C-SPL Reader of the Month: Kate and Sarah Faford-Johnson

About Kate & Sarah 

 

Kate and Sarah Faford-Johnson love spending time outdoors and enjoy kayaking, hiking, and biking. They usually have their two dogs, Bing Bong and River, along for the adventure. They are both beginning a new adventure in the fall as they relocate to New Mexico. 

Kate loves a good dystopian novel and balances that out with readings on Buddhism, meditation, and healthy living. Sarah has a true nerd-love of graphic novels and well written science fiction. She also has a deep love of anything written by the great early conservationists, like John Muir and Aldo Leopold.

(See the past Reader of the Month posts here) 

Q&A with Kate and Sarah

 

Q. What is the best book you have read within the last year (or ever)?

Kate: The past year would probably be Dark Matter by Blake Crouch and best ever would be The Year of the Flood by Margaret Atwood.

Sarah: That’s a toss up between Kurt Vonnegut’s Breakfast of Champions and Tal M. Klein’s The Punch Escrow.

What is your ideal reading environment (location, sound, snacks, etc.)?

Kate: I like reading outdoors in a cozy environment. A hammock in the backyard, a nice chair on the beach, anything that gets me outside is ideal. But if that's not possible, I will gladly take a chai latte and a quiet corner at Charlotte’s.

Sarah: I prefer a comfy chair and a quiet environment. As long as I have those two I am happy.

What book are you most excited about reading next and what about it is most exciting?

Kate: I’m excited to read (or listen to) The Expanse series by James S.A. Corey. We’re planning on listening to the audiobooks through the Overdrive app on our road trip to New Mexico this fall.

Sarah: I agree with Kate. We love The Expanse television series and I am excited to check out the books to see how they compare.

What book has been the most challenging for you to read? How did it challenge you?

Sarah: I think Cormac McCarthey’s The Road has been the most challenging book I have read recently. It was just such an emotionally challenging book to read and without giving too much away, it just felt so real. It was an excellent book and I applaud him for making me feel so uncomfortable.

When do you decide to stop reading a book? (In other words, do you read every book to the last page, or is there a moment when you decide to stop?)

Sarah: Kate will give up on a book when she is not interested or it just is not the right time. I have a horrible habit of believing every book is worthy of my time. I cannot give up on a book, no matter how terrible, until the final page.

Do you remember when your love for reading began?

Kate: My love of reading began in elementary school. We had a reading challenge that I was really into. It started with Goosebumps and Harry Potter books, and in high school, I got more into non-fiction books about Buddhism and books about multicultural issues, other social issues, and environmental issues.

Sarah: I was fortunate to grow up in a household where my parents really encouraged my innate curiosity about everything. They took me to get a library card as soon as I was old enough and even set up a dedicated corner in my bedroom to serve as my personal library, complete with a reading square carpet just like the one we had in my kindergarten class. I loved reading about everything I encountered and that passion has continued throughout my life.

Check out Kate & Sarah's Favorites book list! 

Apply to be the next C-SPL Reader of the Month!

Staff Review: Orphan Black

Whether I'm reading a book or watching TV, the most important element to me are the characters. I like a clever plot, I appreciate beautiful language, and if a story's set in outer space, I'll at least check it out, but more than anything else, I need interesting characters.

Orphan Black, I'm happy to say, is absolutely a character-driven story. Not that there isn't a fascinatingly twisted plot, but the real treat, for me at least, was watching how the different characters reacted to the story. The fact that many of those characters are played by the same actress (Tatiana Maslany) is what really sets this show apart.

If you don't want to risk any spoilers, this is where you should stop reading, and instead check out the first season on DVD. Not that I'd risk ruining this for anyone with major spoilers! As someone without cable TV, I've been trying my best to avoid spoilers for the second season before the DVD release on June 24th.

Sarah Manning (Tatiana Maslany) has decided to make a clean break with her troubled past (drugs, abusive ex, petty crime, etc.) to regain custody of her daughter. Unfortunately, a clean break requires funds and Sarah is broke, but then, on an otherwise deserted train platform, a woman who could be her wealthier doppelganger commits suicide. Sarah sees an opportunity and takes it, and of course, by it, I mean the dead woman's purse. Sarah plans to clean out Beth's (the dead woman, also played by Tatiana Maslany) bank account, fake her own death, and live  happily ever after.

