Back in 2021, I gave myself a goal of reading 15 books. I ended up reading 21, so naturally, I raised the stakes for myself, and in 2022 gave myself a goal of reading 30 books. I typically read on my lunch at work, as well as in my spare time, so I figured this... Continue Reading →
The Book Club Hub – New Book Club Bags (Part 2)
Book clubs offer a great opportunity for friends and book lovers to gather (whether virtually or in person) to catch up and discuss a good book. There’s only two problems with this activity and they seem to come up at every meeting: what book should the group read next and how do you find enough... Continue Reading →
Staff Review – Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens
"Where the Crawdads Sing" by Delia Owens was published in 2018 and was quickly chosen to join Reese Witherspoon's bookclub. Naturally, this helped launch the novel into even more fame, and it has been a top-pick for readers ever since. Here at TBPL, it was the 5th most circulated adult fiction book of 2021. "Where... Continue Reading →
Staff Review – One Last Stop by Casey McQuiston
If you're looking for something quirky, queer, and takes place on the Q train, you've come to the right place. "One Last Stop' by Casey McQuiston is an exciting and entertaining ride from start to finish. Filled with a diverse cast of characters living in New York City, "One Last Stop" follows 23 year old... Continue Reading →
Staff Review: Concrete Rose by Angie Thomas
I read “The Hate U Give” by Angie Thomas a few months ago, and heard there would be a prequel coming out this year. “The Hate U Give” follows Starr, a Black teenager who witnesses her friend (who is also Black) be killed by a white police officer. The story is powerful and passionate, and... Continue Reading →
Dystopian Gender Roles
We weren't sure what to title this episode. It was clear that there was a collective theme to these books, but our original idea of feminist dystopia wasn't quite right. I ended up at Gender-Interrogating Speculative Fiction, but Nicole told me (correctly) that is way too long and complicated. You can see what we've settled... Continue Reading →
Wilderness Survival
And it's time for another one of Laura's reading obsessions! This time, we're talking books about surviving nature, whether it's in the extreme cold of the north, the Florida Everglades, or just adrift in the ocean - basically, we're talking anything inspired by Hatchet. Listen along to find out whether Nicole's felt the allure of... Continue Reading →
Cold Earth by Ann Cleeves
In the seventh outing in the Shetland Island series featuring detective Jimmy Perez, author Ann Cleeves has begun to delve deeper into the characters inner lives while still writing an engaging mystery. Besides working with Jimmy, the author has begun to round out the lives and desires of his co-workers, including his long suffering sidekick,... Continue Reading →
Goodbye, things: the new Japanese minimalism by Fumio Sasaki
Lately, you may have heard of “Minimalism” gaining popularity. This is a movement which can be defined in many ways, and I personally like Joshua Becker’s definition: “Minimalism is the intentional promotion of the things we most value and the removal of anything that distracts us from it”. I see myself as a minimalist and try... Continue Reading →
Case of the Missing Morris Dancer by Cathy Ace
This book’s catchy title caught my eye on a display in the Library, and I’m happy to report it did not disappoint! The story is set in idyllic rural Wales, at the stately home of the eighteenth Duke of Chellingworth who is about to be married. His doting mother is anxious to provide a wedding... Continue Reading →