Staff Choices

 The full title of this epic tale is  Empty Theater: Or, the Lives of King Ludwig of Bavaria and Empress Sisi of Austria (Queen of Hungary), Cousins, in Their Pursuit of Connection and Beauty Despite the Expectations Placed on Them Because of the Exceptional Good Fortune of Their Status as Beloved National Figures. With Speculation into the Mysterious Nature of Their Deaths. Jac Jemc leaves no stone unturned in this satirical adaptation of history. Jemc retells the madcap misadventures of the infamous cousins King Ludwig II and Empress Sisi of Bavaria with well researched history and razor sharp satire.
Ludwig II is eccentric and obsessive as he keeps busy as a passionate supporter of art, theater and architecture. He oversees the building of many ornate castles that he considers  pleasure palaces. These distractions, as well as his remarkable connection to Richard Wagner leave his stately duties, Bavaria ignored and eventually vulnerable to a changing Europe. Empress Sisi also self indulges on extravagances and travel as she leaves her parenting duties to her mother in law.

The publisher calls it a tragicomic tour de force, and Kirkus Reviews call this novel " a triumph" I cannot disagree with either of these, I thoroughly enjoyed this clever romp through this historical era.

If there’s one thing I love, it’s retellings and Kaikeyi by Vaishnavi Patel is an excellent one. I hold a special place in my heart for anything by Madeline Miller, so if you agree you’ll thoroughly enjoy this one. With similar pacing, character development and attention to detail I highly recommend this for fans of Circe. Patel is able to weave a story rich in history that transports you to a time and place far removed from our everyday lives. 

At the end of the day this is a story about the bonds we make and how we cultivate them, a mother’s love and her mission to raise the status of not only herself but all women in a male dominated world. 

I wasn’t familiar with Hindu mythology or the Ramayana before reading this novel, but it didn’t matter. I fell in love with the strong female leads. Kaikeyi comes in at a whopping 475 pages but it’s a fast read that benefits from the detail. The story is split into 4 parts that span quite some time which helps to break up the story and keep it moving. 

Although this graphic novel may look daunting, with its 500+ pages, it is actually a very quick read. A standalone story comprising six (6) years of Egyptian comic artist Deena Mohamed's work, Shubeik Lubeik (translated from Arabic) combines three short stories into one overarching plotline: What if wishes were not only real, but a consumable product? And--as a consumable product--what if they come in different levels of quality and price, respectively? Finally, because wishes can come true, one must be especially careful what one wishes for. The title, Shubeik Lubeik, is an Arabic phrase that means (fittingly) "Your Wish is My Command."

Stylistically, Shubeik Lubeik is told in a combination of grayscale and color panels, and no page is left unincorporated, not even the endpapers (look back at them after reading all the way through--the beginning will hit different). Mohamed also features gorgeous Arabic calligraphy at various points throughout the book, truly an art form in and of itself. 

This book pairs well with The Golem and the Jinni by Helene Wecker; Readers who enjoy books like A Master of Djinn by P. Djèlí Clark and Babel by R.F. Kuang will likely enjoy the themes of this tale, while fans of lyrical, fairy tale storytelling will likely enjoy the style. 

This is the first Joe Lansdale I've read, and was happy I picked it up.

Suspend your disbelief and bring your imagination while reading The Donut Legion. The ghosts, aliens and zany characters will entertain you throughout this mystery.

Isabelle is the daughter of Claire and Ward. Her father is a successful, famous author who Isabelle admires and tries to follow in his footsteps, but his selfish personality casts a shadow on her. The story progresses with a timeline that goes back and forth to key points, including how Claire and Ward met. As Isabelle struggles to write her first book, the unexpected death of her mother throws her into a tailspin. When she finds out what her mother left for her, Isabelle is faced with a life-changing decision. One constant for Isabelle is her steadfast friend, Brian, despite her worst behavior that takes him and their friendship for granted. 

A Likely Story is author Leigh McMullan Abramson's debut novel. This book will appeal to those who enjoy reading about family secrets, learning to take responsibility for your life, trying to erase past mistakes and don't mind an unlikeable character or two. 
 