Of course, this is not at all how things go, and Beth, we quickly learn, is not the only woman who looks disturbingly similar to Sarah. Conspiracy, murder, dark humor, and did I mention how amazing Tatiana Maslany is? Because she (and the rest of the cast and crew) take what could've been another somewhat goofy science fiction conspiracy show (not that I don't love goofy science fiction conspiracy shows) and create something obsessively watchable.

~Sarah, Adult Services

Patron Picks: What Dubuque is Reading

Summer is in full swing, and there's nothing nicer than to curl up with a good book in the shade with some iced tea or lemonade or whatever your favorite summertime drink might be! As much as we enjoy sharing our favorite books with you, we love to hear about the books you're enjoying even more!

Today we're sharing some of the book reviews you've written on our Pinterest board or on a Patron Picks review bookmark. You can stop in to the library and flip through the Patron Picks binder or visit Pinterest for even more reviews. And if you have a book you enjoyed, feel free to share in the comments here, on Pinterest, or on a bookmark!

The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern
5 stars. "Romance, magic & mystery. This book keeps you guessing right to the end! You won't be disapointed!"
4 stars. "Definitely a slow start. I forced myself to trudge through the first 200 pages which seemed to be mostly narration. Right at the 50% mark it picked up and I couldn't put it down. This book will push the limits of your imagination. The romance element was the most enticing, and could have been developed even more. Overall, nothing like I've read before. A good read."
Still not convinced? Check out Andrew's staff review too!

Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs
5 stars. "What a lovely surprise this book was... that is if you like things that are slightly odd. I wouldn't say this is a horror, but discovery of the, for lack of better word, peculiar. I'd absolutely recommend this book and believe it would be a fascinating film!" 

Murder at Ford's Theatre by Margaret Truman
5 stars. "An interesting storyline that had a lot of twists & turns. Surprising ending."
You may also enjoy reading the athors in our political mysteries post. 


A Higher Call by Adam Makos
5 stars. "Great read, do NOT want to put it down! Insight into German life during WWII."

Killing Kennedy: The End of Camelot by Bill O'Reilly and Martin Dugard
4 stars. "Great followup to Killing Lincoln, although not as compelling since living the 1963 experience."
Want to read more about President Kennedy? Check out these best seller read alike posts for Killing Kennedy.

Divergent by Veronica Roth
4 stars. "I have to admit that the similarities between this and Hunger Games is more than off-putting. The ceremony where they choose, the ranking/elimination, the training, even the bird tattoo.It's not easy to put down. A plus for this book vs. HG, they seem to be developing the romantic angle more, which I wanted from HG. Definitely captivating, I couldn't put it down. It wasn't the most unique or unpredictable, but still a good read."
Be sure to check out our read alike suggestions for The Hunger Games.

Hope's Boy by Andrew Bridge
4 stars. "This is the true story of a young boy whose father leaves when he was a baby and his mother has mental illness... When he is seven his mother's mental illness finally overtakes her, and Andrew is placed in foster care for the next 11 years. This is a story of courage, survival, and a boy's unending love for his mother who he never really knew. My only wish is that he had written more about his adult life as a survivor. Very poignant and touching."

Dead Ever After by Charlaine Harris
3 stars. "Wraps up the series nicely. Wasn't very exciting like the previous books. Wish there was more from the vamps."

Attachments by Rainbow Rowell
4 stars. "Starts a little slow, but at the end I couldn't stop reading this book."
Sarah also reviewed this book for our blog, and several of us in the adult services department agree that Rowell's second novel, Eleanor & Park, is even better.

The Language of Flowers by Vanessa Diffenbaugh
5 stars. "So AMAZING. Quick read, good for all ages. Love, loss, growth & change."

Lexicon by Max Barry
1 star. "Violent/confusing."
I admit that I was so intrigued by this one star review that I had to check this out. I'd read Barry's Jennifer Government years ago and enjoyed it, and wasn't disappointed by Lexicon. It is violent, the plot is complicated, and there's quite a bit of swearing to boot, so I can see why it isn't for everyone, but if you enjoy a fast-paced story about a secret society with supernatural powers who run the world with just a dash of romance, you'll like this book too! -Sarah, Adult Services

Read Alike: Debbie Macomber

Debbie Macomber

www.debbiemacomber.com

Debbie Macomber is a #1 New York Times bestselling author and is best known for her ability to create compelling characters and bring their stories to life in her books. Drawing on her own experiences and observations, Debbie writes heartwarming tales about small-town life, home and family, enduring friendships and women who knit. With more than 130 million copies of her books in print, Debbie Macomber is one of the world’s most popular authors. In addition to her fiction novels, Debbie has also written a cookbook and a knitting guide to tie into her Cedar Cover and Blossom Street series.

