Staff Picks: What We Loved in 2024Like this list

48 items

• All Hookers Go to Heaven

  B. H., Angel

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  This novel reads like a memoir, following a woman's experiences in the sex work industry. The protagonist is funny, relatable, and self-aware. I liked her observations about the systemic issues that affect her life and the relationships…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• Born a Crime

  Stories From a South African Childhood

  Noah, Trevor, 1984-

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  Candid, funny, couldn't put down. I was listening to the audiobook read by the author (it was such a treat!) - Submitted by Mariya

• The Singapore Story

  Memoirs of Lee Kuan Yew

  Lee, Kuan Yew, 1923-2015

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  He is charismatic and good at telling stories. You can learn a lot from him even if you disagree with some of his opinions. Thousand pages – good luck! (Submitted by Andy)

• The Spirit Bares Its Teeth

  White, Andrew Joseph

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  Set in an imagined Victorian era where violet-eyed people can speak to and control the dead, a violet-eyed transgender boy named Silas is sent to a finishing school designed to turn him into the perfect wife. But there are secrets hiding…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• The Art of Taking It Easy

  How to Cope With Bears, Traffic, and the Rest of Life's Stressors

  King, Brian (Comedian)

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  "The Art of Taking It Easy" by Brian King is a refreshing exploration of the importance of relaxation and the benefits of slowing down in a fast-paced world. I enjoyed King's humor that he combined with practical advice, encouraging…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• Light From Uncommon Stars

  Aoki, Ryka

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  Can you combine a story that involves a transgender teen violinist escaping a violent home and unwelcome city with a violin teacher who has sold her soul to the devil and can only reclaim it with seven other souls, and an alien family who…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• The Change

  a Novel

  Miller, Kirsten, 1973-

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  Menopause brings more gains than losses for three women in this entertaining thriller. When menopause arrives for the three women who are the protagonists in this book, they don’t bother with estrogen therapy or worry about chin hairs.…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• The Forty Rules of Love

  Shafak, Elif, 1971-

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  This is a story of Rumi (scholar, cleric and teacher) which takes place centuries ago in what is now known as Turkey. It is also the story of Ella, an ordinary forty-year-old housewife with a routine life and unhappy marriage, in present…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• Happiness

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  "This wonderful and informative book explores the multifaceted nature of happiness in both personal and professional contexts. It delves into the science behind well-being, emphasizing that true happiness stems from a combination of…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• The Annotated Archy and Mehitabel

  Marquis, Don, 1878-1937

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  unique perspective, very playful, appreciates poetry in a different way, challenges your understanding of what literature is or should be (Submitted by Eric)

• The Bone Shard Daughter

  Stewart, Andrea (Andrea G.)

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  Lin is the daughter of the Emperor but her ascension to the throne is a battle. Her Father chose another boy (Bayan) as a possible alternate heir, and the two vie for the Emperor’s knowledge and magical skills, which he doles out in dribs…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• Garden Spells

  Allen, Sarah Addison

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  A light, feel-good read in the magical realism genre. I read this book on the Libby app on my phone while I was traveling in Georgia and South Carolina with my family. This is a story about magic and family and acceptance. Claire and…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• Piranesi

  Clarke, Susanna

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  Piranesi is a wonderful read. It takes place in a mystical and cryptic world that continuously unravels its mystery. This beautiful and thoughtful story kept me up all night turning the pages! (Submitted by Meaghan)

• Nowhere Girl

  a Memoir of a Fugitive Childhood

  Diamond, Cheryl

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  Bhajan had lived in more than a dozen countries by the time she was 9. She understood at a very young age how to live by the rules her family followed: use a new name every time you move, don’t trust anyone but your family, and make sure…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• Catside Up, Catside Down

  a Book of Prepositions

  Hrachovec, Anna

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  It's both cute and inspirational. Cat lovers and crocheters will rejoice! (Submitted by Cristina)

• Darling Girls

  Hepworth, Sally

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  This story was unlike any I've ever read before. The plot was unique following three sisters in a dual timeline. You'll read each of their point of views from living in a foster home when they were young children to afterwards as adults.…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• The Life-changing Magic of Tidying Up

  the Japanese Art of Decluttering and Organizing

  Kondō, Marie

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  I thought of myself as of a well-organized individual and great at keeping things tidy, but after reading this book I've realized that I have lots of room to improve on. The book had a lasting and positive effect on me and the physical…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• Gods, Monsters, and the Lucky Peach

  Robson, Kelly (Science fiction writer)

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  Minh is a plague baby, who grew up on planet Earth as the civilization was itching to leave the underground cities called Hell’s they’d fled to as the surface of the Earth became unlivable. Minh lives in the hab of Calgary and works…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• The Collapsing Empire

  Scalzi, John, 1969-

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  In a world where all planets have to rely on each other for the resources they need to survive, what will happen when the routes connecting them start to close? This is hilarious novel takes on the political scheming by the ruling houses…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• Degrees of Separation

  a Decade North of 60

  McCreesh, Alison

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  A graphic novel memoir that chronicles a young woman’s trip to the Yukon “for the summer” and the subsequent decade of her life spent living in various northern communities. Interspersed between episodes from the author’s life are brief…Read moreRead more of this annotation