Book Bites Recommends

 Another month means another fascinating list of titles from the Book Bites crew! So many different kinds of stories! What catches your eye? What have YOU been reading?

Book Bites Recommends

Another meeting of the Book Bites crew, resulting in another list of fascinating reads! See anything that catches your eye? What have YOU been reading?

 

Book Bites Recommends

 We're playing catch-up with our Book Bites Recommendations this time, so today you've got December and January lists! Talk about a great way to kick off a new year of reading! Take a look at what the Book Bites crew has been reading, and then let us know what YOU are reading.

Book Bites Recommends

 Another meeting of the Book Bites crew, another list of fascinating books.

Anything in this list catch your eye? What have YOU been reading lately?

Book Bites Recommends

Another engaging time of conversation about books (and life!) with the Book Bites crew. Need some inspiration for your fall reading? We've got a variety to pick from!

What have you been reading lately?

Book Bites Recommends

September's meeting of the Book Bites crew resulted in a very long list of titles discussed (some with only teasers!).

See anything that catches your eye?

What have you been reading lately?

Book Bites Recommends

The reading is good this summer! 

Another wonderful discussion of books was had at the July Book Bites meeting, and we are clearly in our Historical Fiction era. Always nice to throw in a little nonfiction too, keep your brain sharp.

What catches your eye?

What have YOU been reading this summer?

Book Bites Recommends

 Did you know Book Bites continues through the summer? 

So if your Summer Reading list is in need of a jumpstart, see what the Book Bites crew had to recommend for June.

See anything that catches your eye?

What's on YOUR summer reading list?

Book Bites Recommends

Our Book Bites crew returns with yet another intriguing and varied selection of highly recommended titles! What catches your eye? Have you read any?

Book Bites Recommends

 Another month, and another lively discussion about a variety of books! I'm always amazed at the range of titles discovered and discussed by our Book Bites crew. What catches your eye from our April selection?

Book Bites Recommends

I'm not 100% certain, but this list may have the most diverse genre offering we've ever had discussed in a Book Bites meeting.

See anything that catches your eye?

What have you been reading lately?

Book Bites Recommends

After a whirlwind start to 2023 ... it came to my attention that I forgot to post the January Book Bites list! Oops! So here is a double dose of book recommendations for you!

See anything that catches your eye?

Book Bites Recommends

Another month, another intriguing list of titles for your reading inspiration! The Book Bites crew always has such an interesting variety of reading material -- what catches your eye?

Book Bites Recommends

Another fascinating selection of recommended reads from yesterday's meeting of the Book Bites crew, and holiday books are started making their way into the pile! See anything interesting?

Bookish Delights

Brace yourself: today's post may take full advantage of the "catch-all" nature of this header... I've got a little sample of many things I want to share.

Other Birds (Sarah Addison Allen)
⭐⭐⭐⭐
This book was ... enchanting. It's not always the happiest of stories, but it is hopeful - and that is everything. So many threads come together in this one, weaving together individual stories until they've lost (and found) themselves in the broader story being told. It's a story of connections, of love, of survival, of hope. It's beautiful. 

Daisy Darker (Alice Feeney)
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Very much an homage to And Then There Were None, with a sneaky twist that makes things so much wilder. I love the trend of weaving flashbacks into the narrative to bring you up to real time, and it works so very well with Daisy's story. There's no way to say a lot about this one without spoiling some of the experience, and even though I figured out a few of the quirks/twists earlier than revealed, it was still a fun reading experience. (Is it socially acceptable to call a family being picked off-one-by-one story as a fun reading experience?)

Cover Love!

This one is too beautiful to keep under wraps until January. 
I've only read one other book by Hawkins (Reckless Girls), but it was an enjoyably twisty read, so I'll definitely be picking this one up for reasons beyond the pretty cover. 

Here's a link to the book page on Goodreads, in case you want to read the blurb / add it to your TBR list.

Sidenote: You'd never guess from the cover that's a thriller, would you? I definitely get the Italian vibes, but not the thriller.

Earlier this month I got an email about Marie Benedict's new novel, and after a moment of excited fangirling (and immediately adding to my TBR on Goodreads), I had to sit back and look at this cover. It's definitely eye-catching, and there's a sense of drama and movement.

I confess to knowing next to nothing about the Mitford sisters (oops?), so I'm doubly-intrigued by the premise and promise of this novel. 

How long again until January? (I tease, but there really are some fabulous books scheduled to publish that month).

 

Finally here's one that is slated to publish the end of November, and I am a fan of the dreamy romantic vibes. Knowing how Kiera Cass writes, it will probably be more "complicated" and less "fairytale," but how's this for the teaser they're blurbing (perhaps a first line?):

Love has a sound. It sounds like a thousand heartbeats happening at the same time.

Now that's something that'll catch your attention! Here's the Goodreads link if you want to read the full description.

Read Together

A slightly different angle on the books featured in today's Read Together post... instead of focusing on books related to a particular topic, I'm going to share a particular kind of book: Short Story Collections.

