Dawn's Picks
The Particulars of Peter
by Kelly Conaboy
A big-hearted and hilarious exploration of the joys found in loving a dog so much it makes you feel like you’re going to combust.
The Anthropocene Reviewed
by John Green
I have been super excited waiting for this local Indianapolis author’s latest book release! I give John Green’s thoughtful book of essays four stars
Excerpts of current stories from leading mystery authors and aspiring writers, blogs, book reviews, and much more!
Emma's Pick
Mischelle's Pick
Montica's Pick
This is How You Lose the Time War
by Amal El-Mohtar & Max Gladstone
I LOVE time-travel books, and this has to be one of the craziest, most insane, tt books I have ever read. Reading it felt more like reading poetry than a book. Every page seemed crafted down to the most minute details in order to create a perfect image and precisely convey the emotion of the characters.
Be Frank With Me
by Julia Claiborne Johnson
Eccentric broke writer is required to complete her latest novel to comply with her publisher’s contract. The publisher sends an assistant to monitor her writing. The writer intends to use the assistant to monitor her also eccentric 9 year old son. The son is quite entertaining.
If you would like to pack up the car and hit the road this book has some great ideas. Some are long distance trips, but many are easy day trips close to home, that have some amazing views.
Mary's Picks
An Unconditional Freedom
by Alyssa Cole
Set during the Civil War, this is the story of a black woman infiltrating the Loyal League. Great read!
A Good Neighborhood
by Therese Anne Fowler
What does it mean to be a good neighbor? The story of two very different neighbors who find themselves at odds.
Amanda's Pick
Crystal's Pick
Marissa's Pick
All Creatures Great and Small
by James Herriot
My mom introduced me at a young age to James Herriot (Alf Wight), a Yorkshire, England veterinarian whose stories take place beginning in the 1930s. I quickly fell in love with his books and went on to equally love the long-running BBC series produced in the 1970s and 80s, starring Christopher Timothy and the late, great Robert Hardy (aka Cornelius Fudge in the Harry Potter movies). PBS rebooted the BBC series this year with their own version. We have Season 1 of both versions, so check them out and compare and contrast to the original book! Which one do you prefer?
James Herriot’s other titles in this series (All Things Bright and Beautiful, All Things Wise and Wonderful, The Lord God Made Them All, and Every Living Thing) are well-represented in our print holdings as well as in e-book and e-audio book format on Libby.
The Licanius Trilogy
by James Islington
It has been twenty years since the godlike Augurs were overthrown and the ones who once served them, the Gifted, were spared only after accepting the rebellion’s Four Tenets, which vastly limited their powers. A chain of events is about to unfold as Davian, Wirr, Ashalia, and Caeden embark on a journey to save their world from an ancient evil. As destiny calls and shadows arise, who will survive…?
Broken (in the best possible way)
by Jenny Lawson
“As Jenny Lawson’s hundreds of thousands of fans know, she suffers from depression. In Broken, Jenny brings readers along on her mental and physical health journey, offering heartbreaking and hilarious anecdotes along the way. With people experiencing anxiety and depression now more than ever, Jenny humanizes what we all face in an all-too-real way, reassuring us that we’re not alone and making us laugh while doing it. From the business ideas that she wants to pitch to Shark Tank to the reason why Jenny can never go back to the post office, Broken leaves nothing to the imagination in the most satisfying way. And of course, Jenny’s long-suffering husband Victor―the Ricky to Jenny’s Lucille Ball―is present throughout.” –Publishers Description
Shelbi's Picks
Never Have I Ever
by Isabel Yap
I was initially interested in this because of the beautiful cover art, but after finishing this collection I’m now a HUGE fan of this debut author. These short stories are a bit dark, sometimes a bit creepy, but also intimate and center around themes of friendships and interpersonal connections, along with the joys and pains of loving others. Loved being exposed to Filipino culture in multiple stories–but you’ll find representation from all over East and Southeast Asia within!
WISH
by CLAMP
UGH. I ADORED this series as a little nerdy teen and I adore it now as a grown nerdy adult. The art from the Japanese mangaka collective CLAMP is always stunning and really shines here–and the outfits!!! <3
An angel is saved from a mean cat by a stolid man one evening, and insists that they must grant his wish before they can return to heaven.
An Elderly Lady is Up to No Good
by Helene Tursten
Is this written about me? I find the main character in these short stories, the old lady who’s up to no good, entirely relatable. While you’ll notice right away if you read a summary that these stories feature a serial killer, there is essentially NO gore or explicit violence, so don’t let that turn you away! This is a bit like a cozy anti-mystery in a way, utterly unique and really fun.
Madi's Pick
Bill's Pick
The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo
by Taylor Jenkins Reid
Hollywood movie icon Evelyn Hugo decides to share the truth about her personal and professional life with Monique (a reporter). This is a story that follows two very different and complex women.
The Return
by Nicholas Sparks
Great story that keeps you in the book and not wanting to put it down.
