Every month, we’re profiling new-ish releases that are getting critical and commercial buzz. For July, we’re celebrating beach reads of all varieties. Even if you can’t make it to a beach to read them. We’re looking at a haunting true crime story, a suspenseful thriller, a clever romance, an intergenerational family mystery, a new cozy mystery, and some literary fiction set in Hawaii.
Continue reading “Book Buzz: Beach Reads, the Gritty, the Breezy, and the Literary”Category: Book Review
Jordan Ifueko’s Raybearer
Tarisai wants nothing more than a normal childhood, wherein she is allowed to do normal childish things. However, she spends her early years sequestered away from, well, everything. She occasionally gets visits from her mother, The Lady, but mostly she is raised by the servants. It seems like everything will change when her mother sends her to the empire’s capital city to compete with other children for the chance to serve on the crown prince’s council, but her mother only allows Tarisai to go because of her own nefarious plans. Namely, that once Tarisai is accepted as a trusted council member, she will assassinate the crown prince. Complications ensue.
Melinda recommended this book to me earlier this year, and I am so glad she did. It’s a really unique, interesting reading. Thanks so much for the great recommendation, Melinda!
Continue reading “Jordan Ifueko’s Raybearer”What a Wonderful World: July
This year, our theme at the library is What A Wonderful World. We’re focusing on a different color for each month, and July’s is cardinal red. To that end, we’re highlighting books at the library with that color (or something close to it) on the cover!
Continue reading “What a Wonderful World: July”Book Buzz: Therapeutic Phones, Disappointing Weddings, Haunting Circuses, and Chess Champions
Every month, we’re profiling new-ish releases that are getting critical and commercial buzz. For June, we’re looking at a tender piece of literary fiction about mourning, an entertaining suspense novel set in Ireland, a darkly fantastical historical romance about 1920s circuses, and a drama about a chess prodigy.
Continue reading “Book Buzz: Therapeutic Phones, Disappointing Weddings, Haunting Circuses, and Chess Champions”What A Wonderful World: June
This year, our theme at the library is What A Wonderful World. We’re focusing on a different color for each month, and June’s is promising pink. To that end, we’re highlighting books at the library with that color (or something close to it) on the cover!
Continue reading “What A Wonderful World: June”Book Buzz: Chinese-History-Inspired Epic Fantasy, Unwitting Hitwomen, WWII-Era Cooking Contests, and Audiobooks Galore
Every month, we’re profiling new-ish releases that are getting critical and commercial buzz. For May, we’re looking at a fantasy series rooted in Chinese history, a funny cozy mystery with a bit of bite to it, a heartwarming tale set on the homefront during WWII, and a pair of very different audiobooks.
Continue reading “Book Buzz: Chinese-History-Inspired Epic Fantasy, Unwitting Hitwomen, WWII-Era Cooking Contests, and Audiobooks Galore”Romy Hausmann’s Dear Child (2020)
Carol Ann has given me a lot of great book recommendations over the years, so I was immediately intrigued when she recommended this recent German suspense novel to me. The premise–that the story of an abduction doesn’t really start until after the victim has escaped–was an unusual one, and I was excited to give the book a try. And I’m so glad I did! It’s an excellent book. Thanks so much for another great recommendation, Carol Ann!
Continue reading “Romy Hausmann’s Dear Child (2020)”What A Wonderful World: May
This year, our theme at the library is What A Wonderful World. We’re focusing on a different color for each month, and May’s is violet. To that end, we’re highlighting books at the library with that color (or something close to it) on the cover!
Continue reading “What A Wonderful World: May”Penelope’s Poetry Parlor: April
Our theme for the library this year is What a Wonderful World, and to that end, we’re focusing on seeing the wonder in our world. Usually, every month at the desk, we have an article available for patrons to read and discuss with Julie, our library director, but this year, we’re handing out poems instead. Our trusty library goose is also helping us pen a monthly column that focuses on some of the gems in our poetry collection.
Continue reading “Penelope’s Poetry Parlor: April”Book Buzz: Mesoamerican-Inspired Fantasy, Racehorses Gone Wild, Murderous Retirements, and WWII-Era Italy
Every month, we’re profiling new-ish releases that are getting critical and commercial buzz. For April, we’re looking at a new fantasy novel that draws on ancient Mesoamerican mythology and culture for its worldbuilding, a literary fiction fairy tale, a humorous mystery about retirees solving crimes, and a historical fiction audiobook set in Italy during the Second World War.
Continue reading “Book Buzz: Mesoamerican-Inspired Fantasy, Racehorses Gone Wild, Murderous Retirements, and WWII-Era Italy”
Berryville Book Buzz 