Wisdom Corner by David Heska Wanbli Weiden

WISDOM CORNER by David Heska Wanbli Weiden is the second book, following award-winning Winter Counts, to feature Virgil Wounded Horse, his girlfriend Marie, nephew Nathan, and mentor Jerome Iron Shell who live on the Rosebud Indian Reservation in South Dakota. Virgil is trying to move away from his past as a vigilante, but there are still aspects of violence in this novel as he tries to solve a murder, confront a rival gang, and deal with a devious politician. The action keeps coming, but this text also adheres to Weiden’s agreement with the view that crime fiction is “the new literature of resistance.” He deftly weaves in background information about Native American history, like life at the infamous Native boarding schools and “how the children there were compelled to abandon their Indigenous traditions, languages, and spirituality.” As another example, I particularly liked his recounting of the origin of football’s forward pass, involving Pop Warner, Jim Thorpe, and the Carlisle Indian School football team. The author’s note includes several recommended titles for further reading. Both S. A. Cosby (“a raw yet moving journey”) and William Kent Krueger (“riveting thriller that will surprise you to the very end”) have praised this compelling mystery.

The audio book of WISDOM CORNER is narrated by Shane Ghostkeeper who does an excellent job of relaying the action and differentiating the characters. In a recent Bookpage cover story, Weiden says, “I'm hoping that readers will leave the novel with a better understanding of the broken criminal justice system on reservations as well as a sense of life as a Native American in the 21st century.” He succeeds. Learn more about his thinking on this topic in Weiden's New York Times essay, “This 19th-Century Law Helps Shape Criminal Justice in Indian Country.”

On the Street Where You Live by Kathryn Nicolai

ON THE STREET WHERE YOU LIVE by Kathryn Nicolai is self-described as a cozy audio (total length about 5 hours) and is narrated by the author and several other performers. Basically, this is almost like a set of short stories as each section (lightly tied together since everyone lives in the same neighborhood) focuses primarily on one person (baker, book seller with a cat named Alphabet, piano teacher, star gazer, historian, novelist, librarian, puzzle maker, innkeeper). The pace is gentle and slow (the author also crafted Nothing Much Happens, a collection of stories “to soothe your mind and help you sleep”) – one can easily listen to this audiobook at 1.5 speed. The characters generally face limited conflict (e.g., what food to make and bring to neighbor) and their actions (e.g., juicing a lemon, searching through photos) tend to be methodical and described in a deliberate manner. Nicolai cleverly interweaves the stories (e.g., a piano student leaves a book behind and returning it introduces listeners to the next character). It looks as though ON THE STREET WHERE YOU LIVE will only be available as audiobook or audio CD. Look for it (release date is July 28) if you would like a gentle, peaceful listen.

Whistler by Ann Patchett

It was just announced that Ann Patchett won the Library of Congress Prize for American Fiction, to be officially awarded at the National Book Festival in Washington on Aug. 22. Her latest novel is titled WHISTLER and Booklist (“tale of complicated marriages, secret love, fear, fury, courage, and reconciliation”), Kirkus (“evocative and moving”), and Publishers Weekly (“one of her best”) all gave WHISTLER starred reviews. This book tells the story of Daphne, now 53, meeting her former stepfather, Eddie Triplett (now 76), by chance at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Eddie and Daphne had both wanted to be writers – he edited books for years and years and she teaches literature at a girl’s school. It takes a while for Patchett to explain the background to their surprisingly deep and affectionate relationship that was suddenly severed by Daphne’s mother after Eddie and Daphne were in a serious car accident when she was nine years old. Daphne’s Mom remarried for a third time long ago and Daphne and her sister, Leda (a psychiatrist), have two adult half-brothers. Patchett herself had an “abundance” of fathers (also three) as she wrote several years ago in The New Yorker and her collection of essays, These Precious Days.

Book groups will adore WHISTLER, filled as it is with reflections, “There is so much randomness to youth. The person assigned to share your room becomes your friend, the girl you pass on your way out the door becomes your wife, and from these random encounters our entire lives are built, four beautiful children come into the world, and they, in turn, found the people they were meant to spend their lives with.” 

