Staff Choices

Elizabeth Strout is back with another novel that delves into the beloved characters we have been introduced to before. Crosby, Maine is the backdrop of a murder investigation. Bob Burgess begins to work on the defense of the accused, who happens top have a friendship with Lucy Barton, and Olive Kitteridge shows up as well. As she has done in the past, Strout brilliantly weaves all of her characters into the story showing us how interconnected we are in our small communities, and how we yearn for the same connections.

The NY Times puts it best "The tie that binds all of Strout’s characters is their shared yearning, not for a reprieve from their suffering but for just one person to really see it — for the solace and dignity of acknowledgment" 

Tell Me Everything is another beautifully written novel by one of our greatest artists.

Hap and Leonard are not your everyday heroes and they have a somewhat loose opinion on what is justice. Joe R. Lansdale has once again written a masterpiece but I didn't expect anything less from this author. Sugar on the Bones is the 13th book in this series and I really had fun reading it. The story is as always well written and filled with witty dialogue and I was surprised that the duo left Texas to finish off the job. I will always recommend this series to people that wants a good book to read that is not like everything else.

The Uncharted Flight of Olivia West follows a young woman, the daughter of a fisherman, who dreams of one day learning how to fly. The fact that this budding age of aviation innovation is almost entirely male-dominated throws many obstacles in her way. Inspired by Charles Lindbergh's solo flight across the Atlantic in May 1927, an air race across the Pacific is set in motion a few months later. The Dole Air Race, with a monetary prize sponsored by the Dole Pineapple Company, has a flight path from Oakland, California, to Honolulu, Hawaii. Pick up a copy of the book if you'd like to find out how Olivia faces these challenges, how she is up to the task and who ends up helping Olivia.

The book is told in a dual timeline which, I think, compliments both timeframes with points of view from each of these main characters. In the 1980's we meet financially struggling Wren Summers who unexpectedly finds out she is the beneficiary of an inheritance. This change of fortune leads to new discoveries about herself, what she is capable of achieving and who left her the inheritance.

While the book is based on true events, Olivia and Wren are fictional characters. I think author Sara Ackerman does a good job of highlighting how dangerous long-distance aviation was during its infancy and the courageousness of intrepid pilots. This book will appeal to those who may have read Circling the Sun by Paula McLain, have a sense of adventure, enjoy reading historical fiction with dual timelines and don't mind a bit of romance within the story. 

Mags Herrera has her hands full. A senior in high school, she seems older than her young years--she takes care of her abuela, a multi-stroke survivor; has a tense relationship with her mother; and a secret she is desperate to protect, all on top of typical high school stressors like jobs, grades, and dating. When Mags's childhood friend, Nessa, returns to their hometown, the delicate balance Mags has built begins to crumble...but to what end?

In this standalone graphic novel, Molly Knox Ostertag, featured in Forbes 30 Under 30 (2020), masterfully depicts Mags's story in simple but expressive line work, poignant dialogue, and a dramatic contrast of grayscale/color. (Ostertag's use of color palette(s) as a storytelling device are what bumped this rating up to five stars.) Readers will laugh, they will cry, they will gasp, and they will cheer for Mags, Nessa, and the very human cast of characters in this book. It will stay with them even after the final page has been turned.

Those who enjoy The Deep Dark may also enjoy Shubeik Lubeik by Deena Mohamed, We Are Okay by Nina LaCour, The Harrowing by Kristen Kiesling, Witchlight by Jessi Zabarsky, and My Favorite Thing is Monsters by Emil Ferris. Other works by Molly Knox Ostertag include The Girl from the Sea and the Witch Boy trilogy.

This debut novel by Ellie Palmer is well worth reading! I appreciated Ellie's vulnerability and sharing of her own personal experience as a post-double-mastectomy BRCA 1 carrier through Allison's story. The whole premise was so unique and handled with so much care. 

When Alison arrives at her ex-boyfriend’s funeral, she is surprised to learn that he never told his parents they broke up and reluctantly takes on the role of grieving girlfriend during the funeral, which spirals into her agreeing to help Sam's best friend, Adam, pack up his condo. The overall story is about finding yourself and finding love while grieving the life you thought you should or would have had. 

I found it thoughtful in its consideration of who we allow ourselves to be, survivor guilt, and honoring memories after loss. The banter was funny, and the closed-door romance was genuine.  I read lots of Romance and Chick Lit and yet I found Four Weekends and a Funeral really refreshing and truly unique.  

Daniel Silva continues to bring favorite characters from past episodes in Gabriel Allon's life into this book in a way that makes me want to go back to see how they met in the first place. Now that Gabriel isn't having to face terrorists trying to destroy Israel, the story lines can flow along without the heart stopping worry as to whether or not Gabriel will survive. He still seems invincible, but the places, music, art, and action make Gabriel one of my favorite characters.

Listen for the Lie marries two contemporary popular formats together - mysteries and true crime podcasts. Five years ago Lucy Chase was accused of murder - a crime she can't remember. So, did she or didn't she kill her best friend, Savvy? With insufficient evidence to convict her, she moves far away to heal and put it behind her. She hasn't set foot in her small hometown of Plumpton, TX, since she left until lured back for her grandmother's birthday. Almost simultaneously, true crime podcaster, Ben Owens, has picked up on this cold case and travels to Texas to interview those closest to Lucy in an attempt to find and unravel the truth despite Lucy's catchphrase of "the truth doesn't matter". The cast of suspicion that was always upon her resurfaces during the interviews with her friends, ex-husband, family and Savvy's family, swaying my opinion more than once. Questions about the podcaster's motives in pursuing the case also cropped up. Lucy's grandmother provides both comic relief and support to her granddaughter. Stay with the story to find out if you believe Lucy and to find out how it ends.

