Lazarus Man by Richard Price

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If you’ve watched HBO’s The Wire, then you’re familiar with Richard Price. As one of the show’s writers, his story lines were like urban sociological studies. Price’s novels, such as Clockers, Lush Life, and Samaritan, also display the constant pressure-cooker environment within high-density neighborhoods. Plus they are just flat-out fun to read, as is his latest novel, Lazarus Man. For example, if you’re amused when coming across a random character being described not merely as “thin,” but as “thin as a home-rolled reefer,” then Price might be for you.

Make no mistake, Price’s work has depth, often finding its way into university course catalogs. Still, we read novels not for outright edification. It’s the story and characters that earn our attention. And Price always delivers on that front, replete with his trademark snappy dialogue. Where Lazarus Man moves a little differently is how the novel unfurls. There’s an initial event, and then we just follow four main characters as they carry on. It’s not unlike Robert Altman’s film Short Cuts, where we shadow characters just out living their lives. In Lazarus Man, it’s not 1990s Los Angelinos we’re tailing, but four East Harlemites in 2008. Maybe their paths will cross. Or maybe they won’t. Regardless, it’s their proverbial journeys we’re joining.

The anchor character is Anthony. He’s forty-two, unemployed, well on his way to a divorce, and attempting to kick a cocaine habit by trying out every bar on Lenox Avenue. Like some “80-proof Goldilocks,” he’s seeking the one bar that’s just right.

Then comes the event that sends the novel on its way: a tenement building collapses. Nearby, Royal, a down on his luck, third-generation mortician—who pretty much loathes his job—dozes in one of his unsold coffins. In order to make some extra cash, he’s playing the corpse as a group of film students shoot a horror film in his parlor. The sound of the building’s collapse sends Royal bolt-upright in his casket, properly freaking out the film students. Royal then has his young son put on an ill-fitting suit and go out into the chaos to hand out mortuary business cards.

Felix is a taciturn 20-something photographer who moved into the city from upstate. He grabs a camera and gets to work around the wreckage. Emergency personnel arrive as both survivors and nearby neighbors mill about, the “ash-coated” and the unscathed roaming together. The neighborhood becomes like some sort of “hallucinating block party.”

Mary, a beleaguered detective, is charged with finding out if an unaccounted for man is either somewhere in the rubble or is passively trying not to be found. A few years earlier, a freak elevator accident almost killed Mary. The event seems to have rattled her enough that she’s leaned back from most human relationships. It’s not that she doesn’t care. It’s more that she cares too much.

A victim of being at the wrong place at the wrong time, no one thinks to look for Anthony in the debris. When he’s eventually unearthed, he becomes a minor local celebrity, called upon to speak at various community events. He’s good at it, providing an outlet for pent-up community grief that goes beyond a collapsed building. The real question is whether Anthony believes what he’s saying.

Anthony’s mother was Black and his father white. Both are recently deceased, with Anthony now living in their apartment. Anthony’s long spiral began when he was kicked out of Columbia University for selling drugs. Someone suggested that he claim the university singled him out because of his race, but Anthony wanted no part of it. He knew that wasn’t the reason. Besides, his father was constantly charging racial discrimination on behalf of the Black community. Sometimes he was correct, yet at other times he wasn’t even close. Either way, he was always making a public scene about it. In many ways, Anthony wanted the same thing as his Black neighbors: for his father to shut up and mind his own business.

There is a surprise development at the end of the novel, underscoring the epistemological breakdown that fact and truth cannot be used interchangeably. Throughout, all the characters strive to do the decent thing in a difficult world. A good example is a mother who shows up to a community event to complain about how the cops harass some of the neighborhood teenagers. When a police officer at the meeting points out that her son often hangs around known gang members, the mother says that fact doesn’t mean he’s doing anything wrong. She continues, “You live in a certain place you got to be crewed up to not be a target. It’s a negotiated life.”

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Review by Jason Sullivan

A Dream of Death by Connie Berry

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Connie Berry’s debut novel, A Dream of Death, finds Kate Hamilton traveling to the remote Scottish Isle of Glenroth, a place she had vowed to never return. The birthplace of her husband, Bill, it was also the place he died three years ago.

Bill extracted a promise from her to help his sister if anything ever happened to him. Even though Kate and Elenor didn’t get along it was a promise easily given as Kate envisioned a long life with her husband. With that promise in mind, Elenor’s sudden plea for help couldn’t be ignored.

Glenroth is small, population 238, but attracts lots of tourists because of its history and a recent best-selling novel. Elenor owns one of, if not the, grandest manors on the isle and turned it into the Glenroth House Hotel. Tourist season has passed but the hotel is getting ready for the Tartan Ball.

Kate arrives on the day of the ball and her first stop is to see Elenor. A surprisingly cheerful Elenor who doesn’t have time to talk as she has a hair appointment. She shows Kate a beautiful small footed chest or casket. Kate’s reaction to it is one she has when recognizing an object of great age and beauty.

Back in her Ohio hometown, Kate owns an antique shop. She has a gift for being able to recognize a true antique in a room full of objects. Her reaction tells her that this is a special piece but Elenor won’t tell her about it or why she is scared and needs help until after the ball. Before she hurries off she informs Kate that she left a package in Kate’s cottage that she should open right away.

