Part of the reason we love genre fiction is familiarity, but even the biggest fantasy die-hards will admit that sometimes familiarity starts to get same-y. Never fear: I’ve compiled a list of fantasy novels that do something truly unique with the genre’s toolbox. These recommendations, all available at Mead, may get you out of a reading slump if you need it, and remind you why you fell in love with fantasy. And if you happen to be new to the genre, any of these books would be a great place to start.
Fetter lost his shadow in childhood, as part of his mother’s ambition for him to fulfill a prophecy that he would one day assassinate his father. As a young man in the city of Luriat, Fetter tries to process his past by attending a therapy group for former Chosen Ones. He discovers his affinity for the mysterious Bright Doors that mark the cityscape, as well as the role he might have to play in a rebellion against his father. The Saint of Bright Doors is a much needed re-imagining of some of fantasy’s most enduring tropes, and Fetter’s emotional journey over the course of the book is something truly unforgettable. As you read it, you’ll find yourself asking questions not only about the stories we tell one another, but also about the aspects of our real world that they reflect.
I was recently talking to someone about a book I’d just read and loved, and it struck me that many of my favorite books are actually translated works. That wasn’t intentional, but it got me thinking. How does literary translation work? How do translators manage to carry over the tone, the style, the vibe of the original? What happens to cultural nuances embedded in language? I imagine there are countless decisions involved at every turn, which is interesting to consider. I also just enjoy reading books from around the world. There’s something about them, rich with history and perspective, that feels full of possibility and expansion. So, if you’re in the mood for an adventure, and want to experience a new place through the magic of a novel, here are a few gems you can find in our catalog to get you started.
Drive Your Plow Over the Bones of the Dead by Olga Tokarczuk, translated by Antonia Lloyd-Jones
I have a special place in my heart for unreliable narrators and the eerie unpredictability they bring to a book. Janina, the protagonist of this novel, lives in a remote Polish village where she spends the long winters studying astrology. She much prefers the company of animals to that of humans, so when her beloved dogs are found shot dead, she’s devastated. Her grief warps and deepens when she later discovers the body of her hunting-obsessed neighbor, Big Foot. But that’s not all…an ominous photograph is found next to the corpse. We’re not told exactly what’s in it, but it’s clearly disturbing, and it propels Janina into a fervent quest to uncover the truth. And what’s a murder mystery without the tension steadily climbing as the bodies start to pile up? As the story spirals into the bizarre, Janina becomes convinced she understands what’s really going on. The question is: will anyone else believe her? I love the stark, desolate setting, the sense of isolation, the hazy line between sanity and madness, and the cry for justice from the natural world. If you’re open to a thriller with a near-mythical twist, I can’t recommend this book enough.
Frankenstein in Baghdad by Ahmed Saadawi, translated by Jonathan Wright
This is a reimagining of Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, which is always going to be something I’m excited about. The novel follows three distinct but loosely connected characters in U.S.-occupied Baghdad. Hadi, an eccentric junk dealer, collects scattered human body parts and stitches them together into a corpse he names Whatsitsname. His hope is oddly noble: that the government will finally acknowledge these body parts as belonging to real people worthy of proper burial. What he doesn’t expect is for Whatsitsname to disappear — or for a string of murders to begin terrorizing the city soon after. Meanwhile, Mahmud, an exiled journalist, documents the unfolding chaos, unintentionally fueling widespread panic. Whatsitsname eventually finds shelter with Elishva, Hadi’s elderly neighbor, who has never fully recovered from the loss of her son during the Iran-Iraq War. Though the story is gothic at its core and cracks open some weighty social commentary, it’s also laced with fun and dark humor. I had a good time with this one, and it marked the first time I’d read something by an Iraqi author. Hopefully it’s not the last time.
Still Born by Guadalupe Nettel, translated by Rosalind Harvey
At just 224 pages, Still Born isn’t a long read by any means, but I took my time with it, savoring each conversation and detail. The book tells the story of Laura and Alina, two friends living in Mexico City who are passionate about their work and largely ambivalent about motherhood. When Alina has a change of heart and decides she wants to have a child, Laura fears this shift will put their friendship at risk. Alina navigates pregnancy and devastating news, and Laura begins spending more time with the young son of her next-door neighbor. While Alina confronts medical professionals who don’t always listen, Laura becomes increasingly entangled in the complex mother-son relationship unfolding next door — a dynamic that both unsettles and captivates her. I love the sparseness of the writing, how it can be so restrained yet still land emotional blows without warning. At its heart, this is a book about motherhood in all its forms and the many ways caregiving can take shape across different lives. If you’re looking for something deeply heartfelt, and don’t mind shedding a tear or two, I do think this one is well worth your time.
