Season's Readings: Week One
The staff of the Birmingham Public Library (BPL) express warm gratitude to the patrons that have educated, inspired, and motivated us in 2022. This December, we'd like to share some of our favorite seasonal recipes and best-loved books with our loyal patrons.
Below, you'll find a few works of fiction and fantasy to enjoy during the holidays. For those who prefer to listen, Weston Flippo recommends a couple of newly released albums to check out. Executive Director Janine Langston shares a novel she recently listened to as an audio download.
Please stay tuned to the BPL blog throughout the month to find out what our staff have enjoyed reading (and listening to) this year!
ROUND UP THE USUAL PEACOCKS: A MEG LANGSLOW MYSTERY
Donna Andrews
I always enjoy a visit with Meg's exuberantly eccentric extended family, and this mystery—delving into 3 local cold cases that may not be so cold—is one of the best in the series.
Ellen Shade
Avondale Regional Branch Library
THE CHRISTMAS SPIRIT
Debbie Macomber
This quick read is about two best friends who temporarily swap jobs during the week before Christmas. One is a pastor; the other is a bartender. Upon arguing over who has a tougher life, the friends decide to switch places for a week. Both find themselves facing surprises and challenges. What they also find is that despite different clients, their professions really aren't that different. When you throw in a little romance, you get a sweet Christmas story. If you like Hallmark Christmas movies, then Debbie Macomber's 2022 Christmas novel is for you.
Lynn Hutchins
A PLACE TO LAND
Lauren K. Denton
I am an avid "listener" of books and depend on Hoopla and Libby for my downloads. Last week I finished A Place to Land by Lauren K. Denton. Lauren is a local author (lives in Homewood) and listening to her books makes me feel like I am hearing a story told by a friend. A Place to Land, like many of her other books, is set in south Alabama near the beach. Her female characters remind me of the strong Southern women in my own life.
Janine Langston
Executive Director
RUBY FEVER
Ilona Andrews
Ruby Fever by Ilona Andrews closes out the second Hidden Legacy series (Catalina's story), which is by far my favorite series. Though classified as a "romance," these books are really more urban fantasy than romantic, and I love the world this team of authors has built! If you want to check it out, though, I suggest starting with Burn For Me (Nevada's first story) and working your way through the entire Hidden Legacy series. It is definitely worth your time!
THE TWICE-SCORNED LADY OF SHADOW
Annett Marie
The Twice-Scorned Lady of Shadow by Annett Marie is one of the latest in her Guild Codex: Unveiled series, and it is also urban fantasy. The main characters in this one are druids, but they interact with a whole host of characters from the other Guild Codex series (Spellbound, Demonized, and Warped), all of which are fantastic. I can't wait for her latest release, The Unbreakable Bladesong Druid, to be released in audiobook format!
[...] both of these authors are phenomenal storytellers and I have loved every single book they're written. If you are a fan of urban fantasy, these authors will quickly become your favorites!
Jennifer Hancock
Central Library—Acquisitions
PEG AND ROSE SOLVE A MURDER
Laurien Berenson
It's no mystery that I'm a huge fan of Laurien Berenson and her Melanie Travis mysteries. When I saw that Aunt Peg has her own series, I couldn't wait to read it. And, if you've ever watched a dog show on television, these books have a great peek into the "behind the scenes" of the dog show world.
Peg is an owner/breeder of standard poodles and has recently become a judge for dog competitions. Normally, we find Aunt Peg involved in her niece's life, but in this first of a new series, we find Peg and her sister-in-law Rose working together to solve a murder. Peg and Rose have never gotten along, so when Rose reaches out to Peg, I was wondering where this was going to lead. Rose invites Peg to be her partner in a bridge club, and from there, events spin out of control. I loved seeing this bit of a softer side from Peg, and her love for poodles shines through when she helps a rescue get acclimated to her new family. This is a great start to a new series, and I enjoyed the back story about Rose and Peg. I'm looking forward to seeing what other adventures these ladies can get up to.
Lynn Carpenter
Fives Points West Regional Branch Library
THE OZ TAPES
Les Rallizes Denudes
Originally release in 1973, and featuring only four songs by Les Rallizes Denudes, this reissue includes never-before-heard songs from the same recording sessions, as well as insightful liner notes. One of the earliest documents of the long-running but very mysterious Japanese psychedelic noise bands.
REVOLVER (SUPER DELUXE)
The Beatles
While I am not always a fan of modern mixing and remastering efforts of older music, the care and attention put into this project shines. The extra tracks like the original, non-slowed-down version of "Rain" are highlights.
Weston Flippo
Central Library—Business, Science, and Technology
By Margaret Splane | Library Assistant Ⅲ, Development Office
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