This story is told with some dark humor and begs to be listened to, so I did, listening to the eAudiobook from cloudLibrary. January Lavoy voices the character of Lucy and Will Damon voices the Ben Owens character - both are adept narrators and happen to be married to each other in real life. Each podcast chapter begins with an overtone of music adding an air of a realistic broadcast.

Author Amy Tintera's book will appeal to those who enjoy fast-paced mystery thrillers with good dialogue. 

Mysteries come in all forms these days, from darker, grittier mysteries, classic noir, and Japanese "iya-misu" (trans. "ew mysteries") to cozy, low-stakes puzzles. Recipes and food showcases also seem to be increasingly popular beyond the typical cooking show. So, why not do both? Welcome to The Kamogawa Food Detectives, the first book in a cozy mystery series in which a retired Kyoto detective, Nagare Kamogawa, and his daughter Koichi investigate and recreate lost dishes at their mysterious Kamogawa Diner. While the structure of the book is somewhat formulaic, the pattern is such that the reader could potentially read the chapters out of order (apart from the expository first chapter), depending on which featured dish one is in the mood for.

Quiet but compulsively readable, one can easily devour this book in one sitting and still have an appetite for seconds. Each chapter is chock-full of delicious meals, from light summer fare to hearty banquets. Each morsel is flavored with nostalgia, bringing to mind an appreciation for the small joys in life. Warning: Don't read this book while hungry--by the end, you'll be starving for all these homestyle foods to comfort you like a bowl of hot soup.

Readers who enjoy this book may also like: Before the Coffee Gets Cold by Toshikazu Kawaguchi, Welcome to the Hyunam-Dong Bookshop by Hwang Bo-Reum, What You Are Looking For Is in the Library by Michiko Aoyama, Days at the Morisaki Bookshop by Satoshi Yagisawa, The Travelling Cat Chronicles by Hiro Arikawa, If Cats Disappeared from the World by Genki Kawamura, Witch Hat Atelier Kitchen by Hiromi Sato and Kamome Shirahama, What Did You Eat Yesterday? by Fumi Yoshinaga, and She Loves to Cook, and She Loves to Eat by Sakaomi Yuzaki.

Eddie Ndopu is an accomplished South African human rights activist, with prestigious and prolific accolades from all over the globe. He was also diagnosed as an infant with Spinal Muscular Atrophy, a genetic condition that has rendered him disabled from childhood with an increasing lack of motor functions. Sipping Dom Pérignon Through a Straw is Ndopu's memoir of his struggles and successes at Oxford University. It was also entirely written on his iPhone with his 'one good finger.'

When Ndopu applied for a Master's Degree program at Oxford, he was living in Johannesburg, South Africa. Although the university initially offered him a full ride scholarship, Ndopu still had to crowdfund to supplement his costs as an international disabled student, especially since his dedicated care aide, Lucky, was unable to accompany him. Ndopu's year at Oxford is a series of trials and achievements apart from his coursework: he is elected student body president, but his care aides are less than satisfactory. He has amazing friends, but also condescending professors. Serendipity strikes, but so does betrayal. (Stephen Hawking, another lauded disabled celebrity, makes a brief cameo, among others.) This memoir is a testament to the struggles of having a disability, but also the potential and ability of achievement.

Often described as an eloquent speaker, Ndopu's memoir is also a quick read, each page turning almost by itself. Scenes at Oxford are interspersed with flashbacks, providing relevant context to the impact of specific scenes. While the short chapters seem episodic, they are in fact part of a larger whole, spanning the entirety of Ndopu's Master's program. His experiences inform and influence his final Master's thesis, as he studies accommodation and public policy in order to advocate for other disabled people. While every experience with disability is different, Ndopu's book sheds light on the day to day experience of existing, from getting out of bed to going to the movie theater, and poignantly illustrates both the importance of inclusivity and how accommodations for some benefit society as a whole. Readers will come away from this book both entertained and enlightened, while also looking forward to more of Ndopu's work.

Readers who enjoy this book may also enjoy Born a Crime by Trevor Noah, and Travelling to Infinity by Jane Hawking, which was adapted into the hit film The Theory of Everything (2014). 

This book was such a delightful read. If you love the Great British Bake Off, Mrs. Quinn’s Rise to Fame by Olivia Ford will not disappoint. Full of tender, wholesome characters, this is a feel-good story perfect for the summer. 

Jenny Quinn loves to bake and at the age of 77 fears she’s let the opportunity of a grand adventure pass her by. That’s not to say she’s unhappy with her life. She has a loving husband and her great niece and nephew to dote on. When the opportunity to compete in Britain Bakes arises, Jenny secretly throws her hat in the ring. For all her worry that she’s too old, not good enough and that she can’t leave her aging husband, Jenny becomes a breakout star on the show. 

But with each bake, old memories surface, forcing Jenny to relive her past and come face to face with a secret she’s kept hidden for decades.