Hi everyone, here are our five suggested reads of the week!
Weekly Suggested Reading Five postings are usually published on Wednesdays, unless Monday is a holiday and then they are published later in the week.
And the next Suggested Reading posting will be published on Wednesday, May 28, 2025.
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Amelia Bloomer: Journalist, Suffragist, Anti-Fashion Icon by Sara Catterall
When studying the history of women’s suffrage in the United States, names like Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Susan B. Anthony, and Lucretia Mott come readily to mind, but this biography of Amelia Bloomer demonstrates her essential role and legacy in propelling the movement forward from its earliest days until she died in 1894. Despite receiving little formal education, Bloomer excelled in her role as the founder and editor of The Lily, an influential newspaper by and for women, that she ran from 1849-53. The Lily helped spread the word and garner support for women’s rights across the growing country. While Bloomer’s foray into activism was first and foremost as a temperance advocate, she was a respected leader and lecturer promoting women’s rights and dress reform. (While she did not “invent” bloomers, she did defend women wearing them in the pages of The Lily). Catterall, a former academic librarian, has written a timely and exhaustively researched and fully dimensional biography, observing that “it is also worth understanding how long many of our political debates have gone on . . . to understand what true progress could look like now.” Sage words that resonate, given our current political landscape. – Starred Booklist Review
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The Busybody Book Club by Freya Sampson
They can’t even agree on what to read, so how are they going to solve a murder?
Having recently moved from London to a small Cornish seaside village, Nova Davies started a book club at the local community center, but so far it’s a disaster. The five members disagree on everything, and to make matters worse, a significant sum of money is stolen during one of the meetings, putting the much-loved community center at risk.
Suspicion for the theft falls on book club member Michael, especially when he disappears and a dead body turns up at his house. But the book club has their own theories. Agatha Christie superfan Phyllis is determined to prove Michael’s been framed, while romance reader Arthur believes there’s a mystery woman involved, and teenage sci-fi fan Ash thinks dark forces are at play.
While trying to locate Michael, solve the murder and recover the stolen money, each of them has their own secrets to protect. But despite the danger closing in, they won’t rest until they’ve cracked the case and gotten everyone safe at home with a book, where they belong.
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My Father Always Finds Corpses by Lee Hollis
A father and daughter team up to solve a murder. With limited success as an adult actor, former child star Jarrod Jarvis has pursued writing and is currently rehearsing his new play, an Agatha Christie-inspired mystery. Following the untimely death of his husband, Charlie, a police detective who succumbed to cancer, Jarrod was left to raise their daughter, Olivia, whose choice of a criminal justice major in college was a tribute to Charlie. Jarrod’s savvy friend Kitty Reynolds, who encouraged him to pursue writing and directing–and who happens to be a former first lady of the United States–wants to set him up with her new Secret Service bodyguard, the exceptionally attractive Jim Stratton. Liv’s currently dating Zel Cameron, a documentary film student who urges her to find and meet her surrogate mother. Meanwhile, Liv’s best friend, Maude, develops romantic feelings for Zel’s charming assistant. Liv grows more concerned about the financial motives behind Zel’s actions when he reveals that he’s located the surrogate, Candy Lithwick. Candy is agreeable enough, but one of her two children harbors suspicions that Liv wants her mother’s property, and the other needs Jarrod’s assistance in promoting his career. Charlie’s brother Brody, a semifamous professional wrestler, arrives seeking refuge in Jarrod’s casita. When Zel fails to show up for a dinner where he was supposed to meet Jarrod, an annoyed Liv visits his studio and discovers his lifeless body. Unsatisfied with the police investigation, Jarrod, who’s dabbled in detection, embarks with Brody and Liv on his own investigation and learns that Zel’s habit of plagiarism made him widely disliked at school. An often humorous mystery replete with questionable decisions, fortunate coincidences, and opportunities for redemption. –Kirkus Review
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Never Flinch by Stephen King
King’s follow-up to Holly has PI Holly Gibney helping to guard Kate, an outspoken feminist activist who has been receiving messages from an increasingly aggressive stalker. At the same time, Holly’s friend, Buckeye City Police Detective Izzy Jaynes, is assigned a case that involves a threat to kill 13 innocents and one guilty person. At first, Izzy isn’t sure the threat is real, but their doubt disappears after the first murder, with possibly 13 more to come. Izzy has an idea of the “why” of the murders, but hasn’t a clue as to who, so she asks Holly to take a look at the evidence. As Izzy investigates and Holly gets pulled further into Kate’s orbit, their cases converge, forcing them to work together to prevent a larger disaster. Holly’s progression (from supporting character to a protagonist worth rooting for) continues. She’s taking on new challenges and finding support in new relationships, a development that gives heart to King’s novel. While the horror elements are not as prominent here as in other series installments, there is real suspense in the dual narratives and the actions of an increasingly off-kilter villain.
