Category: Uncategorized

Botanical Horror

Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno-Garcia 

When socialite Noemí Taboada receives a desperate letter from her cousin, she travels to the eerie High Place estate in the remote Mexican countryside. What begins as a rescue mission soon spirals into a gothic nightmare as Noemí confronts the sinister secrets of the family’s crumbling mansion. Amid strange visions, twisted family dynamics, and a creeping dread that permeates the walls, Noemí must uncover the truth—or risk becoming trapped by it. Mexican Gothic is a chilling, atmospheric tale of horror, heritage, and feminine strength set against the haunting backdrop of 1950s Mexico.  

Graveyard Shift by M.L. Rio 

Graveyard Shift is modern gothic mystery set in a haunted college town, where five night-shift workers cross paths in the local cemetery. When they discover a fresh, unmarked grave that shouldn’t exist, they’re drawn into a strange and suspenseful hunt for answers. With eerie twists, a shadowy gravedigger, and an ensemble of outsiders, this atmospheric tale unearths the darkness hiding just beneath the surface. Fans of academic intrigue and slow-burning suspense will find a chilling delight in this haunting story. 

They Bloom at Night by Trang Thanh Tran 

In the eerie, decaying town of Mercy, Louisiana—where red algae chokes the water and people keep disappearing—Noon teams up with the guarded Covey to uncover the truth. As a powerful storm approaches, the two race against time to track a monstrous presence lurking beneath the surface. Suspenseful and atmospheric, this tale blends Southern Gothic dread with a gripping creature hunt. 

Don’t Let the Forest In by CG Drews  

When two teen boys discover that horrifying creatures from a series of eerie drawings are coming to life, they must confront a nightmare bleeding into reality. As the monsters close in, the boys race to uncover the source of the dark magic before it’s too late. Don’t Let the Forest In is a tense, supernatural thriller where imagination turns deadly, and survival means facing what lurks beyond the page. 

What Moves the Dead by T. Kingfisher

In What Moves the Dead, T. Kingfisher reimagines Poe’s classic with chilling flair, as retired soldier Alex Easton rushes to a crumbling estate where their childhood friend is dying under eerie circumstances. The Usher home is surrounded by grotesque fungi, unsettling wildlife, and a sinister lake that seems almost alive. As madness and decay close in, Alex must uncover the truth behind the haunting before it’s too late. Atmospheric, grotesque, and deeply unsettling, this gothic horror tale pulses with creeping dread. 

House of Hollow by Krystal Sutherland  

In House of Hollow, something strange and sinister haunts Iris Hollow and her two sisters—ever since they vanished as children and returned with no memory and matching crescent-shaped scars. When the eldest sister, Grey, disappears again, Iris is pulled into a surreal and terrifying search through a world where reality unravels, and monsters wear familiar faces. With eerie encounters and haunting revelations, Iris must uncover the dark truth of their past before it consumes them all. This is a chilling, modern fairytale where beauty hides horror and memory is a dangerous thing. 

Your Blood, My Bones by Kelly Andrew 

Wyatt Westlock returns to the decaying estate of Willow Heath, ready to destroy the place that haunts her—until she discovers Peter, a boy she once cared for, caught in a cycle of ritual sacrifice. Bound to an eerie tradition that keeps ancient forest forces at bay, Peter is semi-immortal and trapped in a nightmare that resets every year. As dark secrets surface, Wyatt must decide whether to break the cycle or become part of it. Haunting and atmospheric, this story blends horror, memory, and the pull of something ancient in the woods. 

Bloom by Delilah S. Dawson

In Bloom, Rosemary is instantly captivated by Ash, the charming and seemingly flawless vendor at the farmers’ market whose wares are as enchanting as she is. What begins as admiration quickly turns into a consuming obsession, blurring the line between desire and identity. But beneath Ash’s perfect exterior lies something far more sinister—and Ro may not be the predator in this tale. Lush and unsettling, this is a darkly seductive story where passion curdles into something dangerous. 

What’s My Book Again? Rocker Memoirs to Read this Summer

Beastie Boys Book by Michael Diamond and Adam Horovitz

 

Follow the rise of 1980s New York hip-hop band, Beastie Boys, told be the two surviving members Adam “ADROCK” Horovitz and Michael “Mike D” Diamond. The book’s eclectic and funny narrative styles are entertaining and enlightening.  

My Cross to Bear by Gregg Allman 

Founding member of the iconic rock acts, The Allman Brothers Band, Greg Allman opens up in this memoir about his music career and personal life including his struggles with substance abuse, his brief marriage to Cher, and the loss of his brother Duane. 

I Am Brian Wilson by Brian Wilson 

Beach Boy’s frontman’s second autobiographical memoir, I Am Brian Wilson, gives fans a view of one of the most significant songwriter’s of the 20th century and the personal struggles with mental health, addiction, and interpersonal relationships within the band. Wilson’s perspective on the ups and downs behind some of the band’s most timeless songs is worth the read.  