Kate will get to the package but her first order of business is to find something to wear to the ball. Her luggage took a side trip to the Dominican Republic and all Kate has is the jeans and shirt she has on. The hotel chef, Nancy, comes to her rescue with an offer of help and Kate just has time to open the package before Nancy arrives with dresses.

The package contains the novel that is drawing tourists to the island, The Diary of Flora Arnott, Volume One by Dr. Hugh Parker Guthrie. Also in the package is a note from Elenor and two newspaper clippings. One from 1810 on the murder of Flora who was shot through the neck with an arrow. The other is from 1811 on the death of Flora’s husband, James Arnott.

Kate heads to the ball puzzled as to how an old casket and the island’s history are cause for Elenor’s fright and request for help. The ball seems to be a great success until Elenor takes the stage. She has two announcements – she is selling the hotel to a Swedish chain and she is marrying Hugh Guthrie.

The sale is cause for great distress for many of the attendees as their livelihood depends on tourists coming for Scottish history not whatever a Swedish hotel will bring. The engagement is met with angry disapproval by Hugh’s mother who demands he take her home immediately and to Elenor’s embarrassment he does.

Elenor leaves the ball herself after a few minutes without talking to Kate. After helping with clean up, Kate goes back to the cabin where another surprise awaits. Someone has searched her cottage. Nothing is missing but now the note she found in the pocket of her borrowed dress takes on new meaning. Kate dismissed the GO HOME message as something the owner left in the dress but maybe it was meant for her.

Before she can leave the cottage the next morning to get answers from Elenor she is summoned to the hotel by the police. Elenor was murdered during the night. She died in the same manner as Flora – shot through the neck with an arrow.
Elinor’s murder is shocking but a mystery for the local police and Kate is ready to go home. However during her interview with the police she learns she is the executor of Elenor’s estate. Then they tell her the prime suspect is Bo, Bill’s childhood best friend. Bo is a gentle giant and wouldn’t hurt anyone except he confesses to hurting Elenor. Bo was born with cognitive disabilities and completely shuts down when being questioned.

His hospitalization and evaluation will buy Kate some time as now she has to find the killer. Despite his confession, Kate knows Bo is innocent. Unfortunately for Kate even on this small island there are plenty of suspects.

Flora’s story is integral to the mystery and Berry does a nice job weaving it into the narrative. This cozy mystery has a feisty intelligent protagonist, lots of suspects, and a touch of romance. And for those who like to read series (me), this is book one of A Kate Hamilton Mystery.

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Review by Patty crane, Reference Librarian

Voyage of the Damned by Frances White

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Ganymedes Piscero is in the last place he would ever want to be: on a magical ship traveling toward the most magical place on the continent, surrounded by the heirs to the provinces of Concordia – who all have magical gifts, and who all hate him.

Ganymedes – he prefers Dee, actually – is also the heir to a province: Fish Province. They govern the ocean-side beaches and have a duty to provide fish for the empire. As the heir of Fish Province, Dee should also have a Blessing, but one has never manifested for him.

Dee’s father has forced him to pretend to have a Blessing, to cover up his own infidelity. Luckily for him, no one is open about their gifts. Most of the twelve heirs refuse to share them, unless they are impossible to hide. The heir of Ox Province has the ability to breathe fire and a hot temper to match.

This pilgrimage was organized to celebrate the emergence of the twelfth heir: a tiny six-year-old from Grasshopper Province who recently manifested her Blessing. With the completion of this new generation of leaders, it is time for them all to journey to the mountain where the first Blessings were bestowed.

It is a twelve-day journey, but on the first night, Eudora – heir to Dragon Province and the Empire itself – is murdered.

As the bodies of the other Blessed begin to pile up, Dee, Grasshopper, and Wyatt of Bear Province team up to uncover the killer.

VOYAGE OF THE DAMNED by Frances White is a magical locked-room mystery. The Blessed are isolated from the rest of the world while they are onboard this vessel, but they are far from helpless.

Apart from Grasshopper, they have all known each other for a number of years. They have had time to form alliances and enforce the provincial hierarchy. And with so few of their powers known, it will be difficult to determine who is capable of hiding a murder.

Despite spending the entire novel on the boat, readers are able to get a good sense of the world. Each of the provinces of Concordia has its own terrain and culture, and the Blessed from each province has been shaped by their region.

White does an excellent job writing characters. Each of the twelve has their own unique voice and perspective. As Dee travels around the ship, trying to solve the murders, we get to experience each of them in their own environments. Dee’s voice is able to bring a lot of humor to the book, even in the face of mortal peril.

VOYAGE OF THE DAMNED works well as both a fantasy book and a mystery. When I read mystery fiction, I like it to be slightly unpredictable while also feeling solvable. Like I could have figured it out, given enough time. This book threads that needle for me. I had some suspicions that turned out to be accurate and there were also surprises waiting for me at the end.

 

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Book review by Alyssa Berry, Technical Services Librarian

Covenant of Water by Abraham Verghese

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This multi-generational, sweeping tale begins with the arranged marriage of a young girl. Her wedding day commences with a long journey by river, with her mother, and ends in the village of Kerala. The girl is quickly joined by marriage to the Parambila family, a Malayali family living in southwest India. The groom, who she has never seen before, is a 40 year-old widow, with a young son.  

Unbeknownst to the young bride, her husband’s family has a mysterious “Condition.” A genetic trait causing certain members to have strange reactions to water. An affliction of which no one speaks. It is only through tragedy that she learns the true reach of the “Condition” and spends her lifetime praying for someone who can shed light on its true nature and cause. 

