Staff Picks Adult
October 2021
The Lincoln Highway
by Amor Towles
An incredible read by the author of A Man in Moscow. In June, 1954, Emmett is released from a work farm ready to pick up his little brother, Billy, and head to California to restart his life. Unknown to him, Duchess and Woolly, a fast talker and a neurodivergent, have hidden themselves in the trunk. Soon, they find themselves heading to New York City instead for various spoken and unspoken reasons. The subplots are deftly woven together to make a story that covers a variety of human emotions, wants, and needs.
This book is available in the library and on OverDrive/Libby as an ebook and e audiobook.
Recommended by: Joan Stoiber, Youth Services Reference Librarian I
Posted in: Adult Fiction
September 2021
Help, I’m Drowning: Weathering the Storms of Life with Grace and Hope
by Sally Clarkson
We can all acknowledge that 2020 was a difficult year . We hoped the fog would begin to clear in 2021, yet it still lingers. Among others mothers and caregivers have had an extremely challenging time managing the home and childcare during the pandemic. Sally Clarkson’s timely book, Help, I’m Drowning: Weathering the Storms of Life with Grace and Hope provides practical tips for women who feel the darkness starting to take hold as they navigate the various storms of life. Each chapter provides anecdotes from Sally’s life as well as biblical references that aim to provide the reader with encouragement and hope that they can make it safely to the other side of their storm. Find this and many of Sally Clarkson’s other books on Hoopla Digital.
Recommended by: Darnetta Bolton, Youth Services Reference Librarian I
Posted in: Adult Nonfiction
Leave Only Footprints: My Acadia-to-Zion Journey Through Every National Park
by Conor Knighton
When Conor Knighton’s fiancé leaves him he decides to take his mind off of it by traveling to all of the National Parks in one year. Good thing he worked for CBS and they loved the idea of him sending in reports from all of the parks. This book is full of his experiences from all of the parks. It’s not a pure fact book and it’s not a book written to get you to visit the parks (though after reading it I’m sure you’ll find at least one place you’d like to go). It has a ton of interesting activities that he participated in and has a lot of little pieces of interviews from people he met there. A very fun and informative read.
Recommended by: Erin Faxel, Youth Services Teen Librarian
Posted in: Adult Nonfiction
The Wife Upstairs
by Rachel Hawkins
What do you get when you merge the classic Jane Eyre storyline with the dark, seedy underbelly of the newly rich, à la Big Little Lies? The answer is in this book, filled to the brim with secrets, deception and introspective battles. Jane is a dog walker in the gated community of Thornfield Estates when she meets the ever-so-charming widower, Eddie Rochester. Eddie has made a name for himself in town, though not for the reasons one might think—Eddie’s wife, Bea, and her best friend, Blanche, recently drowned in an unfortunate accident that left their bodies never to be discovered. Jane is drawn into the town’s posh gossip, the mystery behind the man that she believes can see her true soul, and is determined to uncover the keys of this high society while protecting her own secrets along the way. This book would be great for Brontë fans looking for a modern retelling of the classic and readers who love a mystery set against a glamorous backdrop.
This book is available in the library and on OverDrive/Libby as an eBook.
Recommended by: Ola Gronski, Youth Services Assistant
Posted in: Adult Fiction
August 2021
White Ivy
by Susie Yang
Ivy Lin’s Chinese grandmother stole to survive, but Ivy did it for fun. After all, it was the only way she could get the nail polish, lipstick and hair clips her teenage-self thought would grab the attention of Gideon Speyer—a glamorous boy from one of Massachusetts’ wealthiest families. But stealth was not yet Ivy’s strong suit, and her parents later punished her by uprooting her entire life. Ivy never saw Gideon again…until one day, as an adult, Ivy runs into his sister. She takes this as a sign of a sure chance at the American dream, the pursuit of happiness. This time, she’s not letting anything get in the way of stealing Gideon’s heart and power. Don’t mistake this as a love story—it’s a suspenseful, dark and compelling examination of character, privilege and what success really means. The writing is lyrical and the plot steady as a drum, you really won’t want to put this down.
This book is available in the library and on OverDrive/Libby as an eBook.
Recommended by: Ola Gronski, Youth Services Assistant
Posted in: Adult Fiction
The Anthropocene Reviewed
by John Green
The Anthropocene is basically the world as we know it and the impact people have on the environment, animals, climate, and each other. In this collection of essays, author John Green steps away from his usual YA novels to write short reviews on different things within the Anthropocene including animals (Canada Geese), places (Indianapolis), food & drink (Diet Dr. Pepper), and ideas (The Yips). Each chapter is a different topic with a unique view and how it benefited or hurt existence complete with Green’s own starred review of the topic. Written during the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic, Green conveys feelings and emotions that are all too familiar and joins us in our struggle to weight how our recent experiences will shape who we are and what we will become. I cannot recommend this title enough.
Recommended by: Brandi Smits, Youth Services Manager
Posted in: Adult Nonfiction
The Midnight Library
by Matt Haig
This book is a lot like It’s A Wonderful Life. It’s about a woman named Nora who decides to end her life, but in doing so finds herself in “the library” instead. It’s here that she gains the chance to change her past in any way she can think of. What if she had become a famous swimmer? What if she became a famous rock star? So many choices to try out, but she only has a limited amount of time to try them all out and choose the best one before her life is officially over. Will she make the best decision? Or was her original life really the best one?
This book is available in the library and on Over/Drive as an ebook and e audiobook.
Recommended by: Erin Faxel, Youth Services Teen Librarian
Posted in: Adult Fiction
Secrets of a Charmed Life
by Susan Meissner
This historical fiction‘s main characters, Emmy and Julia Downtree, live with their single mother in London in the 40’s. They are evacuated to the countryside when the bombing from the war becomes too dangerous. Emmy wants to return to London in order to work with a designer who has shown interest in her bridal gown drawings. Emmy decides to leave Julia behind as she is only seven years old but Julia discovers her plan and insists on coming with her sister. Emmy’s decision to bring her sister with her changes the course of both their lives. The events that follow are both heartbreaking and reaffirming.
This book is available in the library and on OverDrive/Libby as an ebook and eaudiobook.
Recommended by: Becky McCormack, Youth Services Assistant Manager
Posted in: Adult Fiction
July 2021
Somebody’s Daughter; a memoir
by Ashley C. Ford
This beautifully told story of Ashley Ford’s life is filled with compelling stories and heartbreaking scenes. Raised by a volatile single mother, while her father sits in jail for a heinous crime, Ashley struggles to find her place and her voice. You will be charmed by the young, voracious reader of Ashley’s youth, and mourn for the childhood she was denied. This page-turner is perfect for fans of memoir writers such as Roxane Gay and Lindy West.
This book is available in the library and on OverDrive as an ebook.
Recommended by: Kara DeCarlo, Youth Services School Liaison
Posted in: Adult Biography
Vegetables Unleashed: A Cookbook
by José Andrés
Healthy eating has become very trendy, but something as basic as eating vegetables every day is still difficult for most people. How do you squeeze in 3-5 servings of vegetables each day without eating the same thing repeatedly? José Andrés, popular chef and restaurant owner, has made eating greens more fun that you can imagine. In his popular cookbook Vegetables Unleashed: A Cookbook, Andrés gives us a plethora of ideas for making vegetables so delicious that they will become the star of the plate and not just a sad standby. The book is organized by season for easy shopping throughout the year and even includes many articles on sustainability and agriculture. This book is sure to inspire you to try something new. So go and eat your vegetables!
Recommended by: Darnetta Bolton, Youth Services Reference Librarian I
Posted in: Adult Nonfiction