Girl in a Band by Kim Gordon 

Kim Gordon, the bassist, songwriter, and singer of Sonic Youth, provides a captivating memoir about her career and life. Sonic Youth’s formation in 1980s New York paved the way for the rock and grunge scene that was to come with acts like Nirvana and Smashing Pumpkins. Gordon’s book recaps her younger years and her marriage and subsequent divorce from bandmate, Thurston Moore.  

Decoded by Jay-Z

This 2010 autobiographical memoir by Jay-Z is unlike others on this list because of its sizable collection of lyrics and poetry from the artist as well as biographical narrative. Although much has transpired in Jay-Z’s celebrity and career since being published, this book is a compelling read for those wanting a better understanding of the prominent rapper’s life as well as personal reflections on politics and growing up in poverty. 

Life by Keith Richards and James Fox 

Keith Richards, rock icon and lead guitarist for The Rolling Stones’, details his upbringing, early days with bandmates Mick Jagger and Brian Jones, drug use, romantic relationships, and inexplicable life turns in this 2011 memoir.  

Born to Run by Bruce Springsteen 

From Thunder Road to Atlantic City to Born in the U.S.A”., Bruce Springsteen has created some of iconic story-driven rock songs. This 2016 memoir named for 1975 album, gives readers a sense of the man behind the music in the same poetic language and lyricism used in his music 

Chronicles Vol. 1 by Bob Dylan

Check out the first of three planned memoirs, Chronicles Vol. 1, by the one and only Bob Dylan. The centers around three pivotal moments in Dylan’s lengthy career 1961, 1970 and 1989 and the albums that were created in those years Bob Dylan, New Morning, and Oh Mercy. 

Face It by Deborah Harry 

Blondie’s frontwoman Debbie Harry comes to life in this fascinating 2019 memoir of the prominent band that played alongside acts like the Ramones, Television, Talking Heads, Iggy Pop and David Bowie.  

The Storyteller by Dave Grohl 

Nirvana’s drummer, Foo Fighter’s frontman, and all-around musician Dave Grohl shares about his career and personal life in this engaging autobiography published a few years ago. 

Fahrenheit-182 by Mark Hoppus 

One third of the seminal early aughts punk rock band, Blink-182, Mark Hoppus’ autobiography relates a lot about the band’s history and antics. Hoppus’ also shares his personal battles after being diagnosed with non-Hodgkin lymphoma in 2021.  

Contortionists, trapeze artists, and elephants, oh my! Tales from the Big Top

The circus: a place where those with strange talents and social outsiders alike were able to find a home and family that accepted them. This book list is filled with people and stories, both real and imagined, and how they lived out through the backdrop of the heyday of the circus.

The Haunting at Bonaventure Circus by Jaime Jo Wright

The Haunting at Bonaventure Circus by Jaime Jo Wright

A dual timeline read. 1928: Pippa Ripley tries to understand the circumstances of her birth when she is presented with baffling letters from a man called the “Watchman.” Pippa finds that the man’s sister was murdered and he is searching for justice and has proof there is a serial killer involved in the Bonaventure Circus. Present day: Chandler Faulk already has a lot on her shoulders (a single mother recently diagnosed with an autoimmune disorder) when she is given the task to decide if an old circus train depot will be torn down or saved for its historical importance. As she researches the train she finds disturbing hints of unsolved murders.

The Haunting at Bonaventure Circus Book

The Haunting at Bonaventure Circus eBook in Hoopla

The Circus Train by Amita Parikh

Despite being the daughter of Theo Papadopoulos, a famous and headlining circus performer, Lena hasn’t found the circus to be her future; she is more interested in science and medicine. As Lena tries to figure out her future under the overprotective arm of her father, she rescues Alexandre, an orphan, who begins to train under her father. Lena’s world is turned upside down when her father and Alexandre are contracted to perform by the Nazis as World War II looms.

The Circus Train Book

The Circus Train Large Print Book 

The Circus Train eBook

The Hidden Life of Cecily Larson by Ellen Baker

A multigenerational story of found families, love, and survival. After spending part of her life in an orphanage, Cecily is sold into a traveling circus, where Cecily finds the family she longed for. But Cecily’s life begins to crack during her teen years and her life is changed. Fast forward to 2015: Cecily has lived a quiet family life for decades. Her family surprises her with a DNA test that brings to light Cecily’s secret past and makes her family question who they are.

The Hidden Life of Cecily Larson Book

The Hidden Life of Cecily Larson CD Audiobook

The Hidden Life of Cecily Larson eBook in Hoopla 

The Hidden Life of Cecily Larson Audio eBook in Hoopla

The Ladies of the Secret Circus by Constance Sayers

Paris, 1925: Cecile Cabot only knows of her life in the Secret Circus, her family’s bizarre and magical enterprise where every feat has a price. But her passionate affair with a young painter threatens everything. Virginia, 2005: Bride Lara Barnes is heartbroken when her fiance vanishes on their wedding day. Her hunt takes her through her great-grandmother’s diaries where she learns of her family’s dangerous past with a dark circus and a generational curse.

