Staff Picks: April 2021
Our staff read some interesting books in April, spanning multiple genres. Check out the Staff Picks for the month of April, reserve anything that piques your interest, and comment below if you’ve read any of them.
ELIZABETH: “The Evening and The Morning (#0.5 Kingsbridge)” - Ken Follett
GENRE: Fantasy Fiction
WHY SHE CHOSE IT: I've always loved Ken Follett's writing and really enjoyed reading and listening to his Kingsbridge series books, "Pillars of the Earth" (1989) (and 41 hours long), "World Without End" (2006) (and 45.5 hours long), and "Column of Fire" (2017) (and 30 hours long). When I recently found out Follett had written a prequel to the series, I knew I had to listen to it. It's an amazing book and an amazing series (and a satisfying 24 hours long).
THE SYNOPSIS: It is 997 CE, the end of the Dark Ages. England is facing attacks from the Welsh in the west and the Vikings in the east. Those in power bend justice according to their will, regardless of ordinary people and often in conflict with the king. Without a clear rule of law, chaos reigns.
In these turbulent times, three characters find their lives intertwined. A young boatbuilder's life is turned upside down when the only home he's ever known is raided by Vikings, forcing him and his family to move and start their lives anew in a small hamlet where he does not fit in. . . . A Norman noblewoman marries for love, following her husband across the sea to a new land, but the customs of her husband's homeland are shockingly different, and as she begins to realize that everyone around her is engaged in a constant, brutal battle for power, it becomes clear that a single misstep could be catastrophic. . . . A monk dreams of transforming his humble abbey into a center of learning that will be admired throughout Europe. And each in turn comes into dangerous conflict with a clever and ruthless bishop who will do anything to increase his wealth and power.
AVAILABILITY: Library and Libby app
CLICK BELOW TO RESERVE “The Evening and The Morning” - Ken Follett:
FROM THE LIBRARY: https://ffpl.insigniails.com/Library/ItemDetail?l=0058&i=12788&ti=0
ON THE LIBBY APP (eBook): https://libbyapp.com/search/elm/search/query-the%20evening%20and%20the%20morning/page-1/5116186
ON THE LIBBY APP (audiobook): https://libbyapp.com/search/elm/search/query-the%20evening%20and%20the%20morning/page-1/5167650
LISA G.: “Think Like a Monk” - Jay Shetty
GENRE: Nonfiction, Self-Help
WHY SHE CHOSE IT: A great read for anyone looking to learn to slow down in life, to get more meaning out of everyday, and to appreciate everything, even in the darkest times. Part autobiography, and part 'how-to', this is the perfect book for a reset after a tough year, a tough obstacle, or just a new start.
THE SYNOPSIS: When you think like a monk, you’ll understand:
- How to overcome negativity
- How to stop overthinking
- Why comparison kills love
- How to use your fear
- Why you can’t find happiness by looking for it
- How to learn from everyone you meet
- Why you are not your thoughts
- How to find your purpose
- Why kindness is crucial to success
- And much more...
Shetty grew up in a family where you could become one of three things—a doctor, a lawyer, or a failure. His family was convinced he had chosen option three: instead of attending his college graduation ceremony, he headed to India to become a monk, to meditate every day for four to eight hours, and devote his life to helping others. After three years, one of his teachers told him that he would have more impact on the world if he left the monk’s path to share his experience and wisdom with others. Heavily in debt, and with no recognizable skills on his résumé, he moved back home in north London with his parents.
Shetty reconnected with old school friends—many working for some of the world’s largest corporations—who were experiencing tremendous stress, pressure, and unhappiness, and they invited Shetty to coach them on well-being, purpose, and mindfulness. Since then, Shetty has become one of the world’s most popular influencers. In 2017, he was named in the Forbes magazine 30-under-30 for being a game-changer in the world of media. In 2018, he had the #1 video on Facebook with over 360 million views. His social media following totals over 38 million, he has produced over 400 viral videos which have amassed more than 8 billion views, and his podcast, On Purpose, is consistently ranked the world’s #1 Health and Wellness podcast.
