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Sonoma County Library Staff Picks
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Nightcrawling
by Leila Mottley
When a drunken altercation with a stranger turns into a job she desperately needs, Kiara, who supports her brother and an abandoned 9-year-old boy, starts nightcrawling until her name surfaces in an investigation exposing her as a key witness in a massive scandal within the Oakland Police Department.
My favorite book of the year! Gritty, heavy, and beautifully executed. - Terra, Sebastopol Regional Library
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The Hacienda
by Isabel Cañas
In the aftermath of the Mexican War of Independence and the execution of her father, Beatriz accepts Don Rodolfo Solórzano's proposal of marriage and is whisked away to his remote country estate where she is faced with a malevolent presence linked to his first wife's death.
Spooky and fun, and a wonderful homage to classic gothic literature. - Katie, Library headquarters
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Disorientation
by Elaine Hsieh Chou
While finishing her PhD dissertation on the late canonical poet Xiao-Wen Chou, graduate student Ingrid Yang discovers a curious note in the archives and upends her entire life trying to unravel the notes message, ultimately making an explosive discovery.
Laugh out loud funny, maddening, and smart. - Courtney, Sebastopol Regional Library
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Small World: A Novel
by Jonathan Evison
In this epic historical novel set in multiple time periods, present-day travelers on a train and their ancestors more than a century before are brought together by the history they share against such iconic backdrops as the California gold rush and the development of the Continental Railroad.
Small World is an epic novel. Set against such iconic backdrops as the California gold rush, the development of the transcontinental railroad, and a speeding train of modern-day strangers forced together by fate, it is a grand entertainment that asks big questions. - Meher, Rincon Valley Regional Library
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A Caribbean Heiress in Paris
by Adriana Herrera
Three best friends at the 1889 Worlds Fair have goals: going to the most scandalous places in Paris, kissing disreputable men and absolutely not falling in love in the first novel of a new series.
Great for tough female characters, awesome dresses, steamy romance and diversity rarely seen in historical romance. - Library staff member
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The Swimmers
by Julie Otsuka
When a crack appears in the pool, a fellowship of swimmers who take comfort in their laps are cast out, including Alice, who, slowly losing her memory, is reunited too late with her estranged daughter, in this intimate story of mothers and daughters, and the sorrows of implacable loss.
Original and meditative style of prose...Full of love and the loss that goes with it. - Alisa, Adult Literacy Program
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Fairy Tale: A Novel
by Stephen King
A troubled teenager befriends an elderly recluse, who dies and leaves him a taped message explaining that his shed is the portal to another world, in the new novel by the extremely prolific and popular best-selling author of It.
An adventure that blends our world with a fantastical new one. - Lillian, Guerneville Regional Library
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A Broken Blade
by Melissa Blair
Keera is a killer. As the king's Blade and his most gifted assassin, she is called upon to hunt down a mysterious figure called the Shadow who is moving against the Crown. She tracks the Shadow into the magical lands of the Fae, but the Faeland is not what it seems, and neither is the Shadow. Keera is shocked by what she discovers and can't help but wonder who her enemy truly is.
Great fantasy book, strong female character. Disappointed I have to wait a while for book two to get published. - Tina, Library headquarters
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Booth: A Novel
by Karen Joy Fowler
Describes the multiple scandals, family triumphs and disasters that took their toll on the 10 children of celebrated Shakespearean actor Junius Booth as the North and the South reached a boiling point and the Civil War broke out.
A fictionalized story about the family of John Wilkes Booth based on as much fact as the author could find in sources like newspaper articles, letters, diaries and playbills - but liberally spliced with her own imaginings. The author said she intentionally wanted to write a story that ISN'T about John Wilkes Booth - he's the bad guy and she didn't want to give him any more attention - but how can that be avoided? You know where this family is heading. That pervasive sense of dread (and sadness) is, to me, what makes the book gripping. There's also some fairly clear parallels implied between the US political climate of the 1860s and the present day. I'd recommend this book to readers who are interested in family sagas, the US Civil War, and grappling with modern American social issues. - Library staff member
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Heartbreaker
by Sarah MacLean
Adelaide Frampton, known as The Matchbreaker, a woman trained to help brides avoid the altar, finds herself racing across London with the Duke of Clayborn, who is harboring secrets of his own.
Smart writing, great characters, steamy, and funny. It has it all! - Kate, Library staff member
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The Grief of Stones
by Katherine Addison
In this direct sequel to The Witness For The Dead, Celehar, the Witness for the Dead of Amalo, is drawn into a scandal involving the founding girls who are being sold into service, or worse, that leads him into the depths of his own losses.
A quietly devastating yet hopeful meditation on grief, healing, and found family, wrapped up in a fantasy/mystery/heist hybrid. - Rose, Library headquarters
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The World We Make
by N. K. Jemisin
In New York, six human avatars that embody their city's heart and wield its magic, must join together with the Great Cities to stop a mayoral candidate, backed by the Enemy, whose populist rhetoric of gentrification, xenophobia and law and order could destroy the world.
This sequel just came out and is basically everything The City We Became was but more. - Jon, Central Santa Rosa Library
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The Maid: A Novel
by Nita Prose
When she discovers the dead body of the infamous and wealthy Charles Black in his suite, hotel maid Molly Gray finds her orderly life upended as she becomes the prime suspect in the case and is caught in a web of deception that she has no idea how to unravel.
'Whodunits ' are my guilty pleasure. - Stephanie, Healdsburg Regional Library
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A Mirror Mended
by Alix E. Harrow
The best-selling and award-winning author adds to her collection of fractured fairytales with a new version of Snow White where the Evil Queen finally gets what she deserves.
A fun fractured fairytale romp. - Library staff member
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The Wheel of Doll
by Jonathan Ames
Although badly scarred and down to his last kidney after the previous caper, Happy Doll is back in business. In this wholly original follow-up to A Man Named Doll, Happy travels through L.A., Washington, Oregon and back again--a journey that gets wilder and woolier with each turn. An irreverent and inventive mystery, The Wheel of Doll is not to be missed.
