Tech & Book Talk at SSCL

Hi everyone, here are our recommended reads for the week!

*More information on the three catalogs and available formats is found at the end of the list of recommended reads*

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Weekly Suggested Reading postings are published on Wednesdays.

And the next Suggested Reading posting will be published on Wednesday, February 14, 2024.

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Be a Revolution: How Everyday People Are Fighting Oppression and Changing the World—and How You Can Too by Ijeoma Oluo

Bestseller Oluo (So You Want to Talk About Race) affirms that “everyone has different roles in this revolution” in these enlightening profiles of people who’ve put their anti-racist values into action. Each chapter highlights the tie between racial justice and some other topic—such as gender, disability, policing, education, and the arts—through detailed life stories of activists that center their changing understanding of the world and how they managed challenges. For example, a chapter on Richie Reseda relates how his encounters with Black feminist theory in prison led him to found Success Story, a workshop to help incarcerated men think about how internalized patriarchal ideas have shaped and harmed them. Throughout, Oluo showcases a variety of ways to promote anti-racism, many of them intended to be of use to people for whom anti-racist organizing is not necessarily a central focus of their activism. She also admirably demonstrates how she continues to grow through self-education and reflection, at one point frankly addressing earlier shortcomings in her thinking about disability. Readers will find inspiration and clarity. – Starred Publishers Weekly Review

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The Ghost Orchard by Jonathan Kellerman  

Psychologist Alex Delaware and Detective Milo Sturgis confront a baffling, vicious double homicide that leads them to long-buried secrets worth killing for in the riveting thriller from the #1 New York Times bestselling “master of suspense” (Los Angeles Times). 

LAPD homicide lieutenant Milo Sturgis sees it all the time: Reinvention’s a way of life in a city fueled by fantasy. But try as you might to erase the person you once were, there are those who will never forget the past . . . and who can still find you. 

A pool boy enters a secluded Bel Air property and discovers two bodies floating in the bright blue water: Gio Aggiunta, the playboy heir to an Italian shoe empire, and a gorgeous, even wealthier neighbor named Meagin March. A married neighbor. 

An illicit affair stoking rage is a perfect motive. But a “double” in this neighborhood of gated estates isn’t something you see every day. The house is untouched. No forced entry, no forensic evidence. The case has “that feeling,” and when that happens, Milo turns to his friend, the brilliant psychologist Alex Delaware. 

As Milo and Alex investigate both victims, they discover two troubled pasts. And as they dig deeper, Meagin March’s very identity begins to blur. Who was this glamorous but conflicted woman? Did her past catch up to her? Or did Gio’s family connections create a threat spanning two continents? 

Chasing down the answers leads Alex and Milo on an exploration of L.A.’s darkest side as they contend with one of the most shocking cases of their careers and learn that that some secrets are best left buried in the past. 

Reader’s Note: The Ghost Orchard is the thirty-ninth book in the Alex Delaware Series. If you’d like to start reading the series from the beginning, check out book one: When The Bough Breaks. 

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A Love Song For Ricki Wilde by Tia Williams 

From the New York Times bestselling author of Seven Days in June, A Love Song for Ricki Wilde is an epic love story one hundred years in the making… 

Leap years are a strange, enchanted time. And for some, even a single February can be life-changing. 

Ricki Wilde has many talents, but being a Wilde isn’t one of them. As the impulsive, artistic daughter of a powerful Atlanta dynasty, she’s the opposite of her famous socialite sisters. Where they’re long-stemmed roses, she’s a dandelion: an adorable bloom that’s actually a weed, born to float wherever the wind blows. In her bones, Ricki knows that somewhere, a different, more exciting life awaits her. 

When regal nonagenarian, Ms. Della, invites her to rent the bottom floor of her Harlem brownstone, Ricki jumps at the chance for a fresh beginning. She leaves behind her family, wealth, and chaotic romantic decisions to realize her dream of opening a flower shop. And just beneath the surface of her new neighborhood, the music, stories and dazzling drama of the Harlem Renaissance still simmers. 

One evening in February as the heady, curiously off-season scent of night-blooming jasmine fills the air, Ricki encounters a handsome, deeply mysterious stranger who knocks her world off balance in the most unexpected way.   

Set against the backdrop of modern Harlem and Renaissance glamour, A Love Song for Ricki Wilde is a swoon-worthy love story of two passionate artists drawn to the magic, romance, and opportunity of New York, and whose lives are uniquely and irreversibly linked. 

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One Wrong Word by Hank Phillippi Ryan 

Healed from a checkered past, Arden Ward is in a good place. She is successful in her career as a crisis manager, protecting high-profile clients from PR disasters. But when Arden ends up in a disaster of her own–accused of an affair with a mogul she’s never even gone near–her life goes sideways. Her boss fires her, but he gives her two weeks to work on a final case. This one involves Ned Bannister, a real-estate tycoon who has just been acquitted of a vehicular homicide. Despite the exoneration, Bannister’s wife, Cordelia, is still being ostracized by her PTA and socialite peers. Arden jumps right in, but then Ned’s lawyer is mowed down in another hit-and-run. Accused of yet another crime, Ned goes to Arden, and they begin working together while being pursued by the assistant DA and the police. Ryan (The House Guest, 2023) has built a solid repertoire of unique thrillers, and this one is no exception. Fresh twists, including the unexpected friendship between Arden and Ned, keep the plot barreling forward. – Booklist Review  

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The Price You Pay by Nick Petrie 

The latest addition to Petrie’s lauded Peter Ash series begins with a familiar setup: there’s Gulf War veteran Peter, with “adrenaline burning his veins like gasoline,” leading a gang of leathery gunmen, and his vengeance-minded pal Lewis, always ready to step up when “the law hadn’t done the job.” Typically, Lewis is helping Peter, but this time it’s the opposite: when somebody steals notebooks full of secrets about Lewis’ past from one of his former criminal associates, Peter steps in to help track them down and keep Lewis and his family safe. Petrie shows off his action-writing chops with a series of vivid, remarkably clear firefights and, in between, pauses to recover. In this series installment, the wiliest fighters are the heroes’ girlfriends, which makes for great fun. But there’s also some gravitas; in a devastating twist on Lewis’ fascination with vengeance, midway through the book we learn of the grief that provoked this bloodbath. – Booklist Review  

Reader’s Note: The Price You Pay is the eighth book in Nick Petrie’s Peter Ash Series. If you’d like to start reading the series from the beginning, check out book one: The Drifter.

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A Quantum Love Story by Mike Chen 

Neither Carter Cho nor Mariana Pineda knows exactly what the Hawke accelerator is accelerating. But whatever it is, it shakes the whole universe apart every four days and resets. Initially, Carter is alone in his awareness of the looping, and he’s bored with it all. Until he manages to pull Mariana into his awareness of the loop. As history repeats all around them, Carter and Mariana occupy a little bubble of two, a bubble that explores what’s gone wrong and how to fix it, even as they tentatively reach towards a relationship that neither of them could have expected. Just as they near a solution, Carter slips out of their bubble. Mariana chooses to sacrifice everything to get him back–hopefully saving the world along the way.

VERDICT Combining the sweet redemption and understated romance of Groundhog Day with the multiple explosive resets of Edge of Tomorrow, this novel from Chen (Vampire Weekend) loops its way through a charming story about opposites attracting, the human ability to reset expectations and emotions against all the odds, and the power of one woman willing to make a big sacrifice for a small change that might just save the universe. – Library Journal Review

 

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Simply The Best by Elizabeth Phillips 

(Publication Date: February 13 – you can place a hold via StarCat now!) 

As one of Champion Management’s top sports agents, Brett Rivers is used to winning deals, but he has to admit he may finally have met his match in Rory Garrett. Rory’s brother (and Brett’s client) Clint has just become the leading suspect in the suspicious death of Ashley Hart, Clint’s ex-girlfriend. Even though Clint is mad as heck at her for telling him to break up with Ashley, Rory knows Clint had nothing to do with the murder. So when Brett tries to sideline Rory after she begins investigating the crime, she offers Brett a deal. In exchange for Brett sharing his contacts in Clint’s world, Rory will help Brett, who had also told Clint to break up with Ashley, get back in the good graces of his most important client. Sounds fair, right? Readers will want to savor every delectable word in the sublimely talented Phillips’ latest Chicago Stars novel, following When Stars Collide (2021), just as one would enjoy the luscious artisanal bonbons crafted by the book’s heroine. Infused with addictively acerbic wit and graced with a perfectly matched pair of protagonists whose sexual chemistry is hot enough to melt chocolate, this is Phillips at her dazzling best. – Booklist Review  

Reader’s Note: Simply The Best is the tenth book in Phillips’s Chicago Stars Series; each book in the series follows the romance of a different set of characters. If you’d like to read the series from the beginning check out book one: It Had To Be You.