The Ladies of the Secret Circus Book

The Ladies of the Secret Circus CD Audiobook

Battle for the Big Top: P.T. Barnum, James Bailey, John Ringling, and the Death-defying Saga of the American Circus by Les Standiford

We all know the pageantry of the circus: death defying acts, visual and auditory grandeur, animal acts, clowns. But do you know who created the circus? This work of nonfiction gives readers the history of the “three circus kings,” whose talents and drive created and vied for control of what we know as the “big top.”

Battle for the Big Top: P.T. Barnum, James Bailey, John Ringling, and the Death-defying Saga of the American Circus Book

Maud’s Circus by Michelle Rene

A Fictionalized biopic: How did Maud Wagner become the first female tattoo artist in North America? Teenage Maud runs away to join the circus where she works as a contortionist. While working the 1904 World’s Fair Maude meets Gus Wagner, a famous tattoo artist. Trading a date with him for a tattoo lesson, Maud’s life is changed: marriage and a new career within the circus in which she quite literally leaves a mark on the people she meets.

Maud’s Circus book

70s Glam

The 1970s provided a bridge between the folksy ’60s and the over-the-top ‘80s, filling the disco decade with flowy bohemian fashion, manmade fabrics designed to show off bodies on the dance floor, and vintage references like turbans and feather boas. Sink into the glamour of the 1970s by reading a book set in that era. Not sure where to start? Here are some ideas!

Daisy Jones & the Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid

Written as an oral history of the fictional biggest band of the 70s, Daisy Jones & the Six, this book will scratch your tell-all itches. The ups and downs of stage life will have you feeling like a Fleetwood Mac roadie without all the hassle. (Hint: This one is especially good as an audiobook!)

Daisy Jones Book

Daisy Jones Large Print

Daisy Jones CD Audiobook

Daisy Jones Audio eBook

Groupies by Sarah Priscus

In 1977, Faun Novak loses her mother and starts a new life by hopping a bus to California with nothing more than a love of music and a Polaroid camera. She reconnects with a childhood friend and ends up enmeshed in the life of a rock ‘n roll hangaround, photographing the band and especially the groupies while also getting closer and closer to the dark side of the lifestyle.

Groupies Book

The Final Revival of Opal & Nev

Trendsetting Opal is on the forefront of Afro punk and determined to be a star when she meets singer/songwriter Nev. They quickly become a rock duo and a fixture in the New York City music scene, until the presence of a Confederate flag at one of their concerts throws everything off track.

The Final Revival Book

The Final Revival Large Print

Songs in Ursa Major by Emma Brodie 

Jane Quinn’s mother was a songwriter, so Jane was born into the music world and had her own band at a young age. Before long she’s pulled into a tour, and a love affair, with folk legend Jesse Reid that will cause a rift in her family and disillusionment with the industry. Explore the early 70’s music world with this book about what a career in music could cost a female artist.

Songs in Ursa Major Book

Songs in Ursa Major Audio eBook

Mary Jane by Jessica Anya Blau

Fourteen-year-old Mary Jane has grown up with a predictable, respectable family life. She’s shy, loves books and loves listening to her family’s Showtunes of the Month records. When she takes a job as a nanny for the summer, she discovers a whole new world: progressive politics, cluttered housekeeping, and a rock star resident in intensive therapy with the family’s father.

Mary Jane Book

Mary Jane eBook

Mustique Island by Sarah McCoy 

During the 1970s, Mustique was an ultra-exclusive private island that played host to celebrities ranging from Princess Margaret to Mick Jagger. Sarah McCoy’s novel fictionalizes the life of a real and wealthy divorcee who sailed the world only to become enmeshed, with her two daughters, in the lavish lifestyle of Mustique.

Mustique Book

Mustique eBook

Come Fly the World by Julia Cooke 

In addition to an iconic music scene, the 70s were also the glory days of air travel. This history of Pan Am stewardesses explores not only the freedom found in a jet setting lifestyle, but also the historical role that these women played during the Vietnam War and Operation Babylift.

Come Fly Book

Come Fly Large Print

Come Fly Audio eBook

Nothing to Lose: The Making of Kiss 1972-1975 

70s music wasn’t all folksy singer/songwriters and disco, and the proof lies in this memoir about the formative years of the iconic rock band KISS.  It’s an oral history of the band’s creation, and includes interviews not only with band members, roadies, and publicists, but also fellow musicians who watched it all happen, like Alice Cooper, Ted Nugent, and members of Black Sabbath.

Nothing to Lose Book

Never a Dull Moment: 1971 The Year That Exploded 

To look at the musical releases and events of 1971 is to see an overwhelming list of iconic songs, people, and moments. Here are just a select few covered in this history of the year: Led Zeppelin’s “Stairway to Heaven,” David Bowie’s arrival in the US, The Who’s “Baba O’Reilly,” the death of Jim Morrison, Marvin Gaye’s “What’s Going On,” and the release of Carole King’s “Tapestry.”

