Booking Forward January 2020

American Dirt

by Jeanine Cummins

A story of migrants struggling to make it to the US to escape targeted cartel violence in Mexico. Should be required reading for all US citizens who have no empathy for those who give up everything they have for a chance to live in safety. The path to and across the border is dangerous, deadly, and demoralizing, and American Dirt provides a glimpse into that experience, with a mother’s love and determination overcoming all. Painful but necessary reading.

For fans of: 
The other Americans by Laila Lalami

Where We Come From by Oscar Casares

Dear Edward

by Ann Napolitano

Eddie gets on a plane with his parents, older brother, and more than a hundred strangers. Only Edward survives. In this story of finding yourself after losing everything, readers see the last few hours of a handful of lives, and the first few years of a life forced to move on without them.

For fans of: The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt

Ask again, yes by Mary Beth Keane


In the Shadow of Vesuvius

by Alexander Tasha

History and mystery in one book. Lady Emily discovers a body among the ruins of Pompeii. When the police dismiss the case as the work of gangsters, Lady Emily and a team of and archaeologists are on the case. Soon her fate becomes tied to that of a woman from almost 2000 years before. Intriguing. Of course I want to read this!

For fans of: The Beekeeper's Apprentice by Laurie R. King

Thomas & Charlotte Pitt mysteries by Anne Perry

Martha Stewart's Organizing: The Manual for Bringing Order to Your Life, Home & Routines

by Martha Stewart

Organize, purge, tidy, and simplify.

In her latest book, Martha Stewart offers helpful tips for organizing by room and by season. With guidance for continued success.

Ahh the life of Hygge, who wouldn't want to take a look at this book?

For fans of: Spark Joy by Marie Kondo

Remodelista: the organized home by Julie Carlson

The Contact Paradox 

by Keith Cooper

Cooper, editor and science writer at Astronomy Now, makes the case for seeking out extraterrestrial life. I’m expecting him to delve into whether aliens will have welcoming or malicious intentions towards humanity, their possible intellectual levels, and what types of physical forms they might take. But, more than anything, I’m intrigued by the technical aspects of how the search will continue going forward.

For fans of: Imagined Life by James Trefil

Exoplanets by Michael E. Summers

Imperfect Union 

by Steve Inskeep

John and Jessie Fremont explored and expanded the western half of the United States, and in doing so became national celebrities in the late 1800s. Through Jessie’s senator father, the couple gained access to both political and media exposure, culminating in John’s presidential nomination. I can’t wait to take a glimpse - through the eyes of these charismatic figures - into one the most important times in American history.

For fans of: Buffalo Bill's America by Louis S. Warren

John Brown, abolitionist by David S. Reynolds

When we were Vikings

by Andrew Macdonald

Zelda is like a lot of 21-year-old women. She enjoys spending time with friends and is trying to gain a sense of independence. She is also obsessed with Vikings and was born with fetal alcohol spectrum disorder. When her older brother, struggling to pay the bills and keep the family together, becomes involved with drug dealers, Zelda knows she must follow in the footsteps of her Viking heroes and save him whatever the cost.

For fans of: Ginny Moon by Benjamin Ludwig

The curious incident of the dog in the night-time by Mark Haddon

Heart of Junk

by Luke Geddes

The vendors at Wichita’s Heart of America Antique Mall are struggling to stay afloat and hope the upcoming visit from TV’s Pickin’ Fortunes will bring in more customers. When a young beauty pageant star goes missing, the show’s visit is placed on hold, and the mall owner calls on his rag-tag crew of colleagues to help find her. Can they get over their own problems long enough to be of any help?

For fans of: The Stephanie Plum series by Janet Evanovich

Where'd you go, Bernadette by Maria Semple

Review: The Family Upstairs

The Family Upstairs by Lisa Jewell
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

The Family Upstairs by Lisa Jewell is a domestic-psychological thriller about a wealthy family stripped of their elaborate lifestyle by a cultic maniac. This novel is written from the point of view of three characters: Libby, Henry, and Lucy.

On her twenty-fifth birthday Libby receives a letter, informing her that she has inherited a beautiful home in one of London’s wealthiest neighborhoods. Libby, shocked and confused, is eager to find out how she could possibly be heir to this home. Libby knows she was adopted, but to belong to a wealthy family piques her curiosity.

Henry, the son of the socialite family, speaks about a man named David Thomsen, who moves in and seems to place a spell on his mother. David was a god to her. It didn’t take Henry long to figure out what David is doing, and it didn’t take long for David to usurp Henry’s family and everyone who lived there. David’s smooth-talking, holier-than-thou attitude, and a seemingly bewitching power over everyone (aka cultic leader), slowly changes the dynamic of the home.

