It’s Book Lovers’ Day! 

We asked some of our staff what their favorite books were and why. Here are their answers: 

Alan, Community Librarian – Killers of the Flower Moon by David Grann
“My favorite recent read was Killers of the Flower Moon, about the Osage murders in Oklahoma. This book was exhaustively researched by David Grann, an amazing author who also wrote The Lost City of Z and The Devil and Sherlock Holmes. Leonardo DiCaprio bought the movie rights and will play the lead. The cast includes Robert De Niro and Martin Scorsese is directing. It is scheduled for theatrical release in early ’22. It should be incredible.”

Elizabeth, Library Assistant – Theft of Swords by Michael J. Sullivan
“Some of the best world building I have ever read, short of the master that is Tolkien himself. What started off as a simple story of knights, wizards, magic, and princesses grew into a full-fledged round story that made the following two books my favorite series of all time. Fantasy lovers, this is the book for you.”

Ms. Jenn, Teen Librarian – The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern 
“This was super hard to choose! I’m picking The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern. It’s such a unique book with the right amount of magic and the right amount of love story. The writing is so detailed, I feel like I can walk through the circus and taste the snacks. I fall in love with the circus and the characters every time I read it.”

Jordan, Marketing Coordinator – A Court of Thorns and Roses series by Sarah J. Maas
“This is one series I re-read at least once a year, if not two or three times. The world-building, character development, and edge-of-your-seat storylines keep me coming back for more every time. Sarah J. Maas created a fierce character in not only Feyre, the main character, but in each and every one of the Night Court members. A Court of Thorns and Roses is being developed into a television series on Hulu and I, for one, can’t wait to see how well it’s adapted.”

Lucy, Shelver – The Book Thief by Markus Zusak
“It’s the only book that’s made me cry. It also has a lot of subtle jokes and really makes one think about life and childhood.”

Lyndsey, Cataloging Librarian – Check, Please! by Ngozi Ukazu
“Check, Please! is a web comic and graphic novel series about Eric Bittle, a former junior figure skater turned hockey player at his university. It’s a great coming-of-age story about hockey. Even if you don’t know much or anything about hockey, you will still really enjoy the story and its characters. You may even get interested in hockey. It’s geared toward young adults and has LGBTQIA+ elements.”

Mason, Adult Programmer – To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
“I love this book because it teaches us about humanity and how we should treat people. It teaches us about bravery, injustice, poverty, racism, corruption, hatred, and oppression. It teaches us that we should judge people by their character and not the color of their skin, or their social status, or how much money they have in their bank account.”

McKenzie, Branch Assistant – The Chalk Man by C.J. Tudor
“It’s about a murder of a teenage girl in a small tourist town in England. I love this book because there are so many twists and turns as you uncover details of the murder as well as some small town secrets! Every chapter ends with a cliffhanger which makes it hard to put the book down.”

Patty, Director – Murderbot Diaries by Martha Wells
“The series is fast-paced and funny with a great protagonist who is only part human and has been freed from contractual slavery to “The Corporation.” I love Murderbot’s snark and watching it figure out how to fit into the world as a person instead of a killing machine. It really just wants to watch serials, but it can’t stop helping humans because…feelings? Ugh.”

Rebecca, Branch Manager – Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens
“This book includes all the feelings – loneliness, love, hope, desperation, prejudice, survival, and strength. The story of a girl being abandoned by everyone except nature quickly turns into a mystery you won’t be able to put down. The writing detail makes it hard to believe that this is Delia Owen’s first novel!”

Rob, Building Operations/IT Manager – Ulysses by James Joyce
“I love it because it takes the mundanity of a single day in Dublin, Ireland in 1904 and elevates it into the odyssey of several individuals discovering who they are and what that means within the context of the world around them. It is unconventional, full of references (both overt and buried very deep within the text) to Homer’s Odyssey, and it is challenging. It can be scandalous and it can be very sweet. It is a masterpiece. (Side note: It has been said that, if Dublin were ever completely destroyed, it could be rebuilt using Ulysses as a map). It is far and away my favorite novel of all time.”

Taylor, Library Assistant – The Golden Compass by Phillip Pullman
“It’s one of those rare books where I feel like I get something different out of the experience every time I re-read it. I love this book because it has a rich and complex world and magic system, one that immediately draws you in and makes you want to be a part of the world yourself. The characters are realistic and flawed, but you can’t help but love them and root for their success throughout this book and the rest of the series. It’s a story of found family, epic adventure, and underdogs prevailing despite all odds.”

Yajaira, Collections Assistant – The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky
“This is my favorite book because I think a lot of teens can relate to this book. High school can be such an awkward age where we are trying to figure ourselves out and where we fit in, and this book captures that. The protagonist and other characters mention sexual abuse and mental/emotional effects it can have. I thought it was brave of the author to talk about this subject to his youth audience. The characters are also lovable, all each in their own way. They go through high school making memorable experiences. The movie is great too.”