We’re two days into spring but it doesn’t quite feel like it yet. Daffodils had started to peek up, then were promptly covered by a dusting of snow. Sun warmed our faces, but now we’re back to grey.
If you’re eager for spring weather to come back and stick around, try some of these books to summon the season of renewal:
Before it was designated as a National Park, the Grand Canyon was a National Monument by President Theodore Roosevelt on January 11, 1908. Multiple times, Senate bills were introduced to establish the area as a National Park before finally being signed by President Woodrow Wilson in 1919. The Grand Canyon became the 15th National Park in the United States.
While the Grand Canyon is certainly one major draw to the region, there is no lack of beauty in the American Southwest. The Grand Canyon is certainly a showstopper, and there’s also Zion and Bryce Canyon National Parks across the border in Utah, Joshua Tree National Park further west in California, Sedona’s red rocks, the deep gorge of Black Canyon of the Gunnison…I could keep going but we’d be here all day! Instead, here are a few books to explore these incredible facets of our planet, whether you’re planning a trip or doing some armchair travel:
As we enter the New Year, we look towards the future, setting goals and making plans. But sometimes it’s hard to leave the past year behind us. If you’re looking for inspiration to move forward, here are a few books about fresh starts and forging your own path:
There are secrets yet undiscovered in the foundations of the notorious Crowder House. Vera must face them and find out for herself just how deep the rot goes.
I was introduced to Sarah Gailey this year and have loved everything I’ve read so far. Spooky house stories are a win anytime of year.
After a young Japanese woman’s life falls apart, she moves into a flat above her eccentric uncle’s bookshop, staying rent-free in exchange for working at the store and developing a passion for Japanese literature.
This is a quietly paced gem of a book. A short read perfect for all book lovers.
To earn the last credit she needs to graduate, Lydia Chass teams up with foul-mouthed Bristal Jamison to transform her listener-friendly local history podcast into a hard-hitting, truth-telling expose as they investigate an unsolved murder from their small town’s past.
Warned by her brother that their mother seems “off,” Sam visits and discovers a once-cozy home with sterile white walls, a her mom a jumpy, nervous wreck and a jar of teeth hidden in the rosebushes.
Felling the Nazis, painter Remedios Varo and her poet lover await exit papers from a safe house on the Riviera and take refuge in a mysterious bookshop that opens up a world of occult learning that sparks creative genius.
Learn how to speak like a Midwesterner in this humorous and self-deprecating look at their common phrases and sentiments and featuring an ode to the Garage Fridge.
Ope, lemme just tell you- this light-hearted look at the Midwestern states and our odd speech patterns was a fun read.
During her annual televised baking competition on her Vermont estate, celebrated baker Betsy Martin, hailed as “America’s Grandmother,” finds murder in the mix when a body is discovered, and everyone is a suspect.
Investigating an estranged sibling’s suspicious drowning at their grandmother’s estate, Jax connects the tragedy to the unsolved case of a housewife who in 1929 allegedly succumbed to a wish-granting spring.
Jennifer McMahon is always a must-read for me, and the alternating timeline of this book made this one hard to put down.
It’s that time of year when we are given the impossible task of identifying our ten favorite books of the year. As of this writing I have read or listened to 124 books. I gave 21 of those a five-star rating. My top three categories this year were Mystery/Thrillers (40 books), YA (26 books), and Nonfiction (25 books). I also reread three books this year, a record number, as I am not much of a re-reader. Click the cover to request a copy from our catalog.
Five Star REREADS:
Five Star NONFICTION
Five Star YA
Five Star EVERYTHING ELSE
I am wrapping up a year of reading with some holiday romances and cozy mysteries. I don’t know about you, but I need nice stories with happy endings right now. I hope your new year is filled with books you love. Happy Reading!
If you’ve been putting off writing that novel, November is the time to hunker down and get started. National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo) takes place during the whole month of November. The organization began in 1999 and has grown to have over 400,000 participants. The challenge is self-directed but if you’re interested in winning any of the prizes, you’ll have to follow the rules:
Your novel must be at least 50,000 words and written between November 1st and November 30th.
Writing done before November 1st doesn’t count, although you can include outlines, character profiles, research, and citations in your draft. Basically, the 50,000 words should be prose written during November.
