2022 Staff Picks

When in Rome by Sarah Adams 

Opposites attract for a stranded pop star and a small-town baker in this modern take on the Hepburn classic Roman Holiday.  

Feeling burned-out from years as a pop star, Amelia Rose (stage name: Rae Rose) is inspired by her favorite Audrey Hepburn film, Roman Holiday, to take a break in Rome.  Amelia hops in her old car and drives to Rome…Kentucky.  Noah Walker finds Amelia on his front lawn in her broken-down car and offers her his guest room until her car is fixed.  But Noah makes it clear to Amelia that he doesn’t have the time or patience for celebrity problems.  He’s busy running the pie shop his grandmother left him and reminding his nosy neighbors to mind their own business.  But then Noah starts to see a different side of Rae Rose—Amelia.  Amelia is kindhearted and goofy, though lonely despite her life of fame.  Noah and Amelia begin to get close, but Amelia needs to leave soon for her next tour.  Until then, Noah shows Amelia the charming small-town of Rome, and Amelia helps Noah open up his heart to love again.  Amelia begins to fall for the cozy small-town and her grumpy tour guide…but even Audrey had to leave Rome eventually.   

Back to the Garden is set just south of San Francisco, on a large garden estate run by a former commune leader, the grandson of the estate’s former owner. When bones are discovered buried under a statue that has been in the same place for over 50 years, detective Raquel Laing, an expert on the serial killer known as the Highwayman, is called in to determine if the bones belong to one of his victims. In researching the estate’s archives, Det. Laing is drawn toward the reclusive owner as a possible suspect and other lives may be in danger the closer she gets to the truth. Balancing between past and present, Ms King weaves the story with layers of historical interest leading to a startling resolution.

I have loved this Santa Cruz native’s books since the Kate Martinelli series back in the nineties and, while I enjoy the Mary Russell/Sherlock Holmes series, I prefer her stand-alone novels. This one does not disappoint.

Jennifer recommends:

The Dead Romantics by Ashley Poston 

Florence Day is a ghostwriter for one of the most popular romance authors.  But after a terrible breakup, Florence believes love is dead.  When her new editor won’t give her an extension on her book deadline, Florence prepares to kiss her career goodbye. When Florence receives a call that her father has died, she returns home for the first time in a decade to help her family bury him.  Ten years ago, Florence ran from the town that never understood her or the gift she shared with her father: the ability to see and speak with ghosts.  When Florence returns to her family’s funeral parlor, she finds someone familiar at the front door: Benji Andor, her new editor.  There’s just one catch: he’s a ghost.  Now, Florence has to help Ben complete his unfinished business so he can move on.  Ben’s unfinished business will have Florence second-guessing everything she’s ever known about love stories.   

This is Ashley Poston’s debut adult novel, and I have to say it is one of my top five reads of the year!  The chemistry and tension between Florence and Ben is palpable, yet they literally can’t touch each other (one of them being a ghost).  This just added to the beautiful and heart-wrenching love story.   

Vicki recommends:

I love drag, and I love RuPaul, so I was very excited to see a book written by him. When I got the book, I was thrilled because it is chockful of gorgeous photographs of Mama Ru in her finest gowns and looks, and also stuffed with empowering wisdom in bite-size, delectable nuggets. If you want to cry because you feel seen, or laugh out loud at the prospect of praying to Joan Crawford, this book is for you. But it’s not all tulle and fluff; RuPaul is serious about getting the reader to really think about who they are and why they are here, and to embody the understanding that playing it small does a service to no one. As one of RuPaul’s most famous quotes goes, “We’re all born naked and the rest is drag.” In this book, RuPaul takes it one step further, inviting the reader to consider that we are all God in drag. He generously provides tips and tricks to illuminate and polish that drag for personal success and to change the world.

