Reader Review: In the Wild Light

Posted on Tuesday, August 2, 2022 by patron reviewer

In the Wild Light” follows the story of two teens from east Tennessee who get the opportunity to attend a prestigious boarding school in Connecticut. Both have experienced trauma and neglect as children and struggle to adapt to the unfamiliar world of privilege at the school. However, they both find connection and purpose by leaning on each other and the friends they find there. I enjoyed the book because I identified with the guilt of leaving home, the culture shock of attending an affluent institution and the unexpected friendships with people from very different backgrounds. The book is beautifully written. Poetry is an important theme throughout, and the prose often reads like poetry.

Three words that describe this book: Challenging, emotional, beautiful

You might want to pick this book up if: You are looking for a challenging and beautiful coming-of-age story

-Jacob

 

This reader review was submitted as part of Adult Summer Reading. Submit your own book review here for a chance to have it featured on the Adults Blog. 

Reader Review: A Visit From the Goon Squad

Posted on Tuesday, July 26, 2022 by patron reviewer

A Visit from the Goon Squad book coverWhile it is marketed as a novel, “A Visit From the Goon Squad” is more accurately a collection of linked short stories. These stories focus on multiple characters whose lives are interconnected through music, particularly the American punk rock scene of the 1980s. While the book has received praise for author Jennifer Egan’s use of alternative forms, like PowerPoint slides, the real strength of the book is Egan’s attention to character psychology and the complications of human relationships.

Three words that describe this book: Funny, poignant, sad

You might want to pick this book up if: You like short stories and are interested in the difficulty in remaining a rebel as you age.

-Tyler

 

This reader review was submitted as part of Adult Summer Reading. Submit your own book review here for a chance to have it featured on the Adults Blog. 

Reader Review: Everyone In This Room Will Someday Be Dead

Posted on Thursday, July 21, 2022 by patron reviewer

Everyone in this room will someday be dead book coverEveryone In This Room Will Someday Be Dead” follows Gilda, a 27-year-old lesbian who accidentally ends up working as a receptionist in a Catholic Church. During this time, Gilda is grappling with her identity, her mortality AND the potential murder of the previous receptionist at the church. It is an extremely unique book and following Gilda’s unusual thought process constantly keeps the reader questioning what is actually happening in Gilda’s world. I have never read anything quite like this; it made me giggle, it made me cry and it made me think deeply about my own identities and roles in life.

Three words that describe this book: Thought-provoking, quirky, relatable

You might want to pick this book up if: you enjoy introspective characters, love chaos and read a lot of books with unreliable narrators.

-Anonymous

 

This reader review was submitted as part of Adult Summer Reading. Submit your own book review here for a chance to have it featured on the Adults Blog. 

Reader Review: The Correspondents

Posted on Wednesday, July 20, 2022 by patron reviewer

The Correspondents book coverI learned about “The Correspondents” from an A Mighty Girl post about journalist Clare Hollingworth, and it has proven to be a fascinating and compelling listen. The book follows six American and British women journalists (five writers and one photographer) as they reported on WWII. Not only is it the story of their adventures, travels and reports, but it also follows the difficulties they faced as female reporters as they battled the hesitancy of their newspapers to hire women as war correspondents and restrictions, particularly by British Field Marshal Bernard Montgomery, on women in combat zones. The book was not always an easy listen, particularly as it traced each woman’s response to and reports on the liberation of concentration camps near the end of the war, but those experiences seemed a part of the larger whole as the author broke down the reasons why these women continued for 6+ years to report the realities of war.

Three words that describe this book: Can’t stop listening

You might want to pick this book up if: You are interested in women’s history, WWII, journalism, or the everyday experiences of women in a conflict zone.

-Alexis

 

This reader review was submitted as part of Adult Summer Reading. Submit your own book review here for a chance to have it featured on the Adults Blog. 

Reader Review: Adventuring Together

Posted on Tuesday, July 19, 2022 by patron reviewer

Adventuring together book coverAs one might have guessed, “Adventuring Together” is a book about adventuring with your children/family. Ms. Eskridge makes a point that adventures push us out of our boundaries, help us grow and teach us many lessons along the way. You might think adventures have to be these grandiose events that take months of planning, lots of money and leave us exhausted afterwards. I love how the author shows that small adventures can be just as important if not even more rewarding than a large event … and that even a shared book can be an adventure. The important thing is that adventures build traditions and traditions build memories. Besides convincing you of the importance of adventures, Ms. Eskridge gives tips, tools and lists of ideas to get you started. There are even some how-tos in the back of the book to help you jump right in. If you read this book, I’m quite sure you’ll be ready to throw on your backpack and head out the door!

Three words that describe this book: Inspiring, humorous, helpful

You might want to pick this book up if: You feel like your life has become stale and you want to put a little excitement back into it with the people you love most.

-Anonymous

 

This reader review was submitted as part of Adult Summer Reading. Submit your own book review here for a chance to have it featured on the Adults Blog. 