The second noir featuring Ames' Happy Doll, a battered but dogged detective, this time working a missing persons case involving an old flame. Quirky doesn't cover it. Ames is practically his own genre. - Jason, Guerneville Regional Library
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The Bodyguard
by Katherine Center
Hired as superstar actor Jack Stapletons bodyguard, Hannah Brooks must pose as his girlfriend while visiting his familys ranch in Texas where she finds it easy to protect him, but hard to protect her own, long-neglected heart.
A light and funny romantic comedy with dashes of action and mystery. - Shannon, Central Santa Rosa Library
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Atomic Anna
by Rachel Barenbaum
During the Chernobyl meltdown in 1986, a renowned nuclear scientist is thrust through time to 1992 where her estranged daughter uses her dying breath to ask her mother to go back through time and prevent the disaster.
Although this time travel story has a strong science fiction element, at its heart this is a book about relationships, genius, family secrets, and community trauma/recovery/resiliency. It also deals with typical time travel themes (paradoxes etc.) and touches on real-life events and places. - Library staff member
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A Flicker in the Dark
by Stacy Willingham
Twenty years after her father was arrested as a serial killer, Louisiana psychologist Chloe Davis becomes alarmed when local teenage girls once again go missing and she begins seeing parallels that may or may not be there.
Anyone who loves the tv show Criminal Minds will love this twisty thriller. - Karen, Petaluma Regional LIbrary
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The Candy House: A Novel
by Jennifer Egan
Told through lives of multiple characters, this electrifying, deeply moving novel, spanning 10 years, follows Own Your Unconscious, a new technology that allows access to every memory youve ever had, and to share every memory in exchange for access to the memories of others.
Revealing fictional look at issues of privacy, memory, technology, access; as well as questioning enormous quantities of information vs. knowledge. Stories, mysteries and nostalgia all find their way in too. Egan does it again! - Alisa, Adult Literacy Program
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Lucky Turtle: A Novel
by Bill Roorbach
While at a reform camp in Montana. 16-year-old privileged Cindra Zoeller escapes into the wilderness with her lover and they must both suffer the consequences of their naïve fantasy of a future together and circumstances shaped by skin color.
A very romantic, outdoorsy, love story. - Meher, Rincon Valley Regional Library
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Our Missing Hearts: A Novel
by Celeste Ng
In a society consumed by fear, twelve-year-old Bird Gardner, after receiving a mysterious letter, sets out on a quest to find his mother, a Chinese-American poet who left when he was nine years old, leading him to New York City, where a new act of defiance may be the beginning of much-needed change.
This book is so unsettlingly timely, I could barely stand it! Set in a near future world, it covers book banning, anti-Asian hate, and governmental overreach. As always, Celeste Ng delivers with her beautiful prose and complex characters. - Terra, Sebastopol Regional LIbrary
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Cloud Cuckoo Land: A Novel
by Anthony Doerr
Follows four young dreamers and outcasts through time and space, from 1453 Constantinople to the future, as they discover resourcefulness and hope amidst peril in the novel by the Pulitzer Prize winning author of All the Light We Cannot See.
Imaginative -- yet grounded -- tale about the survival of ideas and hope. - Geoffrey, Library headquarters
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The Love Hypothesis
by Ali Hazelwood
To convince her best friend that she is on her way to a happily ever after, third-year Ph.D. candidate Olive Smith, who doesn’t believe in long-lasting romance, forms a fake relationship with Stanford’s reigning lab tyrant and soon finds their experiment putting her own heart under the microscope.
This is a cute romantic comedy about two scientists falling for each other when the fake relationship they initiated to get the main character's roommate to leave her alone turns into real love. - Mary, Sonoma Valley Regional Library
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What Could Be Saved: A Novel
by Liese O'Halloran Schwarz
A reclusive artist ignores her sister’s warnings against reconnecting with a long-lost sibling before learning the story of her family’s stationing in 1972 Bangkok and her mother’s passionate affair against a backdrop of dynamic world changes.
International multi-faceted family story. - Library staff member
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Under the Whispering Door
by TJ Klune
After he dies, a curious and powerful being gives Wallace one week to cross over to the land of the dead, and Wallace, who finally starts to learn about all the things he missed in life, sets about living a lifetime in seven days.
A touching take on the afterlife that will have you falling in love with your close relationships all over again. - Michelle, Northwest Santa Rosa Library
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The Chosen and the Beautiful
by Nghi Vo
Treated as an exotic attraction by her peers, Jordan Baker, queer and Asian, has the world of illusion, magic and mystery at her fingertips but the most important doors remain closed to her until she can figure out a way to open them.
Beautifully written, memorable take on The Great Gatsby, with just a bit of magical realism thrown in. - Katie, Library headquarters
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A Marvellous Light
by Freya Marske
Robin Blyth is accidentally named the civil service liaison to a hidden magical society and is forced to contend with the beauty and danger operating beneath normal reality while uncovering what happened to his predecessor.
A really fun and romantic historical fiction fantasy set in Edwardian England full of plant magic and secrets. I could not put it down. - Joy, Sebastopol Regional Library
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Project Hail Mary
by Andy Weir
The sole survivor on a desperate, last-chance mission to save both humanity and the Earth, Ryland Grace is hurtled into the depths of space where he must conquer an extinction-level threat to our species.
Exciting, moving, hopeful. My first SF in a long while and well worth it. - Geoffrey, Library headquarters
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Tender Is the Flesh: A Novel
by Agustina María Bazterrica
The electrifying, award-winning, internationally bestselling novel about a dystopian world in which animals have been wiped out, humans are being harvested for food, and society has been divided into those who eat and those who are eaten.
A friend librarian recommended this highly provocative title after I told them that I had just finished Dahmer – Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story. - Danny, Sebastopol Regional Library
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The Happy Ever After Playlist
by Abby Jimenez
Adopting a rescue puppy to help her get her life back on track two years after losing her fiancé, Sloan clashes with the mischievous pup’s original owner, Jason, a rising musician who challenges Sloan to make difficult choices.