 

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Tales Of The Celestial Kingdom by Sue Lynn Tan

Tan returns to the spellbinding world of her Celestial Kingdom duology  with this collection of nine stories set before, during, and after the novels. The first section, “Dusk,” deepens readers’ understanding of Xingyin’s parents in three stories, contextualizing their fateful decisions: Houyi’s slaughter of the 10 sunbirds and Chang’e’s drinking of the immortality elixir to save herself and her baby. The next section, “Twilight,” spans both books in the duology and recounts important moments and fierce battles from the perspective of other characters, particularly key romantic figures, Liwei and Wenzhi, who weigh their feelings for Xingyin against their duty to family. The final section, “Dawn,”” portrays Wenzhi’s mortal life after his reincarnation and his eventual reunion with Xingyin; the final story serves as a swooningly romantic epilogue to the duology. These insightful character studies and interesting side stories are perfect for readers ready to reimmerse themselves in Tan’s magical storytelling, especially those who have longed for a proper ending to Xingyin and Wenzhi’s tale. – Booklist Review 

Reader’s List: The Celestial Kingdom duology consists of two novels: Daughter Of The Moon Goddess and Heart Of The Sun Warrior.

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The Women: A Novel by Kristin Hannah 

Frankie McGrath is just 20 when she enlists in the army to go to Vietnam as a nurse in 1965, planning to follow in the footsteps of her older brother, Finley. Frankie’s parents are dismayed by her decision, even more so once they get the horrible news that Finley has been killed in action. Frankie deploys to Vietnam and is quickly overwhelmed by the horrors of war, but with the help of two new friends, Barb and Ethel, and a handsome doctor, Jamie, she adjusts to the rigors of nursing in a war zone. Her attraction to Jamie is stymied by complications, then she finds love with her brother’s best friend, a charming pilot named Rye. When Frankie’s service comes to an end, she is distressed when she returns to the States to find that Vietnam vets are not lauded as heroes and that many vets don’t acknowledge the service of military women. As she grapples with PTSD and finds her place in antiwar protests, Frankie is dealt a terrible blow. Hannah (The Four Winds, 2021) continues her winning streak of compelling historical novels, capturing the tumultuous atmosphere of the 1960s and ’70s in a moving, gripping tale that pays tribute to the under-appreciated skill and courage of combat nurses.

HIGH-DEMAND BACKSTORY: Hannah’s popularity ensures enormous interest in each new novel, and the unusual historical context and focus of this one will stir up additional curiosity. – Booklist Review

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Your Shadow Half Remains by Sunny Moraine 

Riley has her life figured out–or as much of a life as she can have in a world where society has been ravaged by a pandemic. The pandemic in question isn’t a virus or bacteria; instead, it sends anyone who makes eye contact with another human into a rage that ends in violent death. To survive, Riley has holed herself away in her late grandmother’s cabin with enough food and water to last for several months of total isolation. When a mysterious stranger moves in down the road, Riley’s conditioned acceptance of the world is shattered. Ellis makes her feel safe, and, despite her best efforts, Riley finds herself making increasingly reckless decisions in her search for human contact. But when she starts to feel eyes constantly tracking her and to experience increasingly frequent losses of time, Riley begins to question just how alone she is. A refreshingly original take on dystopian fiction, Moraine’s latest is as haunting as it is thought-provoking. Fans of Blindness (1998), by Jose Saramago, and Station Eleven (2014), by Emily St. John Mandel, will be gripped by Riley’s deeply human struggles amid a global pandemic. – Booklist Review 

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Happy reading!

Linda Reimer, SSCL

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Have questions or want to request a book?

Feel free to call the library! Our telephone number is 607-936-3713.

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Note: Book summaries are from the respective publishers unless otherwise specified.

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Information on the three library catalogs

Digital Catalog: 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/download content to 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 instant/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 App is available for Android or Apple devices, PCs, smart TVs & media streaming players.

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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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Tech Talk is a Southeast Steuben County Library blog.

Hi everyone, here is the weekly list of New York Times Bestsellers.

New York Times Bestsellers can be requested through StarCat (for print books) & The Digital Catalog/Libby for eBooks and Downloadable Audiobooks. Select titles may also be checked out, on demand, through the Hoopla Catalog.

For more information on the three catalogs skip to the section below the bestselling titles*

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New York Times Bestseller blog posts are published on Sundays.

And the next New York Times blog post will be posted on Sunday, February 11, 2024.

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FICTION

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A COURT OF SILVER FLAMES by Sarah J. Maas

The fifth book in the Court of Thorns and Roses series. Nesta Archeron is forced into close quarters with a warrior named Cassian. 

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DEMON COPPERHEAD by Barbara Kingsolver

Winner of a 2023 Pulitzer Prize for fiction. A reimagining of Charles Dickens’s “David Copperfield” set in the mountains of southern Appalachia.

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THE EXCHANGE by John Grisham

In a sequel to “The Firm,” Mitch McDeere, who is now a partner at the world’s largest law firm, gets caught up in a sinister plot.

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FIRST LIE WINS by Ashley Elston

A woman who works for a mysterious boss takes on a new identity to dig up information on someone. 

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FOURTH WING by Rebecca Yarros

Violet Sorrengail is urged by the commanding general, who also is her mother, to become a candidate for the elite dragon riders.

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THE FURY by Alex Michaelides

Violence erupts when a former movie star brings a group of her friends to her private Greek island for Easter.

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THE HEAVEN & EARTH GROCERY STORE by James McBride

Secrets held by the residents of a dilapidated neighborhood come to life when a skeleton is found at the bottom of a well.

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HOLMES, MARPLE & POE by James Patterson and Brian Sitts

Three private investigators working in New York City draw the attention of an N.Y.P.D. detective. 

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THE HOUSEMAID by Freida McFadden

Troubles surface when a woman looking to make a fresh start takes a job in the home of the Winchesters.

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HOUSE OF EARTH AND BLOOD by Sarah J. Maas

Passion arises between Bryce Quinlan and Hunt Athalar as they seek to avenge the deaths of Bryce’s friends. 

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HOUSE OF SKY AND BREATH by Sarah J. Maas

The second book in the Crescent City series. Bryce Quinlan and Hunt Athalar must choose to fight or stay silent.

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ICEBREAKER by Hannah Grace

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Anastasia might need the help of the captain of a college hockey team to get on the Olympic figure skating team.

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IRON FLAME by Rebecca Yarros

The second book in the Empyrean series. Violet Sorrengail’s next round of training might require her to betray the man she loves.

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IT ENDS WITH US by Colleen Hoover

A battered wife raised in a violent home attempts to halt the cycle of abuse.

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LESSONS IN CHEMISTRY by Bonnie Garmus

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A scientist and single mother living in California in the 1960s becomes a star on a TV cooking show.

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THE LITTLE LIAR by Mitch Albom

The actions of an 11-year-old boy help facilitate the delivery of Jewish residents, including his family, to Auschwitz.

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MARTYR! by Kaveh Akbar

The orphaned son of Iranian immigrants discovers new details about his family history through a painting on display in a Brooklyn art gallery.

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RANDOM IN DEATH by J.D. Robb

The 58th book of the In Death series. Eve Dallas searches for the person who jabbed a teenager with a vial of toxic substances.

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REMARKABLY BRIGHT CREATURES by Shelby Van Pelt

A widow working the night shift at the Sowell Bay Aquarium is aided in solving a mystery by a giant Pacific octopus living there.

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THE SILENT PATIENT by Alex Michaelides

Theo Faber looks into the mystery of a famous painter who stops speaking after shooting her husband.

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TOM LAKE by Ann Patchett 

Three daughters, who return to their family orchard in the spring of 2020, learn about their mother’s relationship with a famous actor.

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NON-FICTION

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THE BODY KEEPS THE SCORE by Bessel van der Kolk

How trauma affects the body and mind, and innovative treatments for recovery. 

