List
Book Chat with Library Staff
Allyson and Becca invited fellow Skokie Public Library staff members to share what they have been reading and enjoying recently. Now we're sharing them with you!
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The Authenticity Project: A Novel
2020 by Pooley, ClareGet this item"Everybody lies about their lives. What would happen if you shared the truth?" is the interesting premise of this book. As the Authenticity Project notebook gets passed from person to person, strangers become friends and their small acts of kindness bloom into larger connections between themselves and the world around them. Multiple narrators and character points of view add to the charm of this funny and poignant book. Recommended by Lynnanne
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Things in Jars: A Novel
2020 by Kidd, JessGet this itemThis mystery, set in Victorian England, is filled with strong and resourceful lady investigators and shady and possibly dangerous medical men and scientists. A little bit of Irish folklore, grand Gothic estates, and, of course, a lot of strange things in jars. What I really enjoyed about this book is the mixture of dark and light. I was both gasping and giggling while reading it. Recommended by Megan
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Wow, No Thank You. Essays
2020 by Irby, SamanthaGet this itemTo give you a sense of what Samantha Irby’s sense of humor is like, the original title was "Dying is Fine." Luckily they decided to change it. Parul Sehgal of The New York Times says, “Reading Samantha Irby is the only form of self-care I recognize,” and I cosign that. I highly recommend the audio if you like to listen or access books that way. Recommended by Allyson
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The Right Swipe: A Novel
2019 by Rai, AlishaGet this itemIf this book had a Facebook relationship status, it would definitely be, “it’s complicated, but worth it.” Rhiannon is admirable and Samson is really endearing. This book is very relatable for people who use dating apps or date generally in the modern world. It’s hard not to root for both of these characters in this contemporary love story. Recommended by Tiffany
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Oona Out of Order: A Novel
2020 by Montimore, MargaritaGet this itemThis book is unlike any I’ve ever read before. It’s a really interesting story that explores what it’s like to live in the moment, because if you don’t have any background information on what your life was before, you have to just do your best. It’s about the enduring love of family. It’s funny at times, but also really poignant and I’m really, really enjoying it. Recommended by Becca
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Good Riddance
2019 by Lipman, ElinorGet this itemIf you’re looking for a light but slightly sardonic book to read at the beach, this is for you. I was so intrigued by the mystery behind a deceased mother’s heavily annotated yearbook that I couldn’t put the book down. Recommended by Allyson
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New Waves: A Novel
2020 by Nguyen, KevinGet this itemThis book stirred feelings of both nostalgia and cynicism for me. It felt like an artifact of what it might have been like before we all became extremely online. If you’re looking for a contemporary, caustic, and at times hopeful take on what it means to be connected in a physically distanced world, then this book is for you. Recommended by Mimosa
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Sourdough: A Novel
2017 by Sloan, RobinGet this itemWhile on the surface, you might not feel like you would have a place in your heart for any sort of feelings toward a sourdough starter, this book will show you differently. It’s magical realism, almost a fairy tale. It’s super relevant to this day and age with all the sourdough baking that’s been circling around on social media. Recommended by Becca
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Big Magic: Creative Living beyond Fear
2015 by Gilbert, ElizabethGet this itemThis book sort of changed my life. Elizabeth Gilbert tells lovely, charming, entertaining stories while giving us insightful bits of knowledge that are easy to digest; some of which turn things on their head for me. It’s also amazing on audio. Elizabeth Gilbert reads it herself. I found it kind of magical, and I think you will, too. Recommended by Vanessa
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Writers & Lovers: A Novel
2020 by King, LilyGet this itemDuring these weird times, this book has offered me the most solace. King has this way with striking little observations that sneak up on you as a reader, and they take your breath away. There’s also an undercurrent of sadness and loneliness to it that I think gives the book a lot of extra depth. Recommended by Chris
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We Ride upon Sticks: A Novel
2020 by Barry, QuanGet this itemThink of this book as 'Heathers' plus 'Stranger Things,' plus a high school field hockey team, plus a notebook with Emilio Estevez’s face on it. I’m loving the humor, and the '80s nostalgia that also acknowledges the parts of the era that were particularly hard for queer people and people of color. I also love the camaraderie, the female empowerment, and witchcraft. Recommended by Allyson
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On Earth We're Briefly Gorgeous: A Novel
2019 by Vuong, OceanGet this itemA semi-autobiographical fiction story. Ocean Vuong is a poet, so this book, while it’s prose, definitely has poetic feel to it. And while it’s not super upbeat and positive, as there really isn’t any humor in it, the storytelling is so gorgeous that you will get lost in it. It’s escapism in a very different way. Recommended by Becca
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