Staff Recommendations
Daryl M.
Pages
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Women of Good Fortune
by Wan, Sophie
March 11, 2024
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Sophie Wan opens her debut novel with this bit of information:“Sheng nu – ‘leftover women’ – unmarried women over the age of twenty-seven. Later adopted by the internet community to refer to often well-educated women who had passed the appropriate age for marriage.”Wan then goes on to introduce readers to the protagonists of her novel: Rina, a young woman educated in the west who is keenly aware of her ticking biological clock as she pursues her career; Jane, a brand conscious fashionista forced by her parents into an arranged marriage; and Lulu, a restaurant hostess who has been supporting... Read Full Review
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The Fox Wife
by Choo, Yangsze
February 20, 2024
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A detective is approached about discovering the identity of a young woman who is found dead and frozen outside a restaurant. A grieving mother undertakes a search to locate the man she holds responsible for her daughter’s death. As each travels across Manchuria in the early 20th century, it becomes clear that while their stories may seem unrelated, the clues they are each following lead them closer and closer together.In her latest novel, after 2019’s excellent ... Read Full Review
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The Book of Doors
by Brown, Gareth
February 5, 2024
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Cassie Andrews is living a quiet life in New York City. She spends her days and evenings working in a bookshop, and when she goes home each night, more often than not, she curls up with a good book. A set of unusual circumstances in the bookstore result in Cassie coming into possession of a strange, unassuming little book that, according to the title page, is The Book of Doors. Inside, the book is inscribed with the title, some mysterious symbols and drawings, and the inscription that “any door is every door.” Cassie ponders the book and wonders what it means. When she unexpectedly... Read Full Review
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Kill Show
by Sweren-Becker, Daniel
January 16, 2024
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What is it about true crime that fascinates us? Why, over a century later, are we still fascinated with the brutal murders of five women in the Whitechapel district of London? What draws people to the life and death of notorious bank robbers Bonnie & Clyde almost a century later? Why was interest in Jeffrey Dahmer high enough to make Netflix’s series about the murders he committed from the 1970s-90s a hit show? Who will be the focus of our next national obsession, and what is the next real crime that will become a form of entertainment? Daniel Sweren-Becker explores our country’s... Read Full Review
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The Fragile Threads of Power
by Schwab, Victoria
January 8, 2024
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It’s been seven years since the events at the end of V.E. Schwab’s A Conjuring of Light. In Red London, Lila and Kell have been sailing the seas as privateers on her ship, the Grey Barron (They also secretly perform tasks for Red London’s crown.). Rhy Maresh, Kell’s brother, has ascended the Arnesian throne. He has married Nadiya Loreni, and the two now have a daughter named Tieren. Alucard Emery, a former noble and a former privateer, is now the king’s consort, rounding out the royal... Read Full Review
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Unnatural Ends
by Huang, Christopher
December 19, 2023
Call Number: M
Sir Lawrence Linwood, the Lord of Linwood Hollow and a tyrant of a father, is always pushing his adopted children to meet unreasonable demands. Three adult children, Alan, Roger, and Caroline, have escaped their father and their home, but not unscathed. When Sir Lawrence dies, his children return home, as expected, to find not only that their father was murdered but that the latest version of his will declares that the child who solves their father’s murder will inherit his estate.In Unnatural Ends, Christopher Huang uses elements from the golden age of mystery, pitting siblings... Read Full Review
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Being Henry : the Fonz . . . and beyond
by Winkler, Henry, 1945-
November 27, 2023
Call Number: 812.092 W775-2
Henry Winkler has worked as an actor, director, producer, and is the author of several series of children’s books. Now, with Being Henry, Winkler tells the story of his own life and it is a fascinating read.Winkler writes his memoir with charm and grace. He describes the difficulties that faced his parents, who were German immigrants just prior to the outbreak of World War II. He also describes a home life that was an uncomfortable mixture of comfort and abuse. Winkler’s parents were strict authoritarians who often expected more of their son, an undiagnosed dyslexic, than he was able... Read Full Review
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The celebrants : a novel
by Rowley, Steven, 1971-
November 20, 2023
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Two weeks before their college graduation, a group of friends, who have become family during their college experience, must attend the funeral of one of their own. Alec has died of an apparent drug overdose and it shakes them all, Craig, Jordan, Jordy, Marielle, and Naomi, to their cores. Alec’s death causes them to question everything they know on the eve of venturing out into the “real world” as adults. In response to their collective pain and confusion at the loss, Marielle suggests “the pact”: at any time in the coming years when they feel that they need it, any member of the group can... Read Full Review
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Midnight at the Houdini
by Dawson, Delilah S.
November 13, 2023
Call Number: e-Audiobook
According to Merriam-Webster’s Dictionary, magic is: 1) the use of means (such as charms or spells) believed to have supernatural power over natural forces, and 2) the art of producing illusions by sleight of hand. In her new novel, Midnight at the Houdini, Delilah S. Dawson tells a tale filled with both types of magic referenced by Merriam-Webster, plus a few more just for good measure, and the results are themselves magical.For Anna Alonso, magic became irrelevant when she was 10 years old. After attending a princess themed birthday party that went horribly, horribly wrong... Read Full Review
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The Shadow Glass
by Winning, Joshua
October 30, 2023
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The line between artistic genius and madness is razor fine and artists often madly dance along, and across, that line while they are working to manifest their vision. Jack’s father, Bob Corman, was no exception. Bob put everything he had into The Shadow Glass, an epic fantasy film done entirely with puppets. When the film was released in the mid-80s, it was a financial failure and Bob never quite recovered. He spent the rest of his life pursuing and promoting his masterpiece, often ignoring any/everything that wasn’t related to The Shadow Glass. This included Jack, who used to love The Shadow... Read Full Review
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A Season of Monstrous Conceptions
by Rather, Lina
October 24, 2023
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Sarah has always known she is different. Her parents never missed an opportunity to remind her. They never faltered in telling her how she was one of the children being born in England who were monstrous, with claws, too many eyes, or mouths, or with fur, tales, or scales, or any number of “differences.” Sarah’s anomaly was easily removed shortly after she was born, so she has been able to “pass” for someone “normal”. But Sarah has never felt able, never been allowed, to fit in.After the sudden and unexpected death of her husband, Sarah moved to London. She hoped that, away from those who had... Read Full Review
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The Getaway
by Giles, Lamar
October 16, 2023
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Karloff Country is a marvel. Modeled on Walt Disney World in Florida, Karloff Country is a slightly smaller theme park/resort complex with a similar number of theme parks as Walt Disney World, but also includes: planned communities for all of its employees, a power plant, vertical farms to provide the food necessary for both resort operations and for the residents, and an airfield. All of this is surrounded by a wall, which protects both the employees and guests from the crime, chaos, and food shortages that exist outside. When Jay’s parents get jobs working at Karloff County, he felt like... Read Full Review