My Brilliant Friend by Elena Ferrante, translated by Ann Goldstein
I’m not sure I have an all-time favorite book, but I definitely keep a mental list of novels that have really stuck with me. These are the stories I still think about years later. My Brilliant Friend, the first volume in the Neapolitan Quartet, is one of them. Set in 1950s Naples, it follows Lila and Lenu — two girls from a working-class neighborhood shaped by poverty, politics, and violence. From childhood, they’re bound together by mutual admiration and rivalry. Lenu is quiet, reflective, and diligent, while Lila is wild, magnetic, and intimidating. Both girls show promise early on, but when Lenu stays in school and Lila is forced out to work in her father’s shoe shop, their paths begin to diverge sharply. That crossroads marks the beginning of two very different journeys, each with their own outcomes and consequences. Their friendship, affectionate and fraught at once, remains the emotional compass for both, even as their lives pull them apart. This is a series I will gladly yell about to anyone who will listen. It’s a story about female friendship in a post-war country undergoing a tumultuous time. It’s full of sleazy and dangerous antagonists who mirror real life a little too closely. It has stunning prose and relentless intensity. Okay, I will now stop waxing poetic about this book. I hope you all read it, that’s all.
I like things that are free. I like libraries. Libraries have free things. Things like our amazing streaming service, Kanopy. Mead cardholders get 30 credits each month to spend on this video-streaming service. There is a staggering array of films from around the world, from throughout film history, and in a lovely array of genres to choose from. Films tend to be 2, 3, or 4 credits for each checkout. TV series are usually 3, 4, or 5 credits each. Most checkouts have a 2-to-7 day window in which to watch. Below, I listed how I spent my 30 credits over the month of July. My watchlist is getting longer by the day, and new movies are added each month, so it will be tough to run out of options.
But I’m a Cheerleader (1999) starring Natasha Leone and Clea Duvall 1h25m 2 tickets; 72 hour access 28 tickets left This delightfully frothy confection of queer cinema pairs nicely with other camp classics like Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert (1994), Die Mommie Die (2003), Polyester (1981), Valley of the Dolls (1967), and Psycho Beach Party (2000). But I’m a Cheerleader is filled with bright colors, thoughtful characters, and an unbelievable cast. What’s Bud Cort and Mink Stole doing here? Oh, they’re just playing Natasha Leone’s gay-panicking parents, that’s all. Say, is that RuPaul? It certainly is. A pre-stardom Melanie Lynskey and Michelle Willaims in supporting roles? Yes, please! Something that really struck me about this film is that while the candy-colored stage and costume design indicate a 1960s setting, the world in a broader context is meant to be contemporaneous to the 1990s. On top of being a fun visual motif, it indicated the archaic nature of homophobia and concealing one’s authenticity to appease a slow-to-progress society at large. 9 out of 10 stars.
