LIBRARY CORNER | 04/28/23

May? How can that be? Our nice, cool spring will soon become sweltering Texas summer. Whatever the weather, you can cool off or warm up in the library and we’ll be here to welcome you.

A welcoming book from the Library Reads May list is Meg Shaffer’s The Wishing Game. “In this magical tale, a beloved children’s author announces a tantalizing game: four fans can compete to win the only copy of his new book. All the contestants are intriguing, but readers will root for Lucy, a teacher’s aide desperate to find the money needed to adopt an orphaned boy.” (5-30) Beth Mills

The Secret Book by Flora Lea is “a poetic tribute to the power of story. Exploring the lifelong effects of the horrors of war, the richly developed characters endure loss that haunts them into adulthood. When a mysterious book appears, it sets in motion a search or answers, making sense of the past, and healing broken hearts.” (5-2) Ron Block

The Witch King is by Martha Wells.  “Kai, the eponymous (and erroneously named) Witch King, traverses two timelines as he helps overthrow an empire and then must deal with the descendants of heroes who live long enough to become villains. This is a fun, tightly plotted epic fantasy with spectacular worldbuilding and pacing.” (5-30) Veronica Kaven-Matasy

Four authors made May’s Hall of Fame. Among them is Steven Rowley with The Celebrants. “This story of four lifelong friends going through the challenges of middle age will make the readers feel like they know each character intimately. Even when tragic events occur, there is still humor and a lot of heart. This is highly recommended for readers looking for a light read with emotional depth.” (5-30) Elizabeth E.

The Senator’s Wife is by Liv Constantine. “After her husband was murdered, Sloane never expected to find happiness, but she did. . .with Whit, who was married to her husband’s killer. Whit considerately hires an aide for Sloane, who has a chronic illness, to help her recover from major surgery. But as she suffers debilitating flare-ups and Whit exhibits suspicious behavior, Sloane wonders whether she will ever get her life back. This thriller will keep readers up well after bedtime.” (5-23) Chris Markley

Christina Lauren’s latest is True Love Experiment. “Romance author Felicity (Fizzy) Chen is asked by documentary filmmaker Connor Prince to find her ‘Golden Match’ on a reality dating show. Readers will love seeing the dynamic between Fizzy and Connor grow through both their perspectives. Fun and light, this is perfect for Bachelor/Bachelorette fans.” (5-16) Rachel Salazar

The final Hall of Fame author is RF Kuang with Yellowface. “Kuang hits it out of the park with eviscerating observations on the publishing world. She asks astute and provoking questions: Who gets to succeed in publishing? Why can we only have a few writers of color in a publisher’s docket at a time? Who gets to call out these transactions and does cancel culture hold the transgressors responsible? As a biracial reader, this hit home, particularly the way it ends with the question: What is the point of writing the great American novel if you’ve manipulated, exploited, and fetishized people of color to get there? This is an excellent example of women’s work that expresses anger, which is rarely shown in contemporary fiction.” (5-16) Molly Nota

Last week at the annual Texas Library Conference I was lucky enough to hear Deborah Roberts introduce her new book, Lessons Learned and Cherished: The Teacher Who Changed My Life. The book is filled with stories of unsung hero teachers who changed lives. I was able to get the book early, but we’ll have it in the library soon. It’s an inspirational book that will have you thinking about the person (or persons) who changed your life.

Happy reading and we’ll look for you in the library.

Helen Thompson, Director – Mount Pleasant Public Library