Jennifer recommends:

Something Wilder by Christina Lauren 

Duke Wilder was a notorious treasure hunter and absentee father to his daughter, Lily.  Now, Lily uses her father’s coveted hand-drawn maps to guide tourists on fake treasure hunts through the red rock canyons of Utah through her company, Wilder Adventures.  When Leo Grady, the man Lily once loved, shows up on one of her tours with his buddies, Lily is thrown.  Lily and Leo are drawn back together when the trip goes horribly and hilariously wrong—and they realize the idea of Duke’s hidden treasure wasn’t so crazy after all.  This is a different kind of book than duo Christina Hobbs and Lauren Billings normally write (and I’ve read them all!)  Saddle up for this new adventure romance and explore the beautiful red rock canyons along the way!

Peggy recommends:

The Last to Vanish by Megan Miranda

Six visitor disappearances from Cutter’s Pass has given this scenic town on the edge of Appalachia the reputation of the “most dangerous town in North Carolina”. Hikers come to the Passage Inn to begin their trek to the Appalachian Trail or just to get close to the mountains and enjoy the outdoors. When the brother of the seventh vanished hiker arrives late one rainy night, the Passage Inn manager, Abby Lovett, is hesitant to help with his inquiries. But she wants answers too and when it looks like the disappearances may involve people she knows, she finds herself deeply entrenched in the investigation.

I have enjoyed Megan Miranda’s novels since I first read All the Missing Girls and The Last to Vanish does not disappoint.

July 2022 Picks

Dan recommends:

The Wangs vs. the World by Jade Chang

The Wangs vs the World by Jade Chang takes a cynical look at sudden wealth and the hazards of risking it all.  Charles Wang was a brilliant entrepreneur whose cosmetics empire goes bust when banks refuse his plans to expand. He puts his house and family’s wealth on the line. Great road trip and siblings novel!

Jennifer recommends:

Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir 

Ryland Grace is the sole survivor on a desperate, dangerous mission to save Earth and all of humanity.  But right now, he doesn’t know that—he doesn’t even remember his own name.  All he knows is that he’s been asleep for a very long time.  He’s just awoken to find himself lightyears from home, with his dead crewmates as company.  Alone, Grace begins to remember his mission and cobbles together scientific experiments to survive and solve his mission.  Together with an unexpected friend and ally he meets in space, Grace just might have a chance to save the world—and maybe even the entire universe.  Reminiscent of Weir’s first novel, The Martian, Project Hail Mary is a story of discovery, science, and survival—with Weir’s dry humor thrown in.  I find that Weir excels at writing stories with his sole protagonist thrust into dangerous situations in space.

Peggy recommends:

Ten Steps to Nanette by Hannah Gadsby

Hannah Gadsby rocked the stand-up comedy world when, during her Nanette show, she declared she was quitting comedy by renouncing self-deprecation, rejecting misogyny, and taking hold of the moral power of telling the truth. In Ten Steps to Nanette, Hannah recites her story of growing up queer in Tasmania, where being homosexual was illegal until 1997. She writes about her late in life diagnosis of autism and ADHD and how it has changed her life and her earlier perspectives. I highly recommend you read the book. Better yet, listen to the audiobook, read by Hannah herself. It’s funny yet powerfully serious.

Kim recommends:

The! Greatest! Of! Marlys! by Lynda Barry

Michael recommends:

Immune: a Journey into the Mysterious System that Keeps You Alive by Philipp Dettmer

Immune is a beautifully illustrated story of how your immune system responds to external and internal threats. Phillipp Dettmer masterfully articulates the complex ways that our body responds to bacteria, allergies, and cancer. Whether you are a regular science nerd or curious about the subject, this book is a wonderful entry point into the world of immunology.

Jasmine recommends:

Another Kind by Trevor Bream  (illus. by Cait May)

Six kids who aren’t entirely human are taken away from the government facility they have known as home and find themselves on the run from forces that want to use them for their unusual abilities. This is one of my favorite kinds of stories, the found family of misfits trying to survive on the road together. The characters are engaging and the story is full of adventure, magic, and heart.