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THE BOYS IN THE BOAT by Daniel James Brown

The story of the American rowers who pursued gold at the 1936 Berlin Olympic Games; the basis of the film.  

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CASTE by Isabel Wilkerson

The Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist examines aspects of caste systems across civilizations and reveals a rigid hierarchy in America today.

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ELON MUSK by Walter Isaacson

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The author of “The Code Breaker” traces Musk’s life and summarizes his work on electric vehicles, private space exploration and artificial intelligence.

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EVERYTHING I KNOW ABOUT LOVE by Dolly Alderton

The British journalist shares stories and observations; the basis of the TV series.  

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FRIENDS, LOVERS, AND THE BIG TERRIBLE THING by Matthew Perry

The late actor, known for playing Chandler Bing on “Friends,” shares stories from his childhood and his struggles with sobriety.  

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I’M GLAD MY MOM DIED by Jennette McCurdy

The actress and filmmaker describes her eating disorders and difficult relationship with her mother.

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KILLERS OF THE FLOWER MOON by David Grann

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The story of a murder spree in 1920s Oklahoma that targeted Osage Indians, whose lands contained oil.

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THE KINGDOM, THE POWER, AND THE GLORY by Tim Alberta

The author of “American Carnage” looks at divisions within the American evangelical movement.

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LEGACY by Uché Blackstock

A Black physician details systemic barriers and inequities that affect Black patients and doctors.

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MADNESS by Antonia Hylton

A Peabody and Emmy award-winning journalist unearths the 93-year-old history of a segregated asylum in Maryland.

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MY EFFIN’ LIFE by Geddy Lee with Daniel Richler

The musician known for his work with the band Rush chronicles his life as the child of Holocaust survivors and his time in the limelight.

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OATH AND HONOR by Liz Cheney

The former congresswoman from Wyoming recounts how she helped lead the Select Committee to Investigate the Jan. 6. Attack on the United States Capitol. 

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ONE IN A MILLENNIAL by Kate Kennedy

A pop culture podcaster grapples with the agony and ecstasy of the cultural touchstones of her generation.

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ONLY SAY GOOD THINGS by Crystal Hefner

A memoir by the third and last wife of Playboy’s founder, Hugh Hefner.

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OUTLIVE by Peter Attia with Bill Gifford

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A look at recent scientific research on aging and longevity.

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PREQUEL by Rachel Maddow

The MSNBC host and co-author of “Bag Man” details a campaign to overthrow the U.S. government and install authoritarian rule prior to and during our involvement in World War II. 

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THE SHOWMAN by Simon Shuster

An account of Volodymyr Zelensky’s transformation from a comedic actor to the president of Ukraine during its war with Russia.

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THINK AGAIN by Adam Grant

An examination of the cognitive skills of rethinking and unlearning that could be used to adapt to a rapidly changing world.

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THE WAGER by David Grann

The survivors of a shipwrecked British vessel on a secret mission during an imperial war with Spain have different accounts of events.

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THE WOMAN IN ME by Britney Spears

The Grammy Award-winning pop star details her personal and professional experiences, including the years she spent under a conservatorship overseen by her father.  

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Have a great week!

Linda Reimer, SSCL

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Search for and request books online!

eBooks & Audiobooks Through The Digital Catalog & Libby

Through The Digital Catalog (online) : https://stls.overdrive.com/

Through the Digital Catalog companion app Libby, which is found in your app store.

All card holders of all Southern Tier Library System member libraries can check out items from the Digital Catalog/Libby

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Through Hoopla!

Hoopla Catalog: https://www.hoopladigital.com/

Hoopla is a Southeast Steuben County Library service available to all Southeast Steuben County Library card holders.

The Hoopla App is available online, for Android or Apple devices and most smart TVs & media streaming players.

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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 throughout the Southern Tier Library System.

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Also of Note: If a New York Times Bestseller isn’t yet available in any of the three catalogs, you can contact the library and request to be notified when it becomes available.

Southeast Steuben County Library Telephone Number: 607-936-3713.

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Tech Talk is a Southeast Steuben County Library blog.

Hi everyone, here are our streaming recommendations for the month ahead of us!

The next streaming recommendation post will be posted the first Saturday in March.

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Streaming Now:

Genius: MLK/X (2024) (ABC/National Geographic)

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The Marvels (2023) (Disney +)

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Mr. & Mrs. Smith (2024) (Prime Video)

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Surrounded (2023) (Prime Video)

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February 4:

Curb Your Enthusiasm: Season 12 (HBO)

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February 8:

One Day (2024-present) (Netflix)

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Tokyo Vice Season 2 (2022-present) (Max)

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February 14:

The New Look (Apple TV+)

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February 16:

Snoopy Presents: Welcome Home Franklin (2024) (Apple TV+)

This title doesn’t have a trailer – to learn more about the new Peanuts video checkout the description page on the Apple TV+ site, via the following link:

https://www.apple.com/tv-pr/originals/snoopy-presents-welcome-home-franklin/

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February 27:

Shogun (Hulu/FX)

On a side viewing note, our library owns the original Showgun (1980) miniseries, starring Richard Chamberlain and Toshirô Mifune on DVD, if you should wish to check it out.

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Hoopla Stream of the Month

Iconic America: Our Symbols and Stories with David Rubenstein (2023)

Iconic America: Our Symbols and Stories with David Rubenstein Trailer:

Have a great day,

Linda Reimer, SSCL

Hi everyone, welcome to our Suggested Listening posting for this week!

Suggested Listening postings are published on Fridays; and our next Suggested Listening posting will be out on Friday,

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And here are the 10 recommended songs of the week; and this week we have a “baker’s ten” as I couldn’t quite pair down the list to just ten songs!

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At The Jazz Band Ball by Bix Beiderbecke and His Gang

From The Album: 100 All Time Greatest Rare Jazz (2013) by Various Artists

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Candles In The Dark by Elftones & Rhiannon Giddens

From The Album: All The Pretty Horses by Elftones (2009)

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Can’t Find My Way Home by Bonnie Raitt & Lowell George

From The Album: Ultrasonic Studios 1972 by Bonnie Raitt & Lowell George with John Hammond (2015) (The album is out of print!)

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Cold Duck Time by Eddie Harris & Les McCann

From The Album: Compared to What by Les McCann

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My Girl by The Temptations

From The Album: 20th Century Masters: The Millennium Collection: Best Of The Temptations, Vol. 1 (1999)

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Midnight Sleighride (From “The Lieutenant Kije Suite”) by The Sauter-Finegan Orchestra

From The Album: Directions In Music (2008)

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Simple Man by Graham Nash

From The Album: Songs For Beginners (1971)

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These Boots Are Made by Walkin’ by Nancy Sinatra

From The Album: Boots (1966)

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This I Dig Of You by Hank Mobley

From The Album: Soul Station (1999)

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You’ll Never Walk Alone by Gerry & The Pacemakers

From The Album: You’ll Never Walk Alone (The EMI Years 1963-1966) (2008)

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Hoopla Recommend Album of the Week

Bucket of Songs by Happy Traum

And from the album the song:

Relax Your Mind by Happy Traum 

 

Original version found on the album: Relax Your Mind (1976) 

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Have a great weekend,

Linda Reimer, SSCL

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Online Catalog Links:

StarCat

The catalog of physical materials, i.e. print books, DVDs, audiobooks on CD, etc.

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The Digital Catalog, web version of Libby

The catalog of e-books, downloadable audiobooks and a handful of streaming videos.

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The Libby App

Libby is the companion app to the Digital Catalog and may be found in the Apple & Google app.

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Hoopla

A catalog of instant check out items, including eBooks, downloadable audiobooks, comic books, TV shows and movies for patrons of the Southeast Steuben County Library.

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Tech Talk is a Southeast Steuben County Library blog.

This blog post includes all the new titles that have been ordered by the library this month.  

Some of these titles have arrived and can be requested through StarCat; other titles are not yet ready to circulate (and thus are not yet found in StarCat). 

So, if you see a book you’d love to read, but don’t find it listed in StarCat, send me an email and let me know which title you’d like to read; and I will place it on hold for you, when it is ready to circulate. 

My email address is: reimerl@stls.org 

And here is the list of New Books Coming Your Way for this month! 

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Have a great day!

