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Staff Picks: Mindfulness Meditation
by lucroe
Research shows that even a few minutes of meditation a day can reduce anxiety and negative thoughts. Here are just a few beginner-friendly books that might help to nurture your meditation practice.
Mindfulness in Plain English by Bhante Gunaratana | Request Now
First published in 1994, now in this 20th anniversary edition, this is a classic guide by Sri Lankan Buddhist monk, Bhante G. As the title says, it is an easy to follow guide to the understand the benefits of mindfulness meditation, and provides an explanation of what meditation really is, as well as the kind of attitude that you should adopt for best results. Whether you are brand new to the subject, have tried meditating before on your own but come unstuck, or would simply like a fresh perspective that can help you to improve and deepen your practice, this book is an excellent guide for all levels.
Blog Post
Staff Picks: Keep it Cozy This Winter with DIY Titles
by eapearce
From knitting clothing and accessories of all types, to felting cute animals, to making your own wintry wreaths, our collection of titles about cozy hands-on projects will keep you busy all winter long. We have ideas for beginners looking to knit their very first hat to books for folks looking for a challenge and crocheting amigurumi gifts for the holidays or embarking on a detailed cookie-decorating journey. Our selection of DIY crafty books features way more than we can highlight here, so browse our catalog or the shelves at one of our locations next time you’re in to find what piques your interest, and stay warm this winter!
The Year of Cozy: 125 Recipes, Crafts, and Other Homemade Adventures, by Adrianna Adarme | Request Now
This book is separated into months of the year and divided by things you can “do,” things you can “make,” and things you can “live,” which makes it a great starting off point for people looking for a new project but not sure exactly where to begin. With recipes, crafts, and outdoor activities ranging from the simple, which can be completed in an hour or two, to the more complex which might take days or weeks, Adrianna really offers something for everyone in this charming book. Readers who are dog lovers will also enjoy her adorable corgi, who is often featured in the background (and sometimes the foreground!) of her photos of the things she makes and does.
Blog Post
Season's Reading
by muffy
BookPage chose The 10 Best Books of 2023 across all categories and genres.
Chicago Public Library: Best of the Best of 2023
Kirkus Reviews’ Best Fiction of 2023, Best Mysteries and Thrillers; Best Science Fiction and Fantasy, Best Short Fiction, Best 100 Nonfiction Books of 2023.
NPR: 2023 Staff Picks, and how the list came together.
The New York Public Library: Best Books of 2023 (for youth, teens and adults).
The New York Times 100 Notable Books of 2023. This morning (November 28) the list of 10 Best Books of 2023 was released. Listen to the podcast on the selection process.
Time named the The 100 Must-Read Books of 2023, 100 Best Mystery and Thriller Books of All Time (and how they were chosen)
Washington Post shared 50 Notable Works of Fiction, the 10 Best Mystery Novels, the 10 Best Romance Novels, and the 10 Best Feel-Good Books of 2023.
Happy Reading and Gifting.
Blog Post
Staff Picks: Speculative Fiction in Translation
by lucroe
Setting your New Year’s reading agenda? Consider including works translated into English. Although not nearly enough is translated, there are still plenty to choose from even within the speculative fiction subgenres like science fiction, fantasy, dystopian, and horror. Translating is definitely an art form and represents a small portion within these genres. In highlighting these books, we hope that translated works get more reading exposure. If you are interested in more translated speculative fiction, visit the Speculative Fiction in Translation site for further suggested readings.
Tower of Fools by Andrzej Sapkowski, translated from Polish by David French | Request Now
Penned by the author known for the legendary Witcher series, the first in his epic fantasy Hussite trilogy is brimming with rich European history and magic. Originally written in Polish, The Tower of Fools follows a doctor-magician-nobleman who lands himself in the Narrenturm, a notorious asylum in which he must fight to keep his own sanity.
Blog Post
Staff Picks: IndigiLit Book Club
by maddiefancett
The IndigiLit Book Club is a discussion series that celebrates Native American authors and books, across genres, across time, and across the continent. Here's a selection of IndigiLit titles explored by AADL staff throughout the discussion series.
Everything You Wanted to Know About Indians But Were Afraid To Ask by Anton Treuer | Request Now
What's it like for natives who don't look native?" to "Why are Indians so often imagined rather than understood?", and beyond, Everything You Wanted to Know About Indians But Were Afraid to Ask does exactly what its title says for young readers, in a style consistently thoughtful, personal, and engaging. Updated and expanded to include: dozens of new questions and new sections, including a social activism section that explores the Dakota Access Pipeline, racism, identity, politics, and more.
Blog Post
Staff Picks: Reading for Native American History Month
by lucroe
November is National Native American Heritage Month. To celebrate the culture, heritage, & resiliency of Native Americans below you will find books from Native American writers of different genres and formats including Fantasy, Non-fiction, Graphic Novels, Horror, & Historical Fiction. These are just a few of the many Native American authors to enjoy at your library.