Write a novel. The term “novel” is broadly defined here. If you say it’s a novel, it’s a novel.
You should be the only author of 50,000 words. If you’re co-writing a novel, each author should contribute 50,000 words of their own.
The writing must be coherent (you can’t just copy and paste one sentence or one word to get to 50,000 words).
You need to be at least 13 years old to participate, and if you’re under 17, you have the option to sign up for the Young Writers Program. (source: https://kindlepreneur.com/nanowrimo/)
Whether you’re ready for the challenge or just want to use NaNoWriMo as the perfect time to put pen to paper, check out these books for inspiration:
If you’ve been staunchly anti-audiobooks…I get it. I love holding the physical book in my hands, turning the pages, being completely immersed in each written word.
But then I tried an audiobook and while I’m not a full convert, I understand the appeal now. All those chores I didn’t want to do? I press play on a book and suddenly doing the dishes isn’t so bad. Taking walks alone is more enjoyable with a thriller playing in my ears (although I wouldn’t recommend this at night!). Long car trips don’t feel like a waste of time—they’re spent reading my current book!
So, if you, like me, have been averse to trying an audiobook, find one by your favorite author, press play, and do some of your chores. And maybe, just maybe, you’ll have found a new way to enjoy reading!
If you’re unsure where to start, here are a few recently well-reviewed audiobooks to try:
Finding Me by Viola Davis, read by the author
A noted actress’s memoir, in her own words, spans her incredible, inspiring life, from her coming-of-age in Rhode Island to her present day.
Winner of the 2023 Grammy Award for Best Audio Book, Narration & Storytelling Recording, Kirkus Reviews said, “This memoir by the Oscar winner is unforgettable thanks to the author’s fiery narration.”
Place a hold on the audiobook here or on the e-audiobook here
Greek Lessons by Han Kang, read by Greta Jung and Earl T. Kim
A young Korean woman losing her ability to speak befriends a Greek language teacher who is losing his sight and discover they have even more in common.
“Listeners may find themselves pausing the audio to ponder the book’s philosophical musings—or perhaps simply rewinding to re-immerse themselves in Han’s lyrical prose, delicate imagery, and the possibilities of the senses.” -Booklist
I’m Glad My Mom Died by Jennette McCurdy, read by the author
The iCarly and Sam & Cat star, after her controlling mother dies, gets the help she needs to overcome eating disorders, addiction and unhealthy relationships–and finally decides what she really wants for the first time in her life.
“Kirkus calls the memoir “heartbreaking,” and in many ways it is, but McCurdy displays a surprising dark sense of humor in both the writing and reading of this book, a sign that her healing has begun.”
Place a hold on the audiobook here or on the e-audiobook here
Carrie Soto is Back by Taylor Jenkins Reid, read by Stacy Gonzalez
A retired tennis champion comes out of retirement at age 37 after watching a young phenom beat her long-standing record at the 1994 US Open.
“Stacy Gonzalez’s emotional performance as Carrie, including Spanish-sprinkled conversations with her Argentine father/coach, is excellent. The large supporting cast includes former tennis pros Patrick McEnroe and Mary Carillo, and all the news shows and pundit debates are cleverly produced with theme music.” -Kirkus Reviews
Place a hold on the audiobook here or on the e-audiobook here
You Could Make This Place Beautiful by Maggie Smith, read by the author
The best-selling poet and author of Keep Moving offers a memoir that explores coming of age in the middle of life.
“It’s right that the author should narrate her painfully personal work…Heartbreakingly beautiful, this audio will move listeners to reflect on their own lives with insight, and, possibly, gratitude.” -Booklist
Place a hold on the audiobook here or on the e-audiobook here
On April 30, 1970, President Nixon announced that the United States military would invade Cambodia, furthering their involvement in the Vietnam War.
On May 1, over 500 students gathered on an outdoor common area in the center of campus to demonstrate against President Nixon’s announcement. At this demonstration, a rally was planned for May 4, to continue the protest. During the next few days, students kept up the demonstrations, and after Kent Mayor LeRoy Satrom declared a state of emergency, the Ohio National Guard were called on May 2.
