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The New Oil Painting by Kimberly Brooks

 

Title:   The New Oil Painting 

Author:  Kimberly Brooks

Review: As someone who is new to oil painting, I love this book! While keeping with an easy-to-understand layout, it helps explain even the most confusing aspects of oil painting. I highly recommend to anyone who has been too intimidated to try using oils as a medium!

Review by:  Bethany

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Will There Be Wine? by Whitney Cubbison

 

Title:   Will There Be Wine? 

Author:  Whitney Cubbison

Review:  This book was recommended to me by a long time younger friend. The author is her dear friend. It's Cubbison's first book and I do hope she continues to write. She is delightful! The book is sectioned under "romance" which is a genre I rarely read. However, if you are looking for a really fun, real life, down to earth, terrific book, get this one. The author lives in Paris. You tell me what's real and what's fiction!


Review by:  Jan

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Good Omens by Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett

 

Title:  Good Omens  

Author:  Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett

Review:  Good Omens is an absolutely delightful read. Gaiman and Pratchett have woven this wonderfully humorous and intricate story about the values of friendship and loyalty, chosen family, and the end of the world itself— while at the same time incorporating the perfect amount of spookiness! This book has everything; from the Antichrist and biker gangs to angels running bookshops, and its one adventure that shouldn’t be missed!


Review by:  Jo

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The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson

Title:  The Haunting of Hill House 

Author: Shirley Jackson

Review:

This is a story where the horror is subtle, creeping, yet visceral, and utterly terrifying. One might think the horror is Hill House, yet we also find it within the characters as we witness one descend into madness. It leaves us to question: is it the house or one's own psychology that is the true horror?
 
Review by:  Layne
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Coraline by Neil Gaiman

Title:  Coraline
Author: Neil Gaiman

Review:  This is one of my all time favorite books. Coraline's family just moved into a new flat, and there is so much to explore!

Most intriguing to her is the mysterious door in the drawing room, which seems to go nowhere, then leads to another world. What delights, or horrors, are waiting on the other side?

 
Review by:  Kiana

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Migrations by Charlotte McConaghy

Title:  Migrations 

Author: Charlotte McConaghy

Review:  Exciting, unexpected, suspenseful, an amazing book. Such a powerful book in so many ways. Not for the lighthearted, but I do highly recommend it. I also recommend Once there Were Wolves by the same author.

Review by:  Jan

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The Poppy War by R.F. Kuang

Title:  The Poppy War
Author: R.F. Kuang
Review: Anyone who enjoys historical fantasy must add The Poppy War to their reading list! This thrilling and fast-paced title follows Rin, a student at an elite military school that discovers she has the ability to channel the power of the gods as a shaman; an ability that will change the tides of the war that is being waged against her country. 
Review by:  Jo
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Back to the Bright Before by Katherin Nolte

Title:  Back to the Bright Before
Author:  Katherin Nolte

Review:   Pet and her younger brother, Simon, go on a magical treasure hunting adventure (along with a chicken and a pony!) to save their family in this action-packed middle grade novel.
Review by:  Jannelle
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Going Zero by Anthony McCarten

Title:  Going Zero

Author: Anthony McCarten

Review:  Evade capture for 30 days to win 3 million dollars. Seems doable?  Not when the Fusion Initiative, a new piece of spyware created by tech genius Cy Baxter, is the thing hunting you. This tech thriller is full of twists & turns!

Review by:  Jannelle

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Ariadne by Jennifer Saint

Title:  Ariadne

Author: Jennifer Saint

Review: Ariadne and Phaedra, princesses of Crete, have lived under the shame of their family's worst mistake for most of their lives: Their brother, the Minotaur. When Theseus, Prince of Athens, comes to kill the Minotaur, both girls leap at the chance to help end their family's curse. But will it guarantee a happy ending for them both? This is such a great retelling of Greek Mythology that follows two very different sisters

Review by:  Bethany

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Homeland by R.A. Salvatore

Title:  Homeland

Author: R.A. Salvatore

Review: Drizzt’s story is a classic, and it’s always a good idea to start at the beginning! Following Drizzt’s childhood experiences and training in the Underdark, his struggles with morality, and, finally, his escape from House Do’Urden, Homeland is an essential for those who enjoy the ‘swords and sorcery’ style of fantasy— or just those who love the Forgotten Realms setting in general!   