Or, contemplating death: “‘It's okay,’ her father said. ‘You'll be back later.’ ‘We'll still be here,’ Jeffrey said. ‘You won't believe how fast it goes. Might as well be a minute.’ ‘You'll look after everyone?’ she asked her son. ‘No,’ he said. ‘We'll look after you.’”  And Robert Frost’s Wild Grapes: “And the life I live now’s an extra life / I can waste as I please on whom I please.”

Or, simply Patchett’s wry wit: “We write each other notes, back and forth, back and forth. It's like texting for people with large collections of stationery.” Ann Patchett is the narrator for the audio book version of WHISTLER and she does an excellent job, gently evoking the characters and their complex emotions.

ALA and RUSA award lists and more ...

It is that time of year so here are some wonderful links for even more reading choices ...

ALA Youth awards:
https://www.ala.org/news/2026/01/american-library-association-announces-2026-youth-media-award-winners   Plenty of choices for young people in our lives AND the ALEX awards are adult books suitable for teens. 

 

Notable Fiction

https://rusaupdate.org/2026/01/2026-reading-list-years-best-in-genre-fiction-for-adult-readers/ 

The ten fiction choices from that list are shown here with their covers:

https://pcin.bibliocommons.com/v2/list/display/1612157240/2946217557

 

Listen List … Includes The Correspondent, Mailman, and The Names

https://rusaupdate.org/2026/01/2026-rusa-listen-list-revealed/

 

And Ron Charles, The Washington Post book reviewer, just shared his readers' favorite humorous books ... we all need a smile or a laugh ...  

·       Jeeves & Wooster series, by P.G. Wodehouse

·       “A Confederacy of Dunces,” by John Kennedy Toole

·       “Straight Man,” by Richard Russo

·       “Dear Committee Members,” by Julie Schumacher

·       “Lucky Jim,” by Kingsley Amis

·       “Bridget Jones’s Diary,” by Helen Fielding

·       “I See You’ve Called in Dead,” by John Kenney

·       “Let’s Pretend This Never Happened: A Mostly True Memoir,” by Jenny Lawson

·       “Squeeze Me,” by Carl Hiaasen

·       “Lamb,” by Christopher Moore

 

And see A Year-by-Year Look at 4-Star, Beloved Books of the New Century, published on GoodReads: 
https://www.goodreads.com/blog/show/3040-a-year-by-year-look-at-4-star-beloved-books-of-the-new-century 

Best of the Year in Books ...

Here (in no particular order) is a compilation of some of the “Best of the Year” lists, updated for 2025: 

National Public Radio provides “Books We Love,” 1000s of titles (from 2025 and earlier years) and shows their covers in a fun, very interactive way. Please do not forget to consult the Indie Next Lists - recommendations from independent booksellers – like this one for book groups. 

More ideas from National Book Awards or public libraries like Chicago Public Library, Lake Travis Public Library Staff made a video featuring their favorites,  and New York Public Library published the year’s 10 most checked out books. Keep searching – these lists often lead to others with suggestions for all ages. 

Best of 2025 from School Library Journal; including Sisters in the Wind on its Young Adult list. And there are multiple state award lists to consult, too, like the Texas Lariat Reading List, its 2026 suggestions should be coming soon. Plus professional choices from Publishers Weekly – I am excited because I am not very familiar with their Top 10 or Mystery choices so plenty of new ideas to explore. Kirkus Reviews also has a variety of lists.  A separate Kirkus list is provided for best young adult books which can be further subdivided by genre. 

And Goodreads has its Choice Awards across several categories for 2025: https://www.goodreads.com/choiceawards/best-books-2025 With titles like this year’s top fiction choice (My Friends by Bachman), this is always a “go to” list since reader votes and word of mouth have built interest. Amazon, of course, offers its own list of editor choices for 2025, with best seller (and my personal favorite of the year) Heart of a Stranger. LibraryReads: primarily for public libraries, this group has stopped issuing overall favorites, but  has an impressive archive with Top 10 choices by month. 

