Staff Picks for National Library Week: Madison & Keelan

 

Madison

Billy Summers by Stephen King - King does an excellent job at exploring inner conflicts, and the struggle between good and evil that we all face. This book is extremely introspective, centering around love, loss, grief, and of course, King’s signature mix of thriller and suspense. There is never a dull moment, and the more Summers’ past comes to light, the more attached you become to his character, making for an immersive experience throughout.

 

Fairy Tale by Stephen King - This book is not in King’s usual writing style, but it is by far one of the best! King takes on a fantasy style, delving into an underground world, once full of mystical creatures, but now plagued by a curse only a prince can break. Again, this novel explores love, loss, adventure, and coming-of-age, in the most encapsulating way possible.

 

Meditations by Marcus Aurelius - Rather than the usual “self-help” book, this work is a collection of Aurelius’ private notes, which he centered his entire existence around. Not only is this work a guide on how to live life to the fullest, while maintaining motivation and peace, but it still holds true nearly 2000 years later.

 

Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury - There is not much else to say, other than Bradbury has done it again! This book follows a sci-fi layout, exploring the dangers technology may pose—specifically regarding books. Considering I love books (and work in a library!), I highly enjoyed Bradbury’s twist on firemen, and the altered reality in which they start fires, rather than extinguish them.

 

The Metamorphosis by Franz Kafka - Kafka, in his usual fashion, writes a story about life’s tragedies and the devastations that occur. In this work, he explores co-dependency and the toll it takes on both parties, especially considering Gregor, the family’s provider, mysteriously wakes up as a human-sized bug and can no longer work. I absolutely love the way Kafka explores human emotions, including worry, grief, anger, and fear, and the way that love fades given dire situations.

 

Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens - This book is a combination of romance, mystery, and thriller, which I greatly enjoyed, especially considering this book is the first of its kind from Owens. I loved the way that she expressed the ability of those to rise above hardship, even when all odd stand against them, just as with Kya Clark. Her father an abusive alcoholic, her mother and siblings runaways, and her classmates judgmental of it all, this novel is dark, messy, real, and raw, which is what made me love it most.

 

Keelan

The Second Death of Locke by V. L. Bovalino - The girl is the knight and the hero. The found family is so lovely and their journey is ever-evolving, making it feel like you're getting several books/stories in one big quest. 

 

A Court of Silver Flames by Sarah J. Maas -  The journey Nesta goes on in this book is so raw and blows the rest of the series out of the water.

 

Funny Story by Emily Henry - Light-hearted and funny following the aftermath of a terrible breakup featuring a librarian for a lead character and gaggle of found family.

 

Every Summer After by Carley Fortune - Nostalgic, warm, summer second-chance romance coming to a head in the wake of a major loss.

 

A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith - This is my all-time favorite book. You follow Francie and her family as she grows up in poverty in Brooklyn in the early 1900s. It is a brilliant coming-of-age story.