To Shape a Dragon’s Breath by Moniquill Blackgoose | Request Now
The Indigenous population of Masquapaug was greatly reduced by the devastating event known as the great dying. Over time, the dragons known as Nampeshiwe disappeared from the island. However, when a young teenager named Anequs discovers a dragon egg and forms a bond with the hatchling, she is hailed as Nampeshiweisit, a member of her people connected to a dragon. In the past, dragons used to coexist with the islanders, helping them ward off autumn storms and bringing prosperity to the land. The Anglish, who have conquered the territory, have their own strict methods of raising dragons and managing their bonded relationships. In order to save her dragon Kasaqua from being killed, Anequs reluctantly agrees to attend an Anglish dragon school. In this unfamiliar environment, surrounded by individuals who believe they are superior to her, Anequs must not only demonstrate that she and Kasaqua can acquire the necessary skills to control their powers, but also prove that they can do so while remaining true to themselves.
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Staff Picks: Washtenaw Reads Shortlist
by nicole
The 2024 Washtenaw Read has been announced! Pick up a copy of this year's chosen read, How the Word Is Passed, then check out these honorable mentions from the list of titles considered for the Washtenaw Read this year.
The Seed Keeper, by Diane Wilson | Request Now
Rosalie Iron Wing has grown up in the woods with her father, Ray, a former science teacher who tells her stories of plants, of the stars, of the origins of the Dakota people. Until, one morning, Ray doesn't return from checking his traps. Told she has no family, Rosalie is sent to live with a foster family in nearby Mankato - where the reserved, bookish teenager meets rebellious Gaby Makespeace, in a friendship that transcends the damaged legacies they've inherited. On a winter's day many years later, Rosalie returns to her childhood home. A widow and mother, she has spent the previous two decades on her white husband's farm, finding solace in her garden even as the farm is threatened first by drought and then by a predatory chemical company. Now, grieving, Rosalie begins to confront the past, on a search for family, identity, and a community where she can finally belong. In the process, she learns what it means to be descended from women with souls of iron - women who have protected their families, their traditions, and a precious cache of seeds through generations of hardship and loss, through war and the insidious trauma of boarding schools.
Blog Post
Staff Picks: Ace Stories
by nicole
Explore identities all across the asexual (or "ace" for short) spectrum, and check out these stories for teens and adults about the lives and relationships of ace people.
Let's Talk About Love, by Claire Kann | Request Now
In this young adult novel, Alice, afraid of explaining her asexuality, has given up on finding love until love finds her. Alice's last girlfriend, Margo, ended things when Alice confessed she's asexual. Now Alice is sure she's done with dating... and then she meets Takumi. She can't stop thinking about him or the rom-com-grade romance feelings she did not ask for. When her blissful summer takes an unexpected turn and Takumi becomes her knight with a shiny library-employee badge, Alice has to decide if she's willing to risk their friendship for a love that might not be reciprocated-- or understood.
Blog Post
Staff Picks: You’ve Got Me Under Your Spell: Paranormal Romances to Cozy Up With!
by eapearce
Fun paranormal romances have had an upsurge in popularity lately and it’s easy to see why! With all the juiciness of a standard romance plus maybe some vampires, werewolves or witches added in, or a unique fantastical setting, they’re transportive reading! Here are a few new additions to the genre that you might want to check out.
A Witch’s Guide to Fake Dating a Demon, by Sarah Hawley | Request Now
Mariel Spark is prophesied to be the most powerful witch in centuries in her famous family, but she’s not particularly interested in brewing potions or casting spells. She prefers baking and gardening to anything magical. When she accidentally summons a demon while baking a cake one day, she finds herself in a bit of a pickle. Formerly known as a ruthless and powerful collector of mortal souls, Ozroth the demon has lost a bit of his fearsomeness ever since a soul bargain went wrong. Despite unrelated goals, can the two work together to get what they both want out of life? And if so, might they just fall in love while going about it? This is a quirky and unique story that will leave readers smiling.
Blog Post
Staff Picks: Haunting Books that Stick with You
by emjane
One of the casualties of being a prolific reader is that it can be challenging for any one book to be memorable. Sure, you know you’ve read it, and probably remember whether you liked it or not, but the specifics get fuzzy. Or is it just me? There are those books, though, that have an eerie quality that just sticks with me. Did I like them? Yes. But is that why I keep thinking about them? Maybe not. If you’re looking for a good book to quietly haunt you, here are four that will always be with me.
Leave the World Behind by Rumaan Alam | Request Now
Amanda and Clay, and their teenage children Archie and Rose, drive from New York City to Long Island to enjoy a week’s vacation outside of the city at a swanky rented house. The first 30-pages or so of this taut novel are relatable details of travel and trying to unwind and minor family drama that quietly build tension: the dark, abandoned pool on the book cover clearly indicates something more sinister. And, with an unexpected knock at the door after dark, the shoe drops. Ruth and G.H., purportedly the owners of the home, show up, seeking refuge after something happened in the city. Something – a blackout? – But maybe something more? The story unfolds with strained relations between the renting family and the owning family, further tightened due to uncertainty of what is happening in the world outside of the vacation home. As a reader, you’re generally kept just as in the dark as the characters are, with the occasional haunting sentence about the near future, dousing all hope that their vacation (and lives) will continue on as expected. The film adaptation of Leave the World Behind is set to hit Netflix next week, and I’m very curious to see how it will translate to screen.