Siri A.
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Books to Help You Start (and Finish!) Writing Your Novel
Have you always wanted to write a novel? Or are you feeling stuck with your current draft? Wherever you are in your writing project, the library carries many books that can help with inspiration and next steps. Here are some that I have found to be especially useful: For Getting Inspired: 1,000 Words by Jami… Continue reading
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Exploring the Library’s Photography Books
I love reading photography books. Flipping through their pages brings a much-needed sense of creativity and inspiration, while also providing a window into history, community, and the world around us. Here are some that I have enjoyed recently: Pilgrimage Annie Leibovitz travels to locations that hold meaning for her, including Emily Dickinson’s house in Amherst,… Continue reading
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Get Cozy with a Cat Book
It’s officially fall, when the weather gets colder and nothing sounds better than cuddling up with a book and a cat. Here are some cozy cat books to enjoy this season, ideally to be read with a purring cat companion. Cat’s People by Tanya Guerrero Cat, a stray cat living on the streets of New… Continue reading
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Middle Grade Fiction that Adults & Kids Will Love
Will I ever outgrow my love for middle grade novels? I think not. And I’m here to tell you that you don’t have to, either! There’s something magical about middle grade novels. They depict the thrills and pains and stumbles that come along with growing up and discovering ourselves. They can tell stories of lives… Continue reading
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Middle Grade Fiction for the New Year
I’m still a huge fan of middle grade fiction and love finding new titles to enjoy, even as an adult. Here are some that I recommend for the new year A Whale of the Wild by Rosanne Parry Vega, an orca whale living in the Salish Sea, knows that someday she will take on the responsibility… Continue reading
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Cozy Fall Cookbooks
Cookbooks are one of my favorite items to check out at the library, even just to flip through the pages and get inspired. Lately, I’ve been enjoying comfort cookbooks for the fall season. Here are a few of my recent favorites: The Complete Autumn & Winter Cookbook by America’s Test Kitchen This America’s Test Kitchen… Continue reading
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Spooky Picture Books
Fall means it’s time for a genre that I find delightful: spooky picture books! Even as an adult, I still enjoy reading picture books, and there is something especially fun about the ones that manage to be a little bit spooky. Here are some of my favorites, whether you are a kid or an adult! … Continue reading
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Books About Books: Mystery/Thrillers
I love reading books about books. Even better? When they are unputdownable mysteries or thrillers! Here are some of my favorites: The Writing Retreat – When Alex is given the opportunity to participate in a month-long writing retreat hosted by the famous horror writer Roza Vallo, she accepts the offer despite the fact that… Continue reading
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More Middle Grade Fiction for Adults
Earlier this year, I shared some middle grade fiction books that I believe can (and should!) be enjoyed by adults, too. Since then, I’ve discovered more great titles. If you are looking for well written and compelling stories, don’t miss out on these reads based on where we shelve them in the library! Hummingbird by… Continue reading
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#BookBingoNW2023: Chosen by the Cover
One of the squares in our 2023 Adult Book Bingo challenge is “Chosen by the Cover.” While it is common advice to avoid judging a book by its cover, I have to admit that I love—and can rarely resist—a beautiful book cover. Here are some of my favorite reads that also happen to have a… Continue reading
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Finding Moments of Calm with Photography Books
Lately, I’ve been finding moments of calm by perusing the library’s many photography books. Flipping through pages of art and photos can bring a much needed pause from all of the screens around us. In honor of National Photography Month, here are some photography books that I’ve enjoyed: Seeing Silence: The Beauty of the… Continue reading
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Middle Grade Fiction for Adults
For a long time as an adult, I told myself that middle grade books were no longer for me. But I was pleasantly surprised to find out that I was wrong! Not only can middle grade novels simply be great stories, they can also transport you back into the world of being a kid. This… Continue reading
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Gothic Teen Reads
Gothic horror has always been one of my favorite genres. Even through the holidays, I find myself turning to the gothic for a fun escape. I love the unsettling atmosphere, the haunted houses, the ghosts, and the element of mystery woven throughout the story. Here are some of my recent teen gothic-horror favorites: Watch Over… Continue reading
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Movie Mondays: Passing the Bechdel Test
Ever since I learned about the Bechdel Test, a way of measuring how women relate to each other in film, I haven’t been able to watch movies without thinking about it. Named after American cartoonist Alison Bechdel, who laid out the rules in a 1985 comic strip, there are three conditions that must be met… Continue reading