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An Animal’s Perspective

It is not difficult to see the appeal of adult books featuring animal narrators. Many of us share our lives with pets and have so much love for animals in general. Who wouldn’t want to know what our pets are really thinking? If animals could talk, they would be perfectly positioned to provide unique perspectives on human behavior. Moreover, many of the books we read in our early years include talking animals, so it’s possible that the charm of animal narrators remains with us. Whether you prefer fur, feathers, or fins, this list has something for the child in all of us. 

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Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt

Tova Sullivan, the nightshift cleaner at the local aquarium, works primarily to take her mind off the sadness of losing her eighteen-year-old son Erik, who mysteriously vanished over 30 years ago. Tova becomes acquainted with Marcellus, a giant Pacific octopus living at the aquarium, and strikes up an unlikely friendship. Could this octopus, with his remarkable powers of deduction, hold the key to the resolution Tova craves? This charming debut novel reminds us that sometimes we must revisit the past in order to move forward. 

Book/CD Audiobook/eBook

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Perestroika in Paris by Jane Smiley

Paras, short for “Perestroika, is a spirited racehorse at a racetrack west of Paris. One afternoon at dusk, she finds the door of her stall open and, being curious, wanders all the way to the City of Light. She befriends an elegant dog, two ebullient ducks, an opinionated raven, and most importantly, a human boy called Etienne, with whom she forges the unlikeliest of friendships. But how long will it be until Paras is found? And how long can Etienne keep her hidden? Perestroika in Paris takes us on an adventure that celebrates curiosity, ingenuity, and the desire in all of us for true love and freedom.

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The Story of Edgar Sawtelle by David Wroblewski

Born mute, Edgar Sawtelle leads a wonderful life in rural Wisconsin with his parents and his faithful canine companion, Almondine: but that all changes with the sudden death of his father. Edgar is forced to flee, but ultimately his need for justice, and devotion to the Sawtelle dogs, propels him back home to face his father’s murderer. 

This riveting drama is a brilliant retelling of Shakespeare’s Hamlet, captivating  readers with beautifully descriptive imagery while drawing them towards an  inevitable conclusion. 

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The Art of Racing in the Rain by Garth Stein

Enzo is not your typical dog. He has educated himself by watching television, and by listening closely to the words of his master, Denny Swift, a talented race car driver. With these amazing listening skills, he has gained incredible insight into what it means to be human. 

 This heart-wrenching, hilarious, and deeply introspective story of family, love, and hope, gives us a fascinating look at the intricacies of human life from a dog’s perspective. 

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A Dog’s Purpose by W. Bruce Cameron

Similar to ‘The Art of Racing in the Rain,’ ‘A Dog’s Purpose’ gives a dog’s perspective on human relationships and the bonds forged between man and man’s best friend. Both heartwarming and heartbreaking, this book follows the story of a dog’s many lives and shows us that love is enduring, our loyal friends are always with us, and that we are all born with a purpose. 

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Hollow Kingdom by Kira Jane Buxton

S.T., a domesticated crow, leads a simple life, but when his owner starts exhibiting some concerning symptoms, S.T. is forced to venture from the safety of his home into the outside world. He discovers humans feasting on their neighbors, to his horror, and finds the determination within himself to prevent a zombie apocalypse. The darkly humorous ‘Hollow Kingdom transports us to a world where even a cowardly foul-mouthed crow can become a hero. 

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Cher Ami and Major Whittlesey by Kathleen Rooney

Enlisting to serve in the war to end all wars, neither Cher Ami, a messenger pigeon, nor army officer, Charles Whittlesey, can imagine how fate will bring them together on the battlefields of France. There, amidst the chaos of war, their determination is tested, and their lives are forever altered by their shared experiences. Inspired by true events, this book challenges us to look differently at the way we view animals, freedom, and history itself. 

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The Bees by Laline Paull

Flora 717 has worked her way up from sanitation worker, to feeding the newborn bees, and then to the role of forager, but Flora is not like other bees. Her inherent curiosity leads her to the Queens inner sanctum, where she uncovers mysteries about the hive that will prove dangerous to this courageous heroine. Described as a cross between Handmaid’s Tale and the Hunger Games, this brilliant debut gives us a unique look at the world outside our windows. 

Book/CD Audiobook/eAudiobook

Renewal Issue 003

stamp with text that reads renewal

Welcome to this, our mini newsletter, Renewal!

Because HPLD items can be renewed 3 times in most cases, the format of this newsletter is one story, The Checkout, and three smaller news items, the renewals.

Nothing better than explaining the cute format you decided on three issues ago and are now stuck with, eh?

Oh, well. Onward!

Checkout: HPLD Goes Viral

Is it safe to use the term “viral” now that we’re in 2024? The phrase “going viral” was REALLY not something you wanted to use too often for a few years there.

Anyway!

You might’ve seen your friendly neighborhood HPLD show up in any number of national and international news sources in the last week or so, (over)due to an item that was returned VERY late.

How late?

30-some years!

That’s right, a patron checked out this book, Psychedelics by Bernard Aaronson, in the 1980’s, and returned it to Riverside Library & Cultural Center last week.

Riverside didn’t even exist when this book was checked out! Although, in fairness, the only HPLD branch library this could’ve gone to that would’ve been in the same spot since the late 80’s would be Centennial Park Library.

We’ve gotten quite a few questions about this item, so let’s do a quick FAQ:

Q: Is the item going back on the shelves?

A: No, it won’t be hitting the shelves, and this is for a few reasons:

  1. It’s not a book that’s really in demand. I mean, yes, this particular copy is now suddenly in demand, but not because of its contents, because of its fame. Which isn’t a totally invalid reason for wanting to check out a book, but we’ve got a better option (see item #2 on this list).
  2. We try to keep our collection very current so that we’re presenting you all with the best possible information on a variety of topics. HPLD functions less like an archive, more like a current resource. No shade on archives, they have their place and their audience, but because of space constraints and the desire to make information-seeking easier, HPLD is more on the current information vibe. THAT BEING SAID, we offer services like Prospector and Interlibrary Loan so that you can acquire more obscure, older, historical documents and items that are of interest. These services are free, fast, and really great at hooking you up with hard-to-find stuff!
  3. We are busily working on a new “institutional archive” that’ll hold items related to HPLD’s history, and this book is going to be a star attraction. This is a relatively new endeavor for us, stay tuned.