Sweet, heart wrenching, captivating, humorous, and a glorious love story. - Kate, Library staff member
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The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue
by Victoria Schwab
Making a Faustian bargain to live forever but never be remembered, a woman from early eighteenth-century France endures unacknowledged centuries before meeting a man who remembers her name.
Great atmosphere in the story with a haunting tone. - Library staff member
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Paladin's Grace
by T. Kingfisher
Stephen's god died on the longest day of the year... Three years later, Stephen is a broken paladin, living only for the chance to be useful before he dies. But all that changes when he encounters a fugitive named Grace in an alley and witnesses an assassination attempt gone wrong. Now the pair must navigate a web of treachery, beset on all sides by spies and poisoners while a cryptic killer stalks one step behind.
An exciting, evocative dark fantasy with a gorgeous romance at its heart, although I discovered the author through her charming and very funny Hamster Princess children's books [author also writes children's books as Ursula Vernon]. - Rose, Library headquarters
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Valentine: A Novel
by Elizabeth Wetmore
In the early hours of the morning after Valentine's Day, fourteen-year-old Gloria Ramírez appears on the front porch of Mary Rose Whitehead's ranch house, broken and barely alive. The teenager had been viciously attacked in a nearby oil field, an act of brutality that is tried in the churches and barrooms of Odessa before it can reach a court of law. When justice is evasive, the stage is set for a showdown with potentially devastating consequences.
Intense historical fiction. - Library staff member
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The City We Became
by N. K. Jemisin
This first book of an exciting new series by a Hugo Award-winning author takes readers into the dark underbelly of New York City, where a roiling, ancient evil stirs in the halls of power, threatening to destroy the city and her six newborn avatars.
A brilliant adventure and strange urban fantasy tale that had incredible characters. The author has an amazing way with words. - Jon, Central Santa Rosa Library
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The Ministry for the Future
by Kim Stanley Robinson
Told entirely through fictional eye-witness accounts of living creatures both past and present, this brilliant novel is one of the most powerful and original books on climate change ever written.
An important perspective on climate change. - Library staff member
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The Hollow Places: A Novel
by T. Kingfisher
A young woman discovers a strange portal in her uncle's house, leading to madness and terror in this gripping new novel from the author of the "innovative, unexpected, and absolutely chilling" (Mira Grant, Nebula Award-winning author) The Twisted Ones.
Perfect horror story with a Cabinet of Curiosity vibe. - Library staff member
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The Nicotine Chronicles
by Lee Child
In recent years, nicotine has become as verboten as many hard drugs. The literary styles in this volume are as varied as the moral quandaries herein, and the authors have successfully unleashed their incandescent imaginations on the subject matter, fashioning an immensely addictive story collection.
Short stories, with a nicotine prompt, by writers such as Achy Obejas, Joyce Carol Oates, Cara Black and Michael Imperioli. - Jason, Guerneville Regional Library
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The Secret Lives of Church Ladies
by Deesha Philyaw
The Secret Lives of Church Ladies explores the raw and tender places where black women and girls dare to follow their desires and pursue a momentary reprieve from being good. The nine stories in this collection feature four generations of characters grappling with who they want to be in the world, caught as they are between the church's double standards and their own needs and passions.
The Secret Lives of Church Ladies fed my need for rich, character driven stories. These all dropped me right into the lives of the characters and I used to think i hated short stories, but this collection helped prove me wrong. - Adriel, Sebastopol Regional Library
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Silver in the Wood
by Emily Tesh
There is a Wild Man who lives in the deep quiet of Greenhollow, and he listens to the wood. Tobias, tethered to the forest, does not dwell on his past life, but he lives a perfectly unremarkable existence with his cottage, his cat, and his dryads. When Greenhollow Hall acquires a handsome, intensely curious new owner in Henry Silver, everything changes. Old secrets better left buried are dug up, and Tobias is forced to reckon with his troubled past--both the green magic of the woods, and the dark thingsthat rest in its heart.
Tightly told story that brings a charming and understated queer narrative to a familiar but wholly unique folktale. - Ben, Healdsburg Regional Library
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Things You Save in a Fire
by Katherine Center
When her estranged, ailing mother asks her to move to Boston, firefighter Cassie Hanwell becomes the only woman in her new firehouse, where she faces discrimination, low funding, and her unwanted attraction to a fellow firefighter.
A cute romantic comedy about a female firefighter at the top of her game who has to make some big life changes that lead her to a small town and a new department. She has to fight her way back up facing down sexism in her new department and inadvertently finds herself falling in love with the new rookie on the team. - Mary, Sonoma Valley Regional Library
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This Tender Land
by William Kent Krueger
Fleeing the Depression-era school for Native American children who have been taken from their parents, four orphans share a life-changing journey marked by struggling farmers, faith healers, and lost souls.
Beautiful historical fiction. - Library staff member
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There There
by Tommy Orange
A novel which grapples with the complex history of Native Americans; with an inheritance of profound spirituality; and with a plague of addiction, abuse and suicide - follows 12 characters, each of whom has private reasons for traveling to the Big Oakland Powwow.
Important book that takes an unflinching look at the Native American experience, now and historically. Set in Oakland, CA. - Library staff member
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The Last Sun
by K. D. Edwards
In this debut novel and series starter, the last member of a murdered House searches for a missing nobleman, and uncovers clues about his own tortured past.
This is the first novel in The Tarot Sequence series - it's a beautiful urban fantasy series with a loveable found family. The world building is done masterfully. I read the whole series twice this summer and I'm impatient to get back to this world. - Kyle, Library headquarters
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Red Paint: The Ancestral Autobiography of a Coast Salish Punk by Sasha taqwšeblu LaPointeExamining what it means to be vulnerable in love and art, an indigenous artist, blending together punk rock with traditional spiritual practices, throws herself headlong into the world, determined to build a better future for herself and her people.