In the midst of all this we also learn about Lucy, Henry’s homeless sister who has two children and a shabby dog. Lucy and Henry both wait for the day that Libby turns twenty-five, the day where they know that Libby will be at their home, and the day they will all eventually meet.

A journey of a family’s slow death, this is an engaging read that will leave you wanting more.


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Our Favorite 2019 Reads

What books did your librarians love this year? Read on to find out!

The Bird King by G. Willow Wilson

Set in the Iberian Peninsula during the height of the Spanish Inquisition, The Bird King tells the story of Fatima, the sultan’s concubine, and Hassan, the palace mapmaker. When the inquisitors come to the palace, Fatima and Hassan make a daring escape before Hassan’s magical gifts are discovered. What follows is an epic adventure of love, friendship, and found family that is at once fantastical and relatable.

The Dutch House by Ann Patchett

I have to admit that I am predisposed to love everything Ann Patchett writes. That is my default setting. But the Dutch House checks all the boxes for what I consider a great book. Characters that you want to hug, slap, or invite over for dinner. Or all of the above. A story about a family and a house that demonstrates how that house can be so much more than a structure. It can represent the bones of the family, a symbol connected to love or loss or achievement or abandonment. And a bringing together of people who were flung away and then return to the fold, for comfort, understanding, closure. What a pleasure to read.

Frogcatchers by Jeff Lemire

Jeff Lemire, the writer/illustrator of JUNO and Eisner award-winning graphic novels such as Black Hammer and Essex County, is quickly becoming one of the industry’s most outstanding - and my most anticipated - graphic novelists working today.  And his latest Frogcatchers does not disappoint.  This Stephen King-esque mystery focuses on an old man and a frog catching young boy who unexplainably wake up in a “haunted hotel on the edge of reality,” and must fight, lock-pick, and think their way out of this trapped and strange existence.  Although, there are some doors in this bizarre place that should never be opened… but of course they are!  This book’s for those who enjoy heartfelt tales of mystery, The Twilight Zone, minimalist storytelling and illustrations,  and twist-endings that leave you feeling satisfied.

How to Send Smoke Signals, Pluck a Chicken, & Build an Igloo by Michael Powell

I really loved the concept of this small survival guide that would easily fit in the side pocket of your backpack, which is simply to provide “clear instructions on important life skills to tackle and tame the great outdoors.”  Being a person who only hikes or fishes on occasion, a lot of the skills seemed like outlandish ideas I’d never use.  But as I read more closely, I began to imagine scenarios that could happen to me – and I’d definitely want this little book as a companion.  For instance, if my plane crashed on the side of a freezing mountain and I happened upon a wild sheep, I now know how to properly shear it for its warm fleece without terrifying the poor thing.  Most of the guide does focus on methods of survival like how to start a fire with ice, survive an avalanche, or store food without a fridge, but some just focus on outdoor fun like panning for gold, making bone flutes, and stopping a runaway horse.   Overall, this book is full of sage survival advice you’ll hope you never have to use but will enjoy learning about.       

The Mister by E.L James

Thrilling and Romantic, my kind of book! Loved it!

  

The Other Woman by Sandie Jones

You'll be on the edge of your seat until the very last page!

The Starless Sea by Erin Morgenstern

There is a world beneath our world, and it is filled with bees, pirates, and lost love. Zachary Ezra Rawlins is unwittingly thrust into this magical land when he discovers a mysterious book in his university’s library. Every bit as engrossing and imaginative as The Night Circus, The Starless Sea is full of beauty and imagination and love. Readers will find themselves revisiting the places and characters long after they finish.

  

Whisper Man by Alex North

A twisty novel with a ton of suspense.

Review: American Dirt

American Dirt by Jeanine Cummins
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

A story of migrants Lydia and her son Luca, struggling to make it to the US to escape targeted cartel violence in Mexico. Should be required reading for all US citizens who have no empathy for those who give up everything they have for a chance to live in safety in “el norte.” The path to and across the border is dangerous, deadly, and demoralizing, and American Dirt provides a glimpse into that experience, with a mother’s love and determination overcoming all. Painful but necessary reading.


