Christmas Themed mysteries

These Christmas themed mysteries offer a light, quiet diversion and chance to send part of the holidays with favorite characters. 

CHRISTMAS SWEETS by Joanne Fluke, Laura Levine, Leslie Meier is another collection of three novellas by prolific mystery writers: The twelve desserts of Christmas; Nightmare on Elf Street and The Christmas thief, respectively.   Fluke’s story takes place at a boarding school where a few students are spending the holidays with two romantically inclined teachers. Hannah Swenson, of course, makes an appearance along with several holiday recipes. Levine’s nightmare story involves a murdered Santa with one of his elves as a key suspect.  And, Meier transports Lucy Stone from Tinker’s Cove, Maine to Florida where her own daughter is embroiled in a puzzling theft. Familiar characters and the holiday theme (plus some great recipes!) make this a fun read – cozy up by the fire and enjoy! 3.5 stars

CHRISTMAS CARD MURDER by Leslie Meier, Lee Hollis, Peggy Ehrhart was just recently published and contains a collection of three stories by these authors: Christmas Card Murder; Death of a Christmas Carol; and Death of a Christmas Card Crafter. As I often do (guilty pleasure), I enjoyed escaping reality for a bit with the Lucy Stone story which involved a threatening message on an old Christmas card found during a house renovation. Frankly, though, I gave up in the midst of Death of a Christmas Carol after a human character “barked” for about the tenth time; who says that?  Ratings on amazon and GoodReads are more positive for this set of stories so maybe I missed a clever play on words instead of the editor missing a chance to improve the writing? 2.5 stars

THE CHRISTMAS SPIRITS ON TRADD STREET by Karen White is a blend of mystery, history, and romance with a dash of paranormal spirits.  Technically part of a series set in Charleston and featuring Melanie Trenholm, this title can be read alone. Disturbed by some construction, the spirits are related to a long ago spy ring. Melanie deals with their attempts at messaging as well as current day rivals, business concerns, and holiday entertaining obligations. A light and undemanding, entertaining read.  3.0 stars

 

Best Books of 2020

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

100 notable books of the year from The New York Times: There is also a top ten list on their site and links for children’s books. Once again, remember that you can access these and other articles from The New York Times by following directions on the library’s ClassLinks page. If you set up your account a year ago, you may need to renew – see a librarian with any questions.

Best of 2020 from School Library Journal; Looking specifically for Young Adults, several titles are on my “to read” list, including: Clap When You Land and Sanctuary. I have already reviewed others on the list like Jennifer Niven’s Breathless.

Plus professional choices from Publishers Weekly OR Kirkus Reviews. Kirkus helpfully shows best fiction by a variety of categories (e.g., get your book group talking; read during the pandemic; debut authors). The mystery and thrillers I have enjoyed: All the Devils are Here, Dead Land, and One by One. Separate lists are provided for non-fiction and once again across several categories for best teen books.

And Goodreads has released its Choice Awards across several categories for 2020: https://www.goodreads.com/choiceawards/best-books-2020   This is always a “go to” list since reader votes and word of mouth have built interest.   

LibraryReads: Primarily for public libraries, listed top favorites for 2020: https://libraryreads.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/Voter-Favorites-2020-Flyer.pdf   

Name a publication and you are likely to find a best book list. For example, The Washington Post offers several lists, but I really liked their columnists’ take (published later in the month) on what each had read or watched during the pandemic – it is very fun and eclectic (Great British Baking Show, anyone?). The Wall Street Journal has a best of 2020 list for books as well as for music, television, a holiday gift guide, and more.

National Public Radio lists 1000s of titles (from 2020 and earlier years) and shows their covers in a fun, interactive way. Have fun exploring the list of titles selected for PBS’ Now Read This book club.  In the process, please do not forget to consult the Indie Next List - recommendations from independent booksellers.

More ideas from National Book Awards or local public libraries like Chicago Public Library offer recommendations -- with suggestions for all ages. And from organizations like The Greater Good Science Center or Teaching for Change’s Social Justice Books for all ages and from individuals (Barack Obama, Bill Gates)– and avid readers amongst your own friends and family).

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

Have Fun Cooking

101 LASAGNAS & OTHER LAYERED CASSEROLES by Julia Rutland is exactly what the title promises with suggestions for layered casseroles divided into meat, poultry, vegetarian, seafood and dessert categories. I am especially intrigued by recipes like Winter Squash (a superfood) Marinara & Ricotta Lasagna or Spinach & Artichoke Lasagna or even Roasted Fall Veggies and Turkey Lasagna.  Seems like the perfect “hunker down and enjoy” meal options! The book itself contains some beautiful pictures, but they are often of ingredients and not of the dishes themselves. Then again, how to differentiate images of lasagnas? That is a potential flaw of this cookbook, too: even though readers are guaranteed to find a recipe using favorite ingredients, is 101 lasagna recipes too much for one cookbook? Nutritional information is not provided.

