Categories
Booklists

Bookish Beverages: A Cozy Combination

by Public Service Associate & Content Coordinator Hannah

As the air cools, leaves turn, and the light changes, there’s nothing better than curling up with a good book and a warm beverage. Whether you’re a devoted tea connoisseur or a coffee aficionado, grab your favorite mug—we’re celebrating the bond between brews and books!

📚Coffee Lovers’ Corner☕️

Imagine this: you walk into a quaint shop, the rich aroma of freshly brewed coffee wafting through the air. You take a seat by the window, and as you sip your drink, the words transport you to another world. Or maybe you just picked up your usual at Kittie’s and popped into the library to browse, hot tumbler keeping you company in the stacks. I always appreciate when you stop by the desk to strike up a conversation about your latest read or ask for a suggestion. In fact, here are a few:

At the Coffee Shop of Curiosities by Heather Webber (book | Libby)
I love this one for its heartwarming exploration of everyday magic.

Before the Coffee Gets Cold by Toshikazu Kawaguchi (book | Libby)
In a cozy backstreet Tokyo cafe, a cup of coffee offers more than just a caffeine buzz.

Black Coffee: A Hercule Poirot Novel by Agatha Christie (book | Libby)
A classic mystery that will keep you guessing and asking for a top off.

On What Grounds by Cleo Coyle (book | Libby)
We can’t all own a quirky coffee house, but we can enjoy this blend of cozy mystery.

Fika: The Art of Swedish Coffee Breaks by Anna Brones and Johanna Kindvall (book)
Complete with sweet illustrations and even sweeter recipes, just flipping through this book is a delightful reminder to pause and smell the beans.

Black Coffee album by Peggy Lee (vinyl | hoopla)
Recorded in 1953, Black Coffee was Peggy Lee’s first album. Bitterness and insomnia may not seem like enjoyable material, but you’ll quickly find the moody melody enduring and the lyrics universally relatable.

🍵Teatime Treasures🫖

There’s something undeniably comforting about a steaming cup of Constant Comment with just a splash of milk. This delightful blend was how my grandma first introduced me to the world of tea. While my serving style has evolved over the years, my affection for my collection of whimsical Red Rose figurines remains.

Whether you prefer slowly sipping from a giant mug while curled up on the couch, or you find joy in the lively atmosphere of BPL’s beloved Tea at Three concerts, we can all agree the drink invites a unique nostalgia and warmth. May each page-turn and every sip bring you joy this season.

The Tea Girl of Hummingbird Lane by Lisa See (book | Libby)
A poignant story steeped in culture and family.

Murder in the Tea Leaves by Laura Childs (book)
Fans of cozy mysteries will appreciate the intricate plot, relatable protagonist and the charming Charlston setting.

A History of the World in 6 Glasses by Tom Standage (book | Libby)
Trace the story of six different drinks–beer, wine, spirits, coffee, tea, and cola–to see their pervasive influence on world history.

A Literary Tea Party: Blends and Treats for Alice, Bilbo, Dorothy, Jo, and Book Lovers Everywhere by Alison Walsh (book)
Everything you need to plan a tea party inspired by great works of literature. I’ll RSVP “Yes!”

Mr. Putter & Tabby Pour the Tea by Cynthia Rylant (book)
With themes of friendship and enjoying the simple pleasures in life, Mr. Putter and Tabby should be pictured next to the word “endearing” in the dictionary. 

“Come along inside… We’ll see if tea and buns can make the world a better place.”

~ The Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Grahame. Illustration by Chris Dunn.
Categories
Booklists Recommendations

Fantastical Detectives in Magical Realms

by Public Service Associate Autumn

I love a good mystery novel, though I came to them much later than I should have. As a teen, when I had run out of my own books to read (for the week) and my family could not make it to the library, my grandfather gave me several Agatha Christie novels from his collection.1 But I didn’t read them that week. In fact, I didn’t read them until after I watched BBC’s wonderful adaptation, Poirot. But then, I was hooked: the twists and turns, the rooting out of each motive and link, fishing through all the red herrings, and perhaps most importantly, the satisfaction of knowing how all the pieces fit together in the end. It warms my order-loving soul.2 I immediately went back and read the Agatha Christie originals, then moved on to Arther Conan Doyle, Rex Stout, Stephen Spotswood and many more.

Sometimes though, I feel as though I have read every possible combination of who done it, why, how, with what, and how it affected the neighbors. For all the cleverness and brilliance of my favorite mystery writers, they are still bound by annoying practical restraints, like physics and the nature of the space time continuum. On occasion, I just need something a little out of the box. I still want the mystery, just a very non-traditional one. What better way than to find a mystery set in worlds not governed by our laws? If you’re like me and need an occasional fantasy kick to your mystery enjoyment, pursue these novels and be transported. I have read most of them, and several are completely off the wall.3 And if you’re only willing to try one, I highly recommend The Tainted Cup by Robert Jackson Bennet.

