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Check out our reviews and recommendations:
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Laura recommends: What it’s about: This quirky and unique mystery plunges right in when Joey Molina, an eccentric regular at the Bright Ideas Bookstore, is found hanging on the third floor of the store, an apparent suicide. Why is there a childhood picture of Lydia, the bookseller who found him, sticking out of his pocket? Is Joey’s death somehow related to Lydia’s deeply held secret childhood trauma? Joey leaves a mysterious code in the books he has bequeathed to Lydia; as she follows his trail of clues, they seem to lead to her own hidden past. Then Lydia’s childhood friend suddenly reappears, bringing up questions about her estranged father. Why you might like it: The intricate and twisty plot will appeal to puzzle lovers, others will appreciate the eccentric characters and darkly suspenseful tone. Try this next: If you relish the literary setting and complex, likeable lead character of this title, you might also enjoy the John Dunning’s Bookman mysteries. Start with Booked to Die.
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Roseanne recommends: Don't Go [sound recording] by Lisa ScottolineReviewers say: “This time Scottoline varies the pattern by making her heroine a hero. A surprisingly successful attempt to retool the damsel-in-distress formula” (Kirkus Reviews). About the author: Lisa Scottoline is The New York Times bestselling author and Edgar award-winning author of 30 novels, including her recently published title, After Anna.
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What it’s about: Feminism, female power, misogyny, how women influence each other Why you might like it: The main character, Greer, represents the newest generation of feminists as she navigates how to do work that makes a positive difference in the world. Book buzz: Unintentionally perfectly timed to the advent of the @MeToo era, this novel is sure to speak to many people and to be made into a Hollywood movie.
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What it's about: Based on the fictional romance of steel tycoon and philanthropist Andrew Carnegie and his mother’s lady’s maid, this novel is a delightful venture into 19th century life and the immigrants that built modern America. Fresh off the boat, Irish farm-girl Clara Kelly is mistaken for another girl by the same name. Clara finds herself in an extravagant home with no choice but to keep up the charade of a properly educated servant to support her financially ailing family back home. Why you might like it: An easy read with likable characters and a lot of charming 19th century detail. For fans of: Downton Abbey, Mr. Selfridge, and The Paradise.
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What’s inside: Ghosts trapped in windows, mysterious letters, unfaithful lovers, a sasquatch pining for his lost human love, killer snakes, wicked babysitters, and magic in unexpected places (like the mall). And much more. Why you should read it: Kelly Barnhill won the Newbery Medal last year for her lovely children’s book The Girl Who Drank The Moon, but this collection is for adults who still enjoy the thrill of a well-told story. If you enjoy peculiar short stories with gorgeous writing, slippery yet intriguing characters, and some sly humor, give this book a try.
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What it’s about: The history of one of the world’s major foods, and how its consumption changed and adapted over the millennia. Lots of recipes included (some that you definitely may NOT want to replicate). Why you should read it: Whether you love “cow juice” or hate it, this book has so many interesting tidbits that it is a pleasure to read; it also gives a lot of food for thought, pardon the pun. Did you know that milk as a beverage on its own was relatively uncommon? The Romans thought consumption of milk by the Northern people was “barbaric.” A sample of chapters: Going Sour in the Fertile Crescent, Buttery Barbarians, The Cheese Heads, Cows and Truth, and Trouble in Cow Paradise. Reviewers say: “Kurlansky's charming history of milk brims with excellent stories and great details” (Publishers Weekly).
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Stacey recommends: Fifty Acres and a Poodle: A Story of Love, Livestock, and Finding Myself on a Farm by Jeanne Marie Laskas What it’s about: When a longtime city dweller and her fiancé move to a hobby farm in rural Pennsylvania with their brood of pets, they’re only partly prepared for the challenges they face—and humor often ensues. It’s a story of a mid-life couple preparing for their wedding, city folk feeling like fish out of water as they learn country ways, and people facing change with quiet courage. Why you might like it: In a compulsively readable style, Laskas narrates their story with warmth and candor. If you enjoy romantic memoirs about people pursuing their dreams, this book is for you.
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What it is: If you want to understand what leads someone to want to take their own life or what life is like for the friends and family members of those who have, this book will do that. The testimonies are heartbreaking and beautiful. Is it for you? Whoever you are and whatever your personal background is, please be safe while reading this book. There are a multitude of potential triggers in this book. It's full of people courageously sharing some of the most difficult life experiences anyone can go through.
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What’s inside: Take a trip to some of the most beautiful places on earth in this collection of spectacular landscape photography, easy to understand 3-D terrain models, and illustrations. Starting with an illustrated explanation of plate tectonics, the book takes you around the world to see stunning scenery, and then shows you what’s beneath it, and how it was formed. Lakes, mountains, ice sheets, forests, canyons…every picture is breath-taking, and the explanations are simple to understand. About the creators: A collaboration between the Smithsonian and DK Publishing, which specializes in high quality illustrated works.
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