2022
December 2022
The Librarian Spy by Madeline Martin
1943, Washington, D.C.: The Library of Congress is a remarkable place, and working in the Rare Book Room was Ava Harper's dream job. But an unexpected request for an interview with the State Department catches her off guard. Wanting to do her part for the war effort, Ava accepts the new position—in Portugal. Recruited to work at the American Embassy in Lisbon, she gathers news from foreign newspapers, microfilms it and ships the intelligence back to the U.S. Ava finds neutral Lisbon teeming with refugees from all over Europe, desperately trying to flee to safety.
1943. Lyons, France: Helene Belanger is distressed: Nazi forces occupy her beautiful city, and she wants to resist in whatever way she can, regardless of her husband's opposition. When the opportunity presents itself, she begins transferring messages and supplies for the Resistance. Soon she’s transporting pieces of a printing press, to be reassembled for secretly printing literature exposing Nazi propaganda. The flyers are distributed covertly, at great personal risk to the couriers. Some publications make it to Lisbon, Portugal. The printing press and dissemination of accurate reports of Nazi activities prove to be critically important.
This highly researched novel effectively tells the story of two individual women, one in Lisbon and one in Lyon, who courageously risk their lives to save the lives of others during the second half of World War II. I liked how the author eventually weaves the two stories together and writes a very satisfying ending. Martin's previous WWII novel, "The Last Bookshop in London" was equally enjoyable. ~Nancy Arevalo~
Hercule Poirot’s Christmas by Agatha Christie
Dame Agatha wrote this book in response to criticism from her brother-in-law James who claimed her murders “were getting too refined.” Aga
tha dedicated this book to him, saying “You yearned for a good violent murder with lots of blood…so this is your special story—written for you.”
The holidays can be a stressful time of year; no one knows how to push your buttons quite like family. Multimillionaire Simeon Lee is as cruel as he is rich. He takes special delight in tormenting his adult children and their spouses, safe in the knowledge that no one will seriously fight back against him since he controls the family purse strings. When someone slashes Simeon’s throat Christmas Eve, there is no shortage of suspects or motive. It would be hard to find someone who didn't want Simeon dead! Poirot navigates a complicated web of evidence including changes in Simeon’s will, a satchel of missing diamonds, and years of deep-seated family grudges to figure out whom Simeon finally pushed too far. ~Jay Robillard~
Empire of Pain: The Secret History of the Sackler Dynasty by Patrick Radden Keefe
Until recently, the only thing one might associate with the Sackler name was philanthropy. After all, their name adorned wings, buildings, and galleries of cultural institutions across the world. With hundreds of millions in gifts and donations, one might wonder where all of that money came from? The answer may astound you. This is the story of a family, their fortune, and levels of shrewdness and trickery rarely seen in American enterprise (and that’s saying something). From a business, medical, and societal standpoint, the evolution of the Sacklers and their fortune is immensely interesting and ultimately depressing. This is not the definitive book on the opioid epidemic, nor does it claim to be. What it is: a deeply researched, fact-checked, and well-written chronicle of greed and deception, as well as essential reading. In the end, even the philanthropy borders on sham territory. ~Noah Weckwerth~
The Kingdom of Back by Marie Lu
This haunting historical fantasy YA novel has a wintery ambience. The pacing is very measured, the language beautiful, but the imagery and the themes elevate this book to a superior level. Nannerl (Maria Anna Mozart) has a passion for music, but, as she grows, she finds herself in the shadow of her brother, five years younger than her. She knows her path as a woman means being destined for marriage and children in the end, no matter how many nobles and royals she plays before. Her wish not to be forgotten, expressed deep in her heart, summons a guardian who flits into hers and Wolferl's lives through the coming years, sometimes in their world and sometimes in his. Because Lu is dealing with real people in history, she is confined to their actual life details in one sense. However, their internal lives are really open for a magic that Lu brings to life with captivating elegance, grace, and imagination. ~Keegan Taylor~
Her Hidden Genius by Marie Benedict
Marie Benedict has done it again with another compelling historical novel about an overlooked, brilliant woman whose contributions to science were groundbreaking. Her Hidden Genius is the story of Rosalind Franklin, a scientist who in the late 1940's and early 1950's was an expert in x-ray crystallography. Basically, she developed techniques for taking pictures of molecules. She was part of the team that took the first clear pictures of DNA allowing other scientists to gain a better under-standing of this building block of life. Some of her male counterparts, however, took her research and used it to win the race of unlocking the secrets of DNA, without giving her the credit she deserved. This novel does it's part to shine a light on the contributions made by this intelligent, strong woman. ~Mary Hartwig~
Happy-Go-Lucky by David Sedaris
The king of quirk, Sedaris’s latest book follows the same trajectory as many of his previous, detailing memorable moments from touring and divulging deeply personal family experiences. Perhaps I’ve been binging too much David Sedaris lately and am starting to get burnt out, but the quality of these stories fluctuated for me. Many of his tales from abroad boil down to complaining about chauffeurs and hotel front desk clerks, like vaguely poetic one-star reviews left by a dissatisfied customer on Yelp. The stronger stories in this collection focus on his family. There are the usual humorous highlights about his siblings, but the sections covering his father’s decline and eventual death are the real standouts. Typical depictions of grief portray it as a yawning chasm that hollows people out. Sedaris offers more nuanced views. He explores the differing emotions he felt during his mother’s death versus his father’s. Most intriguing of all, he muses how one is supposed to act and feel when they have lost someone they loved, but didn’t like very much. ~Jay Robillard~
Slaughterhouse-five, or, the children's crusade : a duty-dance with death (Graphic Novel) adapted by Ryan North
When I read Vonnegut’s book in high school, I thought, “Now this is an important book. I’m going to call this my favorite book”. And
thirty years later, when asked about favorite books, I still name Slaughterhouse-five among them, though I’ve long since forgotten the details of characters and plot. I cannot forgot the profound feelings evoked in me. This graphic novel adaptation is excellent. The emotional impact is still there, and the images do justice to the whimsy of Vonnegut’s words and the gravity of the subject matter. The storyline in graphic novel form I found to be easier to navigate (I did reread the original after reading the graphic novel to confirm this), though you don’t need to have read the original to enjoy this rendition. I wish Vonnegut were here to experience this derivative of his work. I think he would have approved. ~Elizabeth Glaser~
Sallie Bee Writes a Thank-You Note by Courtney Sheinmel and Susan Verde
Just in time for this gift-giving season, Sallie Bee will teach you how to say thank you in this charming picture book. Sallie wants to text Grandma right away to say “Thanks” for a gift but Mom is using the phone. Instead, Sallie writes down what she wants to say so she won’t forget and ends up learning the art of a handwritten thank-you note. Sallie Bee is a spunky character with much to be grateful for so she writes notes to other people as well. Share her story with the children in your life for the lesson it teaches or just for the fun of it. ~Sue Daniels~
Sugar and Salt by Susan Wiggs
San Francisco is not your typical locale to open an upscale barbeque restaurant, but Margot Salton needs a new start. After learning her craft from the bottom up in East Texas, she moves cross-country to open her own restaurant called Salt. Ending up renting space in a shared kitchen with a bakery called Sugar, life is finally heading in the right direction—or is it? On the night of what should be her greatest triumph, life throws her another curve and she is right back in Texas. Will the love she found in San Francisco be strong enough to survive these new perils? This book is the fourth in a series of loosely related stories. This one in particular does not depend on the others for its appeal. Strong women and compelling story telling make it a fantastic read. ~Sharon Passick~
November 2022
Echo (audiobook) by Pam Muñoz Ryan
Some time ago, I took a solo trip with my four kids to Washington D.C., and on the way, we needed something to keep us all engaged. Fortunately, we had the incredible audiobook Echo by Pam Muñoz Ryan. This story centers around World War II in Germany, Pennsylvania, and California, which helped my kids have more context for the WWII Memorial when we saw it. The central element of this story is a harmonica and a powerful love for music. These elements bind the characters together through the various hardships they encounter. This is the best audiobook I have ever listened to! The narration includes musical elements throughout the story at appropriate places. Also, one of the characters is German and he is played by a voice actor who sounds German. One of the characters is Latina, and the voice actor who plays her has a Hispanic accent. The accents add authenticity to the story, and they don't detract from being able to understand the characters. This is a great book to listen to as a family. Publisher's Weekly recommends this book for ages 10-14, but I admit my kids were all younger than that, and the older two -- 6 & 8 at the time -- were still completely engaged the whole time and begging to listen whenever I hit "pause"! But you don't have to have kids to enjoy it: my parents listened on my recommendation, and both found it really impactful, as well! ~Keegan Taylor~
The Night Shift by Alex Finlay
New Year’s Eve, 1999. A small New Jersey town is rocked when four Blockbuster employees, three of them teenage girls, are brutally murdered. Ella is the lone survivor of that horrible night, haunted by what the killer whispered to her just before she lost consciousness. Fifteen years later, history repeats itself. An ice cream parlor in the same town is attacked, three more girls are dead, and again there is only one survivor. Ella, now a counselor, is uniquely qualified to interview the girl who lived. But tragedy brings the most unlikely people together. Chris is a public defender and the younger brother of the prime suspect for the original Blockbuster massacre. Chris doesn’t believe his brother is capable of such a crime. But if Vince was innocent, why was the murder weapon discovered in his locker at school? And why would an innocent man spend fifteen years in hiding? Sarah is a special agent sent by the FBI to investigate the links between the crimes. Is this a copycat killer? Has Vince returned for another round of bloodshed? Or is there something even darker at play? ~ Jay Robillard ~
The Fishermen, the Horse, and the Sea written by Barbara Joosse and illustrated by Renée Graef
This picturebook written by Wisconsin native Joosse, presents the exciting true story of a rescue on Lake Michigan in 1895. A storm appears suddenly in the night causing the schooner Mary Ludwig to take on water and forcing the crew to abandon ship. When the local fishermen are unable to rescue the crew, they send for a neighbor’s water-loving horse who might be able to save the day. Illustrations by Graef, another Wisconsinite, are in the style of Garth Williams who illustrated the Little House books and lend a gentle, old-fashioned look to this piece of history. ~Sue Daniels~
Lucy by the Sea by Elizabeth Strout
I picked up the book Lucy by the Sea because I had read previous books by the author Elizabeth Strout and was drawn to her style of writing. Lucy, who once shared a marriage with William, finds herself isolating with him in a house on the cost of Maine at the very beginning of the pandemic. Normally I would have stayed away from books that are set during this frightening and confusing time because I didn't want to revisit it. But I stuck it out and am glad I did. The plot is simple, but the genuine, honest emotions and humanity of Lucy and William are what is so appealing in this novel. Lucy speaks with the voice we all have in our head. ~Mary Hartwig~
