Book Buzz: 19th Century Maine, Christmas Miracles, and the Joys of Being Crafty

Every month, we’re profiling new-ish releases that are getting critical and commercial buzz. For December, we’re looking at a re-released historical novel about the lives of 3 women in Maine in the 1800s, the latest book in a popular holiday series, and a celebration of folks who work with their hands.

Book Buzz: African Magical Realism, Monstrous YA, and Ozark Reminiscences

Every month, we’re profiling new-ish releases that are getting critical and commercial buzz. For October, we’re looking at a family epic tinged with magical realism, a YA novel perfect for Halloween, and a good-natured memoir about life on the Lake of the Ozarks in the 1960s.

Book Buzz: Wizard of Oz Fan Fiction,Terrible Children’s Stories, and Slime

Every month, we’re profiling new-ish releases that are getting critical and commercial buzz. For September, we’re looking at a fictional behind-the-scenes look of a Hollywood classic, a zany but clever graphic novel for kids, and a book about slime (no, really).

Book Buzz: Neurotics Broadening Their Horizons, 19th Century Frontier Romances, Real-Life WWII Partisans

Every month, we’re profiling new-ish releases that are getting critical and commercial buzz. For August, we’re looking at a surprisingly sweet romance, a trilogy of historical romances set in 19th century Oklahoma, and a history of British secret operations in France during WWII.

Old Favorites: Larry McMurtry

We’re focusing on newer books, movies, and television shows for 2019, but that doesn’t mean we’re entirely ignoring old favorites! After all, what’s that saying–what’s old may just become new again (or something like that)?

Larry McMurtry celebrated his 83rd birthday earlier this month. Anyone who’s known me any length of time knows I’m a big Lonesome Dove fan. But there is a lot more to McMurtry’s work than that series, great as it is on its own, or even just his Western novels. And if you’re interested in exploring more of his work, well, the library has you covered. . . .

Book Buzz: Aquatic Friendships, Austen in Pakistan, and a Magician’s Secrets

Every month, we’re profiling new-ish releases that are getting critical and commercial buzz. For June, we’re looking at historical fiction set on a unique Korean island, a retelling of Pride and Prejudice that is set in modern Pakistan, and a memoir from a magic enthusiast/amateur magician.

Book Buzz: Ack Ack Romance, Planting by the Signs, and Gamer Trivia

Every month, we’re profiling new-ish releases that are getting critical and commercial buzz. For March, we’re looking at a historical romance set during World War II, a classic farming almanac, and a not so-classic spin on a classic book of records.

Exploring Other Worlds in Literature

The Great American Read‘s most wide-ranging episode is undoubtedly its October 16th “Other Worlds” episode. The selections include historical fiction, fantasy, dystopian fiction, and science fiction.

In the process, it asks viewers what is their favorite type of “other world” to escape into through literature. Do you prefer to dive into the past with historical fiction or travel to foreign countries or venture into outer space or even transport yourself to other worlds entirely?

Other Worlds voting bracket

Voting for the Great Berryville Read continues this week with a new category! It is the last one. Next week will be the final round!

Welcome to Bracket #5 – Great Berryville Read Other Worlds Edition. Next week on Tuesday, October 15th, the Great American Read episode is all about the “other places” literature can take you.

This episode focuses on books that transport you far into the past, way into the distant future, and even into actual other worlds. We’ve assembled a bracket that requires you, gentle reader, to pick your favorites and decide which of these 16 books should advance to the next round of the Great Berryville Read voting.

Old Favorites: Ambrose Bierce

I was going to substitute this feature with something else about the Great American Read, but then I realized that Ambrose Bierce’s birthday was this coming Sunday and, well, I just had to pen an ode to one of my favorite writers, AKA Bitter Bierce, The Diabolical Bierce, The Wickedest Man in San Francisco, The Rascal with the Sorrel Hair, The Laughing Devil, and (last but not least) The Devil’s Lexicographer. (I think I hit all the high points and included all the nicknames.)

Now, these nicknames make Bierce seem like evil incarnate, but he wasn’t. Honest!

He was just really, really, really, really grouchy, even by 19th century standards. And according to biographers, he was a crotchety, eccentric kid, so maybe when he entered this world on June 24, 1842, in rural Ohio, he was already destined to be one of the world’s best known literary misanthropes. (Though certain life events certainly did help him along that path.)

If you know of Bierce, it is likely because his two most famous works: his delightfully mean Devil’s Dictionary and his haunting, surreal Civil War short story “An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge.” These are both great, but there’s a lot more to Bierce than meets the eye. . . .