Debbie Macomber’s Cedar Cove Cookbook

Knit Together: Discover God’s Pattern for Your Life.

If you enjoy Debbie Macomber try these other authors:

Cathie Linz writes charming Romantic Comedies featuring humor and satisfying, sensual romance. Many of Linz’s stalwart but vulnerable heroes come from the Marine Corps. Linz also writes series of linked Romances, so that readers can continue to enjoy characters they like as they appear in secondary roles in subsequent novels. Try Mad, Bad and Blond, after being jilted at the altar, librarian Faith West goes on her Italian honeymoon solo, but doesn't stay that way too long. And though her sexy rebound man has ulterior motives, feelings surface that neither of them are prepared for.

Jan Karon's Mitford series, has a strong inspirational message. In a small town setting, Karon explores her characters' lives with humor and grace, and offers emotionally satisfying solutions as well as domestic pleasures and endearing characters. The series begins with At Home in Mitford, which introduces Episcopalian Father Timothy Kavanaugh, his congregation, and his comical dog.

Susan Wiggs is another author who has made the transition from Romance to Women's Lives and Relationships with her emotionally involving, character-centered novels. Readers will recognize and relate to the heroines and their stories of relationships with family, friends, and lovers. Wiggs also sets many of her novels in the Pacific Northwest, and draws on the Navy for characters and story lines. Try Just Breath, with Chicago, and her marriage, in the rearview mirror, cartoonist Sarah Moon flees to the small northern California coastal town where she grew up. As she comes to terms with her lost marriage, Sarah encounters a man she never expected to meet again: Will Bonner, the high school heartthrob she'd skewered mercilessly in her old comics. Now a local firefighter, he's been through some changes himself. But just as her heart is about to reawaken, Sarah discovers she is pregnant. With her ex's twins.

Richard Paul Evans writes sweet and uplifting tales. Famous for his stories that focus on love and family, beginning with The Christmas Box, Evans characters are nice people who have suffered setback or tragedy. He also incorporates themes of redemption, relationships, and the power of love. In The Sunflower, jilted Christine Hollister accompanies a friend to Peru to do charity work. There she meets Dr. Paul Cook, who has come to Peru to escape his own disappointments, and the two discover the healing power of love.

Jennifer Chiaverini writes heart-warming character-centered tales evoking nostalgia for "the good old days" in her readers. Her settings employ the dynamics of life in a small town and of intergenerational conflict to great effect in her tales, all of which focus on some aspect of the traditional art of quilting. Her Elm Creek Quilters series brings together women from all walks of life and ages who put aside their differences and work together to create a masterpiece. The series starts with The Quilters Apprentice, Sarah, struggling to find a job and a sense of place in her new town, finds herself learning how to quilt from a cantankerous old woman who also teaches her about the deep love that can exist between friends.

Robyn Carr writes contemporary romances and love stories that are character driven. Her stories are bittersweet, heartwarming and dramatic. Start with Virgin River, the first in her Virgin River series. Arriving in the remote mountain town of Virgin River in response to an ad, recently widowed Melinda realizes that she has made a mistake, until she finds an abandoned baby on her porch and lets a former Marine into her heart.

Susan Mallery writes contemporary romances and love stories with characters that feel like real people. Try Chasing Perfect, the first in the Fools Gold series. When she settles down in Fool's Gold, California, city planner Charity Jones, who has a past rife with romantic disasters, is tempted to take a chance on the town's most famous resident, former world-class cyclist Josh Golden.

Please stop by the Recommendations Desk on the first floor, check out NoveList Plus on the library's website, or visit W. 11th & Bluff next week for more reading suggestions. Or submit a Personal Recommendations request, and we'll create a reading list just for you!