The Norske Nook Book of Pies and Other Recipes by Jerry Bechard and Cindee Borton-Parker
Honestly, who’s not baking pie in the next two months? For those who know about Norske Nook, you know that with this book, you are getting in on the secret to some of the most sublime pies you will ever experience. For those who say “Norske what?” you will have to take my word for it (plus there’s the numerous awards this cookbook has won). Having prepared several of the pies from this book, I can attest to their technical ease and overall deliciousness. The ingredient lists are accessible, the instructions are brief and approachable, and the results foolproof. The Norske Nook Book of Pies and Other Recipes is a dependable source for good pie recipes and inspiration. And if you don’t bake, drop by one of their restaurants (in Osseo, Rice Lake, or DeForest) and leave it to the experts. After all, they are the winners of 47 blue ribbons across dozens of pies! ~Noah Weckwerth~
Pumpkinheads by Rainbow Rowell
Free-spirited Deja and star employee Josiah are best buds at the autumn carnival they work together every year. But now things are changing: this is their senior year of high school. Soon they’ll be going to different colleges, saying goodbye to the pumpkin patch and each other. Josiah is additionally downtrodden by his inability to speak to his crush of three years, another employee at the carnival he has nicknamed Fudge Girl. Now it’s the last night of the carnival and Josiah is trying to accept reality. Life is about to change and he never even knew Fudge Girl's name. But Deja has other plans. She isn't going to let her best friend mope around all night like a lovesick puppy. She's going to make something happen. Despite Deja's determination to play matchmaker, a series of comedic misfortunes keep Josiah and Fudge Girl apart. Will love win the day? Or will Deja and Josiah’s efforts be smashed? With illustrations by Faith Erin Hicks, Pumpkinheads is as sweet, wholesome, and delightful as a slice of pumpkin pie. ~Jay Robillard~
One Winter Up North by John Owens
A winter camping trip to the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness in northern Minnesota is presented in this wordless picturebook. A small family treks into the area on snowshoes, bundled up in warm clothing and hauling their gear on toboggans. It is a joyful adventure with detailed watercolor illustrations to feed the imagination about the land and animals the family encounters. Share this book with a child and the story may sound a little different every time! ~Sue Daniels~
The Rising Tide by Ann Cleeves
I thought there would never be another P.D. James, and then I discovered Louise Penny. Alas, Penny can only write so quickly, and I needed another fix while waiting for her next release. Then I found Ann Cleeves. I had seen episodes of Vera on PBS television, but had never read a D.I. Vera Stanhope book before. As it turns out, I thoroughly enjoyed this latest (#10 in the series) Vera novel. Most of the action takes place in the grey seascape of Northern England and across a causeway to Holy Island. A group of former classmates has returned to this island every five years for the past 50 years. At their first reunion, one of them drowned on the causeway leading between the mainland and the island, and now in present day, another one of them has been murdered. Vera is portrayed on PBS by Brenda Blethyn as a frumpy, middle-aged, somewhat lonely woman but an excellent detective, and that is exactly how she is described by her creator, Ann Cleeves. ~Sarah Muench~
October 2022
Our Missing Hearts by Celeste Ng
Five years after Little Fires Everywhere, Ng returns with the prescient story of 12-year-old Bird Gardner in an imperiled America. Set in the near future, the United States is governed around a regime known as PACT (Preserving American Culture and Traditions Act). The essence of PACT is to suppress anyone or idea not in the best interest of “American” ideals. This includes the widespread separation of children from their birth parents. Persons of Asian Origin are the primary target. Bird, the son of Chinese-American poet (mom), and a former academic turned book shelver (dad), is navigating the years-long abandonment of his beloved mother while beginning to see cracks in the only America he has ever known. When he receives a coded message from his mother (who is in hiding), Bird embarks on a journey to find her and find answers. What follows is a grim look at a future all too plausible. Fear not! Librarians are heroes in this story. While that should be reason enough to check it out, the real reason it should be read by everyone is to provoke deep consideration of who we are and where we really want to go. Our Missing Hearts is a somber, startling achievement. ~Noah Weckwerth~
Gold Mountain by Betty G. Yee
In this historical fiction tale, Tam Ling Fan becomes a worker on the transcontinental railroad to earn enough money to free her father who has been falsely imprisoned in China. Her father had already purchased a contract for Ling’s twin brother to work for the Central Pacific Railroad Company before Jing’s unexpected death, so in a moment of desperation, Ling disguises herself as Jing and goes in his place. On the passage to America, Ling makes friends with other travelers and they share excitement about how they will use the gold they expect to earn. However, reality soon sets in when they see the deplorable conditions in the work camp and the way the railroad bosses drive their workers. The opium trade, construction sabotage and betrayal by a friend are all factors that threaten to derail Ling’s dream, but she is a complex and resilient character and you can’t help hoping she gets her happy ending. Recommended for grades 7 and up. ~Sue Daniels~
The House Across the Lake by Riley Sager
When disgraced actress Casey retreats to her family’s lake house, beset by personal and professional problems, she expects a month of solitude and bourbon. It’s Vermont in October, after all. Nothing happens at Lake Greene this time of year. But her routine of day-drinking and staring out at the water is disrupted when she meets Tom and Katherine Royce, the glamorous couple in the new house across the lake from her. Tom is a social media CEO and Katherine is a former supermodel. Together they look like the epitome of wealth and success. Casey and Katherine develop a fast friendship, sharing their tales of Hollywood woe with one another. But as Casey spies on her neighbors through her binoculars, she begins to see cracks in the façade. Something is wrong in the Royces’ marriage, and Casey’s suspicions seem confirmed when Katherine goes missing. This Rear Window adaptation contains a few extra twists, each of them intriguing enough to keep you wondering how this mess is going to be untangled. ~Jay Robillard~
Mrs. Harris Goes to Paris (DVD)
Did you know that the library has a First Friday Film Series? A new release film is shown at 1:00 p.m. on the first Friday of every month, complete with popcorn! If you missed October's showing, you'll be glad to know Mrs. Harris Goes to Paris is available in our catalogue for you to check out and watch in the comfort of your own home. And I would highly recommend you do so. This is the story of a widowed cleaning lady living in London who comes upon a Christian Dior gown in the closet of an employer and falls madly in love with the idea of owning such a beautiful dress. The ups and downs of getting to Paris to procure her dress are just the beginning. Once there, the delightful Mrs. Harris unknowingly changes all who meet her, just by being the sweet, funny, no nonsense lady she is, while learnsing a bit about herself as well. This is a feel good movie of the highest order. ~Mary Hartwig~
Organizing for the Rest of Us: 100 Realistic Strategies to Keep Any House Under Control by Dana K. White
One look at the title of this book and I was hooked. The sort-of organization in my house lasts for 20 minutes unless company shows up first. First rule is declutter and start with your most visible space, usually where guests enter your home. Use containers – the key factor here is containers contain, meaning if something doesn’t fit in its designated container get rid of what doesn’t fit. What a revelation for me. Next best tip - do dishes EVERYDAY! Your kitchen will look better and naturally be better organized. Doing dishes also mean emptying the dishwasher everyday. Quick read but motivating if you feel your home/life needs organizing. ~Sharon Passick~
Wisconsin Death Trip by Michael Lesy
I discovered this surreal cult classic when it was first published and have been fascinated and haunted by it ever since. Author Michael Lesy combines forgotten silver gel plate photographs by 19th century Black River Falls photographer Charles Van Schaick with snippets of news articles from the era in a silent meditation of a world as different from our own and if it were another planet – inhabited by human beings that are strangely familiar.
It was the last gasp of the old life on the prairie between 1885 and 1900 as rural and urban Wisconsin reacted to the economic turmoil and cultural consequences of the industrial revolution and societal change. Mental illness, disease, and isolation took a toll that is reflected in the sordid news stories of crime, violence, madness, etc. Postmortem portraits (not unusual for the time) are interspersed with families posed outside their homesteads, one-room schools, animals, and young people at picnics, on the street, etc. Both enlightening and disturbing, it’s the kind of book that’s part Halloween and part personal All Souls Day, a Memento Mori in 148 pages. ~Shannon McKeown~
Where the Sky Begins by Rhys Bowen
London 1940: Josie Banks had recently found her niche helping to run Madame Olga's tea room in the East End, when a bad night of bombing changes everything. Josie is evacuated to the Lincolnshire countryside and stubbornly sets about making herself useful to the household she is placed in, despite her injuries. She is carving out a new life for herself when suspicions arise locally that the nearby RAF airfield is being sabotaged and perhaps someone is tipping off the enemy. Josie is seen as a key source of information as the mystery unfolds. I enjoyed the first 3/4 of the book very much but the remainder of the story seemed rushed. A few odd tangents are introduced that seem out of place. And some main characters reveal personal history and make decisions that seem incongruent with their character development in the earlier chapters of the book. The aspect I enjoyed was the portrayal of the ways that the evacuations from London during the blitz affected city folk and villagers alike, and specifically the way that women worked together to build a sense of community. ~Nancy Arevalo~
Slenderman: Online Obsession, Mental Illness, and the Violent Crime of Two Midwestern Girls by Kathleen Hale
In 2014, Waukesha (and indeed the world) was rocked by a crime so vicious and disturbing that it inspired an episode of ABC’s How to Get Away with Murder. On the morning of May 31, Anissa Weier and Morgan Geyser led their friend Payton “Bella” Leutner to the woods under the pretense of playing hide-and-seek. Bella was stabbed 19 times. Morgan and Anissa had intended to offer her as a human sacrifice to internet horror icon Slenderman. They believed that after killing Bella, they would disappear into the forest and live with Slenderman in his mansion to act as his proxies. All the girls were twelve years old or younger at the time. Bella thankfully survived. Hale gives an in-depth look at the attack and subsequent legal proceedings, having previously reported on the incident for Vice and Hazlitt. Armed with exhaustive research, she explores complex issues surrounding this crime including mental illness, internet obsession, and dysfunctional families. This is a brutal, complicated, upsetting book, but utterly necessary. Much like other sensationalized crimes, so much of what we “think” we know is muddled or fabricated by pop culture. This book sets the record straight and shines a light on the ugly truth. ~Jay Robillard~
September 2022
When Stone Wings Fly by Karen Barnett | Reading this book gave me the feeling of visiting the Great Smoky Mountains, with a park ranger as my guide. The descriptions of the setting, the mountain culture, and the use of mountain dialect were convincing, which all makes sense because the author is a former National Park ranger.
