Staff Choices

The English Understand Wool by author Helen DeWitt is a 69 page novella that covers a lot of territory. It is told through the eyes and experiences of Marguerite, a young woman, not quite an adult, raised in wealth, culture, good tailoring and an expansive social life. Her mother cultivated savvy friendships and loyalty with her many business relationships and domestic staff. When her mother mysteriously disappears, a major family secret is uncovered. A book publisher soon courts Marguerite for the rights to her story. As the tale quickly unspools, she finds out that the world can be treacherous and underhanded. So, what is a 17 year-old girl to do?

Without giving anything more away, I found this novella delightful to read and finished it in an hour. Marguerite's narration is in a clipped, detached manner that makes the telling almost amusing and enhances the story. Its peculiar content is unexpected and wraps up neatly in a bow.

Readers may be familiar with author Helen DeWitt's earlier novel The Last Samurai.

"All the people have the right of access to library materials whenever they need them."

—Statement on Intellectual Freedom in Libraries, Japan Library Association

As Banned Book Week 2023 has come and gone, I am reminded of a series that I first read as an adolescent, but which rings even more hauntingly now. Library Wars: Love & War, drawn by Kiiro Yumi, is a manga (Japanese graphic novel) adapted from an award-winning light novel series by Hiro Arikawa. The light novels were originally published in the mid-2000s in Japan, with the manga first published in 2008 and its English translation (by Kinami Watabe) in 2010.

The story takes place in an alternate future Japan, not so different from our world, except for one key fact: censorship has become not only accepted, but widespread, enforced by a government agency called the Media Betterment Committee. This committee censors and restricts all media, including books. In response, libraries created Defense Forces, which protect libraries' freedom to acquire and circulate materials in their collections and to thereby resist censorship, a last bastion of intellectual freedom. 

Iku Kasahara, an athletic airhead and passionate bookworm, is not only the first woman in her library's Defense Force, but also the first woman on the Task Force—an elite group of Defense Force members who are charged not just with protecting the library and its patrons, but also with day-to-day desk work done by non-combatant librarians and library staff. She has dreamed of joining the Defense Force ever since an agent saved one of her favorite books from censorship when she was a teenager. However, will her grumpy superior officer Sergeant Dojo and condescending fellow recruit Corporal Tezuka wear her down? (And how do you find that one book, anyway?!)

Inspired by the Japan Library Association's Statement on Intellectual Freedom in Libraries, Library Wars is a fun, light mix of science fiction, drama, workplace romance, and food for thought. While the reader learns, laughs, and struggles along with Iku, they simultaneously must consider the ethical quandaries of censorship, and where (or how, or if) a line must be drawn.

While the original Library Wars novels have not yet been translated into English, readers interested in Arikawa's work may enjoy The Traveling Cat Chronicles. For another fictional work centered around censorship, try Ray Bradbury's Fahrenheit 451. Fans of Library Wars may also enjoy the live action films and the anime adaptation of the same name. (The anime is available on Crunchyroll via the International Roku Stick).

This has been the year of fun covers that turn out to be amazing stories for me, and Starter Villain by John Scalzi is no exception. I had so much fun reading this book. I don’t often laugh out loud while reading, but I found myself giggling quite a few times. The banter is intelligent, the humor is dry and the story moves at a perfect pace. It’s also fun that the main character lives in Barrington and the story includes some fun local locations. 

While classified as science fiction, this story is rooted more in reality than that suggests. There’s some fun conceptual technology described, but I’d say it’s more of a mystery, complete with surprise ending.  

Charlie is in his 30s and doesn’t have much to brag about other than the love of his cats and a house that’s not really his. That is until the estate of his estranged uncle comes knocking. Now he’s the sole heir to a supervillain business worth trillions of (hypothetical) dollars, a multitude of shell companies with complicated subscription models, cat spies, dolphin security and a not-so-secret island lair complete with a volcano. Charlie must navigate this new world of villainy while the convocation of elite villains attempts to welcome him into their fold, but maybe also kill him, that’s all really up in the air. 

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.