 

Vicki recommends:

Care Work by Leah Lakshmi Piepzna-Samarasinha

July is Disability Pride month, and this book from longtime disability justice activist Piepzna-Samarasinha is a perfect read to celebrate the movement and the work of Black, Brown and Indigenous women and femmes within it. Filled with history, personal stories, strategies for survival and a call to action, this powerful work is an engaging read for everyone. Care Work is the kind of book that one can read multiple times and continue to find beautiful and challenging gems of wisdom and strength.

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June 2022 Picks

Peggy recommends:

The Paris Apartment by Lucy Foley

Jess needs a place to stay while she waits out her past so she asks her brother, who lives in an apartment in Paris, if she can crash with him. However, when she arrives, he is nowhere to be seen. After making several unsettling discoveries in the apartment, Jess decides to approach the other tenants of this posh apartment building, to see if they know where Ben might be. But the apartment isn’t the only thing with dark secrets and Jess soon realizes that, not only may Ben be in peril, but she may be as well.

I don’t usually recommend books or authors that use the same proverbs twice in one story but this one is all right and I’ll forgive her this time. It’s a quick, easy read that has a bit of a twist thrown in at the end. Let me know what you think.

Case Histories by Kate Atkinson

Private Investigator, Jackson Brodie, is investigating three seemingly unconnected cold cases only to find they oddly intersect. But the real draw here is the characters. Kate Atkinson creates some very intense, rich characters in all of her books. Jackson Brodie is no different.

Case Histories (Series 1 & 2) (DVD)

If you like the book, you might like the DVD starring Jason Isaacs, of Harry Potter fame. Both are worth the time.

Jennifer recommends:

The Maid by Nita Prose

Molly Grey is socially awkward and interprets what people say literally.  Molly takes great pride in her work as a hotel maid.  Her unique personality, proper etiquette, and obsessive love of cleaning make her an ideal maid.  Molly’s orderly life is turned upside down when she enters the suite of wealthy Charles Black, only to find the rooms a mess and Mr. Black dead in bed.  Molly’s odd character has the police targeting her as their lead suspect.  Fortunately, Molly’s motley group of friends from the hotel are there to help her prove her innocence.  This is a delightful cozy mystery by debut author Nita Prose.

John recommends:

A Grave Denied by Dana Stabenow

This book is a sequel to The Singing of The Dead, in which, mourning the death of her lover, Kate Shugak isolated herself from friends and family.  In this book, Kate assumes the responsibility for caring and raising the teenage son of her deceased lover.  After several murders and an arson, Kate’s ancestral family home is replaced by a community effort that is worth the whole book to read about.  It made me feel good and gave hope that there are places where this can happen. Enjoy

Kim recommends:

Robin by Dave Itzkoff

Robin is a 2018 biography of the talented, troubled, and complicated comedian we lost in 2014.  The book goes from Robin Williams’s surprisingly privileged but lonely childhood on through his career as both stand-up comic and serious actor, with everything in between, as well as his three marriages and his fatherhood to three children.  Itzkoff is balanced, showing Williams’s talents but admitting that not all of his projects were successful artistically or commercially, and admitting his flaws as a human being but also revealing his modesty and generosity.  There’s also quite a bit about some of his long-standing friendships, like with Christopher Reeve and Billy Crystal.  This was my second read of the book and Robin Williams continued to surprise me.

