Winter Reads by Mood

Cold nights can feel dark and long, perfect for cozying up with a good book. Whether you’re in the mood for a bone-chilling thriller or a fluffy romance, here are some recommended winter reads. 

Chiller Thrillers 

The Overnight Guest by Heather Gudenkauf

This chilling thriller is set during a snow storm, making it the perfect winter read. A true-crime writer encounters a mysterious lost child while researching a crime that occurred in the same house years before. As they’re stuck inside due to the snow, the story slowly weaves together and the reader uncovers stories about the past and present. 

These Silent Woods by Kimi Cunningham Grant

Another thriller set in the winter season, this suspense novel is about an isolated father and daughter living in the woods. When their annual supply drop doesn’t arrive, the father has to confront ghosts from his past and debate their hidden existence while the threat of winter looms on the horizon. 

Classics By The Fire

Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë

A perfect classic for cold nights, Wuthering Heights explores themes of tormented love, revenge, and destruction while set on the bleak moors of Yorkshire. The dark setting and captivating story will keep readers entertained while lounging by the warm fire. 

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

Filled with snow and magic, the timeless classic tells the story of the Pevensie children as they attempt to help Aslan break the curse and defeat the White Witch. This classic children’s novel is perfect for the cold as the land of Narnia is stuck in a permanent winter.

Cozy Romance

Legends and Lattes by Travis Baldree 

This popular book blends fantasy and lighthearted romance, keeping readers warm and cozy in winter months. Viv, a retired adventurer, buys a coffee shop. A host of lovable characters help her build her dream cafe, including the cute barista she hires. 

The Dead Romantics by Ashley Poston 

Part contemporary and part paranormal romance, The Dead Romantics is a heartwarming love story perfect for reading when you’re warm and comfortable under a blanket. The story focuses on a ghostwriter who can literally see ghosts as she navigates through grief and newfound love at the same time. 

Winter Fantasy

The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V. E. Schwab

This atmospheric fantasy novel is magical and intimate, ideal for reading on a long, cold night when you just want to stay home. After Adelin LaRue makes a deal with a dark god, she is cursed to be forgotten by everyone she meets, though in exchange she gets to live forever. The book is heartbreaking and beautifully written, contemplating what it means to live and die. 

Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo

The first book in the Shadow and Bone trilogy is set in a wintery, cold land based on Russia. The novel features lots of ice and snow as Alina Starkov reveals her Grisha powers and travels to the winter court in order to train with the mysterious and powerful Darkling. Darkness looms over the land as she discovers hidden secrets about the Grisha. 

Interested in reading the titles above? They are all in our collection! Use your library card to check one out or put one on hold today.

Britt Poteet

Youth Specialist

Hampton Park Library

Science Fiction Novels by Latin American Authors

National Hispanic Heritage month recognizes the contributions and achievements of Latin Americans. Two of my favorite recent reads are science fiction novels that highlight environmental issues written by authors from Latin American.  

Pink Slime by Fernanda Trías; translated by Heather Cleary

Living in a nearly abandoned coastal South American city, a woman balances her relationship with her aging mother and hospitalized ex-husband while caring for a boy who suffers from a strange eating disorder. Pink Slime’s unnamed narrator watches the world around her deteriorating while struggling to maintain normalcy amid toxic winds, food shortages, power outages, and police patrols. As she recalls key moments from her past she wonders if there’s any connection between her town's new meat processing facility and some of the odd happenings. 

Author Fernanda Trías was born in Montevideo, Uruguay and currently lives in Bogotá, Colombia, where she teachers a creative writing MFA program. She is the award-winning author of three novels. Pink Slime has been Longlisted for the National Book Award for Translated Literature and named a Best Book of 2024 by NPR, Esquire, Publishers Weekly, and ScreenRant. 

Novel Realities Book Discussion October 14 at Sharon Forks Library: Hum by Helen Phillips

 

Hum by Helen Phillips

What role do humans play in a world where artificial intelligence has replaced most of the workforce?

Technological advancements don't seem to have improved daily living for the characters in Helen Phillips’ slightly futuristic novel Hum. 

