Staff Picks Adult
July 2024
Funny Story
by Emily Henry
Posted in: Adult Fiction
June 2024
“You Just Need to Lose Weight”: and 19 other myths about fat people
by Aubrey Gorgon
I enjoy listening to podcasts, and one of my favorites is Maintenance Phase, a podcast that debunks the junk science behind health fads, wellness scams, and nonsensical nutrition advice. When I saw that co-host Aubrey Gordon wrote a second book I was very interested to give it a read. “You Just Need to Lose Weight” is similar to her podcast as acts to debunk common anti-fat myths. But this book also equips readers with facts and figures to address discrimination ingrained in how we think about and treat fat people. I appreciated Aubrey’s intense research and her passion for information and I felt like this book tried to tackle a lot of difficult and important issues in a short amount of pages. It is a great introduction to the many other companion reads that she recommends on this topic at the end of the book.
Recommended by: Kristen Holding, Graphic Artist
Posted in: Adult Nonfiction
How to Keep House While Drowning: a gentle approach to cleaning and organizing
by KC Davis
I often feel so overwhelmed with daily life that household chores get pushed to the wayside. K.C. Davis, licensed professional counselor and creator of Strugglecare.com, popped up on my TikTok feed several months ago with simple “life hacks” to make care tasks more manageable. When I heard that she wrote a book, I was very excited to see what other life-changing and revolutionary ideas she had to share about home care. Written in 31 short easy-to-read chapters, she focuses on removing the moral obligations we feel towards care tasks that are counterproductive and suggests strategies for cleaning a messy space without becoming overwhelmed. I would recommend this book to anyone, even if you do not struggle keeping your space clean, as it has so many helpful ideas that are presented in a validating way.
Recommended by: Kristen Holding, Graphic Artist
Posted in: Adult Nonfiction
The Moonshiner’s Daughter
by Donna Everhart
Set in 1960’s North Carolina. Jessie Sasser’s family has a long legacy of making and running moonshine on Shine Mountain. Seeing her mother die a horrific death when she was very young has Jessie dead set against the family business. It leaves her with many questions about her mother and a eating disorder. Running shine isn’t easy, even with Sally Sue a rocket of a car. Mayhem, rivalry and the revenuers takes it’s toll on this family leaving Jessie with a choice to make about her family legacy.
This book is available in the library and on Hoopla an ebook and e audiobook.
Recommended by: Chris Schultz, Graphics Information Clerk
Posted in: Adult Fiction
Camino Ghosts
by John Grisham
Posted in: Adult Fiction
May 2024
The Things We Cannot Say
by Kelly Rimmer
The Things We Cannot Say is a heartbreaking, heartwarming hopeful story that explores love, loss, hardship, sacrifice and the relationships that bond people together. This story was compelling and emotional by layering duel timelines and how they connected the story and the family. We see the historical side to the story and then a modern side to it. Each is strong, interesting stories with their conflicts and heartache that shape the people they are.
This book is available at the library and on OverDrive/Libby as an ebook and on Hoopla as an ebook and e audiobook.
Recommended by: Chris Schultz, Graphics Informational Clerk
Posted in: Adult Fiction
The Crystal Shard: Legend of Drizzt
by R. A. Salvatore
Dungeons & Dragons, the tabletop role-playing fantasy game, has seen a rise in popularity in the past few years with the release of the Stranger Things TV series and the 2024 video game of the year Baldur’s Gate 3. I wanted to delve deeper into the lore of D&D, and R.A. Salvatore’s books were a great starting point for me.
The Crystal Shard, the fourth book in the legend of Drizzt series, does not in fact focus solely on the iconic and popular drow elf Drizzt Do’Urden. Instead of dominating the adventure as an almighty invincible swordsman as he would come to be in later novels, Drizzt is a fantastic protagonist without stealing the spotlight from the other characters. This made the book feel more like a real game of D&D as everyone had even-handed appearances throughout the book. The novel is filled with action-packed scenes, intricate battles, and themes of friendship, redemption, and the struggle between good and evil. Drizzt emerges as a heroic figure, fighting against the norms of his society and striving to do what is right.
R.A. Salvatore’s books have been a fun way for me to explore the world of D&D outside of actually playing it, and I would suggest this series to anyone who wants to learn more about the lore of D&D or is simply interested in high-fantasy and immersive world building. It is a timeless classic in the fantasy genre.
This book is available on Hoopla as an ebook.
Recommended by: Kristen Holding, Graphic Artist
Posted in: Adult Fiction
The Overstory
by Richard Powers
In his much-admired novel “The Overstory” Richard Powers takes a profound look at the ties that link people and trees. Powers creates a huge mural of stories demonstrating the importance of trees and their influence on our lives. Powers writes in such a beautiful and evocative language that he is like a painter painting woodland scenes with words. He is a nature expert giving rich histories of events centered around trees and their habitats. “This is not our world with trees in it. It’s a world of trees, where humans have just arrived.” I don’t know how many times I have read that quote, but it continues to serve as a reminder to value what is around us and keep it safe. If you are looking for a place to be motivated to conserve trees and other things, then you must not miss it.
This book is available in the library and on Hoopla as an e audiobook.
Recommended by: Maurya Orr, Graphic Artist
Posted in: Adult Fiction
Dangerous Games
by Danielle Steel
Alix Phillips, a fearless television correspondent, often listens to her college-aged daughter, Faye, voicing concerns about the risks inherent in her job. Despite navigating perilous situations to deliver acclaimed news coverage, Alix, accompanied by her cameraman Ben Chapman, confronts civil unrest on the global stage and investigates local political crimes. Ben, a former Navy SEAL, keeps a gun under his pillow as a precaution. Ironically, despite Faye’s worries about her mother’s profession, she herself experiences more personal violence.
Alix and Ben’s journey to the Middle East yields significant results when a confidential informant reveals unexpected information about a particular American politician. Impressed by a book penned by Olympia Foster, a refined yet reclusive widow of the once-presidential hopeful Bill Foster, Alix decides to collaborate with her. With insights from various sources, including Alix’s editor Felix, they embark on an investigation into allegations against Vice President Tony Clark. The CIA’s involvement even extends to having Olympia wear a wire.
As Alix delves deeper into her latest assignment, she finds herself confronting unprecedented danger. The stakes rise, unveiling a captivating narrative that intertwines personal and political intrigue and a romance between two long-time coworkers.
This book is available in the library and on OverDrive/Libby as an ebook.
Recommended by: Jackie Boyd, Communications Manager
Posted in: Adult Fiction
Grey Bees
by Andrey Kurkov
The book follows Sergey, a Ukrainian beekeeper residing in the tumultuous “grey zone,” where conflict between Ukrainians and Russians rages on. With electricity out for weeks and food supplies dwindling, tea and honey become precious commodities in this stark landscape.
Sergey, a disabled former mine safety inspector forced into retirement at 42, grapples with the ghosts of his past—a failed marriage and the departure of his daughter. Amidst the chaos of war, his bees continue their work, oblivious to borders, gathering pollen from both Ukrainian and Russian flowers.
This juxtaposition hints at the irony of nature’s indifference to human conflict, as Sergey navigates the complexities of life amidst the turmoil of war.
This book is available on Hoopla as an ebook.
Recommended by: Jackie Boyd, Communications Manager
Posted in: Adult Fiction