Mini Staff Review: Team Human by Justine Larbalestier & Sarah Rees Brennan

Team Human by Justine Larbalestier & Sarah Rees Brennan
If you're feeling burned out on paranormal love stories, especially paranormal love stories featuring vampires, I highly recommend Team Human. A fast-paced yet thoughtful look at the genre that draws inspiration from everything from Dracula to, yes, Twilight with plenty of wit and sarcasm. Imagine that one of the ships that landed in New England during the 17th century was packed with vampires instead of pilgrims, and you have the origin story for New Whitby, Maine. Mel has lived her entire life in New Whitby, neighbor to vampires. Some of her classmates have vampire relatives. Some of her classmates are, like the tourists who flock to New Whitby, vampire obsessed. Mel has nothing against vampires, except for Francis, the 150 year-old teen vampire currently wooing Mel's best friend Cathy. Justine Larbalestier's and Sarah Rees Brennan's writing blend together into an entirely enjoyable read.

For a more serious take on paranormal love stories, try The Raven Boys, the first book in Maggie Stiefvater's Raven Cycle. Blue, who grew up in a family of psychics, has always known that if she kisses her true love, he will die. Unfortunately, no one can tell her who her true love is.

~Sarah, Adult Services

TV Show Read Alikes

We've created read alike posts for popular books that became popular movies (or less so). We've also written about the literary inspirations behind popular television programs. Today we're going to try our hands at suggesting read alikes for three humorous television shows that weren't based on books.

Big Bang Theory
This geek chic comedy by the creator of Dharma and Greg and Two and a Half Men is currently in its 6th season. The series focuses on the misadventures of science minded grad students and their one non-geek friend.

If you enjoy the humor and friendship of Leonard, Sheldon and pals, but have more in common with Penny, you should pick up a book by Nick Hornby. He writes about the foibles and loves of eccentric young people with humor and thought, and several of his novels have become big screen hits.

If you're the type of viewer more tickled by geeky elements, like Wil Wheaton's reoccurring role, you might enjoy Redshirts by John Scalzi or Ready Player One by Ernest Cline. If you've read Andrew's review of Cline's debut, you already know that Wheaton is the audio book's narrator.

Modern Family
An update to the family sitcom currently in its 4th season, and whose cast includes veteran sitcom actor Ed O'Neill. Despite being a scripted comedy, the show is filmed as a mockumentary, a style that evokes reality tv, a la The Office or Parks and Recreation.

Kevin Wilson takes the quirky family one step beyond quirky in his darkly humorous first novel, The Family Fang. You can read more about it in Sarah's staff review, or check it out for yourself!

Lisa Lutz’s funny, fast-paced mystery stories feature a large cast of colorful characters. The Spellman Files is the first in her upbeat series following Izzy Spellman and her work at her dysfunctional family’s detective agency.

British author Hilary McKay writes for kids and tweens, but her witty series about the Casson family of artists has charmed many an adult reader. The series starts with Saffy's Angel, and it is told from the perspective of the Casson family's second-oldest daughter.

Warehouse 13
Take one part wacky adventure, one part supernatural mystery, add a dash of steam punk style, and a quirky band of misfits, and you'll have something similar to Warehouse 13. The breakout hit of the rebranded SyFy network, this show appeal to viewers who normally wouldn't touch science-fiction. If you're anxiously awaiting the conclusion of season 4, never fear because new episodes will resume airing on April 4th.

If the artifacts, those seemingly everyday items imbued with impossible powers, are what tickle your fancy, try Libriomancer by Jim C Hines or Seven Deadly Wonders by Matthew Reilly. Libriomancer is the story of a Midwestern librarian whose powers are based on the power of the written word. That's right, it's a world where every cool thing you've read about in the fiction section can become non-fictional. Seven Deadly Wonders has a touch of Indiana Jones, as the characters race to find seven ancient artifacts that could destroy the world.

If the conspiracy is more your thing, try The Rook by Daniel O'Malley, with offbeat humor, a fast-paced plot, and a far-reaching cover-up of the supernatural. You can read more about it in Sarah's staff review.


Please stop by the Recommendations Desk on the first floor, check out NoveList Plus on the library's website, or visit W. 11th & Bluff next week for more reading suggestions. Or submit a Personal Recommendations request, and we'll create a reading list just for you!

An Audiobook Resolution

My 2012 New Year's resolution was simple, read one audiobook every month. I've dabbled in audiobooks since starting my career in librarianship, but I needed a push to step outside my routine. Audiobooks weren't part of my regular schedule, so I needed to learn how to make time to listen. I'd read Read on... Audiobooks by Joyce Saricks, an excellent guide to the variety of narrators, genres and styles available at the Recommendations Desk, but I needed to learn what I liked to listen to.

