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Staff Recommendations

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  • Book cover of Oh, la la! : homegrown stories, helpful tips, and garden wisdom

    Oh, la la! : homegrown stories, helpful tips, and garden wisdom

    by Morris, Ciscoe

    Reviewed by: Sheryn Morris, Librarian, Literature & Fiction

    January 2, 2024

    Call Number: 716 M875

    Although it might not be apparent from his off-beat, congenial stories and stretched-to-the-limit puns, Ciscoe Morris is an expert gardener, whose inordinate enthusiasm and expertise has created a loyal following. He is well known in the northwest with his weekly radio program on KSQM 91.5, and according to his website gives over 50 garden presentations a year. He and his wife also love to travel and lead worldwide garden tours, as well as embark on their own adventurous junkets, such as a 360-mile hiking trek in France. Their 1,000-mile biking trip in France became the source of... Read Full Review

  • Book cover of The World Central Kitchen cookbook : feeding humanity, feeding hope

    The World Central Kitchen Cookbook: Feeding Humanity, Feeding Hope

    by Andrés, José

    Reviewed by: Sheryn Morris, Librarian, Literature & Fiction

    December 26, 2023

    Call Number: 641.59 A561

    Chef José Andrés tells us, “This book is dedicated to everyone who understands the power of a hot meal in a time of need.”

    This is the first cookbook from the World Central Kitchen, aka the WCK. The organization was the inspiration of José Andrés, professional chef and humanitarian. “Since 2010 the World Central Kitchen has cooked hundreds of millions of fresh, nourishing meals for people impacted by natural disasters and other crises." In this book the WCK shares recipes inspired by many global areas where disasters hit, and stories from chefs, volunteers... Read Full Review

  • Book cover of Unnatural ends : a novel

    Unnatural Ends

    by Huang, Christopher

    December 19, 2023

    Call Number: M

    Sir Lawrence Linwood, the Lord of Linwood Hollow and a tyrant of a father, is always pushing his adopted children to meet unreasonable demands. Three adult children, Alan, Roger, and Caroline, have escaped their father and their home, but not unscathed. When Sir Lawrence dies, his children return home, as expected, to find not only that their father was murdered but that the latest version of his will declares that the child who solves their father’s murder will inherit his estate.

    In Unnatural Ends, Christopher Huang uses elements from the golden age of... Read Full Review

  • Book cover of Camera girl : the coming of age of Jackie Bouvier Kennedy

    Camera girl : the coming of age of Jackie Bouvier Kennedy

    by Anthony, Carl Sferrazza

    Reviewed by: Sheryn Morris, Librarian, Literature & Fiction

    December 11, 2023

    Call Number: 92 O575An-1

    As First Lady of the United States (1961 - 1963), then as the wife of one of the world’s richest men (1968 - 1975), until the time of her death in 1994, Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy Onassis was among the most photographed and well known women in the world.  But did the world really know that much about this enigmatic woman, who became an international celebrity? In a 1972 interview she stated,“People often forget that I was Jacqueline Bouvier, before being Mrs. Kennedy or Mrs. Onassis. Throughout my life I have tried to remain true to myself.” 

    In this new... Read Full Review

  • Book cover of George : a magpie memoir

    George : a magpie memoir

    by Hughes, Frieda

    Reviewed by: Sheryn Morris, Librarian, Literature & Fiction

    December 6, 2023

    Call Number: 598.864 H893

    In the prologue to this memoir Frieda Hughes says, “The things I longed for, other than health, happiness and wealth, probably in that order, were plants, pets, and a home of my own that I would never have to move from. The plants and pets were the embellishment and confirmation of the permanent home and, therefore, the sense of stability and belonging that I craved.”

    From her earliest memories, as a very young child, she craved and yearned for a stable permanent home, which for most of her life she did not have. She had a family, but they were never in one... Read Full Review

  • Book cover of Being Henry : the Fonz . . . and beyond

    Being Henry : the Fonz . . . and beyond

    by Winkler, Henry, 1945-

    November 27, 2023

    Call Number: 812.092 W775-2

    Henry Winkler has worked as an actor, director, producer, and is the author of several series of children’s books. Now, with Being Henry, Winkler tells the story of his own life and it is a fascinating read.