Sometimes you want to read a story, but you don't have the time (or mental bandwidth) to dive into a novel. What's a reader to do? Turn to short stories! There are so many options to choose from - whether you want to dive deeper into your favorite story universe (Star Wars, anyone?) or catch up on quick reads about certain characters, or lose yourself in stories set during a particular season. And, of course, there are love stories. 

There's something fascinating about a short story - from both a reading and a writing point-of-view - and if you'd like to give the genre a trial read, here's a small sampling of titles to get you started.

Star Wars: From a Certain Point of View (Various Authors)

The Empire Strikes Back: From a Certain Point of View (Various Authors)

Star Wars: Canto Bight (Various Authors)

Marple: Twelve New Mysteries (Various Authors)

A Simple Murder (Linda Castillo)

No Middle Name (Lee Child)

Uncommon Type (Tom Hanks)

Men Without Women (Haruki Murakami)

Sparring Partners (John Grisham)

Together, Apart (Various Authors)

Meet Cute (Various Authors)

Serendipity (Various Authors)

My True Love Gave to Me (Various Authors)

Summer Days and Summer Nights (Various Authors)

Endless Summer (Elin Hilderbrand)

Love in Colour (Bolu Babalola)

Chance Developments (Alexander McCall Smith)

Love and Other Seasons (Rebecca M. Fleming)

See anything that catches your eye?

Do you read short stories - if so, what's your favorite collection and/or type to read?

Book-to-Screen Adaptations, Part 2

Did you catch the first Book-to-Screen Adaptations post? I mentioned an upcoming post with more about the Young Adult [YA] books that have taken screens by storm - and here it is, with a small twist. I know this is probably shocking - but I have not (yet!) seen any of these adaptations. I have read several of the books (I'll let you know which ones), and have all of these on my "To Watch" list, it just hasn't happened. Yet. And so ... a list of popular and "buzzy" YA Book-to-Screen Adaptations.

Note: All of the adaptations listed are available on streaming services. The links posted are to the original book form in the Library catalog, but the streaming platforms are mentioned for each.

To All the Boys I've Loved Before 
How to watch: 3-movie "series" on Netflix
Based on Jenny Han's trilogy of books by the same name, I've heard only good things about these movies. I can say the books were very fun, and Lara Jean is an adorable heroine.

The Summer I Turned Pretty 
How to watch: 7-episode series on Amazon Prime, potentially more seasons?
The first book in another trilogy by Jenny Han, I remember having more weight than you might expect - but that was many, many moons ago. Popular opinion however, says the show is good summer viewing.

Along for the Ride 
How to watch: Netflix
As a tremendous fan of Sarah Dessen (a local author, just down the road in Chapel Hill!), when she posted behind the scenes teasers from the filming of this movie to her Instagram? I squealed. The fact I have not seen this movie yet is a testimony to the whirlwind that is this year, but I have read the book multiple times and look forward to seeing it on screen.

Love & Gelato 
How to watch: Netflix
The covers of this series are so cute, as are the titles - but I haven't read them yet. Rumor has it that the books especially will give you a bad case of wanderlust. (Sounds fun to me!)

Dumplin'
How to watch: Netflix
Julie Murphy knows how to write a character, and anytime I pick up one of her books I devour them. Dumplin' was my first, but nowhere near my last. I've heard only the best feedback about this adaptation, which actually came out in 2018. That may be a sign it should move up my list...

Shadow and Bone
How to watch: Series on Netflix, potentially more seasons?
Honestly, this trilogy by Leigh Bardugo never really hit my radar, other than making sure the Library had copies because they checked out frequently. Then Netflix produced a show, with Ben Barnes in a starring role, and I got intrigued. YA Fantasy is usually a favorite genre for me, so may have to give this one a whirl - on the screen first.

Do any of these catch your eye?
Have you read and/or seen any already - if so, do share so I can decide which to watch first, ha.

Once Upon a Fairytale

There are fairy tales, and then there are fairy tales - those tales so familiar it's almost as if they're embedded in our cultural understanding. To my mind, Cinderella is undoubtedly one of this group. Perhaps you can think back, remembering elementary school explorations of "Cinderella stories around the world" - there are so very many incarnations and versions of this story. Picture book renditions are a delightful indulgence, and could be a whole post in their own right. But did you know Cinderella also manages to be told and told again in novel form? From young students to grown ups, from futuristic science fiction to contemporary romance, there's a Cinderella story for every reader ...

Fairy tale feature: Cinderella
All of the books in this list are adaptations, expansions, novelizations, variations or reimaginings of the original tale, and there's a wide variety so hopefully everyone can find their perfect match.
Note: The "target audience" for these also range from elementary to adult. Brief summaries from Goodreads/Amazon/Publishers/my own reviews when applicable.

"Traditional" / Loosely Historical Fantasy

Ella Enchanted (Gail Carson Levine)
The twist to this retelling is that Ella is cursed by her fairy godmother - to be obedient. In order to find her Happily Ever After, she must find a way to break the curse.  Yes, there is a pumpkin coach and a glass slipper, and even a Prince, but this is quite the unexpected Cinderella story.
There's a movie also, and while diehard Ella fans despair over the changes made for the screen, I happen to be a big fan and think the movie is fun.