Great Smoky Mountains, the early 1930's. Rosie McCaulay is as self-sufficient as the day is long, keeping the family homestead going even after her parents have passed away. But the cabin needs a new roof, and she wonders how she'll keep food on the table for herself and her disabled sister during the winter months. With talk of the government taking over land for a new park in the Smokies, their future there seems uncertain at best. Already, most of their neighbors have made plans to leave, because fishing, farming and trapping are now outlawed.
Nashville, present day. Kieran works two jobs to make ends meet, and visits her elderly grandmother each evening in her assisted living facility. Gran's childhood home in the Great Smoky Mountains is a memory beginning to fade, along with most other memories these days. But Kieran wants to find out more. She's convinced that her own troubled history is tied to that of Gran's parents, who were among the last remaining landowners when Great Smoky Mountain National Park was created in 1931.
The author effectively weaves a dual timeline about belonging and the connections that make a family. The characters are colorful and memorable, the kind that stay with you long after the last chapter. ~Nancy Arevalo~
Tanqueray by Stephanie Johnson | New York City is home to millions of people and stories. Brandon Stanton started photographing and interviewing New Yorkers with his Humans of New York series in 2010. The stories ran the emotional gamut, from sidesplitting to fantastical to heartbreaking and back again. The series truly struck gold when Stanton met Stephanie Johnson (also known by her stage name Tanqueray). Starting from her turbulent childhood in suburban Albany and moving on to tales of her career as a burlesque dancer, Tanqueray has lived such a wild life you couldn’t write it for a movie script. Stephanie’s story quickly went viral online and Stanton knew she needed her own book. Reading her story is like taking a trip in time to a grittier, less gentrified New York. There are highs and lows, there is joy and heartbreak, and there is exploration of identity while covered in rhinestones and feathers. What more could you ask for? ~Jay Robillard~
Bloomsbury Girls by Natalie Jenner | A sweet novel about three friends finding their way as ambitious working women in post WWII London. Evie, in the class of first female graduates from Cambridge, finds society is not ready for someone like her. Vivien, who lost her fiancé in the war, finds herself abandoned by his family and struggles to make something of herself as a would-be writer. Grace, married with two sons, longs to be more than just a caretaker to her family. All have their reasons for working at Bloomsbury Books, a traditional bookstore in the Bloomsbury neighborhood of London. The setting of the novel is engaging, as are the other colleagues who work at the bookstore. Add in real-life literary characters that are drawn into the women's lives such as Daphne du Maurier and Samual Beckett and you have a celebration of friendship and literature that transcends class and societal norms. ~Mary Hartwig~
The Lost Night by Andrea Bartz | Elm Grove-area native Bartz made her literary debut with the mysterious death of a Brooklyn It-Girl. 2009: The recession was in full swing and job markets were unpredictable. Lindsay and her friends turned to partying in order to escape, bustling around New York between parties and concerts, fueled by alcohol and romantic misadventures. But the party ended when beautiful and capricious Edie suddenly took her own life. Stunned with grief, the group splintered as each person ran off to start over. Ten years later: Lindsay reexamines her memories of Edie’s death after she discovers a recording of the night in question. Lindsay can barely remember her movements that night since she was black-out drunk. But the more she digs, the less she understands. The suicide note was hardly convincing. The police investigation was beyond incompetent. And as she reconnects with friends to fill the gaps in her memory, ugly questions arise. Did she ever really know Edie? How many secrets can one group hold? Is she ready for the truth about Edie’s death, even if she might have had something to do with it? ~Jay Robillard~
Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin | This is the story of Sam and Sadie. And Marx. It is a love story, but it’s bigger than that too. It has a video game element, but you don’t have to even care about video games to love this book. Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow is a book that spans decades, and encompasses everything that is the roller coaster of life and love and everything in between. Yes, it’s emotional, but it’s witty (in spades) and funny and wise, and it’s probably my most enjoyable read this year. (Sidebar: Our Missing Hearts by Celeste Ng is definitely the best book I”ve read this year, but it doesn’t come out until October, so we’ll wait on that one.) Back to the Zevin book…Read it with a smile, but keep tissues handy. For fans of The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry (also by Gabrielle Zevin), John Green, and Meg Wolitzer. ~Noah Weckwerth~
A Place to Hang the Moon by Kate Albus | It was a preposterous plan: three children evacuated to the English countryside in wartime hoping to find a permanent new home. William, Edmund and Anna have been orphaned again when their grandmother dies leaving them without any other relatives. The family attorney hatches this plan without considering that the children have as much chance of ending up in a bad situation as a good one. While Grandmother had never been kind or loving, she had at least provided a comfortable home for the children, which is not guaranteed for evacuees. However, one bright spot is the public library in town where the children can escape from harsh reality into wonderful literature. They also form a bond with the librarian who has worries of her own. This story is like a mug of hot chocolate on a cold winter day; a soothing and familiar treat that will leave you with a smile on your face. Recommended for grades 4-6 or as a family read-aloud. ~Sue Daniels~
Once Upon a Time in Great Britain: a Travel Guide to the Sights and Settings of Your Favorite Children’s Stories by Melanie Wentz | Although the subtitle states this is a travel guide, we shelve this book in the adult literature collection (800s). It is indeed an armchair travel guide, but Melanie Wentz begins each chapter with fascinating details of authors’ and illustrators’ lives, their publishing careers, and the literary landmarks associated with them. The classics are all here: Beatrix Potter (Peter Rabbit), J.R.R. Tolkien (The Hobbit), Robert Louis Stevenson (Treasure Island), P.L. Travers (Mary Poppins), Michael Bond (Paddington) and many more. It is a joy to delve into each chapter. One caveat: this is not a new book, so the price information is sure to have changed, and quite possibly some other details given for how to visit specific homes, haunts and attractions. ~Sarah Muench~
The Week (magazine) | Unlike most political magazines, The Week runs a middle line which defies classification as left or right. Drawing from a number of contributors and witty columnists, The Week provides a unique and concise view of the latest world news and items of interest from political analysis, odd tidbits and political cartoons, to entertainment, real estate and travel. An intriguing yet uncomplicated recipe is also featured. A little bit of everything and lot to learn and enjoy each week in this brief, quality publication.
Our library has a fine collection of adult and children’s magazine/periodicals that cover a wealth of subjects beyond the usual homemaking, cooking, and sports. Current issues are on display to be read in the library, but all volumes from the current and previous year are available for a 7-day checkout. If you prefer e-magazines, many of the titles are also available for a digital download on the free app Flipster; Food & Wine looks great on my iPad! ~Shannon McKeown~
The Diamond Eye by Kate Quinn | Another riveting book by Kate Quinn based on a true story. Mila Pavlichenko has a library job and a young son until the Hitler decides to invade the Ukraine. Given a rifle and sent to fight, she becomes a lethal hunter of Nazis known as Lady Death. After her three hundredth confirmed kill she becomes a national hero. Eventually she is sent to Washington DC as a good will ambassador for the Soviet Union and forms an unlikely friendship with First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt. But an old enemy is lurking, and you will have to read the book to discover the rest. A haunting story of the unusual life of a woman who helped change history ~Sharon Passick~
Summer 2022
Jane and the Year Without a Summer by Stephanie Barron
The 14th book in the series of mysteries featuring Jane Austen in the role of amateur detective. It has been six years since Barron’s last installment, which began in 1996 with Jane and the Unpleasantness at Scargrave Manor. Mixing fiction and real events in Austen’s life, this new book takes place in the summer of 1816 and Jane, in her early 40s, has become a published author. She also suffers with health issues, for which she has been advised to take the waters at Cheltenham spa in Gloucestershire. (Our 21st century medicine suggests that Austen was suffering from Addison’s disease or possibly pancreatic or liver cancer). Fans of Barron’s previous books, as well as fans of Catherine Lloyd’s Kurland St. Mary mysteries, will enjoy Jane’s and her sister Cassandra’s adventures among society in early 19th century Cheltenham. ~Sarah Muench~
My Dearest Friend: Letters of Abigail and John Adams
Don’t let the title and stately looking cover fool you, although My Dearest Friend is about the historic Adams family, the content is far from historical facts and figures. Rather, the letters of John and Abigail Adams are deeply personal, reading more like a romance detailing the couple’s married life than a historical account. The sheer charm of the couple’s exchanges to each other—John’s address to Abigail as his “Miss Adorable” in an early letter and Abigail’s address to John as “My dearest friend”—make the novel an enjoyable, light read perfect for summer readers who like true stories and want to immerse themselves in a bit of history along the way. ~Anna Sobczak~
The Woman in the Library by Sulari Gentill
Loving books set in or about libraries, I chose this novel based on its title. As it turns out, it's a mystery/thriller, with the opening scene set in the Reading Room of the Boston Public Library. A gut-curdling scream echoes through the stillness. Freddie, an Australian writer in Boston on a scholarship, finds herself in conversation with her three table mates about what could have happened. Security finds nothing (yet), and the four go off to have coffee. They soon become fast friends…or are they? Each wants to try and solve the crime related to the scream…or do they?
