November Staff Picks

As fall creeps closer to winter and the days get darker, it is the perfect time to stock up on some reading materials for the long nights. The staff at the Crawfordsville District Public Library have several great recommendations for you, which are currently on the first floor of the library and ready to check out with your library card.

If you want to visit another world, Christie highly recommends “Sabriel” by Garth Nix (YA FIC Nix): “One of the best fantasy series I’ve ever read! Other worlds, magic, and demons trapped inside cats! A great place to get lost in during the colder months.” Crystal enjoyed another epic world-building fantasy book, “The Silverblood Promise” by James Logan (FIC Logan Last v.1), perfect for fans of author Joe Abercrombie.

If you prefer to get lost in the past, Mary recommends the inspiring historical fiction novel “Hold Strong” by Robert Dugoni (FIC Dugoni): “A story of a WWII POW who left his high school sweetheart behind. The POW survives being brutalized, the Bataan Death March, and the barbaric hell ship called Arisan Maru. His sweetheart becomes a code breaker for the government and finds the Arisan Maru to sink it. Their worlds collide.” Or, set a bit closer to current time, Brenda loved reading “Atmosphere” by Taylor Jenkins Reid (FIC Reid): “Set in the 1980s, this story follows Joan Goodwin as she leaves her job as a professor of physics and astronomy to be one of the first women scientists to join NASA’s Space Shuttle program. Loved the insights into the program. Great story!”

If you enjoy reading dark thrillers with some sharp humor, Samantha Downing is a great author to check out. Mary recommends her latest title “Too Old for This” (FIC Downing): “A retired serial killer gets a visit from an investigative journalist who knocks on her door. Asking questions about her past could ruin her life. Getting away with murder was hard when she was young. Can she get away with murder again?” Another darkly humorous book is Sarah Harman’s debut “All the Other Mothers Hate Me” (FIC Harman). This is a missing persons thriller with a sarcastic and irreverently funny narrator.

These chilly nights are also perfect for some good soup! Monica recommends “Soups, Stews, and Chilis” (641.813 Soup) and “The Soup Book” (641.813 Soup), which are both filled with hearty chilies, warming noodle soups, and more.

Finally, Dennis has some news to share along with his recommendation. He’s been getting a lot of helpful advice from “How to Retire” by Christine Benz (332.024014 Benz). He says, “This month’s staff picks will be my last as I will be retiring!” We absolutely wish him the best!

Find these titles and more on display on the first floor of the library by the circulation desk through the end of the month. Several are also available digitally on our free Libby app. The library’s regular open hours are Monday-Thursday 9am-9pm, Friday-Saturday 9am-5pm, and Sunday 1-5pm. We will be closed this Friday, November 7 for a staff training day, but will be open regular hours for the weekend.