Staff Choices

I went into this expecting a mystery-thriller. My first thought on finishing was disappointment. Until I realized how much fun I had reading it.

This book, while different from Ware’s other writings, still proved to keep me engaged and entertained.

The story was a bit predictable and I figured pretty early on what the outcome would be…but the journey getting there didn’t leave me disappointed. It was a thriller, not much a mystery and when I look at it that way, I have more appreciation for this book.

Definitely worth the read if you’re a Ware fan.

Despite the heavy, challenging issues of racism, classism, immigration, poverty on several different fronts in 1930’s Pennsylvania, the book has an almost folktale flavor in the telling. Almost as if you were sitting around a table listening to the stories, told with wit, warmth and clarity. In this manner, author James McBride makes the characters stand out, rich and complicated, highlighting their stand on morals, some never wavering and some easily overlooked. Step into the lives of Moshe and his wife Chona, Nate and Addie and their nephew, Dodo, and many more who live on Chicken Hill in Pennsylvania. Stay with the story as it coalesces into its final conclusion.

Incorporated into the story is the real institution of Pennhurst State School and Hospital that finally closed in 1987 after decades of controversary about its questionable care.

This Heaven & Earth Grocery Store is for fans of James McBride, for those who would like to read about a group of people living on the outskirts who make a community to support each other. Its qualities remind me of The Nickel Boys by Colson Whitehead. This is the type of story that will keep me thinking about it for a long time.

Where do I begin? Whalefall by Daniel Kraus sucked me in with the cover and absolutely delivered with the story. At first, I wasn't sure what I was getting into, as the technical aspects of diving are foreign to me as a lifelong Midwesterner. What started a little slow and confusing turned into one of my favorite reads of 2023 thus far. 

When they say this book is scientifically accurate, they mean it. It’s weird and gross and totally wonderful. Because it’s so much more than a story about a boy swallowed by a whale and how that whale begins to slowly digest him; it’s a story of a boy grieving the death of a father who tried his best but fell woefully short. It’s about a young man coming to terms with his role in their strained relationship and finding the courage and strength to carry on. 

Pick this up if you’re a fan of Andy Weir, but I will be recommending this to everyone who will listen. However, if you’re squeamish where gastrointestinal acid or the awful effects of nitrogen narcosis is concerned, this might not be the one for you.  

Ally Carter’s The Blonde Identity is pure fun: a fast-paced, humorous road trip rom-com about a woman with amnesia who discovers she’s the identical twin sister of a rogue spy… and must team up with a rugged, grumpy operative to stay alive.

The heroine wakes up in the streets of Paris with no idea who she is other than every bad guy and agency on the planet seems to be after her. They spend most of the book on the run from Russian mobsters and eventually go undercover as newlyweds on a river cruise.

This book had everything I love, mixing the action and twists of my favorite spy movies with the banter, heart, and humor of my favorite romances. If you want somewhat over-the-top action scenes that are pure entertainment, as well as funny, opposites attract romance, then The Blonde Identity is a great choice. 

Feeling like a misfit in your youth, but finding a home on a stage seems to fit the description of many successful musicians. Brandi Carlile was born to a 20 year old mother and 21 year old father in rural Washington State. They worked hard as a hotel hostess, and short order cook, but barely made it past the poverty level. Her shy but musically talented Mother, encouraged an 8 year old Brandi and her 2 younger siblings to join her on stage to perform in bars and the Northwest Grand Old Opry. She loved being on stage. A star was born. 

Broken Horses is filled with photos, lyrics, stories and memories all told in a way that feels like you are sitting with a friend in a bar or around a campfire. Carlile’s devotion and warmth that are present in her music, are ever present in her writing. It is charming and poignant. With her wife Catherine Shepard and their 2 daughters living on a family compound, Brandi is living her dream. Constantly surrounded by musicians, she tours and collaborates with her uncle, brother, wife and her long time musical partners, the Hanseroth twins. 

Now with 9 Grammy Awards and 24 nominations, and hanging out with the likes of Joni Mitchell, Elton John and The Obamas her star continues to rise. She generously shares that star with numerous upcoming artists by producing, promoting, collaborating and touring with them. This is an absolutely remarkable story of an endlessly talented artist who succeeded with unbelievable bravery, grit and resilience! Inside, she remains a scrappy musician with a passion to share her amazing gift of song, with all those who want to listen.

I enjoyed Alma Katsu’s latest thriller, involving Russian power plays in London. She captures the tension and atmosphere of the spying involved, and her protagonist is an interesting character, a female CIA officer in what is often an all-male world. The novel has several subplots dealing with a Russian oligarch and the new president of Russia. The war in Ukraine and the turmoil in Russia is also a timely element of the story.

