Staff Picks - Page 4 of 9

Only around three percent of the books published in the U.S. each year are works in translation. This means many American readers miss out on some great reads—even from our closest Spanish-speaking neighbor. Here are just three Mexican novelists whose work has recently been translated into English. I chose to highlight these authors because their… Read More

When you think about a summer read, maybe you expect something with thrills, romance, or gut-busting laughs? Maybe you wouldn’t usually consider a story about a man and his dachshund that very well might serve up a big helping of emotions. I wouldn’t blame you, as I know what’s usually in my beach bag. It’s… Read More

Earlier in June I had the great fortune of attending Book Expo America (BEA) in Chicago. BEA is a librarian’s dream. We were able to meet authors, hear about upcoming book releases, and even snag advance copies of some of the titles. I picked up many titles that I’m excited to share with readers, but… Read More

When “An Ember in the Ashes” by Sabaa Tahir was released last spring, the library world was abuzz about this exciting new YA fantasy title. While at a conference, I had the privilege of hearing the author speak about the book, and I was definitely intrigued. However, despite being touted as a “stand-alone” when it… Read More

It has been a rough year so far for music, as we’ve lost a number of stars. Merle Haggard was a legend in country music, Prince will never be forgotten, and we were all shocked at the sudden passing of David Bowie. “Blackstar” was released on David Bowie’s 69th birthday in January, and two days… Read More

I’m a single woman in my twenties, so if there’s one thing I can count on, it’s hearing about love and marriage. Whether it’s being asked to be a bridesmaid in a friend’s wedding or answering question after question about whether or not I’m seeing someone, sometimes it feels like everything in my life revolves… Read More

Alaska always seemed like that mysterious frontier that everyone was curious about. Nowadays, though, it is easier to reach and explore. "Sweet Home Alaska," by Carole Estby Dagg, takes us back to a time when the state was still an enigma and brave pioneers were looking for a new world filled with fortune and hope.… Read More

Paul Kalanithi was on the cusp of a promising career as a neurosurgeon when, at age 36, he was diagnosed with stage IV lung cancer. In his memoir, “When Breath Becomes Air,” he writes, “severe illness wasn’t life-altering, it was life-shattering. It felt less like an epiphany—a piercing burst of light, illuminating What Really Matters—and… Read More

Say what you want about me, but I like learning about dead people. I loved Mary Roach's book “Stiff” and the HBO television series “Six Feet Under” is my favorite show of all time. I’m fascinated by what happens to us when we die, as morbid as a topic as that might be. That being… Read More

According to, well, herself, Willowdean Dickson is about the last person predicted to compete in a pageant show, and it isn’t because she’s a (self-proclaimed) “fat girl.” It’s because pageants are an old fashioned diatribe of materialistic desires, full of shallow competitors. Unfortunately, Willow’s former beauty queen mother happens to be a judge of the… Read More