An intimate and searing portrayal of a young Coast Salish woman's journey as she embraces not only her own trauma, but also the experiences of colonial violence that her relatives endured, so that she can heal and carve a space out for herself in the world. - Jordan, Petaluma Regional Library |
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I'm Glad My Mom Died by Jennette McCurdyThe iCarly and Sam & Cat star, after her controlling mother dies, gets the help she needs to overcome eating disorders, addiction and unhealthy relationships and finally decides what she really wants for the first time in her life.
What a heartbreaking story! I grew up watching a lot of Nickelodeon and hearing about what many of the actors went through is heartbreaking. -Stephanie, Healdsburg Regional Library |
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Woman Without Shame: Poems by Sandra CisnerosThe best-selling author of The House on Mango Street presents this moving collection of songs, elegies and declarations that chronicle her pilgrimage toward rebirth and the recognition of her prerogative as woman artist.
Cisneros hasn't published a book of poetry in over 20 years. Excellent writing here! - Lara, Healdsburg Regional Library |
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Hari's work gave a convincing and wide-ranging background on the different ways our attention is being mined. - Jordan, Petaluma Regional Library |
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Solito: A Memoir by Javier ZamoraA young poet reflects on his 3,000-mile journey from El Salvador to the United States when he was nine years old, during which he was faced with perilous boat trips, relentless desert treks, pointed guns, arrests and deceptions during two life-altering months alongside a group of strangers who became an unexpected family.
An absolutely gripping memoir about the author's experience coming to the United States from El Salvador on his own as a nine year old boy. - Terra, Sebastopol Regional Library |
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The Night the Lights Went Out: A Memoir of Life After Brain Damage by Drew MagaryThe fan-favorite Defector and former Deadspin columnist shares his long recovery from a catastrophic brain hemorrhage and how he learned to live with a broken mind as he tried to figure out who this new person is, in this fascinating, darkly funny comeback story.
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Unmasking Autism: Discovering the New Faces of Neurodiversity by Devon PriceA social psychologist, professor and proud Autistic person explores the phenomenon of masking, a common coping mechanism in which Autistic people hide their identifiably Autistic traits in order to fit in, and lays down the groundwork for unmasking, offering exercises that encourage self-expression. Revolutionary! - Courtney, Sebastopol Regional Library
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Heavy: An American Memoir by Kiese LaymonAn essayist and novelist explores what the weight of a lifetime of secrets, lies and deception does to a black body, a black family and a nation teetering on the brink of moral collapse.
Heavy by Kiese Laymon is as beautiful as it is eviscerating. With its stunningly lyrical style, it delivers blunt-force trauma with skill and delves deep into the human psyche. - Library staff member, Rincon Valley Regional Branch |
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Simply Julia: 110 Easy Recipes for Healthy Comfort Food by Julia TurshenA New York Times best-selling cookbook author offers 110 foolproof recipes for healthier, but still satisfying, comfort foods including Stewed Chicken with Sour Cream + Chive Dumplings, Hasselback Carrots with Smoked Paprika and Lemon Ricotta Cupcakes.
This book single-handedly reignited my love of cooking through its accessible instructions, encouraging tone, and focus on cooking as a tool for social and ecological justice. - Rose, Library Headquarters |
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Make, Sew and Mend: Traditional Techniques to Sustainably Maintain and Refashion Your Clothes by Bernadette BannerWhether you are just getting started with sustainable fashion and need to alter your new secondhand finds, or you want an introduction to sewing techniques for making your own clothes, Bernadette Banner's signature voice will guide you through all the traditional stitches and techniques you need to extend the life of your favorite pieces and take fashion into your own hands!
Like Bernadette’s costuming and sartorial history videos, this knowledgeable, inclusive, and visually appealing book is both inspiring and instructive. This is a book I can turn to help me get the most out of my existing wardrobe, and keep my commitment to sustainable fashion choices. - Suzanne A., Library Headquarters |
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Cabin Porn: Inspiration for Your Quiet Place Somewhere by Zachery KleinThe creators of the wildly popular Tumblr blog by the same name share sumptuously photographed, inspirational project ideas culled from their experiences as a group of friends who would preserve 55 acres of hidden forest in Upstate New York.
Glossy pictures of all kinds of cabins in beautiful places around the world. Makes me want to run away and live in almost every one of them. - Kathleen, Guerneville Regional Library |
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An in-depth examination of the founding fathers and the influence of the ancient Greek and Romans on the way the US government was established. - Library staff member |
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Crying in the Bathroom: A Memoir by Erika L. SánchezThe New York Times best-selling author of I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter returns with an and honest and often hilarious memoir-in-essays that looks back on her wild youth and journey to becoming an award-winning novelist, poet and essayist.
As the black sheep in my Mexican family, I found this so relatable. - Stephanie, Healdsburg Regional Library | | | | | |
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Jim Harrison: Complete Poems by Jim HarrisonThis tour de force contains every poem Harrison published over his fifty-year career, as well as a section of unpublished "Last Poems." Here are the nature-based lyrics of his early work, the high-velocity ghazals, a harrowing prose-poem "correspondence" with a Russian suicide, the riverine suites, fearless meditations inspired by the Zen monk Crazy Cloud, and a buoyant conversation in haiku-like gems with friend and fellow poet Ted Kooser.
The quintessential American poet, vivid portrayals of a life fully lived, incredible observations and reflections on both external and internal landscapes. - Jason, Guerneville Regional Library |
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Every Living Thing by James HerriotAimed at those who find laughter and joy in animals, and who know and understand the magic of wild places and beautiful countryside. This book is written by James Herriot, who has captivated millions of readers and television viewers with tales of the triumphs, disasters, pride and sometimes heartache. Heartwarming stories from a Yorkshire veterinarian. - Michelle, Northwest Santa Rosa Library
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The Myth of Normal: Trauma, Illness & Healing in a Toxic Culture by Gabor MatéIn this revolutionary book, renowned physician Gabor Maté eloquently dissects how in Western countries that pride themselves on their healthcare systems, chronic illness and general ill health are on the rise. Nearly 70 percent of Americans are on at least one prescription drug; more than half take two. In Canada, every fifth person has high blood pressure. In Europe, hypertension is diagnosed in more than 30 percent of the population. And everywhere, adolescent mental illness is on the rise. So what is really "normal" when it comes to health?
