Looking for some fabulous books to kick-start your reading goals this year? Your friends at the library have some great Staff Picks, which are currently on display on the first floor and ready to check out with your library card. Come on in and load up!
Would you like a wintery read to match the weather conditions outside? Mary recommends “A Week in Winter” by bestselling author Maeve Binchy (FIC Bin): “Three people join together to turn a coastal Ireland mansion into a holiday resort. The assortment of quirky guests shares laughter and challenges together.” Brenda recommends the thriller “North of Nowhere” by Allison Brennan (FIC Bre), calling it “a perfect blend of adventure and mystery set in the Montana wilderness during a snowstorm. It is filled with action and suspense and is very interesting with the horrible family dynamics of a crime organization. This book was fast-paced from the beginning and was hard to put down!”
Another sharp mystery is “The Golden Spoon” by Jessa Maxwell (FIC Max), which is recommended by Mary and has shown up on several most-anticipated lists. This combo of the beloved “Clue” and “The Great British Bake Off” begins with six contestants of a baking show ready to show off their culinary skills, but then someone shows up dead, and everyone becomes a suspect.
For historical fiction, Brenda recommends the moving and powerful story “The Little Liar” by Mitch Albom (FIC Albom): “Inspired by what happened to 50,000 Jewish people living in Greece during the Holocaust. Eleven-year-old Nico Krispis never told a lie. When the Nazis invade his home a German officer convinces Nico to persuade his fellow Jewish residents to board trains heading to ‘new homes’ where they are promised jobs and safety. Only after it is too late does Nico discover that he helped send them to their doom at Auschwitz. Nico never tells the truth again! A must-read!”
Susanna’s pick this month, “Fairest” by Gail Carson Levine (j FIC Lev), fits in perfectly with our library’s Winter Reading theme: “Fairytales by the Fireplace.” She says this story “is an adaptation of Snow White and an enduring childhood favorite. You may recognize the author from “Ella Enchanted,” a Cinderella retelling that became a movie starring Anne Hathaway. I recommend all of Levine’s books wholeheartedly.”
For our large print readers, Dellie recommends any title by author Carrie Turansky: “All her books are fantastic. Very adventurous!” The first of a series is “No Ocean Too Wide” by Carrie Turansky (LP FIC TUR). She also loved “Hart’s Hollow Farm” by Janet Dailey (LP FIC DAI), which contains a lot of adventure, heartache, and romance.
For our nonfiction readers, Christie highly recommends “The Innocent Man: Murder and Injustice in a Small Town” by John Grisham (345.766 Gri), calling it a “fascinating true crime story.” It has also been adapted into a Netflix documentary series. Montica enjoyed “The Purest Bond” by Jen Golbeck (636.7 Golbeck): “If you have a dog, love dogs, or are thinking about getting a dog, you need to read this book. Lots of great info.” Finally, Dennis suggests checking out “The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Chess” (794.1 Wol): “Why not kick off the new year by learning one of the oldest and best games ever! If you already play chess, this book also includes exercises to improve your strategy!”
Discover all these titles and thousands more at your library. Our hours are 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.
Megan Taylor is assistant manager in the Reference and Local History Department at the Crawfordsville District Public Library.
