Staff Picks for National Library Week: Tonia & Jeanne

 

Tonia

Cutting for Stone by Abraham Verghese

Can't We Talk about Something More Pleasant by Roz Chast

Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel

The Library Book by Susan Orlean

All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr

Girls Burn Brighter by Shobha Rao

Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury

A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith

The Awakening by Kate Chopin

The House of Mirth by Edith Wharton

Little Bee by Chris Cleave

84, Charing Cross Road by Helene Hanff

The Great Alone by Kristin Hannah

One Day in December by Josie Silver

The 7 ½ Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle by Stuart Turton

We Have Always Lived in the Castle by Shirley Jackson

The Traveling Cat Chronicles by Hiro Arikawa

Convenience Store Woman by Sayaka Murata

1,000 Books to Read Before You Die:  A Life-Changing List by James Mustich

The Woman They Could Not Silence:  One Woman, Her Incredible Fight For Freedom, and the Men Who Tried to Make Her Disappear by Kate Moore

Outlive:  The Science & Art of Longevity by Peter Attia

The Phantom Tollbooth by Norton Juster

On Tyranny:  Twenty Lessons from the Twentieth Century by Timothy Snyder

Sidewalk Flowers by JonArno Lawson

The Old Man and the Sea by Ernest Hemingway

Just a Pilgrim by Garth Ennis

Make Way for Ducklings by Robert McCloskey

American Born Chinese by Gene Luen Yang

The Cat Who Wouldn't Come Inside: Based on a True Story by Cynthia von Buhler

Things Change by Patrick Jones

Blankets by Craig Thompson

The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie

Pickles The Fire Cat by Esther Averill

The October Country by Ray Bradbury

Stoner by John Williams

 Randolph Caldecott:  The Man Who Could Not Stop Drawing by Leonard S. Marcus

Jeanne

Going Postal by Terry Pratchett - I love Pratchett’s sense of humor along with his grasp of humanity—the good and the bad. When a con man is finally caught, he’s given a choice of death or reviving the post office. This can be read as a standalone.

 

Accidental Alchemist series by Gigi Pandian - A 300 year old alchemist is starting a new life in Portland, only to discover that a real gargoyle has hitched a ride.  The whole series is a lot of fun: mystery, history, food, and fantasy blend together to make a delightful read. The first book in the series is The Accidental Alchemist.

 

Cleo Mack series by G.P. Gardner books -

I thoroughly enjoyed these books which feature a sensible, mature sleuth, interesting supporting characters, and a solid mystery. The first book is Murder at Harbor Village.  Alas, there are only three in the series!

 

Underfoot in Show Business by Helene Hanff - Hanff set out to become a playwright in New York in the 1940s, working a variety of jobs and living in a variety of places, and almost always hand to mouth.  Her humor and tenacity shine through as she navigates the world of theatre and that new medium, television. 

 

Cat’s Claw by Dolores Hitchens

Rachel Murdock is an apple-cheeked, white-haired little old lady who lives with her sister Jennifer in Los Angeles. You’d think these elderly ladies would be quiet and staid, and in Jennifer’s case you’d be right.  Rachel, however, has become quite the fan of crime solving, much to her sister’s mortification.  This series was written in the 1940s, with WW II firmly in the background.  The series doesn’t need to be read in order, but the first book is The Cat Saw Murder.

 

Staff Picks for National Library : Brittany & Anonymous

 

Brittany

Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen -  This is my favorite classic. I love the wit, the slow burn romance, and the sharp social commentary. It is one I can return to again and again.

 

Dungeon Crawler Carl by Matt Dinniman -  A wildly entertaining, chaotic, and surprisingly suspenseful read. It is funny, fast paced, and completely over the top in the best way.

 

On Hallowed Ground The Story of Arlington National Cemetery by Robert M. Poole -  A very informative and thoughtfully written history. I learned so much, and it gave deeper meaning to a place so many people recognize but may not fully understand.

For Whom the Belle Tolls by Jaysea Lynn - My most recent read and an absolute page turner. I thoroughly enjoyed it from start to finish.

Story of My Life by Lucy Score -  A feel good romantic comedy with great chemistry and humor. It was such a fun, uplifting read.