1000 MEDITERRANEAN MEALS by Valentina Harris is a cook book I would definitely recommend, especially as it contains “Every Recipe You Need for the Healthiest Way to Eat.”  Harris and the editors at Chartwell Books have compiled a sumptuous set of recipes. They are certainly a feast for the eyes as every recipe (ranging from appetizers, through soups, salads, breads, and several kinds of main entrees, to desserts and fruits) is accompanied by a gorgeous photo.  I won’t list all of the recipes I plan to try, but some include Sun-dried Tomato and Olive Sticks, Calzones, Marinara Pizza, and Polenta Pan Pizza with Roasted Vegetables.  One of the nicest features of this book is that most recipes have a boxed section on each page which suggestions easy variations (e.g., using potatoes instead of mushrooms, changing the protein, or adapting the spices) which offer a great bonus in versatility and variety. The recipes themselves have a very clean, uncluttered presentation with generally 3 or 4 main steps and often a dozen ingredients or less. All that’s missing is the nutritional information, but there is much here to enjoy (Crab Cakes, Grilled Swordfish … OK, I said I wouldn’t list all the ones I want to try). 

Happy Habits by Karen Salmansohn

HAPPY HABITS by Karen Salmansohn is a cute, little book (roughly six by seven inches) containing “50 Science-Backed Rituals to Adopt (or Stop) to Boost Health and Happiness.”  It is similar to other books (Life is Long, Think Happy, etc.) which Salmansohn has created.  Filled with colorful, “feel good” drawings, alternating pages offer her suggestions for forming habits to help the reader feel happier mentally, physically, in relationships, and at work, home or play. I especially liked that the suggestions were science based and readers can explore those findings online. There is a nice emphasis on meditation and gratitude and while some ideas (smile, stay hydrated, practice good posture) seem well-known, HAPPY HABITS offers a cheerful reminder. In fact, I think this is the kind of book that could work well in advisory over the course of a quarter (45 school days almost exactly matches the 50 suggestions), with a reminder each morning. Quite a bit has been written recently about forming positive habits – have a look at James Clear's Atomic Habits (referenced by Salmansohn and on several recent best-seller lists), and Tiny Habits by BJ Fogg, too.   

The Black Friend by Frederick Joseph

THE BLACK FRIEND: ON BEING A BETTER WHITE PERSON by Frederick Joseph has a colorful, engaging cover and the text is equally open and welcoming.  Joseph uses bold typeface for certain words and phrases (e.g., white privilege) and defines them in the reader's “very own Encyclopedia of Racism” in an effort to increase understanding. He acknowledges that the book is “aimed primarily” at white people who want to do better, given “there’s a good chance you’re not as decent as you think.” He favors a humorous, conversational tone, includes stories from his youth, and writes in an accessible, although sometimes strangely opinionated (calling date loaf disgusting?) manner. Joseph has incorporated input from other writers like Angie Thomas (The Hate U Give). And a nice feature of this text is the Appendix: “People and Things to Know” which offers lists of people to know, books to read and movies or shows to watch. There is also a Black Friend Playlist and helpful source notes. Aimed at middle school readers and older, THE BLACK FRIEND: ON BEING A BETTER WHITE PERSON received starred reviews from Booklist, Publishers Weekly and School Library Journal.

The Cousins by Karen McManus

THE COUSINS by Karen McManus (One of Us is Lying) is a fabulous mystery and a great chance to escape to a summer venue on an island like Martha’s Vineyard. Three cousins, Milly Takahashi-Story, Aubrey Story, and Jonah Story, barely know each other when they are all summoned by their estranged grandmother to work at her exclusive resort on Gull Cove Island. First mystery: when they arrive, she seems surprised to see them, so who invited them? Next, why did she disinherit their parents (and a childless uncle) so many years ago?  What caused that rift and what secrets remain after more than two decades? What do the local residents know and why is the family lawyer trying to convince Milly, Aubrey, and Jonah to leave? What surprises are the cousins hiding from each other? Can they sustain the bonds they have begun to form? Fans of Lockhart’s We Were Liars as well as McManus’ many readers will enjoy this new title which picks up the pace in the second half and offers a diverting, suspenseful adventure. Kirkus says, “Another McManus novel worth pulling an all-nighter for.”  I agree.

The Midnight Library by Matt Haig

THE MIDNIGHT LIBRARY by Matt Haig is one of my favorite books of the year. This imaginative novel explores the idea of divergent parallel universes and tells the story of Nora who is unhappy in her current life. Haven’t we all wondered about the other choices we could have made? Caught between life and death, Nora enters a magical library where different life stories exist and she is able to visit alternative lives exploring glaciers, as a swimming champion, as a famous lead singer, as a wife and mother.  Along the way, she struggles with her own Book of Regrets and eventually accepts that “the only way to learn is to live” for “sadness is intrinsically part of the fabric of happiness. You can’t have one without the other.” Haig’s series of adventures (in some ways reminiscent of It’s a Wonderful Life) will certainly have readers reflecting on the impact of their own lives. I loved when he pointed out, “Librarians have knowledge. They guide you to the right books. The right worlds. They find the best places. Like soul-enhanced search engines.” 

Haig is a prolific writer; his works include a number of stories for children.  In addition, I have found Haig’s writing about depression (Notes on a Nervous Planet or Reasons to Stay Alive) to be quite insightful and would also definitely recommend his How to Stop Time, another adult novel that blends introspection and adventure (rumored to be a movie soon). Haig says, “it’s not what you look at that matters, it’s what you see;” enjoy THE MIDNIGHT LIBRARY from your own perspective – it received a starred review from Booklist.