Through the lens of the Parambila family, the author uses his extraordinary command of lyrical prose, to weave together a multi-part, compelling family drama.  One that also includes information on Indian life, medicine, the elements, colonial and post-colonial rule, the country’s social, political and economic climate, the caste system, religion, and much more. All of this must have been complicated by the novel’s seventy-seven year time span, but Verghese makes it look effortless.  He cleverly employs the young bride, who eventually becomes known as Big Ammachi, as the story’s anchor and matriarch of the family. 

In addition to the loving, generous, down-to-earth character of Big Ammachi, the author builds a large cast of richly drawn characters that possess depth and humanity.  They are the highlight of the book. Each character, and there are many, is complex and unpredictable, just like people in real life, but the author manages to avoid making villains. There are choices along the story’s path, and the characters make them, for better or worse.  

Much of the novel has to do with the training and practice of medicine, and Verghese, a physician himself, does an excellent job of explaining technical medical issues and terms in a practical and easy-to-understand way. These elements only add to the story.  

This is a story of family, love and life.  As with real life, the story is occasionally marred by loss and tragedy, but overall Verghese has created a prevailing sense of optimism and hope.  Also, as the title suggests, the theme of water is a central focus of the story – its destructive nature is showcased, as well as its ability to create and sustain life. 

At over 700 pages, or 30 hours of listening, THE COVENANT OF WATER is an undertaking. It requires a commitment, but once started it is nearly impossible to put down.  Eager readers will be rewarded with a richly layered narrative that is as unforgettable as the characters who inhabit its pages.  Fans of literary epic fiction should be thankful to have another tome to add to their shelves. There is much to love in this sprawling, informative, heart-gripping historical-fiction tale.

 

Review written by: Jeana Gockley, Joplin Public Library Director

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The Lager Queen of Minnesota by J. Ryan Stradal

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In its third year, Joplin Public Library will again host Joplin Reads Together in April, the library’s Community Read designed for adults. Focused upon one bestselling novel, Joplin Reads Together aims to increase awareness of the Library and its services, provide a shared experience for the community, promote reading, and foster connection to local organizations. Joplin Public Library recently announced the 2025 Joplin Reads Together book selection: The Lager Queen of Minnesota by J. Ryan Stradal. The second of Stradal’s three published books, The Lager Queen of Minnesota became a National Bestseller in its first week of release, was named one of the best books of 2019 by NPR, USA Today, and Booklist, and won the 2020 WILLA Literary Award for Contemporary Fiction. Programs inspired by the book will take place in April, organized by Joplin Public Library and its Joplin Reads Together Community Partners, culminating in a visit from J. Ryan Stradal to Joplin Public Library on April 24th. Community partners include Friends of the Joplin Public Library, Post Art Library, and MSSU Spiva Library. Community members can participate by reading the book and joining programs offered by the Library and its community partners throughout the month of April. Copies of The Lager Queen of Minnesota are available to check out at Joplin Public Library, and the full list of Joplin Reads Together events can be found on joplinpubliclibrary.org/joplinreadstogether.

The Lager Queen of Minnesota has a lot to offer: family drama, sibling tension, humor, sadness, life in the midwest, pie baking, beer brewing, business ownership, and (if you listen to the audiobook version as I did) a slew of Minnesotan accents. One aspect that I am excited about with this novel is the setting of the midwest. It plays an obvious role in the characters lives, often being mentioned or explained as reasoning for certain customs or happenings, and as Joplin is located in the midwest I think it is a relatable, and often funny, detail of the novel. 

The novel focuses on two sisters living in Minnesota: Edith and Helen. Raised on a farm, their relationship meets with sudden turbulence when their father dies and leaves all inheritance to Helen. Helen says she intends to share a portion of the inheritance with Edith but never does. This results in sibling tension and a full stop to communication that propels much of the story, and I think would also be relatable to anyone that has squabbled with a sibling.

To make a living Edith bakes pies, but it is much more than that. Edith is a fabulous pie maker, even winning third best pie in the state of Minnesota while working at a nursing home, among other accolades. Edith doesn’t put much stock into her renowned pie baking, preferring to spend time with her husband and daughter, and granddaughter Diana, wondering all the while how different her life would be if she had received even a portion of the inheritance. 

While Edith is baking pies and living a quiet life trying to make ends meet, Helen finds herself falling into the world of beer brewing. Fascinated with the process and flavor potential of brewing, Helen takes her inheritance and establishes one of the best selling light brewing companies in the country. She’s a very successful business owner, her beer company Blotz found in every bar and brewery of Minnesota. 

But of course, things begin to go wrong and change is inevitable. Edith and Helen’s lives are each struck by tragedy. Edith becomes more involved with her granddaughter Diana’s life as a result, and Diana is intent on learning the ways of brewing beer and entrepreneurship. Helen is forced to think outside the box, taking a different look at her successful business. It might just be possible that Edith, Helen, and Diana’s problems could have the same solution: one another. 

