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Watch Read Listen: March

We’re warding off the Ides of March with these hot picks.

Watch

Anatomy of a Fall (Apple TV+)
Amazing and engrossing film. I was on the edge of my seat the whole time. Fans of legal dramas will especially enjoy. (Tessa)

Anne With an E (Netflix)
I grew up with Megan Follows and the 1985 series Anne of Green Gables so I felt no need to watch yet another remake (are there literally NO new ideas, Hollywood?!). However, my daughter really wanted me to watch the Netflix series with her and I’m so glad I did. AoGG really is a lovely, charming story and the cast in this version is top notch. It is a delight to watch it with someone meeting Anne for the first time. (Amber)

Pachinko (Apple TV+)
This sweeping eight-episode mini series is based on the book by Min Jin Lee. While not 100% faithful to the book, the series does an incredible job of illuminating the difficulties faced by a family of ethnic Koreans living in Japan from the 1920 through the 1980s. (Janet)

True Detective: Night Country (Max)
This show is dark, literally and figuratively. Set in the fictional town of Ennis, Alaska, this series begins at the start of the days of night. Part crime story, part supernatural, this series is well done and kept me on the edge of my seat. Kali Reis and Jodie Foster deserve all the awards! (Amber)
Check out our Max Roku to watch.

Wonka
Do I think the world needed a Willy Wonka backstory? No, but that didn’t stop me from enjoying this charming film. Would recommend for a family movie night. (Tessa)

Read

The Apple In The Dark by Claire Lispector
Mysterious, utterly atmospheric, beautiful and strange (in the best way), Clarice Lispector’s writing is one of a kind and The Apple in the Dark may be my favorite novel by her yet. Originally published in 1961, New Directions has been coming out with amazing new translations of her work and this is their latest. And, wow, they really know how to nail a book cover- their version of an apple in the dark is everything. Read and see for yourself! (Sue)

Hotel Nantucket by Elin Hilderbrand
Cute, fun, partial ghost story. I always enjoy books set in places I’ve been! (Deb)

Life After Life by Kate Atkinson
Thought-provoking WWII fiction time-warp! (Deb)

The Little Wartime Library by Kate Thompson
Such a great story! Strong, feisty women. Resilient kids. Jerks that get their comeuppance. (Deb)

Modern Crochet Bible: Over 100 Contemporary Crochet Techniques and Stitches by Sarah Shrimpton
Exactly as the title says, a great collection of knowledge for modern crochet. Great for beginners and experts alike with in-depth explanations of technique and tools. Beautiful and functional photography can be found on every page accompanying the techniques and included projects. Especially useful to learn how to read all the different kinds of crochet patterns to get the most out of your project search. (Alanna)

Outlawed by Anna North
So wanted to love this book, which has been accurately described by one reviewer as The Handmaid’s Tale meet Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid. Despite the very original premise, the plot twists were just too predictable for my taste. (Janet)

Pachinko by Min Jin Lee
I usually avoid books that are more than a few hundred pages long, but am so glad I made an exception for Pachinko. This multi-generational family saga drew me in right away and I tore through all 475 pages in one weekend. A beautifully written novel, Pachinko sheds light on the living conditions and challenges faced by ethnic Koreans in Japanese society in the 20th century. (Janet)

Salt & Broom by Sharon Lynn Fisher
A witchy adaptation of Jane Eyre. Orphaned and raised at Lowood Institution, Jane Aire is now a gifted healer who teaches at the school (Mrs. Reed and family do not make an appearance in this version). She is employed by Mr. Rochester to uncover the mysteries that curse Thornfield Hall. An enjoyable cozy read that is fun to compare with the original novel. (Tessa)

Listen

Sometimes I Lie by Alice Feeney
First page: My name is Amber Reynolds. There are three things you should know about me: 1. I’m in a coma. 2. My husband doesn’t love me anymore. 3. Sometimes I lie Alternating between her paralyzed present, the week before her accident, and a series of childhood diaries from twenty years ago. Wow. Holy plot twist. Mind-bender! (Deb)

WERS: 88.9
Boston’s Uncommon Radio station is the only radio station I listen to! A great mix of new and old, there is something for everyone on this station. (Amber)

A Window of the Waking Mind by Coheed and Cambria
An epic album from an incredibly talented band. You don’t need to know anything about the band to enjoy this rock album, just be ready for a melodic journey with some killer guitar and some truly phenomenal drums. My personal favorite tracks are The Liars Club and Ladders of Supremacy but there really isn’t a bad song on the album. Check out the rest of Coheed and Cambria while you’re at it, especially if you like bands with a unique sound. (Alanna)

Watch Read Listen: February

It’s a Leap Year, which means an extra day to Watch, Read, or Listen.

Watch

All of Us Strangers (currently in theaters)
If you want to have your heart ripped out and leave the theater feeling completely gutted – maybe you just need a really good cry – is this the movie for you! I loved it SO much and I will be thinking about it for a very long time. (Elle)

All The Light We Cannot See (Netflix)
This is one of those times when (dare I say) the adaptation was better than the book! (Elle)

Crabs! (streaming)
A ridiculous horror movie that was fun to watch. The ending song was the best part of the movie. Crabs! (Todd)

Dare Me (Netflix)
Dark drama about tensions among a high school cheer squad after a new coach takes a liking to someone other than the “top girl”. Spoiler alert: this show was canceled after season one so there is NO RESOLUTION! Luckily, there’s a book for that. (Amber)

Tierra Incognita (Disney+)
Two siblings try to discover what happened to their parents in their family-owned horror-themed amusement park. So much happens in less than 20 episodes! It’s all about friends, family, science, and mythology. (Hazel)
Check out our Disney+ Roku to watch.