Name a publication and you are likely to find a best book list. For example, The Washington Post offers several lists. The Wall Street Journal has a best of 2025 list for books, both from their reviewers and fifty “luminaries.” In addition to an article about Five Breakout Books (that is a gift link) of which Theo of Golden is one I have on hold currently, see 100 notable books of the year from The New York Times; there is also a top ten list on their site. Overwhelmed? The blogger at LitHub has compiled a chart which lists the titles that appeared most frequently on recommended lists (Memorial Days is on eight and The Correspondent is on five) … and my “to-be-read” pile grows ever taller… Plenty of overlap and some delightful selections on these many lists. … Ah, so many books and so little time. Once again: Happy Reading!!! Enjoy!!!

Consider the Birds edited by Callie Smith Grant

CONSIDER THE BIRDS contains a series of essays about human interaction with birds, sometimes with them as pets, sometimes observing them in nature. The collection is edited by Callie Smith Grant and the audiobook is narrated by Siiri Scott. Together with the contributing authors they do indeed share “Heartwarming True Stories of Our Feathered Friends.”  There are some religious references, but overall, CONSIDER THE BIRDS contains gentle stories and offers pleasant listening.  It was informative to hear about wildlife rehabilitation and the special connection, like knowing when backyard birds were in distress, that an author developed. This recording is full of facts, too; did you know that swallows who can fly and eat at the same time? There are tales about a pet crow, about hummingbirds, and a seagull (coincidentally, the state bird of Utah) named Coco who was adept at asking for food from a restaurant waiter. The antics are often fun and generally informative, describing actions, diet, and even parenting styles for these amazing creatures.

100 Rules for Living to 100 by Dick Van Dyke

100 RULES FOR LIVING TO 100 by Dick Van Dyke is subtitled “An Optimist's Guide to a Happy Life.” I particularly enjoyed listening to the audiobook where narrator Tom Bergeron does an excellent job of channeling Van Dyke. The tone is reflective and friendly, and Van Dyke readily admits that there may not be exactly 100 rules, but he offers many funny stories and valuable insight. These tales span eight or nine decades and center on family members as well as acting and musical colleagues. I truly enjoyed and would definitely recommend. In fact, I plan to listen a second time!

Some recent mysteries ...

I have been reading quite a few mysteries lately and wanted to briefly share reactions to some that I had started, put down for various reasons, and picked up again. I may have originally chosen a title because of the favorable professional reviews, setting and description, availability as an audiobook, or author (one I knew or one who gave me a chance to experiment with a debut). None of these will make my favorites list, but other readers may feel differently, and these titles are worth a look.

THE LIBRARIANS by Sherry Thomas was a LibraryReads selection for September and received starred reviews from Booklist (“enhanced with several subplots”) and Kirkus (“crime-solving librarians solve double murder mysteries while guarding their own secrets”). Yes, the plot is quite intricate (possible kidnapping, missing heirs, fraudulent activities) with jumps in time and multiple romances, plus several deaths after a Game Night at a local public library… Whew! More than one member of the staff comes under suspicion and they all (somewhat improbably) band together to try to find the real killer. Readers will need patience to appreciate the complexity. THE LIBRARIANS is set in Austin and it is fun to see a local reviewer’s perspective: Kim’s Bookstack post. 4 stars. 

A MATTER OF PEDIGREE by Leslie Meier is a light and very fluffy whodunit from the author of the Lucy Stone series. This is the start of the Carole and Poopsie series in which Carole’s somewhat uncouth husband is indicted for murder. She sets out to investigate and clear his name. Overall, I thought this was a little “too” cute and the dog, Poopsie, is obnoxious but an obvious shtick which will be back in future series entries. An entertaining, undemanding beach read. 3.5 stars 