Air quality forces families indoors where children watch videos of animals they will only ever encounter at pop-up zoos with conditions so abysmal they scare the visitors. Constant video surveillance produces targeted advertisements and androids called hums replace human workers while families struggle to pay for basic necessities. 

Hum centers around May, a mother of two who loses her job to artificial intelligence and undergoes an experimental procedure that distorts her features to evade facial recognition software in order to pay for her family's living expenses.  

Feeling friendless and disconnected from her husband, worried about finances and her children's increasing tech-dominated isolation, May spends part of her earnings treating her family to a visit to the luxurious Botanical Garden where they can reconnect and experience a convincing approximation of the natural world. 

The garden’s lush environment offers a refreshing change of pace until the children wander off, setting into motion a chain of events that threatens the whole family.

I've been a fan of Helen Phillips' unique human-centered science fiction since reading her 2015 novel The Beautiful Bureaucrat which was a finalist for the New York Public Library’s Young Lions Fiction Award and the Los Angeles Times Book Prize. 

In Phillips' suspenseful and mind-bending 2019 novel The Need, a woman is confronted by an alternative version of herself. The Need was named a New York Times Notable Book and longlisted for the National Book Award.

FCPL’s Novel Realities book club will discuss Hum on Tuesday, October 14 at 7 p.m. at the Sharon Forks Library and newcomers are always welcome. If you enjoy speculative fiction and are looking a unique book club, please take a look at our upcoming Novel Realities book selections and make plans to attend one of our upcoming discussions.  

Alicia Cavitt

Information Specialist

Image by wweagle from Getty Images Signature via Canva

Staff Picks: Art for Self Care by Jessica Swift - Adult Nonfiction

Art for Self-Care by Jessica Swift

You will be okay. 
This will not stop you. 
This will not break you. 
This will not end you.

When her husband passed away in 2018, Jessica Swift found comfort in listening to a voice that spoke from within. Widowed with two young children to care for, Swift soon discovered an unexpected inner strength. She began journaling and started scheduling time to listen to her inner voice after putting her babies to sleep each night.

In Art for Self-Care, Swift chronicles her healing journey as she simultaneously grieved her spouse while nurturing her children and working on what she calls 100 Messages to Myself. The book is both a memoir and guidebook for anyone who wants to grow more in touch with their own inner voice. It includes colorful illustrations and practical advice on the tools and techniques that anyone can use to create fun and meaningful art; whether they are a beginner or an experienced artist.  

Staff Picks: The Berry Pickers by Amanda Peters - Adult Fiction

 

The Berry Pickers by Amanda Peters

Summer reading isn't just for lighthearted, easy reads. Are you like me and prefer your summer reads to be emotionally fraught, with important themes of loss, love, family ties, and memory? If so, then The Berry Pickers might be your next read. The debut novel of Canadian writer Amanda Peters was the winner of the 2024 Andrew Carnegie Medal for Excellence in Fiction, 2023 Barnes & Noble Discover Great New Writers Award, 2024 Crime Writers of Canada Award of Excellence, and 2024 Dartmouth Book Award for Fiction. 

The story centers around Ruthie, a four-year-old Mi'kmaq girl from Nova Scotia, who goes missing while her family is berry picking in Maine. Alternating between the point of view of Ruthie and her brother, Joe, readers journey across the years to witness the effects of  trauma and family secrets. Ruthie (later known as Norma) tries to make sense of her childhood dreams that hint at the truth. Meanwhile, Joe spends his life trying to outrun his own demons. Ultimately, The Berry Pickers is a tale of the familial ties that bind, the enduring nature of love and family, and the lasting consequences of our actions. 

The audiobook version of the book is beautifully narrated by Aaliya Warbus and Jordan Waunch. 

Tracy MacNaughton

Information Specialist

Color Our World Adult Nonfiction Book Recommendations: When the Earth was Green by Riley Black - Adult Nonfiction

This year's Summer Reading Fun theme is Color Our World. Here is a colorful book recommendation from our adult nonfiction collection. 

When the Earth was Green by Riley Black

Alone, a dinosaur is meaningless. We put them on literal pedestals in our museums, behind glass and railings as befits their place as the world's most ancient and long-standing celebrities. But what is a Tyrannosaurus without a forest to conceal its shadow as it stalks? What is a Triceratops without a buffet of ferns and cycad fronds to eat? 