In this inspiring, empowering book, Shetty draws on his time as a monk to show us how we can clear the roadblocks to our potential and power. Combining ancient wisdom and his own rich experiences in the ashram, Think Like a Monk reveals how to overcome negative thoughts and habits, and access the calm and purpose that lie within all of us. He transforms abstract lessons into advice and exercises we can all apply to reduce stress, improve relationships, and give the gifts we find in ourselves to the world. Shetty proves that everyone can—and should—think like a monk.
AVAILABILITY: Libby app
CLICK BELOW TO RESERVE “Think Like a Monk” by Jay Shetty:
ON THE LIBBY APP (audiobook): https://libbyapp.com/search/elm/search/query-think%20like%20a%20monk/page-1/5004858
ABBEY: “Room” - Emma Donoghue
GENRE: Fiction, Psychological Fiction, Suspense
WHY SHE CHOSE IT: It’s a fascinating book because it’s told from the perspective of a 5 year old kid who has never had any sort of life outside of one small room. It’s a situation that’s impossible to imagine being in but the author does an amazing job of making it feel real. I haven’t seen the movie yet but after the book it’s definitely on my list!
THE SYNOPSIS: To five-year-old-Jack, Room is the world....
Told in the inventive, funny, and poignant voice of Jack, Room is a celebration of resilience—and a powerful story of a mother and son whose love lets them survive the impossible.
To five-year-old Jack, Room is the entire world. It is where he was born and grew up; it's where he lives with his Ma as they learn and read and eat and sleep and play. At night, his Ma shuts him safely in the wardrobe, where he is meant to be asleep when Old Nick visits.
Room is home to Jack, but to Ma, it is the prison where Old Nick has held her captive for seven years. Through determination, ingenuity, and fierce motherly love, Ma has created a life for Jack. But she knows it's not enough ... not for her or for him. She devises a bold escape plan, one that relies on her young son's bravery and a lot of luck. What she does not realize is just how unprepared she is for the plan to actually work.
Told entirely in the language of the energetic, pragmatic five-year-old Jack, Room is a celebration of resilience and the limitless bond between parent and child, a brilliantly executed novel about what it means to journey from one world to another.
AVAILABILITY: Library and Libby app
CLICK BELOW TO RESERVE “Room” - Emma Donoghue:
FROM THE LIBRARY: https://ffpl.insigniails.com/Library/ItemDetail?l=0058&i=6494&ti=0
ON THE LIBBY APP (eBook): https://libbyapp.com/search/elm/search/query-room/page-1/1146091
ON THE LIBBY APP (audiobook): https://libbyapp.com/search/elm/search/query-room/page-1/469957
EDEN: “The Hate U Give (The Hate U Give #1)” - Angie Thomas
GENRE: Young Adult Fiction, Urban Fiction
WHY SHE CHOSE IT: It gives a very well written view on racial differences in the States.
THE SYNOPSIS: Sixteen-year-old Starr Carter moves between two worlds: the poor neighborhood where she lives and the fancy suburban prep school she attends. The uneasy balance between these worlds is shattered when Starr witnesses the fatal shooting of her childhood best friend Khalil at the hands of a police officer. Khalil was unarmed.
Soon afterward, his death is a national headline. Some are calling him a thug, maybe even a drug dealer and a gangbanger. Protesters are taking to the streets in Khalil’s name. Some cops and the local drug lord try to intimidate Starr and her family. What everyone wants to know is: what really went down that night? And the only person alive who can answer that is Starr.
But what Starr does—or does not—say could upend her community. It could also endanger her life.
Inspired by the Black Lives Matter movement, this is a powerful and gripping YA novel about one girl's struggle for justice.
