Current Reviewers
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Reading book review journals for my job ensures that my “To Read” list keeps getting longer every day. I read mostly fiction, though I’ll read nonfiction if it is something that interests me. I’m generally perceived to be the “quirky books” reader, and guilty as charged. I like weird and snarky, if it’s written well. Loved Rowling’s Casual Vacancy, Ramsland’s Doghead, and Good Omens by Gaiman/Pratchett. I will read anything contemporary or historical (literary or genre) if I like the writing and mood, especially books taking place in colder climates (quirky!) A vacation in either Bali or Finland? No contest, I’d head north every time. I also like mysteries (I’ve read everything by P.D. James and Louise Penny) and psychological suspense, with the occasional thriller thrown in, and I enjoy the occasional ghost/horror novel, but have my standards—no zombies, boring and no personality! Dark and gloomy I like, a la Karen Maitland. Not much one for chick-lit or romance and I rarely read fantasy or science fiction, but I never say never. |
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Christine |
I’m a book grazer, reading a few books at a time and always looking for more. I read everything from young adult fantasy stories to mysteries, funny nonfiction to cookbooks. As the Young Adult Librarian, you can find me at the Adult Services desk, setting up teen book displays or running teen events. My eclectic mix of favorite writers includes Jane Austen, Ray Bradbury, Rainbow Rowell, Bill Bryson, Shannon Hale, Ruth Reichl, Ben Aaronovitch, and Molly Harper. |
Laura |
Reading is my superpower, according to my coffee mug. I get my caffeine fix, and make a statement about how important reading is to me. I can’t remember not being able to read—to me it’s like breathing—necessary for life! I’ll read anything in a pinch, including any and all packaging (cereal boxes included), but I prefer fiction. I love literary fiction, women’s fiction and mysteries or suspense with a focus on character (Elizabeth George, Louise Penny); Southern writers for their strong sense of place and lyrical prose (Pat Conroy, Fannie Flagg, Lee Smith); coming of age novels (To Kill a Mockingbird, Boy’s Life); and classics. I also read historical fiction, fantasy and a little science fiction. When I read nonfiction, I prefer essays on nature and gardening (Sy Montgomery, Michael Pollan, Henry Mitchell), and books on travel, cookery and sewing. One of the great things about working in a library is I’m surrounded by other bibliophiles—I love to hear what others are reading so I can add to my “to read” list! Visit My Librarian Laura's page |
Michelle
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I grew up in the tiny village of Gerrardstown, West Virginia—with no stoplights and a single corner store. The closest library, managed bya kind woman named Mrs. Coe, operated out of a trailer. Once I read everything in Mrs. Coe’s collection, I moved on to the public library in the neighboring city of Martinsburg. My mom let me check out six books a week, and by third grade, I was testing beyond a high school reading level. Reading and writing have always been my favorite things to do! I received a BA in Creative Writing from Marshall University in 2014 and an MFA in Fiction from Columbia University in 2016. I primarily read fiction (classics, contemporary literature, Science Fiction, graphic novels, horror, and fantasy), as well as nonfiction about social justice and science. If you’re looking for gross body horror, Afrofuturist Science Fiction, strange literature in translation, or a great graphic novel series for adults, I have recommendations for you!
