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Staff Picks September 2020
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Check out our reviews and recommendations:
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Misty recommends: Haunted by James Patterson What is it? James Patterson came thru again with a splendid story of love, family and crime. Set in small town Maine, but concludes in small town USA, the shattering drug culture is claiming the promising youth. This book tells a story that may hit close to home. Is it for you? The authors wrote this book with such talent that I felt the magnitude of Bennett's emotions along with him. If you are looking for books that you can't put down, this book and the entire series will keep you entertained and busy. Also, don't miss Alex Cross and The Women’s Murder Club series too.
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Aimee recommends: The Lost Causes of Bleak Creek: A Novel by Rhett McLaughlin What is it: Rex, Leif, and Alicia are best friends living in the small southern town of Bleak Creek. They’re spending their summer before 9th grade filming a movie about a ghost dog appropriately named “PolterDog.” While shooting a pivotal scene, they have an accident involving the head of The Whitewood School, which is a reform school in their town. Many troublesome children, or lost causes, get sent there. Some are sent home, changed somehow. Others never make it back home. When Alicia gets sent there, Rex and Leif are determined to figure out a way to help her escape. But strange things start to happen, which cause Rex and Leif to question what is really going on at The Whitewood School. Why you might like it: This story will keep you in suspense. There are some very dark and creepy elements, reminiscent of Stranger Things. So, even though the 2 main characters are 14 years old, this isn’t a book for kids. Readers will develop with the characters and the story unravels nicely. Readers will be begging for a sequel. About the Authors: Rhett & Link are popular internetainers, with over 20 million subscribers on YouTube. They host a daily morning show, Good Mythical Morning, and produce a weekly podcast, Ear Biscuits.
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Kristin recommends: Wonderland Creek by Lynn N. Austin What it’s about: During the Great Depression, Alice Ripley has spent her 22 years with her nose in a book. When her boyfriend breaks up with her and she loses her job, she decides to take donated books from her hometown of Blue Island down to Acorn, Kentucky, for the Packhorse Librarians. Thinking to stay only a few days, Alice gets caught up in the lives of the library staff and patrons and realizes that she has hardly lived at all before. Why you might like it: This is a Christian historical novel with a heartwarming coming of age story. There are elements of romance as well. You might also like: The Giver of Stars by Jojo Moyes is another book about the Packhorse Librarians of the Great Depression. Prayers for Sale by Sandra Dallas is about friendship between an older and younger woman.
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Roseanne recommends: Searching for Sylvie Lee: A Novel by Jean Kwok About the Author: Jean Kwok is an award-winning, New York Times and international bestselling author. Jean immigrated from Hong Kong to Brooklyn when she was five and worked in a Chinatown clothing factory for much of her childhood. She received her bachelor's degree from Harvard and completed an MFA in fiction at Columbia University. She currently lives in the Netherlands. Reviewers say: “Kwok’s story spans generations, continents and language barriers, combining old-fashioned Nancy Drew sleuthing with the warmth and heart we’ve come to expect from this gifted writer” (New York Times Book Review).
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Christine recommends: False Value by Ben Aaronovitch What it’s about: In the eighth book in the Rivers of London series, a book stuffed with Douglas Adams references, Peter Grant is tasked with catching a possible spy in the office, but he uncovers something far more sinister... Why you should read it: Ben Aaronovitch’s Rivers of London series packs so much into each book, and they are well written. I especially like to listen to the audiobooks, for Kobna Holdbrook-Smith does a wonderful job of capturing all of the voices of the diverse characters.
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Laura recommends: The Other Americans by Laila Lalami What it’s about: When her immigrant father is killed by a speeding car, composer Nora returns home to her grieving family, where she struggles to relate to her more traditional mother and sister. As Nora learns more about her father’s death, she becomes suspicious that it was more than a simple hit-and-run. This blend of mystery, family saga, and love story is told by multiple voices representing the schisms and alienation of American community, but also their many connections. Reviewers say: "An eloquent reminder that frame of reference is everything when defining the 'other'” (Booklist); “Lalami captures the complex ways humans can be strangers not just outside their “tribes” but within them, as well as to themselves” (Publishers Weekly). You might also like: Exit West by Mohsin Hamid is another own voices novel that offers an authentic perspective of the immigrant experience. For a more character-driven, literary mystery, try Miracle Creek by Angie Kim.
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Astrid recommends: How to Eat: All Your Food and Diet Questions Answered by Mark Bittman and David L. Katz, MD What it is: This “artful (or at least competent!) blend of science and sense” is a straightforward resource about the current state of nutrition, debunking myths and addressing diet trends. Why it stands out: It is formatted as a conversational Q & A with readers. Instead of stating that a food is good or bad, the authors recommend that one should ask what that food is replacing. Is the bagel replacing oatmeal for breakfast or a donut? Is the fruit juice replacing water or a sugary soft drink? Reviewers say: “A sensible guide to health from two genial experts” (Kirkus Reviews); “a versatile, approachable guide” (Library Journal).
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Stacey recommends: Maybe You Should Talk to Someone: A Therapist, Her Therapist, and Our Lives Revealed by Lori Gottlieb What it’s about: In this intimate and compelling memoir, therapist Lori Gottlieb shares stories from behind the scenes in therapy—from both sides of the couch. Over the course of the book, you’ll feel like you’ve gotten to know her and her patients… and her therapist. Why you might like it: If you enjoy great storytelling and narratives about work life, this book offers both. For fiction readers who rarely delve into nonfiction, this book is a great choice because of the way it delves into the inner lives of the characters. Who would’ve ever thought a therapist’s introspective memoir could also be a page-turner? What sets it apart: Gottlieb’s warm humanity and unflinching self-scrutiny make her a delightful guide on this journey into the messy parts of life.
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