I have been a Dr. Gabor Maté fan for a long time, and his new book does not disappoint! - Courtney, Sebastopol Regional Library |
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A wonderful vegan cookbook that also includes personal family stories about the authors immigrant parents experiences, connecting the food to her culture. - Library staff member, Central Santa Rosa Library |
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The World's Worst Assistant by Sona MovsesianPart satire based on her and Conan O'Brien's beloved alter egos, part memoir that evidences their sincere mutual trust and respect built over 12 years, this hilarious how-to-guide shows readers how to get away with being a terrible yet un-fireable employee.
Hilarious and relatable. - Karen A., Library staff member |
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I Hope This Finds You Well: Poems by Kate BaerLike countless other writers--particularly women--with profiles on the internet, as Kate's online presence grew, so did the darker messages crowding her inbox. These missives from strangers have ranged from "advice" and opinions to outright harassment. At first, these messages resulted in an immediate delete and block. Until, on a whim, Kate decided to transform the cruelty into art, using it to create fresh and intriguing poems. These pieces, along with ones made from notes of gratitude and love, as well as from the words of public figures, have become some of her most beloved work.
Baer is my favorite feminist right now. - Lara, Healdsburg Regional Library |
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Four Thousand Weeks: Time Management for Mortals by Oliver BurkemanThe acclaimed Guardian writer provides insights and advice on how to best utilize our time to construct a meaningful life by rejecting efficiency solutions in favor of finding joy and meaning in the finitude of human life.
This was an inspiring book about recognizing that we have a finite amount of time in our lives and that we should be using it to make ourselves happy and to accomplish the things we actually want in life. - Mary, Sonoma Valley Regional Library |
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Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents by Isabel WilkersonThe Pulitzer Prize-winning author of The Warmth of Other Suns identifies the qualifying characteristics of historical caste systems to reveal how a rigid hierarchy of human rankings, enforced by religious views, heritage and stigma, impact everyday American lives.
In this book Isabel Wilkerson describes the hidden caste system in the United States and how it came about through time. This is an important book for every American to read, but also a hard read as it uncovers the dark history of oppression in our country and will help you realize how you are likely participating in it. It is a valuable resource for raising awareness and encouraging people to help make changes toward dissolving that system. - Mary, Sonoma Valley Regional Branch | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
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A dive into the famous Go Ask Alice book and how its author participated in the dawn of the Satanic Panic. - Jen, Rohnert Park-Cotati Regional Library |
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If Not, Winter: Fragments of Sappho by SapphoA critically acclaimed poet and classicist presents a dramatic new translation of the poetry of Sappho, presenting all the extant fragments that exist of the ancient poet's works in both English and the original Greek and furnishing an incisive introduction to Sappho's life and times.
In addition to being a thorough account of Sappho's surviving poetry, Carson's commentary is highly instructive with regard to the finer grammatical points of the original Ancient Greek. Any poet should make use of Carson's analysis and explanation of her own artistic decisions as a translator. - Lars, Petaluma Regional Library |
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The Hurting Kind: Poems by Ada LimónA National Book Critics Circle Award winner and National Book Award finalist offers this extraordinary collection of poems about interconnectedness between the human and nonhuman, ancestors and ourselves.
Current US Poet Laureate, every one of her books is worth owning and rereading. - Jason, Guerneville Regional Library |
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The Gene: An Intimate History by Siddhartha MukherjeeThe Pulitzer Prize-winning author of The Emperor of All Maladies presents a history of gene science that examines current debates about gene resequencing, tracing the author's family experiences with mental illness and the contributions of key scientists and philosophers. Simultaneous.
The author breaks down the science and history in an understandable way. - Katie, Library Headquarters |
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In a similar vein to Michael Pollan's How to Change your Mind, Aylet Waldman explores and weaves very personal reflections with extensively researched information about the history psychedelics. The author vulnerably and personally explores topics of women's health, mental health, motherhood, and what it means to really be happy. - Library staff member |
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Momofuku by David ChangA master selected Best Chef: New York City 2008 by the James Beard Foundation offers recipes for his quick pickled dishes, one-pan vegetable sautés, intensely flavorful soups, and a myriad pork dishes (including his Momofuku Noodle Bar's famous pork buns), all accompanied by 150 full-color photos.
Genuinely original takes on Korean/Korean-American food. - Karen A., Library staff member |
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The Dawn of Everything: A New History of Humanity by David GraeberAn activist and public intellectual teams up with a professor of comparative archaeology to deliver an account of human history, challenging our most fundamental assumptions about social evolution from the development of agriculture and cities to the emergence of "the state," political violence and social inequality and revealing new possibilities for human emancipation.