Bottle Rocket (1996) starring Luke and Owen Wilson 1h41m 4 tickets; 48 hour access 24 tickets left I think I watched this after Rushmore put Wes Anderson on the map like 30 years ago, but I have no clear memories of this viewing. My second watch-through in July did not stay with me, either. Bottle Rocket was the competent work of a young film maker flexing his growing whimsical cinematic muscles. The Wilson boys acting debut is charming enough, but the plot deeply annoyed me and I hated every character because I have a dead heart. I am afraid to report that Bottle Rocket left Kanopy at the end of July 2025. Check it out at Mead on DVD. 3 out of 10 stars
Endless Night (1972) starring Hayley Mills and Hywel Bennett 1h39m 2 tickets; 72 hour access 22 tickets left The first glimpse we get of Hayley Mills depicts her literally frolicking through a verdant meadow. One would expect an attempt to distance oneself from one’s Heidi roots, but one digresses. Endless Night is based on the late-in-her-career Agatha Christie novel of the same name, and I am a total sucker for her work. I am also extremely suspicious of all Christie protagonists, so I had my eye on ol’ Hywel from the start. A big, fancy house is at the center of this plot. It features a room whose floor opens up to reveal a swimming pool and I got pretty hung up thinking of how damp and musty everything must be. Lots of fun, but slow moving in spots. Anyone who watches Mystery on PBS will enjoy this movie. 6 out of 10 stars
The Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad (1988) starring Leslie Nielson and Priscilla Presley 1h25m 2 tickets; 72 hour access 20 tickets left Who doesn’t love a guaranteed experience? As a child of the 80s I watched the everlovin shit out of The Naked Gun, Airplane, and Top Secret. I have not seen Naked Gun in decades, so thought it would be a fun nostalgia watch. And it was! Mostly. I had to tap out for the last 15 minutes because I ran out of credulity. I wish Priscilla Presley had starred in more films because I really enjoyed her acting. She is the right amount of genuine and game for physical dum-dum comedy. Also, the opening scene of OJ getting himself all sorts of injured remains one of the funniest sequences in American film history. PERIOD. The Naked Gun left Kanopy in July, but Kentucky Fried Movie is available at the time of this blog’s publication. 7 out of 10 stars
Now, Voyager (1942) starring Bette Davis and Claude Rains 1h57m 4 tickets; 48 hour access 16 tickets left After the abject and unrepentant silliness of The Naked Gun, I needed a palette-cleanser, so I chose this wonderful 1942 Bette Davis melodrama, Now, Voyager. Davis plays the repressed, frumpy adult daughter of a controlling and imperious elderly heiress. She has a nervous breakdown and spends time at a rich lady asylum run by Claude Rains. She loses weight and stops wearing glasses, and is now pretty. She goes on a cruise instead of returning to the home of her controlling mother and falls in love with an unavailable man. More melodramatic stuff happens and there is a lot of ritual cigarette smoking. Now, Voyager also appears to have left Kanopy at the end of July, but as of August 2025 we still have access to several other incredible Bette Davis movies including Whatever Happened to Baby Jane and Dark Victory. 10 out of 10 stars
Dragnet (1951) written, directed, and starring Jack Webb 4h32m (10 episodes) 4 tickets; 5 day access 12 tickets left I love police procedurals and Dragnet appears to be an ur text. Dragnet originated as a radio show, which shines through the dialogue of the televised version. I loved the black and white early fifties film stock. The print they used for digitization included a lot of cool artifacts (flaws in the film like faded stock, scratches, and distortion) which lends some good 1950s verisimilitude. I thought the plotting would be more stilted and conservative, but I found these ten episodes thrilling and thoughtful. 8 out of 10 stars
The Bookshop (2017) starring Emily Moritmer and Bill Nighy 1h52m 2 tickets; 3 day access 10 tickets left I borrowed this on a hot day. I wanted something that felt far away from the heat, but that would not make me think too hard. The cast is filled with great actors I enjoy watching, so I gave it a try. Emily Mortimer wears this really amazing plaid wool coat that I cannot stop thinking about, so kudos to the costume department. Otherwise, I am not sure why this film exists. Pretty thin on the plot and I did not find the ending revelatory or satisfying in any way. 4 out of 10 stars
The Escape Artist (2013) starring 2h53m (three episodes) 3 tickets; 72 hour access 7 tickets left An English limited series starring David Tennant as a talented junior barrister? Total no-brainer! Although, had I used more brain power initially I would have realized I had already watched this ten years ago when it first aired on PBS. It took me the better part of the first episode to come to this realization. Note to self, I can reliably re-watch tv series after 10 years and it will be a semi-novel experience. At least I only burned 3 tickets. This is a spooky one with themes of violence that can be sexual in nature, so beware. 8 out of 10 (from what I remember)
Los Angeles Plays Itself (2003) directed by Thom Anderson 2h53m 2 tickets; 72 hour access 5 tickets left Documentaries about film and film history are one of my favorite things in the world. This near 3-hour long meditation on films set in Los Angeles takes us through neighborhoods and architecture that no longer exist. We learn about the Zoot Suit Riots and Angel’s Flight and Bunker Hill and how the myth of Hollywood will always overshadow the city of Los Angeles. Anderson clearly loves the city he grew up in. There’s this famous Roman Polanski quote: “Los Angeles is the most beautiful city in the world, as long as it’s seen at night and from a distance.” Los Angeles Plays Itself is a full-throated, and effective rebuttal to this sentiment. For being 20+ years old, this is a progressive doc in which racial and economic factors in the Hollywood machine are considered and discussed. 9 out of 10 stars
Crime Is Her Game (2014) 11h45m (8 episodes) 5 tickets; 7 day access 0 tickets left Since I had 5 credits left at this point I thought it would be nice to choose a longer series that I could watch over the course of a week. This French import checked a lot of boxes for me. We’ve got an unlikely crime-solving duo, some fish-out-of-water hilarity, shiny costumes, eccentric guest characters, and lots of nonsense. Also, sanitary, off-screen murders that no one ever mentions again after the episode concludes. 8 out of 10 stars
July Kanopy stats Movies: 5 Runtime: 9h59m
TV series: 3 Number of episodes: 21 Runtime: 19h10m
Documentaries: 1 Runtime: 2h53m
Total number of checkouts: 9 Total watch time: 32h2m If this is a typical cumulative runtime for a month of Kanopy-watching, it looks like one credit equals roughly one hour of watch time. I actually had to scramble at the end of the month to use up my credits, so I never felt like I had to “budget” them.