The author does a great job of leading you in one direction, then pulling you in another. Another intriguing aspect of this novel is a story within a story, which adds a whole other dimension of creepiness to the book. It kept me guessing to the very end, which is what a good mystery should do. ~Mary Hartwig~
A Peculiar Combination and The Key to Deceit both by Ashley Weaver
Electra McDonnell comes from a family of locksmiths and her uncle is among the best. They ply their trade in London, although the early months of WWII find them taking on jobs that include those on the wrong side of the law. That is, until their skills are needed to assist with the government's war effort. Elektra, or Ellie, is asked to help Major Ramsey break into a safe to retrieve blueprints that will be critical to break a German spy ring. They break into the house in question but find the safe already open and empty; the purported spy dead on the floor.
Written with tongue in cheek humor, these lighthearted mysteries make for enjoyable summer reading. A Peculiar Combination was published in 2021, and its sequel, The Key to Deceit, earlier this year. I enjoyed each novel as a fast-paced mystery with twists and turns. It was helpful to read them in order but not essential. ~Nancy Arevalo~
For the Throne by Hannah Whitten
If you read For the Wolf, you have to finish the story. This second book compels you to discover what has happened in this world. Nothing is as it seems, or is it? This series takes the tale of Red Riding Hood, tosses in a little Beauty and the Beast, and turns both inside out and upside down. A complex story that leaves the reader racing toward the end of the story hoping it will be a happy one like all fairy tales. But will it? This is a fairy tale like no other. Loved it! ~Sharon Passick~
Hide by Kiersten White
The promise of wealth and comfort can make people do desperate things. Fourteen people have been invited to participate in a mysterious contest. The prize? A life-changing amount of money. At first glance, the challenge seems simple: play a competitive game of hide-and-seek in an abandoned amusement park for seven days. If you’re found, you’re out. Even though she knows it sounds too good to be true, homeless and traumatized Mack jumps at the chance. This money will finally give her the safety and security she yearns for. And after all, she is the best at hiding. It saved her life years ago. But the hazardous park conditions and 13 contestants aren’t the only obstacle she will face. None of the players knows the true stakes of the game, or even who is looking for them. Reminiscent of deadly contests for ludicrous prizes like The Hunger Games or Squid Game, this tense and creepy thriller paints a vivid picture of a rotting landscape of manufactured joy made all the more horrible by the bloody things that happen inside. ~Jay Robillard~
Hello, Bookstore (DVD)
If you ever visit The Bookstore in Lenox, MA, you are likely to meet the shop’s bohemian owner, Matt Tannenbaum. When you do, you are bound to get one of three things: a meandering, memorable story, an unforgettable joke, or a recommendation for an obscure, completely unfamiliar book. The Bookstore is a community institution, full of neighbors and friends you’ve yet to meet. It is also a wine bar. And so what begins as a quirky little story of an independent bookshop and its beatnik owner becomes something greater in the face of a pandemic. When flat lining sales and an uncertain future threaten its existence, a community rallies behind it, strengthening the bond between a bookstore and its town. A wonderful tribute to the arts and the human interactions we could all use more of. ~Noah Weckwerth~
American Masters: Amy Tan: Unintended Memoir (DVD)
I never miss an episode of American Masters on PBS, so even if I’m not home to catch it on TV, we often have the episode on DVD here at the library. If you haven’t seen it yet, the literary minded among you are in for a treat with Amy Tan: Unintended Memoir.
Famous for her epic novel and the groundbreaking film adaptation of The Joy Luck Club, which illuminated and ennobled Asian American culture, criticism for what some considered stereotypical dialogue and situations threatened to derail her career and mental stability. Tan stayed true to her ideals, and continued to write books for adults, then for children, and branched into art and music. All along, the troubled history of her family found its way into her work, and was beautifully transformed. An incredible, introspective, and universal life story. ~Shannon McKeown~
Skandar and the Unicorn Thief by AF Steadman.
In a fantasy version of Great Britain, Skandar lives on the Mainland waiting for his chance to become a unicorn rider on the Island. Unicorns live only on the Island because they are wild, ferocious beasts who must be tamed by a rider who bonds with them when they are born. Skandar has just turned 13, the age to be trained as a rider, but his dreams are shattered when he is barred from taking the qualifying exam and denied a place at the school. When a mysterious woman arrives in the middle of the night to wisk Skandar to the Island anyway, the adventure truly begins. Skandar and a small group of friends who know he is at the rider training school without permission must master their unicorns and their magic skills without revealing Skandar’s secret. Underlying all of this, a mysterious figure called the Weaver has been stealing unicorns and causing people to disappear. Can Skandar figure it all out before his secret is exposed and he is sent away, or worse yet, killed? This is a great fantasy adventure story for fans of Harry Potter or the Keeper of the Lost Cities series. Recommended for grades 4 and up. ~Sue Daniels~
Licorice Pizza (DVD)
Do you like peanut butter sandwiches? P.T. Anderson returns with yet another contender for his magnum opus (almost all of his films can make a case). The story of Alana Kane and Gary Valentine coming of age in 1970s Califiornia, this film has all the signature Anderson elements: dynamite soundtrack, panning shots ultilizing atypical angles, dreamers, hucksters, treachery, and fanatical, zealous sequences. Sean Penn and Bradley Cooper deliver killer cameos to boot in one of the year’s best films. ~Noah Weckwerth~
June 2022
Meddling Kids by Edgar Cantero
In 1977, The Blyton Summer Detective Club was the premier youth sleuth group. They unmasked con artists and fortune hunters posing as monsters through cool deduction and improbable booby traps. But something happened on their last case that changed them all. Now it’s 1990 and tomboy Andy wants to reunite the group one last time to get some closure on what really happened with the monster of Sleepy Lake. That is if she can untangle the personal demons of her teammates. Former kid genius Kerri is an alcoholic bartender, and nerdy Nate voluntarily institutionalized himself. He also sees and talks to Peter, their fearless leader…who died years ago. A teasing love letter to tween detectives like Nancy Drew and the Scooby Doo gang, Cantero creates an intriguing mystery in a decaying small town where the ghosts of the past aren’t the only monsters the group must confront. ~Jay Robillard~
Coco at the Ritz by Gioia Diliberto
A fictionalized account of Coco Chanel's life in Paris from 1939 to 1944, during the German occupation. While history hails her as a fashion icon, the truth is she was involved in a dark, treasonous betrayal of her country because of her romance with a German spy. Knowing this novel was based on fact, it was even more distressing to read about how most Parisians were living during this time, while Coco, with her fame, money, and connections with her German lover, was able to avoid much of the suffering of her fellow citizens.
I found her actions detestable, yet the story drew me in, like driving past a car wreck. You want to look away, but can't. And we shouldn't look away, because interconnected to her story was the story of brave, selfless members of the resistance. A sad but well written novel of historical fiction. ~Mary Hartwig~
Chivalry by Neil Gaiman, illustrated by Colleen Doran (adult graphic novel)
Rummaging through a local English thrift shop, an elderly widow sees an old chalice cheekily labeled “the Holy Grail” and buys it for her mantelpiece, which unwittingly summons an actual Knight of the Roundtable who hopes to claim it and fulfil his centuries-long quest. Beautifully illustrated by Colleen Doran, this imaginative tale by the wildly creative Neil Gaiman combines a poignant view of aging with the beloved Arthurian legends that speak of timeless values and morality. This richly illuminated yet gentle story is the perfect introduction to our new Adult Graphic Novel collection, currently located in the New Books area on the top right shelf. Once thought to be a short upgrade from children’s comic books, the graphic novel has evolved from youth centered works into a wonderful contemporary reader’s art form for more mature audiences. See what I mean and treat yourself today! ~Shannon McKeown~
How to Host a Viking Funeral: The Case for Burning Your Regrets, Chasing Your Crazy Ideas, and Becoming the Person You're Meant to Be by Kyle Scheele (audiobook)
This short, feel-good memoir by motivational speaker Kyle Scheele is the perfect audiobook for when you need a pick-me-up. When faced with turning 30, Scheele did something a little outrageous: he created a Viking ship out of cardboard and filled it with his regrets, which he then burned in effigy. After posting it on social media, the idea went viral and Scheele decided to do it again, this time on a much grander scale. Not only was the Viking ship bigger, but he invited people from around the country to send him their regrets on a notecard, which he would then burn in the ship. The memoir is told in sections, alternating between the author’s struggles to build the Viking ship, (mostly due to storage issues and structural difficulties), to the topics of the regrets sent to him by people from around the country, many of them relatable. What Scheele finds is that when you send hope and kindness out into the world, the world will often find a way to send it back to you, often in surprising and unexpected ways. ~Rachael Fealy-Layer~
The Wish by Nicholas Sparks
Everything changed for Maggie Dawson the year she turned sixteen. She was sent to live with an aunt she barely knew in a remote village on North Carolina’s Outer Banks. Feeling sorry for herself and missing friends and family life is a challenge until she meets Bryce Trickett. Being one of the few teenagers on the island, he introduces her to all there is to love about the island, especially photography. Twenty-three years later, she is running a successful gallery in New York and photographing remote locations around the world. However, this year she is grounded over Christmas, struggling to come to terms with her medical diagnosis. Her young assistant becomes her confidant and he listens to her story of a long ago magical Christmas. One of the few books out there that had a scene that made me cry. This story makes you think about life and what you would do if…~Sharon Passick~
The Last Mapmaker by Christina Soontornvat
Sai wants nothing more than to escape the poverty she was born into and rise to a higher social level. She jumps at the opportunity to become the assistant to the celebrated mapmaker, Paiyoon Wongyai, where she learns valuable skills and has the security absent in her home. When Paiyoon signs on for a voyage with the war hero, Captain Sangra, to create new maps, Sai is delighted to be included. She envisions breaking with her past and creating a new life. However, there are many surprises awaiting Sai on this voyage, including the possibility of sailing to a previously uncharted land in dangerous waters, and meeting a variety of interesting characters with secrets of their own. Sai learns that life is not as simple as she thought, and she needs to know who to listen to if she is going to make the right choices. Recommended for grades 5 and up. ~Sue Daniels~
