Category: Staff Picks

Posted in Adult, Games, Staff Picks, Teen & Young Adult

5 Nostalgic Switch Games Your Inner Child Will Love

Posted on by Ryan

When I was a kid, I played a tooooon of video games. So many I usually became nocturnal during summer breaks. My dad, who usually woke up early for work at 4 am, would often find me in my room, playing my last couple hours of whatever game I had before I went to sleep for the day. I don’t know that I’d go back to having such a weird sleep schedule — it was awful every year reversing it when school was back — but I do miss having all that time to play some of my favorites.

And while I don’t have as much time to play some of the classics, there are luckily a lot of remakes, remasters, and sequels of some of my favorite games on the Nintendo Switch. So, even now I can pick up a game and feel the nostalgia as I relive bits and pieces of my childhood. Here are some of my latest favorites for you to enjoy — either for the first or second time.

The Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening

A classic on the Game Boy, Link’s Awakening for the Switch has been given a major facelift while still keeping the gameplay and story it was originally known for. I had a blast revisiting this game and the cutesy art style only adds to the experience. The puzzles in this game are as hard as I remember them as a kid, so they may take some getting used to, especially if you haven’t played any of the original Zelda series. But if you stick with it, you’ll definitely think it’s worth the effort.

Continue reading “5 Nostalgic Switch Games Your Inner Child Will Love” →
Posted in Adult, Audience, Historical, Mystery, Staff Picks, Uncategorized

Adventures and Murder with Hercule Poirot

Posted on by abbiebourelle

Before I moved to Sheboygan I had to commute to work. I had about a 40 minute drive at the time. I fought the boredom of the long drive by listening to audio books on CD. I had been getting into mysteries and knew that Agatha Christie was one of the big names in that genre. My journey began by picking up The Mysterious Affair at Styles (narrated by Hugh Fraser, who stars as Hastings in the Poirot TV show.) From that mystery I was hooked and needed more of the little Belgian detective and his excitable sidekick. After moving to Sheboygan a few years ago I switched from audiobook to paperback, the voices from the audio series still in my head for the various main characters. I finally came to the end of my journey with Hercule Poirot this past week with finishing the final book: Curtain. What a worthy ending to a great series and brilliant detective!

The Hercule Poirot Series by Agatha Christie

Agatha Christie started writing her Poirot series in 1916 and had the first novel published in 1920. While the series is of the mystery genre it is fascinating as it provides a window into the time period it was written in. The series kicks off with Captain Hastings coming home with a war injury. WWI and WWII are not the focus of the books, but the impact of the wars are clearly seen throughout the series. From a historical standpoint it is interesting to get a glimpse of how WWII was affecting the English people as they tried to continue with their daily lives. This is most clearly shown in the title Taken at the Flood in which Poirot casually waits in a bomb shelter during a raid and listens to a stranger discuss a suspicious death. The series continues into the 1960’s where they provide a glimpse into the changing times and culture of that era. As I enjoy historical fiction as well, I found this element to be just as engaging as they mysteries themselves.

The mysteries kept me guessing from beginning to end. If you are a fan of mysteries like myself, you probably find yourself trying to solve it before the detective by the end. As for this series, just when I thought I had the system figured out, there would be some huge twist that I certainly was not expecting. If you are a fan of twist endings the book I most recommend in this series is The Murder of Roger Ackroyd as I believe that book had the biggest twist of the lot.

As for the characters, after the first book it felt as if they were already friends I had known for ages. Captain Hastings is young. He has a hopeless romantic personality and always tries to see the bright side of life. He is Poirot’s best friend and sidekick in the early books. In the later books Poirot meets Ariadne Oliver, the author of a mystery fiction series. She is also a lot of fun and has a quirky personality. Due to her fame as a writer of mystery fiction in the series, she ends up getting caught up in real murder mysteries and often has to come seek out Poirot for help. Hercule Poirot is of course the main hero of the series. He is a short Belgian detective who is known for his impressive mustache. He believes that any mystery can be solved by “using the little grey cells”. A student of psychology and the study of human nature, Poirot uses this to figure out the connections and motives in cases. It is interesting to see how the human mind works from his point of view. He has a very analytical mind which often plays against Hastings’ more fantastic theories. Poirot is a very immaculate person with an obsession for symmetry. These quirks provide often needed humor and serve to make him a rather endearing character in addition to helping him notice anything suspiciously out of place while solving a crime.

