, or something like that. I did not look her up, and neither am I going to. What I am going to do is give her full credit on narration. It was absolutely and without a doubt what had me interested in the story. If not for her, I would have been bored with another 2 stars waiting to ascend to the rating.
Because of her narration, instead of being disappointed about there not being any dragons (or any fantasy to make things worse), I actually felt sucked in her autobiographical tale. It is a sad tale or an underprivileged upbringing. Tale of a family who gave her the best life they could, and who sheltered her from the very racist world around her. (She did not even know what was going on, until she grew up).
It was a good hearted story and in the end I had to admit that despite the initial disappointment I did enjoy it. (Particularly the part about special adult watermelons. mmm. I might have to go ahead and try that next summer);
If you are looking to try some sort of a non-fiction or biographical tale about child’s perception of reality, this is definitely a very good pick.
If not...move on along.
Roman “Ragnar”
February 6, 2025
2018 52 Book Challenge - 18) A Celebrity Memoir
This was a short and interesting memoir from Sharon Washington. While it was interesting, it didn't feel like there was a point or a purpose to the writing. There were funny stories from her childhood and life, but I didn't get the overarching point to them, or the reason for this audiobook.
This was a short and interesting memoir from Sharon Washington. While it was interesting, it didn't feel like there was a point or a purpose to the writing. There were funny stories from her childhood and life, but I didn't get the overarching point to them, or the reason for this audiobook.
October 25, 2018
Enjoyed the performance and the magic of living in a library.
September 21, 2018
This book had such a great premise, but the author took it in a different direction that was not as interesting to me.
December 17, 2019
I don't know what I was expecting, but that wasn't it. Feeding the Dragon is a short story at only 1 hour and 17 minutes. The audiobook is narrated by the author herself.
Listening to the author read was giving me anxiety. It wasn't for me. It was so up and down, all over the place, felt almost like the musings of a schizophrenic. To her credit, her wide range of voices, accents, and sounds were impressive, but the book itself over-dramatized. I gave up on it and didn't finish.
There are a bunch of great reviews for this book, so maybe don't take my word for it. Check it out for yourself.
Listening to the author read was giving me anxiety. It wasn't for me. It was so up and down, all over the place, felt almost like the musings of a schizophrenic. To her credit, her wide range of voices, accents, and sounds were impressive, but the book itself over-dramatized. I gave up on it and didn't finish.
There are a bunch of great reviews for this book, so maybe don't take my word for it. Check it out for yourself.
September 19, 2018
A basic introduction to a much longer book; this truly feels like it should be a much bigger, longer story. Pretty unsatisfying overall.
May 1, 2022
I picked this as one of my "Audible Originals" free selections for September. It was a very short memoir (1 hour, 18 minutes). I picked it because I was excited to listen to the delights of living in a library, but it was more about her young life generally and only a little bit about the library. It was enjoyable though, Washington is a good writer and performer.
January 26, 2022
Wasn't sure what to expect with this Audible Original but it was enchanting. At the same time, there are some real life stories shared. Thank you Sharon Washington for telling your story, not just the fairy tale but the deep truths.
January 10, 2019
Just because you grow up in the library with a furnace that reminds you of a dragon, doesn't mean life is always magical. Sharon Washington is an actress and writer who shares her truth in this short audio production. Well told and well produced.
December 30, 2018
Can you imagine growing up in a library?!?! Idyllic in so many ways, however the author shares challenges she and her family faced that made it a little less than idyllic.
May 11, 2019
This is a very short audiobook that left me wanting more. It was light reading (or rather listening), but pleasurable, and the narration was excellent.
June 17, 2019
Left me wanting more.
November 18, 2018
Originally posted on the book blog Creature From the Book Lagoon.
" Sharon Washington's autobiographical one-woman play, Feeding the Dragon, delighted audiences off-Broadway and is now available exclusively on Audible. The one-act play invites listeners into Sharon's unorthodox childhood, growing up in an apartment on the top floor of the St. Agnes Branch of the New York Public Library, where her father served as the building's custodian. A love of literature and boundless imagination helped the playwright as a young woman persevere over dragons of all forms."
Ms. Washington had a childhood that any lover of books would envy. She lived in an apartment on the top floor of a library. After hours, when her father got to work cleaning the empty library, she would go down to the other floors and read as much as she wanted, whatever she wanted. She loved to read and had a very active, playful imagination. Man, I've often dreamed of being able to live in a big library like that.
We see a very small slice of life (just a couple of years really) of the Washington family. While you see a whimsical side from Sharon, who was a small child at the time, you see hints of the struggles her parents had behind the closed doors. Feeding the Dragon touches on racism of the 70s and the pressures of a difficult job taking care of the library.
Performed by the author is always a nice treat. I mean, in theory, nobody should be able to read the book better then that of the author! Sharon did a great job. She really brought the world of her childhood to life. She was also pretty amazing with accents. Along with her narration, sometimes music would be played. Nothing too fancy or elaborate. It was just a brief sprinkle of notes to set the stage for a fairy tale to begin.
While I really enjoyed the story and the performance, I was just disappointed by how short it was. Even though Ms. Washington is very open about what was going on, it felt like we only just barely scratch the surface of the messages she is trying to deliver. It would have been nice to have a little bit more depth, a little bit more of her exploring what her family was going through instead of just a light tease of information.
