Gretchen recommends "Ms. Demeanor"

Are you tired of the gray days of January and need a pick-me-up? Elinor Lipman’s latest novel is a delightful rom-com that starts with a rooftop dalliance that lands the heroine with an indecent exposure charge, a suspended law license, and a court-ordered lock down. Two worlds unexpectedly collide when she meets a fellow condo dweller in her building in similar straits. Throw in a caring but competitive twin sister, some TikTok cooking videos to pass the time, and some sideways sleuthing to expose her mysterious accuser. The result is a funny and sweet story of how you never know things can take an unexpected turn for the best.  For adults.

 

 

 

Katie recommends "What Moves the Dead"

 

“The dead don’t walk. Except, sometimes, when they do.”
― T. Kingfisher, What Moves the Dead 

This is a retelling of Edgar Allan Poe’s “The Fall of the House of Usher”, and as a Poe fan, that was enough of a selling point for me. Kingfisher does a great job of telling this creepy, ominous story in a fresh way. Everyone and everything feels like a threat, justifying the paranoia and fear the characters are feeling. It’s a wonderfully weird mix of gothic horror and sci-fi, with a dash of humor as well. And it’s short – less than 200 pages!

You definitely don’t have to be familiar with Poe’s original work to enjoy this new take. Highly recommend if you’re into weird and quirky dark stories like I am.

This is an adult novel.

 

 

Justine recommends "Black Girl, Call Home" by Jasmine Mans

Black Girl, Call Home by Jasmine Mans is an incredible poetry collection focusing on blackness, womanhood, and queerness in the 21st century.  Mans is typically a competitive spoken-word poet who draws large crowds of people.  What's neat about this collection is that it's divided into six sections, each with a working telephone number where she has recorded excerpts of her poems.  Just dial to listen now!  

Marnie recommends "Just Jerry-How Drawing Shaped My Life"

 

Complete with sketches by the artist, this memoir creates a picture of the life of Caldecott Medalist Jerry Pinkney, author and illustrator of several beloved books for children. In this book, he tells stories of his early years growing up in Philadelphia, describing his experiences as the lone artist of his family, and as a young student learning to live with dyslexia. This project was a labor of love for Mr. Pinkney, who, sadly, passed away in 2021 before completing its final artwork. As Mr. Pinkney hoped, this book is designed to be friendly to readers with dyslexia, printed with a font that is easy to read. Be sure to read the Editor’s Note to learn more about how this book came to be. I loved the richness of Mr. Pinkney’s storytelling and cheered as he found his calling!

This book is for children (and their adults.)

 

 

Kara recommends "Chester Van Chime Who Forgot How to Rhyme"

 

 

From Amazon:

Chester van Chime is usually the BEST at rhyming. He can normally tell you all about cats wearing hats and snails delivering mail, but today, something has changed. Today there's no dog on a log. No duck in a truck. Just a Pomeranian on a sideways tree and a waterfowl in a full-size pickup. What's a kid to do?!

This hilarious read aloud picture book about a boy who loses his gift for rhyme is filled with irresistible wordplay and whimsically silly illustrations. While it can be enjoyed by all, it is best for ages 4+.

Andrea recommends "These Silent Woods"

I have always preferred books with characters and plots that are imperfect and complex. Characters whose complicated pasts inform their current choices. I'll take an ambiguous ending over a tidy wrap-up any time, simply because life is rarely tidy. This book serves as a great reminder that what's right is not always as black and white as we would like it to be.

These Silent Woods by Kimi Cunningham Grant is the atmospheric and tense story of a father and his young daughter who have made a life for themselves living off the land in a remote cabin far from civilization. Finch is an intelligent young lady with endless curiosity about the world around her, and her father, Cooper, is fiercely protective of her and of their privacy. As the reason for their being removed from civilization gradually unfolds, questions of what's right and wrong become muddled. When Finch discovers a crime has been committed in the nearby woods, she insists they notify police, putting her and her father's very private world and mysterious past at risk of being discovered. 

The first half is a bit of a slow burn, but the ending makes the journey worthwhile. 

This book is appropriate for adults.

Meghan recommends "The Final Revival of Opal and Nev"

 

Did you love Daisy Jones and the Six? Well then, let me I introduce you to Opal & Nev!

Neville Charles is a British singer-songwriter struggling to find an audience in late 1960s New York. His producer suggests he might find success by pairing with a woman on his songs. On tour, he discovers Opal Jewell singing at an open mic night in Detroit, and is star-struck by her presence and performance. She leaves her office job behind to join him in New York and begin life as a creative. They work together for the next several years, though their partnership is marred by creative differences, drug addition, and a tragedy that pushes them into the national spotlight for political rather than musical reasons.

The story is written as an oral history, a book project undertaken by an magazine editor with a personal connection to the story. The book explores their (fictional) music, and their place in the social history of the U.S. I listened to the audiobook, which is read by a full cast and won the 2022 Audie award for best fiction. The format adds to the realistic feel of the story, as everyone had their own take on the past.

Recommended for adults.

Natalie recommends "Unmasking Autism: Discovering the New Faces of Neurodiversity"

"A deep dive into the spectrum of Autistic experience and the phenomenon of masked Autism, giving individuals the tools to safely uncover their true selves while broadening society's narrow understanding of neurodiversity"-- Provided by publisher.

Starting of the new year with a recommendation with one of my favorite books from last year. I picked up this book because I was drawn to it's approach and found myself relating to a number of the things the author talks about. As someone who was diagnosed with autism around my preteen/early teen years, some of the topics Devon Prince talks about were things that I myself have felt. Thoughts I used to have and things that I would like to work on. I also found myself learning more things and hearing the author's story along the way was nice.  

Overall, it's a good read on autism, masking, and insight on the condition. And while it may not be as relatable for you as it was for me, it is still a book I would recommend for anyone looking for a book on autism and experiences you might not have known about.

Adult