Read

The Fury by Alex Michaelides
Having loved The Silent Patient and The Maidens, I had really high hopes for this one. Alas, it was not for me. (Elle)

The Great Pretender: The Undercover Mission That Changed Our Understanding of Madness by Susannah Cahalan
I really enjoyed the author’s 2012 book, Brain On Fire: My Month of Madness so I was eager to read something else by her. The first 2/3 of this new book are super interesting & eye-opening. Chasing down facts got a bit tedious, but the author’s overall point is well-taken. (Deb)

Spy Coast by Tess Gerritsen
I liked this new cast of characters from Tess Gerritsen and the setting (partially) in Maine. Pace was good. The mystery & uncertainty of who was trustworthy throughout the story kept you second-guessing pretty-much everyone! Long wait for the next in the series due in March 2025. (Deb)

Unstoppable! My Journey from Olympic Hopeful to Athlete A to 8-Time NCAA Champion and Beyond
by Maggie Nichols
Interesting to hear the story of Maggie Nichols and all the other gymnasts that came forward to change USA Gymnastics for the better and make them take responsibility. Maggie’s story from being a young girl to an NCAA winner is an incredible journey. (Hazel)

Wrong Place Wrong Time by Gillian McAllister
An enjoyable thriller. Suspenseful story of a Mom who witnesses her son stab a stranger outside their home. She then enters a time loop and tries to prevent the murder. (Todd)

Listen

Babel, or, the Necessity of Violence: An Arcane History of the Oxford Translators’ Revolution by R.F. Kuang, read by Chris Lew Kum Hoi & Billie Fulford-Brown
Fantastic and gripping speculative fiction set in an alternate 1830s Oxford University where translators are the most powerful people in the vast British Empire. It’s a tale of colonialism, coming of age, and the power of language and listening to it. (Jen)

I Must Betray You by Ruta Sepetys, read by Edoardo Ballerini
Fascinating. I haven’t read a lot about communism. Feels like brain-washing. (Deb)

Red Light by The Slackers
One of my favorite 90s ska bands. Forgot how much I love this album. (Todd)

The Undertaking of Hart and Mercy by Megan Bannen
What an absolute delight! (Elle)

Watch Read Listen: January

A new year of watching, reading, and listening!

Watch

Genie (streaming on Peacock)
Melissa McCarthy plays a magic genie set to fix a mans family for Christmas. It is pretty cheesy and I didn’t laugh as much as I regularly do with her movies, but it was an enjoyable feel-good Christmas movie with a solid message. (Elle)

The Marvels (coming to Disney+ in February)
This movie was fun. Not the best Marvel movie, and there were some gaping plot holes and times when the story seemed too rushed, but otherwise it was enjoyable. (Dana)
Check out our Disney+ Roku to watch.

The Villains of Valley View (Disney+)
A family of villains must go into hiding and try to live “normal” lives. A great show for a quick comedy break. They are my new favorite TV family! (Hazel)
Check out our Disney+ Roku to watch.

Read

A Child Called It: One Child’s Courage to Survive by Dave Pelzer
Horrifying yet inspirational. (Deb)

Coraline by Neil Gaiman
Honestly, I read this because it’s short and I was trying to get to my Goodreads Challenge goal. But ultimately I liked it! Cute. Clever, as only Neil Gaiman can be! I love the cat-without-a-name. (Deb)

Goats in the Time of Love: A Martha’s Vineyards Love Story with Goats, a Dog, and Some Recipes by T. Elizabeth Bell
I like to read books that take place in locales I’ve been to and this fits that bill! Cute, enjoyable. Goats are cool. (Deb)

Penance by Eliza Clark
I’m only part way through this book, and I’m still on the fence as to how I feel about it. I don’t usually like stories with unreliable narrators, but the structure of this one is intriguing, and it takes place in Yorkshire which is a bonus. Whether or not it has enough promise to keep me reading remains to be seen. (Dana)

The Scandalous Confessions of Lydia Bennet, Witch by Melinda Taub
Smart, funny and pitch-perfect–this reimagining of the most troublesome Bennet sister was a terrific read! (Jen)

The Unfortunate Side Effects of Heartbreak and Magic by Breanne Randall
I don’t know how this one slipped by me during fall (I guess it is still technically fall, so maybe its still okay), but I have been really enjoying it. There are recipes at the end of each chapter and they sound absolutely delicious! (Elle)

We Were Liars by E. Lockhart
Just as I was starting to think, “this is lame, overdramatic & pretentious…” PLOT TWIST! (Deb)

Listen

Crying in H Mart by Michelle Zauner
What a journey in this short-ish memoir about the author’s relationship with her mother. Plus, hearing the author’s voice tell her own story made it very easy to connect to. (Hazel)

The Ink Black Heart by Robert Galbraith, narrated by Robert Glenister
I love the Cormoran/Robin dynamic. That’s what keeps me coming back to this series. I can do without the cryptic quotations to begin each chapter. They don’t do anything for me so feel like a waste of time. That was more dramatic in a 1000+ page book that I was hoping I’d finish in 2023. (YAY! I did!) This one was more challenging to LISTEN to than others. Because it’s about an online cartoon and game, a LOT of the dialog is online social media & chat rooms, there was a lot of tedious syntax that needed to be narrated that your eyes would skim through if reading print. It’s also very complex trying to keep track of a high number of characters that all have multiple game personas, twitter handles, etc… not all of which are known to start out. So, if you like a long, complex who-dun-it, I suggest reading this one in print. (Deb)

I’ve Tried Everything But Therapy by Teddy Swims
Even though it’s just the start of 2024, I have no doubt this will make it into my Spotify Wrapped at the end of the year.  (Amber)

Stamped: Racism, Antiracism, and You by Jason Reynolds and Ibram X. Kendi
A remix and very digestible version of Ibram X. Kendi’s more robust Stamped From the Beginning. (Deb)

Watch Read Listen: Best of 2023

We’ve rounded up our favorite selections from the past year.