On May 3, Governor Rhodes said they were going to “eradicate the problem” and that the protestors were “the worst type of people that we harbor in America” (Kent State). Another rally took place that evening, with Guardsmen tear gassing participants in order to get them to disperse. A curfew was enforced, and several students were bayoneted by Guardsmen.
On May 4, the originally planned protest took place as scheduled. The University tried to advertise it had been cancelled, but students (and some non-students as well) gathered anyway, even when tear gas was used to get them to disperse. At 12:24 PM, Guardsmen began firing at the protestors for approximately 13 seconds, killing four students—Jeffrey Miller, Allison Krause, William Schroeder and Sandra Scheuer—and injuring nine students— Joseph Lewis, John Cleary, Thomas Grace, Alan Canfora, Dean Kahler, Douglas Wrentmore, James Russell, Robert Stamps, and Donald MacKenzie. The University President closed the school and remained closed for six weeks.
This is an incredibly brief overview of the Kent State shootings and I highly recommend the Kent State University’s Digital Archives for oral histories, timelines, newspaper articles, interviews, and more. Below are a few titles available through the library for more information:
For National Library Week, which runs from April 23-29, the staff at Rocky River Public Library have filled quite a few shelves full of our book recommendations. From nonfiction to graphic novels to fantasy to audiobooks, we’ve got a little bit of everything for every type of reader.
But if you can’t make it in person to see our staff recommendations, here’s a list of just a few of the books staff have picked out:
A reimagining of the classic gothic suspense novel, Mexican Gothic follows the experiences of a courageous socialite in 1950s Mexico who is drawn into the treacherous secrets of an isolated mansion.
Alex Craft knows how to kill someone. And she doesn’t feel bad about it. When her older sister, Anna, was murdered three years ago and the killer walked free, Alex uncaged the language she knows best: The language of violence.
An account of the unsolved Golden State Killer case, written by the late author of the TrueCrimeDiary.com website traces the assaults and murders of dozens of victims and the author’s determined efforts to help identify the killer and bring him to justice.
Three Daughters of Eve is set over an evening in contemporary Istanbul and follows the efforts of a woman to navigate cultural, religious and economic tensions during a seaside mansion dinner party while enduring painful memories of her deep multicultural friendships during her Oxford years.
Zuboff explores the challenges to humanity posed by the digital future, presenting a detailed examination of the unprecedented form of power called “surveillance capitalism,” and the quest by powerful corporations to predict and control human behavior.
A clerk in a Tokyo of the near future works in an organization that controls the flow of information to society–employing electronic brainwashing and other insidious techniques–a job that contributes to his increasing sense of dehumanization.
Keefe documents the notorious abduction and murder of I.R.A. Troubles victim Jean McConville in 1972 Belfast, exploring how the case reflected the brutal conflicts of Northern Ireland and their ongoing repercussions.
Glitter and Glue presents an account of the author’s perspectives on motherhood, which have been shaped by her job as a nanny for a grieving Australian family and her character-testing experiences with her daughters.
Despite the unspeakable horrors that Frankl faced in the Nazi concentration camps, he learned from the strength of his fellow inmates that it is always possible to “say yes to life”–a profound and timeless lesson for us all.
Kolker tells the heartrending story of a midcentury American family with 12 children, 6 of them diagnosed with schizophrenia, that became science’s great hope in the quest to understand the disease.
In March, we acknowledge the incredible women that have paved the way for us—in science, sports, technology, literature, music… the list goes on and on. Without women, we would not have the dishwasher, the life raft, the circular saw, the car heater, or chocolate chip cookies! Women discovered the elements radon and francium and assisted on the development for more accessible treatments for cancer, chickenpox, and HIV/AIDS. Women are incredible musicians, athletes, and movie stars. Women have been doing it all since the beginning of time and they deserve their flowers!
A very easy way to celebrate Women’s History Month is to read a book written by a woman. There’s plenty to choose from but if you’re having trouble deciding, try one of the books below to delve deeper into some of the scientists, activists, entertainers, and authors that have provided us with so much.
“In my work, no matter where it’s set,” Toni Morrison once told an Ohio audience, “the imaginative process always starts right here on the lip of Lake Erie.” (New Ohio Review)
Read it or Weep 