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May 2022 Staff Picks

Jennifer recommends:

The House in the Cerulean Sea by TJ Klune

Linus Baker is a caseworker for the Department in Charge of Magical Youths (DICOMY).  He visits orphanages that house magical children and reports back with his recommendation to either keep the orphanage open or close it down, following the strict guidelines set in the DICOMY handbook.  Linus’ world is turned on its head when he is called to the offices of Extremely Upper Management and sent to Marsyas Island Orphanage, where dangerous Level 4 children reside: Talia, a garden gnome with a penchant for digging graves; Theodore, a wyvern who loves to collect buttons for his hoard; Phee, a forest sprite under the tutelage of Zoe, the water sprite who owns the island; Sal, a large boy who shifts into a Pomeranian when frightened; Chauncey, an unidentified green blob with a dream of being a hotel bellhop; and Lucifer, “Lucy,” the Antichrist who struggles with his dreams of doom and gloom.  Linus soon realizes that the children aren’t the only secret the island keeps; Arthur Parnassus, Master of the orphanage may have his own secrets.  Klune has weaved together an enchanting, quirky, and humorous tale.  My only disappointment is that there doesn’t seem to be a sequel in the works!

Jasmine recommends:

The Girl from the Sea by Molly Knox Ostertag

The Girl from the Sea is an adorable little graphic novel featuring lively art, a heartfelt story, and one of my favorite mythologies. It’s a story about a land girl with big dreams who is struggling to accept herself and a selkie girl who leaps into her life and shakes things up in a way she needs. Love, magic, hilariously accurate group chats, what’s not to enjoy?

Peggy recommends:

The Fields by Erin Young

“Some things don’t stay buried”. Indeed, they don’t. And Sergeant Riley Fisher, of all people, knows this is true. When a body is found in the middle of an Iowa cornfield, later identified as a childhood friend from a dark time in her past, Riley finds there is no turning away from the truth A terrific first novel from Erin Young. I look forward to many more.

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April 2022 Staff Picks

County Librarian, Deb Fader Samson recommends:

Matrix by Lauren Groff

“This book is unlike any I have ever read. It’s female centric and the protagonist is a tall, lanky, ugly woman in 12th century France. She becomes a nun and accomplishes much in her 72 years on Earth.
It reminds me of Death Comes for the Archbishop in that it’s set in a religious background and everything happens through the lens of the seasonal duties in an abbey.
It is equally pastoral with beautiful descriptions of scenery and nature. The nuns become very self-sufficient under Marie’s leadership as eventual abbess. It is so refreshing that the protagonist is not a tiny beautiful virtuous maiden, but a real flawed person. It’s a beautiful work, a celebration of the feminine. I recommend it highly.”

Peggy recommends:

The Houseboat by Dana Bahr

I reluctantly recommend this book and when you read it you’ll see why. However, I do recommend it. The writing is unique and this is the first author I’ve read since Stephen King who writes the way I think. Bahr is a descriptive writer but not overly wordy. His descriptions set the tone and some scenes you can feel in your bones. Now, some people (like me) might call this book creepy but here’s the thing…you can’t not read more. It’s that kind of story. The Houseboat is a short read and well worth the afternoon it takes to read it. When you do, stop by the library and let me know what you think.

Slow Horses by Mick Herron

There’s a new AppleTV show based on Mick Herron’s Slough House book series and Slow Horses is the first in the series. Not since John LeCarre have I enjoyed reading espionage books. Mick Herron’s intelligence team are all rejects from MI5 who, normally, investigate menial cases. But, often, these cases tie in with more serious, prominent cases that involve major political and professional players and it’s fun see how these incompetents manage to solve them. The best thing about this series is the humorous dialog, especially between the manager of the team and his underlings. This series is available in digital form either from Libby or Hoopla.

Amie recommends:

Alan Doyle is my favorite everything. And in honor of his upcoming California tour, I recommend his books and CDs. AND his concerts. Just saying.

Where I Belong

Alan Doyle is the nicest man in the world, the most energetic stage presence, and now the author of an hysterical autobiography about a boy growing up in rural Newfoundland. Yeah, Newfoudland. It is brilliant, and once you’ve read it, you will be an Alan Doyle fan and spend the rest of your life traveling around to see him in concert. I promise.

A Newfoundlander in Canada

In honor of my Doyle-a-thon this month, I recommend Alan’s sophomore book. Alan Doyle is the former lead singer of Great Big Sea and my most favoritest of all things not related to me. If you don’t know of Mr. Doyle, this will book is a great treat, taking you on tour with the boys, and if you do know Mr. Doyle, well, there you go. You will love it, and you will love him. Maybe enough to join us on part of the tour.