Never a Dull Moment Book

Never a Dull Moment CD Audiobook

Never a Dull Moment Audio eBook

Just Kids by Pattie Smith 

Legendary poet and musician Patti Smith recounts her youth, with Robert Mapplethorpe, in the heart of the New York City art scene. This National Book Award winning memoir brings that world to life as Smith tells the story of her youth, love, and friendship with artist Mapplethorpe.

Just Kids Book

Just Kids eBook

Just Kids Audio eBook

Renewal Issue 005

stamp with text that reads renewal

Renewal, Issue 5

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

Pretty clever, eh? You should probably read on and discover all the other awesome ideas we’ve had. 

RFP? Me?

You might’ve heard that we won (received? Were awarded? What’s the right way to say you got a grant?) a big grant from our buddies at The Weld Trust.

Over $800,000 if we can brag for a moment!

One staff member, who shall remain nameless but does write a lot of newsletter stuff did suggest we use the money for books. Specifically, copies of One Piece, which just seems to keep chugging along and is now up to volume 108, so we could lay this $800,000 aside to offset the costs of new copies until the series is done, maybe at volume 40,000? Who knows!?

But cooler, more rational, sane-er, financially responsible heads have prevailed, and we’re building a mobile workforce unit.

And we need your proposals for that unit!

Take a look at the Request for Proposal, and if you’re in the game, get us your best pitches!

Renewal 1: A Deep Dive

Yes, we’ve gotten into the video essay game, mere years after we all enjoyed the 4-hour documentary about the failed Star Wars hotel and the mind-bending trip through myhouse.wad.

Our foray into this mostly-tamed west is a look at Choose Your Own Adventure books, especially volume 1: The Cave of Time!

Renewal 2: Why Is There So Much Stuff "On Order" In The Catalog?

Fair question, fair question.

We’re in the thick of renovating our admin building, including a nice little surprise that you’re going to love, so we had to press PAUSE on item orders a bit back because, well, we didn’t know if the address we normally use would, um, exist in the summer. Like, the PLACE still exists, but we didn’t know if any structures would be there (they are) or if there would be power (there’s not) or if anyone would be there to receive shipments (there isn’t).

Fortunately, we’ve got some temporary digs, and we’ve restarted all the paused orders, so things are rolling in fast!

I can say this with authority because FINALLY my Uketsu books are in!

Renewal 3: A Kanopy Gem

There’s a lot of great stuff on Kanopy, and it’s hard to pick things to highlight because there’s SO MUCH…

Okay, this is getting into the territory where you hear podcast ads that are like, “This supplement is one of my favorite things on the planet, I use it 7 times a day, I would probably be dead without this stuff!” 

I don’t need to sell Kanopy that hard, it’s a streaming service that’s FREE with your library card, what more do you need?

You know, I will say that when the Kanopy screen pops up, and it has the little slogan “Thoughtful entertainment,” and then I watch Tammy and the T-Rex, it does give me a good deal of joy. There is NOTHING thoughtful about that movie, Kanopy. If you all were keeping track of what I watch, you would’ve deleted that slogan from my version of the app years ago.

Anyway, I did watch a great movie, dare I say a THOUGHTFUL movie, that I’d like to recommend to you, especially if you’re a fan of the sort of 90s indie movies made by people like Kevin Smith.

I Like Movies follows a young guy named Lawrence, a teenage Ignatius J. Reilly fumbling his way through the last months of high school and trying to find his way to New York City to make his filmmaker dreams come true. 

But this isn’t a romantic, “Isn’t coming of age in New York the pinnacle of experience?” kind of movie that I think we’ve all tired of, it’s about a teenager who doesn’t have it easy, who can be a bit of an obnoxious jerk at times (as many of us were as teens. No? Just me?), and there are lots of great character moments and little scenes that really make for something special.

No explosions, no hospital bedside sequences, no superheroes, but it’s a movie where you can feel that the people behind the camera believed in it as a story, not just as Product.

It’s probably hard for movies like this to make as big a splash these days, there’s so much competition online, and theaters don’t really seem to screen stuff like this as much as they should, so do yourself a favor, get on Kanopy, giggle at “thoughtful entertainment,” and give I Like Movies 2 tickets and 99 minutes of your time. Well worth it.

Renewal Issue 004

stamp with text that reads renewal

Welcome to this, our 4th 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 Wins Budget Presentation Award

Once again, for about the billionth time, HPLD has been awarded the Distinguished Budget Presentation Award by the Government Finance Officers Association! 

This is something we like to make a big deal about because it means we’re continuing to produce high quality reporting that follows best practices in budgeting and that we are being transparent with the ways YOUR MONEY is spent!

Congratulations, to, well, us, but also to you for being fortunate enough to celebrate with us!

Unfortunately, our plaque is packed away because we’re moving some stuff from our admin building right now, so please enjoy this photoshopped plaque, which is an unreasonable facsimile of the real deal, which we’ll dust off as soon as we’re re-settled.

Renewal 1: HPLD Friends & Foundation Awarded BIG BIG Grant!