Stray observations and criticisms:
When watching a tv series there is no autoplay option that I could find. I had to back up to the episode list and scroll down to find where I’d left off. THEN one must click to select the episode, and then click the little “play now” symbol. Not intuitive and sort of confusing. This is a minor complaint but I’m in my 40s now so I can if I want.
The “Browse” feature forces the user to scroll horizontally, so only six or so film titles are visible at a time in any particular category. I like to scroll vertically, and the horizontal scrolling has this annoying way of cutting off the film listed on the far right-hand side of the screen. I will say I prefer Kanopy’s interface over whatever the hell is going on at Disney+.
Keep in mind I am using Kanopy as a child-free adult. Children’s programming on Kanopy is free, Free, FREE for families, but I do not have any base of knowledge about what’s available and worthwhile. If streaming is not your bag, Mead is home to a delightful and diverse collection of DVDs and BluRay. Consider using our Your Next Five Movies service for film suggestions, and see you at the movies. (By which I mean free matinees start on Mondays in September. See the lineup HERE).
Ordinarily, when I’m putting together a post for this blog, I tailor my recommendations to follow a certain theme. This can be a good way to get creative energies flowing, but unfortunately, it also means that if I haven’t been able to talk about some of my absolute favorites, just because I haven’t been able to fit them into a theme. Today, I aim to fix that. July just so happens to be my birthday month, so as a birthday gift to myself and all of you wonderful readers, I’ve compiled a selection of books for no reason other than because I love them. Just because of my personal tastes, most of these will fall into the fantasy genre, but there are a couple wildcards! Let’s get started!
Genly Ai is a human emissary to the planet Winter, home of the Gethenians, an alien species who have no concept of gender and change their sex in order to reproduce. Mounting political strife throws Genly into the path of the Gethenian Estraven. Soon, the two realize they will have to overcome their differences and depend on one another in order to survive, and possibly bring Winter into a new era in the process. All of this is told with the compassionate characterization and beautiful prose that made Ursula K. LeGuin a master of the science fiction genre. As much as I adore this book, it is worth noting that it was originally published in 1969, and therefore readers should be mindful of encountering some language and content that is considered outdated today. LeGuin herself later expressed regret that the book’s narration uses “he” to refer to the Gethenian characters rather than singular “they”. The novel’s themes, however, are timeless. I think everyone has one or two novels they encountered in college that expanded their ideas of what fiction could do, and this is one of mine. The story and characters of The Left Hand of Darkness will remain with you long after the final page is turned. If you haven’t read it yet, I can’t recommend it highly enough, and if you have, it’s a book worth revisiting again and again.
Dear readers, welcome back and thank you for letting me share with you the books that I have been enjoying. As usual, I delight in a diverse range of genres. This month’s reads come from the genres of non fiction, fantasy, and horror. I greatly enjoyed reading these titles and I hope one of these catches your eye!
