This February and beyond, join us in celebrating and honoring the triumphs, struggles, and achievements of African Americans through US history. Attend a program, choose your next great book, or read staff reviews. You can also explore and learn more through research databases and other blog posts. Programs & Activities Children's Craftivity: Ndebele HutsDROP IN…
Kai Thomas’ fascinating debut novel, In the Upper Country, offers a fresh take on the Underground Railroad in Canada. The author, who is Afro-Canadian, became intrigued about historical accounts he read about the relationships of runaway slaves and Indigenous peoples in Canada. This inspired him to write his first novel, which opens in 1859. It…
"Smell is the emperor of all senses. In lands far away, where earth and body converge harmoniously, it is regarded as no less important than the language one speaks—essential, intimate, and often even elevated." When was the last time you really paid attention to the smells around you? Most days, our sense of smell is…
Are you a fan of survival stories? Do you enjoy reading about maritime disasters? Arctic expeditions? If you answered yes to any of those questions, have I got a book for you! EMPIRE OF ICE AND STONE : THE DISASTROUS AND HEROIC VOYAGE OF THE KARLUK by Buddy Levy will have you on the edge…
According to Pulitzer Prize winner Mary Schmich “Reading is a discount ticket to everywhere.” Many readers travel vicariously through books. Perhaps you have dreamt of visiting the rugged wilderness of Alaska. This is the setting of An Unforgiving Place by Claire Kells, the second book in the National Parks Mystery series. The Gates of the Arctic National Park…
Every one of us was born with psychic capabilities that allow us to connect to Spirit. Whether you refer to it as instinct, "a gut reaction," a hunch, we're all a little bit intuitive. Think about a time when you felt “bad vibes” from someone; or a time when you felt the presence of a…
The “climate fiction” subgenre has been gaining in popularity these days, and with good reason. Our environment is changing rapidly, and we’re seeing the effects in the headlines, as huge weather events become more commonplace. The Light Pirate presents the author’s vision of what Florida might look like in a not-so-distant future where the seas…
When I think about my reading life in 2022, it feels like a blur. I really enjoyed some books, went through an alarming number of slumps, and had one glorious stretch where every title was an absolute delight. But overall, my year in books felt sparse and unsatisfying – something I’m determined to change. After…
Yesterday I examined fiction that received the most love in 2022 from book reviewers. Today I will look at nonfiction. I compiled 30 notable lists with more than 600 books, including our own favorites from the Cook Memorial Public Library District staffers. Thirty-seven books, from memoirs to nature to social commentary, rose to the top.…
As a long-time reader, I know one thing to be true: We often do not agree on liking the same books. Readers' tastes vary widely. This was evident once again in my annual search for the top-reviewed books of the year. For fiction, I tallied 30 lists by professional book readers, including the Cook Memorial…