Linda Reimer, SSCL

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New Books is a monthly post, published the first day of each month. 

The next New Books Coming Your Was post will be out on March 1, 2024

Hi everyone, here are our recommended reads for the week!

*More information on the three catalogs and available formats is found at the end of the list of recommended reads*

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Weekly Suggested Reading postings are published on Wednesdays.

And the next Suggested Reading posting will be published on Wednesday, February 7, 2024.

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The Atlas Complex by Olivie Blake  

The Atlas Complex marks the much-anticipated, heart-shattering conclusion in Olivie Blake’s trilogy that began with the New York Times bestselling phenomenon, The Atlas Six. 

Only the extraordinary are chosen. 

Only the cunning survive. 

An explosive return to the library leaves the six Alexandrians vulnerable to the lethal terms of their recruitment. 

Old alliances quickly fracture as the initiates take opposing strategies as to how to deal with the deadly bargain they have so far failed to uphold. Those who remain with the archives wrestle with the ethics of their astronomical abilities, while elsewhere, an unlikely pair from the Society cohort partner to influence politics on a global stage. 

And still the outside world mobilizes to destroy them, while the Caretaker himself, Atlas Blakely, may yet succeed with a plan foreseen to have world-ending stakes. It’s a race to survive as the six Society recruits are faced with the question of what they’re willing to betray for limitless power—and who will be destroyed along the way. 

Also by Olivie Blake 

The Atlas Six 

The Atlas Paradox 

Alone with You in the Ether 

One for My Enemy 

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The Bad Weather Friend by Dean Koontz 

Benny Catspaw’s perpetually sunny disposition is tested when he loses his job, his reputation, his fiancée, and his favorite chair. He’s not paranoid. Someone is out to get him. He just doesn’t know who or why. Then Benny receives an inheritance from an uncle he’s never heard of: a giant crate and a video message. All will be well in time. 

How strange—though it’s a blessing, his uncle promises. Stranger yet is what’s inside the crate. He’s a seven-foot-tall self-described “bad weather friend” named Spike whose mission is to help people who are just too good for this world. Spike will take care of it. He’ll find Benny’s enemies. He’ll deal with them. This might be satisfying if Spike wasn’t such a menacing presence with terrifying techniques of intimidation. 

In the company of Spike and a fascinated young waitress-cum-PI-in-training named Harper, Benny plunges into a perilous high-speed adventure, the likes of which never would have crossed the mind of a decent guy like him.

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Blizzard by Marie Vingtras 

In this elegant debut, Vingtras details the high-stakes search for a missing child from the alternating perspectives of four narrators. Bess, an attractive young woman, has lost track of a precocious, initially unnamed 10-year-old boy in the middle of a heavy snowstorm somewhere in Alaska (“I let go of his hand to retie my laces and I lost him”). As the storm grows fiercer, Bess’s search for the boy intensifies, and the three other narrators come into focus. Benedict lives with Bess for unspecified reasons and is particularly invested in recovering the child; Cole is their rage-filled, alcoholic neighbor; and Freeman, a military veteran and ex-cop, has traveled to Alaska on a mysterious assignment. In short, spiky chapters, Vingtras slowly doles out clues about the characters’ connections to one another, keeping readers deliciously off-balance as Bess’s search for her charge joins up with larger, more sinister machinations. With masterly pacing, the author knits together a noirish and affecting tale about desperate souls colliding. It’s worth staying up all night to finish. – Publishers Weekly Review

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Cool Food: Erasing Your Carbon Footprint One Bite at a Time by Robert Downey Jr., Thomas Kostigen 

“Blackstone Publishing, known for high-octane thrillers, detective fiction, and sci-fi, is touting an idiosyncratic forthcoming title as well: Robert Downey Jr. and Thomas Kostigen’s Cool Food: Erasing Your Carbon Footprint One Bite at a Time. If Iron Man fans didn’t know that Downey believes in environmentally sustainable eating habits and has the recipes to prove it, they will now.” – From the Publishers Weekly Review

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The Excitements: A Novel by C. J. Wray 

In this irresistible caper from Wray (a pseudonym for Proper Family series author Chrissie Manby), the past comes to bear on nonagenarian British WWII veteran sisters, Penny and Josephine Williamson. As the women prepare to receive yet another award for their service (this time for their help liberating France), their doting great-nephew, Archie, whisks them off to Paris, where his former lover happens to be auctioning off a spectacular jewelry collection belonging to the family of Josephine and Penny’s childhood neighbors. Old vendettas emerge, and the sisters prepare to pull off a heist to settle some outstanding debts. As that adventure unfolds, Wray fills in the past 90-plus years of Penny and Josephine’s lives, making readers privy to secrets that neither sister has dared to share with the other, particularly when it comes to their extracurricular activities during wartime. Keeping track of the shifting time periods can require close concentration, but the extra focus is worth it: Wray makes the Williamson sisters and their rich backstories leap off the page, successfully convincing readers that their joie de vivre has been a lifelong condition that shows no signs of letting up. Filled with surprise, poignancy, and excitement, this is a surefire winner. – Starred Publishers Weekly Review 

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The Last Resort by Christopher Golden 

Best seller Golden (All Hallows) is back with another masterclass in horror, this time featuring a young Boston couple, Tommy and Kate, who leave the rat race behind to claim a crumbling mansion for only one euro on the island of Sicily, in the same small town where Tommy’s grandparents live. On their first day there, an earthquake rumbles, Kate is pretty sure she’s seen a ghost, and Tommy’s grandmother’s visit ends with her upset that they bought the notorious home known as “the House of Last Resort.” With a creepy omniscient point of view, Golden weaves a tense tale, carefully detailing the history of the place and its characters. The tone builds from uneasy to sinister at a relentless pace, culminating with Tommy and Kate in a desperate race for their souls and battling centuries of secrets buried deep beneath their new home, including some that rock the foundation of Tommy’s own family. VERDICT Golden is already a library favorite, and his latest will be eagerly devoured. This title would make a great suggestion for fans of The Ancestor by Danielle Trussoni or Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno-Garcia. – Library Journal Review  

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The Lost Bookshop by Evie Woods 

The Echo of Old Books meets The Lost Apothecary in this evocative and charming novel full of mystery and secrets. ‘The thing about books,’ she said ‘is that they help you to imagine a life bigger and better than you could ever dream of.’ On a quiet street in Dublin, a lost bookshop is waiting to be found… For too long, Opaline, Martha and Henry have been the side characters in their own lives. But when a vanishing bookshop casts its spell, these three unsuspecting strangers will discover that their own stories are every bit as extraordinary as the ones found in the pages of their beloved books. And by unlocking the secrets of the shelves, they find themselves transported to a world of wonder… where nothing is as it seems. 

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Recipe for a Charmed Life by Rachel Linden 

Georgia May has worked her entire life to become a world-class chef, growing her career from Texas to Paris, all while following Julia Child as her guiding light. Just as she approaches the life she’s always dreamed of, a sudden betrayal rips almost everything away, including her boyfriend, her job, and even the sense of taste needed for her craft. The moment Georgia has nowhere to turn, her estranged mother reaches out, asking her to visit on San Juan Island in Washington State. As Georgia begins to open up towards her mother, secrets are revealed to her, encouraging her to experience new things. Slowly, Georgia’s sense of taste returns, her cooking skills expand, and her ability to connect with other people begins to flourish. This poignant story folds in themes of food and cooking with magical realism, grace, and a touch of romance. Recipe for a Charmed Life is spiritual but not overtly religious, and readers of Linden’s previous novels will be charmed by it, as will Heather Webber fans. – Booklist Review

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Sanctuary of the Shadow by Aurora Ascher 

Harrow is a Seer, an Elemental who uses water magic to discern dreams and signs. Ever since her entire Seer tribe was annihilated by the fire queen’s mythical wraiths, Harrow has been hiding out in an Elemental circus pretending to be a human fortune teller. When she comes across a caged man with fiery eyes in the circus, the Water tells her this man is important. He calls himself Raith because he’s believed to be one. Harrow doesn’t believe he is, because wraiths never take human form. The Water compels her to save Raith, and together they escape the circus. Once alone, they explore their unbridled desire for each other and plan a future together. But when Raith’s ties to her past are revealed in a dream, Harrow learns the truth behind his fiery eyes that may be their undoing. Ascher’s latest is a fantasy romance that has everything nice–a hot love interest, a relatable main character, female friendship–and plenty of (consensual) spice. Fans of Jennifer L. Armentrout and Sarah J. Maas will enjoy this one. 