    Winkler writes his memoir with charm and grace. He describes the difficulties that faced his parents, who were German immigrants just prior to the outbreak of World War II. He also describes a home life that was an uncomfortable mixture of comfort and abuse. Winkler’s parents were strict authoritarians who often expected more of their son, an... Read Full Review

  • Book cover of The celebrants : a novel

    The celebrants : a novel

    by Rowley, Steven, 1971-

    November 20, 2023

    Two weeks before their college graduation, a group of friends, who have become family during their college experience, must attend the funeral of one of their own. Alec has died of an apparent drug overdose and it shakes them all, Craig, Jordan, Jordy, Marielle, and Naomi, to their cores. Alec’s death causes them to question everything they know on the eve of venturing out into the “real world” as adults. In response to their collective pain and confusion at the loss, Marielle suggests “the pact”: at any time in the coming years when they feel that they need it, any member of the... Read Full Review

  • Book cover of Midnight at the Houdini

    Midnight at the Houdini

    by Dawson, Delilah S.

    November 13, 2023

    Call Number: e-Audiobook

    According to Merriam-Webster’s Dictionary, magic is: 1) the use of means (such as charms or spells) believed to have supernatural power over natural forces, and 2) the art of producing illusions by sleight of hand. In her new novel, Midnight at the Houdini, Delilah S. Dawson tells a tale filled with both types of magic referenced by Merriam-Webster, plus a few more just for good measure, and the results are themselves magical.

    For Anna Alonso, magic became irrelevant when she was 10 years old. After attending a princess themed birthday party that... Read Full Review

  • Book cover of Seed to plate, soil to sky : modern plant-based recipes using Native American ingredients

    Seed to plate, soil to sky : modern plant-based recipes using Native American ingredients

    by Frank, Lois Ellen

    Reviewed by: Sheryn Morris, Librarian, Literature & Fiction

    November 7, 2023

    Call Number: 641.63 F828

    Lois Ellen Frank is the Chef and owner of Red Mesa Cuisine, where she cooks and works with Chef Walter Whitewater. In this book she highlights basic indigenous foods: corn, beans, squash, chiles, tomatoes, potatoes, vanilla and cacao as starting points for scrumptious modern recipes. She refers to these ingredients as  “the Magic Eight, [that] were given to the world by Native Peoples of the Americas. Part of Red Mesa Cuisine’s mission is to provide Indigenous foods and cultural education. We like to call it Native American Cuisine with a modern twist.” Pause for more... Read Full Review

  • Book cover of The shadow glass

    The Shadow Glass

    by Winning, Joshua

    October 30, 2023

    The line between artistic genius and madness is razor fine and artists often madly dance along, and across, that line while they are working to manifest their vision. Jack’s father, Bob Corman, was no exception. Bob put everything he had into The Shadow Glass, an epic fantasy film done entirely with puppets. When the film was released in the mid-80s, it was a financial failure and Bob never quite recovered. He spent the rest of his life pursuing and promoting his masterpiece, often ignoring any/everything that wasn’t related to The Shadow Glass. This included Jack, who used to... Read Full Review

  • Book cover of A season of monstrous conceptions

    A Season of Monstrous Conceptions

    by Rather, Lina

    October 24, 2023

    Sarah has always known she is different. Her parents never missed an opportunity to remind her. They never faltered in telling her how she was one of the children being born in England who were monstrous, with claws, too many eyes, or mouths, or with fur, tales, or scales, or any number of “differences.” Sarah’s anomaly was easily removed shortly after she was born, so she has been able to “pass” for someone “normal”. But Sarah has never felt able, never been allowed, to fit in.

    After the sudden and unexpected death of her husband, Sarah moved to London. She hoped... Read Full Review

  • Book cover for The Getaway

    The Getaway

    by Giles, Lamar

    October 16, 2023

    Karloff Country is a marvel. Modeled on Walt Disney World in Florida, Karloff Country is a slightly smaller theme park/resort complex with a similar number of theme parks as Walt Disney World, but also includes: planned communities for all of its employees, a power plant, vertical farms to provide the food necessary for both resort operations and for the residents, and an airfield. All of this is surrounded by a wall, which protects both the employees and guests from the crime, chaos, and food shortages that exist outside. When Jay’s parents get jobs working at Karloff County, he... Read Full Review

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