This is the second book featuring agent Lindsey, Red Widow is the first and you may want to read that before diving into Red London.

Ride along with author Will Grant as he traverses the country from St. Louis, Missouri to Sacramento, California - from the comfort of home. Grant takes almost five months to make his way across the country whereas it typically took the original relay of riders ten days.

The historic Pony Express mail delivery service only operated for 18 months from April 1860 to October 1861 ending with the opening of the transcontinental telegraph. Yet its legacy lives on, its lore captivating the author into recreating the journey. The original riders rode through a wide range of terrain and weather, stopping at stations along the route that needed to constantly be stocked with fresh horses and provisions. Modern day obstacles provided challenges in a different way than what the Pony Express riders experienced. Grant needed to trailer his horses from his home in New Mexico to St. Louis then home once again. He had to have a support network in case of emergency, needed to pack his own shelter and provisions, needed to contend with highways and had to get permission to camp on private land. 

In his narrative, Grant does an excellent job of melding past and present. His unique first-hand perspective provides additional detail as not much logistical documentation has survived the test of time. If you are a "wannabe" cowboy or enjoy reading about history and adventure in the great outdoors of the American West, pick up a copy of this book.

Tiger, Tiger is the first print volume of the 2019 Eisner-nominated webcomic (ongoing) of the same name, by Petra Erika Nordlund. Nordlund, a Finnish comic creator, is also the author/artist of the webcomic Prague Race. Gorgeously illustrated, Tiger, Tiger is a swashbuckling fantasy adventure story about a young noble named Ludovica, who dreams of the marine world far from her mansion home. One day, she sneaks out of an opulent party celebrating the return of her twin brother, Remy, and absconds with his ship and his identity in order to study her beloved sea sponges. Accompanying her as a reluctant but concerned accomplice is Jamis, Remy's best friend (and Ludo's fiance). However, as Ludo learns more about life at sea, she begins to realize that the world as she knows it may be more complex than it seems.

Depicted in beautifully rendered grayscale (with a vibrantly colored cover), Tiger, Tiger contains both whimsical, bubbly humor, and dramatic hints foreshadowing the monsters to come. The worldbuilding is intricate and the characters lovable, while the lore (and Ludo's fascination with sea sponges) are an ode to the beauty and mystery of the sea. Nordlund also includes bonus gag comics between each chapter as lighthearted interludes.

Fans of Tiger, Tiger may also enjoy: Monstress by Marjorie Liu, The Princess and the Grilled Cheese Sandwich by Deya Muniz, Witch Hat Atelier by Kamome Shirahama, The Girl from the Sea by Molly Ostertag, and The Girl from the Other Side by Nagabe.

I was lucky enough to walk past Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros at Target and grab a first edition with the gorgeous, sprayed edges before it hit the NY Times Bestsellers list. Even luckier for me, Fourth Wing has turned out to be one of my favorite reads so far this year.  

A romantasy (fantasy romance), Fourth Wing is certainly more fantasy than romance. To be quite honest, the romance could be removed entirely, and this story would hold its own. While long, it’s a page turner with good pacing. The characters are loveable, especially the dragons, and the tension is thick, just the way I like it. 

Set at a military school for dragon riders, the story follows twenty-year-old Violet Sorrengail. Living with Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, and a father who is a scribe, Violet has spent her life preparing for the Scribe Quadrant where it’s safer for her brittle body and she can use her higher-than-average intellect. But with her father now gone, a Commander General for a mother and siblings among the elite Dragon Riders, Violet is forced to join the hundreds of other candidates fighting to the death for a chance to train and bond with a dragon.  

While smaller and frailer than the rest of her cohort, Violet is stronger than they give her credit for. Even if her Wing Leader and several of her peers are seemingly out to get her, she finds ways to outsmart her opponents. 

The second installation of the Empyrean series, Iron Flame, will be released on November 7 which means you only have to wait a few months to dive back into this cutthroat world of dragons and political unrest. With the shocking ending (I audibly gasped), you’ll be grateful.  

Fourth Wing is also available on eBook and eAudiobook through cloudLibrary. 

I have read all of the Gabriel Allon books, and this one was most enjoyable. It’s an excellent thriller and I liked the plot and its pace. While covering a very serious topic, e.g. the threat of Russian nuclear weapons use in Ukraine, Silva also uses lots of levity and humor, poking fun at various people and situations. And I really liked the new character Ingrid! She’s a keeper. Kind of like Gabriel Allon meets the girl with the dragon tattoo. Overall, an excellent mystery thriller and great addition to the series.