Posted in Fantasy, Fiction, Horror, Science Fiction, Thrillers

Library Reads – August 2026

August means another summer reading program is coming to an end; remember that August 8th is your last day to enter your reading time and use those prize tickets to be entered into the drawings! But just because the summer reading program is finishing for the year doesn’t mean that your summer reading has to end. The new month also brings with it another LibraryReads list. You’ll find the books library staff voted on around the country in this post and a blurb from one of the people who voted for that book. After you read today’s blog post, make sure to check out the other books on this month’s list.

Majestic Hills by Dawn Turner

Dr. Blaque just wants to live somewhere quiet, and his wife Josephine—wary of the suburbs—agrees to move on a one-year trial basis. At first, their predominantly white neighbors seem like the picture-perfect, friendly community, but after an awful crime, prejudice starts showing up in full force. As the year deadline creeps closer, the couple wonders: can they make it, or is their marriage—and safety—about to blow up? – Magan Szwarek, LibraryReads Ambassador, IL

NoveList read-alike: Missing Sam by Thrity Umrigar

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Posted in Adult, Fantasy, Fiction, New & Upcoming, Romance, Thrillers

Library Reads – July 2026

With the way the weather has been this week, it’s a perfect time to get out of the heat and do some summer reading. Along with the heat, July has brought a new LibraryReads list full of book recommendations from library staff across the country! Below you’ll find some of the books from this month’s list along with a review from one of America’s numerous library workers.

Top Pick: The Story Keeper by Kelly Rimmer

In this compelling gothic novel set in Australia, recently divorced 50-something Fiona buys her uncle’s decaying country estate with plans to refurbish it. But the locals fear the place is haunted. When Fiona discovers a novel that appears to be set in the house, it becomes a dual-timeline story, with chapters from the book woven into the narrative. – Robin Beerbower, LibraryReads Ambassador, AZ

NoveList read-alike: The Secret Book of Flora Lea by Patti Callahan Henry

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Posted in Adult, Fiction, New & Upcoming

Library Reads – June 2026

It has been a few months since we’ve had a blog post that covered the monthly LibraryReads list. Library staff around the country vote on what their favorite new books are. You’ll see this month’s picks below, along with a book similar to its corresponding pick for the month. Remember, Mead’s librarians are always willing to recommend your next read if none of this month’s picks match your tastes.

Top Pick: Land by Maggie O’Farrell

A breathtakingly beautiful story of one Irish family and the fates of its members as they navigate the world in the years just after the Great Famine. O’Farrell’s rich writing vividly captures both the characters and the wild beauty of the Irish landscape, creating an unforgettable and emotionally riveting narrative that will have readers rapt. – Mara Bandy Fass, Champaign Public Library, IL
NoveList read-alike: Clear by Carys Davies

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Posted in Cooking/Baking, Graphic Novels & Memoirs, Horror, Science Fiction

Zachary’s Recent Reads – Mead Con Edition

It’s once again that time of year when I’m busy with last-minute preparations for Mead Con; many thanks to Carol, Abbie, and Aubrey (and many more besides those that I can’t list all here) for their help making it less crazy to plan this year. Thankfully, I have still had time to read while juggling things like planning a book swap and scheduling mini-painting workshops for the 7th annual con. You’ll find a few of the books I’ve been reading that I thought would be relevant to the celebration of geekdom that is Mead Con. After you check out Mead Con tomorrow, May 2nd, make sure to stop by Sheboy-Con!

There Is No Antimemetics Division by qntm

There Is No Antimemetics Division came to my attention because, back in autumn, I had been looking for books based on the SCP Foundation. The book was started by being written on the SCP wiki, before eventually being picked up by a traditional publisher. It was a bit odd seeing what was obviously the SCP Foundation, called the Unknown Organization, but certain changes had to occur to be published. But those little hiccups didn’t distract me from enjoying the book. I went in being unsure how the author would tackle writing about antimemetics, an idea or entity that the human mind can’t perceive or remember, since it’s a concept I wasn’t sure could lend itself to writing. The author showed everything from a critter that eats memories to buildings you never noticed being outside your office. Those Unknowns were things that the author succeeded at describing, but it was the way the author formatted the story that stole the show. I’ll do my best to talk about what I enjoyed while not spoiling the book. The author used some clever writing tricks that play into the idea of antimemetics, which I don’t want to spoil. I’d find myself needing to double-check previous chapters, which isn’t always an unusual thing for me to do since I constantly forget the names of characters, but instead, I was doing it to confirm what the author had been doing. You’ll need to pick up this book to see what I mean, just remember your mnestics before you start reading.