I started trying to compile a list of favorite titles to share in this article. Going back over each book I realized that I loved almost all of them. Elephants Can Remember seemed perhaps the weakest of them as Poirot did not seem to be in it as much as I would have liked. However that title comes right at the end before Curtain. Curtain, being the last novel, finished the series with a bang! (No pun intended). I was very satisfied with the ending and felt Agatha Christie did right by her characters and the series to wrap it up in the way she did.

Now that I have finished the book series I have been binge watching the TV show Poirot staring David Suchet and Hugh Fraser. I find it to be just as good as the books! There have also been three new movies based on Poirot books (A Haunting in Venice VERY loosely based.). The movies star Kenneth Branagh. You can also listen to Agatha Christie’s Poirot series on audio. When I first started searching for audio, I found there are a few different voice narrators. I recommend finding the set narrated by Hugh Fraser. He does the best in doing the various voices and pulling the reader into the story. Of course, you can also find all the titles in book format at the library or through our online catalogue. Happy reading!

Hercule Poirot books in order:
1. The Mysterious Affair at Styles
2. The Murder on the Links
3. Poirot Investigates
4. The Murder of Roger Ackroyd
5. The Big Four
6. The Mystery of the Blue Train
7. Black Coffee
8. Peril At End House
9. Lord Edgware Dies
10. Murder on the Orient Express
11. Three Act Tragedy
12. Death in the Clouds
13. The ABC Murders
14. Murder in Mesopotamia
15. Cards on the Table
16. Dumb Witness
17. Death on the Nile
18. Murder in the Mews
19. Appointment With Death
20. Hercule Poirot’s Christmas
21. Sad Cypress
22. One, Two, Buckle My Shoe
23. Evil Under the Sun
24. Five Little Pigs
25. The Hollow
26. The Labors of Hercules
27. Taken at the Flood
28. Mrs. Mcginty’s Dead
29. After the Funeral
30. Hickory Dickory Dock
31. Dead Man’s Folly
32. Cat Among the Pigeons
33. The Adventure of the Christmas Pudding *only in audio CD format in the catalog*
34. The Clocks
35. Third Girl
36. Hallowe’en Party
37. Elephants Can Remember
38. Curtain

Continue reading “Adventures and Murder with Hercule Poirot” →
Posted in Adult, Fiction, Staff Picks, Teen & Young Adult, Uncategorized

Manga and cats, what could be better?

Posted on by Corrina

Dear reader, today I am returning to talk about a most epic of combinations. Manga and cats! Has there ever been a better combination? Perhaps coffee and cats surpasses it, but not by much in my opinion.

The first manga I’m going to talk about is Nights With a Cat by Kyuryu Z. When I tell you this is one of the funniest mangas I have ever read, I’m not exaggerating! I laugh out loud and smile the whole time I’m reading it. The way the author portrays Kyuruga, the cat, is so authentic and realistic for cat owners.

I also enjoy living vicariously through the main character, Fuuta, and his sister as they interact with a very affectionate Kyuruga. You see, dear reader, I live with a cat who is not very affectionate. Abraham (Abe for short) is a cat that wants affection on his terms, and usually for about a minute and then he’s done! However, because he is like that, it makes the moments when he jumps up on my bed and lays by me of his own volition that much more special.

Nights With a Cat by Kyuryu Z

When Fuuta comes home tired at night, all he wants to do is spend time with his sister’s cat, Kyuruga. So many of the mysterious habits and mannerisms of house cats―from the surprising array of shapes Kyuruga likes to twist into, to the bizarre challenge of getting a good photo of him, to his lightning-fast mood changes―are carefully reproduced in this relaxed and cute comedy about living with an adorable furball!

The next manga I’m going to talk about is a shonen manga, which, if you’ve read my previous blog post on manga, you will remember that this means this is a manga aimed primarily at a young male audience, typically characterized by action-filled plots.

There is indeed a ton of action in this manga in the form of, you guessed it, games! You didn’t see that coming at all, did you, dear reader? Luckily I’m here to inform you, no worries.

I grew up playing car games with my brother, but I was nowhere near as obsessed with games as the main character, Riko, is in this manga. I find her enthusiasm for them quite charming, though. The way she goes over the top in response to a win or bad draw is hilarious! I also appreciate the short chapters at the end of the longer ones that feature Riko from Musubi the cat’s perspective. I was basically born into a cat family so I’ve never experienced first-time cat ownership, but the way Riko fumbles through it, as well as constantly relates it to the gaming world, treating it like a leveling up scenario will really charm you!