  

Riley Black            

When the Earth Was Green       

In vivid detail, science writer Riley Black describes the complex relationships between plants and animals that has evolved from 1.2 billion to 15,000 years ago along with interesting facts about biology. The scent of catnip, for instance, irresistible to our feline friends, evolved as a way for plants to defend themselves against insects. 

        

Visit Forsyth County Public Library to sign up for Summer Reading Fun and take part in summer programs for all ages. Library events are open to the public, free to attend, and all supplies are provided. Check out our digital Summer at Forsyth County Public Library magazine or pick up a copy at any branch. Please note that some programs require advance registration.

Alicia Cavitt

Information Specialist

Novel Realities Book Discussion July 8 at Sharon Forks Library The Lathe of Heaven by Ursula K. Le Guin

 

The Lathe of Heaven by Ursula K. Le Guin

Anxiety-inducing global conflicts, overpopulation, and food scarcity weigh heavy on the mind of draftsman George Orr who believes that his nightly dreams impact reality. Guilt-stricken and terrified by the power of his subconscious, George self-medicates in an attempt to ward off sleep. When George's drug use is discovered, he's forced into a psychiatric treatment program under the care of psychiatrist and sleep researcher Dr. William Haber. 

Like everyone else, Dr. Haber is certain that George is delusional and forces him into an experimental sleep therapy. Even after awakening to a world altered by Dr. Haber’s suggestions during their session, George is unable to convince his therapist that anything has changed. Still, Dr. Haber is so fascinated by George's disorder that he decides to test his new patient's abilities.  

Picture Books for Earth Day

Earth Day began in 1970 and is celebrated annually on April 22nd. This global event raises awareness about environmental issues and encourages action to protect our planet, with the goal of inspiring people to take care of the Earth and its natural resources. These illustrated books from our collection explain the origins of Earth Day and the history of the environmental movement in the United States.

Black Beach: A Community, an Oil Spill, and the Origin of Earth Day by Shaunna and John Stith; Illustrated by Maribel Lechuga

After a devastating oil spill off the coast of Santa Barbara in 1969 that harmed wildlife and habitats, local citizens, including school children, joined clean up crews to try to help. They picked up debris, rescued seabirds covered in oil, and collected oil in bottles to send to politicians in Washington. Those small actions led to more people across the country taking actions to help the environment. Twenty million people celebrated the first Earth Day on April 22, 1970. Black Beach explains how children helped draw attention to environmental issues and includes practical ways to protect our environment. 

Staff Picks: Leonard and Hungry Paul by Rónán Hession

 

Leonard and Hungry Paul by Rónán Hession

Rónán Hession’s Leonard and Hungry Paul is a thoughtful and amusing story about two thirty-something male friends navigating through a few of life’s major and minor turning points. Leonard is adjusting to living alone after his mother's passing while best friend Hungry Paul, the baby of a close knit family of four, is being lightly pressured by his engaged older sister to find a real career and move out of the family home. 

The novelty of the story is that differences of opinion are handled with respect and good will. If you’re used to reading fast-paced stories full of unsavory characters and lots of conflict, Leonard and Hungry Paul is a refreshing change of pace featuring relatable characters you'll enjoy getting to know. Bibliophiles will also appreciate Leonard's literary aspirations and Hungry Paul's attempt to win a writing contest. 

Rónán Hession is an Irish writer, musician, and social worker who has released three musical albums under the name Mumblin' Def Ro. Published in 2019. Leonard and Hungry Paul was chosen for the 2021 One Dublin, One Book festival and a finalist for both the Irish Book of the Year and the British Book of the Year awards. 

Alicia Cavitt

Information Specialist

Dublin
Image Credit: sfabisuk from Getty via Canva

Inspiring Illustrated Biographies for Women's History Month

The month of March serves as a time to honor the achievements and contributions made by women throughout the history of the United States. These biographies teach young readers about American women who are recognized for their unique contributions and groundbreaking achievements. 