Feeding the Dragon was a nice story of a childhood spent in a library. It was a pretty quick read, and while entertaining, it was a little bit too short. It was performed by the author who did a superb job.
" Sharon Washington's autobiographical one-woman play, Feeding the Dragon, delighted audiences off-Broadway and is now available exclusively on Audible. The one-act play invites listeners into Sharon's unorthodox childhood, growing up in an apartment on the top floor of the St. Agnes Branch of the New York Public Library, where her father served as the building's custodian. A love of literature and boundless imagination helped the playwright as a young woman persevere over dragons of all forms."
Ms. Washington had a childhood that any lover of books would envy. She lived in an apartment on the top floor of a library. After hours, when her father got to work cleaning the empty library, she would go down to the other floors and read as much as she wanted, whatever she wanted. She loved to read and had a very active, playful imagination. Man, I've often dreamed of being able to live in a big library like that.
We see a very small slice of life (just a couple of years really) of the Washington family. While you see a whimsical side from Sharon, who was a small child at the time, you see hints of the struggles her parents had behind the closed doors. Feeding the Dragon touches on racism of the 70s and the pressures of a difficult job taking care of the library.
Performed by the author is always a nice treat. I mean, in theory, nobody should be able to read the book better then that of the author! Sharon did a great job. She really brought the world of her childhood to life. She was also pretty amazing with accents. Along with her narration, sometimes music would be played. Nothing too fancy or elaborate. It was just a brief sprinkle of notes to set the stage for a fairy tale to begin.
While I really enjoyed the story and the performance, I was just disappointed by how short it was. Even though Ms. Washington is very open about what was going on, it felt like we only just barely scratch the surface of the messages she is trying to deliver. It would have been nice to have a little bit more depth, a little bit more of her exploring what her family was going through instead of just a light tease of information.
Feeding the Dragon was a nice story of a childhood spent in a library. It was a pretty quick read, and while entertaining, it was a little bit too short. It was performed by the author who did a superb job.
April 9, 2021
Reflections and lessons learned:
“I was a child of two worlds - the seen and the unseen...”
Unique access to any shared public spaces will always be amazing (one day I’ll legitimately sleep over in a sealife centre or IKEA) - surely living in a library with access to the space and the information is the ultimate though? The internet has opened up access to a stack of information (no descriptor can ever do the measurement justice?!) but has lost definition and quality. Books have a natural quality of QC due to the publications process (not that they always get that correct tough!), with the downside being exclusive of access but not for this tale - thankfully two sides to every economic story with libraries allowing the divide to be controllably removed.
Far too short given the details covered, and I could have listened to the performance for hours but a moving insight into a family juggling and living
“They can afford to be rude, they have money... we do not”
“I was a child of two worlds - the seen and the unseen...”
Unique access to any shared public spaces will always be amazing (one day I’ll legitimately sleep over in a sealife centre or IKEA) - surely living in a library with access to the space and the information is the ultimate though? The internet has opened up access to a stack of information (no descriptor can ever do the measurement justice?!) but has lost definition and quality. Books have a natural quality of QC due to the publications process (not that they always get that correct tough!), with the downside being exclusive of access but not for this tale - thankfully two sides to every economic story with libraries allowing the divide to be controllably removed.
Far too short given the details covered, and I could have listened to the performance for hours but a moving insight into a family juggling and living
“They can afford to be rude, they have money... we do not”
February 13, 2019
A wonderful memoir written in a narrative style.
This is an Audible Original, I think it was only released on audio. I love the writing style, and her voices and characters throughout the story. In 1970s New York City, Washington's father tended the furnace in a New York library, and her family lived on the floor above the library.
She talks about her love affair with books, and the creepy old furnace her father fed in the basement, like a hungry dragon.
There is some heavier subject matter as well, but I appreciated the whimsy and the character of the inanimate objects and buildings.
This is an Audible Original, I think it was only released on audio. I love the writing style, and her voices and characters throughout the story. In 1970s New York City, Washington's father tended the furnace in a New York library, and her family lived on the floor above the library.
She talks about her love affair with books, and the creepy old furnace her father fed in the basement, like a hungry dragon.
There is some heavier subject matter as well, but I appreciated the whimsy and the character of the inanimate objects and buildings.
February 22, 2019
This is an audiobook from Audible and not listed here, but well worth the mention. I have always wanted to spend a night in a library and wondered what it would be like. The author/performer shared her memories of living above the New York Library and watching her father feed the "dragon." She shares her memories of growing up in New York in the late 1960's and early 1970's. Just a fantastic journey. Loved this book/performance.
January 3, 2024
When I read this was a true story about a little girl that grew up in an apartment on the top floor of a NYC library, I had to know the entire story. Can you imagine living in a library? Sound like a dream come true. A fairytale. Well, this book is a real as it gets. That’s one of the many things I loved about it.
September 13, 2018
This was an interesting story to listen to as Sharon shares her early life with her mother and father, growing up in a fantastical place I would have loved to share with her. Unfortunately, not everything is golden as the harsh realities her parents face are revealed.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 390 reviews