Staff Favorites from 2023

Our behind-the-scenes staff aren't as visible to customers, but they love to read too! Get lots of good ideas to add to your reading list with favorite reads of 2023. 

Roger, Adult and Community Engagement: "Black River Orchard" by Chuck Wendig 

After the success of "The Wanderers" series, Chuck Wendig is back, shifting gears and leading us down the disturbing path to Black River Orchard. He created a slow-burn, modern folktale, that is filled with magic, cults, a cat named Orange Lump and copious amounts of apples. It's a bizarre and entertaining ride that rattles in your cage long after finishing the final page. You will never look at apples the same way again!

Alexa, Cataloging and Processing: "The Mirror Visitor Quartet" by Christelle Dabos

This series is full of fun characters with fantastic character growth throughout the series. The magic system is unique but easy to understand. The world-building draws you in and doesn't let go. I read all four books back-to-back because I just had to know what happened next.  

"Wolfsong" by T J Klune

The writing style is very fast paced so you're never bored. Even though it is face paced T J Klune fills every line with important details making his characters come to life. You will fall in love with the main character and his hardships. You will laugh with them, cry with them and be angry with them. I just hope you don't throw the book at the wall like I did. Of course, I then picked it right back up and never put it back down. 

Lynn, Collection Development: "Fresh Water For Flowers" by Valerie Perrin

This is a very unique story that is beautifully written and translated from French. The many layered story unfolds slowly and is at turns tender, touching, achingly sad, funny, tragic, hopeful, and so very sensual. The main character Violette Toussaint is a caretaker of a cemetery in a small town in France and she is one of my favorite protagonists of all time. Despite the story being about death and grieving, it leaves you feeling uplifted and hopeful, and thinking about life, love, family and friendship. Unforgettable! 

Jonathan, Human Resources: "The Broken Earth Trilogy" by N.K. Jemisin

N.K. Jemisin’s "The Broken Earth Trilogy" ("The Fifth Season", "The Obelisk Gate" and "The Stone Sky") is a sprawling (and yet surprisingly intimate) science fiction epic that deals with issues ranging from ecological disaster, colonialism and bigotry to the sacrifices made by a parent to protect those she loves. It encompasses moral issues from eugenics, slavery, and technological determinism to social obligation and the cold clarity needed for survival in a harsh and, in a very real sense, angry world. Jemisin’s nuances of plot and narrative voice add to the compelling nature of the grim yet hopeful universe she creates. 

Linda, Customer Support Services: "Master Slave Husband Wife: An Epic Journey From Slavery to Freedom" by Ilyon Woo

This true historical account is very emotionally engaging as I found myself rooting for the couple's success every step of the way. I love the account of their interactions with other historical figures of the time, bringing those figures into sharp focus too. It is very well-written and is so fascinating that it reads like a novel.

Todd, Collection Development: "Gather" by Kenneth M. Cadow

Rural Vermont is the setting of this debut novel for teens, written in the stunning, unforgettable voice of Ian, a 16-year-old gamely dealing with multiple issues. Matters of addiction, class, food and transportation insecurity, along with the much-needed comfort of a visiting dog, combine to make this well-crafted, National Book Award finalist incredibly memorable. 

Julie, Adult and Community Engagement: "The Scandalous Confessions of Lydia Bennet, Witch" by Melinda Taub

Familiar characters…or characters as familiars? If you’re always wondering about the ancillary characters in books and enjoy a fun retelling of a Jane Austen story with a fantastical twist, this book is for you. It is a fun companion to Austen’s "Pride and Prejudice", but it also stands on its own as a witchy regency tale.

Briana, Collection Development: "Trials of the Earth: The True Story of a Pioneer Woman" by Mary Mann Hamilton 

This is an action-packed, first-hand account of a pioneer woman who lived in Arkansas and Mississippi in the last half of the 1800s. Jam-packed with adventure and tragedy, I felt like I haven’t lived at all. More exciting than any fiction thriller, you get a true sense of just how hard life was and how resilient those who stayed needed to be. This story was submitted in a writing competition in 1933 but did not win. Lucky for us her descendants held on to it so that 80 years later it could be published.

"Desperate Passage: The Donner Party's Perilous Journey West" by Ethan Rarick

This account of the Donner party’s westward trek to California draws on new research and letters/diaries that have only been made available 150 years after the tragedy. The realities of going west, the consequences of bad decisions, and listening to those who were ill-informed all created a perfect storm for these travelers. Heartbreaking decisions made by parents, recollections of children who survived and accounts of how survivors fared afterward makes this a compelling read. What stays with me the most is Patty Reed’s dolly, that she kept hidden in the folds of her dress even after being told to leave everything behind. Reaching security after months of fear, she pulled it from her hiding place and spent a pleasant hour laughing, chatting to and hearing the imagined replies. A dolly and a memory that she kept all her life.