The Power of Her Pen: The Story of Groundbreaking Journalist Ethel L. Payne by Lesa Cline-Ransome; Illustrated by John Parra  

           

Young Ethel L. Payne had an ear for stories and courage to ask tough questions, earning her the distinction of being the first Black woman invited into the White House briefing room and the nickname, The First Lady of the Black Press. This inspiring picture book chronicles the joys and hardships of Payne’s early life and her professional achievements including reporting from across the globe and drawing attention to critical civil rights issues.

I’ve had a box seat on history and that’s a rare thing. 

Ethel L. Payne      

           

Staff Picks: Small Town Stories

I grew up in a midwestern suburb but spent each summer visiting my grandparent's rural home in Southern New Jersey.  Small towns are great for biking on country roads past picturesque farms and woodlands, exploring nature, buying farm-fresh corn at roadside vegetable stands, and spending long lazy days swimming or just enjoying the sunshine. When you aren't the one stacking hay and shucking corn, the relaxed pace of small town living offers extra time for my favorite pastime of all - reading. I still enjoy reading stories about the lives of people living in small towns. 

Stories set in small towns are on display this month at Sharon Forks Library but they don't all focus on the idyllic side. Check out Delilah S. Dawson's Bloom, a dark fantasy about a woman whose life takes a very strange turn when she makes a new friend at a local farmer's market, Jane Harper's Exiles, a mystery set in South Australia's wine country, Olga Tokarczuk's award-winning Drive Your Plow Over the Bones of the Dead, or the Ray Bradbuy classic, Dandelion Wine. 

What are your favorite books set in small towns? 

Engaging Your Auditory Senses

Are you new to audiobooks, or undecided on where to start? 

The power of a good narrator should not be underestimated. Some award-winning actors have brought their considerable talent to audiobooks, adding layers of emotional depth to already great stories. 

Some of my favorites are Tom Lake by Ann Patchett narrated by the inimitable Meryl Streep and The Midnight Library by Matt Haig narrated by actress Carey Mulligan.

When the narrator is also the author, particularly in the memoir genre, the reader feels an even stronger connection to the story. Two of my favorite memoirs were read brilliantly by their authors: You Could Make This Place Beautiful by Maggie Smith and Crying in H Mart by Michelle Zauner. 

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 

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".

Local Author Spotlight: Dr. Ashley Baker, Author of The Furious Others

 

The Furious Others by Ashley Baker

In her newly released novel The Furious Others, Dr. Ashley Baker describes the final hours in the lives of ten young women who have been the victims of a serial killer.  

Rather than telling the story from the perspective of the killer, The Furious Others flips the traditional horror novel format and begins in Purgatory, where the killer stands condemned for multiple murders. Chapter by chapter, the book reveals the sinister side of Jason LeDown through the eyes of his victims and the few lucky souls who survived their encounters with the brainy, awkward, and angry young man. 

Dino-vember Adult Fiction Book Recommendations

 

The decline of the dinosaurs allowed mammals - including us - to flourish. And that leads us to wonder whether the disappearance of the dinosaurs is going to be repeated, sooner or later, by us as well. Whether at the deepest level the fault lies not in blind fate - in some fiery meteor from the skies - but in our own behavior. At the moment we have no answer.

Michael Crichton

The Lost World

Here are some of the popular fiction titles from our Dino-vember reading list.

Jurassic Park by Michael Crichton 

Velociraptors agree, no dinosaur reading list would be complete without Michael Crichton's 1990 novel that warned about the dangers of genetically modified dinosaurs.  

The Dinosaur Hunter by Homer Hickam

Homer Hickman, author of the New York Times bestseller Rocket Boys, draws on his own experience fossil hunting in this realistic thriller set in Montana. 

Eruption by Michael Crichton and James Patterson

Bestselling author James Patterson adapts an unfinished novel from the late Michael Crichton into a fast-paced thriller about military secrets and an active volcano on Big Island, Hawaii. 

Alicia Cavitt

Information Specialist

Nonfiction Book Recommendations: My Organic Life by Nora Pouillon

 

My Organic Life: How a Pioneering Chef Helped Shape the Way We Eat Today by Nora Pouillon

Did you know that sales of organic goods still represent only six percent of all food sold in U.S?  Have you ever wondered why organic foods are less popular than other food choices? Are these foods better for our bodies and environment? There is an ongoing debate about whether these foods are healthy or not. 