Boy on Bridge (CD & electronic sources)

His first solo album away from Great Big Sea. Sad face. The album is great, I just miss the boys from Great Big Sea.

So Let’s Go (CD & electronic sources)

A fantastic sophomore offer with the amazing Shine On. You should listen to this all day every day. You would smile more. I swear.

Kim recommends:

Messy Roots: A Graphic Memoir of a Wuhanese-American by Laura Gao

Messy Roots: A Graphic Memoir of a Wuhanese-American is Laura Gao’s funny, poignant, and colorful story of growing up in China and the U.S., and juggling all of her identities. She addresses all sorts of prejudice, including during the early days of Covid, but this is not just a “message” book. There are silly moments, too, especially with her cousins and younger brother. She is honest about her own mistakes but she also shares her triumphs. The artwork is colorful and in itself ranges from bittersweet to gorgeous to playful. This graphic nonfiction book is recommended for teens and older.

 

Jennifer recommends:

The Reading List by Sarah Nisha Adams

When Aleisha discovers a crumpled-up list of novels she’s never heard of in the back of To Kill a Mockingbird at the local library, she decides to read them all. When Mukesh arrives at the library looking to connect with his bookworm granddaughter, Aleisha recommends books from the list. The shared books create a connection between the two: Aleisha, who is trying to escape the hardships at home, and Mukesh, who is grieving the loss of his wife. Adams has done a wonderful job weaving the themes and storylines of the novels on the reading list with the storylines of Aleisha and Mukesh.

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March 2022 Staff Picks

Amie recommends:

The Nature of Water and Air by Regina McBride

A beautiful, haunting tale of a forlorn woman braving the beautiful, haunting earth that is Ireland.

 

 

Double Feature:

Darby O’Gill and the Little People

The Secret of Roan Inish

My favorite St. Patrick’s Day traditions.

 

 

Kim recommends:

Animal City by Joan Negrescolor

Animal City is on the surface a whimsical picture book with vivid, surprising colors (like a maroon and aqua elephant) and a story of a girl who likes to read aloud to her animal friends, who all have their favorite genres.  (The monkeys are sci-fi fans, with “stories about other worlds: journeys to the moon, escapades in outer space, and alien adventures.”)  This book itself would work as a read aloud for ages 2 to 6, but older children, of maybe 7 to 10, would enjoy speculating about the world that these animals inhabit, in a city abandoned by its humans, where shoes sprout weeds and old computers, cars, and even buildings lie in ruins.  A beautiful, melancholy and yet hopeful story, celebrating the importance of stories and friendship.

Jennifer recommends:

If You Ask Me (And of Course You Won’t) by Betty White

If You Ask Me is one of the last memoirs written by the lovable Betty White.  Drawing from a lifetime of lessons learned, award-winning actress and animal advocate Betty White tackles topics like friendship, love, aging, television, animals, and celebrity.  Full of hilarious anecdotes and beautiful photos, this is a must read!

 

Peggy recommends:

The Lyrics, 1956 to the present Volumes 1 & 2 by Paul McCartney

I shouldn’t have to explain why I selected this but, you can probably figure it out. Not only do you get ALL the lyrics but you get ALL the lowdown on how they came about. A fascinating and quirky “autobiography” that’s well worth the time and having crushed on Paulie since I was 8 years old, this was my little piece of heaven.

 

 

Agatha Raisin (DVD)

If you’ve read the books by M. C. Beaton, you know Agatha Raisin is a different kind of sleuth. But Ashley Jensen’s portrayal of Agatha brings M.C.’s unlikely, offbeat private detective to life and, mingled with all the other eccentric characters, makes this series a pure delight.

