May Library Staff Picks

Harriet Tubman returns to current times and wants to create a hip-hop album. A librarian living and working in a quaint town helps solve a surprising number of murders-is something nefarious going on? A preacher in the south has a number of family members (and wives) die shortly before he cashes in their life insurance policies.

Yes, that's right: we read a wide selection of books recently! Check out our reviews below and place some holds.

Harriet Tubman: Live in Concert by Bob the Drag Queen

"In this novel, people from history have come back to life in modern times, including Harriet Tubman. And she wants to produce a hip-hop album. This book is filled with historical tidbits, and Bob the Drag Queen has two songs on the audiobook version!"--Fugi

Furious Hours: Murder, Fraud, and the Last Trial of Harper Lee by Casey Cep

"Part true crime, part insight into what made Harper Lee a writer-and what may have prevented her from publishing again during her lifetime. This book is well-researched and a fascinating look at the life insurance industry (hey, that surprised me, too!), race, and what it takes to be a writer."--Rachelle

Beautiful Ugly by Alice Feeney

"A struggling author's wife disappears under mysterious circumstances. His life becomes increasingly difficult and his agent, who happens to be his wife's godmother, tells him to go to a cabin to write. A bunch of strange things start to happen at the cabin and at no point could I guess the ending!"--Fugi

Old Girls Behaving Badly by Kate Galley - on Hoopla (Not on Hoopla? Get started here.)

"This book is about a 70-year-old whose husbands decides to divorce her and who gets a job as a carer for an 89-year-old woman who is going to a wedding at a country estate. Fun!"--Constance

Make Me Rain by Nikki Giovanni

"First, I recommend the documentary Going to Mars (available on Kanopy) about the great civil rights poet, Nikki Giovanni. Then, check out her book, Make Me Rain. I enjoy Giovanni's poetry because she uses plain language and it's easy to understand. She's known for speaking her mind and was also interested in space travel, which is a theme in her writing.

"Then, watch BaddDDD Sonia Sanchez, also available on Kanopy. Sonia Sanchez is known as the woman who writes with razor blades in her mouth-her writing is that sharp. Her writing bridges poetry and hip-hop, and in fact I enjoy listening to her poetry more than reading it. If you watch both documentaries, you'll see cameos by Sanchez in Going to Mars and Giovanni in BaddDDD Sonia Sanchez."--Stephanie

The White Devil by Domenic Stansberry - on Hoopla (Not on Hoopla? Get started here.)

"Not quite a thriller or mystery, more of a gothic novel about siblings from Texas who end up in Rome. They're social climbers with flexible morals. An accidental death (or was it?) is followed by another, and then another-until fate catches up with them both and they have to decide what they'll do to escape the world closing in on them."--Anthony

Maine by J. Courtney Sullivan

"I found this novel 14 years after its publication because I am so enamored with J. Courtney Sullivan's writing that I am reading through all of her work. This is the sort of book that I crave... a gorgeous setting in a summer house on the coast of Maine, a family of multifaceted characters, and a dive into their complex histories and relationships. I absolutely loved it."--Natalie

Three Days in June by Anne Tyler

"This is a slice-of-life novel about the day before, during, and after a wedding. Something about it reminded me of Tom Lake by Ann Patchett."--Constance

Magical/Realism: Essays on Music, Memory, Fantasy, and Borders by Vanessa Angélica Villarreal

"This is a book of cultural criticism, profiles of artists, critique of magical realism in Science-Fiction and Fantasy. The book starts with mapping Joseph Campbell's Hero's Journey to the immigrant journey and takes off from there. I want someone smarter than me to read this and talk with me about it!"--Stephanie

The Village Library Demon-Hunting Society by C.M. Waggoner

"I picked this up because I thought, "This sounds weird; I'll try it!" It's about a librarian in a small town who helps solve murders. It's outlandish but funny, and there is some insider knowledge on librarian life, such as the 'gruesome annual cull.'"--Constance

Rental House by Weike Wang

"Funny, dry, and irreverent, this book takes us on vacation with Keru, a first-generation Chinese-American, and her husband Nate, who grew up deep in the Appalachians. Culture, politics, and generational family dynamics are all on the table in this highly readable, entertaining book." --Natalie

Other Books We Read

Cloistered: My Years as a Nun by Catherine Coldstream

The Last One at the Wedding by Jason Rekulak

Trick Mirror by Jia Tolentino

Black Cake by Charmaine Wilkerson

Picture Books

Luog, one of the librarians in the Children's department, selected and reviewed three great books this month.

The Best Bad Day Ever by Marianna Coppo

"Wolfie starts the day off wrong. From morning frustrations to projecting his anger out on the world, Wolfie's bad day spirals with humorous and thoughtful illustrations and a whole lot of attitude. But just when things seem hopeless, along comes Penguin who doesn't try to fix anything, but is there just at the right time. And somehow, that makes all the difference.

"This is a funny, expressive book that includes a sweet ending that slowly sneaks up on you. Perfect for anyone who has ever had a rough day and just needed someone to get it!"

Jumper: A Day in the Life of a Backyard Jumping Spider by Jessica Lanan

"This nonfiction picture book shrinks you right into the tiny, fascinating world of a jumping spider. Told from the spider's point of view, it gives readers a close-up look at daily life such as how the spider moves, sees, and explores the world. The perspective is playful and curious, making even the smallest tasks feel big and exciting.

"Paired with beautiful illustrations, this is a great pick for curious kids, nature lovers, and especially spider fans of all ages."

The Hare Who Wouldn't Share by Steve Small

A rhyming picture book tale, both sharp and sweet,
Of a hare who guards his favorite veggie treats.
He hoards his turnips and definitely won't play fair,
Not even for kind rabbits, he's just that kind of hare.

But then arrives one bold and sly
Who take it all as Hare asks "Why?"
Yet giving up what he held tight
Brought something warm and oddly right.

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Browse all this month's staff picks in the catalog.