Watch

Barbie
I’m undoubtedly with the majority here – but this movie was so necessary. (Elle)
I haven’t seen a movie in the theater more than once since I was in high school, until this year with Barbie. Such a fun, and yet also deep, film. I can see more viewings of this one in the future! (Dana)

Brian and Charles
This is a sweet story of an oddball who builds himself a cabbage loving robot that becomes his son and best friend. (Liz)

Lost in Paris (Kanopy)
This movie is silly and fun and its main character is a librarian who lives in snowy northern Canada and has always wanted to live in Paris. She gets her wish in a gloriously goofy, roundabout way. (Janet)

Nimona (Netflix)
The BEST animated movie this year! A stunning adaptation of ND Stevenson’s graphic novel, it is an exploration of identity (and transness) that celebrates embracing yourself and fighting for a world that accepts you for who you are. Also, sharks. (Renee)

Past Lives
This movie has it all…suspense, romance, and much insight into what it is like to leave behind your country of birth and those that you loved. (Janet)

Read

Every Man for Himself and God Against All: A Memoir by Werner Herzog
Werner Herzog may be best know for having a delightful German accent and a recurring role on the first season of The Mandalorian, but this memoir by one of the greatest directors of all time chronicles not only his films, but his completely bonkers life from a child in the Bavarian mountains to the jungles of South America to a theater in California where he ate his own shoe to a failed meet up by the Wisconsin grave of a serial killer’s mother, and more. (Liz)

The Five: The Untold Lives of the Women Killed by Jack the Ripper by Hallie Rubenhold
Looking at my list of books read this year, The Five stands out the most. I’m still blown away at how Rubenhold managed to tell such a compelling story for each woman, given the minimal historical information that can be found for individuals (especially women) who lived in poverty at that time. (Dana)

How To Read Now by Elaine Castillo
What a great perspective on reading and the world. Also, it’s nonfiction by a Filipino author. I want more of that!! (Hazel)

Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus
One of the best books I’ve read in a decade. (Kelly)

Miss Major Speaks: Conversation with a Black Trans Revolutionary by Toshio Meronek and Miss Major
A punchy, reflective interview-memoir taking you through several seminal events in queer history through Miss Major’s eyes. She provides a sharp insight into fighting for queer liberation today. (Renee)

My Friend Anne Frank: the Inspiring and Heartbreaking True Story of Best Friends Torn Apart and Reunited Against All Odds by Hannah Pick-Goslar
So much to say about this book, written by Anne Frank’s best friend. I was especially touched by the fact that the author reconnected with Otto Frank, Anne’s father, after the War and remained in contact with him until he passed away in 1980. (Janet)

Not On Any Map: One Virgin Island, Two Catastrophic Hurricanes, and the True Meaning of Paradise by Margie Smith Holt (Hoopla)
One of my four 5-star reviews of 2023: So amazing to read an amazing adventure about a place, in the place, I love & visit often. (Deb)

Princess Floralinda and the Forty Flight Tower by Tamsyn Muir
A delightful, weird, gross, horrifying inversion of fairy tale tropes. When I first read it it didn’t make such a strong impression, but I find myself recommending it to everyone these days! (Renee)

The Twisted Ones by T. Kingfisher
A woman named Mouse travels to rural North Carolina to clean out the house of her recently deceased grandmother. Once there, she uncovers dark secrets relating to her step-grandfather, who believed something unnatural lived in the nearby woods. Unfortunately for her, it’s still there, and it’s got plans for Mouse. Funny and terrifying. (Greg)

What the River Knows by Isabel Ibañez
If Stephen Sommers masterpiece The Mummy (1999) and Agatha Christie’s Death On the Nile had a baby, it would be this. The plot twist had me LIVID, the cliffhanger ending had me FUMING, and all the ancient Egyptian-ness had my globetrotters heart SOARING! Can’t wait for part 2! (Elle)

Listen

Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver, read by Charlie Thurston
One of my four 5-star reviews of 2023: So engaging from Page 1!! Dickens’s David Copperfield meets 1990’s Appalachia. Reading Dickens isn’t required, but if you have, the parallels are plentiful. (Deb)

Miss O’Dell: My Hard Days and Long Nights with The Beatles, The Stones, Bob Dylan, Eric Clapton, and the Women They Loved by Chris O’Dell, read by Katherine Ketcham
Chris O’Dell is one of the first female assistants and tour managers in the world of rock and roll. A caveat: most of the rockers described here were really badly behaved and I like most of them a lot less than I did before listening to this. Still a very worthwhile listen! The narrator is wonderful. (Janet)

Minor Feelings: An Asian American Reckoning by Cathy Park Hong
I’ve never related so much to a book while also learning so many new things! (Hazel)

Salt to the Sea by Ruta Sepetys, read by Jorgeana Marie, Will Damron, Cassandra Morris, Michael Crouch
One of my four 5-star reviews of 2023: Captivating story telling! One character was so annoying that I physically rolled my eyes every time it was their turn to tell the story. That must be good writing. The culmination of the story centers around real events, making it that much more dramatic. I would tweak two tiny things about the final scenes, but that’s totally nit-picky! (Deb)

So Much (For) Stardust by Fall Out Boy (Hoopla)
Fall Out Boy’s best album since Folie a Deux and my top album by FAR on my Spotify Wrapped. Nostalgic and innovative all at once. (Renee)

Wild Dreams by Westlife (not available in the Minuteman Library Network)
This album was my most-played of the year for the second year running. Once my guilty pleasure listen, I have fully accepted that Westlife are the ~Kings of My Heart~ and this album has some bops. (Dana)

Wrong Place, Wrong Time by Gillian McAllister, read by Lesley Sharp
One of my four 5-star reviews of 2023 and recommended by my excellent colleague, Dana: SUPER intriguing writing! This story reveals itself backwards, essentially. Only one of my guesses turned out to be true. I love a book that keeps me on my toes! (Deb)

Watch Read Listen: December

We’re ending the year on a high note with these picks.

Watch

Elf
I watched this movie for the first time three years ago and am now making up for lost time. (Amber)

Pretty Freekin Scary (Disney+)
A girl accidentally gets sent to the Underworld and now has to do tasks for the Grim Reaper (who’s a woman!). But it’s also a comedy and has lots of lovely family and friends moments. (Hazel)
Check out our Disney+ Roku to watch.