HPLDF&F has received nearly $831,000 from The Weld Trust for a Mobile Workforce Unit for the High Plains Library District in collaboration with Employment Services of Weld County Weld County Government. The grant is the final key to the multi-institution Weld County collaboration to bring workforce development and employment services to those who need it the most in rural areas.

What does that mean, in regular language?

We’re going to build a custom, state-of-the-art vehicle loaded up with equipment and resources so that we can deliver training and expertise to some of the most rural areas we serve.

This vehicle will join the ranks of Great Vans of History, which includes the A-Team van, the Mystery Machine, and who could forget Tango & Cash’s battle van!?

Renewal 2: ReadCon is Right Around the Corner

Yep, we’ve got just about 2 weeks before ReadCon hits Greeley! It’s our most-star-studded ReadCon ever and the first one we’ve held in over TEN YEARS! It’s going to be great, and we need you to come out and support it so that we can host more events like this in the future. Register today, come in two weeks, buy snacks sometime in between. Because the only thing better than an author event is an author event with snackies.

Renewal 3: Ihatovo Monogatari

イーハトーヴォ物語 or Īhatōvo Monogatari, or Ihatovo Story is a game that was released for the Super Famicom (the Japanese version of the Super Nintendo) in Japan in 1993, and thanks to a fan translation, is playable in English as of 2018. 

Ihatovo Story is an RPG, sort of. It doesn’t have the battling and leveling up you might expect from a typical RPG, and instead it’s a more cozy adventure that revolves around you, the player, helping the resident of Ihatovo, a pretty pleasant place, locate items or complete tasks.

Why is this in a library newsletter? The world of Ihatovo is based heavily on the works of Japanese author Kenji Miyazawa, and it’s one of the most direct book-to-game examples out there.

You can watch a brief synopsis here:

Or a complete playthrough here:

A to Z Food America: What Presidents Eat

It’s been my goal to tell HPLD users a little bit about all of our databases this year, and I’ve already found a doozy in A to Z Food America.

It’s a great source of information on things you’d expect, like recipes from specific regions and with certain ingredients, and that’s all fine (it’s GREAT, actually), but it’s not what intrigued me about the information that was presented to me.

So I bring you this brief tour of the weirder side of A to Z Food America, starting with a little American history.

What Presidents Eat

Under the Historical heading in A to Z Food America, we’ve got a section called “What did They Eat: U.S. Presidents.”

Besides being a bit confusing for me in terms of whether or not they should have a question mark in there somewhere, I was fascinated to find out not only some of the favorite dishes of Presidents, but some of the snacks and mealtime customs of each President (up to 2020, Joe Biden has not yet been profiled). 

I started at the very beginning, a pretty decent place to start, and found out that George Washington did NOT have wooden teeth, as it was rumored, but did have dentures made of animal bone. Which is certainly more practical and also…a little weird, no?

Washington, I found out, wrote down a recipe for what he called “Small Beer” because it had a low alcohol content, and this recipe is still available for you home brewers out there.  It doesn’t sound like the tastiest brew, IMO, but, hey, if it’s good enough for the first President, it’s good enough for me…to not make fun of anymore.

James Polk (President 11), was apparently one of the very few U.S. Presidents to ACTUALLY be born in a log cabin, and he brought with him to office his taste for simple foods, and he wasn’t a fan of the elegant, European fare that was all the rage in political circles. After attending an official banquet, he wrote in his diary: “I saw the food and I couldn’t tell what it was. It must have been French.” I feel you, Jimmy. 

Ulysses S. Grant (18) liked the food he was served in the military, so when he won the Presidency, he brought an army quartermaster on board as the White House chef. Apparently, Grant’s wife gave the quartermaster a shot, but figured out pretty quickly that his cooking wasn’t so hot. She hired an Italian-trained chef, and allegedly Grant started packing on some extra weight, the food was that good.

Theodore Roosevelt (26) was known for drinking A LOT of coffee. This is a man after my own heart (palpitations). 

William Howard Taft (27) had a dairy cow roaming around the White House for the first two years of his term so that the family had access to fresh milk and dairy products. Just in case this comes up at pub trivia some time, the cow’s name was Pauline Wayne. I can’t possibly imagine I’ll remember that name, but, hey, if you manage it, you’ll be team MVP for sure, even if the music round leaves you feeling old, confused, and a little frightened.

Jimmy Carter (39) made it legal for people to brew beer at home, which definitely paved the way for the craft brewing scene of today. Related to this move, a Louisville brewery created a beer for his brother, Billy, called Billy Beer. A quote from Billy on the label read, “I had this beer brewed up just for me. I think it’s the best I ever tasted. And I’ve tasted a lot. I think you’ll like it, too.” Funnily enough, Jimmy Carter did not drink alcohol, and all of his guests were served non-alcoholic wine. 

Ronald Reagan (40) apparently took quite a liking to jelly beans, partially to help him quit smoking. He always had a jar on his desk, and he’d pass it around at the beginning of meetings. He had a standing order with Jelly Belly of 720 bags per month so that The Oval Office, Air Force One, and all cabinet offices were well-stocked. 