 

 

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February 2022 Staff Picks

John recommends:

A Gentleman in Moscow by Amor Towles

After over 100 pages I got the large print edition…much easier to see. This page turner has good character development and eagerly anticipated events and incidents. The narrative character, Count Alexander Rostov, had been sentenced to an indefinite sentence at a fine hotel across from the Kremlin, under house arrest. I decline to be a spoiler, but it gets really interesting nay, fascinating with such incidents as caring for a girl whose mother the Count knew when she was a little girl. International intrigue, musical prodigy, and clever strategies for escape or evasion. And so much more! The hotel is shown to be a functioning fully involved community. Enjoy

Jasmine recommends:

Explorer: the mystery boxes edited by Kazu Kibuishi

A graphic novel anthology, featuring seven stories in seven fun and beautiful art styles. Each story features a mysterious box of some sort, and the ensuing adventures take you under the floorboards, into space, and into other worlds entirely.

 

 

Amie recommends:

Night of the Mannequins by Stephen Graham Jones

Not that I ever needed someone to tell me this, but in case you do: NEVER BEFRIEND AN ABANDONED MANNEQUIN YOU FIND IN THE CULVERT BEHIND YOUR FRIEND’S HOUSE. A quick, easy read from my seemingly new favorite author, he is odd and spectacular all at once.

 

Resident Alien (DVD)

OH EM SQUEEE! My new favorite TV show about an extraterrestrial stranded in rural Colorado forced to be the town’s doctor. If you come into the library and accidentally mention anything remotely affiliated with this show, you will be stuck for an hour and 32 minutes listening to me go on and on about it. You have been warned.

 

Jennifer recommends:

Hideaway by Nora Roberts

Caitlyn Sullivan comes from a long line of famous Hollywood actors.  An emerging star herself at ten, she was still an innocent child who loved to play hide-and-seek with her cousins at her family’s home in Big Sur.  During one of those games, Caitlyn disappeared.  With her smart, resourceful, and quick thinking, Cate was able to escape her captors and managed to find refuge in a nearby farmhouse.  Dillon Cooper was shocked to find bloodied, terrified Cate in his family’s kitchen in the middle of the night.  As the reader follows Cate’s story of the years, it is revealed that the trauma from that night is far from over.  Cate returns to Big Sur to face her past and is reunited with Dillon, the boy (now man) who helped her many years ago—and she confronts the person she loved who betrayed her.  This is a story about the families we are born into and the families we make.  True to Nora Roberts’ fashion, Hideaway is a story packed with increasing suspense and heartwarming romance.

Peggy recommends:

Maus I & II by Art Spiegelman

A 1992 Pulitzer Prize winning graphic novel, Maus tells the story of the author’s relationship with his father, a Holocaust survivor, and depicts Jews as mice and Nazis as cats. A visual, moving portrayal of the effects of the Holocaust. Everyone should read Maus I and Maus II. Everyone.

 

Something to Hide by Elizabeth George

Finally, the new Inspector Lynley/Sergeant Havers book has arrived and it was well worth the wait! A politically charged murder investigation full of our favorite dysfunctional characters, what more could one expect from one of our best-loved authors? And with a surprise ending to boot!

 

Brokenwood Mysteries (DVD & Hoopla streaming)

Detective Mike Shepherd, in his 1971 classic car, old country western cassettes and an intuitive way of solving murders, arrives in a small town to work with an assistant who is twenty years younger than his car and a by-the-book detective. This series from New Zealand is fun and refreshing.

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January 2022 Picks

Kim recommends:

From Here to There & Back Again by Sue Hubbell

From Here to There & Back Again is a charming collection of essays about the beauty and absurdity of things that some people take for granted, from butterflies and mustard plants to pie and bowling shoes.  Whether she’s visiting quirky small towns and busy New York streets, or exploring her own farm in the Ozarks, she is a quiet but keen observer of details.  She also offers little told tales of history, like the “honey war” between Missouri and Iowa and the colorful turn-of-the-century journalist known as “Polly Pry.”  The essays are all connected by her wry but generous spirit.