Continue reading “Manga and cats, what could be better?” →
Posted in Adult, Fiction, Film, Staff Picks

Martial Arts Films for Your Next Movie Night

Posted on by Ryan

Every day I feel like I’m turning more and more into my dad. I sneeze obnoxiously loud like him. I’m starting to get some gray hairs. I even sit at the dinner table the same way he does after eating — with my arms crossed over my chest and a sleepy look on my face. I imagine one day I’ll just wake up and find I’m a mini version of him (I’m technically taller than him so maybe a slightly bigger version? I don’t know but you get what I mean!)

One of the more recent dad-isms I’ve developed has involved watching one of his favorite kinds of movies: martial arts films. While I haven’t quite gotten into mobster movies yet like him — a story for another time when I inevitably do — I have been really enjoying films that include martial arts. Mainly the more comedic ones, but some serious ones here and there. Here’s a small helping of some of my favorites so far.

Shaolin Soccer (2004)

To kick things off, I’m starting with Shaolin Soccer for one simple reason: it combines my dad’s love for martial arts movies with his lifelong passion for soccer, a sport he played seriously for many years growing up.

In this movie, Shaolin kung fu master Sing — played by director Stephen Chow — teams up with former soccer star “Golden Leg” Fung to challenge Team Evil to a game of soccer, using the power of martial arts to pull off some over-the-top stunts, score some goals, and share the powers of Shaolin kung fu with the world.

With some funny dialogue, a goofy plot, and over-the-top special effects, this engaging movie provides quite a few laughs from start to finish. I can see why this was one of my dad’s favorites now.

Continue reading “Martial Arts Films for Your Next Movie Night” →
Posted in Adult, Staff Picks, Teen & Young Adult, Uncategorized

Manga with a message

Posted on by Corrina

Dear reader, today I want to talk with you about manga. I’ve been devouring it lately so I figured, why not talk about it?

First of all, what is manga? Manga is an umbrella term for a wide variety of comic books or graphic novels originally produced and published in Japan. Unlike American comic books, which are usually printed in full color, Japanese manga are almost always published in black and white.

There are also several different demographics of manga, three of which I will be talking about today.

Shonen – targeted at tween and teen boys

Shojo – targeted at tween and teen girls

Seinen – targeted at adult men 18+

Josei – targeted at adult women 18+

Kodomomuke – targeted at young children

The first manga I’m going to talk about is A Sign of Affection by suu Morishita. This is a shojo manga.

A Sign of Affection by suu Morishita

Yuki, who’s always been deaf, is used to communicating with sign language and her phone. But she’s not used to English, so when a tourist from overseas asks for directions, she nearly panics…until a handsome stranger steps in to help. His name is Itsuomi, and it turns out he’s a friend of a friend. A charismatic globetrotter, Itsuomi speaks three languages, but he’s never had a deaf friend. The two feel drawn to each other and plan a date on a romantic winter’s night…but Yuki’s friend is afraid that she might be setting herself up to get hurt. Could this be something real? Or will these feelings melt away with the snow?

Dear reader, I am thoroughly enjoying this manga! The author does a marvelous job showing how Yuki navigates her world, and in portraying the difficulties she encounters from day to day as a deaf person. She has friends who are supportive, but also people who use the knowledge of sign language against her. Throughout the series you can see Yuki striving for and achieving independence, and of course witness her growing relationship with Itsuomi. I’m sure you will fall in love with the characters as much as I did!

Continue reading “Manga with a message” →
Posted in Adult, Fiction, Romance, Staff Picks, Uncategorized

Regency Romance Reads

Posted on by Corrina

Dear reader, I have found myself going back in time this winter. Where do you ask? Why, the regency era of England of course! You know where this is going, don’t you? The word romance is in the title, so how could you not? That’s right, today’s blog is about regency romance novels. They happen to be my obsession this winter. Think of them as my comfort food, but in book form.

Maybe you’ve been reading regency romance novels too, but have you ever given thought to what the regency era actually was? I admit I did not until I researched it for this blog post. The regency was an era between 1811-1820, though historians generally look at the years 1780-1830 as the Regency period because those years were influenced by the role of the prince regent. The prince regent ruled as proxy as his father, King George III, was unable to rule due to his illness and mental instability.