Q: What happens to super overdue items normally?

A: For the most part, items returned this overdue are not added back into the collection because they’ve either fallen out of interest, are outdated, or are something that’s a perennial favorite, so we’ve replaced it with a newer copy sometime in the last 30 years. Maybe replaced it a few times.

On the rare occasion we get something SUPER old back in the old book drop, usually the OUTSIDE book drop when it comes to stuff like this, we will usually look into the item a bit to make sure we’re not getting rid of an important, valuable, or super rare resource, then end up recycling them.

Q; What’s the fine on something like that?

A: It’d be something like $700-$1,400 dollars, depending on whether we went with a 5-cent fine or a 10-cent fine per day, or maybe did one for a little while, then switched to the other.

Buuuut, HPLD, like most libraries, stops charging late fees at the point where the late fee amount is higher than the cost to replace the book. It doesn’t really make sense to pay $700 for a book that we could replace for $15, right?

I mean, it’d be nice. If the funds went into a newsletter writer’s vacation piggy bank, the argument in favor of those high dollar fines could be made…

HPLD has been fine free for quite a while now. What this means is that you don’t get late fees for bringing stuff back late. However, we do still charge for items that are never returned. This has worked for us as a balance between not punishing people for late returns (most info on this practice shows it’s not effective in getting people to return things faster) and recouping the cost of items that never come back!

Q: Are you worried that all the fun around this will encourage others to emulate this behavior, returning books super late?

A: Honestly, no. A) Because the fun surrounding this is really about the fact that we all return things late, but the degree of lateness here is exceptional, so it’s about not feeling so bad about being a few days late here and there, B) It’s hilarious that this is a book on psychedelics, and the only thing that’d be funnier would be a book on time management, C) If someone checks out something today and returns it this late, I’ll be thrilled to simply have lived that long a life.

Q: How far did this spread?

A: Well, here’s a listing of some of the outlets that picked up the story:

Denver Post https://www.denverpost.com/2024/03/19/late-overdue-pscyhedelics-library-book-high-plains-weld-county/

Daily Mail: https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-13227015/Book-psychedelics-returned-library-37-years-late.html

WSB-TV: https://www.wsbtv.com/news/trending/library-book-checked-out-1987-returned-nearly-4-decades-later/CIRSCWAIWREIHDNEZFZKGWUDAM/

Metro: https://metro.co.uk/2024/03/22/psychedelics-book-returned-library-37-years-late-20511937/

New York Post: https://nypost.com/2024/03/20/us-news/psychedelics-book-returned-to-library-37-years-late-as-mysterious-note-apologizes-for-long-strange-trip/

Fox News: https://www.foxnews.com/lifestyle/colorado-library-receives-book-37-years-due-long-strange-trip

Denver 7: https://www.denver7.com/long-strange-trip-library-book-returned-37-years-late-with-a-note

Axios: https://www.axios.com/local/denver/2024/03/20/overdue-book-returned-colorado-library-37-years-later

Greeley Tribune: https://www.greeleytribune.com/2024/03/07/events-taking-place-at-clearview-and-high-plains-library-districts-loveland-public-library-for-march-9-15/

KDVR: https://kdvr.com/news/local/colorado-library-book-returned-37-years-late/

Q: What has the book returner’s response been?

A: I couldn’t tell you! They’ve elected to remain anonymous so far. 

But if you’re out there: We’ve all been there, and thanks for returning the book! Hopefully a lost book charge hasn’t kept you away from the library all these years, and if it has, shoot me an email (pderk@highplains.us), and we’ll see if we can’t fix the situation.

Renewal 1: HPLD Wins GFOA Distinguished Budget Presentation Award…AGAIN!

That’s right, for the billionth year in a row, HPLD is proud to be awarded the GFOA Distinguished Budget Presentation Award.

Seriously, we’ve won this so many times that instead of sending us a plaque every year, we have a plaque with a bunch of spaces, and they send us a little metal tag to attach every year.

We’ve won this so many times that I’m becoming concerned about the weight of our plaque pulling down the entire wall it’s nailed to.

 

In all seriousness, what’s cool about winning this award is that it’s a demonstration that HPLD is taking budgeting very seriously, and we’re doing everything to be transparent about how much money we’ve got, how it’s spent, and what plans for the future look like.

Which matters because this is YOUR MONEY!

Can you imagine winning a budget presentation award every year for your personal budget? Maybe you should implement this in your house. Maybe it’d make budgeting a little more fun? Even if you weren’t super financially responsible this year, you could still win an award for reporting honestly and transparently just how much you spent on power tools you didn’t need, drive-thru coffee, and that gizmo that makes your kindle remote controlled so you can keep your arms under the covers and read without the hassle of lifting your arm. Seriously, it’s awesome, and I feel both deep affection for this device and revulsion at my own sloth.

Renewal 2: Dinosaur Bones Go Digital

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Pretty soon, Experience Passes will be delivered digitally! That’s right, no more slogging your way through the real world in order to get your Experience Passes, now you can have them sent straight to your device, which is super convenient as you’ll need that same device to take great selfies at nearby museums and attractions.

Digital delivery begins April 1st. No foolin’.

Renewal 3: Calling All Colorado Book Collectors Under 30!

Are you under 30? Do you live in Colorado? Are you a beginning book collector?

On one hand, that’s a lot of different circles to try and cross over each other in a Venn diagram.

On the other hand, this IS a library publication, so if you’re reading it, and you’re this far in, there’s a not-bad chance you might qualify for the Kirkpatrick Prize.

Taylor Kirkpatrick started the prize when he noticed the crowd at the annual Rocky Mountain Book and Paper Fair was starting to get a little younger. Taylor wanted to encourage young people interested in books to take a deeper dive into the waters usually occupied by old guys with elbow patches.

This article from The Colorado Sun is a great, wholesome read, and some of the booksellers profiled have advice for anyone looking to get into book collecting:

Collect what you love. For some, it’s the aesthetics, the love of Victorian bindings or  beautiful floral bindings. Go after it with gusto. .

It’s easy to make bonehead mistakes; first editions mistakes; replica mistakes; Book of the Month Club mistakes that replicate first editions. You can get bit. When you’re getting started go to a bricks and mortar store. A lot of people think they’re listing something correctly on eBay and they’re not and some know it’s not what they’re selling. Find a reputable bookseller.