George H.W. Bush (41) was famous for hating vegetables, especially broccoli, which his mother made him eat. At a press conference, Bush was quoted as saying, ““I’m President of the United States and I’m not going to eat any more broccoli.” Which, fair. I guess if it takes becoming President to tell your mom that she can no longer dictate what you eat, he did it. White House staff characterized Bush Sr.’s eating as being like “a teenage boy” in that he’d wolf down huge portions and yet never seem to put any weight onto his slim frame.

Bill Clinton (42) was known for his love of fast food. He’s since gone mostly vegan, but in his heyday, he was known to often end a jog at a McDonald’s, so often that a McDonald’s in Arkansas put up a plaque in 2019, memorializing the location as one that Clinton often jogged to. I’ve been known to put away a burger, but I’ve yet to attain the status of, “We need to put up an official notice about this guy on the side of the building.”

Donald Trump (45/47) had a Diet Coke button installed during his first term, and apparently has had it reinstalled in 2025 as well. The button provides Trump an easy way to request that someone bring him a Diet Coke. These are the perks of having the biggest job on the planet. 

There you have it, just a little roundup of some of what’s available on A to Z Food America

It’s actually a super cool database. I hate to even call it a “database” because, to me, that sounds kind of boring, and A to Z Food America is genuinely fascinating, fun to browse, and something I’m super glad the library is able to offer. 

Summer Foods

July is here! It’s National Hot Dog Month. It is also National Ice Cream Month. And National Watermelon Month. And, wouldn’t you know it, it is also National Blueberry Month. It seems that July is the month of summer foods! Read a book with one of these summer foods (and maybe even enjoy the food while you read!). The food can be featured in the title, the cover, or elsewhere in the book.  

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Raw Dog: The Naked Truth about Hot Dogs by Jamie Loftus

Hot dogs: a deeply American food. Comedian Jamie Loftus takes readers on an adventure into the significance of hot dogs and documents his travels to see how people around the U.S. consume them. Loftus covers the creation of the iconic food, as well as the culture and class influences to reveal what hot dogs say about America now. 

Get Raw Dog in HPLD’s Catalog

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Death of an Ice Cream Scooper by Lee Hollis

In this Hayley Powell Food and Cocktails Mystery installment, Hayley’s friend Lydia has a big issue: her husband, Jamie, is not only cheating on her, but may be a killer! Jamie is a college professor who has been spending way too much time off campus with one of his students, who also happens to work for Lydia’s gourmet ice cream shop. Soon, the popular college student’s body is discovered in Lydia’s freezer. Can Hayley find out if Jamie is the true culprit?

Death of an Ice Cream Scooper Book

Death of an Ice Cream Scooper eBook

Death of an Ice Cream Scooper Audio eBook

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The Wiles of Watermelon by Lynette Sowell

Andi and Ben Hartley are newlyweds with an adorable kitten. Ben is ready to start a family right away, but Andi isn’t sure she is ready to look like a watermelon yet. Their conversation is put on hold when the kitten finds a bone from a 30 year old skeleton in their watermelon field. Soon after, the lively owner of the town’s best restaurant is found murdered. As Andi goes into detective mode, she finds that the deaths are connected. Who is the murderer? 

The Wiles of Watermelon Book

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The House on Blueberry Lane by Brenda Jackson

Despite Jaye and Velvet’s three year exclusive relationship, Jaye wasn’t ready for commitment to anything, and did not believe in love or marriage. Exasperated, and without telling him goodbye, Velvet leaves. Jaye realizes too late that he truly loved Velvet and spends the next few years trying to find the love of his life. Now that he has found her in Catalina Cove, Jaye is willing to do anything to win Velvet back. But will Velvet let Jaye win her over again? 

The House on Blueberry Lane Book

The House on Blueberry Lane eBook

The House on Blueberry Lane Audio eBook

The House on Blueberry Lane Large Print

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Hot dog: a Melanie Travis mystery by Laurien Berenson

Melanie Travis has a lot on her hands: her annoying ex-husband, wanting some time away from her boyfriend, and stalkers in the form of a TV crew wanting the next big story. She now has the task of finding the owner of Dox, the adorable Dachshund. Melanie soon finds that Dox is an emotional pawn in a divorcing couple’s messy split. As if this isn’t enough, sinister occurrences are now occurring: a midnight break in at Melanie’s house, her wallet is stolen, her son’s safety is put at risk, and Dox is dognapped. Melanie, juggling the world on her shoulders, is determined to solve the case.  

Hot Dog Book

Hot Dog eBook

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A Game of Cones by Abby Collette

In this cozy mystery, Win Crewse’s family owned ice cream shop, Crewse Creamery, is restored to its former glory and is happily serving sweet scoops to the Chagrin Falls community. All is well until a developer wanting to change everything with a big mall is found murdered. Soon, Win’s friend is the prime suspect. And if that wasn’t enough stress, Win’s estranged aunt has arrived in town wanting to take over Crewse Creamery. Win is determined to exonerate her friend and keep control of her ice cream shop.  