Most regency romances focus on the upper class society, known as the ton. They operated on a complex and rigid set of rules that dictated their every behavior, from socially acceptable calling hours, having a chaperone or escort when a young man and woman were together, and appropriate dances. To be caught going against any of these rules would be grounds for endless gossip, or even a social pariah.

Dear reader, let me now tell you about some of my most recent favorite regency romance novels.

A Heart Worth Stealing by Author

Miss Genevieve Wilde—a magistrate’s daughter and independent heiress—is determined to meet life’s challenges all on her own, just as her late father had taught her. So when her father’s pocket watch is stolen, she will do anything to get it back, especially when the local authorities prove incompetent.

Upon reading an advertisement in the paper, she takes a chance and contacts a thief-taker to find the watch. It’s a choice Ginny regrets when former Bow Street officer Jack Travers arrives on her doorstep. He is frustratingly flirtatious, irritatingly handsome, and entirely unpredictable, and Ginny wonders if she’ll be able to resist such a man.

But after Ginny discovers that the missing watch is just a small part of a larger, more frightening plot against her, she needs Jack’s help more than ever. To protect her home and her reputation, the two enter into a risky charade—pretending Jack is her cousin so he can begin his investigation, starting with the household staff. As they work together to unravel the mystery, Ginny finds herself falling fast for her charismatic thief-taker, leaving her heart in just as much danger as her life.

Dear reader, given the norm of arranged marriages at the time, is it any surprise that many regency romance novels center around the main female character declaring she will marry for love, instead of money, fame, title, etc.? I’ve lost track of how many books I have read in this vein, and yet I never tire of them! How realistic that was for the time is up for question, but that doesn’t detract from my enjoyment in the least.

Continue reading “Regency Romance Reads” →
Posted in Adult, Film, Format, Genre, Romance, Staff Picks, Uncategorized

Rom-Coms You Missed!

Posted on by Jennifer

It’s February, and as the romantics among us gear up for Valentine’s Day, it’s a great time to check out some romantic comedies from the library (or stream them on Kanopy or Hoopla)! While I’d never say no to a classic rom-com like When Harry Met Sally, Moonstruck, or 10 Things I Hate About You, I’d like to share some gems of the genre that you may have missed when they first came out. Read on for some possibly new-to-you movie selections, including double feature ideas!

Man Up directed by Ben Palmer

I’ll kick off this list with one of my favorite lesser-known rom-coms – “Man Up” from 2015. Lake Bell of “In a World” and Simon Pegg of “Shaun of the Dead” have great chemistry in this London-set story of mistaken identity. When Bell’s character Nancy finds herself mistaken for Pegg’s blind date, instead of clearing up the misunderstanding, she decides to pretend to be the other woman. If that premise sounds too cringe-worthy, maybe this isn’t the movie for you. But if you like your rom-coms with plenty of laughs (and a dance number set to Duran Duran’s “The Reflex”), this film will hit the spot!

Make it a double feature: In A World, Shaun of the Dead, Run Fatboy Run

Continue reading “Rom-Coms You Missed!” →
Posted in Adult, Audience, Nonfiction, Staff Picks

5 Books to Help You Stick to Your New Year’s Resolution of Running

Posted on by Ryan

As the new year quickly approaches, you’re probably looking forward to all of the exciting things you’ve planned to ring in the new year. That could be traveling, eating good food, seeing friends, or even just sitting from the comfort of your own home while watching the ball drop. Whatever it may be, you’re probably also thinking of a new year’s resolution for once the celebrating is over.

And if you picked running as your goal for the new year, you may feel a mixture of excitement and anxiety. Starting can seem like a daunting task, after all — as someone who got into running a little over a year ago, I can relate. There’s a lot of questions that come up in the beginning. How far should I run? What should I wear? And how do I stop chafing so much? (All questions I’ve asked myself)

Since I’ve started, I’ve learned a lot about the joys of running and come across many books on the subject. And today, I’d like to share some of my favorites with you. They cover a range of topics like how to get started, why to get started, and how to keep going, all while offering some helpful tips that runners of all levels can appreciate:

Slow AF Run Club : The Ultimate Guide for Anyone Who Wants to Run (2023) by Martinus Evans

Ten years ago, Martinus Evans got some stern advice from his doctor: “Lose weight or die.” First defensive, but then defiant, Evans vowed that day to run a marathon, though his doctor thought he was crazy. Since then, Evans has run eight marathons and hundreds of other distances in his 300-something body, created his own devoted running community, and has been featured on the cover of Runner’s World.