Remember it’s not about how much a book is worth…Books are important because they build bridges to other people and cultures. They were bridges for me in meeting other people.

Mysterious Disappearances

There’s something uniquely disturbing about people vanishing into thin air…. March marks the anniversary of the disappearance and murder of Charles Lindberg’s infant son. The kidnapping caused a national sensation. But, it wasn’t the first, nor the last to capture our minds and make us wonder what really happened. This month, read about a mysterious disappearance, real or fictional. 

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Cemetery John: The Undiscovered Mastermind of the Lindbergh Kidnapping by Robert Zorn

In this meticulous and authoritative account of the crime, the trial, and the times of the Lindbergh kidnapping, Robert Zorn clears away decades of ungrounded speculation surrounding the Lindbergh kidnapping case. Evidence, opinion, and logic have discredited the notion that Bruno Richard Hauptmann –electrocuted in 1936 –acted alone. Using personal possessions and documents, never-before seen photographs, new forensic evidence, and extensive research, Zorn has written a shocking and captivating account of the crime and the original “Trial of the Century.” 

Book/eBook/eAudiobook

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Highway of Tears: a True Story of Racism, Indifference, and the Pursuit of Justice for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls by Jessica McDiarmid

For decades, Indigenous women have gone missing, or been found murdered, along an isolated stretch of highway in northwestern British Columbia. The highway is known as the ‘Highway of Tears’, and it has come to symbolize a national crisis. Journalist, Jessica McDiarmid, investigates the devastating effect these tragedies have had on the families of the victims and their communities, and how systemic racism and indifference have created a climate where Indigenous women are over-policed, yet under-protected.  

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The Last Place You’d Look: True Stories of Missing Persons and the People Who Search for Them by Carole Moore

According to the National Crime Information Center (NCIC), there are about 100,000 active, open and unresolved missing persons cases that sit on the books in the U.S. each day. The numbers are similar in Canada, where annually more than 60,000 children are reported missingAdditionally, in the U.S. alone there are more than 40,000 John and Jane Does in cemeteries and morgues across the country, still waiting to be identified. The anguish of having a loved one vanish is unthinkable, yet thousands of families face this heartbreak every dayThe Last Place You’d Look provides searchers a starting point and gives readers an overview of “the club no one wants to belong to.” 

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The Princes in the Tower by Alison Weir

Despite five centuries of investigation by historians, the sinister deaths of the boy king Edward V and his younger brother Richard, Duke of York, remain two of the most fascinating murder mysteries in English history. Did Richard III really kill “the Princes in the Tower,” as is commonly believed, or was the murderer someone else entirely? Carefully examining every shred of contemporary evidence as well as dozens of modern accounts, Alison Weir reconstructs the entire chain of events leading to the double murder. We are witnesses to the rivalry, ambition, intrigue, and struggle for power that culminated in the imprisonment of the princes and the hushed-up murders that secured Richard’s claim to the throne as Richard III. 

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The Paris Apartment by Lucy Foley

Jess needs a fresh start. She’s broke and alone, and she’s just left her job under less than ideal circumstances. Her half-brother Ben didn’t sound thrilled when she asked if she could crash with him for a bit, but he didn’t say no, and surely everything will look better from Paris. Only when she shows up – to find a very nice apartment, could Ben really have afforded this? – he’s not there. The longer Ben stays missing, the more Jess starts to dig into her brother’s situation, and the more questions she has. Where is Jess’s brother? 

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The Secret Token: Myth, Obsession, and the Search for the Lost Colony of Roanoke by Andrew Lawler

In 1587, 115 men, women, and children arrived on Roanoke, an island off the coast of North Carolina. But by the time the colony’s leader, John White, returned to Roanoke from a resupply mission in England, his settlers were nowhere to be found. They had vanished into the wilderness, leaving behind only a single clue–the word “Croatoan” carved into a tree. The disappearance of the Lost Colony became an enduring American mystery. For four centuries, it has gone unsolved, obsessing countless historians, archeologists, and amateur sleuths. Today, after centuries of searching in vain, new clues have begun to surface. In The Secret Token, Andrew Lawler offers a beguiling history of the Lost Colony, and of the relentless quest to bring its fate to light.   

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Vanished! America’s Most Mysterious Kidnappings, Castaways, and the Forever Lost by Sarah Pruitt

Vanished! is an illustrated tour of history’s most confounding cases of disappearance from Amelia Earhart to Jimmy Hoffa; DB Cooper; Alcatraz escapists Frank Morris, John Anglin, and Clarence Algin; Jim Thompson; Judge Joseph Force Crater; and more. Starting with the first 30 days surrounding each incident, and then looking at efforts up to this very day to solve each case, this book covers in photos and text history’s most perplexing vanishings.  

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The Last to Vanish by Megan Miranda

New York Times bestselling author Megan Miranda returns with a gripping and propulsive thriller that opens with the disappearance of a journalist who is investigating a string of vanishings in the resort town of Cutter’s Pass—will its dark secrets finally be revealed? Ten years ago, Abigail Lovett fell into a job she loves, managing The Passage Inn, a cozy, upscale resort nestled in the North Carolina mountain town of Cutter’s Pass. The string of unsolved disappearances that has haunted the town is once again thrust into the spotlight when journalist Landon West, who was staying at the inn to investigate the story of the vanishing trail, then disappears himself. 

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When the Stars Go Dark by Paula McLain

Anna Hart is a missing persons detective in San Francisco. When tragedy strikes her personal life, Anna, desperate and numb, flees to the Northern California village of Mendocino to grieve. She lived there as a child with her beloved foster parents, and now she believes it might be the only place left for her. Yet the day she arrives, she learns a local teenage girl has gone missing. The crime feels frighteningly reminiscent of the most crucial time in Anna’s childhood, when the unsolved murder of a young girl touched Mendocino and changed the community forever. Can solving them help her heal? 

Book/eAudiobook

Books on Ice

Hockey fans: this is the list for you! Select a fiction or nonfiction title celebrating the energetic sport of hockey – whether you are an avid Avs fan, or want to learn some practical game tips, or just want some hockey romance. Here are some suggestions to get you started. 

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Force of Nature: Joe Sakic, a Star-Studded Team, and How the Colorado Avalanche Built a Stanley Cup Winner by Peter Baugh

This is the book for Avalanche fans! Baugh reports on the championship season for our celebrated Colorado hockey team and plenty of inside scoops on the game and the players. 