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Posted in Fantasy, Games, Science Fiction

Zachary’s Recent Games

When the weather gets cold, I like to get cozy and settle in to a game. I have a bad habit of playing a few games at the same time and bouncing between them as my interest in a particular game fluctuates. This week’s blog post is a list of the games I’m currently playing. If a game is on multiple platforms, I’ll include links to the different versions.

The Outer Worlds 2 (PS5/Xbox)

Obsidian developed my favorite Fallout game, so I’ve been partial to their games for the last few years. They’ve continued a design choice since Avowed that I appreciate. Avowed was open enough that it felt like an open-world game, but it was contained enough that I didn’t feel punished by going in a particular direction. Sometimes open-world games prioritize the size of the world without filling it with enough content to reward exploration, and to be honest, as I’ve gotten older, I don’t want to spend hundreds of hours sifting through a game to find what’s worth looting. Avowed also allowed you to upgrade the equipment that you liked throughout the entire game, so I didn’t have to waste time on loot grind. It was nice to see The Outer Worlds 2 kept that streamlined design, and I find the Outer Worlds setting interesting. Outer Worlds’ setting tends to be a little more comedic than Fallout: New Vegas was, but it still itches that Obsidian itch.

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Posted in Cooking/Baking, DIY & How To, Nonfiction

Saving Your Harvest

Now that it’s August, I’m thinking about what to do with my garden’s harvest. I couldn’t use all the zucchini, and I can tell the tomatoes are about to produce way too much this year. Every year, I keep meaning to learn how to preserve my harvest. So I tracked down some books that cover everything from canning to dehydrating. There’s even a book if you want to learn how to save seeds for next year! Each book will have its description from our catalog to give you an idea of what it covers.

Attainable Sustainable Pantry by Kris Bordessa

“A handy illustrated collection of tried and true techniques to fill your cupboards with wholesome, homemade food—and save money, too. Internet sensation Kris Bordessa shows how to replace storebought, processed products with your own delicious, nutritious entrees, side dishes, condiments, snacks, and more. With more than 120 recipes—from cake mixes and marmalades to relishes, pickles, and coffee creamer—this comprehensive guide will help you ditch store-bought processed foods and fill your pantry with homemade, healthier options that will save you time and money—and taste better, too! Inside these pages, you’ll find recipes for: Breakfast favorites, including homemade instant oatmeal, classic pancake and waffle mix, and make-ahead egg cups Baking must-haves, from chocolate cake mix to no-knead rosemary-garlic bread, sourdough bread loaves, and easy flour tortillas Everyday go-to condiments, such as ranch dressing, grainy mustard, teriyaki sauce, and mayonnaise Quick pickles, like bread-and-butter zucchini pickles, pickled beets and okra, and dill pickle relish Healthier snacks, including barbecue potato chips, sour “fruit” snacks, guacamole, and hummus And a huge collection of canning classics, from orange-vanilla marmalade and bourbon-apple jelly to chowchow, pizza sauce, salsa, and more—all reviewed for safety by the National Center for Home Food Preservation With author and homesteader Kris Bordessa as your guide, you’ll learn how to meal prep more efficiently, reduce waste, cut out processed ingredients, and enjoy more homemade foods year-round, all from the bounty in your own cupboards.”

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Posted in Biography & Memoir, DIY & How To, Fantasy, Graphic Novels & Memoirs, Horror, LGBTQI+, Nonfiction, Science Fiction

Zachary’s Recent Reads

A couple of months ago, Abbie wrote a blog post about her recent reads. When I saw that post, I decided I would steal that idea for a future post of my own, so here we are. I have been reading more since I learned about BookCrossing this summer and because I made a New Year’s resolution to read 30 books in 2025. So far, I’ve been reading an eclectic mix of graphic novels, sci-fi, fantasy, self-help, and even a little bit of theology. There should be something in this week’s post for almost everyone!