A KILLER WEDDING is a debut mystery written by Joan O'Leary, with an audiobook narrated by Amanda Dolan. The over-the-top society wedding between Jane Murphy and Dr. Graham Ripton (grandson and heir to a beauty company CEO, Gloria Beaufort) is about to take place in a lavish Irish setting. The glitzy celebration is to be chronicled by journalist Christine Russo who works for Bespoke Weddings magazine and is excited about this big career boost. Sadly, I found the story to be VERY slow to start, with almost a fourth of the book devoted to background and character introductions before someone dies. Also, there are numerous family members, spanning several generations, and since they all acted in a selfish and privileged manner, it was difficult to keep track of their relationships or care about them. Christine is relatively young and naïve so she is surprised when the family chooses to not report the death and instead go ahead with the wedding. Library Journal called this “a fast-paced, funny whodunit” and Publishers Weekly praised O’Leary’s ability to “juggle perspectives and timelines.” I simply could not get interested and clearly missed some of the subtleties - maybe reading the text would have worked better than listening to the story? 3 stars

I felt similarly about THE DEAD COME TO STAY by Brandy Schillace which offers a mystery set in Yorkshire and is the second one to feature Jo Jones, an American on the autism spectrum. There are numerous references to the earlier tale in this series and once again Jones pairs up with a local police officer to find a murderer. This time their sleuthing involves missing teens as well. I found the audiobook which is narrated by Imogen Church (she also narrates Ruth Ware titles) unenjoyable. Church attempts several strange voices and accents, particularly for detective James MacAdams, but sadly, the voices are both difficult to understand and quite distracting from the story. I did try reading an ebook preview, but the story did not keep me interested. Maybe my attention span was too short? Kirkus called THE DEAD COME TO STAY “a superior puzzle” and Booklist said, “engaging and full of twists.” 3.5 stars  Do give these titles a try and decide for yourself. 

I Killed the King by Rebecca Mix & Andrea Hannah

I KILLED THE KING by Rebecca Mix and Andrea Hannah is a very creative take on a locked room mystery. The cast of characters is complex: Oak, personal guard to Costis, King of Avendell; Prince Kellam, heir to the throne; Melarie, a princess from Istellia and Kellam’s betrothed; Clove, an empathetic beast handler; Vesryn, an assassin planning to murder King Costis; and Ellion, a failed healer turned necromancer; plus various court attendants, other royals, and the Gods themselves. The six young people build a bond as more and more bodies are discovered, magical powers are tested, and romantic feelings are expressed. Tension builds as they frantically race against the clock to ensure that a treaty is signed. Perhaps it was intentional, but I found the multiple points of view and travelling across the barrier between life and death added a great deal of confusion. I KILLED THE KING has so many twists and unexpected pivots that it could make a good movie or streaming series. One of Us is Lying by McManus is frequently recommended as a read-alike. The audiobook is narrated by Dan Bittner who does an excellent job.

Lauryn Harper Falls Apart by Shauna Robinson

LAURYN HARPER FALLS APART by Shauna Robinson is a LibraryReads Hall of Fame selection for September 2025. It is a cute story about a confused young woman who finds her way after being demoted due to a misunderstanding at her workplace. I read portions of the ebook and listened to the majority of the Spotify audiobook which is excellent. The narrator, Deanna Anthony, perfectly captures the bewilderment and self-delusion that Lauren Harper exhibits as she repeatedly is her own best enemy, reluctant to rely on the collegiality of other disgraced and misfit corporate employees. They have all been sent to a rural outpost which hosts the charity arm, Ryser Cares, of a big and often controversial conglomerate. Together the group bonds as they attempt to resurrect the former Fall Festival in order to raise funds to support Greenstead’s Community Center. I think Robinson’s fans will enjoy this feel-good tale, even if it seems very predictable. My own issues are similar to those I expressed about her earlier work, The Banned Bookshop of Maggie Banks: the financials just don’t add up. If Lauren is set to retire in the next few years, what is keeping her from donating (or loaning) $10K to cover the festival costs? Surely, she has that amount readily available and doesn’t need to subject readers to repeated musings about where she can find sources of funds. And, to me, Ryser’s funding proposals and grants seem so inconsistent as shown by the wide disparity versus funds they eventually allocate. A heartfelt story evoking memories of local festivities.