Read

Amazing Ace, Awesome Aro by Victoria Barron
A very basic overview of a-spec identities with very fun graphics. I already knew everything in it, but it was still fun to look at. (Hazel)

Bright Young Women by Jessica Knoll
Having grown up in the same city as Ted Bundy, I’ll always read anything based on him, even historical fiction. This was an engrossing read, and I was impressed by the author’s understanding of Washington state. (Ash)

The Chalice of the Gods by Rick Riordan
After a few spinoff series, Rick Riordan finally returns to writing Percy Jackson from Percy’s POV. Great if you loved the original Percy Jackson and the Olympians. (Casey)

Midnight is the Darkest Hour by Ashley Winstead
This was an incredibly atmospheric, southern gothic mystery, and it did not disappoint. (Ash)

Mom Rage: The Everyday Crisis of Modern Motherhood by Minna Dubin
This book made me feel SO SEEN. (Dana)

Out-island Doctor by Evans W. Cottman
First published in 1963, this biography of a teacher who chucks that life to be a medical provider to residents of the far-flung Bahama islands. The trials and tribulations of boats, Caribbean weather and customs are enlightening, humorous and challenging. (Deb)

KooKooLand by Gloria Norris
A memoir written from the perspective of the author as a child, growing up in Manchester, NH under her charismatic, but abusive father in the 1960s/70s. She writes in her voice as a child which I did not like at first, but after a few dozen pages, it was essential to the book. (Todd)

Things in the Basement by Ben Hatke
Ben goes to the basement to get his little sister’s sock and discovers a whole lot more. Creepy and lovely at the same time, from the creator of the Mighty Jack series. (Jen)

This Is Christmas, Song by Song: The Stories Behind 100 Hits by Annie Zaleski
A Christmas Behind The Music starring the songs. (Amber)

A Winter in New York by Josie Silver
I don’t read many romance novels so perhaps I am not the best arbiter, but this cute read checks all the boxes: meet cute, widower who is scared to open up to love again, NYC scenes straight out of a movie set, etc. Romance tropes aside, the plot is original and kept me rooting for a happy ending. (Amber)

Listen

Golden by Jung Kook
Jung Kook is the last member of BTS to drop his own solo project and it’s golden. (Casey)

Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury, read by Tim Robbins
I always find a “classic” I missed in school weirder than I expected when I read them as an adult. This was no different. It’s much more stream-of-consciousness, metaphorical and symbolic than I’d have guessed. But I got the point, found it interesting. Best analogy is it’s like the 1953 version of Wall-e. (Deb)

Living in the Fallout by Far From Finished
They were a Boston punk band who haven’t played together in years, but are re-uniting for a few shows at Faces in Malden to celebrate the life of their former bandmate, Paul Christian, who recently passed away. (Todd)

Making It So by Patrick Stewart, read by the author
Patrick Stewart is a much more interesting man than I thought! (Hazel)

The Woman in Me by Britney Spears, read by Michelle Williams
Michelle Williams does an incredible job narrating Britney’s new memoir. This slim volume seems like the CliffsNotes of her life story, but what Britney does share is incredibly sad. I hope she has found a sense of peace and can live the life SHE wants now. (Amber)

Small Mercies by Dennis Lehane, read by Robin Miles
I’m a nerd for local history (spoiler alert!), and have been wanting to read Lehane’s new novel, which centers on the Boston Public Schools’ efforts to desegregate by forcing busing between Southie and Roxbury. I usually have a hard time with audiobooks for various reasons, but figured I’d give this one a try. I think I made it 2 chapters in before giving up…the reader’s performance was a bit grating and her “Southie accent” tended to sound a bit more New Yorkish. I switched to ebook format on this one. (Dana)

Watch Read Listen: November

Watch

The Fall of the House of Usher (Netflix)
If Succession was made by Edgar Allen Poe. The Usher family is a power clan who have eluded justice in all its forms. That is about to change, however, as someone-or something-begins kill off each member of the family in exceedingly brutal fashion. A fascinating tribute to Poe’s works, but be warned, it is quite gory at times. (Greg)
Mike Flanagan does not disappoint with this modern retelling of Edgar Allen Poe classics. (Ash)

Game Changer (Dropout.tv, YouTube)
An awesome game show that asks the question: what if a game show had different rules every time? The first few episodes are free on Youtube, and then the rest are on the Dropout streaming service which I also highly recommend! (Renee)

Party Girl (Kanopy)
Super fun 90s film starring Parker Posey, whose librarian godmother bails her out of jail. Lots of great scenes in the godmother’s old-timey library, complete with card catalogs, stamp machines, and imposing posters of Melvil Dewey. The fashions and dance music are also awesome! (Janet)

V/H/S/85 (Shudder)
The newest installment of the V/H/S found footage shorts series starts is a great way to get some bite sized scares in during the Halloween season. (Liz)
Check out our Shudder Roku to watch.

Yellowstone (Peacock, Paramount+)
Amber sold it to me as “The Sopranos set in Montana”, and boy was she right! Glad I jumped on the bandwagon (finally) because this show is super well done. (Elle)

Read

All-Of-A-Kind Family by Sydney Taylor
All-of-a-Kind Family is a children’s book about a family of five American Jewish girls growing up on the Lower East Side of New York City in 1912. First published in 1951, this story of a family of new immigrants feels relevant even today. The girls’ relationship with the local librarian is particularly endearing. (Janet)

Black Sheep by Rachel Harrison
Fans of Netflix’s Sabrina will enjoy this atmospheric gothic tale. (Ash)

The Blood Years by Elena K. Arnold
I’m excited to dive into this historical fiction inspired by the stories the author’s grandmother shared of growing up in war-torn Romania. (Jen)

Camp Damascus by Chuck Tingle
Scary and engrossing Halloween read about queer resistance to a cult. Almost to the end and can’t put it down! (Renee)

Deep in Providence by Riss M. Neilson
There’s Filipino magic, and also wonderful family and friendship connections. Plus it takes place in New England! (Hazel)

Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver
Beautifully written, but heavy content. (Kelly)

