I’ve read about half of John Green’s fictional books and enjoyed each one. But each time I tried to read The Anthropocene Revealed, I returned it, unread, even though I knew I really wanted to read it. When Hiram College announced it as the title for their community read this fall, I finally applied some self-discipline and made myself begin reading. Now, I’m about halfway through and enjoying every minute.
Continue reading “Actually, I like Group Reading”
Want an easy tool to find your next great read? One that lets you make lists and recommends books based on what you already like? Goodreads and StoryGraph do that, you say? How about a tool that will do all that and tell you with one click if you can borrow a book from the library? Only Novelist does that – and you can use it free!
Continue reading “The best book-finding tool you’ve never heard of”
The Museum Detective by Maha Khan Phillips
Where to find this book at Reed Memorial Library:
The Museum Detective hit the shelves earlier this year and we highly recommend this tale of mummies, missing girls, and a female museum-curator-turned-detective. The story is loosely based on a real-life antiquities scandal in Pakistan.
Continue reading “The Museum Detective: A Reed Reads! Book Rec”
As we travel the open seas this summer, our staff are recommending some “hidden gems” for your reading. These gems are books that may have slipped your notice but have been read by at least one of our staff and they’re confident that you may like it, too. Even better, this gem collection is easy to find.
Continue reading “Hidden Gems are in Plain Sight”
Last Sunday’s Chicago Sun Times included a 2025 “Summer Reads” list that went viral because 10 of the 15 books on the list weren’t real. Turns out, the newspaper plopped in some syndicated content that was AI generated. The AI had actually invented book titles attached to popular authors and had even created a brief synopsis for each book (Yikes!). Well, we can promise that our 2025 summer reading list is full of real books, recommended by real people.
Continue reading “A Summer [Real] Book List”
Life as a recluse isn’t for everyone. This is the lesson learned in Julie Hatcher’s latest novel, Not Quite By the Book. It’s a sharp yet sweet book about how sometimes you need to abandon the quest for love to find your true passion. Want to meet the author? She’s coming to the library this Saturday!
Continue reading “Not Quite By the Book: An Author Event You Can’t Miss”
The First Ladies by Marie Benedict
Where to find this book at Reed Memorial Library:
Darlene from Adult Services recommends The First Ladies, a fictionalized account of the friendship between first lady, Eleanor Roosevelt and civil rights activist Mary McLeod Bethune.
Continue reading “The First Ladies – A Reed Reads! Book Rec”
Last year was a big one for book-to-movie adaptations and 2025 is shaping up the same. Setting aside the argument about which one was better, we just want to know which you did last year. Did you watch the movie or read the book? Many times, nothing in the movie or its credits clues you in that they adapted the story from a book. If you liked some of these movies, you might want to check out the book and vice-versa.
Continue reading “Did you watch it or read it?”
A Sorceress Comes to Call by T. Kingfisher
Where to find this book at Reed Memorial Library:
Katie from Adult Services recommends A Sorceress Comes to Call to readers who enjoy a good fairytalesque novel. This book is standalone, but it is similar to other works by T. Kingfisher in that it blends magic, fantasy, and horror.
Continue reading “A Sorceress Comes to Call: A Reed Reads! Book Rec”
Looking for the perfect gift? Wondering what kind of book to get for your friend/sibling/niece and nephew/parent/grandchild? Are you hoping to receive books as gifts? Our staff are readers and gift givers just like you AND we have the advantage of being surrounded by books daily. Here, on the cusp of the holiday season, we give you a brief rundown of books that our staff recommend for both giving and receiving.
Continue reading “Is it better to give or to receive? Both are good – as long as it’s a book!”
Sincerely, Cornelius 