Overall, I'd call this experiment as success. I wouldn't think of setting out on a long trip without an audiobook or two (CD for the car, OverDrive downloadable for a plane). If I have a headache or insomnia, curling up in bed with a quieter audiobook is perfect. The right narrator improves the experience: the jokes are funnier, the scary bits are more terrifying, and the characters come alive.

More than anything, I'd recommend you try setting a reading resolution for 2013, and maybe pick up an audiobook! If you were wondering what I've listened to, keep reading for my list.

January
Cinder written by Marissa Meyer, narrated by Rebecca Soler

A science-fiction retelling of Cinderella with cyborgs? Sign me up! The book itself didn't quite live up to my expectations, but it also didn't discourage me from trying more audiobooks. It's also possible that I was a little annoyed to find out that this was only the first book in a series. 


February
State of Wonder written by Ann Patchett, narrated by Hope Davis

I'd had this on my To Read list since writing the Ann Patchett Read Alikes post, and it didn't disappoint. I passed some relaxing evenings with this book and a cup of tea. There were a few discs that were scratched to the point of annoyance, but I mentioned it to a coworker when I returned the disc and we got it cleaned up.

March
The Cinderella Deal written by Jennifer Crusie, narrated by Susan Boyce

I generally love Jennifer Crusie (and was on a romance/chick lit kick at the time), but I learned that listening to a narrator reading a steamy love scene aloud is far more embarrassing than reading it in the quiet of my own head.

April

The Scorpio Races written by Maggie Stiefvater, narrated by Steve West and Fiona Hardingham
I adored this book. I loved the story, the characters, and especially the narrators. I'd thought it might be confusing to have multiple narrators voicing the same characters, but because the chapters alternate perspective with the narrators, it worked very well. And okay, I'll admit it. I developed a bit of a crush on Steve West's voice. I even attempted to listen to him read The Grand Design by Steven Hawking.

May
Lock and Key written by Sarah Dessen, narrated by Rebecca Soler

I may not have loved Cinder, but I did enjoy Rebecca Soler's narration, add in my enjoyment of Sarah Dessen's writing, and this was a winner. Ruby's journey from fiercely independent and somewhat destructive to someone with family and hope for the future was definitely compelling.

June
Heartsick written by Chelsea Cain, narrated by Carolyn McCormick

I don't know what I was thinking. I don't like to watch horror movies. I tend not to read scary books. I'm one of those people who would only watch Criminal Minds with my hands over my eyes. I think I almost drove off the road listening to the serial killer describe how she tortured her victims. Ms. Cain wrote a suspenseful story, and Ms. McCormick is a skilled narrator, but I was not the right reader to fully appreciate their work.

July
Ready Player One written by Ernest Cline, narrated by Wil Wheaton

I'd checked out the print book, but hadn't gotten past the first chapter before it was due back to the library again (the peril of being surrounded by more good books than you have time to read). Then Andrew wrote his glowing review which includes the fact that Wil Wheaton was the narrator, and I had it on my hold list again. Did not regret that.

August
The Flight of Gemma Hardy written by Margot Livesey, narrated by Davina Porter

Davina Porter is one of my favorite narrators (someday I will listen to the second half of Outlander), and Jane Eyre is one of my favorite books. The escape to cold, rainy Scotland was great in the middle of hot, dry August.

September
Beauty Queens written by Libba Bray, narrated by Libba Bray

This was my first foray into downloadable audiobooks; an iPod is much easier to carry on an airplane than a box of 14 cds. The story starts with a plane crash, which I found hilarious. In fact Ms. Bray's narration (including a wide range of voices to distinguish the very large cast) kept me laughing my entire vacation.

October
First Grave on the Right written by Darynda Jones, narrated by Lorelei King

Another downloadable for my vacation. This was a perfect mix of humor, action, and steamy romance. It's dark, but still fun. I will definitely be checking out the second book in the series. I'm leaving out the cover art because I find it bland.

November
For the Win written by Cory Doctorow, narrated by George Newbern

This book was a trick. I was expecting something along the lines of Ready Player One, and yeah, there was action and video games, but there was also a lot of information about economics. However, it turned out to be the perfect companion on a weekend when I put a few hundred miles on my car. I'm not sure everyone appreciated my desire to talk about credit default swaps.

