Category: Staff Picks

Posted in Adult, Contemporary, Fiction, Staff Picks

Ryan’s Reads in 2024

Posted on by Ryan

Despite hundreds upon hundreds of books being published last year, I managed to only read one book that actually came out in 2024. But that doesn’t mean I didn’t read last year. As you can imagine, working at a library gives me access to more than enough books.

So, here are some of my favorites, starting with the one book I read published in 2024.

Rejection: Fiction by Tony Tulathimutte

A collection of short stories, Tulathimutte peers into the lives of people that are clearly in pain and do bad things because of it. From a women’s rights advocate-turned-incel to a girl that can’t get over a one-night stand, these people suck, but you just can’t look away. It might not be your cup of tea, so I’d recommend checking out the first story The Feminist before you grab the whole collection.

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Posted in Fiction, Staff Picks, Uncategorized

Books by Several Japanese and one Korean author

Posted on by Corrina

Dear readers, that is a pretty self-explanatory title is it not? There is always great anticipation when it comes to books by foreign authors, as I believe I’ve mentioned before. First you need to wait for a translation to come out in your language, and then you have to figure out if your library system has it and place a hold on it. Is there a greater thrill than placing several on hold at once and seeing which come in first? It’s like Christmas! Usually, however, they all seem to come in at once, don’t they? Which is its own kind of thrill, but also slightly terrifying because they’re new books and thus you’re now in a time crunch.

Well dear reader, I have had several books by foreign authors come and go from my comfy reading chair, and I’m here to talk about them with you.

Mina’s Matchbox by Yoko Ogawa

In the spring of 1972, twelve-year-old Tomoko leaves her mother behind in Tokyo and boards a train alone for Ashiya, a coastal town in Japan, to stay with her aunt’s family. Tomoko’s aunt is an enigma and an outlier in her working-class family, and her magnificent home—and handsome foreign husband, the president of a soft drink company—are symbols of that status. The seventeen rooms are filled with German-made furnishings; there are sprawling gardens and even an old zoo where the family’s pygmy hippopotamus resides. The family is just as beguiling as their mansion—Tomoko’s dignified and devoted aunt, her German great-aunt, and her dashing, charming uncle, who confidently sits as the family’s patriarch. At the center of the family is Tomoko’s cousin Mina, a precocious, asthmatic girl of thirteen who draws Tomoko into an intoxicating world full of secret crushes and elaborate storytelling.

In this elegant jewel box of a book, Yoko Ogawa invites us to witness a powerful and formative interlude in Tomoko’s life. Behind the family’s sophistication are complications that Tomoko struggles to understand—her uncle’s mysterious absences, her great-aunt’s experience of the Second World War, her aunt’s misery. Rich with the magic and mystery of youthful experience, Mina’s Matchbox is an evocative snapshot of a moment frozen in time—and a striking depiction of a family on the edge of collapse.

Dear reader, this is one of those books that took me seemingly eons to finish. It never quite held my attention for a long span of time, so I could only read it in spurts. Why would I suggest a book to you that I essentially found boring? Because, dear reader, you may not feel the same way once you pick it up. In fact, I hope you don’t!

By the end of the book I felt like the climax passed me by like a distant thunderstorm. I also thought the matchboxes mentioned in the title would play more of a role in the story than they did. But even with all that, the atmosphere built by the author was very rich and descriptive. Having never grown up in one home during my childhood I found it fascinating how the family home in Mina’s Matchbox played such a role in each character’s life and identity. In turn, each character was well fleshed out and very real, which is important because so many books nowadays seem to write their characters names on the paper and leave it at that.

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Posted in Adult, Staff Picks

Sitcoms for September

Posted on by Ryan

Lately, I’ve been catching up on some old TV dramas by starting with one of the big classics: The Sopranos. It’s a great show, but if you know even just a tiny bit of the premise, you’ll know it’s not something you’d call relaxing. When I get home from a night shift, oftentimes the last thing I want to watch is some gangsters getting in each other’s faces and screaming and pointing fingers. So, instead, I go for a sitcom that will let me wind down for the night and let me shut my brain off for a little while getting some laughs in. Here are some of my recent favorites if you care to join me!

Better off Ted (2009)

At Veridian Dynamics, things are done differently. But that’s not necessarily a good thing. From making weaponized pumpkins to killer robots, one has to ask how and why a company like Veridian is allowed to operate the way it does. But for Ted Crisp, the head of research and development, those questions and answers don’t matter much because work still needs to be done.