Before reading this novel I assumed I would be annoyed by the stubbornness of Edith and Helen when it comes to their relationship, or lack thereof. I am pleased to report I was wrong; this novel surprised me with its simple yet effective presentation of life, choices, and family dynamics. J. Ryan Stradal has produced a novel that I think is very relatable and understandable for many reasons. I learned about pies and brewing, Stradal’s writing clear and not overly informative. Edith and Helen, while frustrating at times, became fun characters to read. They have different approaches to life but share parts of their personalities, including their stubborn, get-it-done attitudes. The novel presents strong midwest women and is told from the perspectives of Edith, Helen, and Diana over the span of several decades. Stradal’s writing style is captivating; I got the impression he cared for his characters and was invested in telling their story, and has the talent to evoke setting and emotions of characters. The Lager Queen of Minnesota is a smartly crafted, unique story, perfect for those interested in family sagas, multiple perspectives, and perseverance in the face of opposition. If you end up reading The Lager Queen of Minnesota, visit the Joplin Public Library on April 24th at 6pm to hear directly from J. Ryan Stradal about his novel.

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Review written by Sarah Turner-Hill, Adult Programming Coordinator

Go, Wilma, Go! by Amira Rose Davis and Michael G. Long and The Blackwoods by Brandy Colbert

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February marks the beginning of Black History Month. I have likely mentioned this in previous columns, but I like to challenge myself to be intentional about reading books by Black authors every February. I snagged a few of the books on my list from the Black History Month display in the Children’s Department. If Young Adult or Adult books are more your thing, check out the displays in the lobby or the Teen area.

The first title I want to share is the nonfiction picture book Go, Wilma, Go: Wilma Rudolph, from Athlete to Activist by Amira Rose Davis and Michael G. Long, with illustrations by Charnelle Pinkney Barlow. Because of the nature of their format, one might assume that the target audience for nonfiction picture books is preschool-aged children. On the contrary, history picture books tend to be word and concept-heavy, making them more appealing to elementary-aged students. Some of these titles would work best as book studies, perhaps in a classroom or read with a grownup over an extended period of time. Others, while still detailing big ideas and concepts, also work well as readalouds.

Go, Wilma, Go falls into the latter category. Due to its comparatively simple language and appealing papercut illustration style, a parent or caregiver could easily read it in one sitting. The book begins with Rudolph winning a gold medal in track and field at the 1960 Olympics. The authors compare her experiences in Europe, where Black and White people could ride the same buses and swim in the same pools, with her hometown of Clarksville, Tennessee in the Jim Crow South. The juxtaposed scenes provide a simple visual of what life could be like in the United States if lawmakers abolished unjust laws. The authors detail Rudolph’s brave decision to speak out against these laws, often repeating the phrase, “Go, Wilma, go!” in response to her activism. When Clarksville announces a celebratory parade in her honor, Wilma refuses to attend unless Black people can be an equal part of the parade.

I have read a bit about Wilma Rudolph and have heard about her Olympic feats, but I had not read about the parade and her role in fighting back against racism in her small Southern town. I appreciate the story is told simply but does not shy away from detailing events as they happened.

The book addresses sensitive topics like racism and segregation because they are unfortunately part of Rudolph’s lived experience. Davis and Long include an authors’ note at the end, if grownups want to extend the conversation with their young readers. Pair this with the Wilma Rudolph book in the Little People, Big Dreams series by Ma Isabel Sanchez Vegara for a full look at Rudolph’s life. I would recommend this book for children ages 6-9 who are interested in sports, history, and biographies.

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Another recent favorite read is The Blackwoods by acclaimed young adult author Brandy Colbert. In this 2024 intergenerational novel, Colbert tells the story of legendary Hollywood matriarch Blossom Blackwood and her prodigious children and grandchildren. Blossom’s story begins in the 1960s as she grows up in Hollywood and becomes an acclaimed actress. She must fight back against societal expectations, racism, relationships, and other barriers in pursuit of her dreams.

Colbert tells the story of the Blackwood family as a whole, though Blossom’s great-granddaughters Ardith and Hollis are the other main characters. Ardith and Hollis are best friends but have taken very different paths. Ardith is a famous actress in her own right, having taken after her grandmother and her mother, who she tragically lost as a young child. Hollis is figuring out how to carve her own path at her prestigious school while living in the shadow of the Blackwood name. Both girls, however, are trying to push back against societal and familial expectations while staying true to themselves. Ardith and Hollis are managing their own issues and relationships, but they also remain committed to their family. The Blackwoods are a strong family, though they are not perfect, and I enjoyed reading about how they remained committed to one another.

I love a good intergenerational story, and Colbert executes this type of story well. I appreciated all three characters’ stories, personal struggles, and their connections to one another. In her author’s note, Colbert details the research she conducted on Black Hollywood, and how the Blackwoods are an amalgamation of many Hollywood families. I appreciate the authentic glimpse into early Hollywood, specifically through the lens of an African American actress, and I am interested in learning more. This book addresses some challenging topics, but I think fans of intergenerational novels, historical fiction, and contemporary fiction will enjoy The Blackwoods.  Although it is geared toward teen readers ages 15 and up, Colbert’s novel has crossover appeal for adult readers.

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Creation Lake by Rachel Kushner

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It’s little wonder that Rachel Kushner’s Creation Lake made it onto numerous “Best Books of 2024” lists. Through the voice of Sadie Smith, a mercenary spy, we’re told of her infiltration into a farming commune in southwestern France. As with Sadie’s real name, her employer is unknown. But it’s clear that clandestine corporate interests view this commune as a major threat to large-scale agribusiness expansions. Regardless, it’s not the spy craft that elevated this novel to critical acclaim. It’s the uniqueness and depth of Kushner’s writing. Kushner primarily delves into two characters, taking us inward and—at times—back tens of thousands of years.