Killers of the Flower Moon: The Osage Murders and the Birth of the FBI by David Grann
I went into this knowing absolutely nothing of the story and finished completely dazed. It is so intense, with a conspiracy that runs generations deep, I don’t know how Scorsese is going to cram it all into a 3-hour movie. (Elle)

The September House by Carissa Orlando
Margaret and Hal have bought thier dream house after years of renting. Problem is, it’s haunted. Like, the walls ooze blood type of haunted. Most folks would run towards the hills, but Margaret isn’t most people, and is determined to make this house her home. Even if the walls bleed a little…and dead children roam the halls…and her husband goes missing. Funny, frightening, and heart wrenching. (Greg)

Soup of the Day: 150 Delicious and Comforting Recipes from our Favorite Restaurants by Ellen Brown
It’s soup season! I can’t wait to expand my soup resume with some of the recipes in this book. (Liz)

Listen

99% Invisible: Big Dig episode (podcast)
This episode goes back in time to the 1960s roots of the most expensive highway project in American history. So interesting, especially the interviews with the Big Dig’s chief architect: a self-professed hater of highways. (Janet)

Pageboy by Elliot Page
Very interesting to hear about Elliot Page’s journey in his own voice and also very intense! (Hazel)

Pod Meets World (iHeart)
Have early ’90s nostalgia? Revisit episodes of Boy Meets World with members of the cast. (Ash)

Rough Sleepers: Dr. Jim O’Connell’s Urgent Mission to Bring Healing to Homeless People by Tracey Kidder, narrated by the author
A really well-written and insightful perspective into the many hurdles unsheltered folks face. (Deb)

Salt to the Sea by Ruta Sepetys, narrated by Jorgeana Marie, Will Damron, Cassandra Morris, Michael Crouch
Captivating story telling! One character was so annoying that I physically rolled my eyes every time it was their turn to tell the story. That must be good writing. The culmination of the story centers around real events, making it that much more dramatic. I would tweak 2 tiny things about the final scenes, but that’s totally nit-picky! (Deb)

We Are All Completely Besides Ourselves by Karen Joy Fowler, narrated by Orlagh Cassidy
Interesting story of a girl who was raised alongside a chimpanzee as her “twin”. While the writing is a bit convoluted, the story is mostly fun and sometimes really messed up. (Deb)

Watch Read Listen: October

Watch

Our Flag Means Death, season 2 (Max)
Our favorite pirates are back this month! (Ash)

Interview with the Vampire (AMC+/Amazon Prime/Max)
This series just got released onto new platforms and it is INCREDIBLE. The acting is amazing and I am hooked, and the second season comes out soon! (Renee)
This series is based on The Vampire Chronicles by Anne Rice (Interview with the Vampire, book 1) .

Metal Lords (Netflix)
A fun & endearing coming of age story with Heavy Metal! (Todd)

Read

The City of Incurable Women by Maud Casey
This caught my eye in a colleague’s display! Casey takes photographs and clinical notes from Paris’s Salpetriere hospital – mostly about women who were diagnosed with various types of “hysteria” – and brings the women to life with invented backstories, feelings, and dreams. It read a bit too “literary fiction” for me at times, but was otherwise fascinating. (Dana)

Damned If You Do by Alex Brown
It’s like Buffy but better! It features Filipino monsters, a haunted town, theatre kids, and queer characters. Amazing! (Hazel)

The Darkness Outside Us by Eliot Schrefer
All I have to say is: what a plot twist! (Casey)

Everything The Darkness Eats by Eric LaRocca
Set in a peaceful New England town, bizarre disappearances start to take place and secrets start to come out. What lies beneath the idyllic image of the town ends up being truly terrifying. This is one spooky read that I have been anxiously awaiting to read this fall! (Elle)

A Haunting on the Hill by Elizabeth Hand
We return to the world of Shirley Jackson’s Haunting of Hill House with this story, and I’m excited to read it this month. (Ash)

The Midnight Library by Matt Haig
An amazing and eye opening story of a woman given a second chance after attempting to take her own life. She enters the midnight library, a sort of purgatory where each book holds a different possibility of a life that may be. Which will she choose? It’s hopeful, tragic and sweet. It will leave you turning the pages and wondering how we too can change the trajectory of our own lives. (Kerry)

My Body by Emily Ratajkowski
I never expected to relate to Emily Ratajkowski, but this book was an in-depth exploration into the struggles women face, how ‘seen’ we feel by the world, and what value we have – all based on our appearance. Reading this shortly after seeing Barbie hurt my soul, but in an inspirational way. (Elle)

The Princess and the Grilled Cheese Sandwich by Deya Muniz
Super cute LGBTQ romance. Cheese-themed mistaken identity, fashion shows, and more! (Renee)

Listen

Slayers: A Buffyverse Story (Audible)
This audio drama features many of the original cast of Buffy the Vampire Slayer and takes place 10 years aft the final episode of the television show. I can’t wait to see what is in store! (Ash)

Stiff by Mary Roach, read by Shelly Frasier
Mary Roach is always good for a very down-to-earth, some might say graphic or irreverent, book. From topics like traveling to Mars to Animals in National Parks to this one about the process and effects of death on the human body, she tells it like it is. (Deb)

Talking As Fast as I Can: From Gilmore Girls to Gilmore Girls (and everything in between), by Lauren Graham, read by the author
I’m a diehard Gilmore Girls fan (currently rewatching the series for the third time), so it’s surprising that it took me this long to learn about Lauren Graham’s books. The audiobook is narrated by Graham, so it’s almost like she is in the car with me, an old friend telling me funny stories to make the commute less boring. I particularly like the parts when she talks about Gilmore Girls and filming A Year in the Life. If you like Lauren Graham or Gilmore Gilmores, this nostalgic memoir is for you. (Tessa)