This remarkable memoir written by a 33 year old through the perspective of a 9 year old, is a page turner. Having been born in El Salvador in 1990 during the country's civil war, Javier Zamora's childhood was based on the concept of leaving. His Father fled to the U.S. when he was one, and when he was five, his Mother followed. For the next four years he lived with his grandparents as they prepared him for the trip that would change the course of his life. He dreams of being reunited with his parents, as he embarks as an unaccompanied minor on what is supposed to be a 2 week trek north. 

This story being told from a child’s perspective, in a plain journalistic reality, lays out the true horrors of migration. He ends up traveling with a group of adults who with kindness help sustain him through deserts, uniformed men with guns pointed at him as well as smugglers and border patrol agents. These strangers take responsibility for him as they pass him to the next group with a sense of concern and urgency. Somewhere along the way Zamora finds his artistic voice. Keeping track of every detail awakens his writers spirit, and becomes the thing that helps him survive this harrowing experience. Solito is often difficult to read. It is an important book told by a brave young man who as a 9 year old never lost faith that he would see his parents again.

The Sunshine Girls by Molly Fader is an incredibly moving and powerful historical fiction book about female friendship and women nurses in the Midwest U.S. during the Vietnam War. Told in dual timeline structure the story begins in 2019 with the funeral of BettyKay Beecher, the mother of Abbie and Clara, and a devoted nurse. A famous actress by the name of Kitty Devereaux unexpectedly shows up to the funeral, and tells BettyKay’s daughters the stories and secrets their mother kept from the two of them.

The story at its heart is about the bonds of sisterhood and found family. It was sweet, loving, heartbreaking, and endearing like the best female friendships. You were really rooting for all the characters who were well-developed, realistic, and dynamic. Despite their differences and flaws, there was something about each of the central characters that was endearing and engaging.

I loved the past and present juxtaposition, but it was the past and Betts voice that had me really riveted. It’s also a great historical fiction read for Vietnam-era/old Hollywood vibes. Highly recommend!

Ever since discovering Burmese food—a little like Thai, a bit like Indian, but still wholly unique—books discussing Burma (also known as Myanmar) have piqued my interest. Burma Chronicles is a stand-alone graphic novel documenting the author’s year-long sojourn in Burma with his wife and infant son. Guy Delisle, a comic artist, has lived in several countries around the world; his spouse is a physician in Doctors Without Borders. Delisle’s layman, foreigner’s perspective offers an outside look at Burma’s diverse society, and its complex history and politics. While much of Burma’s recent and current circumstances are grim, Delisle provides a frank, easily understood depiction of his experiences and observations; this is balanced by the whimsical chaos of being a “stay-at-home dad” and a sort-of tourist. The relationships he builds with local friends and other expats reflect the simplicities and complications of living abroad, and his awe and curiosity at his proximity to—and distance from—1991 Nobel Peace Prize winner Daw Aung San Suu Kyi is reminiscent of the reaction one might have at a surprise encounter with a celebrity.

Readers interested in learning more about Burma from multiple perspectives may find these books useful (all available in the Arlington Heights Memorial Library collection): Bamboo People; First, They Erased Our Name; and You’ve Changed, among others.

I read great reviews of this book and had to read it. Great job of letting you learn about quantum physics. The story itself was interesting too, the characters were a bit one dimensional but the science more than made up for that. Informative and exciting read. Recommend to all who have asked themselves the question "where do we go when we die?". Food for thought.

The Violin Conspiracy by Brendan Slocumb is suspenseful, unique and lured me into a world of classical music when a priceless violin is stolen from the main character, Ray. The story has many layers including the struggle to succeed despite his money-hungry family, other forces at work against him, his ancestors' painful history, the racism Ray still encounters and his drive to recover the violin his beloved Grandmother gave him. The same violin that belonged to Ray's great-great-grandfather.

All of Ray's hard work in practicing, learning and helping support his family is pointing him in the direction of the prestigious Tchaikovsky Competition held every four years. When his violin is stolen we learn about its history, what it means to Ray and can he earn a chance to perform at the competition with a different violin?

Slocumb made this story very readable and approachable. The author is, himself, a talented musician and a music educator. Certain situations in the novel are autobiographical, strengthening the narrative. As I read I listened to YouTube performances of classical pieces described in the book, enhancing the story even more for me.

Pick up a copy of this book if you like a mystery that has family drama, classical music and the intrigue of art theft.