American Predator: The Hunt for the Most Meticulous Serial Killer of the 21st Century by Maureen Callahan
Born evil or traumatized into it? The case of Israel Keyes is a chilling recent chapter in the annals of true crime. By day, an unassuming construction worker caring for his only daughter in Anchorage. By night, one of the most careful (and possibly prolific) serial killers America has ever seen. The manner in which Keyes planned and executed his crimes is as confounding as it is disturbing. Spanning the breadth of the country, it would have been easy to see the ruthless and cunning Keyes never being caught. In the end though, his frustrating death leaves more questions than answers as to the extent of his carnage. ~Noah Weckwerth~
Pride & Prejudice by Jane Austen
If you’ve been binging Bridgerton on Netflix, then why not come back to the Regency romance novel that started it all! Despite raising a warm and loving family, Mr. and Mrs. Bennet have a problem: their estate can only be passed down to a male heir…and they have five daughters. So begins the whirlwind task of finding suitable husbands for each of their girls. Finding multiple husbands who are the right measures of handsome, kind, and financially secure can’t be too difficult, right? But the Bennet family are not the only ones looking to climb their way up the social ladder, and rivals for suitors will not be the only obstacle they face. Scandal, intrigue, family, obligation, and affairs of the heart, all rendered in gold from candlelit ballrooms. ~Jay Robillard~
A Lady’s Guide to Etiquette and Murder by Dianne Freeman
If you enjoy the gilded escapades of Bridgerton but could do with more blood and scandal, then you’ll love Frances Wynn, Countess of Harleigh. After spending a year in mourning following the death of her philandering husband Reggie, Frances is eager to strike out and make her own life. She bids farewell to her crusty in-laws and rents a home to prepare for her sister Lily’s arrival for her first proper London Season. But if the revolving door of galas and balls weren’t enough fodder for drama, more problems darken Frances’s doorstep. A series of jewel robberies are plaguing the aristocracy. Lily is looking for a man, but how many suitors are sincere and how many are in love with her money? A police inspector is asking Frances some uncomfortable questions about Reggie’s passing. And another dead body is just the cherry on top. Will Frances make it through the Season with her reputation, fortune, and sanity intact? Elegant, charming, and sweet without being cloying, Frances is a heroine easy to root for. ~Jay Robillard~
May 2022
This T
ime Tomorrow by Emma Straub
What if you could take a vacation to your past? As she turns 40, Alice Stern’s life, though ostensibly happy, is not quite what she imagined. Her beloved father is dying, her career stalled, her love life flat lining. If you ask Alice, she’s still waiting for her real life to begin. As a teenager, it all seemed so limitless: a great relationship with her dad, countless friends and future prospects. On the evening of her 40th birthday, Alice falls asleep: alone, inebriated, and in a shed. When she wakes up, it’s 1996 and she’s in high school again. What follows is Alice’s tender, thoughtful, and (very) funny journey to discovery. Do not be turned off by the time travel element. This Time Tomorrow is a perfect book for right now: wise and witty, a truly enjoyable reading experience. ~Noah Weckwerth~
Hello Molly: A Memoir by Molly Shannon
I’ve always enjoyed Molly Shannon’s exuberant and over-the-top sketches on Saturday Night Live, and wondered what could have inspired such absurd yet oddly familiar characters. An unthinkable tragedy shaped her life: at age 4, Shannon, her 6-year-old sister, and their father survived a fatal car accident that claimed her mother, baby sister and young cousin. The driver was her father, who had been drinking. This is a profoundly honest and heart wrenching account of a resilient survivor who found joy in humor and mischief; a wholehearted and fearless force of nature who became a comedy legend, then left television to start a family and take back some of the life that she had lost so long ago. Deserving of all the hype it has generated for its candid and redemptive story as well as its peek into the world of comedy television and movies, I could not put it down and finished it in one day! ~Shannon McKeown~
A Sunlit W
eapon by Jacqueline Winspear
England, 1942. Private investigator Maisie Dobbs is hired by pilot Jo Hardy to find the answer to two questions: 1. Who fired shots at her plane as she was flying low near Biggin Hill airfield? 2. Who abducted the American serviceman, Matthias Crittenden, found bound and gagged in an abandoned barn close to where the shots were fired? In Jacqueline Winspear's 17th book in the series, Maisie's new assignment thrusts her into complex wartime issues as she unravels a plot with multi-layered intrigue affecting local villagers, her own family, and the national security of both England and America. The important work of the British Air Transport Auxiliary pilots of WWII who "ferried" planes from one airfield to another is featured in this book, as well as the historic visit of Eleanor Roosevelt to England in 1942. Having read all of the books in this mystery series, I found this installment to be exceptional. I both read and listened to it, and really enjoyed the narrator of the audiobook. ~Nancy Arevalo~
The Last House on Needless Street by Catriona Ward
Life for the inhabitants of the boarded-up house at the end of the road is simple. They keep to themselves, almost forgotten by the rest of the world. But this daily peace balances on a precarious tightrope. Lauren wants to go outside and play like the other girls, but Ted forbids it and often locks her away. Ted is not Lauren’s father. Olivia rejoices in the word of God and thinks she should have her own TV show. Olivia is a black cat. Living on top of one another means these three have become each other’s whole worlds. As much as they love each other, they can hate each other just as intensely. But their already delicate way of life is thrown into further turmoil when a new neighbor moves in next door. She introduces herself. She asks uncomfortable questions. She is determined to find her missing sister. You think you already know this story. You don’t. ~Jay Robillard~
Quilters of the Door by Ann Hazelwood
If you are intrigued with Door County, and have an interest in quilts (even if you don’t really), meet Claire Stewart. Claire is ready for a change in her life, and when her dear friend offers her the use of a cabin in Fish Creek, she can’t resist. She also takes her friend’s place in a very exclusive quilting club. Claire is a watercolor quilt artist, and the beauty of Door County captivates her right away. Never one to stay satisfied with the status quo, if she thinks there might be a better way, Claire goes for it. The bad relationship she wanted to escape is behind her, or is it? More of Claire’s ideas show up in the sequel Door to Door Quilts. The author has also written other series about quilts available in the Bridges Library System. ~Sharon Passick~
The Final Girl Support Group by Grady Hendrix
I will admit to already being a fan of Hendrix’s work, so I was itching to get my hands on a copy of The Final Girl Support Group and let me say, it did not disappoint. The novel opens with a therapy group populated by “final girls,” a word used to describe the last girl standing in horror films after the killer has been defeated. However, the trauma these girls faced was real and was used to churn out film franchises based on their lives. When one of the girls is suddenly murdered in the place where she confronted her killer decades before, only ultra-paranoid final girl Lynette questions the origin of the rapid string of assaults on the other girls that follows quickly after. She uses all her survival instincts to save her fellow group members and prevent herself from becoming the final Final Girl. Hendrix has a deft hand at combing tongue-in-cheek humor with skin-crawling horror and little splash of commentary on popular culture. ~Rachael Fealy-Layer~
Verity by Colleen Hoover
Lowen is suffering a bout of writer’s block when her publisher approaches her with an incredible offer: to ghostwrite the last three installments in bestselling author Verity Crawford’s book series. Verity is medically incapacitated and cannot finish writing on her own. Arriving at the Crawford home, Lowen meets Verity’s handsome and deeply broken husband Jeremy. Verity’s recent car accident is only the latest in a string of tragedies that have befallen the Crawfords. While going through Verity’s office, Lowen discovers a manuscript that was never meant to see the light of day. It reveals Verity’s ugly side and fuels Lowen’s attraction to Jeremy. The more Lowen reads, the more repulsed she is by Verity and the more desperate she grows to “save” Jeremy by telling him the truth. But is she aware of all the secrets in the Crawford family? In the middle of this elegant yet ominous setting, Hoover has created a cluster of characters that you simultaneously do and don’t want to root for. ~Jay Robillard~
Belgravia (DVD)
From Julian Fellowes, creator of Downton Abbey, comes another excellent historical drama. Set in Belgravia, a posh London neighborhood during the 19th century, the story follows two families: the Trenchards, a successful but snubbed family due to their lack of aristocratic background, and the Brockenhursts, comprised of an Earl and his relations, who are highly respected within their social circle. Lies, secrets, greed, scandal, and yes, even love, inescapably bind both families. The "downstairs" characters are also well represented and play pivotal roles in the surprising twists and turns of the plot. This is a slightly darker, more menacing version of Downton Abbey, but a well-laid plot, good acting, beautiful sets, and period costumes all make for satisfying viewing of this six episode series. ~Mary Hartwig~
As th
e Wicked Watch by Tamron Hall
Chicago crime beat reporter Jordan Manning has a difficult job that repeatedly forces her to confront the ugliest sides of humanity. As a woman of color, she also strives to shine a light on the disparity of work put into crimes involving black victims as opposed to white victims. When a black honors student from a prestigious STEM school is found brutally murdered, police progress is slow and Jordan is determined to unmask the killer. She straps on her stilettos and pounds the pavement, conducting interviews, looking for clues. Armed with a master’s degree in criminal forensics and a cultural insight that most cops don’t have, Jordan is able to read between the lines on both sides of the investigation. Written by Emmy-winning talk show host Tamron Hall, Jordan’s narration gives voice to an otherwise neglected population. Her job and culture often pull her in opposing directions and she does everything she can to bridge the gaps. ~Jay Robillard~
April 2022
The Paris Bookseller by Kerri Maher | For those who enjoy books about books (and paper, printing, publishing, bookstores and libraries), this is fun historical fiction. The bookseller referred to in the title is Sylvia Beach, who opened Shakespeare and Company in Paris in 1919. Beach’s acquaintances and customers included Gertrude Stein, Ernest Hemingway, Ezra Pound, and, most significantly for this story, James Joyce. Beach became Joyce’s first publisher of Ulysses while the book was banned in the United States. Maher relates, in detail, the enormous amount of time and hard work involved in the project, and its effect on Beach and her life partner Adrienne Monnier. After finishing, I wanted to learn more about Beach, Jazz-Age Paris and the contemporary version of Shakespeare and Company in Paris (different location, different owner.) A helpful author’s note and a short bibliography are included at the end. ~Sarah Muench~
