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.
“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.”
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.
Here they are, the top ten books of the month selected by library workers across the country. I really look forward to this blog publishing for many reasons. I like to read lists. I like to hear what other people are excited to read. And I like learning about up-and-coming authors before they hit the mainstream. This is the blog that introduced me to Sarah Gailey, Grady Hendrix, Lucy Foley, Martha Wells, Alix E. Harrow, Nnedi Okorafor, T. Kingfisher and dozens of other incredible authors. I love discovering a new favorite author and the understanding that the world will never run out of fresh voices and ideas. And now, I present to you, the Library Reads picks for July, 2025:
How to Survive a Horror Story by Mallory Arnold (Poisoned Pen Press) Seven strangers, all horror writers, are brought together for a reading of the will of Mortimer Queen. They have to survive the night in a classic old house. There are riddles, secrets, tales within tales, and a bit of gore wrapped up into an intricate and pulse-pounding evening. This debut is sure to appeal to fans of mystery and horror. —Douglas Beatty, Baltimore County Public Library, MD NoveList read-alike: The Writing Retreat by Julia Bartz
Typewriter Beach by Meg Waite Clayton (Harper) A Hollywood starlet is sent to a cottage until her “condition” goes away. She creates a masterpiece with the outcast screenwriter next door. Years later, the screenwriter’s granddaughter returns, finding closure with the legendary actress. Under the shimmer of 1950s movie magic and the shadows of the McCarthy era, this romantic, moody mystery spotlights life in front of the camera. —Kimberly McGee, Lake Travis Community Library, Austin, TX NoveList read-alike: Death Upon a Star by Amy Meade
Party of Liars by Kelsey Cox (Minotaur Books) A sweet 16 party at a Texas mansion takes a deadly turn. A host of unsavory narrators add to the story, revealing a myriad of shocking secrets. Multiple intertwined characters help create a sense of urgency and intrigue, contributing to a buildup of suspense to a shocking conclusion. —Cyndi Larsen, Avon Free Public Library, CT NoveList read-alike: The Block Party by Jamie Day
Savvy Summers and the Sweet Potato Crimes by Sandra Jackson-Opoku (Minotaur Books) Savvy Summers is trying to keep her soul food cafe on the South Side of Chicago open, despite a customer being murdered via one of her own pies. She and her coworker, Penny Lopés, attempt to solve the case while fending off developers. This series has fun characters and good food, as well as interesting history and culture. —Becky Abbott, Santa Fe Public Library, NM NoveList read-alike: Body & Soul Food by Abby Collette
Not Quite Dead Yet: A Novel by Holly Jackson (Bantam) Jet Mason has seven days to solve her own murder after being attacked on Halloween. Throughout the week, she uncovers shocking hidden truths about her family and community. This incredibly propulsive adult debut from a YA powerhouse author lives up to the incredible hook. Feisty, snarky Jet is such a fun lead, and the ticking clock towards her death will keep readers flying through the pages. —Jenna Friebel, Oak Park Public Library, IL NoveList read-alike: Don’t Open Your Eyes by Liv Constantine
The Library at Hellebore by Cassandra Khaw (Tor Nightfire) Things at school can be tough. Your roommate thinks you like her boyfriend, your friend won’t shut up about her sorority, and sometimes the faculty’s desire for flesh coincides inconveniently with graduation. What’s a kidnapped, devil-touched girl to do? Flee to the library, of course! Come for the body horror, stay for the revolutionary spirit —Krista Feick, Columbus Metropolitan Library, OH NoveList read-alike: The Library At Mount Char by Scott Hawkins
The Irresistible Urge to Fall for Your Enemy: Book 1 of the Dearly Beloathed Duo by Brigitte Knightley (Ace) In a world of amazing and strange magic, a healer and a killer make an unlikely alliance that may inadvertently save the lives of thousands. This debut is an absolutely delightful spin on enemies-tolovers with fantastic prose, intelligent characters, sarcastic and quippy conversation, and desperately denied pining. —Brenna Timm, High Plains Library District, CO NoveList read-alike: Spark of the Everflame by Penn Cole
A Witch’s Guide to Magical Innkeeping by Sangu Mandanna (Berkley) Sera had great powers until she performed a spell that cost nearly all of her magic. Now, there’s a chance she could get her magic back, and become more than just an innkeeper with a house full of quirky boarders under her (falling apart) roof. She will need the help of an attractive historian, a nefarious talking fox, and the rest of her hodgepodge found family. Utterly delightful, and a bit bittersweet. —Sharon Layburn, South Huntington Public Library, NY NoveList read-alike: The Crescent Moon Tearoom by Stacy Sivinski
