The Art Thief by Michael Finkel

Title:  The Art Thief  Author: Michael Finkel

Review: This is a fascinating examination of a prolific art thief who did not steal art for profit, but for personal gratification.  It's a well-researched true crime without the tragedy; just a bizarre tale of hubris and obsession that I found quite interesting. 

 Review by:  Layne

The Library: A Fragile History by Andrew Pettegree

Title:  The Library: A Fragile History  Author: Andrew Pettegree Review:  If the words, book, library, history, preservation, peak your interest, this might be a book for you.  I was surprised how fragile libraries are, and shocked at the way so many have met their demise. Review by:  Ben

Love in Winter Wonderland by Abiola Bello

Title:  Love in Winter Wonderland  Author: Abiola Bello Review:  Trey Anderson's family owns a small bookshop called Wonderland that is struggling to stay afloat. He and Ariel Spencer come up with a plan to use social media to save Wonderland. Review by:  Kiana

Sound of Kindness by Amy Ludwig VanDerwater

Title:  Sound of Kindness  Author: Amy Ludwig VanDerwater Review: In times of trouble and turmoil, it's so wonderful to have a beautifully written and illustrated book to remind us of what truly matters. Review by:  Jan

Filmlandia! by David Schmader

Title:   Filmlandia!  Author:  David Schmader Review: Film and television lovers: this is the book for you. This is a well-researched love letter to the cinema of the Pacific Northwest. The entries are concise, easy to read analyses, and it has some fun artwork to boot! Review by:  Layne

Bookshops and Bonedust by Travis Baldree

Title:   Bookshops and Bonedust  Author:  Travis Baldree Review:  This return to the world of Legends and Lattes is a delightfully cozy read, and I loved every bit of it! Viv, a young and ambitious mercenary, suffers an injury while dealing with a fearsome necromancer. As a result, she’s left to recover in an idyllic seaside town populated by a cast of memorable characters and a struggling bookshop… though as Viv soon comes to discover, this small town might not be as peaceful as it had initially appeared… Review by:  Jo

Secret of Cooking by Bee Wilson

Title:  Secret of Cooking  Author: Bee Wilson Review:    Love this new cookbook! This cookbook is user-friendly and makes you think of a good friend, and a cup of tea and some lime and spice poundcake.. which is in this cookbook.  But it does push a little bit out of the norm with roasted carrots to winter  mushroom and pearl barley stew(which I will be trying after thanksgiving).  A wonderful gift, or to add to your favorite cookbooks. Review by:  Julie

The Mysteries by Bill Watterson

Title:  The Mysteries  Author: Bill Watterson Review:   This book is as much about enjoying the art work as the story itself.  Read it slowly, look at the images, and the let the mood surround you. As with many works of art, the viewer/reader is the active participant for the project to find its completion.

Review by:  Ben

The Deficit Myth by Stephanie Kelton

Title:  The Deficit Myth Author:  Stephanie Kelton Review:  If you have even a little interest in the subject of how and why the government spends money,  you’ll do well to read this book.  Because the US is the sole issuer of its own currency, the national budget works quite different than your personal household budget.  This book was real eye opener for me. Review by:  Ben

Abandon by Blake Crouch

Title:  Abandon Author: Blake Crouch Review:  During the winter of 1893, every person in the mining town of Abandon disappeared.  Now Abigail, a journalist, has a chance to explore the remote ghost town to try to solve the mystery of the still missing townspeople.  But someone, or something, doesn't want them in town. Review by:  Jannelle

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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