The Only Woman in the Room by Marie Benedict | Hedy Kiesler is a beautiful young woman in 1930’s Europe. After starring in a 
controversial film, her Jewish father convinces her that marrying an Austrian arms dealer will be protection from the persecutions happening across Europe. She is required to host lavish dinner parties, where frequently she is the only woman, vastly overlooked except for her beauty. By 1937, she realizes life with her controlling husband is not worth the “safety” he represents. She manages to escape, winds up in Hollywood, and becomes the screen star we know as Hedy Lamarr. Nevertheless, her biggest secret (after her Jewish heritage) is that she is a talented scientist. The story behind her invention is fascinating, and shows how much women were ignored for their brains. A recurring theme is the many ways to show how being “only a woman” has been and still is a universal issue. ~Sharon Passick~
Every Last Fear by Alex Finlay | Matt Pine is no stranger to tragedy. Years ago, his older brother Danny was arrested for the murder of his high school girlfriend Charlotte. Despite a Netflix documentary rallying public support declaring him innocent, Danny was found guilty and sentenced to life in prison. Now Matt has gotten word from the FBI that his parents and younger siblings have died from an apparent gas leak while on vacation. Guided by Special Agent Sarah Keller, Matt returns to his hometown to bury his family, only to encounter hostility from a community scarred by Charlotte’s murder and affronted by the documentary’s intrusive research methods. Meanwhile, Sarah is conducting an investigation of her own. If her suspicions about the Pines’ deaths are true, then it raises questions about Danny’s conviction. Blending past and present, the core mysteries of this book are just “simple, yet complicated” enough to make you break out the corkboard and string on your own. ~Jay Robillard~
The Awakening of Miss Prim by Natalia Sanmartin Fenollera | When Prudencia Prim answers an employment ad seeking a private librarian for a household located in the village of San Ireneo de Arnois, she is sure it's the opportunity she's been waiting for. Little does she know what kind of world she is about to step into. She takes the assignment of labeling and organizing the vast book collection of her employer's family home, then begins to make the acquaintance of the townspeople and learn of their unconventional ways. Their outlook on life, love, literature, education and community are a challenge to the highly educated Miss Prim. As the author wrote regarding the residents of San Ireneo de Arnois, they attempt to "preserve the best of the past, without which the present cannot be understood, nor the future be faced." This is a delightful and thoughtful tale. Not a new release, it was recommended to me by a library patron as she was returning it (and paid an overdue fine.) Now I understand why it was an international bestseller upon release in 2014. ~Nancy Arevalo~
![The nineties : [a book] Opens in new 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)
The Nineties by Chuck Klosterman | In this latest collection, Klosterman looks at the decade between the materialism of the ‘80s and the nascent days of pervasive technology in the early 2000s. Over the course of 12 essays, Klosterman examines U.S. culture through the apathy of the Gen Xers, Ross Perot’s bid for presidency, the beginning of our relationship with the internet, baseball’s doping disgrace, and more. Far from a nostalgic look at the ‘90s, this book shines a light on the behavior and interests of Americans over a decade and how that reflects today. He also covers topics such as the Mandela Effect, Friends and network TV in general (before streaming became the method of choice for households), the Monica Lewinsky scandal, the Gulf War, and an inexplicable longing for the 1970s. As enlightening as they are entertaining, these essays will have you reliving the ‘90s. ~Rachael Fealy-Layer~
West Side Story (DVD) | Full disclosure: I have loved West Side Story since I was an impressionable 7th grader, my heart torn in two over star-crossed lovers, colorful gang members, and the haunting melodies that they sang, danced, cried, and died to. So to me, the audacious plan to remake this beloved classic felt like nothing short of heresy.
This was Romeo and Juliet on the streets of New York, with white street gang (Jets) in conflict with newly arrived Puerto Rican gang (Sharks), and the disruption caused when a maturing Jet and the younger sister of the Sharks’ leader fall in love. The award winning 1961 film was an adaptation of the 1957 play and featured starlet Natalie Wood, her singing dubbed, in the lead role of Maria (Juliet). From joy to sorrow, desperation to elation, and hope to tragedy, the music by Leonard Bernstein is at once classical and contemporary, a modern ballet of love, hate,life, and death.
Clearly an homage to the classic film, the 2021 version by Steven Spielberg retains more of the original play with an enhanced and socially aware script by Tony Kushner. This time, racially appropriate casting as well as the singing is pitch perfect, with standout Ariana Debose bringing a fiery intensity to the role of Anita that was rewarded by an Oscar. The beautifully dense and rearranged music and choreography come alive on location and the America number in particular is a breathtaking tour of ins and outs of the neighborhood, full of color and passion that rises above the spoken dialogue. Rita Moreno (Oscar winner as Anita in the 1961 version) shines as an elderly neighborhood storeowner who has lived as witness to a growing and deadly rivalry. I love them both! ~Shannon McKeown~
New in Town by Kevin Cornell | Puddletrunk is a tiny community separated from the rest of the world by a giant chasm and Mortimer Gulch fleeces the residents every few years to rebuild the bridge over the chasm and line his own pockets. When the visiting clock repairman refuses to contribute to the new bridge, patronizing Mr. Gulch declares that the repairman is “new in town and does not know how things work” while secretly plotting against him. However, when you reach the surprise ending of this funny picture book, you realize that the clever repairman knows exactly how things work as he turns the tables on Mr. Gulch. ~Sue Daniels~
Quiet by Céline Claire and Magali Le Huche. | Mr. Martin is fed up with his noisy neighborhood. His solution is to cover his house in a 
giant bubble that provides complete silence and isolation. Mr. Martin is delighted with the result until he finds that he can’t get rid of the bubble. Will his neighbors realize that he needs help and rescue him? ~Sue Daniels~
Darling Rose Gold by Stephanie Wrobel | Disclaimer: Although true crime aficionados will recognize this novel’s inspiration from the real-life case of Dee Dee Blanchard and her daughter Gypsy Rose, Wrobel uses many elements of that case to tell a completely separate and fictitious story.
By all appearances, Patty Watts was a saint. The selfless single mother cared for her chronically ill daughter Rose Gold through a myriad of illnesses. It was years before the world learned the truth: Rose wasn’t sick, she just believed she was. It is what her mother always told her, and why would a mother lie? After a highly publicized trial where Rose testified against her, Patty was sentenced to five years in prison for aggravated child abuse. Now Patty is free and starting her life over, and Rose is helping her. Mother and daughter are living under the same roof once more. Patty wants to teach Rose a lesson for her betrayal. But Rose isn’t that helpless little girl anymore, and she has plans of her own for Mommy Dearest. Deeply unsettling from the very beginning, this book maintains a level of dread that is both agonizing and compulsively readable. Like two people cautiously circling each other at the start of a knife fight, all we can do is wait and watch in horrified anticipation. ~Jay Robillard~
The Beatryce Prophecy by Kate DiCamillo, illustrated by Sophie Blackall | The monks of the Order of the Chronicles of Sorrowing find Beatryce curled up next to Answelica he goat, shivering with fever and unable to recall how she got there. Brother Edik takes special int
erest in the girl but after her health is restored, she is sent away because the monks fear the king’s men who are tracking her. Beatryce can read and write, which are closely guarded skills and especially forbidden to girls, and that alone would cause the king to hunt her. Also, there is a prophesy that says a girl will unseat the king and Beatryce might just be that girl. As Beatryce’s memory begins to return, she becomes more and more certain that she must confront the people who wronged her and find her way home. This is a charming story told in DiCamillo’s distinctive voice and as with many of her tales, this would make an enjoyable family read-aloud. ~Sue Daniels~
March 2022
How I Survived a Chinese "Reeducation" Camp by Gulbahar Haitiwaji and Rozenn Morgat
This gripping book is currently the first and only published memoir written by a survivor of the Chinese concentration camp system. Gulbahar Haitiwaji was a former executive in the oil industry in China. She is of Uyghur ethnicity, a group whose culture, language and religion have Turkish roots. She and her Uyghur ancestors are from the province of Xinjiang, in the northeastern corner of China. Twice the size of the state of Texas, this oil-rich land of deserts and oases has been fought over for centuries, but became part of Communist China in 1955. The discrimination towards the Uyghur people (pronounced "wee-guhr") has now become full-scale genocide. Facilitated by a gulag-type system of internment camps, it has been documented that more than one million Uyghur individuals have been detained in them. The author describes how she endured hundreds of hours of interrogation, torture, brainwashing, malnutrition, and police violence. Now living in exile in France, she courageously tells her story on behalf of the many Uyghurs who have undergone similar treatment but didn't make it out. ~Nancy Arevalo~
King Richard (DVD)
Get ready to fall even deeper in love with the Williams sisters! Instead of fanning out about this movie for three paragraphs (which I could do), I’ll just say I highly recommend it for its inspirational story and authentic portrayal of it. For Richard Williams, it’s a redemptive treatment, as his oft-derided and controversial parenting tactics are seen through a lens more fully in this film. All told, the successes of the Williams sisters (all of them) are a testament to the love and determination of their parents. An enjoyable origin story of two global icons and their hard-won journey. Plus, Will Smith reminds us he can really act. Nominated for six Academy Awards, including Best Picture. ~Noah Weckwerth~
The Paris Apartment by Lucy Foley
Fast paced, riveting, suspenseful. This just begins to describe The Paris Apartment by Lucy Foley. The story begins as Jess arrives in Paris on the lukewarm invitation of her half-brother Ben, only to find he's gone missing. The residents of the swanky apartment building he lives in aren't too friendly and all have their own "issues." It soon becomes clear they are all suspects in Ben's disappearance…each one with their own twisted motive.