We know this much about Sadie: she’s 34, a Berkeley PhD dropout in rhetoric, and a former (fired) FBI agent. She’s also quite the user of people. To be fair, a spy is a user by trade. But it feels different with Sadie. It’s as though she disdains the subjects she manipulates simply because they are so easily manipulated. Sadie feels little remorse, for she believes most people are poseurs of some sort when they adopt their own respective identities. “People can sometimes pretend so thoroughly that they forget they are pretending. At which point, it could even be said that they are no longer pretending.” In this instance, the group Sadie pretends to join is known as the Moulinards.

Sadie’s contacts point her to a Parisian (Lucien) who is old friends with an influential commune leader. Within a matter of months, Sadie and Lucien are living together, moving her closer to the commune. It’s yet another easy exploitation, for she already knew Lucien “believed he deserved to fall in love.” At the same time, she accesses the email account of the Moulinards’ spiritual leader, Bruno Lacombe.

For a cult to exist, it must orbit an individual who alone possesses “the truth.” As with many cult leaders, Bruno rejects civilization, known among the activist communities as an “anti-civver.” Bruno in fact doesn’t even live with the Moulinards. He spends most of his time in a cave, worshiping a failed species: the Neanderthals, or Thals, as Bruno calls them. Ostensibly, Bruno steps out of the dark long enough to occasionally use his daughter’s computer, sending missives to the group on what he’s gleaned down in the deep.

Bruno laments the world that was lost when the Neanderthals went extinct. Because we know—and live—how the human drama is playing out, the Neanderthal world is a tabula rasa for Bruno, and for anyone who wants to cleanse their mind of commodified images. This deprogramming takes place underground, by the “modalities and visions that darkness” promises.

Sound ridiculous? Of course. It’s ready-made to mock. But does Kushner give it depth nevertheless? That she does.

As Sadie winds her way closer to the Moulinards, Kushner not only returns to Bruno’s disquisitions, but to the life traumas that sent him into darkness. After surreptitiously reading Bruno’s emails, Sadie questions whether the commune’s inhabitants actually understand and deserve Bruno’s insights. Such questions are not part of Sadie’s mission, of course. But, then again, you don’t have to be a spy yourself to see that she’s at risk of losing control.

Still, Sadie performs her role well, eliminating potential threats to her mission by offering preemptive threats, as she does to an older French man who questions her identity. Her return threat leaves him looking “dejected and childish, like I had just taken something that belonged to him, and broken it, and handed it back.” However, when traveling by high-speed train through the countryside and becoming startled by the sudden appearance of another high-speed train traveling from the opposite direction, we know it means more than Sadie being startled. A reckoning is afoot.

One early morning, Sadie looks outside and says, “For all its fame, rosy-finger dawn leaves no prints.” We can substitute “Sadie” for “dawn” in that sentence. With Sadie, how long can she keep these disappearing acts up?

There’s piercing intelligence in Kushner’s writing. It’s not just her crackling writing style, where a hill left devoid of trees via logging looks “like the scalp of someone with an autoimmune condition.” Kushner writes Sadie as a scary smart individual who knows there are always sectarians among radicals, where a division can be made that will kill the whole.

It’s clear to Sadie that the existence of a charismatic leader speaks more to what the followers need to believe than what the leader is saying. Taken further, it’s why people are so credulous of the fantastical. Cryptozoology endures because people want to believe that there’s evidence of the unexplained. Why are there still Bigfoot sightings? It’s because people want to believe in Bigfoot. Even Bruno concedes as much.

The questions Bruno elicits within Sadie are more complicated. To be sure, Bruno’s theories at least point to a fossil record. After that, it’s a whole lot of conjecture. But, in the end, we’re not really talking about Neanderthals. To Sadie, it’s like waking up in the middle of the night and confronting your true self. “When people face themselves, alone, the passions they have been busy performing all day, and that they rely on to reassure themselves that they are who they claim to be, to reassure their milieu of the same, those things fall away.” It’s “the four a.m. reality of being.”

It’s fitting that Bruno exists only to Sadie through his writing and that he doesn’t even know of her existence. When orchestrated events arrive and things become tense with the Moulinards, Sadie—detaching, as always—says to herself, “You people are not real to me. No one is.” This could have been just as easily said by Bruno. In many ways, it’s time for Sadie to step into her own metaphorical cave.

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Review by Jason Sullivan

Unforgiven by Shelley Shepard Gray

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Sarah, our adult programming coordinator, talked about the Adult Winter Reading Challenge in her last review. To finish the challenge, you have to read five books from the categories given by the end of January. I needed a couple more books and chose a book from the New Large Print collection for the category ‘One Word Title’.

Unforgiven by Shelley Shepard Gray is set in Crittenden County, Kentucky. Tabitha Yoder is a recluse and an outcast. She doesn’t leave her house or answer the door except for her sister Mary. The former school teacher was once warm and friendly but that was before Leon Yoder.

Tabitha began teaching at the Amish school when she was 17 years old. Her students, including Seth Zimmerman, loved her. But it wasn’t long before her marriage to Leon was announced and she had to quit. Many in their Amish community knew something was wrong in the marriage but they looked the other way. Then Leon beat her so badly that she was hospitalized and lost her unborn child.