A shout out to my fellow librarian, Aubrey, for recommending this title is in order. Thank you Aubrey! If you are looking for a book that stays with you long after the closing page, this one is it! It has been a week or so since I finished this book, but I still find myself thinking about it. Dear reader, this book is a work of fiction, but it could very easily be set in the real world present day. FantasticLand is a theme park in Florida built by an eccentric billionaire. What sets FantasticLand apart is that it is designed to be many mini theme parks in one. There are different sections of the park. All are designed to be their own unique world. There are places like The Pirate Cove, The Fairy Prairie, and so on. Everything is great until a super hurricane hits. In theory, the staff that stay behind to care for the park should be fine. There is enough food and water for everyone. Dear reader, if that were the case we would not have a story. What results is something that resembles a slasher movie as the young people trapped in the park turn on each other. Each faction fights for dominance as supplies dwindle. The sordid tale is told from the point of view of interviews with those who made it out alive. Only the survivors can tell the tale of what REALLY happened inside FantasticLand. What keeps me thinking about this book is that this is no ordinary slasher. It poses psychological questions about the effects of phone addiction on our young population. Yes, it is a fiction, but it makes one wonder.
Dear reader, I did a revolutionary act these past weeks. You want to know what it is? Hold onto your seats! Wait for it! I…read a book on my own bookshelf! I simply selected one and started reading it. I know, I know, I can’t believe it either. So many library books sitting at home, and yet I go and do something like that. Unbelievable!
However, it was for a good cause, so I could have something to write about for my blog post. The first book I’ll be talking about I just finished last night. Evening shifts at work are good for something after all, who knew? This first book wasn’t exactly a light read, despite what the cover may portray, but it was still highly satisfying. What I love about reading books by foreign authors is the glimpse into the everyday lives of people that at once seem familiar, but in other ways teach you something new and surprising. As a person who has never travelled outside of the United States, I approach these books as my “travel guides”, so to speak.
Dok-go lives in Seoul Station. He can’t remember his past, and the only thing he knows for certain is that he could really use a drink. When he finds a lost wallet filled with documents, his life is drastically changed.
Mrs. Yeom, a retired history teacher and current owner of her neighborhood’s corner store, is distraught over the loss of her purse, until she receives a mysterious call from the person who found it. To thank this down-on-his-luck stranger, she offers him a free meal from the convenience store. Seeing the joy the food brings him, Mrs. Yeom impulsively invites him to stop by for lunch every day.
In a twist of fate, Dok-go saves the store from a robber—a brave act that propels Mrs. Yeom to offers the bear-like man a job working the night shift, despite the objections of her wary employees. The store’s new employee quickly wins over the quirky denizens of the neighborhood, becoming a welcoming ear and source of advice for his coworkers and neighbors’ problems, and helping his new boss save the store from financial ruin. But just when things are looking up for Dok-go, Mrs. Yeom’s good-for-nothing son, eager to sell the store, hires a detective to dig into the mysterious man’s past and what he seems to be trying so hard to forget.
The Second Chance Convenience Store is a moving and joyful story of a woman fighting for her community and a man who has lost everything except the will to try again.
If you’ve read my other my other blogs highlighting various novels by foreign authors you will recognize what is coming next, that many of them have the characters drawn to or interacting with the same thing, person, experience, etc., and then showing how each character is changed because of that interaction. This may seem repetitive to some, and even boring, but believe me when I say it is anything but! I never tire of reading about each character’s transformation.
In the case of The Second Chance Convenience Store, all the characters interact with – you guessed it! – the convenience store, but more importantly, it’s recent nightshift hire, Dok-go. Mrs. Yeom doesn’t need the convenience store from a fiscal point of view, but she keeps it running to provide jobs for those who do. When Dok-go returns Mrs. Yeom’s wallet to her and she – out of gratitude – gives him a job, this creates a butterfly effect for several other characters Dok-go comes in contact with. These are all characters who in some form or another have hit rock bottom and feel they have nowhere to go. Through food, kindness, his halting speech, and corn silk tea, Dok-go gives them hope and a new perspective.