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Review: Ninth House

Ninth House by Leigh Bardugo
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Yale freshman Alex Stern is a non-traditional student in every sense of the word. Not only is she a few years older than her classmates, she is also a dirt poor, ex-junkie, high school dropout. Also, she can see ghosts, which is what gets her recruited to Yale. The eight secret societies (Skull & Bones, Scroll & Key, etc.) aren’t just the playgrounds of the wealthy and connected; they are also where members perform dark occult rituals that can yield amazing results but can also have dire consequences if anything goes wrong. Keeping things from going wrong and fixing them when they do is the job of Alex’s new employer, Lethe house. Alex’s ability to see ghosts, called Grays, is especially helpful as Grays are drawn to dark magic and can wreak havoc during rituals. But the members of the houses aren’t content to just stay within the limits placed on them, but try game the system and perform darker magic no matter the cost to others. That’s when things really begin to go wrong, and when Alex begins to realize that her job is less about keeping people safe and more about keeping things quiet and the societies out of trouble.
Alex is a compelling character: deeply flawed, yet understandably so; irascible yet surprisingly empathetic. Her sketchy past leaves her vulnerable to the allure of the rich and powerful, but also gives her the insight to see beyond the veil of refinement behind which the societies try to hide. The realness of Alex and other characters is what makes “Ninth House” so compelling: the characters are so well crafted the outlandish events become realistic when seen through their eyes. After turning the last page, a reader might take a few minutes to look around and reassure herself that no Grays are lurking nearby.


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Review: Ninth House

Ninth House by Leigh Bardugo
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Yale freshman Alex Stern is a non-traditional student in every sense of the word. Not only is she a few years older than her classmates, she is also a dirt poor, ex-junkie, high school dropout. Also, she can see ghosts, which is what gets her recruited to Yale. The eight secret societies (Skull & Bones, Scroll & Key, etc.) aren’t just the playgrounds of the wealthy and connected; they are also where members perform dark occult rituals that can yield amazing results but can also have dire consequences if anything goes wrong. Keeping things from going wrong and fixing them when they do is the job of Alex’s new employer, Lethe house. Alex’s ability to see ghosts, called Grays, is especially helpful as Grays are drawn to dark magic and can wreak havoc during rituals. But the members of the houses aren’t content to just stay within the limits placed on them, but try game the system and perform darker magic no matter the cost to others. That’s when things really begin to go wrong, and when Alex begins to realize that her job is less about keeping people safe and more about keeping things quiet and the societies out of trouble.
Alex is a compelling character: deeply flawed, yet understandably so; irascible yet surprisingly empathetic. Her sketchy past leaves her vulnerable to the allure of the rich and powerful, but also gives her the insight to see beyond the veil of refinement behind which the societies try to hide. The realness of Alex and other characters is what makes “Ninth House” so compelling: the characters are so well crafted the outlandish events become realistic when seen through their eyes. After turning the last page, a reader might take a few minutes to look around and reassure herself that no Grays are lurking nearby.


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Review: Let's Make Ramen!: A Comic Book Cookbook

Let's Make Ramen!: A Comic Book Cookbook by Hugh Amano
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Let’s Make Ramen! is a hybrid cookbook and graphic novel written by foodie Hugh Amano and illustrated by Sarah Becan – who also pens the food-based webcomic I Think You’re Sauceome. This comic book cookbook contains over forty ramen recipes that are at the same time easy to understand, funny, and beautifully drawn.

The book starts off with Ramen 101, giving the reader a thorough introduction into the world of this Japanese dish by discussing its cultural history, etiquette (it’s OK to slurp!), and many of the best ways to enjoy ramen including the best drinks to pair with it.

From there it prepares the reader for making ramen on their own by showing what ingredients to have stocked in the pantry and what cooking equipment to get for the kitchen, including a few items most Americans might not already have like noodle baskets and pasta rollers.

The bulk of the book goes on to break down a variety of ramen recipes like miso ramen, veg head’s deluxe, and tonkotsu ramen. A lot of time and illustration goes into how to make and store the wide array of stocks & broths that can be used in ramen dishes. For instance, it shows how to make instant ramen cubes by freezing stock in an ice cube tray. This handy trick saves a lot of time and energy when preparing future bowls of ramen. The noodles are also a major focal point in the book, discussing the best brands if buying in the store as well as how to prepare your own at home. Although, I would have liked some information on gluten-free noodle preparation for those sensitive to that ingredient.

Overall, I’d recommend this unique graphic novel cookbook for anyone looking to expand their ramen horizons beyond the 25-cent, plastic-wrapped, store-bought version that you might have survived on at some point in your life. Even if you don’t read this one from cover to cover, I’d invite you to browse as each page and section is full of colorful artwork and insightful information. Now let’s make ramen!


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