This Month's Staff Picks
Eileen
The Burnout by Sophie Kinsella
A fan of Kinsella since the Shopaholic days, I dove right into the tale of Sasha, who’s overwhelmed with her corporate job and literally runs into a brick wall escaping from a stressful situation. Armed with good intentions to rest and rejuvenate, she heads off to the seaside resort she loved as a child– which holds some unexpected secrets, and maybe a chance to regain her enthusiasm for life. This story is full of quirky side characters and comic situations with a classic Kinsella happily ever after.
Platforms: book, Libby (audio)
Joe
Sonny Boy: a memoir by Al Pacino
Al Pacino is the ultimate example of a cinematic icon. And a pretty cool guy too. His first leading role was in The Panic in Needle Park in 1971. Four years later he had starred in The Godfather, The Godfather: Part II, Serpico, and Dog Day Afternoon - all considered landmarks in the history of film. The performances were legendary and changed his life forever.
He was also a fixture of avant-garde theater in New York. It’s where he got his start as an actor, and something he returned to time and time again in his life.
He talks of his childhood, his friends, his family, the people who influenced and inspired him in the theater and in film, his weaknesses and strong points, the women he loved, his approach to acting and life in general.
This book is open and it is honest. It reveals Pacino’s vulnerabilities, his sense of humor, the sadness in his life and the joy. A fascinating life story told conversationally - you’ll really end up feeling like you know the man.
Platform: Book, Libby (ebook)
Kelly
The New Knitting Stitch Dictionary by Lydia Klos
With a chill in the air and a whiff of woodsmoke comes official nesting season. It's time to have fun with fiber. Knitting is the focus with this book. I just love a good stitch dictionary and this one has an amazing amount of interesting ones. From simple to more challenging, there is something for every creative knitter. While I confess to being happily only a knitter of simple projects such as scarves, hats and baby blankets, I much prefer to knit based on interesting stitches instead of following specific patterns. Trying new combinations of stitches while making any project can be so much fun for any level of knitter. This book has great color photographs and easy to follow directions for each stitch. There are even stitches/patterns for colorwork, motifs and edgings. We added this book to the BPL collection just a year ago, so it is definitely up to date on trends too. Come check it out along with the other fiber related books on the shelf for knitting, crochet, etc.
Platforms: book
Linda
What To Cook When You Don’t Feel Like Cooking by Caroline Chambers
Wow! The recipes in this cookbook are EXCITING! When was the last time you encountered a cookbook that was a page-turner?
If you’ve been cooking for many years, doing so can become rote and a chore. Learning new recipes and purchasing ingredients you may not use again isn’t appealing. The recipes in this book utilize ingredients many cooks will have on hand: there are very few “exotic” ingredients. Many recipes include a “Riff” and/or “Swap” about the ingredients.
The Contents section organizes the recipes by the amount of prep time: 15-ish minutes; 30 minutes; 45 minutes; 1 hour; and A Little Bit Longer. Obligatory Greens and Obligatory Sweets are included as well. For an alphabetical listing consult the Index.
Following is a sampling of recipes that inspire this cook:
Coconut Curry Ramen & Veggie Noodle Soup
Peanut Chicken Chop
First Date Shrimp Skillet
Sheet Pan Sesame-Ginger Steak & Peppers
Baked Tomato Basil Butter Pasta
Lemon Cake with Crème Fraiche Frosting
The layout and photography contribute to the pleasure cooks will find between the covers of this inspirational cookbook. Bon Appetite!
Platforms: book
Rebecca
Hey, Hun: Sales, Sisterhood, Supremacy, and Other Lies Behind Multi Level Marketing by Emily Lynn Paulsen
“Hey, Hun!” is the eye-opening, dangerous personal story of author Emily Lynn Paulsen rising to the top of the pyramid in a multilevel marketing world. Emily signed up to experience the sisterhood, enjoy fancy cars, and was promised a successful business enterprise. Instead she became an addict, lost relationships with loved ones, and ended up in the rubble of a fallen pyramid scheme.
This nonfiction title sucks you right in from the beginning and doesn’t let you go. Throughout the whole book I had to keep reminding myself that this life truly happened to her and I WAS NOT reading fiction!
Rating: 5/5 stars.
Platforms: book, hoopla (audio)
Samantha
The Lord of the Rings: the Fellowship of the Ring (film)
The Fellowship of the Ring (2001), directed by Peter Jackson, is a visually stunning and emotionally powerful start to The Lord of the Rings trilogy. Based on J.R.R. Tolkien’s classic novel, the film introduces us to a richly detailed world filled with ancient histories, beautiful landscapes, and compelling characters. An excellent introduction to a mesmerizing trilogy that for the most part holds true to the source material, The Fellowship of the Ring is a must-watch for any fantasy lover who longs to lose themselves in an imaginary, fantastical world.
Platforms: DVD
Past Staff Picks
Staff picks October 2024
Staff picks September 2024
Staff picks August 2024
Staff picks July 2024
Staff picks June 2024
Staff Picks May 2024