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Who To Believe by Edwin Hill  

In this excellent small-town spine-tingler, Hill (The Secrets We Share) shuffles through multiple perspectives to examine the murder of a restaurant owner. Readers are first introduced to sleepy Monreith, Mass., by psychotherapist Farley Drake, who notes that gossip gleaned from his patients has helped him piece together the details of a local tragedy. Shady restaurant owner Laurel Thibodeau was found by her husband, Simon, suffocated to death and tied to the bed in her home. Rumored to be heavily in debt and to have taken out a lucrative life insurance policy on Laurel, Simon is the obvious suspect in his wife’s death. However, some Monreith residents, including true crime documentarian Damian Stone, have other ideas. Damian believes a serial killer might be responsible and shares his suspicions at financial planner Alice Stone’s birthday party, where attendees include the town’s police chief, a resentful local mechanic, an overworked minister, and others, each of whom divulges their own theories about what happened to Laurel. As soon as readers think they’ve found a safe landing place for their sympathies, Hill detonates one of the series of game-changing twists he’s planted throughout the narrative. Fans of Riley Sager will want to check this out. – Starred Publishers Weekly Review  

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Happy reading!

Linda Reimer, SSCL

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Have questions or want to request a book?

Feel free to call the library! Our telephone number is 607-936-3713.

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Note: Book summaries are from the respective publishers unless otherwise specified.

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Information on the three library catalogs

Digital Catalog: 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/download content to 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 instant 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 App is available for Android or Apple devices, smart TVs & media streaming players.

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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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Tech Talk is a Southeast Steuben County Library blog.

Hi everyone, here is the weekly list of New York Times Bestsellers.

New York Times Bestsellers can be requested through StarCat (for print books) & The Digital Catalog/Libby for eBooks and Downloadable Audiobooks. Select titles may also be checked out, on demand, through the Hoopla Catalog.

For more information on the three catalogs skip to the section below the bestselling titles*

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New York Times Bestseller blog posts are published on Sundays.

And the next New York Times blog post will be posted in two weeks on Sunday, February 4, 2024.

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FICTION

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A COURT OF SILVER FLAMES by Sarah J. Maas

The fifth book in the Court of Thorns and Roses series. Nesta Archeron is forced into close quarters with a warrior named Cassian. 

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THE COVENANT OF WATER by Abraham Verghese

Three generations of a family living on South India’s Malabar Coast suffer the loss of a family member by drowning.

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DEMON COPPERHEAD by Barbara Kingsolver

Winner of a 2023 Pulitzer Prize for fiction. A reimagining of Charles Dickens’s “David Copperfield” set in the mountains of southern Appalachia.

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EMILY WILDE’S MAP OF THE OTHERLANDS by Heather Fawcett

The second book in the Emily Wilde series. Emily goes with Bambleby to the Austrian Alps to release him from his family’s plans.

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THE EXCHANGE by John Grisham

In a sequel to “The Firm,” Mitch McDeere, who is now a partner at the world’s largest law firm, gets caught up in a sinister plot.

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FIRST LIE WINS by Ashley Elston

A woman who works for a mysterious boss takes on a new identity to dig up information on someone. 

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FOURTH WING by Rebecca Yarros

Violet Sorrengail is urged by the commanding general, who also is her mother, to become a candidate for the elite dragon riders.

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THE FURY by Alex Michaelides

Violence erupts when a former movie star brings a group of her friends to her private Greek island for Easter.

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THE HEAVEN & EARTH GROCERY STORE by James McBride

Secrets held by the residents of a dilapidated neighborhood come to life when a skeleton is found at the bottom of a well.

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HOLMES, MARPLE & POE by James Patterson and Brian Sitts

Three private investigators working in New York City draw the attention of an N.Y.P.D. detective. 

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THE HOUSEMAID by Freida McFadden

Troubles surface when a woman looking to make a fresh start takes a job in the home of the Winchesters.

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HOUSE OF EARTH AND BLOOD by Sarah J. Maas

Passion arises between Bryce Quinlan and Hunt Athalar as they seek to avenge the deaths of Bryce’s friends. 

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HOUSE OF SKY AND BREATH by Sarah J. Maas

The second book in the Crescent City series. Bryce Quinlan and Hunt Athalar must choose to fight or stay silent.

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ICEBREAKER by Hannah Grace

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Anastasia might need the help of the captain of a college hockey team to get on the Olympic figure skating team.

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IRON FLAME by Rebecca Yarros

The second book in the Empyrean series. Violet Sorrengail’s next round of training might require her to betray the man she loves.

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IT ENDS WITH US by Colleen Hoover

A battered wife raised in a violent home attempts to halt the cycle of abuse.

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LESSONS IN CHEMISTRY by Bonnie Garmus

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A scientist and single mother living in California in the 1960s becomes a star on a TV cooking show.

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THE LITTLE LIAR by Mitch Albom

The actions of an 11-year-old boy help facilitate the delivery of Jewish residents, including his family, to Auschwitz.

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A LITTLE LIFE by Hanya Yanagihara

Four college friends, one with a traumatic past, move to New York seeking fame and fortune.  

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MIDNIGHT RUIN by Katee Robert

The sixth book in the Dark Olympus series. Orpheus wants to get Eurydice back but things are complicated by Charon. 

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REMARKABLY BRIGHT CREATURES by Shelby Van Pelt

A widow working the night shift at the Sowell Bay Aquarium is aided in solving a mystery by a giant Pacific octopus living there.

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SANCTUARY OF THE SHADOW by Aurora Ascher

When Harrow takes an interest in a winged beast new to the area, old enemies turn up to get their revenge on her. 

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TOM LAKE by Ann Patchett 

Three daughters, who return to their family orchard in the spring of 2020, learn about their mother’s relationship with a famous actor.

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NON-FICTION

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BEING HENRY by Henry Winkler with James Kaplan

The Emmy Award-winning actor shares how playing roles such as the Fonz and his struggles with dyslexia affected his life.

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THE BODY KEEPS THE SCORE by Bessel van der Kolk

How trauma affects the body and mind, and innovative treatments for recovery. 

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THE BOYS IN THE BOAT by Daniel James Brown

The story of the American rowers who pursued gold at the 1936 Berlin Olympic Games; the basis of the film.  

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CASTE by Isabel Wilkerson

The Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist examines aspects of caste systems across civilizations and reveals a rigid hierarchy in America today.

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ELON MUSK by Walter Isaacson

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The author of “The Code Breaker” traces Musk’s life and summarizes his work on electric vehicles, private space exploration and artificial intelligence.

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EVERYTHING I KNOW ABOUT LOVE by Dolly Alderton

The British journalist shares stories and observations; the basis of the TV series.  

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FRIENDS, LOVERS, AND THE BIG TERRIBLE THING by Matthew Perry

The late actor, known for playing Chandler Bing on “Friends,” shares stories from his childhood and his struggles with sobriety.  

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I’M GLAD MY MOM DIED by Jennette McCurdy

The actress and filmmaker describes her eating disorders and difficult relationship with her mother.

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KILLERS OF THE FLOWER MOON by David Grann

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The story of a murder spree in 1920s Oklahoma that targeted Osage Indians, whose lands contained oil.

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KING: A LIFE by Jonathan Eig

A biography of the civil rights icon Martin Luther King Jr., which includes new archival material and reflections from some who worked, lived and fought with him.

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THE KINGDOM, THE POWER, AND THE GLORY by Tim Alberta

The author of “American Carnage” looks at divisions within the American evangelical movement.

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MORE by Molly Roden Winter

A couple with small children choose to have an open marriage.

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OATH AND HONOR by Liz Cheney

The former congresswoman from Wyoming recounts how she helped lead the Select Committee to Investigate the Jan. 6. Attack on the United States Capitol. 

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OUR HIDDEN CONVERSATIONS by Michele Norris

Stories, essays and photographs exploring race and identity in America.

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OUTLIVE by Peter Attia with Bill Gifford

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A look at recent scientific research on aging and longevity.

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POVERTY, BY AMERICA by Matthew Desmond

The Pulitzer Prize-winning author of “Evicted” examines the ways in which affluent Americans keep poor people poor.

