A selection of books for Winter Reading 2025.
A perceptive talking cat enlists the help of an aimless high school student in order to help save books that "... have been imprisoned." A coming-of-age adventure that is also an homage to all kinds of books and to the joy of reading.
On the surface, The Library Book is about the history of the Los Angeles Public Library, particularly about the devastating fire in 1986 that destroyed 400,00 books and damaged hundreds of thousands more. This part of the book is a true crime story as she explores the possible origins of the fire, and the investigation at the time. It is also a book about the sometimes eccentric City Librarians of the past, and the role of the library in the rapidly growing City of Los Angeles.
More than that, the book is a love letter to libraries everywhere, highlighting the importance of libraries to the vitality of a city and the value they bring to individual lives. While it was a delight to read about colleagues, and the history of the institution all of us proudly serve, the book is a poignant reminder of the personal love of libraries and reading that was fostered by many of our parents, as well as the necessity and relevance of the profession we love.
Fiction can have powerful effects on readers, as portrayed in the lives of two self-avowed non-readers, Mukesh and Aleisha. Aleisha is a young adult abandoned by her parents and is struggling to find her place in the world despite the demands of a dysfunctional family. Mukesh is an older adult who had an incredibly happy life until losing his beloved wife. Mukesh and Aleisha have been hurt and are dealing with their own types of grief and loneliness, but find solace and hope by sharing the books they read. This novel illustrates the profound effects of reading and sharing books with others.
Translated from the Japanese, this book follows five different people who are feeling adrift in their lives. They live in the same area in Tokyo and find help in their local library, where books are recommended by a mysterious librarian. The books will influence their lives for the better. This book is the ultimate cozy and zen read that speaks to the power of books and libraries.