Review by:  Jo

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Beartown by Fredrik Backman

Title:  Beartown
Author: Fredrik Backman

Review:  Because I have never been into the sport of ice hockey, I thought this book and the rest of the series would not be for me. I was so wrong. I loved Beartown! The storytelling, the characters, all of it - fabulous. I cannot wait to read the next two in the series.

Review by:  Jan

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Knowing What We Know by Simon Winchester

Title:  Knowing What We Know

Author: Simon Winchester

Review:

How did knowledge make its way from ancient times up to the present day?  How do we transfer what we know now to each succeeding generation?  From records imprinted on clay tablets to modern day electronics, this book is a wide ranging account of how we got here.

Review by:  Ben

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Leonardo Da Vinci by Walter Isaacson

Title:  Leonardo Da Vinci

Author: Walter Isaacson

Review:  Attempting to fit all of the details of one person’s life story into one book is a difficult task in its own right— but Isaacson did a wonderful job of it here! Forging connections between the body of Da Vinci’s scientific work, his art, and  his complicated personal life, the final result is one worthy of a five-star rating! This was an insightful and thought-provoking read, and even those who might not have a great deal of interest in the Italian Renaissance will undoubtedly find it worthy of their attention.

Review by:  Jo

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House of Hollow by Krystal Sutherland

Title:  House of Hollow

Author: Krystal Sutherland

Review:   As children, Iris Hollow and her two sisters vanished into thin air, reappearing one month later with no memories, their hair turning white, their eyes darkening to black, and the sudden ability to manipulate anyone with their beauty. Years later, Iris's oldest sister disappears once more, triggering a chain of events that lead to the answer that Iris has been too scared to face: what happened to them all those years ago? I absolutely loved the eerie vibe of this book!

Review by:  Bethany

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Once There Were Wolves by Charlotte McConaghy

Title:  Once There Were Wolves

Author: Charlotte McConaghy

Review:   Anyone with an interest (or fascination!) in wolves will love this book. Once I started it, I could not put it down. I loved the writing. I loved/was saddened by the story. (I also highly recommend Migrations by the same author.)


Review by:  Jan

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Boy in a White Room by Karl Olsberg

Title:  Boy in a White Room 

Author: Karl Olsberg

Review:  He wakes up in a white room with no memories of who he is or how he got there.  His only contact with the outside world is Alice, a computer generated voice.  As his story slowly unfolds, he will begin to question what it means to be human and the nature of reality itself. 

 Review by:  Jannelle

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The Watchmaker's Daughter by Larry Loftis

Title:  The Watchmaker's Daughter 

Author: Larry Loftis

Review: This is the amazing story of Corrie Ten boom, who was one of the first female Dutch watchmakers, who during World War II, sheltered Jews and refugees from the Nazies. The story describes her and her family’s courage and how they  would face down the evil of the Nazis. She was a triumph with her faith and her courage. Could not put this book down!! 
Review by:  Julie

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Great Expectations by Charles Dickens

Title:  Great Expectations

Author: Charles Dickens

Review:   This is, in my humble opinion, the greatest coming of age story ever written. A bittersweet, heartwarming tale with classic Dickensian characters, this sweeping tale of the orphan Pip is worth the dense but poetic language. The themes of love, rejection, poverty, and redemption will surely immerse you!

Review by:  Layne

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Culinary Artistry by Andrew Dornenburg

Title:  Culinary Artistry
Author: Andrew Dornenburg

Review: This book is amazing. If you want to step up your culinary game this is the book. This book will go through what pairs well with other foods and vegetables, fruits and sauces, and everything in between helps to bring out the best flavors. This is definitely not a beginners food book, but it is wonderful to pull out when you want to give the best experience for your guest, or to improve your food skills.
Review by:  Julie
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