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PREQUEL by Rachel Maddow

The MSNBC host and co-author of “Bag Man” details a campaign to overthrow the U.S. government and install authoritarian rule prior to and during our involvement in World War II. 

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THE WAGER by David Grann

The survivors of a shipwrecked British vessel on a secret mission during an imperial war with Spain have different accounts of events.

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WHAT HAPPENED TO YOU? by Bruce D. Perry and Oprah Winfrey

An approach to dealing with trauma that shifts an essential question used to investigate it.

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THE WOMAN IN ME by Britney Spears

The Grammy Award-winning pop star details her personal and professional experiences, including the years she spent under a conservatorship overseen by her father.  

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Have a great week!

Linda Reimer, SSCL

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Search for and request books online!

eBooks & Audiobooks Through The Digital Catalog & Libby

Through The Digital Catalog (online) : https://stls.overdrive.com/

Through the Digital Catalog companion app Libby, which is found in your app store.

All card holders of all Southern Tier Library System member libraries can check out items from the Digital Catalog/Libby

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Through Hoopla!

Hoopla Catalog: https://www.hoopladigital.com/

Hoopla is a Southeast Steuben County Library service available to all Southeast Steuben County Library card holders.

The Hoopla App is available online, for Android or Apple devices and most smart TVs & media streaming players.

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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 throughout the Southern Tier Library System.

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Also of Note: If a New York Times Bestseller isn’t yet available in any of the three catalogs, you can contact the library and request to be notified when it becomes available.

Southeast Steuben County Library Telephone Number: 607-936-3713.

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Tech Talk is a Southeast Steuben County Library blog.

Hi everyone, welcome to our Suggested Listening posting for this week!

Suggested Listening postings are published on Fridays; and our next Suggested Listening posting will be out on Friday, February 2, 2024.

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And here are the 10 recommended songs of the week!

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Car Wash by Rose Royce 

 

From The Soundtrack: Car Wash (1976) 

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Celebrate by Kool & The Gang 

 

From The Album: Celebrate (1980) 

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A Hard Time In Coleman’s Mines by Aunt Molly Jackson 

 

From The Album: The Songs and Stories of Aunt Molly Jackson (2012) 

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Happy Together by The Turtles 

 

From The Album: Save the Turtles: The Turtles Greatest Hits (2009) 

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Ida, Whispering, Nobody’s Sweetheart, Who Cares & China Boy by Fred Nichols And His Five Pennies (recorded in 1929) 

 

Some of the songs in this collection are found on the album: The Best of Red Nichols & His Five Pennies (2014) 

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I’m A Believer by Neil Diamond 

 

From The Album: All-Time Greatest Hits (2014) 

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Lay Down (Candles In The Rain) by Melanie with the Edwin Hawkins Singers 

 

Studio Version Found On The Album: Candles In The Rain (1970) 

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My Special Friend Is Back In Town by Ethel Waters 

 

From The Album: The Chronological Ethel Waters: 1926 to 1929 (1996) 

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Rock Around The Clock by Bill Haley & The Comets  

 

From The Album: Rock Around The Clock (1955) 

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Splish Splash by Bobby Darin  

 

From The Album: The Ultimate Bobby Darin (1986) 

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Hoopla Recommend Album of the Week

American Originals: 1918 (live) (2018) by The Cincinnati Pops & Guests 

 

And from the album the song: 

I Ain’t Gonna Play No Second Fiddle by The Cincinnati Pops with Rhiannon Giddens 

 

 

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Have a great weekend,

Linda Reimer, SSCL

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Have questions about library materials, programs or services?

Give us a call at: 607-936-3713

The staff is always happy to help!

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Online Catalog Links:

StarCat

The catalog of physical materials, i.e. print books, DVDs, audiobooks on CD, etc.

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The Digital Catalog, web version of Libby

The catalog of e-books, downloadable audiobooks and a handful of streaming videos.

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The Libby App

Libby is the companion app to the Digital Catalog and may be found in the Apple & Google app.

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Hoopla

A catalog of instant check out items, including eBooks, downloadable audiobooks, comic books, TV shows and movies for patrons of the Southeast Steuben County Library.

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Tech Talk is a Southeast Steuben County Library blog.

Hi everyone, here are our recommended reads for the week!

*More information on the three catalogs and available formats is found at the end of the list of recommended reads*

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Weekly Suggested Reading postings are  usually published on Wednesday; unless yours truly is swamped, and then they are occasionally published on Thursdays, as is the case this week.

And the next Suggested Reading posting will be published on Wednesday, January 31, 2024.

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1812: The War That Forged a Nation by Watler Borneman

This thoroughly readable popular history of the War of 1812 may exaggerate in its claim that the war forged America’s national identity; after all, there were enough regional identities left lying around after the conflict to cause a national civil war. But otherwise it’s a fine narrative history that traces the major of events of the war, from the preliminary plots by James Wilkinson and Aaron Burr that revealed the ambitions of Westerners for territorial expansion, through New England’s secessionist Hartford Convention to the Battle of New Orleans, which wrapped up the war in 1815. Borneman makes clear that the performance of the American army was mostly disgraceful, that the Canadians can pat themselves on the back for courage and endurance and that the decisive victory of the American navy was not the famous frigate duels but the Battle of Lake Champlain in 1814. Borneman (Alaska: Saga of a Bold Land) is also strong in vivid personal portraits (the gigantic Winfield Scott and the diminutive and sickly James Madison) and evenhanded as far as atrocities (too many, by all parties) are concerned. Even the annotation and bibliography of this sound introduction will propel those whose curiosity is piqued to read further in all directions. -Publishers Weekly Review

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Faebound by Saara El-Arifi

The beguiling first installment of a new fantasy trilogy from El-Arifi (The Final Strife) introduces a mystical world filled with conflict. Elves were born of the moon, fae were born of the sun, and humans were born of the earth, or so the myth goes. Now, only elves remain, and all is not well. The Forever War between elven tribes has raged on for as long as sisters Lettle and Yeeran have been alive. Yeeran is a decorated soldier determined to help the Waning Tribe win and thrive. Lettle, a diviner, is repulsed by the conflict but driven to prove her worth to her sister. When one of Yeeran’s command decisions ends in tragedy, she’s exiled to the harsh environment outside of the Elven Lands. Lettle and Rayan, one of Yeeran’s soldiers, follow her by choice, and all three find themselves unexpectedly drawn into the world of the fae, creatures they believed were long extinct. Relying on their scant knowledge from old stories, the sisters and Rayan must navigate this strange, underground world, replete with magic, secrets, and romance beyond their wildest imaginings. The worldbuilding is lush and exciting, and the focus on character development and relationships makes for a cast that readers will be excited to revisit in future installments. El-Arifi is off to a great start. – Publishers Weekly Review

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Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarrows

Violet Sorrengail wanted to be a scribe rather than join her siblings as dragon riders defending Navarre’s borders, but her mother, a decorated general, had other ideas. She’s forced Violet to enlist as a rider cadet in the Basgiath War College, even though Violet’s hypermobility–a disorder that destabilizes her joints and leaves her easily injured–puts her at a disadvantage. To make matters worse, Violet has been assigned to the Fourth Wing, led by Xaden Riorson, the son of a rebel leader whom her mother executed. Surrounded by dangers in a school designed to weed out the weak, Violet must use her wits and skill to overcome brutal challenges and vicious opponents. The bonds Violet forms with her fellow cadets offset the college’s constant violence, and her slowly developing enemies-to-lovers relationship with Xaden will appeal to fans of the trope. Violet’s hypermobility gives her a unique way of moving through the world, and Yarros (The Things We Leave Unfinished) uses characters’ reactions to thoughtfully explore the ways in which others respond to the lived realities of people with disabilities.

VERDICT A good selection for fans of Naomi Novik’s “Scholomance” series; will fly off the shelves. – Library Journal Review

Reader’s Note: Fourth Wing is the second book in the ongoing Empyrean Series.