The Library of Lost Dollhouses by Elise Hooper

THE LIBRARY OF LOST DOLLHOUSES by Elise Hooper shares the stories of Tildy, a young librarian living in present day San Francisco, and Cora, a talented artist who lived in the early twentieth century. Their connection is the Belva Curtis LeFarge Library where Tildy discovers two long hidden dollhouses. As the alternating stories enfold, readers learn about Cora’s early life, travels in Europe, love affairs with both men and women, and her time during and after World War I when she began creating the miniatures. Although the story is sometimes a bit too slow-paced, Hooper certainly motivates her readers to reflect on the contributions of little recognized female artists (for a novel with a similar theme, see Clara and Mr. Tiffany by Vreeland). For me, the best part of Hooper’s book was the description of the intricate, detailed work on the dollhouses and their contents. Both the Thorne Rooms (on display in Chicago) and Queen Mary’s Dolls’ House (near London) are mentioned in the book and Hooper explains that “there's actually a psychological rationale to explain our affinity for small things: dollhouses offer us a sense of control and imagination. They can provide a feeling of agency. Miniatures allow us to create the world as we'd like to see it.” The audiobook is narrated by Emily Rankin and Caroline Hewitt who provide a clear and entertaining account of Cora’s and Tildy’s adventures. THE LIBRARY OF LOST DOLLHOUSES is a bonus fiction pick for LibraryReads in April 2025. Booklist recommends it for fans of Kate Morton and Fiona Davis.

Best Books 2024 – lists and lists

Here (in no particular order) is our compilation of some of the “Best of the Year” lists, updated for 2024:

National Public Radio provides “Books we Love,” 1000s of titles (from 2024 and earlier years) and shows their covers in a fun, very interactive way. Please do not forget to consult the Indie Next Lists - recommendations from independent booksellers – like this one for book groups.

More ideas from National Book Awards or public libraries like Chicago Public Library, Lake Travis Public Library Staff made a video featuring their favorites,  and New York Public Library published the year’s 10 most checked out books. Keep searching – these lists often lead to others with suggestions for all ages.

Best of 2023 from School LibraryJournal; Looking specifically for Young Adults, several titles are on my “to read” list, including: Kill Her Twice by Stacey Lee. I have already enthusiastically reviewed others on the list like Everything We Never Had by Randy Ribay; This Book Won’t Burn by Samira Ahmed offers fictionalized perspective on book banning trends. And there are state award lists to consult, too, like the Texas Lariat Reading List, its 2025 suggestions should be coming soon.

Plus professional choices from Publishers Weekly – I am excited because I am not very familiar with their Top 10 or Mystery choices (other than Osman’s We Solve Murders) so plenty of new ideas to explore. Kirkus Reviews also has a variety of lists; I won’t be forgetting the Science Fiction choice The Stardust Grail by Yume Kitasei.  One of the Kirkus mystery choices that I liked: Horowitz’s Close to Death, plus my 2025 TBR list is going to include the Attica Locke books; and The Unwedding by Ally Condie. A separate Kirkus list is provided for best young adult books.

And Goodreads has its Choice Awards across several categories for 2024: https://www.goodreads.com/choiceawards/best-books-2024 This is always a “go to” list since reader votes and word of mouth have built interest. Amazon, of course, offers its own list of editor choices for 2023. LibraryReads: primarily for public libraries, this group has stopped issuing overall favorites, but  has an impressive archive with Top 10 choices by month.

Name a publication and you are likely to find a best book list. For example, The Washington Post offers several lists (including 50 notable works of fiction or non-fiction). The Wall Street Journal has a best of 2024 list for books, including The Anxious Generation by Jonathan Haidt. See 100 notable books of the year from The New York Times; there is also a top ten list on their site.

Plenty of overlap and some delightful selections on these many lists. … Ah, so many books and so little time. Once again: Happy Reading!!! Enjoy!!!  