The Well of Ascension by Brandon Sanderson, read by Michael Kramer
The second book in Brandon Sanderson’s Mistborn series. Our heroes must navigate the realities of what happens after the overthrow of a tyrannical emperor as they try to reestablish order and stability to the land. An exciting follow-up to the first novel, diving deeper into the nuances of the world that Sanderson has created. Full of action, political intrigue, magic, and suspense. The narration by Michael Kramer is clear, and keeps you hooked as the tale unfolds. (Alanna)

Wow In the World by Guy Raz and Mindy Thomas
A first-grade patron sold me on this great podcast that covers science, technology and news. Check it out! (Jen)

Watch Read Listen: September

Watch

The Bear (Hulu)
I’m a little late with this review, but just finished the second season of The Bear which aired on Hulu in June. While it’s listed as a comedy, I would say it leans heavily on drama! The series follows an award winning chef, who returns to his hometown to take over a family restaurant. The acting is excellent, the emotion is palpable, and it leaves you feeling all the anxiety, stress, and excitement that comes with family relationships, and the restaurant business. I highly recommend with the caveat that if you are averse to swearing, this may not be the show for you! (Catherine)
Check out our Hulu Roku to watch.

Before We Die, season one
I watch all the (dark) British detective shows; this one is exceptional. We know going in that the plot involves a murder, and even though I knew the outcome I was still on the edge of my seat through the first episode waiting to see what would happen. (Amber)

Reptile (Netflix)
Benicio Del Toro – that is all you need to know. (Elle)

Read

All Adults Here by Emma Straub
Eh…cute story of a family and what all is happening with its members in light of the death of a lady in a small town where everyone knows each other. (Deb)

Blind Descent by Nevada Barr
Do you like National Parks? What about tight dark spaces? In book six of the Anna Pigeon mystery series, my favorite National Park Service ranger encounters a murderer 800 feet below ground in Lechuguilla Cave at Carlsbad Caverns National Park. It just so happened that I read this book the month before my first caving experience, and I greatly enjoyed learning about caving terminology, tools, and techniques that cavers use. However, Anna’s fear of caving began to rub off me! As always, author Nevada Barr writes another exciting mystery. For additional fun, might I suggest pairing this book with a documentary about caves, such as Journey into Amazing Caves or Mysterious Life of Caves. (Tessa)

Delilah Green Doesn’t Care by Ashley Herring Blake
i love love love Ashley Herring Blake, but i also dislike romcoms, and i think my dislike of romcomcs was too powerful for me to like this very much. There were hints of how great she can write characters, but most of it feel flat. (Ash)

I Feed Her To The Beast And The Beast Is Me by Jamison Shea
Absolutely wild paranormal horror. A Black, queer ballerina makes a deal with an ancient demon blood river for power and reputation. (Renee)

Joe vs. Elan School (web comic)
A terrifying account of a Teen who was sent/kidnapped to a Elan School, a school for troubled teens in Maine. Joe’s story is one of physical & mental abuse, and how he attempts to get though the experience and live his life. (Todd)

Losing Hope by Colleen Hoover
Eh. No 17yo guy is as emotionally aware as Holder. Too many secrets for too much of the book. I think publishers went back and re-released her works from before It Ends with Us and It Starts with Us and the earlier works just aren’t as good. Ok, though. (Deb)

One of Us Is Back by Karen McManus
I enjoyed the previous two books in this trilogy, and was initially so disappointed with this, the newly released third book. Had I read the previous two more recently it might have been better, but there were so many characters and allusions to the other books that I felt a bit lost in the weeds. It improved, though! I ended up liking this one almost as much as the others. (Dana)

Simon Sort of Says by Erin Bow
Funny, sad, and surprising–I was rooting for middle-schooler Simon and his whole town! (Jen)

Wrong Place, Wrong Time by Gillian McAllister
Looking for a long weekend read, I picked this up on a whim and ended up hooked! It’s a murder mystery, with some great twists and a very unique plot line. The main character wakes up each morning and it is the previous day, creating a plot that goes back in time in order to solve a crime in her current time. While initially I thought this would be confusing, the author does a great job setting it up, and it was really fun to read! (Catherine)

Listen

Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver, read by Charlie Thurston
So engaging from Page 1!! Dickens’s David Copperfield meets 1990’s Appalachia. Reading Dickens isn’t required, but if you have, the parallels are plentiful. Could not wait to get back in the car & keep listening! I don’t have many 5-star reviews in 2023, so I’m grateful for this one! (Deb)

Layover by V
V’s (BTS) solo debut album is here! Contains more jazz and R&B than you’re probably expecting. (Casey)

Romancing Mister Bridgerton by Julia Quinn
Excitedly awaiting season three – book four of the Bridgerton series is (in my opinion) the best one! Absolutely love the story of Penelope and Colin!! Although, sadly, I don’t think the series will hold true to the book based on the season synopsis. Hopefully we’ll see come December! (Elle)

Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin, read by Jennifer Kim and Julian Cihi
Not knowing anything about gaming, I wasn’t sure if this would resonate with me, but it was a really nice story. The characters were flawed but likeable and I came to care about what would happen next. (Deb)

August 2023

Summer isn’t over yet! Here’s what we’ve enjoyed in the last of the long, summer days.

Read

All Good People Here by Ashley Flowers
A decent mystery/thriller with twists and turns in mostly all the right places. I would have given it a solid 4 out of 5 stars, but then the ending made me feel physically ill. I kind of wish I could scrub this one from my brain. (Dana)

An American Marriage by Tayari Jones
This book is about the love story between Celestial and Roy and the sudden twist of fate that changes their lives in an instant. Much of this story is told through the letters they write to each other. Beautifully written and incredibly sad. (Seana)

Blindsight by Peter Watts
A crew of astronauts encounter an alien lifeform so different from humanity that it raises disturbing implications about what it means to be alive. A cosmic horror story that is refreshingly free of H.P. Lovecraft’s influence, it ‘s a good read for anyone who likes their sci-fi to be scary. (Greg)

Camp Damascus by Chuck Tingle
My first 5-star read of the year. A young woman has grown up in a town whose economy revolves around a conversion therapy camp. It’s creepy and funny, and perfectly encapsulates the horror that is the reality of conversion therapy. (Ash)