This book is a blueprint for those who may not fit the image of a “traditional” runner – that is, someone who is larger in size, less athletic, out of shape, or dealing with any kind of health issue that slows them down – to feel empowered to lace up their shoes and embrace the body they have right now.

Continue reading “5 Books to Help You Stick to Your New Year’s Resolution of Running” →
Posted in Adult, Fiction, Staff Picks, Uncategorized

A collection of Japanese short stories

Posted on by Corrina

Dear reader, today I have something a little different in store for you. Over the last year I have read several short stories by Japanese authors and felt moved to collectively talk about all of them.

Most of the short stories in today’s blog post have the characters coming together around a certain theme or object. For instance in What You are Looking For is in the Library, the characters all encounter a particular librarian, and in Before the Coffee Gets Cold, the characters all start their individual journeys in a certain coffee shop.

Another theme that all the short stories share is how each character encounters a seemingly innocent situation or thing, and that blossoms into an altered life, a change in character, a new outlook, etc. For example, in Sweet Bean Paste, the main character, after learning a new homemade recipe for red bean paste from an elderly lady instead of the pre-made store bought variety he was using, goes down a path of self-discovery , gains a new friend, and learns the dark history of a nearby dwelling. Unfortunately, Sweet Bean Paste is not in the Monarch system, but can be found in Wiscat, as well as Hoopla, one of Mead Public Library’s apps for online reading. I will also mention several other short stories that are available via Monarch, so have no fear, dear reader!

Revitalized lives is a third main theme in these short stories. Characters who, at the start of the stories, were at the end of their rope, the outcasts of society, viewed as failures, but by story’s end are living with purpose and even fulfilling a forgotten dream. This is the case in Lonely Castle in the Mirror and Days at the Morisaki Bookshop.

Days at the Morisaki Bookshop by Satoshi Yagisawa

Hidden in Jimbocho, Tokyo, is a booklover’s paradise. On a quiet corner in an old wooden building lies a shop filled with hundreds of second-hand books.

Twenty-five-year-old Takako has never liked reading, although the Morisaki bookshop has been in her family for three generations. It is the pride and joy of her uncle Satoru, who has devoted his life to the bookshop since his wife Momoko left him five years earlier.

When Takako’s boyfriend reveals he’s marrying someone else, she reluctantly accepts her eccentric uncle’s offer to live rent-free in the tiny room above the shop. Hoping to nurse her broken heart in peace, Takako is surprised to encounter new worlds within the stacks of books lining the Morisaki bookshop.

As summer fades to autumn, Satoru and Takako discover they have more in common than they first thought. The Morisaki bookshop has something to teach them both about life, love, and the healing power of books.

Continue reading “A collection of Japanese short stories” →
Posted in Adult, Audience, Fiction, Staff Picks, Thrillers

5 Scary Thrillers for this Spooky Season

Posted on by Ryan

You may have noticed it, but lately there’s been a chill in the air. The days are getting shorter. The nights longer. And every morning it seems like there’s more and more pumpkins and skeletons cropping up in people’s yards.

That can mean only one thing:
It’s spooky season. 

And with spooky season comes one of my favorite pastimes: cozying up inside with a hot cup of decaf Earl Grey tea, ready to read a new thriller. Inevitably, this almost always keeps me up at night, my head on my pillow with wide eyes, worrying about all the imaginary monsters that lurk in the dark.

It’s a bad habit, especially for someone who is a scaredy cat. But I can’t help it, especially when the book keeps me at the edge of my seat (and bed, apparently.) And if you have the same issue as me — or are just plain fearless — and are looking for your next thriller, here are a couple you can try:

The Coworker (2023) by Freida McFadden

Dawn Schiff is strange. At least, everyone at work thinks so. She never says the right thing. She has no friends. And she is always at her desk at precisely 8:45 a.m.

So when Dawn doesn’t show up to the office one morning, her coworker Natalie Farrell-beautiful, popular, top sales rep five years running-is surprised. Then she receives an unsettling, anonymous phone call that changes everything… 

Now, Natalie is irrevocably tied to Dawn as she finds herself caught in a twisted game of cat and mouse that leaves her wondering: who’s the real victim? But one thing is incredibly clear: somebody hated Dawn Schiff. Enough to kill.

Continue reading “5 Scary Thrillers for this Spooky Season” →