Reader Review: Remarkably Bright Creatures

Posted on Thursday, July 14, 2022 by patron reviewer

remarkably bright creatures book coverAll the buzz about “Remarkably Bright Creatures” wasn’t enough to lure me to pick it up — until this year’s summer reading theme was “Oceans of Possibilities.” The description about an “unlikely” friendship between an octopus and widow was a major snag for me. The “unlikely” part seemed far fetched indeed! Somewhat reluctantly I put a hold on the audiobook as part of a summer reading challenge with a reading partner. I was pleasantly surprised to meet an entire cast of delightful, charming, quirky characters.

By happenstance, on the same day I started the book, I heard an interesting story on NPR comparing the intelligence of octopuses and humans … fascinating! The timing seemed like a direct retort to my skepticism about the plausibility of friendship with an octopus. One of the joys of reading is making discoveries that open paths to continued learning and parallel discoveries — often by fostering awareness and empathy. Rousing my curiosity about octopuses is a bonus — perhaps the friendship between Marcellus and Tova is not so unlikely after all.

Highly recommend as a light and warm-hearted summer read. You will soon feel like you are living in fictional Sowell Bay or wishing you did.

Three words that describe this book: Warm-hearted, quirky, wry

You might want to pick this book up if: You want to meet a cast of resilient characters who take a risk on friendship and community.

-Kristi

 

This reader review was submitted as part of Adult Summer Reading. Submit your own book review here for a chance to have it featured on the Adults Blog. 

Reader Review: Sapiens

Posted on Friday, July 8, 2022 by patron reviewer

Sapiens book coverSapiens: A Brief History of Humankind” is about how humans have evolved and how we got to be such complex and civilized creatures. It explains how we overtook the world and the effect it had on other creatures. The book also explains how different cultures compare and how they came to be. I really enjoyed this book because it was a very good overview of human history. It taught me a lot about humanity and made me want to learn more about our species and about the world. The ending really stuck out to me, realizing that our species will most likely go extinct is very jarring. Humans one day being replaced with a species that we created through genetic modification is a very big possibility which I found fascinating.

Three words that describe this book: very mind opening

You might want to pick this book up if: you are interested in history, culture, science, or want to expand your knowledge of the world.

-Abby

 

This reader review was submitted as part of Adult Summer Reading. Submit your own book review here for a chance to have it featured on the Adults Blog. 

Reader Review: Brute

Posted on Wednesday, July 6, 2022 by patron reviewer

Brute book coverWith promotional blurbs from Joy Harjo and Roxane Gay, and an award from the Academy of American Poets, Emily Skaja’s “Brute” commemorates the desperate clawing and the trying-to-find-any-foothold-you-can feeling of endings. It remains approachable in both form and content, making it a good starting point if you’d like to read more poetry. My only complaint is that I wish individual poems stood on their own a bit more, though that is personal taste.

Three words that describe this book: human, human, human

You might want to pick this book up if: You’ve been meaning to read more poetry.

-Anna

 

This reader review was submitted as part of Adult Summer Reading. Submit your own book review here for a chance to have it featured on the Adults Blog. 

Reader Review: Part of Your World

Posted on Tuesday, July 5, 2022 by patron reviewer

Part of Your World book coverAuthor Abby Jimenez delivers again! I’ve read all of her books and they are all nothing short of delightful. If you want a break from the seriousness of the world and are looking for something that will make you feel good, then her books are what you need. “Part of Your World” might be my favorite out of them all, too.

Alexis comes from a long line of city doctors while Daniel’s family is deeply rooted in his small-town community. At first look, their lives are completely different, but that doesn’t stop their attraction to each other. Not only is the book about finding love, but it’s also about figuring out what you want for your life, not what others want for you.

If you like romance, you’ll love this!

Three words that describe this book: sweet, romantic, satisfying

You might want to pick this book up if: you are in the mood for a quick, light-hearted romance.

-Mary

 

This reader review was submitted as part of Adult Summer Reading. Submit your own book review here for a chance to have it featured on the Adults Blog. 

Reader Review: Set on You

Posted on Thursday, June 30, 2022 by patron reviewer

Set on you book coverSet on You” follows a young woman who is attempting to live her life joyfully and positively and project that to others watching her. She is “curvy” and fit and wants others to realize that a person does not have to be model thin to be happy or healthy. She meets a very attractive young man who understands that as well. The books is very funny and a really quick read but it does focus on a few lessons that are very serious accept yourself just as you are while making yourself the most healthy possible, and cruel, degrading words can hurt even the most seemingly confident person. I liked the humor and the life lessons. It was a much “steamier” read than I normally choose so I would recommend it for young adult and older.

Three words that describe this book: timely, open, honest

You might want to pick this book up if: you need a reminder that you are the best you there is and no one can tell you how you should change to be a “better, prettier” you.

-Anonymous

 

This reader review was submitted as part of Adult Summer Reading. Submit your own book review here for a chance to have it featured on the Adults Blog.