What really impressed me about this book was the pace. No testing of the waters here. You dove right into this story and never came up for air. There was no down time in this book. It seemed every chapter dropped a bomb and made you gasp. It held you captive the entire time, just what a good thriller ought to do. ~Mary Hartwig~
The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid
Rookie reporter Monique Grant has been offered a career-defining interview on a silver platter: elderly reclusive movie star Evelyn Hugo wants to tell her life story and she has inexplicably selected Monique to write it. The lives of glamorous starlets like Evelyn have always been subject to public scrutiny and venomous gossip. But even after years in front of cameras aimed by movie directors and paparazzi, Evelyn still has plenty of secrets to share. Depicted as a blonde bombshell hopping from one man to the next for much of her career, Evelyn is taking control of her own narrative one last time. Reminiscent of Hollywood legends like Marilyn Monroe and Elizabeth Taylor, Evelyn details a life every bit as captivating as the movies she starred in. This is a love story, just not in the way one might expect. ~Jay Robillard~
Ghostbusters: Afterlife (DVD)
If you are a fan of the original movie you will enjoy this sequel, as it is done the way a sequel should be. Egon’s daughter has inherited his “farm” with all its ghostly secrets. She and her two children have nowhere else to go, so they are forced to live in the creepy house. Eerie things are happening as Gozer is trying to continue his revenge after killing Egon. Nods to the original movie include the proton packs, the Cadillac Ecto-1, and an “appearance” by Harold Ramis. ~Sharon Passick~
Americanah by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
On a quest to read more globally this year, I could not have started with a better book than Americanah. The language is evocative and the story is an emotional kaleidoscope. Ifemelu and Obinze could be considered star-crossed lovers, only instead of stars, it’s merely geopolitical and military machinations that get in the way. The book is the journey of their early adult lives, through love, heartbreak, identity, success, and the search for home. It’s also an accessible introduction to the African diaspora and a cultural education. An elegant and affecting read with plenty of meat on the bone. ~Noah Weckwerth~
Shoulder Season by Christina Clancy
It may not quite be beach-read season yet, but you can get a jump-start with Shoulder Season! This sophomore effort from Clancy follows East Troy, WI native Sherri Taylor as she applies to work as a Bunny at the Playboy Resort located in Lake Geneva in 1981. After being hired, Sherri finds herself plunged into a world of sex, drugs, and very strict rules, but she also finds new friends from a variety of backgrounds and has new experiences outside of her sheltered upbringing. She also falls for two very different men: aloof California bad boy Mitch and sweet, unassuming Arthur. When a tragic event occurs, Sherri flees to California to outrun her pain, but it’s only when she returns to Wisconsin that she can truly start over. At its heart, Shoulder Season is a novel about a young woman discovering who she is and what she is capable of withstanding. The EGPL also has this title available on audiobook. ~Rachael Fealy-Layer~
Rascal by Sterling North
A new edition of this venerable classic arrived recently, and on a cold, cloudy day it was a pleasure to rediscover. This is the true story of a 12-year-old boy and the raccoon he raised from a motherless kit and how they both come of age in the rapidly changing world of rural Wisconsin in the early 20th century. Their many adventures and eventual parting occur in counterpoint to grief over the loss of his own mother, a permissive and distant father, anxiety over his WWI soldier brother, and some difficult townsfolk who want the “wild” animal gone. Full of humor, adventure and touch of sadness, this is a beautifully written book rightfully treasured by children and adults.
Pax by Sara Pennypacker
A modern and darker bookend to Rascal, Pax is the story of another motherless boy, this time forced to abandon his pet fox at edge of the forest before his father drives him hundreds of miles away in advance of an encroaching and unspecified war. Alternating chapters detail the fox’s efforts to survive in the wild with his boy’s arduous journey on foot to reunite with his fox, this powerful story parallels the evil of war with the purity of their relationship. This is a thoughtful coming of age (fox and boy) tale of love, loyalty, and survival neither softened nor watered down for its intended audience.
NOTE: The above two are advanced children’s books, appropriate for ages 9-12+, and the animals do not die in the end. ~Shannon McKeown~
Amari and the Night Brothers by BB Alston
Amari’s big brother Quinton disappeared without a trace months ago, and Amari would do anything to find him. When she receives a mysterious message from Quinton telling her that he has nominated her for a summer tryout at the Bureau of Supernatural Affairs, she knows she has to go. Quinton was working on a dangerous case for the Bureau when he disappeared but Amari has a lot to figure out if she is going to help. Amari has never heard of the Bureau, she didn’t know Quinton was working there, and she doesn’t know if she has the special powers needed to pass the tryout. What’s more, an evil magician is threatening to destroy the Bureau and take over the supernatural world, and Amari might be the only one who can stop him. If you enjoy quest stories in a magic school setting, like Keeper of the Lost Cities or Percy Jackson, you should add Amari to your reading list. Recommended for grades 4-8. ~Sue Daniels~
February 2022
The Magnolia Palace by Fiona Davis
Fiona Davis does it again with another splendid historical novel set in an iconic New York City building. The setting for The Magnolia Palace is the Frick Museum. The two heroines are bound together through art, happenstance and a mystery. Angelica (alias Lillian), a once sought after artist's model and muse in the early 1900's finds herself in a situation where a new identity seems to be the only chance of making herself into something again. Veronica, a budding model in 1966, becomes involved in a messy situation where dishonesty may be her only salvation. Both lives are intertwined with the Frick Collection and the colorful characters who shaped it. How the author joins past and present lives with a fast-paced, intriguing mystery set in a building with it's own unique history is her trademark. Historical fiction lovers will not be disappointed. ~Mary Hartwig~
One by One by Ruth Ware
When a ritzy French ski chalet takes a weeklong corporate booking, everything should be business as usual. The client is Snoop, a tech start-up that created a popular music-sharing app. Snoop paints itself as a company that values its employees like family. But between PowerPoint presentations and boozy gourmet meals, the chalet staff can tell that something is simmering just below the surface. Snoop’s founders are disagreeing over a potential buyout, causing them to draw lines in the sand to see where the other shareholders’ loyalties lie. Some executives see the buyout as a payday worth millions, while others fear for the security of their jobs. This is all treacherous enough even before the avalanche happens and bodies start turning up. The chalet quickly becomes a powder keg as trust wanes and paranoia skyrockets. Drawing heavily from Agatha Christie’s masterpiece And Then There Were None, Ware’s posh isolated chalet conceals just as many secrets and twists. ~Jay Robillard~
Premeditated Myrtle: A Myrtle Hardcastle Mystery by Elizabeth C. Bunce
Young mystery lovers who enjoy the atmosphere of a classic Agatha Christie novel but want a detective they can relate to must meet Myrtle Hardcastle. Twelve-year-old Myrtle is the only child of the town prosecutor, and gladly spends her time helping him work on his cases. Myrtle is curious, knowledgeable, and observant, so she is the first to notice when the eccentric old woman who lives in the estate next door disappears. The police are summoned, and Miss Wodehouse is found dead under suspicious circumstances. As Myrtle finds herself in the middle of a real case, she begins to realize that it is more complicated than she imagined, especially when the evidence she provides might incriminate a friend. Can Myrtle solve the case while also matchmaking between her widowed father and her beloved nanny, Miss Judson? Recommended for mystery lovers in grades 5-8 and especially fans of the Wells & Wong Mysteries by Robin Stevens. ~Sue Daniels~
Dance Away with Me by Susan Elizabeth Phillips
Young midwife and widow Tess finds her current life too much to bear. Escape is necessary, and where better than Runaway Mountain. She believes that with the solitude of nature and a small town, she can heal from heartbreak. But instead of peace and quiet, she finds an enigmatic artist, a fairy-tale sprite who is staying with the artist, a helpless preemie, and many curious teenagers. Her midwife skills are tested even though she is not practicing, and the town becomes very suspicious of her and her outspoken views on women. Will running away again be the answer, or should she face what life has in store for her? A quick read with intriguing life issues. ~Sharon Passick~
Uncut Gems (DVD)
If you enjoy films with a tension that attaches like a vise-grip and continues to tauten, this effort from the Safdie Brothers is for you. A dynamic Adam Sandler is Howard Ratner, an ever-hustling jeweler with a gambling problem and mounting, dangerous debts. When an opportunity (in the form of an uncut gem) lands on his desk with the chance to make his problems disappear and beyond, Howard must balance an increasingly high wire act with myriad moving parts in order to pull it off. There are folks who get into pickles, and then there is Howard Ratner. Come for the tensity, stay for the foul language (the f-word is used 506 times in Uncut Gems, fourth most in film history). ~Noah Weckwerth~
Sistersong by Lucy Holland
A classic English murder ballad gets a dark and magical retelling in Lucy Holland’s novel Sistersong. The story follows the three children of King Cador, a ruler of a kingdom in ancient Britain. Keyne, the eldest, fights to be seen as the man he knows he is. Riva, the middle daughter, has a gift for healing, but struggles to overcome a devastating injury from the past. And the youngest child, Sinne, is a willful and selfish dreamer who wishes to find love, regardless of whom she might hurt. All three siblings must face the consequences of their father turning his back on the olds ways, causing the land to retaliate against the people, as well as the arrival of a handsome stranger named Tristan, who will test the bonds between the close-knit kin of Cador. Told through different perspectives, Holland’s novel is thoroughly engaging work of historical fantasy that will keep you entranced through the bittersweet end. ~Rachael Fealy-Layer~
The Lincoln Highway by Amor Towles
It's June 1954, and eighteen-year-old Emmett Watson has completed his sentence for involuntary manslaughter at Salina, a correctional work farm. As the warden drives him home to Nebraska, he's about to become legal guardian to his eight-year-old brother, Billy. Their father is deceased and their mom left the farm years ago. Ready for a fresh start, Emmett and Billy plan to drive to California, taking the Lincoln Highway, the first highway to cross America, built in 1913. However, their initial plan circumvents when two of Emmett's friends from the work farm show up, Woolly and Duchess. Told from multiple viewpoints, this road trip is an epic adventure story, quest, and odyssey all rolled into one. The author creates memorable characters whose individual stories are woven together in unexpected ways. Although the story covers a span of only ten days, be prepared for surprising side trips on this circuitous tale. I think it would be a good selection for a book discussion group. The audio book version is appealing as well, making use of three different narrators for the alternating voices in which the story unfolds. ~Nancy Arevalo~
Dear Evan Hansen (DVD)
I cannot say enough about this Broadway musical turned movie. Dear Evan Hansen won the 2017 Tony Award for Best New Musical and it was well deserved. This wholly original story is based on a socially awkward, anxiety-ridden teenager's desire to feel included in the hyper-critical, judgemental world of high school. He becomes trapped in a lie surrounding the suicide of a fellow classmate. A lie that becomes bigger than himself, all the while propelling him into an exciting life of acceptance he never had before. Social media plays a huge role in his rise to fame as well as his downfall, making this musical so relevant to today.