December
The Clockwork Angel by Cassandra Clare, narrated by Jennifer Ehle

I picked this series up in audiobook form at the suggestion of a coworker. Technically I haven't finished the book yet, but I will this weekend! This is definitely a fun example of steampunk, and it doesn't hurt that the narrator is also the actress who played Elizabeth in the BBC Pride and Prejudice miniseries!

Best Books of 2012 - Staff Picks, Part I

It probably comes as no surprise that people who work in libraries love to read. While we don't have time to read at work, sadly, we do manage to squeeze reading into our schedules. Our interests cover a wide range - from history to sci-fi, graphic novels to young adult. We've picked out the best books that we've read in 2012 and listed them here. Some are new, some are old, but each are memorable in their own ways. Enjoy!

Mike, Adult Services:
My favorite book this year was a 1948 Penguin paperback edition of W. Somerset Maugham's novel, Cakes and Ale. The flimsy copy I found by chance is inscribed, "Don T. Anderson, August, 1948, London." The story is a roman à clef about English writers at the turn of the century. While I didn't understand all of the allusions, Rosie, a married woman who dates a lot of men, was a very compelling character, and I especially enjoyed the chapters in which the narrator Ashenden returns to his childhood village on the Kentish coast:

It was cold and cheerless in the commercial room where I ate my dinner alone at a large table laid for six.
I was served by the slatternly Katie. I asked if I could have a fire.
"Not in June," she said. "We don't 'ave fires after April."
"I'll pay for it," I protested.
"Not in June. In October, yes, but not in June."

Lisa, Circulation:
I think I will probably have to say (my favorite is) Still Alice by Lisa Genova. Even though it is a work of fiction, the author's experience and research in the field of Alzheimer's disease gave a very believable and valuable perspective. As someone who has a person close to me living with this disease, I really found it valuable to hear an account from the diseased person's point of view. The narrative, while heart-breaking, gave much insight as to how the progression of Alzheimer's disease affects the person, and sheds light on how the person copes with the daily struggles, from minor, to debilitating in the later stages. I chose this book because of its lasting value and relevance.

Sarah, Adult Services:
Lauren Beukes' Zoo City has wormed its way into my imagination. Months after reading it, I'm still thinking about the strange, yet familiar world Ms. Beukes created. The Zoo City of the title is a slum region of Johannesburg, South Africa inhabited primarily by the animalled. The plot is a hard-boiled mystery with twists, betrayals, muti, and a flawed, reluctant detective. (Read Sarah's full review here).




Abbey, Technical Services:
Letters from Berlin : A Story of War, Survival , and the Redeeming Power of Love and Friendship, by Margarete Dos and Kerstin Lieff . When Kerstin Lieff encouraged her mother to speak about the past, she had no idea what an epic story she would uncover. This book provides a fascinating and unsettling glimpse of life in Germany during the Third Reich and World War II, as well as the uncertain times immediately following the war.






Amy, Youth Services:
The best book I read this year was Outlander by Diana Gabaldon. It’s definitely not a new book, but it was so good. It’s a time travel, action packed, historical, and steamy love story set during the 1700’s in Scotland. I’ve never read anything like it, and couldn’t wait to read the sequels. I really fell in love with the characters in this story. There are 5 books in this series and they are all about 900 pages each, so you need to read these when you have some time. They are worth it.




Andrew, Adult Services:
Nao of Brown by Glyn Dillon. Beautiful, intelligent, and moving, Dillon's graphic novel tells a quiet and honest story of modern life intercut with an intriguing fable of magic and war. Read my longer review here, but even that doesn't manage to spell out all the things that made this book my hands-down favorite of the year.






Becca, Circulation:
I just read The Mark of Athena by Rick Riordan. It was very good, but I hate cliff hangers and this one ended in a literal cliff hanger. So now I am impatiently awaiting the next book in the Heroes of Olympus series.








Jackie, Circulation:
Mystic City by Theo Lawrence. If Hunger Games and Matched had a baby, it would be Mystic City!









Amy, Adult Services:

G.A. Aiken's Dragon Kin series is a paranormal romance series about - you guessed it - dragons! Dragons who can take on the form of human beings and live in an alternate reality future (or possibly past, hard to tell) where there are all kinds of wars going on and battle hardened generals with really horrible names (like Annwyl the Bloody). There is magic, a lot of bloody battles and really strong female characters. What I loved most about this series is the laugh-out-loud funny dialogue. I'm not kidding, I really did laugh out loud in all of the books. Make sure you read them in order because there are some really crazy character names and somewhat complicated family relationships that won't make much sense if the books are read out of order.