Can We Please Give the Police Department to the Grandmothers by Junauda Petrus, illustrated by Kristen Uroda
I think the title sums it up – a picture books for children and adults to read and talk about. I loved the review by School Library Journal: “A reverie of a book, offering criticism delivered with honey about our current state of affairs. It’s not at all as far-fetched as it sounds”. (Molly)

The Comic Book Story of Professional Wrestling: A Hardcore, High-flying, No-Holds-Barred History of the One True Sport by Aubrey Sitterson and Chris Moreno
I wasn’t allowed to watch wrestling as a child, but I married someone who is interested in it. This easy to read nonfiction graphic novel has been enlightening on the art of professional wrestling- it’s part theater, part acrobatics, part fighting and 100% fascinating. (Liz)

The Five-Star Weekend by Elin Hilderbrand
This is one of her best yet – thoughtful storyline and more in-depth look at friendships through the year. (Kelly)

Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros
As Goodreads puts it, “Enter the brutal and elite world of a war college for dragon riders”. This book will have you on the edge of your seat from chapter 1, and has everything from nail biting action to much needed romance. (Karina)

From the Desk of Zoe Washington by Janae Marks
This is middle grade fiction. I started reading the first chapter aloud with one of our middle school friends who had to read it this summer for school. I was instantly hooked! (And so was my middle school friend.) (Seana)

Patron Saints of Nothing by Randy Ribay (two reviews)
I found this because it’s the Teen book club pick. It was amazing and made me feel all the feelings. I’m so glad there’s more Filipino American stories out there! (Hazel)

This is Waltham High School’s summer reading selection, but it’s a story that can engage, entertain, and enlighten all ages. It’s brutally honest about the complicated stuff in life, like familial relationships and expectations, trauma and substance use disorders, diaspora, and the amorphous nature of our identity and our perception of the world as we strive to become our best selves. There are also sparks of love, friendship, and humor throughout! All of this AND insights into the ongoing socio-political saga of the Philippines. Patron Saints gives us a gripping insider look at Philippines’ President Rodrigo Duterte’s “War on Drugs” and how it has dramatically deteriorated human rights for many Filipino citizens today. (Lauren)

The Postcard by Anne Berest, translated by Tina Kover
The size of this book was pretty daunting, but having read it I’m amazed Berest was able to fit this story into only 464 pages. It’s the tale of her family, focusing on the bit starting in Russia in 1919 and ending in France around 1945. The book bounces between that history and present day, when Anne and her mother are investigating who sent a mysterious postcard listing the names of their family who had been killed during the Holocaust. It was hard to read in places, but is an amazing story of survival. (Dana)

Woman of Light by Kali Fajardo-Anstine
Fajardo-Anstine seamlessly weaves through generations and shows us that the past never dies – it just transforms. We are the product of our ancestors, and whether or not their stories were recorded on paper they live on in us – and if we are present enough to listen they will guide us. (Molly)

Watch

Babylon Berlin (Netflix)
Babylon Berlin is a gorgeous and graceful neo-noir television series set in Berlin during the Golden Twenties. It’s dark and twisted, but beautiful to look at. The mysterious plot trails a police commissioner who wrestles with shell-shock from his service in WWI and who is committed to investigating and dismantling Berlin’s biggest pornography ring. The story unwinds slowly, and in a delightfully confusing and dramatic way. (Lauren)

Heartstopper (Netflix, based on the graphic novel by Alice Oseman)
Great follow up to season 1 and Ace by Angela Chen makes an appearance! (Hazel)

Lost in Paris (Kanopy)
Fiona is a Canadian librarian who travels to France to visit her 88-year-old aunt who, it turns out, is missing. Hilarity and a whole lot of physical comedy ensue. (Janet)

The Summer I Turned Pretty (Prime Video, based on the book by Jenny Han )
I dont know how many times I said out loud (while watching it!) THIS IS SOO BAD – yet I could not stop watching it… (Elle)

Till
Till tells the story of the murder of 14-year-old Emmett Till and the activism of his mother, Mamie Till-Mobley. Incredibly well done and still incredibly relevant. Why this movie and its lead actress weren’t nominated for Oscars is a mystery. It’s really that good. (Janet)

True Detective (Max)
Matthew McConaughey, Woody Harrelson, the Louisiana bayou and occult murders? Sign me up! (Liz)
Check out our Max Roku to watch.

What We Do in the Shadows (Hulu)
A funny mockumentary about four vampires living on Staten Island and the poor human servant that has to deal with their crazy ideas. You’ll definitely like it if you like anything by Taika Waititi, and shows filmed like The Office. (Karina)
Check out our Hulu Roku to watch.

You Are So Not Invited To My Bat Mitzvah (Netflix)
Adam Sandler plays a minor role in this film that stars his real-life daughters and wife. I love finding movies that my daughters and I equally enjoy and this is definitely one. Funny, modern, and sweet, it’s a delight. (Amber)

Listen

American Heartbreak by Zack Bryan
Given that Zack Bryan is slated to play Gillette next summer (with Jason Isbell opening), I am late to the Zach Bryan party. Better late than never, I am obsessed. (Amber)

Crying in H Mart by Michelle Zauner, narrated by the author
This had been on my TBR for quite some time after two years of consistent public praise. I have to say I was rather disappointed in it, not for Michelle’s storytelling (which was very well done), but for the story itself. (Elle)

Finding Me by Viola Davis, narrated by the author
Viola Davis is 1000% a storyteller! Less than ten minutes in I was crying. It’s heartbreaking, uplifting, relatable, hilarious, human. I am so glad I listened to the audiobook version to actually hear her tell her own story. Fun Fact: she won a Grammy for this audiobook narration! Yes – it’s that good. (Elle)

One Life by Megan Rapinoe, narrated by the author
For World Cup season I decided to read more about the people on the US National Team. I love the way Megan Rapinoe tells her story and uses her platform as an athlete for social justice. (Hazel)

The Retrievals (podcast)
This is not specifically a true crime podcast, but the experiences of hundreds of women at a Yale fertility clinic is nothing short of criminal. If binge listening is a thing, then that’s what I did. (Janet)

July 2023

The heat is on with our summertime choices.