Bloodborne Vol. 1: The Death of Sleep by Aleš Kot

Bloodborne is one of my favorite videogames. Unfortunately, Sony doesn’t seem to be in any hurry to release even a remaster of the game, much less a sequel; unless you count The Duskbloods as a spiritual sequel. While Elden Ring has definitely been a delight, it didn’t quite scratch that Lovecraftian itch the way Bloodborne did. For that reason, I decided to give the comic a shot. I was pleasantly surprised to find that the comic was able to strike that same ethereal, dreamlike vibe that the game did. The plot follows a nameless Hunter who’s protecting a child that might have magical blood. There’s even a reference to the “You Died” screen that any Fromsoft fan will recognize. The only negative I have is that one of the characters from the game didn’t seem quite how I remembered them.

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Posted in Adult, Fantasy, Fiction, History, Kids 5-12

What Was Sheboygan Reading?

Another summer reading program has come to an end. Thank you to everyone who participated this summer, in particular those of you who participated in the adult program! Every year, staff can see which books got logged the most when participants submitted their reading time. I thought seeing what Sheboygan was reading this summer would be fun. You’ll find the book’s description from our catalog under each title. I’ve also included a link to the large print version if Mead has a copy. We look forward to the community participating in 2025’s summer reading program!

The Holy Bible

“Introducing the TNIV Bible in an attractive, low-cost edition for churches everywhere. Endorsed by scholars and pastors across the country, the TNIV is the new translation for today’s generation. It combines uncompromising reliability, the clarity of today’s language, and the heritage of the most trusted translation, the NIV.
Because this inexpensive church edition was made from the same setting as the TNIV Thinline Bible and TNIV Pocket Bible, everyone using a Zondervan TNIV text Bible is guaranteed to be on the same page, enhancing church community. Pagination matches Media Shout Bible projection software, making it easier for church attendees to locate referenced scripture verses.
The TNIV is the Bible of choice for churches committed to engaging the next generation of believers.”

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Posted in Adult, Fantasy, Games, Kids 5-12, Science Fiction, Teen & Young Adult

What’s New in Gaming for 2024?

It’s been a few months since I have written a blog post about games, and with Mead Comic Con happening on May 4th, I thought we were overdue for a geeky post. We’re getting new games throughout the year, but here’s what Mead has gotten so far for 2024! You’ll find the description of each game, from our catalog, to give you an idea of what each game is like.

Princess Peach: Showtime!

“Peach takes the stage to save the day! Use Stella’s power to transform into… Swordfighter Peach, Patissiere Peach, Kung Fu Peach… and more!”

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Posted in Adult, Fiction, Thrillers, While You Wait

While You Wait March 2024: First Lie Wins & The Teacher

Another month and another post about the books at the top of our holds list. (To be upfront, this month’s books are in second and third place on our list because The Women is still at the top.) You’ll find read-alikes for First Lie Wins and The Teacher below. Each book has a blurb about it from our catalog.

First Lie Wins by Ashley Elston (Large Print)

“Evie Porter has everything a nice, Southern girl could want: a perfect, doting boyfriend, a house with a white picket fence and a garden, a fancy group of friends. The only catch: Evie Porter doesn’t exist. The identity comes first: Evie Porter. Once she’s given a name and location by her mysterious boss Mr. Smith, she learns everything there is to know about the town and the people in it. Then the mark: Ryan Sumner. The last piece of the puzzle is the job. Evie isn’t privy to Mr. Smith’s real identity, but she knows this job will be different. Ryan has gotten under her skin, and she’s starting to envision a different sort of life for herself. But Evie can’t make any mistakes–especially after what happened last time. Because the one thing she’s worked her entire life to keep clean, the one identity she could always go back to–her real identity–just walked right into this town. Evie Porter must stay one step ahead of her past while making sure there’s still a future in front of her. The stakes couldn’t be higher–but then, Evie has always liked a challenge…”

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