Hi everyone, here are our five suggested reads of the week!
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Disappearers by Marlon James
Booker Prize-winner James’ (Moon, Witch, Spider, King, 2022) latest captivating and epic novel is about a group of gay men in late twentieth-century Kingston, Jamaica, in the aftermath of a brutal and traumatic attack. When eight disparate men gather to begin rehearsals for a play in 1988, their community is a dangerous and deadly place for queer people. One night, the group is the target of a murderous mob’s violence that leaves one of them dead and the survivors coping with the devastating repercussions. James follows these characters through their lives and relationships as they grapple with the many ways in which people can disappear when they live on the margin of a society that is hostile to their existence. Told through multiple perspectives and with scenes of graphic violence and sex, the often harrowing stories of these unforgettable characters are about struggle and survival, longing and reconciliation. James renders his characters’ tumultuous inner lives with striking imagery and energy; their dialogue is rapid, keen, and hard-hitting. In all, a gritty, powerful, and gripping read.–Booklist Review
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Galinda: A Charmed Childhood by Gregory Maguire
This sister volume to Elphie (2025) continues Maguire’s exploration of the Oz myth, this time telling the backstory of Galinda. As a young girl, she watches with some befuddlement as her family deals with forces within and without: her father is a businessman whose success is suspicious to many in town, as her older brother Hamm slowly discovers, and her mother is never home. Galinda is preoccupied with succeeding at her dance lessons and hopefully going on to get a prestigious prize, but spends many of her days ignored, lonely, and talked-down-to. This novel has somewhat less bite than the one on Elphaba’s childhood, despite the similarities Maguire does his best to draw out–both girls had a difficult father whose love they yearn for, both girls often feel lonely. Galinda, however, is slightly harder to root for, as her character development promises to wait until she’s at school at Shiz. Nevertheless, fans of the Wicked Years series will enjoy this insight into an iconic character, as will new fans of the Wicked films.
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A Librarian’s War: The Man Who Fought World War II with Books and Brought the Joy of Reading to Millions by Mollyi Guptill Manning
Movies, dances, and USO shows often come to mind as popular activities for American soldiers on the front during World War II. However, as historian Manning (When Books Went to War) illustrates in her biography of U.S. Army Chief Librarian Ray Trautman, books, comics, and periodicals were also in high demand among troops. These materials offered service members a sense of connection to home or an escape from both the horrors and boredom of war. Books boosted morale and played a vital role in the war against fascism. After earning a master’s degree in librarianship, Manning, then in the U.S. Army Reserves, was called up to active duty and selected to serve as chief librarian. During his tenure, he established an extensive library network and book distribution system. By visiting the men at the front–even serving during the Battle of the Bulge–Trautman’s determination, hard work, and empathy helped connect servicepeople to the books they wanted to read. Working with influential publishing houses, he even innovated the Armed Service Edition, a small book format that fit in uniform pockets. VERDICT This engaging biography will delight history readers and inspire future library students.–Starred Library Journal Review
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Threshing Day by Rebecca Yarros
The next book in the blockbuster Empyrean series, Threshing Day contains thirteen stories starring your favorite characters and their dragons. The deluxe first edition includes sixteen beautiful original full-color illustrations by artist Joe Requeza. This breathtaking collectible is available only in the US and Canada while supplies last.
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The Vanished Sister by Sherry Thomas
Growing up as Joanna Redmayne, Mrs. Joanna Watson could not have been closer to her older sister, Justina. However, that sibling bond was fractured when Justina cut her out of her life after Joanna decided to pursue an acting career. So Joanna could not be more surprised when Justina, now Mrs. Everett Carstairs, attempts to repair relations by inviting Joanna to a house party celebrating the engagement of Justina’s son, Charles, to Miss Philana Newell. Things seem to be going well until the party ends, and Justina is nowhere to be found. When the body of a woman is found in the nearby Bristol Channel, everyone assumes the worst, until Everett Carstairs insists it is not his wife. To discover what really happened to her sister, Joanna Watson turns to her dear friend and business partner, Charlotte Holmes, for help. Fans of Thomas’ Lady Sherlock mysteries, including A Ruse of Shadows (2024), will savor the exquisitely plotted ninth addition to this ingenious series while simultaneously reveling in the author’s witty writing, impeccably evoked historical settings, and flair for crafting intriguing characters with a welcome depth. –Starred Booklist Review
Reader’s Note: The Vanished Sister is the nineth book in the Lady Sherlock Series. If you’d like to start reading the series from the beginning, check out book one: A Study In Scarlet Women.
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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.