Princess of Glass (Jessica Day George)
Picking up the story some time after the events in George's Princess of the Midnight Ball (featured in the first Once Upon a Fairytale), we find Poppy participating in a royal exchange program. What should be an enjoyable experience gets complicated when a vengeful fairy godmother gets involved. This is yet another impressive retelling from George, and shows again her talent at spinning a new story from such a familiar tale.

Science Fiction / Steampunk / Dystopian

Cinder (Marissa Meyer)
A Cinderella story set in a futuristic dystopian society with droids and cyborgs (think really advanced prosthetics implanted in "damaged" humans), but unable to combat a deadly Plague spreading through the population. Also, there's a whole other set of people living on the moon, and they've got their own weird agenda. This is a complex environment, and a lot more issues are covered than "simply Cinderella" - but Meyer does a masterful job of working those traditional story elements into the tale.

Mechanica (Betsy Cornwell)

With Steampunk vibes (think Victorian England + complex technology that's gear/gas/steam based rather than digital), themes of social justice and family shine in this richly imagined Cinderella retelling about an indomitable inventor who finds her prince ... but realizes she doesn't want a fairy tale happy ending after all. 

Contemporary Romance

Geekerella (Ashley Poston)
Part romance, part love letter to nerd culture, and all fun, Geekerella is a fairy tale for anyone who believes in the magic of fandom. Elle lives and breathes "Starfield," the classic sci-fi series she grew up watching with her late father. So when she sees a cosplay contest for the new "Starfield" movie, she has to enter. With savings from her job at the Magic Pumpkin food truck and her dad's old costume, Elle's determined to win ... unless her stepsisters get there first. This one was fun and sweet, and an adoring homage to geekiness.

If the Shoe Fits (Julie Murphy)
This retelling has so many fun updates to the story: instead of a ball for the Prince to find A Wife, there's a reality dating show. The family/relationship dynamics between Cindy and the Steps are so much healthier and feel realistic. The whole story feels more believable and realistic - complicated and messy, definitely, but there's a real sense of positivity and sisterhood that infuses the story with new life.

Summer Reads

For Teens and Adults, Summer Reading involves writing short reviews of books read to earn entries in the end-of-summer giveaway(s). Today, we're going to share a selection of those reviews (all from highly rated books), in case you need inspiration for what to read next.

See anything that catches your eye? Have you read any of these?
What have YOU read and loved this summer? 

Read Together

Time for another Read Together feature, this time spotlighting books that are all retellings of the classic musical "My Fair Lady." (Which, if you don't know, was originally a George Bernard Shaw play entitled Pygmalion. I've never read the play, but I am a big fan of the movie.)

When thinking about retellings, I tend to think first about Jane Austen novels - or fairy tales. But when I recently picked up a second book in a row that was a remix of "My Fair Lady," I realized there are several others out there as well. Thus: the need for a Read Together posting!

Note: If I have read the books mentioned, I'll give a star rating/quick mini review. If I have not, then I'll include a publisher synopsis.

My Fine Fellow (Jennieke Cohen) ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

This one is so good - it was my featured title at Book Bites! It's a gender-bent retelling (meaning "Eliza Dolittle" was actually Elijah Little), set in an alternate historical England. Featuring a compelling societal structure and set in the world of culinarians/exquisite chefs-in-training, this one was so much fun to read, even though it made me hungry!

Made in Manhattan (Lauren Layne) ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Another gender-bent retelling, this time set in contemporary NYC, where a Manhattan socialite is tasked with preparing (aka transforming) a newly discovered Bayou-born grandson to take the reins of his family's global corporation. The chemistry is sizzling and this one had a nice twist to it in that Violet (our "Prof Higgins" character) has her own transformation journey.

My Fair Gentleman (Nancy Campbell Allen)

In this Regency (and gender-bent) twist, Jack would rather be at sea than fixing the mistakes of his grandfather. Instead, he finds that inheriting his grandfather's wealth and title - and securing the welfare of his sister and mother - means joining the ranks of high society and living with the aristocracy. Luckily, Ivy Carlisle, the granddaughter of a dear friend of Jack's late grandmother, is willing to teach him etiquette and properly introduce him into society. Jack soon learns that his challenge isn't surviving his new lifestyle but surviving the conspiracies against him - as well as keeping himself from falling madly in love with his new tutor.

My Unfair Lady (Kathryne Kennedy) ⭐⭐⭐

"My Fair Lady" meets the Wild West meets the Gilded Age ... this was a wild romp through Proper Society and The Rules, with American heiress Summer Wine Lee (what a name!) paying a disenfranchised Duke to help her become a real lady. Of course nothing works out as it should - there are some nice quirks and hilarious antics. It's not meant to be a serious read, although there are some heavy moments - and hard truths - tucked inside.

Note: This one does have some steamy/"open door" romantic scenes.