A Game of Cones Book

A Game of Cones eBook

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The Berry Pickers by Amanda Peters

In July 1962, four year old Ruthie, a member of a Mi’Kmaq family who came to Maine to pick blueberries vanished. The unsolved mystery haunts her family and the small Maine community for the next fifty years. Meanwhile, Norma, a member of an affluent Maine family, grows up unsettled by dreams and visions that feel too real for comfort. Norma’s intuition tells her that her parents are hiding a secret. She spends the next few decades trying to uncover that secret. 

The Berry Pickers Book

The Berry Pickers eBook

The Berry Pickers Large Print

She Blinded Me with Science

Science is a way of understanding the world, but to what degree can it be used to understand oneself? These books all deal with the intersection of science fiction and identity.  

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The Echo Wife by Sarah Gailey

How would you feel if someone you loved stole from you? What if it was your life’s work? What if it was also your face? 

The Echo Wife Book

The Echo Wife Audio eBook

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The Space Between Worlds by Micaiah Johnson

Cara is excellent at dying in every other dimension, which makes her an asset in Wiley City where she works collecting data from those other dimensions. But when a discovery in another world threatens her native dimension, she must decide who she wants to be and what she can and cannot protect. 

The Space Between Worlds Book

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Annihilation by Jeff Vandermeer

Area X – an isolated biosphere of impossible phenomena has already had 11 expeditions into the area with mixed results for each. Our nameless protagonist, a biologist, records her experience and motivations for joining the doomed 12th expedition in this sci-fi horror.  

Annihilation Book

Annihilation Audio eBook

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Lab Girl by Hope Jahren

As more women enter scientific careers, the definition of what a scientist looks like has changed. Lab Girl explores themes that include mental illness and interconnectedness in the context of a part memoir, part scientific treatise on the human-plant connection. 

Lab Girl by Hope Jahren​ Book

Lab Girl by Hope Jahren​ Audio eBook

Lab Girl by Hope Jahren​ Large Print

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The Love Hypothesis by Ali Hazelwood

On a whim, Olive Smith smooches Professor non-grata #1 in her PhD program to ensure her best friend’s pursuit of her own previous romantic prospect. Having had very little motivation for dating and romance, complications arise when a fake relationship appears to be the perfect solution to both her own and the Professor’s problems. 

The Love Hypothesis by Ali Hazelwood​ Book

The Love Hypothesis by Ali Hazelwood​ Large Print

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A Psalm for the Wild-Built by Becky Chambers

What is someone meant to do when they have become the best in their field? This is the question Dex, a tea monk has had to ask. Twice. A cozy novella that explores what it is to change and why. 

A Psalm for the Wild-Built by Becky Chambers Book

A Psalm for the Wild-Built by Becky Chambers Audio eBook

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Annie Bot: a Novel by Sierra Greer

Annie is a highly advanced humanoid robot whose purpose is to please her owner, Doug in all ways. Yet, as Annie’s code evolves and becomes more human, it becomes increasingly more difficult to know what will displease Doug.

Annie Bot: a Novel by Sierra Greer Book

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Sybil: The True Story of a Woman Possessed by 16 Separate Personalities by Flora Rheta Schreiber

In a significantly darker turn from other books on this list, this book originally published in 1973 details the diagnosis and treatment of a young woman with 16 distinct personalities. Since its publication, both psychiatrist, patient, and author have drawn controversy for the events detailed in the book.   

Sybil: The True Story of a Woman Possessed by 16 Separate Personalities by Flora Rheta Schreiber  Book

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The Daughter of Doctor Moreau by Silvia Moreno-Garcia

Kept in isolation from the rest of the world, Carlota is raised to be sweet and obedient to her father, a brilliant scientist whose hybrids are destined to revolutionize medicine. In a lush estate on the Yucatan peninsula, life could not be more idyllic. Everything changes when the son of her father’s patron unexpectedly visits, and forces secrets out into the open. 

The Daughter of Doctor Moreau by Silvia Moreno-Garcia Book

The Daughter of Doctor Moreau by Silvia Moreno-Garcia eBook

The Daughter of Doctor Moreau by Silvia Moreno-Garcia Large Print

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The Genesis of Misery by Neon Yang

Joan of Arc but make it queer. And in space. With battle mechs. 

The Genesis of Misery by Neon Yang Book

The Genesis of Misery by Neon Yang Audio eBook

Adventure Begins at Your Library

Embark on your summer reading journey with these captivating reads. Whether you seek far-off lands, mysteries that need solving, or daring exploits, these books will transport you into the thick of the action. Adventure begins at your library—where will your next adventure take you? 

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Venomous Lumpsucker by Ned Beauman

In a dystopian future, governments and corporations have devised a system where biodiversity credits are traded much like carbon credits today. Karin Resaint, a passionate environmentalist, teams up with Mark Halyard, who works for a corporation that profits from this system. Their unlikely partnership is driven by the urgent need to locate the last surviving venomous lumpsuckers before they become extinct, as these fish hold significant economic and scientific value. Their journey takes them across a world ravaged by ecological collapse, encountering various stakeholders with conflicting interests.  

