Phil recommends "Mexican Gothic"

 

As Halloween approaches, I love me some books (and movies) that take place in creepy, haunted gothic mansions and Mexican Gothic does not disappoint. Noemi Taboada, a glamorous, smart, and strong-willed debutante receives a letter of distress from her cousin who is ailing and possibly being held captive by her husband and his family in the distant manor house of High Place in the Mexican countryside. Noemi, determined to rescue her cousin, goes to the mansion to investigate and learns that there are dark secrets lurking within the family living in High Place and, indeed, lurking within the walls of the mansion itself.  Will Noemi overcome these dark forces before they begin to take hold of her?

This book is appropriate for adults.

 

Andrea recommends "The River at Night"

Four friends with little experience set out for the remote Maine woods for some bonding, adventure, and whitewater rafting. What could go wrong? 

When civility takes a back seat to survival and old resentments are brought to the forefront, our explorers must set those aside and work together if they are to make it out alive. I really enjoyed how the tension between the women slowly ratchets up in tandem with the tension of what might be lurking in the wilderness, and the author's descriptions of whitewater rafting down an inhospitable river were vivid and heart-pounding. 

If adventure, survival, and the dynamics of friendship under stress are subjects you're drawn to, this book is for you. It kept me turning pages way past my bedtime. 

This book is for adults.

Katie recommends "Star Child"

This is a fascinating biography of Octavia Butler, the iconic author. I had never read anything by Butler, and really didn’t know much about her. This books was perfect – it’s short, includes poetry, direct quotes from Butler, photographs, etc. The author does a great job of explaining the poetry pieces without dumbing it down. The writing is really beautiful. One of my favorites so far this year.

This book is written for middle grade readers, but I would also recommend this to teens and adults interested in Butler’s life.

 

 

 

Uma recommends "The Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II” DVD

 

"The Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II" Videorecording-DVD/BBC.

"The Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II ",  this 50 minute documentary film discloses the behind-the-scenes story of the Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II. The film draws on rare archive footage and eyewitness accounts of participants and historical experts. This program shows how, despite bubbling tensions, diplomatic incidents, and political wrangling, the Queen kept her cool, arbitrated with skill, and stayed true to her vision of a spectacular and special coronation.

This documentary film will be a perfect one to watch with a family to learn more about Royal tradition and the young Queen Elizabeth.

 

 

 

Jess recommends "The secret garden on 81st street : A modern graphic retelling of The Secret Garden"

Sometimes I am skeptical of modern retellings, but I really enjoyed this retelling of one of my childhood favorites. While intended for ages 8 - 12, with it's beautiful illustrations and personable characters, I would recommend this title to graphic novel readers of all ages or fans of the original. A fast-paced, feel-good read that touches on grief, family and friendship, and coping with death in an easy-to-read format that is well worth the read. 

Justine recommends "What Moves the Dead"

What Moves the Dead by T. Kingfisher is an impressive retelling of Edgar Allan Poe's The Fall of the House of Usher in a novella format.

When Alex Easton, a retired soldier, receives word that their childhood friend Madeline Usher is dying, they race to the ancestral home of the Ushers in the remote countryside of Ruritania.  What they find there is a nightmare of fungal growths and possessed wildlife, surrounding a dark, pulsing lake. Madeline sleepwalks and speaks in strange voices at night, and her brother Roderick is consumed with a mysterious malady of the nerves.  Aided by a redoubtable British mycologist and a baffled American doctor, Alex must unravel the secret of the House of Usher before it consumes them all.

If you're itching for something spooky and fungi-infested after reading Mexican Gothic, then check out this book today!