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Draft Day: How Hockey Teams Pick winners or Get Left Behind by Doug MacLean

The author is a former NHL coach so he knows a bit about how hockey teams are formed. This informative book highlights the careful consideration that goes into forming a team and assessing the talent.  

Book

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Hockey Plays and Strategies by Mike Johnston and Ryan Walter

This updated 2nd edition gives practical advice for how to dominate on the ice. You will learn practical skills, techniques, and game requirements for all levels of hockey.  

Book

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Take Your Eye Off the Puck: How to Watch Hockey by Knowing Where to Look by Greg Wyshynski

This is considered the go-to classic introduction for people new to hockey. Increase your appreciation and knowledge of the game and each player’s roles in this worthwhile guide.

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99: Stories of the Game by Wayne Gretzky

A candid memoir by hockey legend Gretzky with details about teammates, rivals, and life both on and off the ice.  

Book

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Beauties: Hockey’s Greatest Untold Stories by James Duthie

A compilation of 57 stories from hockey’s greatest players, fans, and unsung heroes. Get a front-row seat to funny and heart-warming stories about a variety of personalities, well-known and lesser-known.  

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Icebreaker by Hannah Grace

This break-out bestselling romance has twice the ice! When a figure skater and a hockey player are forced to share an ice rink, things get competitive. The wait list for this popular title will be worthwhile if you enjoy the “enemiestolovers” romance trope.   

Book/eBook/Large Print

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Time to Shine by Rachel Reid

If you prefer “bromance-to-romance” fiction then Reid’s sexy bestseller will make you smile. Set in Calgary, Landon is the quiet goalie. Casey is the superstar winger. Let the games begin!  

Book/eAudiobook

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Head Coach by Lia Riley

Set in Colorado, this charming romance has Neve, a hard-hitting sports reporter, doing a story on Tor Gunnar, the icy Scandinavian hockey legend.  

Book/eBook

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Us Against You by Fredrik Backman, translated by Neil Smith

No list of hockey books would be complete without bestseller Fredrik Backman. This second book in the trilogy returns the reader to Beartown, where hockey rivalries run strong with the neighboring town of Hed. But will their precious hockey team be disbanded? Set in a small town in the Swedish forest with a diverse cast of complex, flawed characters this story will grip you from beginning to end. 

Book/Large Print/CD Audiobook

Cyberpunk

Dive into the electrifying world of cyberpunk, where neon-soaked cityscapes meet the gritty underbelly of the future. In this genre, technology reigns supreme, but so does corruption, as megacorporations battle for control amidst a backdrop of societal decay. Follow protagonists navigating the maze of virtual reality, hacking into the very fabric of existence, while grappling with themes of identity, rebellion, and the human condition in a world where the line between man and machine blurs. Whether you’re a seasoned fan or a newcomer to the genre, cyberpunk offers a thrilling journey into a dystopian tomorrow that feels all too close to home.

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Neuromancer by William Gibson

William Gibson’s groundbreaking novel “Neuromancer” transformed science fiction, igniting a revolution that shaped our understanding of technology and society. Winner of prestigious awards including the Hugo, Nebula, and Philip K. Dick Awards, it introduced the term “cyberpunk” and foresaw the emergence of virtual reality and the internet age. Gibson’s gritty yet visionary narrative continues to resonate, serving as a beacon for those navigating the complexities of our rapidly evolving world. 

eAudiobook

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Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? by Philip K. Dick

In a post-apocalyptic world ravaged by war, scarcity drives humanity to covet living creatures, resorting to realistic simulacra for those who can’t afford them, including lifelike humans. As Earth bans unauthorized androids, these artificial beings hide among humans, posing a threat that official bounty hunter Rick Deckard is tasked to eliminate. Deckard’s mission becomes perilous when the hunted androids resist capture, leading to a high-stakes battle for survival. 

Book/eBook/CD Audiobook

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Snow Crash by Neal Stephenson

In a dystopian Los Angeles overrun by corporate franchises, Hiro delivers pizza while defending his territory with samurai swords from marauders. Immersed in the Metaverse, his legendary avatar navigates a virtual landscape, but his reality takes a dangerous turn when fellow hackers are incapacitated by a new drug, Snow Crash. Teaming up with fearless skateboard courier Y.T., Hiro delves into an investigation tracing back to ancient Sumerian origins, racing against a shadowy virtual adversary determined to conquer the world. 

Book/eBook

Noor by Nnedi Okorafor

Dubbed AO for Artificial Organism, Anwuli Okwudili defies societal norms, embracing her augmented body despite its perceived abnormalities. After a fateful encounter at her local market, she finds herself on the run, teaming up with a Fulani herdsman named DNA for a high-stakes journey across the deserts of Northern Nigeria. As their escapades unfold in a world where everything is streamed and watched, the narrative explores themes of identity, destiny, and the unpredictable nature of the future. 

Book/eAudiobook

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Akira by Katsuhiro Otomo

Set in a dystopian 2019, it tells the story of Shōtarō Kaneda, the leader of a biker gang whose childhood friend, Tetsuo Shima, acquires incredible telekinetic abilities after a motorcycle accident, eventually threatening an entire military complex amid chaos and rebellion in the sprawling futuristic metropolis of Neo-Tokyo. 

Book/Movie

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Altered Carbon by Richard K. Morgan

In the twenty-fifth century, humanity’s expansion across the galaxy is overseen by the U.N., with technological advancements allowing consciousness to be stored in cortical stacks, granting virtual immortality. Takeshi Kovacs, an ex-U.N. envoy, finds himself resurrected in a new body in Bay City, thrust into a treacherous conspiracy that challenges the norms of a society where life and identity are commodified. Set against the backdrop of a dystopian future, Kovacs navigates a world where existence is a commodity, confronting a sinister plot that transcends the boundaries of morality. 

eAudiobook

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Infomocracy by Malka Older

In a world dominated by Information, a search engine monopoly that ushered in global micro-democracy, the Heritage party has won two consecutive elections, while the upcoming Supermajority contest hangs in the balance. For Ken, aligned with the idealistic Policy1st party, the election presents an opportunity for advancement, while Domaine sees it as a battleground against the status quo. Mishima, an Information operative, navigates the complex political landscape, grappling with the challenge of maintaining stability amidst conflicting interests. 