VERDICT Fans of Holly Gibney and/or detective procedurals will find a lot to love here. — Library Journal Review
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When Stars Align by Melissa de la Cruz
“An entertaining and poignant coming-of-age story about three young celebrity friends who go through the ups and downs of fame in the glaring eye of the spotlight.” —Mindy Kaling
Three girls in Hollywood who thought they’d rule the world. Reality bites in a touching novel about success, friendship, and redemption by a New York Times bestselling author.
Best friends Miranda Montana, Germaine St. Germaine-Chang, and Sicily Bell were the darlings of Hollywood who rose from teen success to in-demand idols of screaming fans and paparazzi. They rode the momentum like there was no tomorrow. But nothing lasts forever.
Now Miranda, the wild-child movie star, drifts from rehab to dead-end relationships as she tries for a comeback from a very public fall from grace. Germaine, the daughter of billionaire hotel moguls, has lost her purpose. And then there’s Sicily, the all-American pop star who had a record deal, sold-out concerts, and controlling parents who squeezed the very life out of her. After a decade, fate reconnects these three young women for a long-awaited confrontation with the secrets, betrayals, heartbreak, and family traumas of the past.
Settling old scores is just the beginning. It’s also time to repair the damage done and to hold fast to the most galvanizing success of their lives: their friendship.
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Happy reading!
Linda Reimer, SSCL
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Note: Book summaries are from the respective publishers unless otherwise specified.
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Information on the four library catalogs
The Digital Catalog aka Libby: https://stls.overdrive.com/
The Digital Catalog, is an online catalog containing eBooks, eAudiobooks, and digital magazines. You can use your library card and checkout content on a PC; you can also use the companion app, Libby, to access titles on your mobile devices; so you can enjoy eBooks and eAudiobooks on the go!
All card holders of all Southern Tier Library System member libraries can check out items from the Digital Catalog.
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Hoopla Catalog: https://www.hoopladigital.com/
The Hoopla Catalog features on demand checkouts of eBooks, eAudiobooks, comic books, albums, movies and TV shows. Patron check out limit is 10 items per month.
Hoopla is a Southeast Steuben County Library service available to all Southeast Steuben County Library card holders.
The Hoopla companion app, also called Hoopla is available for mobile devices, smart TVs & media streaming players.
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Kanopy Catalog: https://www.kanopy.com/en
The Kanopy Catalog features thousands of streaming videos available on demand.
The Kanopy Catalog is available for all Southern Tier Library System member library card holders, including all Southeast Steuben County Library card holders!
You can access the Kanopy Catalog through a web browser, or download the app to your phone, tablet or media streaming player (i.e. Roku, Google or Fire TV).
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StarCat: The catalog of physical/traditional library materials: https://starcat.stls.org
Card holders of all Southern Tier Library System member libraries can access StarCat to search for and request materials available at libraries through out the Southern Tier Library System.
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Have questions about how to access Internet based content (i.e. eBooks, eAudios)? Feel free to drop by the Reference Desk or call the library and we will assist you! The library’s telephone number is: 607-936-3713.
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Tech & Book Talk is a Southeast Steuben County Library blog.
Tech & Book Talk at SSCL 