If you’ve ever said, “I wish I read more, but I just don’t have time any more!” allow us here at the library to introduce you to the secret shortcut to sounding well-read.
“Ah yes,” you’ll say knowingly, “I read an early version of that story! It’s striking how Novik can build such a complete world in so few pages. And it’s so sad that Toni Morrison died – have you read her retrospective on Beloved?”
Essays and short stories are shortcuts into the literary world for busy people like you. Generally sitting between 15-30 pages, they’re easily read in small scraps of free time – waiting for an appointment, before bed, or over lunch. Because they have such a small window to accomplish so much, they are often more tightly edited than their novel-length counter parts. And if one isn’t quite to your taste, there’s probably an entirely different story just a few pages away.
Here are several of the best collections published this year.
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Get On The Waitlist! (Or Not…)
Did you know that Mead Public Library subscribes to a service that can give you book recommendations? It’s called Novelist, and it will let you enter the title of a book and then suggest “read-alikes” for that book! To give you an idea of what it can do for you, I’ve put a list of the current Top 5 Books in the Monarch System!
These are the five books with the longest waitlists in our library system. Under each one, you can see five more books that Novelist recommends. So get on these waitlists now – and then check out those other books while you wait!
It’s also always a good idea to check out our Lucky Day display when you stop by the library – we have special non-waitlist copies of new books and DVDs that are set aside for this display, so you might be able to skip the line if you’re lucky! (But read or watch it fast – they also can’t be renewed.)
Blue Moon by Lee Child
- Orphan X by Gregg Andrew Hurwitz
- Hot Springs by Stephen Hunter
- The Drifter by Nicholas Petrie
- Adrenaline by Jeff Abbott
- Zero Day by David Baldacci
Graphic Novels for Early Readers
Graphic novels provide fun, visually stimulating reading options for children of all ages and reading abilities. They are an especially great option for reluctant readers and new readers. Graphic novels are full-length stories that pair a limited amount of text with sequenced pictures. This format helps new readers to more easily follow the plot of the story and to help build the reading stamina needed to read chapter books with more text. We have a large collection of graphic novels in our children’s library that cover a variety of genres. This month, I have some recommendations for early readers.
A Good Team by Heather Ayris Burnell
This is the second book in the early reader series about the friendship between Unicorn and Yeti. These two friends have different abilities and enjoy different activities, but find ways to modify their activities so they can both participate in the fun. Humorous text and bold illustrations add to the appeal of this collection of three short stories.
Do You Like My Bike? by Norman Feuti
This is the first book in the Hello, Hedgehog early reader series. There are three humorous short stories about Hedgehog and his bike, and his friendship with Harry. The stories are relatable for young readers and show great examples of a supportive friendship.
Continue reading “Graphic Novels for Early Readers”Oscar Bait Books
Since 2000, 9 Oscar winners have been films based on books. As this year’s run up to the Oscars begins, check out these 6 books that are headed to the big screen – just in time for awards season attention.
I Heard You Paint Houses by Charles Brandt
A former investigator and attorney chronicles the life of Frank “The Irishman” Sheeran, a mafia hitman who claimed to have murdered Jimmy Hoffa. A World War II vet who learned kill in the Army, he worked for the Bufalino crime family after he returned to the United States. His story spans roughly a quarter century of organized crime, and provides a unique insider’s look into that underworld. Martin Scorsese, Robert DiNiro, Al Pacino, and Joe Pesci team up for the film.
Continue reading “Oscar Bait Books”
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