  • The Tainted Cup by Robert Jackson Bennet Book | eBook
  • Midnight Riot by Ben Aaronovich Book | eBook
  • A Potion to Die For by Heather Blake Book | eBook
  • The Affair of the Mysterious Letter by Alexis Hall Book | eBook
  • Station Eternity by Mur Lafferty Book | eBook
  • The Mimicking of Known Successes by Malka Ann Older Book | eBook
  • Guards! Guards! By Terry Pratchett Book | eBook
  • The Undetectables by Courtney Smyth Book | eBook
  • Titanshade by Dan Stout Book | eBook

Footnotes

1The scarring of that day may be why I generally have thirty books checked out at a time.

 2Which I desperately need, as it’s getting colder out now.

3My comment about the space-time continuum? You’re looking for The Affair of the Mysterious Letter by Alexis Hall.

Categories
Booklists Recommendations

Our Incredible Bodies and the Importance of Homeostasis

By Public Service Associate Autumn

Everyone knows that humans (unlike much cooler reptiles) are warm blooded, or homeothermic.1 Our bodies try very hard to keep us at one consistent temperature, normally about 98 degrees. Even a four degree change in body temperature in either direction can cause us irreparable harm and a spiral into death. Understandably, this means that humanity has a pretty universal “comfortable” living temperature, between about 68- and 77-degrees Fahrenheit,2 where maintaining your core temperature isn’t too metabolically taxing. Despite this, humans live in basically every ecological niche there is, from Siberia and Northern Canada to the Sahara. Some of this adaptability is technological,3 but a fair amount of it is our bodies’ astonishing ability to cool us off and heat us up. What’s most interesting, to me at least, is how the body does this and what happens when those adaptations fail.

Categories
Book Club Booklists

“Stories of Exile”: Last Reading Group Discussion

By Associate Librarian – Readers’ Advisory Specialist Debbie

The Yiddish Book Center “Stories of Exile” Series concludes this February and March with the powerful novel Beloved by the Nobel Prize-winning author Toni Morrison. Beloved, which won the Pulitzer Prize in 1988, is a moving story of an African American family in post-civil war America recovering from the trauma of enslavement.

Categories
Booklists Recommendations

Hibernation

by Public Service Associate Autumn

All living things adapt to the onset of winter.1 Birds tend to migrate.2 Foxes, hares, bison and plenty of other animals grow thicker, denser coats, often in cooler, more winter-camouflaged colors. Humans bundle up in thick winter coats and gloves and complain about having to preheat their cars in the morning. Some creatures like bears, however, hibernate. 

Categories
Booklists Recommendations

Don’t Panic!

by Public Service Associate Hannah

September is National Preparedness Month — a time to prepare for natural and man-made disasters and emergencies. As a library user*, this PSA gets me thinking of all the thrilling apocalypse-type plot lines and thought-provoking stories on our shelves. But Hannah, you say, very real water, fire, and wind cause devastation every day. Where’s the entertainment in that?! Well, without making light of very real situations, think of these books and movies like you would visiting a haunted house or riding a roller coaster. A part of you is scared, and in my case screaming regret, while another part of you knows this is a manageable way to experience hardship and fear in a safe environment. Studies have even shown natural disaster films might teach us to take climate emergencies more seriously while providing tips for how to act in similar circumstances. Plus, it’s cathartic and rewarding to root for a protagonist as they seek shelter and find hope. 

Now set your solar flashlight out to charge as we dive into my disaster book and movie recommendations.

Categories
Booklists Recommendations

Ghost Stories

by Public Service Associate Hannah

It’s said that Halloween is a time when the veil between our earthly plane and the spiritual world is thin. And a thin veil means it is easier for spirits to cross and walk among the living. Whether you believe in phantasms or not, telling ghost stories is a timeless, cross-cultural tradition. Even Pliny the Younger (c. 61 – 113 CE) wrote about the specter of an old man, complete with a long beard and rattling chains, haunting his home in Athens. So without further ado, allow me to share some of the latest ghost stories haunting the library shelves!

Categories
Booklists Recommendations

Beach Reads

by Public Service Associate Hannah

Having clicked on this blog, I’m going to guess that you associate your vacation and time off with time to read. I might even wager that you are seeking a particular type of book — the beach read!

Categories
Booklists Online Resources Recommendations

Armchair Travel: Istanbul

by Public Service Associate Juliana

When I ask myself what I know about Istanbul, my knowledge appears limited to Turkish cuisine. Baklava, hummus, babaganoush, stuffed grape leaves, tabouli, falafel, kebabs. What I know about Istanbul extends about as far as the library parking lot, across the street to Cafe Istanbul. 

Categories
Booklists Recommendations

Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month

by Public Service Associate Hannah

Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month officially became an annual affair in 1992. The month of May was chosen to commemorate the immigration of the first Japanese to the United States in 1843 and to mark the anniversary of the completion of the transcontinental railroad in 1869. The majority of the workers who laid the tracks were Chinese immigrants.

So this May, celebrate the generations of Asian or Pacific Islanders who have enriched America’s history, and continue to be instrumental in its future success, with your Library! How? By checking out their stories in the form of books, films, and digital library resources of course!