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The Wind-Up Girl by Paolo Bacigalupi

Anderson Lake, working undercover for AgriGen, scours Bangkok for extinct foodstuffs as the Calorie Man, while Emiko, the engineered Windup Girl, struggles for survival in a world where bio-engineered plagues and corporate greed reign supreme. As calories become currency and bio-terrorism fuels corporate profits, Bacigalupi’s acclaimed novel explores the chilling consequences of a post-human evolution, marking it as a standout in twenty-first-century science fiction. 

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Busted Synapses by Erica L. Satifka

The world of tomorrow holds wonders unlike anything humanity has ever seen! But only for those lucky few. Alicia, a runaway New Woman, comes to small-town Wheeling, West Virginia, and gets entangled with Jess and Dale, throwing their lives of pointless work and drug-fueled virtual reality into chaos. Meanwhile, truths are uncovered of the nation’s rewritten history–truths powerful corporations would rather leave hidden. 

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Midnight, Water City by Chris McKinney

In the aftermath of a near-collision with an asteroid in 2142, renowned scientist Akira Kimura, once celebrated as a hero, reaches out to her former head of security for help as she fears for her safety. When Akira is found gruesomely murdered at her deep-sea home, the detective risks everything to unravel the mystery, delving into their shared past and confronting themes of research, class, and the dark side of progress in this gripping neo-noir thriller. 

Book

Big Block of Cheese Day Books

An odd title for a booklist, I know. If you’re a West Wing fan or a history buff, you may be familiar with the big block of cheese Andrew Jackson aged for two years(!) in the entrance hall of the White House. He invited the public to come and eat it (it was gone within two hours), and his staff, while serving cheese, listened to the people’s concerns.  

What does this have to do with books? Well, this librarian is a West Wing fan. In the show, they had Big Block of Cheese Day at the White House. The Chief of Staff sets aside time where his staff must meet with organizations who normally couldn’t get the attention of the White House. It is in this spirit that I offer you a list of non-fiction books that might not normally get your attention – books with unique topics. Enjoy your cheese….I mean books!  

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The Privatization of Everything: How the Plunder of Public Goods Transformed America and How We Can Fight Back by Donald Cohen & Allen Mikaelian

This book examines how the decades-long trend of privatizing public services in the U.S. does not serve the average citizen. The authors argue that when private interests take over, they strip public goods of their power to lift people up and instead create a tool for further inequality. Looking at a broad spectrum of issues, this book raises larger questions about who controls the public things we all rely on.  

Book/eBook/eAudiobook

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The Sum of Us: What Racism Costs Everyone and How We Can Prosper Together by Heather McGhee

In this political commentator’s debut book, she explores how self-destructive white supremacy is and its rising cost to all of us—including white people. Cohesively written, this book tracks the history of race relations in the U.S. from slavery to modern times, documenting when racism against Black Americans has diminished everyone’s quality of life. McGhee makes a convincing case that finding common ground with others and rejecting zero-sum structures can move us forward.  

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Invisible Women: Data Bias in a World Designed for Men by Caroline Criado Perez

You’ve probably heard of the gendered wage gap. But have you heard of a gendered gap in data? Accessible and well-researched, Perez examines how this gap in data (all kinds – from heart attack symptoms to public transit usage) disadvantages women at home, at work, in public spaces, the doctor’s office, and more. This material is handled with wit, calm authority, and looks towards solutions to this cacophony of problems.  

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Tree Thieves: Crime and Survival in North America’s Woods by Lyndsie Bourgon

Let’s jump to the illegal timber market. Hey, I told you up top these books would have niche subjects. Bourgon traces three timber poaching cases, while she introduces us to all the players poachers, law enforcement, logging communities, environmental activists, international timber cartels (you read that right), indigenous communities, and more! All of this is to demonstrate the morality of tree poaching isn’t black and white, and that we need to come together to prevent these ecosystems from dying.  

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Extraterrestrial: The First Sign of Intelligent Life Beyond Earth by Avi Loeb

Space. The final frontier. This book, buy a top Harvard astronomer, tackles two issues. Firstly, he believes there is evidence for extraterrestrial life. Secondly, he’s not sure humans are ready to accept that fact. In this short and powerful book, he outlines the evidence for extraterrestrials and its implications for humanity. Will you check out this out-of-this-world book? 

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The Price We Pay: What Broke American Health Care and How to Fix It by Marty Makary, MD

You’re probably aware our medical system has problems. Well, Makary can tell you about those problems in depth. This surgeon and professor demonstrates, using accessible language, why health care has become a bubble. He draws from on-the-ground stories, research, and his own experiences to expose the price-gouging, middlemen, and elusive money games that need serious repair. Not only does he show you where the money goes, he talks about ways you can do something about it!  

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Prisoners of Geography: Ten Maps that Explain Everything About the World by Tim Marshall

In order to understand world events, you often think about people, ideas, and movements. Marshall argues that if you don’t think about geography, you’ll never understand the full picture. Covering the world throughout ten chapters, this well-traveled author explains the world (past, present, and future) through maps, essays, and a little bit of personal experience. 

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Cultish: The Language of Fanaticism by Amanda Montell

Etymology is the study of the origins of words and their, often evolving, meanings. Looking at cults through this lens, Montell argues in this engaging book that “language is the key means by which all degrees of cult-like influence occur.” With this thesis she deep dives into the indoctrination techniques of cults like Heaven’s Gate and the Peoples Temple, and other cult like groups like fitness influencers.  

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Horror Classics Reimagined

Did you love Netflix’s The Fall of the House of Usher and want to find more reimagined classic horror and suspense stories? Well move over Mike Flanagan– here’s a list of ten novels that put a new spin on classic tales that will be sure to give you a new perspective on old favorites.

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The Kind Worth Killing by Peter Swanson

Patricia Highsmith’s 1950 novel Strangers on a Train, adapted for film by Alfred Hitchcock, is reimagined for modern times. If you are a fan of Gone Girl and Girl on a Train, you’ll enjoy this twisty story of what happens when two seemingly strangers meet and devise a plan to murder. 