Don't let the heft of 700 pages scare you. It's hard to put down. Questions just about everything we think we know about prehistory and the rise of civilization. - Kathleen, Sebastopol Regional Library |
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Our Colors by Gengoroh TagameSet in contemporary suburban Japan, Our Colors is the story of Sora Itoda: a sixteen-year-old aspiring painter who experiences his world in synaesthetic hues of blues and reds, and is governed by the emotional turbulence of being a teenager. He wants to live honestly as a young gay man in high school, but that is still not acceptable in Japanese society. His best friend and childhood confidante Nao, a young woman whom everyone thinks is (or should be) his girlfriend; and it would be the easiest thing to play along-she knows he is gay but knows, too, how difficult it is to live one's truth in his situation. -Stuart, Guerneville Regional Library
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J. Hernandez is Proust for the 20th & 21st centuries but a LOT more fun. |
- Karen A., Library staff member
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This comprehensive graphic novel tracks the history of bohemians with separate pieces by a variety of comic artists. The information offered is in depth, fun, and accessible. I've learned much about a favorite topic. - Colleen, Petaluma Regional Library |
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The Liminal Zone by Junji ItōAfter abruptly departing from a train in a small town, a couple encounters a "weeping woman"--a professional mourner--sobbing inconsolably at a funeral. Mako changes afterward--she can't stop crying! In another tale, having decided to die together, a couple enters Aokigahara, the infamous suicide forest. What is the shocking otherworldly torrent that they discover there? One of horror's greatest talents, Junji Ito beckons readers to join him in an experience of ultimate terror with four transcendently terrifying tales. Ito is the master of horror manga. - Courtney, Sebastopol Regional Library
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Very cute story with art from my favorite children's illustrator showing a family trying to quickly clean up the house before an important visitor and getting all mixed up. - Joy, Sebastopol Regional Library |
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A Tlingit grandmother teaches her granddaughter the berry picking song and how to give thanks. Exceptionally beautiful. - Kate |
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Kids books about poop and pooping always brighten my day! - Michelle, Petaluma Regional Library |
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A shrewd and brave knight owl stands up to an ominous knight-eating dragon. - Kate |
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- Stuart, Guerneville Regional Library
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The quirkiest, most magical series of books I've read in a long time! - Michelle, Northwest Santa Rosa Library |
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A very entertaining story; good for the imaginative child, or even the not-so-imaginative one! Authentic Zapotec lore, myth, heritage. - Lars, Petaluma Regional Library |
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Rick Riordan's Percy Jackson and the Olympians but only better! Indian demon accidentally released from his lamp who is determined to unleash destruction. Only two girls can save the world! - Jackie, Petaluma Regional Library |
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Not an easy read for a middle grade book, but so important and beautifully written! - Stephanie, Healdsburg Regional Library |
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Nathan experiences more than just your average summer with his grandma when he bumps into the Water Monster - Jodi, Windsor Regional Library |
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- Kelly, Central Santa Rosa Library
The Last Cuentista was my favorite middle grade book this year. I wolfed it down hungrily and loved to find a book that felt like a fresh genre for juvenile fiction. - Adriel, Sebastopol Regional Library |
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I love this series so much, not only because of the mysteries, puzzles, and adventures they get into, but the more real life aspects of it as well... - Tyler H., Northwest Santa Rosa Library |
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Hilarious! It's about Tim, a serf, who's definitely NOT a prince. He wants to become a knight, but what are the odds when you are from a long line of serfs? - Jackie, Petaluma Regional Library |
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Hilarious, deep, thoughtful and surprising. - Jackie, Petaluma Regional Library |
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I loved it because nothing happens but it's still interesting. - Library staff member |
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Both Iris (deaf) and Blue-55 (whale who sings at "wrong frequency") share the isolation of being unable to communicate with others. Iris's mission and epic journey starts with creating a song for the lonely whale and ends with creating connections for herself. - Jackie, Petaluma Regional Library |
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Hatchet but with an epic journey, saving another's life, learning to forgive oneself and understanding that obtaining the goal isn't necessarily what's important. - Jackie, Petaluma Regional Library |
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This middle-grade series is great for younger kids too. It's hilarious and really captures the dog perspective! - Katie, Library Headquarters |
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A well-written juvenile book about a boy who befriends a wolf cub. Together they battle demons. Set in the stone age giving a vivid picture of what they ate, how they hunted, made tools, etc. - Kathleen, Guerneville Regional Library |
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- Lisa, Library Headquarters
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- Kelly, Central Santa Rosa Library
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This book inspired a passion for Mayan history and legends in my son who wanted to read it over and over. Also Maax the monkey is super cute. - Library staff member |
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A beautiful, spooky graphic novel about love and surprising friendships. - Michelle, Northwest Santa Rosa Library |
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I got to meet the author after reading this, and e was such a lovely person. A lot of the themes and instances in this novel hit home with me. Read for yourself or the queer person in your life. - Kathleen, Guerneville Regional Library |
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- Stuart, Guerneville Regional Library
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A heartbreaking and beautiful book about two teens who are forced to grow up much too quickly. - Terra, Sebastopol Regional Library |
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Fantastic world-building that immerses you in the story and wonderful characters. - Karen, Petaluma Regional Library |
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A retelling of Cinderella with cyborgs, what more could you want? - Kathleen, Guerneville Regional Library |
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A genuinely scary and interesting book that is more than meets the eye. - Karen, Petaluma Regional Library
Classic slasher genre, spooky and terrifying. - Lillian, Guerneville Regional Library |
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This book talks so candidly about sex, rejection, and being empowered to know your own body. - Jen, Rohnert Park-Cotati Regional Library |
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- Stuart, Guerneville Regional Library
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A YA high fantasy with forbidden love, great action, and adventure. - Kate |
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Iron Widow
by Xiran Jay Zhao
TW: Misogyny & femicide, rape mentioned, physical & emotional abuse, suicidal ideation, alcoholism, blood & gore depiction, murder, torture; very intense reimagining of Wu Zetian in a SciFi Fantasy version of China. - Jodi, Windsor Regional Library It's my favorite because it explores so many different themes: feminism, compulsive heterosexuality, compulsive monogamy, etc. - Library staff member | |
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- Emma, Petaluma Regional Library
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Fed my deep need for queer history and community. - Adriel, Sebastopol Regional Library |
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Mindhunter for teens. This book will keep you riveted with every turn of the page. - Karen, Petaluma Regional Library |
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A warm, fluffy romance manga, on days you need to feel your heart again. - Jodi, Windsor Regional Library |
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This follow up novel is completely different than Last Night at the Telegraph Club, yet just as stunning. Set in Marin County in 2014, it is a thoughtful and compelling story of self-discovery, family, and young queer love. - Terra, Sebastopol Regional Library |
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This is a fun teen romance that has a Hunger Games meets The Bachelor vibe... - Mary, Sonoma Valley Regional Library |
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I had no expectations, just checked out this book because it was new, and it's one of the best recent YA books I've read! The perfect intersection of YA and romance. - Library staff member |
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Interesting world-building, feels both familiar and new. - Library staff member |
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Her writing is beautiful and the world she created was incredibly immersive. - Julie, Library Headquarters |
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La Canción del Cambio: Himno para niños por Amanda GormanEn este emocionante y anticipado libro para niños por la poeta inaugural presidencial y activista, Amanda Gorman, todo es posible cuando nuestras voces se unen. Cuando una niña guía a un elenco de personajes por un viaje musical, ellos aprenden que tienen el poder de hacer cambios - grandes o pequeños - en el mundo, en sus comunidades y sobre todo dentro de ellos mismos.