Read

Black Rain by Masuji Ibuse; translated by John Bester
I’ve been meaning to read Masuji Ibuse’s sobering and acclaimed novel on the aftermath of the bombing of Hiroshima for years. With the film Oppenheimer coming out in a few days, I thought this would be a good time to start it as a reminder that the surviving people of Hiroshima and Nagasaki had to live with the brutal consequences of Oppenheimer’s creation. (Liz)

The Five: The Untold Lives of the Women Killed by Jack the Ripper by Hallie Rubenhold
The story of Jack the Ripper has long held a macabre fascination for me, but this book blew me away. Rubenhold did an unbelievable amount of research to tell the stories of the women who are believed to be the Ripper’s victims. She also did an amazing job humanizing the women, and making me rethink the way the story has fascinated me. I highly recommend this book. (Dana)

Local Girl Missing by Claire Douglas
Eh… this was pretty one-note for 95% of the book. Everything happened in the last 20 pages. (Deb)

Lucky Red by Claudia Cravens
Looking for a sapphic western? You won’t be disappointed with this story of an orphan making her own way in the wild west. (Ash)

Moby Dyke: An Obsessive Quest To Track Down the Last Remaining Lesbian Bars in America by Krista Burton
Burton spent a year travelling to the last remaining 20 lesbian bars across across the country to document what’s left. I especially enjoyed reading about her trip to my hometown bar. (Ash)

Night Will Find You by Julia Heaberlin
A young woman returns home to help find a missing girl. With gorgeous words, Heaberlin writes a mystery/thriller that will keep you guessing until the end. (Ash)

Not On Any Map: One Virgin Island, Two Catastrophic Hurricanes, and the True Meaning of Paradise by Margie Smith Holt
So amazing to read an amazing adventure about a place, in the place, I love & visit often. (Deb)

Quietly Hostile by Samantha Irby
I’ve realized that I enjoy essay collections like this, but in moderation. While I loved most of Irby’s essays in this book, I did have to skip a few due to plain old lack of interest. But the best ones made me laugh out loud, which I appreciated. (Dana)

Secret Life: An Adaptation of a Story by Jeff VanderMeer by Theo Ellsworth
Surreal, creepy story paired with mesmerizing, terror-inducing art. Reminiscent of the themes present in the TV show Severance but with an abstract atmosphere that is profoundly unsettling. (Lauren)

Watch

A League of Their Own (Amazon Prime)
An endearing adaptation of the modern-classic film A League of Their Own, this series dives into beautiful queer-love themes and war-time foreboding that only briefly shimmers on the surface of the original. The extended one-hour series format gives the audience more time to soak in the period costumes and the tension of the times, with a heavy dose of bad CGI baseball montages! There’s the familiar fun and cartoonish ensemble cast, just as with the original, but in many ways, it’s a more profound and gratifying watch. (Lauren)

Barbie (currently in theaters)
An excellent film about men, the patriarchy, and what it’s like to be a woman on this planet. (Ash)

George and Tammy (Showtime)
Jessica Chastain and Michael Shannon are absolutely incredible as Tammy Wynette and George Jones in this, ultimately, very sad story. (Amber)

George Michael: Freedom (streaming on Paramount+)
This is a bittersweet look at the later period of the singer’s career. I’m not sure I realized at the time how much George Michael fought for an artist’s right to do what they wanted to do, rather than what the record company wanted. Worth watching if for nothing else but the story behind the best music video ever made, Freedom! ’90. (Amber)

1923
The next installment in the Yellowstone origin stories, this series has an extraordinary amount of gratuitous violence. Harrison Ford is woefully miscast as a cowboy; Helen Mirren shines. (Amber)

Wham! (Netflix)
Utterly fun pop candy. (Amber)

Listen

Beyond the Story: 10 Year Record of BTS by BTS
Originally announced by the publisher with the title and author hidden and an huge print run planned, my interest was peaked. When the author was announced as the popular K-pop band BTS, I wanted to see what it was all about. Listening to the audiobook has been a glimpse into the competitive K-pop industry and serves as liner notes to the 10 year career of BTS. Would recommend to curious pop culture fans with one warning: it can be a little tricky to follow the audio narrative, since there are extended quotes from interviews and un-introduced song lyrics interspersed throughout. (Kate)

The Collected Regrets of Clover by Mikki Bramer; narrated by Jennifer Pickens
In this novel you’ll meet Clover, who is a death doula in New York City, dedicating her life to ushering people peacefully through their end-of-life process. Interesting and well-written. Good characters. Chuckled a few times, shed a tear or 2. Insightful. (Deb)

Come On Feel the Illinoise by Sufjan Stevens
This album came out 15 years ago, but I’ve been spending a lot of time in my bluetooth-less car lately and wanted to listen to something mellow and familiar from my college days. This album is a 2000s indie classic. (Liz)

The Forest of Vanishing Stars by Kristin Harmel; narrated by Madeleine Maby
Where the Crawdads Sing meets The Nightingale. Seem like an odd description? Read it for yourself and see if I’m correct! (Deb)

The Old Woman With the Knife by Gu Byeong-mo; translated into English by Chi-Young Kim; narrated by Nancy Wu
Hornclaw is a “disease control specialist” who fears she may be aging out of her profession. This is a quirky story with violent scenes that are told so matter-of-factly that the gore almost seems comical. (Amber)

Someone Else’s Shoes by Jojo Moyes; narrated by Daisy Ridley
Wasn’t sure where this story was headed… one of the two main characters was deeply unlikable to start. In the end… a fun adventure with some laugh-out-loud moments. (Deb)

The Tea Girl of Hummingbird by Lisa See; narrated by Ruthie Ann Miles
Lisa See’s novels always immerse the reader in a new culture. This one is historical fiction surrounding hill tribe people of China and their traditions, tea farming and family bonds. Very enjoyable. (Deb)

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