“What have you been reading lately?” We hear that a lot at the library — from patrons looking for their next great read, from staffers putting together brochures and recommended lists, and from curious coworkers, because we’re a bookish people and like to share. Often, my reading follows a niche theme: middle grade magical realism…
There are three things I look for in a story: appealing, well-drawn characters, great prose, and a world I can get lost in. Good books have one or two of these elements. Great books -- the ones I shove into the hands of everyone I know, the ones I can't stop thinking about -- have…
By this point in January, the shine is off the new year. Resolutions are falling by the wayside. The snow is grimy, the sky is glum, and everything is salt-encrusted. The puppy has, perhaps, chewed a hole in the elbow of your favorite sweater or the toe of your favorite socks (or both). If you,…
The holidays are fast approaching, and with them, mile-long to-do lists and jam-packed calendars. Amid all that hustle and bustle, it’s important to take time to recover — and what better restorative than a holiday-themed book? This year, I’ve discovered the delight that is British holiday fiction. Similar to Hallmark movies, these stories are full…
When I think of Time Wars, I immediately think of Doctor Who - the only survivor of the war between Gallifrey and the Daleks, not to mention a long-running and beloved BBC series. But Amal El-Mohtar and Max Gladstone’s THIS IS HOW YOU LOSE THE TIME WAR has an entirely different take on what a…
Truth time: I was really, really nervous about picking up Kate Quinn’s newest novel, The Huntress. Her 2017 release, The Alice Network, is was an utter delight -- and when I love one title from an author, I worry that the next one will be a disappointment, or that the first novel was a fluke.…
This was a summer of mostly meh books – I read a lot, but can’t remember most of the titles, or the plots, or the characters. They weren’t bad, exactly. Just…meh. Indistinguishable. More of the same, when what I wanted was something that stood out, something that gave me a fresh perspective or an unusual…
When the world is hectic and I am feeling particularly weary in my soul, I turn to cookbooks -- particularly the kind that blend essays with their recipes, like Laurie Colwin’s Home Cooking or Tamar Adler’s An Everlasting Feast. I find them comforting -- not too taxing, but thoughtful, with food that is inspiring without…
Now that summer has officially arrived, it’s time to start finding your perfect summer book! Beach reads, of course, tend to be everyone’s go-to selection this time of year. But while I am a fan of seasonally appropriate reading, sometimes it’s nice to mix things up – to try a title that’s a bit different…
Here is a thing the world cannot get enough of: British Historical Mysteries. Like my children’s appetite for dessert, readers are insatiable when it comes to murder served with a spot of tea and possibly a biscuit. (Lest you think I am being judgy, you should know that I am a fan of both sweets…