Come back next Monday when we'll have more of our favorite books of 2012! In the meantime, what was your favorite read of 2012? Tell us in the comments below, or on Facebook, G+ or Pinterest!

Look Alikes: Silhouettes

Sometimes books have surprisingly similar titles, and sometimes they have rather similar cover designs. Today we've gathered nine recent books that feature a silhouetted face on the cover. Cover design often give readers a hint about the sort of story can be found within their pages. The books gathered here tend to be character-driven, serious in tone, and have a setting that is historical, international, or both.

The Story of Beautiful Girl by Rachel Simon
Novelist and memoirist Rachel Simon's 2011 novel tells the moving story of love, family, and discrimination. In 1968, Lynnie, a white woman, and Homan, a black man, meet and fall in love as residents at the Pennsylvania School for the Incurable and Feebleminded. When Lynnie becomes pregnant, they escape and while on the run she gives birth to a daughter. The officials catch up with the young family hiding in rural home with a retired teacher, and the family is divided.

Little Bee by Chris Cleave
Cleave's moving second novel is the story about two very different women, who alternate narrating the cataclysmic intersection of their lives. Little Bee is a Nigerian refugee who came to England in a cargo ship with Andrew O’Rourke’s business card. Sarah is Andrew's widow. Cleave pays great attention to the voices of his characters in his moving novel. The story is often dark, but you’ll also find humor and hope.

A Teaspoon of Earth and Sea by Dina Nayeri
Iranian American author Dina Nayeri's most recent novel, A Teaspoon of Earth and Sea, is a lyrical and character-driven coming-of-age story set in a seaside village in 1980s Iran. When she is eleven, Saba's twin sister and mother disappear, and Saba spends years imagining the life they must be living in distant America, an escape from the bleak reality of Saba's life in Iran.

The Healing by Jonathan Odell
Mississippi native Jonathan Odell is the author of two richly detailed and character-driven novels about his home state's troubled past. The Healing is an atmospheric story of the complex relationships between a plantation owner and his slaves, as told by Granada midwife, former slave, and inhabitant of the former plantation in 1930s.

Clara and Mr. Tiffany by Susan Vreeland
Ms. Vreeland is the author of several lyrical novels that illustrate the worlds and minds of artists and their art. Her titles are well-researched, leisurely paced, and character-driven. Clara Driscoll, of Clara and Mr. Tiffany, was an employee of Louis Comfort Tiffany, and the creative mind behind the iconic Tiffany lamp. This lushly visual novel explores the life of the little known artist and the dynamic period at the turn of the century.

The White Garden: a novel of Virginia Woolf by Stephanie Barron
Ms. Barron is the author of intricately plotted historical fiction and mysteries, including the Jane Austen Mystery series. The White Garden is a fast-paced and suspenseful tale of gardening, suicide, and the literary world of Virginia Woolf. Jo Bellamy came to England from America to study the gardens of Vita Sackville-West, and her grandfather who worked in the gardens prior to his tragic end.

Bride of New France by Suzanne Desrochers
Canadian novels Suzanne Desrochers applies her research into Canada's history in her first novel, Bride of New France. A richly detailed tale that doesn't shy away from the grim realities of life in 17th century Canada, the story follows Laure Beausejour on her journey from Paris to the wilderness.

In Darkness by Nick Lake
Winner of the 2013 Michael L Printz Award for excellence in young adult literature, In Darkness is a gritty and character-driven novel of life after the 2010 Haitian earthquake. The story is told from the perspective of Shorty, a 15-year-old gang member trapped in the rubble. Author Nick Lake weaves the story of Haiti's fight for independence in 1804 with Shorty's life in the slums.

The House Girl by Tara Conklin
Tara Conklin's debut novel, The House Girl, is a thought-provoking look at slavery's lasting impact in the United States. This compelling and lyrical tale is split between 1852 Virginia and modern New York City. Lina Sparrow is a lawyer working to build a class-action suit to gain reparations for the descendants of slaves. Josephine Bell is a 17-year-old house slave who cares for Lu Ann Bell, an artist. A moving story of redemption, justice, love, and family.



Please stop by the Recommendations Desk on the first floor, check out NoveList Plus on the library's website, or visit W. 11th & Bluff next week for more reading suggestions. Or submit a Personal Recommendations request, and we'll create a reading list just for you!