These characters have dark, depressive thoughts. They contemplate suicide, – as does Dok-go himself – they’ve been alienated from their families, from society, from themselves. The book goes into how each character got caught up in the rat race, sacrificing everything to make it big in life, to prove that they’re not a failure to their parents, spouses, or families, but in the end this didn’t satisfy them, they were lost. The glimpse into how Dok-go slowly lost his humanity as a homeless individual living at Seoul Station was eye-opening as well. There is one line in the book where, when Dok-go finds Mrs. Yeom’s wallet and sees the note that, if found, please call this number, he says that please is what made him feel human. Even after he gets the job at the convenience store, Dok-go continues to visit the homeless community at Seoul Station and show them kindness, offering corn silk tea in place of alcohol, and conversation in place of silence.
One thing I found lacking with this book was the lack of closure with Mrs. Yeom’s son. I won’t give it away, but basically he is spiraling ever downward from one money-sucking scam to another, and while the book mentions in the end what became of his latest scam, unlike other children who were reconciled to their parents and turn their lives around, we are left hanging as far as Mrs. Yeom’s son is concerned. Again, it’s highly possible I missed something! I’m not the most attentive reader, after all.
Keep up with literacy skills this summer by checking out a read-along book! We have a collection of VOX Books and Wonderbooks in our children’s library to read along with. These are print books with an attached audio device which allows readers to listen to the story being read, as they read along with the text. Our collection has a variety of books of different genres and reading levels. We have picture books, early beginning readers, chapter books, graphic novels, and non-fiction titles. Each book includes instructions on how to use the audio device. Readers have the option to listen to the story through the attached speaker, or by plugging in their headphones. The picture books also play a sound to signal to readers of when it’s time to turn the page. Reading the story while listening helps with literacy development, so these books are a great option for new and struggling readers. And the audio in many of these books include sound effects and music to create an enjoyable reading experience for all readers. I’ve included some recent additions to our read-along book collection below, along with publishers’ summaries.
When Grandma comes for a visit, silliness and creativity are guaranteed, in this funny and endearing book by bestselling novelist Emma Straub; her kids’ gaga, Susan Straub; and award-winning illustrator Jessica Love. Gaga days are the best! That’s when this eccentric, mischievous grandma babysits her delighted granddaughter. These Gaga days are always full of the silliest “mistakes,” like swapping eyeglasses and walking backwards to the park. Like making the house safe by eating all the marshmallow goblins, filling the tub to bursting with bubbles, and then reading a bedtime story all the way through upside down. With touches of Amelia Bedelia and Eloise, this irrepressible granny might just inspire deliciously goofy, endlessly creative, and bursting-with-love grandma-grandchild playdates!
It is that time of year again. The weather is getting warmer and most of us just want to be outside. I grew up in Dundee Wisconsin surrounded by the vast Kettle Moraine State Forest. I would spend hours as a child running through the meadows, climbing rocks and trees, and exploring the woods. When I was very little my grandfather would babysit me at his office at the Ice Age Center. He was a naturalist there. He and Grandma made sure that my cousins and I had the chance to travel and explore many of the national parks where Grandpa had worked in his younger years. Each summer they took us somewhere new. I was blessed to be able to see The Grand Canyon, Yellowstone National Park, Mount Rushmore, Mesa Verde, and The South Dakota Badlands. Our grandparents also took us east to Niagara Falls, Gettysburg, The Finger Lakes of upper New York, and Washington D.C. As an adult it is more difficult to travel to these places as life is busy. This time of year I get out and explore the many beautiful natural areas closer to home. Though I am unable to travel to the national parks whenever I may like, I do still carry a deep appreciation for our country’s protected wilderness areas. These national parks deserve to be celebrated and protected for all future generations to enjoy. Dear reader, please join me on a literary tour and celebration of our national parks through the books I have selected below.
Dear reader, have you ever been going for a walk and you hear either an entirely new bird singing, or it’s one you’re familiar with but you know is newly arrived in the area again? Is there any better sensation? I love going for a walk and hearing birds, especially ones I can identify, because it feels like I’m amongst old friends, like I’m not walking alone.
You may have guessed already, but I’m a certified bird nerd! I’m the crazy lady you will see standing in the middle of the sidewalk staring up at a tree. I can’t read a street sign until I’m almost past it, but I can sure spot a bird in a tree from a good ways away! Selective seeing? Perhaps! The camera roll on my phone consists mostly of birds and cats. Let me tell you, dear reader, it’s an art form to follow a bird as it flits from branch to branch and even tree to tree! If you can get at least one good picture you’ve done well for yourself. It’s the thrill of the chase, isn’t it? I bet you talk to the birds too, just like I do, telling them to stand still for a split second, turn this way, etc. I hope to one day run into somebody in the wild exhibiting bird nerd behavior just like I do. It hasn’t happened yet but I’m hopeful!