Working with the scientists there and other members of his team, they get into all sorts of messes, making each episode just as ridiculous as the last. One episode they’re dealing with a hair serum that makes hair grow too fast, resulting in Ted’s desk growing hair. In another, Ted and his scientists fight in an underground medieval fight club. You never know what you’re gonna watch, but you’ll be laughing at whatever trouble they get into next!

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Posted in Adult, DIY & How To, Fantasy, Fiction, Staff Picks, Teen & Young Adult

The Cat’s Meow: All Things Cats!

Posted on by Ryan

Recently, we welcomed a new addition to our house. His name is Juno, and he’s an adorable cat who’s added a lot to our lives.

Pictured: our sweet Juno 😸

Since then, I’ve found myself slowly becoming obsessed with anything related to cats. And because I work at a library, it’s only natural that one of the things I’ve been looking at are books on cats. Here are some of the more memorable ones I’ve found recently.

Total Cat Mojo by Jackson Galaxy

If you have ever watched My Cat From Hell, you know Jackson Galaxy, the musician by night/cat behaviorist by day. And, if not, first off you’re missing out on a good show. But more importantly, I’ll give you a quick summary: Jackson comes into homes where cats are acting like complete jerks. It could be they’re scratching up their owners. Or that they’re peeing outside of their litter box. Sometimes, it’s both of these things and more. But, no matter the issue, Jackson works on figuring out how to best help the owner(s) learn to change their cat’s behavior. The answer isn’t always the same, but he always brings peace to the home!

Jackson takes his decades of experience working with cats and crams it into this comprehensive book, sharing his tips and tricks on how to best take care of your cat. The book also explores how to create a space that allows your feline friend to have “Cat Mojo”, a confidence they get from feeling comfortable in their environment. It’s chock-full of information for both first-time cat owners and those who have grown up with cats like myself. Plus, the illustrations throughout the book are just so cute!

So, whether you skim it or read it from start to finish, you’ll surely learn something from this self-proclaimed Cat Daddy.

Continue reading “The Cat’s Meow: All Things Cats!” →
Posted in Adult, Audience, Staff Picks, Uncategorized

It’s for the birds

Posted on by Corrina

Dear reader, today I am going to talk to you about birds. I have been a huge bird nerd for years, and even started regularly watching a live bird cam while at work and enjoying conversation with other watchers in the cam’s chat feature. All on downtime of course! Wink wink.

When you think of migratory birds that come to Wisconsin in the spring and summer, what birds do you think of? The American robin? The red-winged blackbird? These are quintessential birds that herald the arrival of warmer weather! There is also the American goldfinch that, while it is a year-round resident of Wisconsin, the males turn from their yellow-brown coloring to a brilliant, unmistakable yellow that is easily spotted in trees and at bird feeders. Listen closely for their equally bright flight song as they fly around.

But have you thought of others? There’s the rose-breasted grosbeak, the yellow-rumped warbler, the eastern towhee, and the belted kingfisher, which all arrive roughly in late March and stay through September, or November in the case of the belted kingfisher. Have you heard of these birds before? Have you just read those names and thought to yourself, now what kind of bird is that? Well, dear reader, let me help you!

Birds of Wisconsin: The birding pro’s field guides by Marc Parnell

The Birding Pro’s Field Guide series introduces a number of innovative, never-before-seen features to the birding field guide scene. This highly accessible field guide gives the most complete description available for each species’ daily life and behavior, and each entry also includes a month-by-month birding forecast and a full page of highly identifiable color photographs. Perfect for novices and intermediates, but also serves as an invaluable reference for advanced birders. Featuring the 138 most common birds to Wisconsin.

Dear reader, you will see lots of books about birds with the phrase ‘field guide’ in the title or subtitle. These are books intended for use out in the woods, the neighborhood, or wherever else you happen to be and want to learn more about birds! Many of these field guides have sections describing a bird’s shape, call, behavior, habit, etc., that can help you narrow down exactly which bird you saw or heard. Sounds great doesn’t it? Many of these field guides are also pocket-sized, which works great for slipping into a purse or even a pants or jacket pocket.

But dear reader, you may be thinking, I have a bird feeder in my backyard and would like to learn more about the birds that visit it and the plants in my backyard. What about me?

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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!

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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” →