Es uno de esos libros que inspira a los niños a imaginar lo que es posible. - Serena, Roseland Community Library
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Onsen: Que Hacen Los Monos? por Pato MenaLos protagonistas de este libro son unos monos que viven en lo alto de una montaña nevada y buscan calor en sus aguas termales. El lector podrá acompañarlos a lo largo de su día, mientras se ocupan de todo lo que, seas mono o humano, hace falta: comer, limpiarnos, dormir y... ¡jugar! Sí, para estos monos jugar es importantísimo.
Recomendado por Kelly, Central Santa Rosa Library
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Cuento del Conejo y el Coyote = Didxaguca' sti' Lexu ne Gueu' por Natalia ToledoEdición bilingüe espanõl y zapoteco. Una historia retomada de la tradición oral zapoteca en la que se narra por qué el coyote siempre le aúlla a la Luna. Un conejo roba chiles en una huerta y el campesino le tiende una trampa para cazarlo. A punto de ser cocinado, el conejo ve al coyote, quien por ayudarlo toma su lugar y es batido. Así comienza una cadena de aventuras donde el astuto conejo burla una y otra vez al coyote.
The illustrations in this edition of the Zapotec folk tale are captivating, and though I was able to read it in Spanish translation only, the volume graciously presents the original Zapotec as well. - Lars, Petaluma Regional Library
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...y no se lo tragó la tierra = ... and the earth did not devour him por Tomás Rivera... y no se lo trago la tierra de Tomás Rivera nos presenta la vida de los campesinos de Texas durante la decada de 1950 con todos sus pesares y alegrías. El narrador es un joven perdido en las sombras de la explotación laboral y la mistificación de su vida por las instituciones de la sociedad. Entre la constante migración y los choques con mayordomos y oficiales escolares tiene el joven que forjar su propia identidad. A la vez que se va enajenando de su sociedad, ironicamente la encuentra de nuevo y la abraza. ... y no se lo trago la tierra es la visión épica de un pueblo orgulloso e indomable frente a fuerzas sociales y económicas poderososísimas.
Authentic stories of the Mexican-American experience, very emotional and transformative. Most beautiful read in Spanish. - Nellely, Petaluma Regional Library
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Sepulcros de Vaqueros por Roberto BolañoUna clave más del universo literario de Roberto Bolaño, uno de los escritores imprescindibles de la literatura contemporánea en español. Este volumen incluye tres nouvelles inéditas -"Patria", "Sepulcros de vaqueros" y "Comedia del horror de Francia"--En las que está presente lo mejor del genio literario del autor chileno: el Mal, la violencia, la historia, la literatura, la ironía, México, Chile, el amor, el suspense, la búsqueda ... a lo que se suma alguno de sus personajes más célebres, como el ubicuo detective salvaje Arturo Belano.
This set of three novellas by Bolaño is available in both Spanish (original) and English (translation). The style is at times non-linear and even mind-bending. Some background reading on Bolaño was helpful in setting the stage for me. While the book has proven quite deserving of slow and careful attention, its demands on the reader--at least in my case--have not gone unrewarded. - Lars, Petaluma Regional Library
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En los Zapatos de Valeria por Elisabet BenaventEn los zapatos de Valeria se autopublicó en Amazon y en poco tiempo conquistó a cientos de lectores y se situó en los primeros puestos de la lista de más vendidos de ficción. Altamente divertida, emotiva y sensual, Valeria llega para conquistar a aquellos lectores que se enamoraron con Federico Moccia o Blue Jeans y que ahora quieren algo más.
Recomendado por Kelly, Central Santa Rosa Library
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El Aleph por Jorge Luis BorgesOriginalmente publicada en 1949, esta coleccion reune dieciocho relatos entre los que se encuentra algunos de los mas admirados cuentos de la literatura.
I read this collection of short stories in Spanish, but it is available in English translation also. The prose is very readable. It would seem Borges does not pull any punches here, and yet the reader is treated to a fully intelligible experience. The imagery of these stories is often fantastical and bizarre, but somehow immediate and within reach, almost tangible. Respectfully recommended. - Lars, Petaluma Regional Library
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Everything Everywhere All at Once
Evelyn Wang, a flustered immigrant mother, is contacted from a parallel universe and told that only she can save the world. The unlikely hero must learn to channel her newfound powers and fight through the splintering timelines of the multiverse to save her home, her family, and herself in this big-hearted and irreverent adventure.
Incredible film addressing generational trauma, identity, and family - Jodi, Windsor Regional Library
Everything Everywhere All At Once made me laugh and cry in turn for the whole runtime. It is the only movie I have ever seen that can justify its length. An experience -- what kind, it's hard to know, but certainly one worth having. - Sasha, Rincon Valley Regional Library
A wild and touching multiverse adventure, one of the best movies I have seen in awhile. - Destiny, Central Santa Rosa Library
This movie stands as the perhaps the best multiverse movie because it is enriched with absurdity and heart. - Kyle, Library Headquarters
Michelle Yeoh kicks ass and reconnects with her family. - Jen, Rohnert Park-Cotati Regional Library
Best movie of the year. So creative and heartfelt, unlike any movie I've ever seen. Just go watch it. - Jordan, Petaluma Regional Library
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Yellowjackets
A high school girls soccer team become the lone survivors of a plane crash in the Canadian wilderness.