AVAILABILITY: Library and Libby app
CLICK BELOW TO BORROW “The Hate U Give (The Hate U Give #1) - Angie Thomas:
FROM THE LIBRARY: https://ffpl.insigniails.com/Library/ItemDetail?l=0058&i=910&ti=0
ON THE LIBBY APP (eBook): https://libbyapp.com/search/elm/search/query-the%20hate%20u%20give/page-1/2962709
ON THE LIBBY APP (audiobook): https://libbyapp.com/search/elm/search/query-the%20hate%20u%20give/page-1/2985772
RACHEL: “Juliet Takes a Breath” - Gabby Rivera
GENRE: Young adult fiction, Graphic novel
WHY SHE CHOSE IT: A relatable queer WOC coming-of-age story, Juliet Takes a Breath is a story unlike anything else I’ve read before. It touches on subjects like family, relationships, and racism within the queer community. Despite dealing with heavy topics, this book is ultimately an ode to the importance of community and accepting yourself for who you are. I absolutely loved it.
SYNOPSIS: Juliet Milagros Palante is leaving the Bronx and headed to Portland, Oregon. She just came out to her family and isn’t sure if her mom will ever speak to her again. But don’t worry, Juliet has something kinda resembling a plan that’ll help her figure out what it means to be Puerto Rican, lesbian and out. See, she’s going to intern with Harlowe Brisbane - her favorite feminist author, someone’s who’s the last work on feminism, self-love and lots of of ther things that will help Juliet find her ever elusive epiphany. There’s just one problem - Harlowe’s white, not from the Bronx and doesn’t have the answers. Okay, maybe that’s more than one problem but Juliet never said it was a perfect plan... Juliet Milagros Palante is leaving the Bronx and headed to Portland, Oregon. She just came out to her family and isn’t sure if her mom will ever speak to her again. But don’t worry, Juliet has something kinda resembling a plan that’ll help her figure out what it means to be Puerto Rican, lesbian and out. See, she’s going to intern with Harlowe Brisbane - her favorite feminist author, someone’s who’s the last work on feminism, self-love and lots of of ther things that will help Juliet find her ever elusive epiphany. There’s just one problem - Harlowe’s white, not from the Bronx and doesn’t have the answers. Okay, maybe that’s more than one problem but Juliet never said it was a perfect plan...
CLICK BELOW TO RESERVE “Juliet Takes a Breath” - Gabby Rivera:
FROM THE LIBRARY: https://ffpl.insigniails.com/Library/ItemDetail?l=0058&i=88741&ti=0
LISA S.: “The Perfect Guests” by Emma Rous
GENRE: Thriller, Suspense, Mystery
WHY SHE CHOSE IT: I really enjoyed Emma Rous’ first novel The Au Pair so when I found out she was writing The Perfect Guests I knew I had to read it. It’s a Gothic mystery tale with a large English estate house, a family with secrets to hide, and there are dual timelines, one in 1988 and one in 2019. It reminded me of V.C. Andrews, with a hint of Kate Morton, and it kept me turning pages and I read it in one afternoon.
THE SYNOPSIS: 1988. Beth Soames is fourteen years old when her aunt takes her to stay at Raven Hall, a rambling manor in the isolated East Anglian fens. The Averells, the family who lives there, are warm and welcoming, and Beth becomes fast friends with their daughter, Nina. At times, Beth even feels like she's truly part of the family...until they ask her to help them with a harmless game—and nothing is ever the same.
2019. Sadie Langton is an actress struggling to make ends meet when she lands a well-paying gig to pretend to be a guest at a weekend party. She is sent a suitcase of clothing, a dossier outlining the role she is to play, and instructions. It's strange, but she needs the money, and when she sees the stunning manor she'll be staying at, she figures she’s got nothing to lose.
In person, Raven Hall is even grander than she'd imagined—even with damage from a fire decades before—but the walls seem to have eyes. As day turns to night, Sadie starts to feel that there’s something off about the glamorous guests who arrive, and as the party begins, it becomes chillingly apparent their unseen host is playing games with everyone...including her.
AVAILABILITY: Library
CLICK HERE TO RESERVE “Every Last Fear” - Alex Finlay FROM THE LIBRARY: Currently being catalogued. Contact us to add your name to the reserve list.
That’s a wrap for April Staff picks. Anything pique your interest? Let us know in the comments below.
Lisa S.