The Satisfaction Café by Kathy Wang (Scribner) Taiwanese immigrant Joan realizes her childhood dream—a café where hosts ask diners questions and provide pleasant conversation. Wang brings up the issues of sadness, isolation, and loneliness in a quiet, restrained way, and offers a graceful pragmatic character in Joan. If cafés can offer cats to make people happier, why can’t true human companionship be offered? —Donna Ballard, LibraryReads Ambassador, NY NoveList read-alike: Rental Person Who Does Nothing by Shoji Morimoto
BONUS PICK
Maggie; or, A Man and a Woman Walk Into a Bar: A Novel by Katie Yee (Scribner)
NOTABLE NONFICTION
The CIA Book Club: The Secret Mission to Win the Cold War with Forbidden Literature by Charlie English (Random House)
JULY TOP PICK
The Enchanted Greenhouse by Sarah Beth Durst (Bramble) On a remote island during a snowstorm, outside a magical greenhouse, Turlu the librarian wakes from her punishment as a statue—fully human again, and really cold. How did she get here? How was she freed? Who is the mysterious and attractive gardener, and can he help? Readers of cozy fantasy will be enchanted with this parallel story set in the world of The Spellshop. —Crystal Faris, Kansas City Public Library, MO NoveList read-alike: The Honey Witch by Sidney J. Shields
If none of the one dozen new books listed above are ringing any bells of excitement, please consider using Mead’s Your Next Five Books reader’s advisory tool. Provide us with your favorite books, authors, and genres and Mead staff will send you list of five books we suspect you will enjoy. Try also Your Next Five Movies for a list of film suggestions because Mead has a super bonkers DVD collection and I think you can benefit from it.
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.
Part I: Are Ghosts Real? Exploring the Supernatural
Dear reader have you ever heard the phrase “I went down a rabbit hole.”? Usually this is spoken when one looks up a fact that they do not know and are inevitably sucked deeper and deeper into a topic pulled along by their curiosity. They usually emerge from this “rabbit hole” filled with a wealth of random knowledge about this particular topic. Lately I have found myself pulled “down the rabbit hole” by the books I have been reading. One book recommends another and that book recommends yet another book on the topic I have been reading. Join me as I take you down the rabbit hole and share with you my strange journey through these books on topics of my interest.
I may have blogged about this title before as I first read this book last year. At that time I had no idea it would tie into the other books in my journey. Ghostland tells the story of famous American hauntings while exploring the real and true history behind the stories. This book features such famed paranormal places as the Winchester House, Alcatraz Prison, and the cemeteries of New Orleans to name just a few. Besides exploring the true histories of these haunted locations Colin Dickey asks some hard psychological questions. Why do we tell ghost stories? What makes a location haunted? Why is this haunting more famous than that haunting? What does the tale tell us about our values or guilt as a society? In exploring America’s tales of the paranormal, Dickey forces us to look within ourselves to discover truths about human nature, our society, and historical truths we may be too scared to face.
This was a very different read than other books on the paranormal that I have read. I would recommend this book to both believers and skeptics alike as it sheds light on the true origins of our ghost stories whether you believe in them or not.
Every so often, I like to spend some time with a book that reminds me of how I fell in love with reading. For me, that means memories of being curled up under the covers with a fairy tale. These four little books prove that magical things often come in small packages. They may offer new interpretations of old stories that many of us might have come to love when we were young, but each also speaks to the wisdom and perspective of adulthood. I have such a deep love for this little subgenre, and I hope you’ll join me as I share a few of my favorites.
Sisters Esther and Isobel live at the river’s edge, guardians of a pair of enchanted willow trees. The two are inseparable, but tragedy strikes when the actions of a jealous suitor threaten to separate them forever. With the help of her faerie sweetheart Rin, Esther will have to struggle her way back across the boundary between real and unreal to save her sister before it’s too late. This novella was El-Mohtar’s highly anticipated solo debut after the smash success of her collaboration with Max Gladstone, This Is How You Lose The Time War. It’s everything her fans were looking for. El-Mohtar’s lyrical prose is excellently matched to a story interwoven with the themes of traditional folk ballads, particularly Twa Sisters, although this book flips the script on hero and villain from the original tale. The book also features evocative illustrations by Kathleen Neeley, as well as a sneak preview of El-Mohtar’s upcoming short story collection.
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.
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