Kristen, Cataloging and Processing: "I Am the Warrior: My Crazy Life Writing the Hits and Rocking the MTV 80s" by Holly Knight

The first time I picked up this book, memories of the 1980s came flowing in my mind. However, when I learned the author, Holly Knight, was responsible for writing hit songs I remember and love like "Simply the Best," "Love is a Battlefield," and (of course) "I am the Warrior," I had to pick it up. While reading it, I can recall the songs as I read the events leading up to their creation, and I can't help but feel happy for Holly's success.

Noel, Collection Development: "The Collected Regrets of Clover" by Mikki Brammer

As a death doula, Clover spends her time talking and connecting with those who are nearing the end of their lives, providing comfort and assistance in their transition. Her only hobby is attending death cafes, where people gather to discuss death and share their experiences. Clover becomes extremely close with one of her clients and from that closeness, Clover finds herself embarking on a life-changing journey across the country. Suddenly tasked with uncovering an unforgettable love story, Clover makes choices that will change the course of her life.

I know you are probably thinking that this book must be sad since a good portion of it is about death. Yes, there are sad parts, but overall, this book is full of hope and joy. It's a one-of-a-kind, unique and inspirational read that is perfect for book clubs. You will definitely have regrets if you don’t place this book on hold now!

Doug, Adult and Community Engagement: "Eight Bears: Mythic Past and Imperiled Future" by Gloria Dickie

Gloria Dickie highlights the eight species of bears, each in their own chapter, and highlights their cultural significance, their often-tragic history with humankind and their risk of endangerment. Readers may be aware of some species like the panda or the polar bear, but will also learn about bears like the spectacled bear and the sloth bear. This book is perfect for nature lovers and those who wish to learn more about the animal kingdom, and a reminder that humans are not the only species affected by climate change.

Angelique, Collection Development: "The Country of the Blind: A Memoir at the End of Sight" by Andrew Leland 

Diagnosed with a rare eye disease in his teens, Andrew Leland explores the boundaries between sightedness and blindness as he grapples with his deteriorating vision. With wit, humor and grace, Leland serves as a model for gracefully accepting the inevitable changes in our abilities as we age. 

Maureen, Collection Development: "Glory Be" by Danielle Arceneaux

Glory Broussard may be my favorite character of 2023! Glory is a Black woman of a certain age living in Lafayette, Louisiana who is used to Southern racism and whose world revolves around her church and her work as a small-time bookie. She speaks her mind and is hilarious. When she learns that her best friend has been found dead and the police rule it a suicide, Glory adds amateur sleuth to her resume and drags her daughter, Delphine, into the investigation, which has them travelling through a wide variety of circles, including church gossips, voodoo priestesses and oil tycoons. I can't wait for Glory's next adventure!

Tayla, Collection Development: "Thank You for Sharing" by Rachel Runya Katz

This contemporary rom-com features two Jewish people of color, Daniel and Liyah, who had a falling out as kids and are reunited by fate's mysterious ways on a plane. The two get off to a bad start but are brought back together when they find out they're partnering up for a work project. Their story includes plenty of sarcastic banter and a cute enemies-to-lovers arch, all wrapped in the struggles and triumphs Liyah and Daniel experience in connection with their cultures and religion. I quickly fell in love with Liyah and Daniel's dynamic, but also their care for one another. I really resonated with Liyah's experiences being a Black woman having studied in a field that's predominantly white and feeling she can't mess up because advancement opportunities aren't as common. Seeing her learn how to love was also super cute. So, if you're looking for a feel-good romance, you should check this one out!

Tayla, Collection Development: "The Yakuza's Bias, Vol. 1" by Teki Yatsuda

This one is for the K-pop fans who also love manga similar to "The Way of the House Husband." This manga stars Ken Kanashiro, who is second in command of one of Japan's most fearsome yakuza clans. Ken is a very serious and terrifying man, well at least he was until the boss' daughter, Megumi, an avid K-pop fan of the boy group MNW, brings Ken to one of their concerts. Ken becomes a devoted fan of MNW and a loyal follower of one of their members, Jun. With Ken's newfound love and devotion to Jun, you'd think his duties as second in command would suffer, but Ken finds a way to combine his loyalty to his clan and to Jun. This manga captivated me from the moment I unpacked it. The whimsicalness of a hardened yakuza member falling in love with a K-pop singer was just too good to pass on. "The Yakuza's Bias" will have you laughing until it hurts and falling in love with the silly antics of Ken and his comrades.