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What Moves the Dead by T. Kingfisher

Award winning author Kingfisher offers a retelling of Edgar Allan Poe’s short story “The Fall of House of Usher” in this 2022 novel. Unlike Netflix’s adaptation, What Moves the Dead offers a dark look at Madeline and Roderick Usher as they are consumed by the nature surrounding their estate in the countryside of Ruritania 

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Horseman: A Tale of Sleepy Hollow by Christina Henry

Set 20 years after Irving’s “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow” short story, Henry’s protagonists are 14-year-old boys questioning if the stories they heard about Ichabod Crane and the Headless Horseman are town myths or reality. This read is for you if you have ever wondered what happened to Sleepy Hollow after Ichabod Crane disappears 

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The Dark Descent of Elizabeth Frankenstein by Kiersten White

The Frankenstein family adopts Elizabeth to be a companion for their explosive son, Victor. If you have ever wanted more from Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein universe or questioned the origin story of the man who would go on to make the Creature, look no further than this gripping story from the perspective of a young girl trying to survive.  

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The Daughter of Doctor Moreau by Silvia Moreno-Garcia

Calling H.G. Well fans! Here’s a fresh modern take on the 1896 The Island of Doctor Moreau that explores colonialism, feminism, and patriarchal themes as Carlota, Dr. Moreau’s daughter, is used in experimentations. Her courtship and engagement to Montgomery leads to a series of events that reveal dark secrets and deadly consequences.  

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Home Before Dark by Riley Sager

For fans of Shirley Jackson’s The Haunting of Hill House or The Amityville Horror universe, this novel follows Maggie, the daughter of a popular haunted house memoirist, as she navigates her perils and ghosts in the same house of her childhood. Her disbelief regarding past events starts to get challenged by supernatural encounters. 

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TEN by Gretchen McNeil

If you don’t mind dipping a toe in YA, TEN gives you a modern, fresh look at Agatha Christie’s classic And Then There Were None. Ten teenagers expect an enjoyable weekend on an island but are terrified as each one begins to die one by one. If you love a proper suspense whodunit, you’ll enjoy this call back to one of Christie’s most beloved tales.  

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Salem’s Lot by Stephen King

Blurring the lines between classic and classic reimagined, this powerhouse Stephen King book from 1975 is often noted to be heavily influenced by Dracula. One of King’s earlier works and often considered one of his best, you can see how he adapted early vampire stories into this modern classic about a writer returning to his small town and finding danger along the way.  

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Comfort Me with Apples by Catherynne M. Valente

This novella by Valente follows Sophia’s seemingly idyllic life and marriage. Based on the French gothic folktale Bluebeard” about a husband with a secret, locked room and what lies on the other side, Comfort Me with Apples is a fun, short horror reimagining. 

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The Man He Never Was by James L. Rubart

A new take on Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, The Man He Never Was follows Torren Daniels as he reunites with his wife and kids after eight months. His personality is completely altered. He’s no longer filled with rage and eradicate behavior, but no one can explain the radical change. Torren begins remembering details and questions if he can truly escape all the different aspects of his psyche.  

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The Love of Friendship

The month of February celebrates more than Valentines Day, which traditionally focuses on the love between romantic partners. In fact, February 15th is Singles Appreciation Day, a day to celebrate love in all forms, such as the love between friends, family, and self. Coincidentally, February 11th is Make a Friend Day. This reading list combines the celebration of these two lesser-known days, offering up books that celebrate friendship and/or singledom and the appreciation and love of self (no matter one’s relationship status).  

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Circe by Madeline Miller

Hailed by The New York Times as a “bold and subversive retelling of the goddess’s story,” Miller’s Circe is the story of a daughter who does not seem to equal the power and strength of her father, the god Helios, nor her mother’s beauty and allure. An outsider among her own, she finds companionship in the world of mortals. She also discovers she does indeed possess power – the power of witchcraft. When she is banished by Zeus to a deserted island, Circe must make her own way. In doing so, she finds empowerment and encounters many mythic figures, including Odysseus. Circe is the tale of a strong, independent woman who forges her own path, and Miller infuses the narrative with Circe’s emotional and moral complexity. A classic tale told through a feminist lens, Circe is a book that celebrates a woman’s strength, determination, and agency.  

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Queenie by Candice Carty-Williams

Dark and humorous, Carty-Williams’ titular character is a 25-year-old Jamaican British woman living in London. Frustrated by racial politics at the newspaper where she works and nursing the wound of a messy breakup, Queenie runs through a string of bad-for-her men and worse decisionsall of which cause her to question her actions, choices, and her own identity. Queenie explores what it means to be a woman who is true to herself in a world that thinks it knows best what women should be.  

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A Little Life by Hanya Yanagihara

Described by NPR as [a stunning] portrait of the enduring grace of friendship, A Little Life follows the lives of four male university graduates who move from New England to New York City to establish their professional lives. Though the novel follows the lives of all four men across several decades, it is the life of Jude, abandoned in infancy and raised by abusive monks, that permeates all 700 pages of Yanagihara’s much praised book. A warning: this is not an easy read because the reader is immersed in Jude’s trauma and the abuse, self-harm, and suicidal tendencies that are associated with it. The novel is dark and bleak. And yet…there are many beautiful moments of light which shine through that darkness, and those illuminating sources originate from the bonds of friendship, love, and brotherhood the four men share.  

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Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman

Honeyman’s witty and weird protagonist and narrator, Eleanor Oliphant, is a socially awkward and isolated young finance clerk living in Glasgow, Scotland. Eleanor keeps to a precise and altogether depressing schedule of work, crossword puzzles, solo vodka drinking, and dutiful weekend calls to “Mummy.” Despite all signs pointing otherwise, Eleanor thinks she is completely fine and focuses not on herself but on a local musician whom she believes she is destined to be with despite having never actually met him. She avoids almost everyone else around her until the day she and a new colleague named Raymond witness an elderly man collapse in the street. When Raymond and Eleanor take action to save the man’s life, it sparks the genesis of something Eleanor has been living without – friendship. Her bond with Raymond and the elderly man (Sammy) has unexpected and healing consequences for Eleanor, who suffered a trauma she has long suppressed. The relationships she forms open Eleanor’s life to the joy of friendship, kindness, and love. Honeyman’s novel is a moving, often funny story of one young woman’s journey out of loneliness and into a more fully lived and abundant life. 

