As you get ready for the busy holiday season, we hope that you are able to find some time to pause, breathe, and enjoy a few fun holiday tales or get lost for a while in a good book.
Several of our circulation staff have recommendations for classic holiday movies that are available to check out at the library with your library card. Trinity says the “Polar Express” (j DVD FIC Pol) will always remind her of the last day of elementary school before winter break! Marva loves the catchy songs in Bing Crosby’s “White Christmas” (DVD FIC Bin) and Crystal recommends both the 90s Arnold Schwarzenegger comedy “Jingle All the Way” (DVD FIC Jin) and the stop-motion special “Jack Frost” from The Complete Rankin-Bass Christmas Collection (DVD FIC Complete v.8). We also have the rest of the beloved stop-motion collection, including “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer,” and “Santa Claus is Coming to Town.”
Looking for a lighthearted holiday read? Dellie enjoyed the mystery, romance, and hope of “The Christmas Quilt” by Lenora Worth (LP FIC Worth Shadow v.3). Mary had fun reading along as sleuth Melanie Travis solved a holiday murder mystery with her pack of poodles in “Here Comes Santa Paws” by Laurien Berenson (FIC Ber).
Ready to escape with a twisty psychological thriller? Brenda recommends the bestselling title “The Coworker” by Freida McFadden (FIC McFadden). She says, “I wasn’t sure who to believe or trust while I was reading this book!” We also have McFadden’s other wildly popular books, including the breakaway hit “The Housemaid” and “The Housemaid’s Secret.”
If you enjoy historical fiction, Ivette recommends “The Duke & I” by Julia Quinn (FIC Qui), from the fabulous Bridgerton series. “The plot itself is very charming and sprinkled with humor.” If you are listening to the audiobook edition on our Libby app, “the voice of the narrator is enough to transport you to 19th century England!” Ivette also loved reading “Olive Kitteridge” by Elizabeth Strout (FIC Str): “Olive is a retired school teacher who lives in the small town of Crosby, Maine. The book is a collection of stories about how her life is intertwined with the lives of people around her. She is wicked, funny, but most of all brutally honest as she tries to understand the change happening in and around her.”
Susanna suggests wrapping up the year with “The Best American Short Stories 2022” (808.83 Bes 2022): Her favorite story of the collection is “The Beyoglu Municipality Waste Management Orchestra” by Kenan Orhan. Plus, the 2023 edition is coming soon!
If you can pry yourself out of your reading chair, Mary and Montica recommend trying some of their favorite holiday recipe books: “Easy Homemade Cookie Cookbook” by Miranda Couse (641.8654 Cou) and “Brilliant Bites” by Maegan Brown (641.812 Brown). These contain fun and easy recipes to bake with the kids or grandkids.
These books are all currently on display on the first floor of the library and ready to check out with your library card anytime during our open hours: 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Thursday; 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.Friday and Saturday; and 1-5 p.m. Sunday. Most are also available digitally on our Libby app to download without even leaving your home.
Megan Taylor is assistant manager in the Reference and Local History Department at the Crawfordsville District Public Library.