Anonymous Picks

Jurassic Park by Michael Crichton

Fight Club by Chuck Palahniuk

The Believing Brain by Michael Shermer

A Distant Mirror: The Calamitous 14^th Century by Barbara W. Tuchman

The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern

The Five People You Meet in Heaven by Mitch Albom

Ready Player One by Ernest Cline

Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien

The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien

Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe

Will You Please Be Quiet, Please? By Raymond Carver

Ancillary Justice by Ann Leckie

Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald

The Martian Chronicles by Ray Bradbury

Hannibal by Thomas Harris

Highfire by Eoin Colfer

The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss

Rebecca by Daphne DuMaurier

The Dark Tower series by Stephen King

The Stand by Stephen King

The Green Mile by Stephen King

The Mist by Stephen King

Paddle Your Own Canoe: One Man's Fundamentals for Delicious Living by Nick Offerman

Wesley the Owl: The Remarkable Love Story of an Owl and His Girl by Stacey O'Brien

What the Chicken Knows: A New Appreciation of the World's Most Familiar Bird by Sy Montgomery

Vera Wong's Unsolicited Advice for Murderers by Jesse Q. Sutanto

The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss

The Wise Man's Fear by Patrick Rothfuss

Complete Stories, Selections by Edgar Allen Poe 

Complete Poems by E.E. Cummings

Witches Guide to Magical Innkeeping by Sangu Mandanna

NOS4A2 by Joe Hill

King Sorrow by Joe Hill 

Garlic and the Witch by Bree Paulsen

Tea Dragon Society by Kay O'Neil

Nevermore: Naturalist, When the Stars Go Dark, Fields and Pastures New

 

 Reported by Rita

 

Naturalist: A Graphic Adaptation by Jim Ottaviani (Adapter), Edward O. Wilson, C.M. Butzer (Illustrator)

A vibrant graphic adaptation of the classic science memoir. Regarded as one of the world’s preeminent biologists, Edward O. Wilson spent his boyhood exploring the forests and swamps of south Alabama and the Florida panhandle, collecting snakes, butterflies, and ants—the latter to become his lifelong specialty. His memoir Naturalist, called “one of the finest scientific memoirs ever written” by the Los Angeles Times, is an inspiring account of Wilson’s growth as a scientist and the evolution of the fields he helped define. This graphic edition, adapted by New York Times bestselling comics writer Jim Ottaviani and illustrated by C.M. Butzer, brings Wilson’s childhood and celebrated career to life through dynamic full-color illustrations and Wilson’s own lyric writing.

I didn't like it. I thought it was too technical.      - CD       1 star

 

 

When the Stars Go Dark by Paula McLain

Anna Hart is a missing persons detective in San Francisco. When tragedy strikes her personal life, Anna, desperate and numb, flees to the Northern California village of Mendocino to grieve. She lived there as a child with her beloved foster parents, and now she believes it might be the only place left for her. Yet the day she arrives, she learns a local teenage girl has gone missing. The crime feels frighteningly reminiscent of the most crucial time in Anna's childhood, when the unsolved murder of a young girl touched Mendocino and changed the community forever.

I couldn't put it down. A great read!      - WJ      5 stars

 

 

Fields and Pastures New: My First Year as a Country Vet by John McCormack

In 1963, just three years out of veterinary school, Dr. John McCormack moved his wife and kids to Choctaw County, Alabama, to start his first practice. Choctaw folk never had a licensed vet before, and, with few exceptions, they welcomed the red-headed doctor and the tireless care he gave their animals.

The characters are really funny. I found it enjoyable and cute.     - NH    5 stars

 

Other Books Mentioned:

 

Tattoos on the Heart: The Power of Boundless Compassion by Gregory Boyle

The Invention of Nature: Alexander von Humboldt's New World by Andrea Wulf

The Caretaker by Ron Rash

Portrait of a Spy by Daniel Silva

The Displacements by Bruce Holsinger

More Letters From The Pit: Stories of a Physician’s Odyssey in Emergency Medicine by Patrick J. Crocker

The Company of Owls by Polly Atkin

Staff Picks for National Library Week: Rita and TJ S.

 

Rita

Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt - This book is a delightful blend of humor, warmth, and captivating facts about octopuses. Much of the narrative unfolds through the eyes of a clever and somewhat sarcastic giant Pacific octopus named Marcellus. It's a most enjoyable read!

 

How Y'all Doing: Misadventures and Mischief from a Life Well Lived by Leslie Jordan - I truly enjoyed listening to the audiobook narrated by Leslie Jordan. He led an incredibly adventurous and entertaining life and hearing him share his stories felt like having a conversation with a friend.

 

Everything is Tuberculosis: The History and Persistence of Our Deadliest Disease by John Green - This book is full of information about tuberculosis and its significant impact on our world. It raises awareness of the healthcare disparities that enable TB to remain one of the deadliest diseases, despite being both preventable and treatable.

 

Sipsworth by Simon Van Booy - A charming tale of discovering companionship in unexpected places. This is a quick read that is sure to warm your heart.

 

TJ S.

The House in the Cerulean Sea by T.J. Klune

 

Lab Girl by Hope Jahren is one of my favorite books of all time; her memoir has inspired me to continue learning about plants and the earth. 

 

Murder by Cheesecake by Rachel Courage is a “Golden Girls” murder mystery and it’s hilarious!  The author did a wonderful job with Blanche’s accent. I can hear the voices of the characters when I read it.

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.