If you want to explore the history of organic foods with a personal touch, then this book is a must read as it is a personal memoir of an author who is quite expressive about her love for organic foods. 

Friends of the Library Book Recommendations: Historical Fiction with Social Commentary

One Sunday morning while enjoying a warm cup of tea, I beamed over the variety of books that I devoured this spring and summer. The following books stood out to me as part historical fiction and part social commentary about how words shape and define the way the world views women. 

The Dictionary of Lost Words by Pip Williams

If you have ever owned a physical dictionary you will be in awe of the behind the scenes view this book offers on what went into the process of publishing the very first Oxford English Dictionary. Set in the late 1800s, the story unfolds the coming of age journey of Esme, who is motherless and grows up with a lexicographer father surrounded by words and dictionary men. As she spends time in the Oxford shed, she realizes that not all of the public word submissions are considered and recorded by the team - especially ones based on the experiences of women and common folk. I found myself enjoying the audiobook version as I accompanied Esme in her pursuit of building her own dictionary of such lost words.

Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus

When I first got hold of this popular book club pick (which is also a recent TV show adaptation), I was not expecting to be delighted by the cute but weird observations of a pet (a very important character) and his perspective of the humans surrounding him. All non central characters provide their peculiar thoughts and opinions on what it means to be a woman (working or not) in the 1960s. The book tells a vivid story of Elizabeth Zott whose path to becoming a scientist proves to be quite an obstacle course including plenty of twists of fate including emotional ups and downs. I enjoyed how the story sheds light on the importance of having role models that inspire people to think beyond their sense of self and allies that provide much needed support.

Dear Ijeawele, or A Feminist Manifesto in Fifteen Suggestions by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

I categorize this book as half historical fiction partly because of its small paperback size and mostly because it is more contemporary while still being informed by history. Despite its petiteness, this personal letter style response to Adhichie's friend, packs quite a punch. If you have ever been skeptic of whether or not to call yourself a feminist and its titular perception, you are more than likely to enjoy it. The book presents exceptional ideas and food for thought to discuss feminism without being preachy or over the top.

Smriti

Friends of the Library Volunteer

Staff Picks: The Woman in the Library by Sulari Gentill

 

The Woman in the Library by Sulari Gentill

The Woman in the Library by Sulari Gentill is a real treat for bibliophiles and mystery fans. This clever literary mystery revolves around four strangers who meet by chance in the Reading Room at the Boston Public Library. Friendships develop when a body is discovered at the library and the four new friends decide to investigate further. 

The novel’s first twist is that Cain, Marigold, Freddie, and Whit exist only as characters in an Australian author’s work in progress. Each chapter of Hannah Tigone’s story about the amateur sleuths is followed by a thoughtful response from an earnest beta reader living in Boston. Along with his personal observations about the emerging pandemic, fanboy Leo offers unique insights into American customs and Boston geography. As the story progresses, uncanny similarities begin to develop between Leo's correspondence with Hannah and the mystery within the story.

Just like her character Hannah, Sulari Gentil is an Australian author whose books are finding fans around the globe. The Woman in the Library is a masterfully crafted example of metafiction, a novel that emphasizes its narrative structure to remind readers they're reading a fictional work. 

Other works of metafiction include Slaughterhouse-five by Kurt Vonnegut, Hell of a Book by Jason Mott, Beatlebone by Kevin Barry, and Plain Bad Heroines by Emily M. Danforth. 

Visit your local library to find your next read and maybe discover a mystery of your own. 

Alicia Cavitt

Information Specialist

Boston Public Libary Reading Room
Monica Volpin image via Canva

Staff Picks: Realistic Teen Fiction

The Best Man by Richard Peck

Archer Magill navigates making new friends, thwarting school bullies, serving in wedding parties, and dealing with family emergencies in a story that chronicles a young man's event-filled transition from elementary to middle school. The Best Man is a relatable book that emphasizes positive male role models of various generations.  

Richard Peck was a Newbery Award winning author, former teacher, and the first children's book author to receive the National Humanities Medal.

Find more realistic teen fiction and great teen reads in all genres at forsythpl.org/teens or ask a staff member for book recommendations. You can also use this form for personalized reading suggestions. 

Alicia Cavitt

Information Specialist.