Anyway, it’s spring in Wisconsin, so you know what that means! No, I’m not talking about the wildly fluctuating weather – did I see a frost warning for overnight on my weather app! Let us not speak of it! – I’m talking about migratory birds! Let me tell you dear reader, there is no greater motivation to get me out of doors after another horrid winter has come and gone. Hearing the songs of migratory birds is akin to hearing your old favorites on the radio. Along with standing and staring at trees, I also stand with my phone pointed into the air, the Merlin ID app recording a new bird song, or one I’ve forgotten and am delighted when I guess it correctly. This past weekend I identified a new bird in a nearby park, the palm warbler! You can learn more about this bird here.
Create the yard of your dreams with more than 300 gardening and landscaping tips from the pros. Learn how to increase curbside appeal with seasonal flair, attract birds and butterflies to your backyard, landscape with color, keep houseplants healthy, and make the most of small and shady spaces.
300+ tips, hints and ideas from experts to help transform your yard into a showplace all year long.
Hundreds of stunning full-color photos make this a keepsake book you’ll cherish for years to come.
Container arrangements, décor and other ideas to make your front porch pop.
Seasonal secrets that guarantee a lovely yard no matter the time of year.
Bring the outdoors inside with tips for houseplants, crafty ideas and more.
Relish nature’s beauty all year long when you create a yard that celebrates everything nature has to offer. From landscaping with color and texture to attracting favorite fliers in every season, the secrets to creating your own sanctuary are shared in Beauty in the Backyard from the team at Birds & Blooms magazine.
Learn how to enhance small yards, turn shady spots into stunning areas and get the most bang for your buck with oversized plants and blooms. You’ll even find expert advice on house plants, front-porch décor, crafty ideas using nature’s bounty and so much more. More than 300 no-fuss tips, hints and suggestions make it easy!
Best of all, hundreds of jaw-dropping photos make this book a joy to page through all year long. Whether you’re an experienced gardener or working on your first yard, whether you own acres of land or a tiny city plot, Beauty in the Backyard is a book you’ll reach for time and again.
This book was a treasure trove of information! Even if you are just starting out with feeding birds, you can learn so much. There is a seemingly infinite amount of different bird seed out there, and it can be intimidating to figure out what kind to buy, can’t it? Even I’m still learning and I’ve been feeding birds for several years! There are also so many different kinds of feeders, and they each attract certain kinds of birds. This book will even tell you what native plants and flowers to plant to attract birds to your yard.
Dear Readers, welcome to another installment of Abbie’s Recent Reads! Over the last few months the main genres I have been reading have been Nonfiction and Horror. The Nonfiction reads have ranged from the true crime genre, ballet, to Polar exploration. Prepare for a wild ride through time, space, and the globe as I share some of my recommended books I have read recently!
I will read any book I can find on Antarctic Exploration or North Pole Exploration. While awaiting my hold of Madhouse at the End of the Earth on Libby, The Stowaway was recommended to me as a similar read to enjoy while I waited. (I am still awaiting my hold of Madhouse at the End of the Earth to come in.) I am really glad I read this one. As I have read many books on Polar exploration, I have always wondered what it would be like to be along with the explorers on their grand adventures. Apparently a lot of other people at the time of these explorations were thinking the same thing! The Stowaway is the true story of Billy Gawronski, an ordinary teenage son of Polish immigrants living in New York. In the 1920’s Billy has grown up on adventure stories and dreams of going off on one of his own. He becomes obsessed with Captain Byrd and the expedition being planned to explore the Antarctic. Billy’s father and mother do not approve of their son’s dreams as Billy is expected to take over the family upholstery business. Billy feels he has no choice. If he wants any chance at adventure he is going to have to stowaway on Captain Byrd’s ship! The plot sounds like something out of a kid’s adventure novel, but this is a TRUE story! I took great delight in following Billy through his adventures and cheering him on along the way. As I followed Billy’s story I found myself asking on more than one occasion “could I be that brave and daring?” I greatly recommend this for anyone who loves reading about history, exploration, and scrappy underdog characters.
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