Recommended for adults, but reflective teens with an offbeat sense of humor would also enjoy this book, particularly the piece on supermarket tabloids.  (I can only imagine what Hubbell, who died in 2018, fourteen years after this collection was published, made of the Internet.)

Gussy by Jimmy Cajoleas

Gussy is a Western fantasy novel, with a plucky, very imperfect heroine who comes into her own while also learning how to rely on others.  She lives in a small desert town, working as a protector with her mentor, Grandpa Widow.  When he’s called away from the village, she has to keep everyone safe, but she may not be up to the job.  The story has humor and warmth, as well as some genuinely scary and creepy scenes.  It’s not always clear to Gussy or the reader who’s good and who’s evil.  And there’s a sidekick dog, Cricket, who can cause trouble and save the day.  Recommended for ages ten and up, maybe a little younger for read-aloud.

Peggy recommends:

The Last Shadow by Orson Scott Card

The long awaited conclusion to both the Ender series and the Ender’s Shadow series, The Last Shadow brings us the children of Ender and Bean, who solve the problem of the great virus that threatens all living things in the Starways Congress. Is the solution another Xenocide?

Definitely a bittersweet read as these two great series’ draw to a close. If you are a fan of either, this is a must read.

In remembrance of Martin Luther King, Jr:

King in the Wilderness (DVD)

Through personal stories from people who were around him, this film follows MLK, Jr in the last years of his life. Powerful, moving documentary. I highly recommend this DVD.

I Have a Dream (DVD)

Contains MLK, Jr’s entire August 28, 1963 I Have a Dream speech, The Big March (1963), The March on Washington (1963) (both through rare footage) and The March, Twenty Years Later (1983)

 

Jasmine recommends:

Nimona by Noelle Stevenson

I love all that I’ve seen of Noelle Stevenson’s work and this book is no exception. It’s a graphic novel and it’s about a villain who somewhat reluctantly takes on a young shape-shifter as his sidekick.  A heartfelt little story with a cast of well-written characters and relationships. A very cool art style brings this fantasy/sci fi world to life. Also, there be dragons, so that’s always a plus.

 

Jennifer recommends:

A Heart in a Body in the World by Deb Caletti

The reader is first introduced to Annabelle when she abandons her takeout dinner and just starts running.  Annabelle refuses to go home, so she decides that she will run from her hometown of Seattle, Washington to Washington, D.C.  As the story unfolds, we learn that Annabelle is running from the grief, guilt, and horror of a tragedy that took place last year, perpetrated by someone Annabelle refers to as “The Taker.”  She originally embarks on her journey alone to process her trauma, but her family and friends form a support system that keeps her going.  Her mother calls her three times a day to check in; her brother and her two friends set up a GoFundMe to fund Annabelle’s run; and her grandfather follows her along on her trip in his RV, watching over her every step of the way.  Annabelle runs into people along her route who heard about her run and show up to support her, showing Annabelle that there are still good, kind people in the world.  This is a wonderfully written contemporary young adult novel of healing, mending a broken heart, and reclaiming your voice.  A Heart in a Body in the World is a poignant, timely, and beautiful look at the world we live in today.

Amie recommends:

Such a Pretty Fat: One Narcissist’s Quest to Discover If Her Life Makes Her Ass Look Big, Or Why Pie Is Not the Answer by Jen Lancaster

Coming into 2022 with my halfway expiration date nearing, I turn to humor and weight loss to get me through the next horrific year. Jen Lancaster is hilarious! And reading her books gives my heart the cardio workout it needs just from laughter.

 

Soylent Green (DVD)

Set in 2022, yeah, you read that right. Soylent Green is now! Being a vegetarian, this is something I can get behind. If you haven’t seen it, get yourself a bucket of popcorn and enjoy. If you have seen it, well, you know.

 

John recommends:

Moo by Jane Smiley

This look at fictional Midwestern university life and ethics is amusing and has an unusual ending.