What We're Reading: February 2025

Created on February 2, 2025, 3:26 pm

Last Updated February 3, 2025, 10:33 am

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A customer recently recommended this book about the murder of Emmitt Till and I’m glad I made time for it. Thompson grew up 23 miles from The Barn where Emmitt Till was murdered and never heard about the lynching until he went away to college. He does extensive research and conducts countless interviews to give the reader the history of the Mississippi Delta, its people, and what is believed to have happened surrounding Till’s lynching. This is a well-researched nonfiction story that you may remember in history since it happened in 1955, or you may have never really been told about. If you want to learn about things that are not often discussed, if you’re interested in the history of the Mississippi Delta or enjoy delving into true crime stories, this one should be on your radar. - Cortney G. (Odenton Library)
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Finally read this one, and…wow. It explains so much. It explains the last ten years. It explains those conversations with family members that left me shocked that people with such similar backgrounds could see the world so very differently. Caste should be required reading for all Americans - preferably in a classroom setting where they can discuss the concepts and their own place in the American caste system. - Stephanie P. (Headquarters)
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This was such a lovely, cozy read that was unexpectedly hilarious, charming, and poignant. I was sold as soon as I learned it was a group of retirees solving unsolved crimes together. How fun does that sound? But I quickly found myself just enjoying reading about the shenanigans our four protagonists got up to. I almost found the mystery itself a little uninteresting in comparison to the characters Elizabeth, Joyce, Ibrahim, and Ron. I found all four characters to be quite lovable, though Elizabeth in particular is a force to be reckoned with. More than just a mystery, I found this book to be a gentle reflection on life -- our relationships with each other and the things that truly matter to us. If you like cozy, gentle mysteries set in quaint villages with quirky characters, you might like this book. - Abigail W. (Discoveries: Library at the Mall)
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This collection of short stories was a delightful return to the setting and characters from Fonda Lee's brilliant trilogy, The Green Bone Saga. This collection of four short stories features four major characters from the series: Ayt Mada, Kaul Lan, Kaul Hilo, and Kaul Shae. All four stories take place before the beginning of the trilogy, Jade City, so it is best to read that first. The collection's introduction and the brief remarks after each short story were a delightful surprise that offered even further insight into the characters and the world they inhabited. Fonda Lee created something special with The Green Bone Saga and I enjoyed getting to revel in her world once again. I am very much inclined to start the series from the beginning with this new understanding of these amazing characters. If you like urban fantasy, family drama, and gangster plots, you might like this book and the rest of The Green Bone Saga. - Abigail W. (Discoveries: The Library at the Mall)
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Twelve huge spaceships hover over the world's most important cities. What does it mean? What will we do? And then they are gone again without so much as a greeting. A modern, funny take on the classic Roadside Picnic, with our pet cats thrown in for good measure. - Valerie M. (Maryland City at Russett)
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When Abbott goes to pick up his rideshare passenger, the mysterious woman presents him with an offer: transport her and a strange black box across the country to DC and he will be compensated $200,000 for his service. However, he can’t know what is inside the box, he can’t tell anyone where they are going, and he must leave all trackable devices behind. What ensues is a bizarre road trip with an eccentric group of players and the entirety of the internet trying to track them down once a rumor spreads that there is a weapon of mass destruction nestled inside the mysterious black box. Will they reach their destination and collect the money? Or will the looming threat of the box be too much for them to handle? This book subverted all the expectations I had when going into it. I don’t want to say much as this is a book one benefits when knowing next to nothing about before they read it. But, I will say it just layers on the suspense and lets the tension build and build until it reaches its inevitable conclusion. It truly was a wild ride and I never knew what to expect next. I truly can’t think of any books similar to this one; it was like nothing I have ever read before. You just have to read it to believe it! - Crista F. (Severn Library)
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The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring - JRR Tolkien; audiobook narrated by Andy Serkis. An unlikely hero is set on the first part of a great journey to thwart the evil of the world. The voice of Gollum narrates this high fantasy classic in an immersive style that keeps you on the edge of your toes. I've read the book before, but never felt the suspense of it until listening to Mr. Serkis work his magic. - Steve Mangum (Headquarters) Andy Serkis's audiobook version is available through Libby. Choose the audiobook published in 2021.
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A young man by the name of Dorian Gray with exquisite taste for art and the modern aesthetics sits for a painting. Obsessed with his own youth and beauty, Dorian grows jealous of the painting and wishes that it were the painting to grow old and ugly instead of himself. Mysteriously, his wish is granted. Dorian is introduced to the world of debauchery and self indulgence. He suffers none of the consequences that may come with his actions as the painting absorbs all his wrong doings. At some point, Dorian must realize that he has gone too far and make amends. I enjoyed this classic as it had strong elements of gothic literature involving the supernatural and macabre. Dorian's actions give introspection into our own choices we make day by day and the consequences of what we choose to do. Wilde's tale is very reflective of ourselves and I always appreciate a story that makes me think about my own morality and choices to be a better person. Wilde was very insightful and truly invoked something within his readers. If you're a fan of the classics, French aesthetics, and Gothic literature, you'll definitely enjoy A Picture of Dorian Gray. - Mackenzie N. (Headquarters)
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Leslie Shrock guides the reader through all the bumps of pregnancy; including The Zero Trimester and the Fourth Trimester. This book approaches the topic of pregnancy from a technical stand point, but also includes Shrock's own personal touches. I really appreciate how she explored every option for expecting moms, regardless of the reputation the method may have. If you're expecting or are thinking of having a child in the future, I absolutely recommend Bumpin as your personal guide through pregnancy. - Mackenzie N. (Headquarters)
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