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I confess, I did not grow up with a love for books. In my youth I struggled with focusing and retaining the material in them; therefore, books intimidated me. And now I’m surrounded by them!!! So then, how do you not fall in love with or want to read them?!! In my adult life, I have found that I love reading psychology books written from a religious aspect. I especially favor books authored by Henry Cloud and John Townsend. A couple of my favorites are Boundaries: When to Say Yes, When to Say No, to Take Control of Your Life and Necessary Endings: The Employees, Businesses, and Relationships That All of Us Have to Give up in Order to Move Forward, both by Henry Cloud. I also like to read books that focus on leadership training, such as The 21 Indispensable Qualities of a Leader: Becoming the Person Others Will Want to Follow, Failing Forward: Turning Mistakes into Stepping-Stones for Success, and Becoming a Person of Influence, which were all written by John C. Maxwell. And most recently, I’ve discovered that I enjoy reading biographies for four reasons: they promote self-discovery, they allow you to see the world in new ways, and can sometimes serve as an inspiration and/or mentors at a distance, and whether you admire or revile the individual they’re about, I personally want to know how a “normal” person became a world-changing figure. |
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I grew up loving to read and can remember many trips to the library. Working in a library was definitely an easy career choice for me to make. I now read chick lit, contemporary fiction, and books about women’s lives. I enjoy books with a bittersweet tone and if the story can make me laugh or cry I’m hooked. A new favorite of mine is historical fiction and one example is Dreamers of the Day by Mary Doria Russell. A good gentle read will lighten my mood. Also on my list is Christian fiction, psychological fiction, a good series, and mysteries. The Stephanie Plum series written by Janet Evanovich is my favorite. I prefer my mysteries on the lighter side, but will also read a thriller or a suspenseful story. I love listening to audiobooks and will often choose a book based on the narrator. Authors Barbara Kingsolver and Ann Patchett do a wonderful job narrating their books. Occasionally I'll read some nonfiction, autobiographies, memoirs, travel writing, though I prefer nonfiction that reads like fiction. |
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Stacey |
Destined to become a librarian? Probably: I cataloged my books—including all umpteen Nancy Drew mysteries—when I was in 4th grade. These days you’ll find me reading tons of nonfiction, especially the narrative stuff with a storyline that reads like fiction. I’ll read nonfiction about nearly any topic, but books about presidential history, aviation, journalists, popular sociology, adventure, and historic tragic events most often populate my reading list. I’m also a mystery reader, drawn to private investigator first-person narratives and police procedurals. Craig Johnson’s Walt Longmire mystery series is my current favorite. I also like contemporary fiction, especially the types of books that are discussable for book clubs. I have an inexplicable weakness for war novels. Some of my favorite books: Young Men and Fire by Norman Maclean, The Right Stuff by Tom Wolfe, Run by Ann Patchett, The Things They Carried by Tim O’Brien, and Happy All the Time by Laurie Colwin. |
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Aimee |
When I’m not chasing my two small children or doing the dishes, you can find me taking advantage of every quiet moment to read. I’ve always loved books where people overcome trials and end up bettering themselves. Even as a child, if a book made me feel something or cry, it was an instant favorite. Mick Harte was Here, anyone? I am a huge advocate for body positivity, self-love, and doing what makes you happy. As an adult, I love books that promote a healthy body image and self-confidence. My favorite types of books include: graphic novels, fairy tale adaptations, YA, and nonfiction. I love true stories about people who have conquered the odds and have made their lives better. I also love teen contemporary realistic fiction because, even as an adult, you can learn from them. You learn how and why you should treat someone with respect and why it’s important to follow your dreams and fall in love. If you’re looking for your next cozy mystery, I suggest you ask one of the other fabulous librarians, but if you want shocking true stories and coming-of-age tales, I’m your girl. |
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Past Reviewers
Carole Even as a child my dream was to work in a library. Only weeks before I was to be married and move out of state, my hometown library called and offered me a job. Disappointment. Retired after many years in the corporate world, I have finally made my way back to the library. Someone once said to Nancy Drew, “Nancy, every place you go, it seems as if mysteries just pile up one after another.” My passion for mysteries started at an early age with Nancy, and they just keep piling up on my reading lists. In the past several years I have become captivated with Scandinavian mysteries, purchasing some from London book stores even before they were published in the U.S. I like series, especially female authors like Sue Grafton, Louise Penny, Vicki Delany, and Janet Evanovich; thrillers by such authors as Brad Thor and Michael Palmer; and Philippa Gregory’s historical fiction. I also love books of first-time authors, always hoping they’ll be the next big best seller. Carole has moved on to other endeavors, but her book reviews live on!