Venomous Lumpsucker by Ned Beauman  Book

Venomous Lumpsucker by Ned Beauman  Audio eBook

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The Sentinel by Lee Child and Andrew Child

Jack Reacher arrives in the small town of Pleasantville, Tennessee, only to discover that the town is experiencing a series of troubling incidents. The town’s IT systems have been hacked, causing widespread chaos. Reacher quickly becomes involved in the mystery when he saves Rusty Rutherford, the town’s IT manager, from an attempted kidnapping. Rutherford, who was blamed for the cyberattack, holds crucial information that several dangerous entities are eager to obtain. Reacher teams up with Rutherford to uncover the truth behind the cyberattack and protect the town from further harm. 

The Sentinel by Lee Child and Andrew Child Book

The Sentinel by Lee Child and Andrew Child Large Print

The Sentinel by Lee Child and Andrew Child CD Audiobook

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Deep as the Sky, Red as the Sea by Rita Chang-Eppig

The novel follows Shek Yeung, who rises to power as a pirate queen after the death of her husband, Cheng Yat, a notorious pirate leader. Navigating a male-dominated world, Shek Yeung must assert her authority and protect her fleet from external threats, including the Chinese navy and rival pirate factions. The story delves into her struggles, both personal and political, as she maintains her power and seeks to secure her legacy. 

Deep as the Sky, Red as the Sea by Rita Chang-Eppig  Book

Deep as the Sky, Red as the Sea by Rita Chang-Eppig  Audio eBook

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Crow Mary by Kathleen Grissom

The narrative follows Crow Mary, a Crow tribe member, from her early life in the Great Plains through her experiences of cultural upheaval, personal trials, and ultimate survival. The novel spans Mary’s journey as she marries a fur trader, faces the clash between Native American and European American cultures, and becomes a beacon of strength for her people. 

Crow Mary by Kathleen Grissom Book

Crow Mary by Kathleen Grissom Large Print

Crow Mary by Kathleen Grissom CD Audiobook

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Something Wilder by Christina Lauren

The novel centers on Lily Wilder, who runs adventure tours using her father’s old maps, and Leo Grady, her former love who unexpectedly reenters her life. When a treasure hunt tour turns into a real quest for lost treasure, Lily and Leo must confront their past, rekindle their romance, and work together to survive the dangers they encounter. 

Something Wilder by Christina Lauren Book

Something Wilder by Christina Lauren Large Print

Something Wilder by Christina Lauren Audio eBook

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The Villa by Racheal Hawkins

The novel follows two parallel stories: one set in the 1970s and one in the present day. In the 1970s, rock musician Noel Gordon invites a group of friends to stay at Villa Rosato in Italy, where tragedy strikes. In the present day, writers Emily and Chess, old friends seeking inspiration and escape, rent the same villa and uncover the villa’s sinister past. 

The Villa by Racheal Hawkins Book

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The Villa by Racheal Hawkins Audio eBook

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The Storyteller’s Death by Ann Dávila Cardinal

The novel centers around Isla Larsen Sanchez, a young girl who, upon the death of her beloved grandmother, inherits a mystical gift that allows her to relive the stories of her ancestors. As Isla navigates the challenges of growing up, she uncovers hidden family secrets and learns about the power and responsibility that come with her gift. 

The Storyteller’s Death by Ann Dávila Cardinal Book

The Storyteller’s Death by Ann Dávila Cardinal eBook

The Storyteller’s Death by Ann Dávila Cardinal Audio eBook

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The Vanishing Edge by Claire Kells

The novel centers on former FBI agent and search-and-rescue expert, Felicity Harland, who is hired to investigate the disappearance of a woman in the national park. Partnering with National Parks Service agent Ferdinand “Hux” Huxley, Felicity must navigate the treacherous terrain, uncover clues, and confront hidden dangers as they race against time to find the missing woman and unravel the mystery behind her vanishing. 

The Vanishing Edge by Claire Kells Book

The Vanishing Edge by Claire Kells eBook

The Vanishing Edge by Claire Kells CD Audiobook

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Black Flag by David Ricciardi

The novel follows Jake Keller as he is assigned to infiltrate and dismantle a pirate organization that has been wreaking havoc on international shipping routes. The mission takes Keller into the treacherous waters off the Horn of Africa, where he faces ruthless pirates, treacherous allies, and the harsh realities of modern maritime warfare. 

Black Flag by David Ricciardi Book

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American Gods by Neil Gaiman

After being released from prison, Shadow Moon learns that his wife has died in a car accident. Adrift and grieving, he meets the enigmatic Mr. Wednesday, who offers him a job as a bodyguard. Shadow soon discovers that Mr. Wednesday is an incarnation of the Norse god Odin. Together, they travel across the country to recruit old gods for an impending war against the new gods, who represent modern life’s obsessions such as media, technology, and celebrity. 

American Gods by Neil Gaiman Book

American Gods by Neil Gaiman eBook

American Gods by Neil Gaiman Audio eBook