I Cheerfully Refuse by Leif Enger

I CHEERFULLY REFUSE by Leif Enger has a beautiful, eye-catching cover which reflects the many layers involved in this latest story from an award-winning author (Peace Like a River and Virgil Wander). The story centers on Rainy (the narrator) and his wife Lark who live on Lake Superior in a post-apocalyptic society compared by another reviewer to The Road or Station Eleven. Lark, however, sounds like someone we would all want to know – she gets excited about old books, including mysteries and “the complete McGee.” Plus, Rainy says, “Chancing a single glance at her green eyes, I got an impression of curiosity and wit and maybe a little mockery zipping around back there like fireflies.” Their new boarder, Kellan, attracts some dangerous people and Rainy eventually departs in a sailboat, travelling amongst the local islands in search of an inner peace. Enger deftly explores grief, loneliness, and the restorative power of kindness and nature’s beauty. His writing is so amazing: “The lake was dark and flat. It was a blackboard to the end of sight, and any story might be written on its surface.” The audiobook, narrated by David Aaron Baker, is well worth the 12-hour time investment. Baker’s voice is surprisingly soothing, and he makes a complicated story come to life. I CHEERFULLY REFUSE received a starred review from Publishers Weekly (“This captivating narrative brims with hope.”). Kirkus references its “staggeringly tough times” and “spirit of whimsy that keeps hope flickering even in times of darkest despair.”

Best Books of 2023 ...

Here (in no particular order) is our compilation of some of the “Best of the Year” lists:

National Public Radio lists 1000s of titles (from 2023and earlier years) and shows their covers in a fun, very interactive way. Please do not forget to consult the Indie Next Lists - recommendations from independent booksellers – like this one for book groups.

More ideas from National Book Awards or public libraries like Chicago Public Library and New York Public Library offer recommendations -- with suggestions for all ages.

Best of 2023 from School Library Journal; Looking specifically for Young Adults, several titles are on my “to read” list, including: Deb Caletti’s Plan A. I have already enthusiastically reviewed others on the list like Angeline Boulley’s Warrior Girl Unearthed and Isabel Ibañez’s What the River Knows.

Plus professional choices from Publishers Weekly (honestly, not wild for their Top 10, but All the Sinners Bleed by S. A. Cosby made the mystery choices) OR Kirkus Reviews. Some of the Kirkus fiction choices that I also really liked include an eclectic mix: Happiness Falls, Five-Star Weekend, and Deep Sky. A separate list is provided for non-fiction (like People’s Hospital, Democracy Awakening, and The Teachers) and a list is forthcoming for best teen books.

And Goodreads will release its Choice Awards across several categories for 2023: https://www.goodreads.com/choiceawards/best-books-2023   This is always a “go to” list since reader votes and word of mouth have built interest. Amazon, of course, offers its own list of editor choices for 2023. LibraryReads: Primarily for public libraries, listed top favorites for 2023: https://libraryreads.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Favorites2023.pdf   

Name a publication and you are likely to find a best book list. For example, The Washington Post offers several lists (including 10 best audiobooks). The Wall Street Journal has a best of 2023 list for books. 100 notable books of the year from The New York Times; There is also a top ten list on their site.

There is plenty of overlap and some delightful selections on these lists. Ah, so many books and so little time. Enjoy!!! Happy Reading!!

Added: STILL looking for ideas to read? The Smithsonian Magazine has compiled a set of links to the most borrowed books from public libraries in 2023. 

Bell Hammers, Audiobooks and AI

BELL HAMMERS by Lancelot Schaubert was published a few years ago, but the audiobook was just made available on NetGalley. The cover is quite memorable and I had been intrigued by this collection of tales involving Southern Illinois. Schaubert relates decade long adventures involving Wilson Remus, aka Remmy, a caring, mischievous soul if there ever was one. An early example is his decision to pee publicly into the mop bucket of his one room school house in order to distract his classmates from the horrific radio news about Pearl Harbor. Often compared to the writings of Mark Twain and described as “a hoot” by Publishers Weekly, BELL HAMMERS spans seventy years. Although I did not find the short essays to be that engaging or consistently humorous, this work is clearly a passion for the author/narrator and describes an oft-forgotten piece of Americana.

It is interesting to note the changes that are occurring in the audiobook field. Just recently, The Wall Street Journal posted an article titled, “He’s Been Dead for Nearly 10 Years. Now He’s Narrating Your Audiobook” in which they describe how new AI technology is being applied. They profile a variety of newer companies like DeepZen, a London based start-up, and Speechki from Austin and include comments from a number of established publishers. Fascinating to see (and hear!) how this technology is developing!