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The Fury by Alex Michaelides

Everyone loves movie star Lana Farrar, especially her closest friend, Elliot, who offers charismatic narration twisted with fantasies, Agatha Christie overtones, and self-serving asides. They met when she was a young starlet and were instantly kindred spirits. So, when Lana discovers that her husband, Jason, has been having an affair with her oldest friend, Kate, she turns to Elliot. In drinks-fueled synergy, they concoct a dramatic plan to out the betrayal. Lana persuades Kate, Jason, and her assistant, Agathi, to join her, Elliot, and her son, Leo, for a getaway on their private island. The island seems to sense their tension, whipped to new heights by the Fury, a legendary wind famous for its malicious power. Lana’s inner circle, infected with barely suppressed resentments, gives the plan a new, darker impetus that ends in murder. Michaelides (The Maidens, 2021) again creates an almost tangible blend of tension, manipulation, and obsession. Even veteran crime-fiction readers will fall prey to Michaelides’ craft, nudged into shifting, sympathetic allegiances to the damaged, unlikable characters in this pitch-perfect, classic crime set-up and modern psychological thriller. – Booklist Review

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Mercury by Amy Jo Burns

In the 1990s, a young woman yearns to become part of one big happy family, and thinks she might be. When teenager Marley West arrives in the Pennsylvania town of Mercury in 1990, she falls in love almost immediately. Not with Baylor Joseph, the swaggering athlete who swoops her up, but with Baylor’s family–or at least what Marley thinks his family is. Baylor soon dumps her, and she falls into the arms of his younger brother, sweet, responsible Waylon. Soon Marley is pregnant and she and Waylon are married and living in a tiny apartment in the Josephs’ sprawling Victorian house. The only child of a hard-working single mother, she’s never experienced the clamor and warmth of a big family. She’s charmed by the three sons (the youngest is tender-hearted Shay Baby), and impressed by patriarch Mick Joseph, a damaged Vietnam vet who runs the roofing company that supports the family and employs most of them. But Marley is most enthralled by Elise Joseph, wife and mother, who rules the household with never a hair out of place. Marley doesn’t just want Elise to love her; she wants to be Elise. But Marley will discover deep fractures within the family and the extreme sacrifices Elise makes–not to mention a literal skeleton, not in the closet but in the attic of a local church. Marley forges her own identity, taking over the finances of the roofing company from the profligate Mick and raising her son, Theo, as her marriage wavers. Although by then it’s the mid-1990s and rights for women and gay people are gaining cultural force, they don’t seem to have any impact on small-town Pennsylvania, where Marley feels the same pressure of tradition Elise does, and another character suffers mightily. Though there’s a large cast, Burns brings depth and insight to each member. Well-drawn, engaging characters and a vivid setting make this is a compelling study of family dynamics. – Kirkus Review

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Maude Horton’s Glorious Revenge: A Novel by Lizzie Pook

Pook (Moonlight and the Pearler’s Daughter) delivers a brilliant historical about a woman’s search for the truth behind her sister’s death during an Arctic expedition. After a tantalizing prologue, Constance Horton, 20, disguises herself as a cabin boy to join the Makepeace on its 1849 journey to the Arctic in search of missing explorer Sir John Franklin, who sought the fabled Northwest Passage linking the Atlantic and Pacific oceans. Two years later, Constance’s sister, Maude, receives a letter stating only that Constance died by “misadventure.” Maude refuses to accept such a vague explanation, even though the British Admiralty is reluctant to provide her with further details about the accident. Eventually, a clerk surreptitiously hands over the diary that Constance kept while aboard the Makepeace. In it, Maude finds entries that cast suspicion on expedition scientist Edison Stowe. She cozies up to Stowe, accompanying him on a new—and rather grisly—business venture in order to extract whatever details she can about Constance’s death. Pook’s masterful pacing and meticulous attention to historical detail make this sing. Fans of Stuart Tarton’s high seas whodunits will be rapt. – Starred Publishers Weekly Review

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Neon Gods by Katee Roberts

With this deliciously inventive retelling of Greek mythology, the Dark Olympus series launch, Robert (the Bloodline Vampires series) thrusts familiar figures into the present to intoxicating effect. There’s nothing explicitly supernatural here; instead, the gods’ powers are political. When socialite Persephone Dimitriou’s mother, Demeter, tries to force her into a strategic marriage to the much-older, alleged wife killer Zeus, Persephone flees the upper city of Olympus across the River Styx—and straight into the arms of Hades, the infamous ruler of the lower city. Strong, brooding Hades has shouldered the crushing responsibility of protecting the lower city ever since Zeus killed his parents, and very nearly him, when he was a boy. In Persephone he sees an opportunity for revenge—and in Hades, Persephone sees the chance to have an affair so wild and public that Zeus will no longer want her. After agreeing to spend the winter together, Hades introduces Persephone to kink she’s only dreamed of. But as their irresistible erotic connection deepens to love, Zeus will stop at nothing to reclaim his intended wife. Robert brings every element of a must-read dark romance to the table: high stakes, taut pacing, enticing characters, and sizzling chemistry. This red-hot romance is a winner. – Starred Publishers Weekly Review

Reader’s Note: Neon Gods is the first book in the, currently, six book with a seventh coming in August, Dark Olympus Series.

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Only If You’re Lucky by Stacy Willingham

The latest from Willingham (All the Dangerous Things) is a cunning if somewhat implausible campus thriller. As Margot nears the end of her achingly lonely freshman year—a far cry from the adventurous one she’d imagined with her bestie, Eliza, who had died under suspicious circumstances weeks after their high school graduation—at South Carolina’s Rutledge College, she can’t fathom why Lucy Sharpe, one of the school’s most popular coeds, would invite her to room with her and her wingwomen in the historic off-campus house they’re renting for the summer. Still, Margot leaps at the offer, plunging into what turns out to be a maelstrom of secrets, mind games, and possibly murder. Despite her natural reserve, Margot clicks with the uninhibited Lucy, sliding into a sidekick role similar to the one she played with Eliza. However, as the summer’s booze-soaked partying with the neighboring fraternity winds on, Lucy’s darker side emerges, especially after the arrival of prospective frat pledge Levi Butler—Eliza’s old boyfriend, who was reportedly the last person to see her alive. Flash forward several months: Levi’s dead, Lucy has disappeared, and Margot’s narration has become increasingly unreliable. Though the twisty narrative grows far-fetched as it nears the climax, Willingham’s prose remains evocative, and her deep dive into the thorny nature of female friendship rings true. Though this doesn’t rank among the author’s best work, it’s still a gripping ride. – Publishers Weekly Review

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Random In Death by J. D. Robb

This sturdy entry in Robb’s long-running procedural series featuring New York City police lieutenant Eve Dallas (after Payback in Death) again takes place in the recognizable future of the 2060s. This time around, Dallas and her team are on the hunt for a cunning killer who’s targeting Manhattan teenagers. His first victim is nascent songwriter Jenna Harbough, who’s injected with a cocktail of drugs at the trendy downtown Club Rock It and dies in the alley behind the venue. A short time later, another teenager dies under similar circumstances. Dallas is assigned to the cases and comes to the disturbing conclusion that the killer’s victims were chosen at random. Interwoven throughout the murder investigation are long sections depicting Eve’s idyllic marriage to the sexy, supportive, and ultrawealthy Roarke, including descriptions of the “castle he’d built in the heart of New York City” for the pair to inhabit. These envy-inducing segments can feel more frisky than the rote procedural beats, but Dallas’s final confrontation with the killer has some heat. Series fans will get what they came for. – Publishers Weekly Review

Random In Death is the fifty-eight book in the In Death series. If you’d like to binge read from the beginning, check out book one: Naked In Death.

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Sanctuary of the Shadow by Aurora Ascher

Harrow is a Seer, an Elemental who uses water magic to discern dreams and signs. Ever since her entire Seer tribe was annihilated by the fire queen’s mythical wraiths, Harrow has been hiding out in an Elemental circus pretending to be a human fortune teller. When she comes across a caged man with fiery eyes in the circus, the Water tells her this man is important. He calls himself Raith because he’s believed to be one. Harrow doesn’t believe he is, because wraiths never take human form. The Water compels her to save Raith, and together they escape the circus. Once alone, they explore their unbridled desire for each other and plan a future together. But when Raith’s ties to her past are revealed in a dream, Harrow learns the truth behind his fiery eyes that may be their undoing. Ascher’s latest is a fantasy romance that has everything nice–a hot love interest, a relatable main character, female friendship–and plenty of (consensual) spice. Fans of Jennifer L. Armentrout and Sarah J. Maas will enjoy this one. – Booklist Review

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Happy reading!