With help from others Tabitha divorced her abuser and he went to jail. The Amish community counseled her to not break her vows and when she went through with the divorce, she became an outcast. She makes baskets to sell to support herself and her only contact is Mary. Mary’s husband doesn’t approve of the divorce and limits Mary’s contact with her. Once a month Mary and her sons bring food and pick up baskets to take to a broker to be sold in bigger cities.

Tabitha has another visitor but doesn’t answer the door for him. Seth Zimmerman comes by and does chores for her. She never answers his knock and sometimes he leaves a note with food or to tell her what he has done.

Seth does chores for those in the community to make amends and because he is a good man. Seth is also an outcast but not because he divorced. He is an ex-con. Seth came to the rescue of a young woman, Bethanne, who was being assaulted. In the struggle, the attacker fell and hit his head on a rock. He died and Seth was charged. Seth didn’t fight it and spent 3 years in prison.

Seth is a few years younger than Tabitha and briefly was a student of hers. He had a crush on her then and still has feelings for her but comes by because he feels she was wronged. His hope is one day she will trust him enough to open the door.

Tabitha can’t help but watch when Seth comes by and her innate kindness and good manners leaves her feeling guilty about not answering his knock. One day she gathers her courage and gets together a small thank you gift and opens the door.

The simple act of opening the door changed Tabitha’s solitary existence. With the blossoming of their friendship Tabitha takes a step toward reconnecting with life. And life involves relationships.

Tabitha only has Mary but Seth has a family even though the relationship is strained. He also has Elias, a friend who stood by him through his incarceration. Elias is now asking him to involve himself with Bethanne’s family. Seth is uncomfortable with their gratitude in saving Bethanne. Her younger brother, Lott, is acting wildly and Elias believes it has to do in part with the attack on Bethanne. Seth is reluctant to get involved until he learns that Lott wants to court Seth’s sister Melonie.

Tabitha is more than willing to provide a listening ear and counsel to Seth and they grow closer. Tabitha is finally becoming more comfortable and starts venturing out into the community. Then she gets a call – Leon is out and may be heading back to Crittenden County. Can Seth keep Tabitha safe or will she even allow it?

I’m not a regular reader of Amish fiction but this was a gentle read with sympathetic main characters and an engaging story. Even though Tabitha and Seth were outcasts from their community they didn’t lose their faith and that is a strong theme throughout the novel.

If you need to fill another category in your Winter Reading Challenge, you might give this quick, gentle read a try.

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Review by Patty Crane, Reference Librarian

A Psalm for the Wild-Built by Becky Chambers

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Becky Chambers’ A PSALM FOR THE WILD-BUILT is a small book, but it means a lot to me. I’ve actually read it twice: once when the library bought it back in 2021 and now a second time. I love its optimistic view of the future and the ways that Chambers’ world incorporates nature and technology simultaneously.

The main character, Sibling Dex, is a tea monk whose role in society is to travel from settlement to settlement. At each stop, Dex sets up their tea service and invites people to come tell their troubles over a cup of tea. Sibling Dex can offer advice or simply listen to their concerns, whichever the patron prefers.

Dex has been living this life for a few years, but suddenly they have an uncontrollable urge to change everything. To leave their routine behind and explore the wild – hoping to find crickets.

The book is set in the distant future on a lush, forested moon called Panga. The ecology is very similar to Earth, but crickets have gone extinct in all of the inhabited areas of Panga, so Dex has never experienced them firsthand.

When Dex learns of an abandoned monastery that once had a cricket population, they decide to go see for themself if the crickets are still there.

Panga is covered in roads left over from the Factory Age, a time in Panga’s history similar to our modern Earth. Those roads have not been maintained in hundreds of years and Dex is riding a pedal-driven cart with their house on the back. Needless to say, much of the journey is difficult.

After a few days of traveling alone, Dex encounters a robot named Mosscap who asks them “what do you need, and how might I help?”

Dex and Mosscap’s meeting is an event with historical significance. Robots and humans have not directly interacted since the Parting Promise.

In the distant past, the robots of Panga woke up – they suddenly gained consciousness without any human intervention; no one knows why. After that awakening, the humans and the robots came together and it was decided that they would separate from each other until such time as the robots chose to return.

Mosscap is acting as a representative of the robots. Its plan was to enter human society, ask the questions it has asked Dex, and see if the robots returning now would improve all of their lives in a meaningful way.

The two travelers decide to travel together, but the trip does not get any easier. Because they were raised to believe that robots should not be used to do menial labor, Dex has a hard time accepting Mosscap’s help at first. Eventually, the two are able to find a balance and work together to complete their journey.

As I said in my introduction, A PSALM FOR THE WILD-BUILT is a very optimistic book. The people living on Panga have found ways to thrive without destroying the ecosystem of the planet. They focus on repairing the things they have and preserving the wilderness around them. Dex is very unusual for deciding to stray from the path and journey out into the wider world.

 

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Book review by Alyssa Berry, Technical Services Librarian

Favorite Reads of 2024

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Happy New Year and welcome to 2025! As with past years, I like to kick off the new year by reflecting on what I read during the previous year. And 2024 was a good one, reading-wise for me. I love writing each title down and keeping track of the total I read; with this year’s grand total being 50. That is a big number for me, and just slightly more than the goal I set for myself. I am thrilled to have read the books I did.  So much so, I had a hard time narrowing my list to a sharable length. There were so many good ones! I hope you are as happy with your 2024 books, too. If not, do not fret, I am sure 2025 is going to be your year.