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The Color Purple by Alice Walker

Winner of the Pulitzer Prize and the National Book Award, Walker’s epistolary novel about two sisters, Celie and Nettie, is ultimately a story about the bonds between women. When the sisters’ abusive stepfather marries young Celie to a man called Mister, the union leads to Nettie and Celie’s separation. As time goes on and Celie does not hear from Nettie, she believes her to be dead. Mister and his children misuse and scorn Celie, and her life is filled with hard work, pain, and loneliness until Mister’s longtime mistress Shug Avery comes to town. Shug brings joy, love, and hope into Celie’s life and discovers years’ worth of letters from Nettie that Mister hid from Celie. Emboldened by the realization that her sister is alive and by Shug’s support and encouragement, Celie forges a path the leads to her personal freedom. A Color Purple is a PBS Great American Read Top 100 selection and has recently been adapted into a musical film (released in December 2023) starring Fantasia Barrino (Celie) and Halle Bailey (Nettie). 

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Code Name Verity by Elizabeth Wein

Though this book is young adult historical fiction, readers of all ages will enjoy Wein’s tale of espionage, war, survival, and the power of friendship. When a British spy plane carrying two women, a pilot (Maddie) and a spy (“Verity), crashes in Nazi-occupied France, one is lost to the wreckage, and the other is captured by the enemy. Forced to divulge her secrets or die, Verity chooses to tell her story, and it is one of courage, friendship, and dedication to the people and ideals which matter most. Set during World War II, Code Name Verity is a page-turning thriller that offers strong, capable female protagonists and a surprising and moving plot.  

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No One Tells You This: A Memoir by Glynnis MacNicol

Lauded by New York Magazine as “a rare and necessary perspective on the profound exhilaration of the untethered female life,” MacNicol’s memoir chronicles the journey of self-discovery she embarked on during her 40th year. Leading up to that birthday, MacNicol found that – despite being a successful writer and living a fulfilling New York City life – she had not accomplished what the world expected of her. She was not a wife or mother. Because there “was not a good blueprint for how to be a woman alone in the world,” MacNicol decided to create one of her own. No One Tells You This tracks her adventures, mishaps, and revelations in doing so. “A fearless reckoning with modern womanhood,” MacNicol’s memoir “is an exhilarating adventure that will resonate with anyone determined to live by their own rules.”  

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The Lonely Hunter: How Our Search for Love is Broken by Aimée Lutkin

Part memoir, part reportage, The Lonely Hunter explores the reasons why society refuses to accept that an increasing number of people (single-person households have more than tripled since 1940) choose to remain single. Through a year of intense research, a whole lot of dating, Netflix binging, and rumination, Lutkin chronicles her experience of being alone. Along the way, she exposes the biases against and misconceptions about the uncoupled. Described as “blazingly smart, insightful, and full of heart, The Lonely Hunter is a book for anyone who values and celebrates walking their own path.  

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Untamed by Glennon Doyle

Reese Witherspoon declared Doyle’s memoir to be “packed with incredible insight about what it means to be a woman today.” Doyle spent years denying her own discontent until a moment of love at first sight changed everything. While speaking at a conference in 2016, Doyle looked out into the room, saw a woman, and said “There she is.” In that moment of clarity, Doyle realized that she’d been suppressing her own authentic voice to be who others expected her to be. Untamed tells the story of Doyle reclaiming her own identity, navigating divorce, a new marriage, a blended family, and using her authentic voice to call herself and others to action. “She quit being good so she could be free. She quit pleasing and started living.” In telling her own story, Doyle guides readers on a journey of their own self-discovery so that “each of us can begin to trust ourselves enough to set boundaries, make peace with our bodies, honor our anger and heartbreak, and unleash our truest, wildest instincts, so that we can become women who can finally look at ourselves and say ‘There she is.’” 

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Single on Purpose: Redefine Everything / Find Yourself First by John Kim

 “The Angry Therapist” (John Kim) shares the story of his painful divorce and realization that – until that divorce – he’d never been on his own. Single on Purpose asks the question: “Why does being alone = being lonely?” and details the journey Kim embarked upon to discover the answer and to rebuild his relationship with himself. With his signature “no BS” tone and an honest depiction of his struggles and discoveries in singlehood, Kim shows readers how it’s possible to be alone and fulfilled and to have a more authentic relationship with oneself no matter one’s relationship status.  

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Closed Circle Mysteries

Closed circle mysteries is a mystery in which the murder/crime’s circumstances limit the number of suspects- the criminal is one of the people present at or nearby the scene, and the crime could not have been committed by some outsider. The detective has to solve the crime, figuring out the criminal from this pool (circle) of suspects, rather than searching for a totally unknown perpetrator. 

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And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie

First, there were ten—a curious assortment of strangers summoned as weekend guests to a little private island off the coast of Devon. Their host, an eccentric millionaire unknown to all of them, is nowhere to be found. All that the guests have in common is a wicked past they’re unwilling to reveal—and a secret that will seal their fate. For each has been marked for murder. One by one they fall prey. Before the weekend is out, there will be none. Who has choreographed this dastardly scheme? And who will be left to tell the tale? Only the dead are above suspicion. 

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An Unwanted Guest by Shari Lapena

A weekend retreat at a cozy mountain lodge is supposed to be the perfect getaway. But when the weather takes a turn for the worse, and a blizzard cuts off the electricity–and all contact with the outside world–the guests settle in and try to make the best of it. Soon, though, one of the guests turns up dead–it looks like an accident. But when a second guest dies, they start to panic. Within the snowed-in paradise, something–or someone–is picking off the guests one by one. And there’s nothing they can do but hunker down and hope they can survive the storm–and one another. 

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The Woman in Cabin 10 by Ruth Ware

Lo Blacklock, a journalist who writes for a travel magazine, has just been given the assignment of a lifetime: a week on a luxury cruise with only a handful of cabins. At first, Lo’s stay is nothing but pleasant: the cabins are plush, the dinner parties are sparkling, and the guests are elegant. But as the week wears on, frigid winds whip the deck, gray skies fall, and Lo witnesses what she can only describe as a dark and terrifying nightmare: a woman being thrown overboard. The problem? All passengers remain accounted for and so, the ship sails on as if nothing has happened, despite Lo’s desperate attempts to convey that something (or someone) has gone terribly, terribly wrong. 

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The Hunting Party by Lucy Foley

For the past ten years, a group of thirtysomething college friends take an annual vacation together. For this year’s vacation,  they’ve chosen an idyllic and isolated estate in the Scottish Highlands—the perfect place to get away and unwind by themselves. They arrive on December 30th, just before a historic blizzard seals the lodge off from the outside world. Two days later, on New Year’s Day, one of them is dead. 