Christi Some of my earliest memories are my time spent in the lower level of my hometown library where my siblings and I spent summer days and after school time nestled in the corner of children’s Library. These fond memories drive my desire to serve the patrons of Batavia Public Library. I enjoy being a member of my neighborhood monthly book club, where we have lively discussions on both fiction and nonfiction books. One of my favorite book reads earlier this year was Wild by Cheryl Strayed. Her desire for adventure and facing fear make you ask yourself, “What have I done to challenge myself?” One funny quote in the book worth a smile is, “Perhaps by now I’d come far enough that I had the GUTS TO BE AFRAID.” Her adventure is the definition of real courage! I am an avid runner turned spinner and enjoy reading health, fitness, and fresh cooking books. I like to say I am a foodie-eatie. Simply said, I love to eat and enjoy trying new dishes. I love listening to audiobooks and most always have one to enjoy while driving one of my many trips to Iowa City to visit my daughter at college. Christi has moved on to other endeavors, but her book reviews live on!
Don The public library in my home town has one of those imposing marble façades—replete with Corinthian columns and dome—that makes one pause to take a deep breath before solemnly ascending the broad stairs to the main entrance. However, the oak-paneled Children’s Room on the lower level was most welcoming, and introduced me to its proverbial world of wonder. My high school job was at a branch of that public library; one of my main duties was reshelving the exceedingly popular paperback romance novels, but that still did not dissuade me from later pursuing a career in librarianship. I particularly enjoy reading revisionist and lesser-known American history, such as: works that follow in the footsteps of Howard Zinn and Don’t Know Much About History; the witty but thoughtful books of Sarah Vowell; titles like The Shakespeare Riots and Jewish Pirates of the Caribbean. Otherwise I have fairly eclectic tastes: art, British comedy, complementary health, beer & wine, East Asian & European history, food & cooking, humorous fiction, music, natural history, religions & spirituality, short stories & poetry, tai chi & qigong, and probably some other things… Don has moved on to other endeavors, but his book reviews live on!
I can still remember the thrill I had as a child when the bookmobile stopped nearby for the very first time. I could read anything I wanted! That thrill has never really gone away. There’s always something interesting going on in a book. I love mysteries, science fiction, fantasy, biographies, history, travel, books about animals or physics or restoring a house in Seville...and if it’s funny, I just settled this evening’s plans. Working at the library means I never have to settle for the back of the cereal box again. Lee has moved on to other endeavors, but her book reviews live on!
Lorna When I was a kid, my best friend and I would spend our summers trying to out-read one another. We’d compare the number of books we each read, page counts, and titles to determine who had done the most (and highest quality) reading in our time off from school. I don’t think I ever managed to come out on top, but I still find myself keeping a close tally of the books I’ve read in any given year. Although that number has dwindled as my family’s grown, I’m still collecting new favorite authors and titles. To name a few: Brandon Sanderson, whose work will always be at the top of my “To Read” pile; Stieg Larsson’s Millennium trilogy, my introduction to the mystery/suspense genre; and J.K. Rowling, who can do no wrong, whether writing YA fantasy or grimly realistic adult literary fiction. Lorna has moved on to other endeavors, but her book reviews live on! |
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Meagan As a child, the library was a magical place filled with information on everything imaginable and novels set in fanciful worlds. I spent hours in my bedroom racing through Oz on the yellow brick road and at country dances in Meryton. As an adult, I especially love reading Young Adult stories set in fascinating worlds with dynamic characters. Some of my recent favorites include Scythe by Neal Schusterman and Splintered by A.G. Howard. Though I tend to stay in the realm of the fantastic, I’ve been exploring contemporary YA: Exit, Pursued by a Bear, being one of my latest favorites. My interests in adult fiction tend to follow the same guidelines in world building, including most of Anne Bishop’s novels in her Black Jewels and The Others series. While I commonly stick with novels on the regular, I do every-so-often branch off into nonfiction, preferring historical texts geared towards women’s history. Lorna has moved on to other endeavors, but her book reviews live on! |