Of those fifty titles, I would like to tell you about a few of my favorites.  Below are my top ten picks, in no particular order:

THE KITCHEN FRONT by Jennifer Ryan 

Four women, from a rural town outside of London, compete in a four week cooking contest for a chance to co-host a BBC radio program focused on providing easy to make recipes with local ingredients that will stretch food ratios during the second year of World War II.  

The contestants include a pair of estranged sisters, one married to a lord and living in the lap of luxury, the other recently widowed, living in their dilapidated childhood home with her three boys cooking baked goods for locals in order to feed her family; the Lady’s cook and scullery maid are the third set of competitors and finally, a professional trained chef from London that is hiding out in the rural countryside.  

It is like The Great British Bake Off combined with Downton Abbey, if it took place during WWII, when food and resources were scarce. The characters and their stories are the highlight of this clever novel. Ryan does a bang up job of creating four distinct, flawed, characters that readers will be pulling for. By the end readers will be hard pressed to know which contestant they are hoping will win. 

EROTIC STORIES FOR PUNJABI WIDOWS by Balli Kaur Jaswal   

Nikki, a daughter of Indian immigrants, lives in a modern West London neighborhood. She feels pressure from her mother to be more traditional like her Sikh sister Mindi who is looking to have an arranged marriage. Nikki prefers a more Western way of living and after dropping out of law school she has kept herself busy tending bar. In need of cash to help her family, she applies to teach creative writing at a community center in the Punjabi community. 

Little does she know, due to some miscommunication, the widows who sign up for her class are expecting to be taught basic English skills. After one of the widows shares a collection of erotic stories with the women in class, Nikki’s students convince her to use the class to help them share their own stories. Even though doing so could put her job and her students reputations on the line. Through her work with the women she inadvertently draws the attention of the community’s “moral police” and she is soon caught up in helping solve the death of a young woman. 

It was a pure delight to read this one! It is not all fun and laughs because some of the topics are pretty heavy, but Jaswal does a nice job meshing the storylines so that it is very readable. She also does a great job crafting a story that shares about a culture many know little about. It is relatable, humorous and compelling.  

THE ONE HUNDRED YEARS OF LENNI & MARGOT by Marianne Cronin

Get your Kleenex ready, this one is not for those who are scared to tear up while reading a book. And this story is well worth the price of a few tears.  Seventeen year old Lenni and eight-three year old Margot meet through a series of fortuitous events in the Glasgow Princess Royal Hospital where they are both patients. Little do either know they will become fast friends and work together to create something larger than themselves that they will share with the world. 

The characters in this book feel so real thanks to Lenni’s narration and her relationship with each.  She may be a patient in a terminal ward at the hospital, but she never lets that stop her. She visits the church and befriends Father Arthur, she visits the art room and finds Pippa and Margot, she builds a repertoire with her main nurse and even takes time to get to know the hospital porter. Margot’s stories are delightful and heartbreaking at the same time, much like life. 

My favorite quote from the book: “What I mean is, you’re not dying right now. In fact, right now you’re living.”   

ALL THE COLORS OF THE DARK by Chris Whitaker

Set in the fictional town of Monta Clare, Missouri, residents are left wondering about the failed kidnapping of Misty Meyer, a beautiful teenage girl from a prominent family. Instead of the original target, Patches Macauley, an unlikely hero from the wrong side of the tracks, is unaccounted for. Most of the townsfolk assume he is dead, but his best (and only) friend Saint Brown is relentless in her belief that he is alive. 

Chris Whitaker’s newest book has much going on, making it hard to describe, but that is part of the beauty. The writing is vivid and at times challenging to decipher, but in a compelling way.  This is not a book where you can flip forward several chapters, or even to the end, to find out what happens. It is written in such a way that you have to read it closely or you might not fully understand the author’s meaning. He takes his time sharing details and lets the drama build, maximizing the emotional toll the story is sure to have on readers. 

One of my favorite elements was the fictional small Missouri town. Having grown up in a small Missouri town, all the elements are there – neighbors who know everything about each other, messy family dramas, half-hidden secrets and flawed townspeople.  It is such a spot on depiction that it had me Googling Monta Clare to see if it was a real town. 

THE EMOTIONAL LIVES OF TEENAGERS: RAISING CONNECTED, CABLE, AND COMPASSIONATE ADOLESCENTS by Lisa Damour Ph.D

Dr. Lisa Damour is a clinical psychologist who specializes in working with teenagers. I first heard of her while listening to an Armchair Expert podcast and was hooked and knew immediately that I had to read the book they referenced in the podcast. 

Here is a description from an Amazon customer reviewer that I think concisely explains the book, “Dr. Lisa’s book is an invaluable tool for parents navigating the tumultuous teenage years. It delves into the intricacies of teenage emotions and offers practical guidance for parents on how to effectively support and guide their teens.” 

I read this one during the last few months of my son’s first year in middle school. It was so good and so helpful to me because it reminded me of what he was going through as a pre-teen. Nowadays, if I am talking to another parent of a teen, I almost always recommend it to them. I cannot help myself. It feels like a road map to teenagehood.  I regret that I did not read it before my son started sixth grade, but better late than never. This has been an invaluable resource to me.  

FUNNY STORY by Emily Henry

I wrote a full review for this one in June 2024, but could not pass up a chance to mention it again. 