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The Five Red Herrings by Dorothy L. Sayers

During a painting retreat, a killer takes a creative approach to the ancient art of murder… The majestic landscape of the Scottish coast has attracted artists and fishermen for centuries. Sandy Campbell’s body is found at the bottom of a steep hill while his art easel is at the top of the hill, suggesting he fell while painting. Campbell was a hated resident, and no one weeps when he dies. But “accidental” death doesn’t sit right with gentleman sleuth Lord Peter Wimsey. Which of Campell’s fellow retreaters killed him? 

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Murder on the Ballarat Train by Kerry Greenwood

The Honourable Miss Phryne Fisher, a 1920s London socialite living in Australia, is off for a week in Ballarat for a little vacation. However, the sedate journey by train turns out to be far from the restful trip she was planning. What was planned as a restful country sojourn turns into the stuff of nightmares: a young girl who can’t remember anything, rumors of slavery, and the body of an old woman missing her emerald rings. And Phryne is at the center, working through the clues to arrive at the incredible truth before another murder is committed. 

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The Last Guest by Tess Little

In this dark, cinematic suspense novel, a glamorous birthday dinner in the Hollywood Hills ends with the famous host, Richard Bryant, dead. In the weeks that follow, each of the eight guests come under suspicion: the school friend, the studio producer, the actress, the actor, the new partner, the manager, the cinematographer, and Richard’s ex-wife, Elspeth. What starts out as a locked-room mystery soon reveals itself to be much more complicated, as dark stories from Richard’s past surface, colliding with Elspeth’s memories of their marriage that she vowed never to revisit. 

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Murder on the Orient Express by Agatha Christie 

Just after midnight, a snowdrift stops the famous Orient Express in its tracks as it travels through the mountainous Balkans. The luxurious train is surprisingly full for the time of the year but, by the morning, it is one passenger fewer. An American tycoon lies dead in his compartment, stabbed a dozen times, his door locked from the inside. Famous detective Hercule Poirot just happens to be on the train on vacation.  Isolated and with a killer on board, Poirot must identify the murderer—in case he or she decides to strike again. 

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They All Fall Down by Rachel Howzell Hall

Are you a fan of thrilling contemporary suspense? Seven strangers are invited to a luxurious private island. However, each is harboring a sinful secret. Accidents begin to befall the group as one by one, They All Fall Down

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World War II

This curated booklist is filled with compelling titles set against the backdrop of World War II, transporting readers to a tumultuous era of history. These books promise a journey through evocative storytelling that captures the essence of the time, offering readers a window into the human experience during this pivotal period in history. 

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All the Light we Cannot See by Anthony Doerr

Marie-Laure, a young blind girl, lives with her devoted father in Paris, where he works as the master of locks at the Museum of Natural History. When the Nazis occupy Paris, Marie-Laure and her father flee to the walled city of St. Malo, where her uncle lives. Unbeknownst to Marie-Laure, her father brings a potentially valuable item with him.  

In a small town in Germany, a boy called Werner and his sister have endured life in an orphanage. Werner enjoys tinkering with radios, eventually becoming an expert at building and fixing them. His skills earn him a place at a Hitler Youth academy and a job tracking the resistance, which brings him to St. Malo, where he and Marie-Laure’s paths collide. 

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The Splendid and the Vile by Erik Larsen

Erik Larsen uses his incredible storytelling abilities to transport us back to wartime Britain. Winston Churchill faces the seemingly impossible task of holding Britain together during an intensive bombing campaign, while building up Britain’s air force and naval strength, thwarting Nazi invasions, and convincing President Franklin D. Roosevelt that Britain was a worthy ally. This riveting look at Churchill covers only one year of his term as Prime Minister, but gives an intimate glimpse into the workings of his war room, his private life, and his personality. 

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The Whalebone Theatre by Joanna Quinn

When a whale washes up on the beach of Dorset, Cristabel Seagrave, a twelve-year-old orphan, hatches an ingenious plan to build a theatre from the enormous ribcage. She enlists the help of her sister Flossie, her brother Digby, the maid Maudie Kitcat, and a traveling artist called Taras. This proves to be just what Cristabel needs to bring her imagination to life and escape the drudgery of her reality. When World War II begins, Cristabel and Digby are called upon to use their acting skills in circumstances with much higher stakes. 

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Beneath a Scarlet Sky by Mark Sullivan

There are many books about heroism in the Second World War, but not all are as astonishing as Beneath a Scarlet Sky. This book is based on the true story of Pino Lella, a young Italian man who, despite wanting nothing to do with the war, ends up using his exceptional climbing and skiing skills to help Italian Jews escape to Switzerland. After being forced to enlist as a soldier in the German army, he shows incredible courage by becoming a spy for the allies from inside the German High Command, risking his own life and everything dear to him.

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Manhattan Beach by Jennifer Egan

The U.S. is at war, and Anna Kerrigan’s father has vanished. While working as a diver for the Navy, repairing ships, she meets her father’s former boss, Dexter Styles. She becomes involved with him and is plunged into the underground world of gangsters. Over time, she begins to understand what must have happened to her father, and what she must do. 

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The Chilbury Ladies Choir by Jennifer Ryan

Hearts are breaking in the charming village of Chilbury, England. Sons and husbands are leaving to go to war, and on top of that, the vicar has announced that the choir will close until the men return. Singing is exactly what the ladies need to lift their spirits, so they set about forming their own choir. In doing so, they discover a way to forget their troubles and learn the true value of friendship. 

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Midnight in Broad Daylight by Pamela Rotner Sakamoto

This is the epic true account of a Japanese-American family that found itself on opposing sides during World War II. Three Brothers, Harry, Frank, and Peirce, who were born and raised in the Pacific Northwest, move back to their mother’s homeland of Japan. Harry ends up returning to the States, while his brothers remain there. When war breaks out, Harry is sent to an internment camp, but is released to fight for the U.S. army. Meanwhile, his brothers enlist in the Japanese Imperial Army. Alternating between the brothers’ perspectives, we witness the horror of the bombing of Hiroshima from both sides of the war. This heartbreaking story takes us on a rollercoaster of love, loss, and reconciliation. 

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