Staff Picks: Slow Horses by Mick Heron

 

Slow Horses by Mick Herron

If you love quirky spy novels and British humor, check out Mick Herron's Slow Horses. His Slough House series is what Apple TV's runaway hit show Slow Horses is based upon (The series was just approved for Season Six). 

Slough House is where MI5 agents go when they turn out to be less than spectacular in their roles or make disastrous mistakes. The characters find themselves involved in a myriad of intrigue with very mixed results and often a good bit of mayhem.

Joan Dudzinski, MLIS
Branch Manager

Jewish Book Month November 24 - December 24

Jewish Book Month is November 24 thru December 24. Here are a few of my favorite literary fiction books by Jewish authors. 

Naamah by Sarah Blake

In this imaginative retelling, Noah's wife Naamah swims in the ocean while mourning the victims of the Great Flood, cares for the people and creatures on the ark, talks with angels, questions her own choices and God's, and even has visions of the distant future 

Our Favorite Seasonal Children's Books

Thrilled to be a first-time aunt, my sister gifted us a unique picture book when my son was young. 

Auntie Claus and the Key to Christmas by Elise Primavera

When things seem dark and dreary – if times turn sour and bitter – think like a Kringle! You’ll soon find your way to all that sparkles and glitters!

Glamorous Auntie Claus spills some intriguing Kringle family secrets to a skeptical nephew who tests his theory Santa’s BB and G (Bad-Boys-and-Girls) list and ignores warnings about the society of PRUNES (Parade Rainers United National Elite Society). 

Elise Primavera's Auntie Claus books are filled with humor and fun illustrations. 

National Stress-Free Holidays Month

Financial concerns, gifting expectations, special meal planning, and travel can contribute to significant stress during the holiday season. If anxiety is impacting your holiday enjoyment, these nonfiction books may help lighten your load and make the holidays a bit brighter.   

10%  Happier: How I Tamed the Voice in My Head, Reduced Stress Without Losing My Edge, and Found Self-help that Actually Works - a True Story by Dan Harris

Emmy-Award winning anchor and correspondent for ABC News and host of the 10% Happier Podcast, Dan Harris describes his own experiences living with anxiety and shares guided meditations that help him manage the condition. 

Jewish Book Month November 24 - December 24

In honor of Jewish Book Month here are a few more of my favorite books by Jewish authors. 

The Familiar by Leigh Bardugo

Leigh Bardugo’s The Familiar is an immersive historical fantasy novel about a sassy scullion who hides her Jewish ancestory as well as her magical abilities during the Spanish Inquisition. I loved this mesmerizing and thought-provoking story. 

Our Favorite Seasonal Reads

While not exclusively seasonal reads, two of my favorite classic stories feature Christmas-themed elements and are particularly meaningful to read during the holidays.

The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis

Technically the second book in the popular Chronicles of Narnia series, The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe is the story that introduced many young readers to the magic of Narnia.

Clive Staples Lewis’ mesmerizing tale includes obvious symbols of the holidays with Father Christmas, special gifts, and sleigh rides through the snow. While many readers consider the novel to be an Christian allegory and C.S. Lewis wrote about his religious views in some of his other works, Lewis explicitly resisted categorizing The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe as an allegory.

A Prayer for Owen Meany by John Irving

John Irving’s classic novel about a young man with a damaged voice who views himself as God’s instrument on earth isn’t exactly a Christmas story either and at 640 pages may require a hefty time commitment to read during the busy holiday season. But conveniently, the story about transformative friendship between Johnny Wheelwright and Owen Meany can be read in sections. In the first third, John Irving describes a riotous Christmas pageant directed by and starring Owen Meany himself as well as a somber performance of Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol that offers readers a seasonal emotional roller coaster ride. 

Pick up the story as time allows or even after the holidays to read about Owen’s college days and early adulthood in the second and third sections of the book. It's one of my favorite stories! 

Happy holidays and happy reading!   

Alicia Cavitt
Information Specialist

Season's Greetings from Sharon Forks Library

Celebrate Jewish Book Month November 24 to December 24

Jewish Book Month was started in 1925 by Fanny Goldstein at the Boston Public Library to celebrate Jewish books and promote Jewish authors.  

Here are a few of my favorite books by Jewish authors. 

People of the Book by Geraldine Brooks

This eye-opening and intricately plotted historical fiction novel chronicles the journey of an illuminated manuscript through seven centuries of Jewish persecutions. It's one of my favorite historical fiction novels. 

Jewish Book Month November 24 - December 24

Jewish Book Month was started in 1925 by Fanny Goldstein at the Boston Public Library to celebrate Jewish books and promote Jewish authors.  

Here are a few of my favorite books by Jewish authors that are great reads for young patrons as well as adults. 

The Diary of a Young Girl by Anne Frank

I keep my ideals, because in spite of everything I still believe that people are really good at heart. 

Anne Frank

The Diary of a Young Girl

Anne Frank's incomparable diary may be the first book that comes to mind during Jewish Book month.  It's been translated from the original Dutch into over 70 languages and has sold over 30 million copies. The diary reveals the best and worst of humanity. It's the one book I recommend for all readers.

National Stress-Free Family Holidays Month

While the December holidays are typically viewed as a festive time, not everyone experiences the season in the same way. Gray skies, busy schedules, idealized expectations, and missing loved ones can increase stress, anxiety, and depression. According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness, approximately 40% of adults suffer from social anxiety around the holidays. Many people experience some form of holiday blues, including dissatisfaction and loneliness. Unhealthy eating or drinking can also exacerbate mental health struggles in the winter months.  

If you're feeling stressed, here are a few quick reads from our collection that may help you manage the challenges of the season.  

Be a Triangle: How I Went From Being Lost to Getting My Life Into Shape by Lilly Singh

Comedian, actress, and author of How to be a Bawse, Lilly Singh writes about her own quest for inner peace. In this insightful and charming book, Singh encourages readers to acknowledge their unique personal struggles and reject cookie-cutter expectations to create a solid foundation and "be a triangle".