Linda Reimer, SSCL

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Have questions or want to request a book?

Feel free to call the library! Our telephone number is 607-936-3713.

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Note: Book summaries are from the respective publishers unless otherwise specified.

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Information on the three library catalogs

Digital Catalog: 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/download content to 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 instant 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 App is available for Android or Apple devices, smart TVs & media streaming players.

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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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Tech Talk is a Southeast Steuben County Library blog.

Hi everyone, here is the weekly list of New York Times Bestsellers.

New York Times Bestsellers can be requested through StarCat (for print books) & The Digital Catalog/Libby for eBooks and Downloadable Audiobooks. Select titles may also be checked out, on demand, through the Hoopla Catalog.

For more information on the three catalogs skip to the section below the bestselling titles*

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New York Times Bestseller blog posts are published on Sundays.

And the next New York Times blog post will be posted on Sunday, January 28, 2024.

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FICTION

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ATLAS COMPLEX by Olivie Blake

The third book in the Atlas series. The ethics of the six Society recruits are tested by the possibility of gaining limitless power. 

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A COURT OF SILVER FLAMES by Sarah J. Maas

The fifth book in the Court of Thorns and Roses series. Nesta Archeron is forced into close quarters with a warrior named Cassian. 

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DEMON COPPERHEAD by Barbara Kingsolver

Winner of a 2023 Pulitzer Prize for fiction. A reimagining of Charles Dickens’s “David Copperfield” set in the mountains of southern Appalachia.

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THE EXCHANGE by John Grisham

In a sequel to “The Firm,” Mitch McDeere, who is now a partner at the world’s largest law firm, gets caught up in a sinister plot.

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FIRST LIE WINS by Ashley Elston

A woman who works for a mysterious boss takes on a new identity to dig up information on someone. 

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FOURTH WING by Rebecca Yarros

Violet Sorrengail is urged by the commanding general, who also is her mother, to become a candidate for the elite dragon riders.

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THE HEAVEN & EARTH GROCERY STORE by James McBride

Secrets held by the residents of a dilapidated neighborhood come to life when a skeleton is found at the bottom of a well.

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HOLMES, MARPLE & POE by James Patterson and Brian Sitts

Three private investigators working in New York City draw the attention of an N.Y.P.D. detective. 

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THE HOUSEMAID by Freida McFadden

Troubles surface when a woman looking to make a fresh start takes a job in the home of the Winchesters.

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HOUSE OF EARTH AND BLOOD by Sarah J. Maas

Passion arises between Bryce Quinlan and Hunt Athalar as they seek to avenge the deaths of Bryce’s friends. 

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HOUSE OF SKY AND BREATH by Sarah J. Maas

The second book in the Crescent City series. Bryce Quinlan and Hunt Athalar must choose to fight or stay silent.

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ICEBREAKER by Hannah Grace

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Anastasia might need the help of the captain of a college hockey team to get on the Olympic figure skating team.

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IRON FLAME by Rebecca Yarros

The second book in the Empyrean series. Violet Sorrengail’s next round of training might require her to betray the man she loves.

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IT ENDS WITH US by Colleen Hoover

A battered wife raised in a violent home attempts to halt the cycle of abuse.

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LESSONS IN CHEMISTRY by Bonnie Garmus

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A scientist and single mother living in California in the 1960s becomes a star on a TV cooking show.

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THE LITTLE LIAR by Mitch Albom

The actions of an 11-year-old boy help facilitate the delivery of Jewish residents, including his family, to Auschwitz.

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REMARKABLY BRIGHT CREATURES by Shelby Van Pelt

A widow working the night shift at the Sowell Bay Aquarium is aided in solving a mystery by a giant Pacific octopus living there.

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SANCTUARY OF THE SHADOW by Aurora Ascher

When Harrow takes an interest in a winged beast new to the area, old enemies turn up to get their revenge on her. 

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TOM LAKE by Ann Patchett 

Three daughters, who return to their family orchard in the spring of 2020, learn about their mother’s relationship with a famous actor.

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TOMORROW, AND TOMORROW, AND TOMORROW by Gabrielle Zevin

Three daughters, who return to their family orchard in the spring of 2020, Two friends find their partnership challenged in the world of video game design.

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TWISTED LOVE by Ana Huang 

The first book in the Twisted series. Secrets emerge when Ava explores things with her brother’s best friend.

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UPSIDE DOWN by Danielle Steel

When they encounter strains in their romantic relationships, a Hollywood actress and her plastic surgeon daughter seek solace in each other. 

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NON-FICTION

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AN IMMENSE WORLD by Ed Yong

The Pulitzer Prize–winning science writer explains the sensory perceptions and ways of communication used by a variety of animals.  

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THE BODY KEEPS THE SCORE by Bessel van der Kolk

How trauma affects the body and mind, and innovative treatments for recovery. 

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THE BOYS IN THE BOAT by Daniel James Brown

The story of the American rowers who pursued gold at the 1936 Berlin Olympic Games; the basis of the film.  

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ELON MUSK by Walter Isaacson

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The author of “The Code Breaker” traces Musk’s life and summarizes his work on electric vehicles, private space exploration and artificial intelligence.

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EVERYTHING I KNOW ABOUT LOVE by Dolly Alderton

The British journalist shares stories and observations; the basis of the TV series.  

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FRIENDS, LOVERS, AND THE BIG TERRIBLE THING by Matthew Perry

The late actor, known for playing Chandler Bing on “Friends,” shares stories from his childhood and his struggles with sobriety.  

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GHOSTS OF HONOLULU by Mark Harmon and Leon Carroll Jr.

The story of a Japanese American naval intelligence agent, a Japanese spy and events in Hawaii before the start of World War II.

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GREENLIGHTS by Matthew McConaughey

The Academy Award-winning actor shares snippets from the diaries he kept over 35 years. 

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KILLERS OF THE FLOWER MOON by David Grann

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The story of a murder spree in 1920s Oklahoma that targeted Osage Indians, whose lands contained oil.

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KILLING THE WITCHES by Bill O’Reilly and Martin Dugard

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The 13th book in the conservative commentator’s Killing series gives a portrayal of the events of 1692 and 1693 in Salem Village, Mass.

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THE KINGDOM, THE POWER, AND THE GLORY by Tim Alberta

The author of “American Carnage” looks at divisions within the American evangelical movement.

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MY EFFIN’ LIFE by Geddy Lee with Daniel Richler

The musician known for his work with the band Rush chronicles his life as the child of Holocaust survivors and his time in the limelight.

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MY NAME IS BARBRA by Barbra Streisand

The EGOT winner chronicles her journey in show business and reveals details about some of her personal relationships. 

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OATH AND HONOR by Liz Cheney

The former congresswoman from Wyoming recounts how she helped lead the Select Committee to Investigate the Jan. 6. Attack on the United States Capitol. 

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OUTLIVE by Peter Attia with Bill Gifford

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A look at recent scientific research on aging and longevity.

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PREQUEL by Rachel Maddow

The MSNBC host and co-author of “Bag Man” details a campaign to overthrow the U.S. government and install authoritarian rule prior to and during our involvement in World War II. 

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THE WAGER by David Grann

The survivors of a shipwrecked British vessel on a secret mission during an imperial war with Spain have different accounts of events.

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THE WOMAN IN ME by Britney Spears

The Grammy Award-winning pop star details her personal and professional experiences, including the years she spent under a conservatorship overseen by her father.  

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Have a great week!

Linda Reimer, SSCL

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Search for and request books online!

eBooks & Audiobooks Through The Digital Catalog & Libby

Through The Digital Catalog (online) : https://stls.overdrive.com/

Through the Digital Catalog companion app Libby, which is found in your app store.

All card holders of all Southern Tier Library System member libraries can check out items from the Digital Catalog/Libby

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Through Hoopla!

Hoopla Catalog: https://www.hoopladigital.com/

Hoopla is a Southeast Steuben County Library service available to all Southeast Steuben County Library card holders.

The Hoopla App is available online, for Android or Apple devices and most smart TVs & media streaming players.

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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 throughout the Southern Tier Library System.

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Also of Note: If a New York Times Bestseller isn’t yet available in any of the three catalogs, you can contact the library and request to be notified when it becomes available.

Southeast Steuben County Library Telephone Number: 607-936-3713.

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Tech Talk is a Southeast Steuben County Library blog.