The movie version is obviously going to be slightly different from the stage version. A few of the original songs were eliminated and a new song written for the movie was added. Nevertheless, the movie absolutely delivers all the substance and emotion of the stage version (from someone who was fortunate enough to see both). The songs are beautiful, memorable, and meaningful and have brought grown men to tears. The message, the music, and the relatable characters all make for one of my favorite musicals of all time. ~Mary Hartwig~
Old (DVD)
Winter getting you down? Jealous of friends or family posting selfies in swimsuits with fancy drinks at some tropical locale? Well, you will be thankful for your chilly Wisconsin home after this disturbing trip to paradise/hell from master twist-meister M. Night Shyamalan. Vacationing strangers at an unspecified oceanic island resort are delighted by the outstanding personalized service and amenities after taking a chance on a friendly online referral. A small group of families and couples are invited to enjoy an exclusive visit to a distant and secluded beach where they soon discover that they are trapped in a place where time moves so quickly that they will age an entire lifetime in one day and the struggle to escape will cost them years within hours.
Two children, who started out at ages 6 and 11, are the first to notice that someone in the distance is watching. More than a surreal meditation on the passage of time, this psychological thriller is also a morality tale with a thought-provoking ending that you'll never see coming (it is M. Night Shyamalan after all). ~Shannon McKeown~
January 2022
Africa, Amazing Africa: Country by Country by Atinuke, illustrated by Mouni Feddag
How many countries are on the African continent? Can you name them or describe them? After perusing this delightful picture book by a Nigerian-born author, you will know a little bit about all 55 nations and have some appreciation for the differences that exist across the continent. The book is divided into regions with one page per country including colorful illustrations, brief country descriptions and 2-3 unique facts for each. There are a few other pages covering general information such as African hairstyles, African religions and the popular sport of football (soccer). Recommended for elementary age and up or for family sharing. ~Sue Daniels~
Death on the Nile by Agatha Christie
It’s the same old love story: boy meets girl, boy falls in love with girl, then boy meets girl’s best friend and falls in love with her instead. Serving as a direct sequel to Murder on the Orient Express in the Kenneth Branagh cinematic series, Poirot investigates a love triangle turned deadly. Recently-married Simon and Linnet Doyle are on honeymoon in Egypt, but all is not well for the happy couple. Jacqueline de Bellefort, Simon’s ex-fiancée and Linnet’s former best friend, is mad with jealousy and has been stalking them since the start of their trip. When Linnet is found murdered, it is a tragic (although not totally unexpected) outcome. Jackie is the obvious suspect, but there’s just one problem: she has an airtight alibi. Does this mean one of the other passengers is the murderer? Serving as the “polar” opposite to a train trapped in snow, Poirot is pitted against a devious culprit on a sun-soaked riverboat in Egypt. The deeper our favorite Belgian investigates, the more he discovers Jackie isn’t the only person onboard who wanted Linnet dead. ~Jay Robillard~
The Midwest Survival Guide: How We Talk, Love, Work, Drink, and Eat….Everything With Ranch by Charlie Berens
Hey, just hold on once, we can’t have the January issue of this fine publication without giving a shout out to Elm Grove’s own Charlie Berens: former journalist and current comedian, who is now a proud New York Times bestselling author! Over the holidays, this clever and highly gift-able tome was sold out everywhere, but WE have the print copy, the audio book, and even the Milwaukee Magazine featuring a cover shot and interview with the guy we’ve all seen in hilarious online videos throughout the pandemic. So hunker down on snowy day, bundle up in your Packer hoodie and camo shorts, and thrill to clever stories of Midwestern culture. From the Lake Michigan Triangle (for those who want to get away from it all, there is no need to go all the way to Bermuda) and the importance of the Chicken Dance, to the relationship between chili and cinnamon rolls in Cincinnati and more, enjoy being cheered by some true “Midwest Nice.” Watch out for deer! ~Shannon McKeown~
Young Shakespeare (music CD)
For Neil Young fans, the 2007 release of Live at Massey Hall 1971 was marked with euphoria. One of the first releases of his ambitious and ongoing “Archives” project, it was pure treasure: an acoustic recording of a young Neil (pun alert) in his hometown Toronto, playing familiar hits interspersed with personal banter and origin stories. It was until recently a personal favorite…but it has been supplanted! Released in early 2021, Young Shakespeare is also an acoustic recording from 1971, and boy does it titillate. The sound is crisp, calm, and superior to Massey Hall (which was a raucous outing), and the tracking order is sublime. All bangers on this one. ~Noah Weckwerth~
Pig (DVD)
Amid the torrent of vanilla vigilante movies that represent his new norm, every few years Nicolas Cage makes a turn that reminds us he is a prodigiously talented thespian. Pig is such a film. In it, Cage plays Rob, a truffle-hunting hermit in the middle of the Oregon wilderness. He bothers no one; no one bothers him. That is, until his prized foraging pig is abducted in a violent raid. Bereft and distraught, Rob must return to the Portland of his past, combing the culinary underground in search of his beloved companion. Despite its combative description, Pig is a quiet film with a sensitive heart, bolstered by a graceful (albeit gritty) performance from Cage, in another top shelf piece for his already loaded mantle. ~Noah Weckwerth~
The Frozen Crown by Greta Kelly
Political intrigue meets magic and ghosts in this debut novel from Greta Kelly. Askia, the rightful heir to the Frozen Crown of Seravesh, leads her small band of soldiers to a southern kingdom to find allies against the evil warlord who has invaded her kingdom. However, her hopes of a quick solution are dashed when it becomes apparent that the Vishiri court is more interested in playing political games than saving the lives of her people. Desperate to take back her kingdom without having to marry into an alliance, Askia begins training with Queen Ozuma to hone her skills as a death witch, someone who can pass into the land of the deceased, while hidden enemies at court seek to thwart her attempts at forming alliances. This fast-paced fantasy ends with a cliffhanger setting the stage for the recently released follow-up, The Seventh Queen. ~Rachael Fealy-Layer~
Wink by Rob Harrell
Wink follows Ross, a seventh grader with a rare eye cancer, which is kind of a big deal. He struggles with the thought of losing his eye, his friends, and his hair. It’s not all bad though. Ross finds a love for music and he can finally express the emotions he has bottled up. Harrell pulls from his own life to create a lively, interesting cast of kids and adults who navigate Ross's diagnosis with varying degrees of success. Wink is a wonderful and fast-paced read that stays optimistic amidst difficult situations. ~Jess Hurtgen~
Mifune: The Last Samurai (DVD)
This insightful documentary talks about the life and career of one of Japan’s most famous actors, Toshiro Mifune. After serving as an aerial photographer for the Japanese Imperial Army in World War II, Mifune decided to apply for an assistant cameraman position at Toho Productions. Without his knowledge, a friend submitted his application to the talent sector instead, and this led him to a life in front of the camera instead of behind it. Narrated by Keanu Reeves, Mifune discusses the actor’s decades-long collaboration with Akira Kurosawa, which resulted in some of his most celebrated performances including Rashomon, Seven Samurai, Yojimbo, and The Hidden Fortress. It also delves into the topic of his personal life, including a penchant for heavy drinking and a troubled marriage. Interviews with Mifune’s children and film crew that worked with him helps to give the viewer an intimate look at the life of this greatly renowned actor. ~Rachael Fealy-Layer~
Malibu Rising by Taylor Jenkins Reid
In 1983, the Riva siblings are the cream of the crop in Malibu society. Nina is a stunning model whose picture is everywhere. Jay is a professional surfer who competes around the world. Hud uses his keen photographer’s eye to document every moment. And although Kit is overshadowed by her famous siblings, she is determined to forge her own path. The Rivas’ fame has surrounded them with celebrities and agents, propelling them into the most rarefied echelons of pop culture. Their annual end-of-summer party is the social event of the season, but this year will change everything. Unexpected (and unwelcome) guests will arrive. Deeply personal secrets will be revealed. And to top it off, the house will go up in flames by morning.
Getting better with every book she pens, Reid details the Rivas’ rollercoaster of growth from childhood to adulthood. Most compelling of all is the genuine love these siblings share, despite their wildly different personalities. These are characters you root for as they experience the highs and lows of growing up together. ~Jay Robillard~
Sal & Gabi Break the Universe by Carlos Hernandez
In an odd twist of fate, Sal Vidon gets superpowers. After his mother died, Sal figured out how to relax himself into a connection with the universe, allowing him to pull things from parallel worlds into his. And that's pretty cool. It certainly helps with his goal of becoming a top rate magician. But his power also messes with the fabric of space, leaving holes and calamitrons in his wake. Gabi can see these interdimensional holes too, which is weird. Sal and Gabi seem to be the only people who can actually see alternate worlds. Mayhem ensues as these two kids try to get a handle on Sal's ability. This book is a lot of fun, a quick read, and has loads of heart. ~Jess Hurtgen~