The book’s main character, Daphne Vincent, loves a good story. She especially loves how her fiancé Peter would tell the story of how they met – in a park, on a windy day, with Daphne trying to retrieve her hat, and eventually, getting some assistance from Peter. Though unbeknownst to love-struck Daphne, their break up on the night of Peter’s bachelor party when he dumps Daphne for his childhood best friend Petra, will prove an even more interesting story than their first meeting.

After the breakup Daphne is not sure what to do, but ends up accepting an invitation from Miles, Petra’s ex-boyfriend, to move into the apartment that he and Petra used to share. In this new chapter of Daphne’s life she and Miles become close, but there are several misunderstandings involving the ex’s, and Daphne’s mostly absent father who springs a surprise visit on her, that get in the way of their happiness. Ultimately, Daphne has to decide what is most important to her and whether she will leave Michigan for a new start. 

The characters are well drawn and relatable.  Of course I especially love that Henry made Daphne a librarian and that the whole book is about a “story” or rather, multiple “stories” that converge to make up a wonderful read!  It is clever, and while nothing is too surprising, it all fits and makes the book compelling and easy to read. 

THE HUSBANDS by Holly Gramazio

One night after her friend’s bachelor party Lauren returns home to her flat only to discover that her husband Michael is waiting. The issue – she is not married. Or at least not that she can remember. Though her phone, where there are photos of their wedding, tells another story.   After doing some quick research, she discovers that she and Michael have been married for several years. As she tries to get her mind around this Michael goes up into the attic to change a lightbulb and down comes a new husband. 

Lauren soon learns that the attic is like a husband factory – one goes up, a new one comes down.  Each time a new one appears, Lauren has no memory of their relationship or what their life has looked like, and each time her life is slightly different – house decor, job, friends, etc.  Sometimes she is happy with her current husband, but most of the time she is always wondering what her “next” life/husband will be/look/act like.

This book has such a clever premise and I think it would make a great book discussion title because most everyone would have a different opinion on how Lauren (and themselves) would handle the predicament. Debut author Gramazio does a good job of creating a compelling story, though I felt it got a little off kilter the longer it went (or maybe it was just a little too long), but I was still really happy with the way she wrapped it up.  

THE ROM-COMMERS by Katherine Center

I wrote a full review for this one in November 2024, but could not pass up a chance to mention it again. 

Emma Wheeler has been the full-time caretaker for her father, who suffers from a traumatic brain injury, for a decade, while her younger sister Sylvia finished high school and college. But now it’s Emma’s turn to do something she loves, so when she gets an opportunity to rewrite a romantic comedy with her favorite screenwriter Charlie Yates, she packs her bags and heads to Los Angeles.  

But when she arrives she realizes that not all the things her agent told her are true. Instead of her dream writing experience she is soon playing a starring role in a drama where Charlie Yates, who turns out to be a grump, is refusing to work with her. However, Emma is not one to give up so easily on her dreams and she quickly devises a plan for getting the script rewritten and if she can change Charlie’s mind about love, all the better. 

Bestselling author Katherine Center has outdone herself with her latest offering. It is funny, clever, sassy and relatable. Plus, it is perfect for readers looking for a romantic comedy without any spice. Emma and Charlie’s relationship is sweet and the witty banter and humor they have with each other is spot on. I would give Center’s latest addition to the rom-com genre a perfect ten.

THE WEDDING PEOPLE by Alison Espach

For years it has been Phoebe Stone’s dream to visit Cornwall Inn in Newport, Rhode Island with her husband Matt, but after a series of events that leave her single, she decides on a final splurge for herself. Upon her arrival she is mistaken for a wedding guest, since the hotel is booked out for a large wedding party. Despite Phoebe’s protests and even blunt honesty about why she is staying at the hotel, she forms an unlikely connection with the bride and ends up taking on some unexpected duties to help with the wedding.

It is likely you have seen this title promoted in other places throughout the year.  It is a Read With Jenn Pick and was on the New York Times bestseller list. The blue, white and sand colored cover leaves an impression. It features a set of arms, sticking up from ocean waves, one giving a peace sign and the other holding a champagne bottle. At first glance it seems like a fluffy beach read, but the content is heavier, with divorce and mid-life crisis topics explored, but also includes lighter topics of friendship, connection and caring to provide balance. Espach hit a nerve with this one.   

ROMANTIC COMEDY by Curtis Sittenfeld

I wrote a full review for this one in March 2024, but could not pass up a chance to mention it again. 

Sally Milz is a sketch writer who works for a late-night live comedy show called The Night Owls. She has been unlucky in love on several occasions, most notable a divorce right after finishing college. She has sworn off dating anyone at work, and while she has the occasional no-strings attached hookup her life is almost solely focused on her work at The Night Owls. This all changes after meeting Noah Brewster, one of the show’s guest hosts, and they hit it off.  

Author Curtis Sittenfeld is insightful and funny. I loved her writing style and how she created Sally’s and Noah’s characters.  The character dialogue seemed witty and believable and the relationships genuine. When reading I felt like Sally’s insecurities were something most everyone could relate to. I laughed out loud on numerous occasions and just found the storyline was so clever.  Plus, Sittenfeld’s secondary characters – Sally’s friends, the staff at TNO, even Sally’s stepfather – were drawn convincingly and added depth to the book. 

 

And that is a wrap for 2024. Thanks for taking the time to share in my reflection and reading about some of my favorites.  I am excited to see what 2025 brings and I wish you a wonderful new year of reading! 

Written by: Jeana Gockley, Joplin Public Library Director