Gory, visceral, and fun. Not sure what's more traumatic: high school or cannibalism after watching this. - Karen, Library Staff
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Power of the Dog
Jane Campion returns to the kind of mythic frontier landscape—pulsating with both freedom and menace—that she previously traversed in The Piano in order to plumb the masculine psyche in The Power of the Dog, set against the desolate plains of 1920s Montana and adapted by the filmmaker from Thomas Savage’s novel.
Beautiful, methodical and certain. Yet, somehow the viewer resists believing what they witness plainly on the screen. Demands the examination of pre-conceived stereotypes and expectations. Delight in having things NOT turn out the way you expect them too - and a bit of the shivers too! - Alisa, Adult Literacy Program
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Summer of Soul (...or, When the Revolution Could Not Be Televised)
Tells the story of the Harlem Cultural Festival that took place in Mount Morris Park in 1969 and its significance as a celebration of black history and culture.
Amazing, never released footage of multiple soul and gospel stars at a 1969 Harlem Cultural Festival. A chance to see and hear black and latin musicians connecting through generations and at early and late stages of their illustrious careers as well as hear the positive memories of the attendees and performers. The film also examines the question of why the footage was never released, featured until this documentary in high contrast to the attention and coverage of Woodstock. - Alisa, Adult Literacy Program
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Hiding in Plain Sight
Explores America's youth mental health crisis, the stresses of stigma, social media, pandemics, and the difficulty of finding effective treatment
We know our youth are in a mental health crisis that should concern us all, even if we don't have children. This series highlights the invisible struggles that young people face as they manage their mental health in their formative years. - Danny, Sebastopol Regional Library
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Nope
Two siblings on a ranch in southern California who neighbor a theme park begin to experience unexplained phenomena and attempt to capture evidence of a UFO on camera.
Recommended by Michele, Library Headquarters
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Batman
Batman must investigate Gotham City's hidden political corruption when the Riddler begins murdering key political figures
Robert Pattinson is great and makes the character his own. I really enjoyed the overall darkness of the film both in the setting and characters. - Nellely, Petaluma Regional Library
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Worst Person in the World
Follows a woman entering her thirties as she vacillates between her artistic passions and career, the question of motherhood, and the relationships with two men.
A simple but impactful movie, beautifully shot and left me pondering for days after. - Destiny, Central Santa Rosa Library
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Brokeback Mountain
Ranch hand Ennis del Mar and rodeo cowboy Jack Twist form an unexpectedly deep life-long bond while working as sheepherders in 1963 Wyoming
My favorite romance film that I revisit every few years. Can you believe this was the only reference of Queer romance for a teen back then? - Danny, Sebastopol Regional Library
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Paddington 2
When a book Paddington wants to buy is stolen, he sets out to find the thief and retrieve the book.
Over the last few years I've heard adults refer to Paddington 2 as one of the best movies ever and I always assumed it was with a little bit of irony, no irony! I finally watched it this year and it's one of the best movies I've ever seen! - Library staff member
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Wet Leg
I heard this band while attending a millennial party way too cool for me but their music stuck and I've been loving them ever since. - Danny, Sebastopol Regional Library
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A beautiful album with soft vocals and instrumentals.- Destiny, Central Santa Rosa Library
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Tender, touching, top-notch songwriting and musicianship. - Karen, Library staff member
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My favorite album. Dreamy and angelic, Spanish and English combined makes the heart happy. - Nellely, Petaluma Regional Library
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Webster's endearing lyrics combined with her soothing voice creates the perfect combo. - Destiny, Central Santa Rosa Library
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Embodies summertime, you can't help but dance and cry. - Nellely, Petaluma Regional Library
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Recommended by Jon, Central Santa Rosa Library
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Song of Solomon
by Toni Morrison
Milkman Dead was born shortly after a neighborhood eccentric hurled himself off a rooftop in a vain attempt at flight. For the rest of his life he, too, will be trying to fly. With this brilliantly imagined novel, Toni Morrison transfigures the coming-of-age story as audaciously as Saul Bellow or Gabriel García Márquez. As she follows Milkman from his rustbelt city to the place of his family's origins, Morrison introduces an entire cast of strivers and seeresses, liars and assassins, the inhabitants of a fully realized Black world.
Listening to the voice of Toni Morrison reading this work is an experience I'll never forget. The whole piece brought me many places, but the very last lines are still resounding. Absolutely brilliant! - Colleen, Petaluma Regional Library
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Husband Material
by Alexis Hall
Everyone around Luc and Oliver is getting married. Now the pressure is on. But it'll take more than four weddings and a funeral to get them to the altar.
Audiobook read by Joe Jameson who is absolutely perfect for this kind of extremely online, funny and nerdy British humor. Lots of laughs per page in this sequel and the first book, Boyfriend Material. - Joy, Sebastopol Regional Library
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A Taste of Gold and Iron
by Alexandra Rowland
A light fantasy with great world building in which queer romances and gender identities are allowed to exist without examination of their queerness. - Ben, Healdsburg Regional Library
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Darling Girl: A Novel of Peter Pan
by Liz Michalski
Definitely my favorite Peter Pan adaptation so far. Lots of suspense, twists and turns, and very dark magic. Highly recommend the audiobook with narrator Elizabeth Knowelden. - Shannon, Central Santa Rosa Library
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So Happy for You: A Novel
by Celia Laskey
A funny commentary on the wedding industry. Think Bridesmaids, but add a little horror element. Anyone who has ever planned or been in a wedding can appreciate this book.- Karen, Petaluma Regional Library
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It was one of the most rewarding experiences that encouraged exploration and discovery while giving a really engaging combat system. - Jon, Central Santa Rosa Library
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The campaign-based video game is a sequel, both games have breathtaking graphics and incredible stories. - Kyle, Library Headquarters
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Remake of Katamari Damacy, a silly game where you roll everything up. - Jodi, Windsor Regional Library
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