I Am Legend

by Richard Matheson

I picked this up because I was looking for a horror book and realized I had never read the book that started the zombie/vampire post-apocalypse genre of media. I kept reading because I became invested in the struggle to survive of our main character Robert Neville. Also it is so different from the Will Smith movie “I Am Legend” I was fascinated to see how different it continued to be. Anyone that loves zombie movies from “Night of the Living Dead” series to “28 Days Later” fans will love this as it is the origin of those kind of stories. It is also a very good horror book that will leave you haunted for a while after.
- Greg G.

Hidden Life of Cecily Larson

by Ellen Baker

On the cover of my copy, there’s a woman balancing on one foot on the back of a running horse. There’s a circus tent in the background. It has so many elements that I tend to fall for—an orphan, a circus, early twentieth century historical fiction. It weaves the past—in which Cecily is an orphaned circus performer—with the present, in which Cecily is 95 and her daughter and granddaughter are grappling with her inevitable mortality. I think people who enjoyed Water for Elephants will find a kindred story in this book.
- Diana

The Family Chao

by Lan Samantha Chang

It’s a novel about a family of first and second generation Chinese Americans who own a restaurant. There’s lots of family conflict and a mystery—a fun read. I love family stories, and novels told from multiple points of view. I think fans of Amy Tan will like this book. It also reminds me of The Immortalists by Chloe Benjamin, which follows a group of siblings from childhood forward.
- Diana

The Lion: Son of The Forest

by Mike Brooks

I picked this one up because Lion El 'Jonson, the Primarch of the Dark Angels has been in a coma for last 10,000 years and has now awaken into a universe driven constant war and madness and I need to know what happens now. I recommend this to those who love the Grimdark universe of the 41st millennium.
- Evan

Sure, I'll Join Your Cult

by Maria Bamford

This book reads in the same humorous tone as Bamford's standup. Her ability to find the funny in awkward and, at times, painful life experiences endears the reader to her. I recommend this book to anyone who is a fan of the author already and to anyone who has never heard of her before.
-Kristi H.

Until August

By Gabriel García Márquez, translated by Anne McLean

I chose the title because I've always enjoyed Marquez's magic realism. The book is very short, 144 pages, and tells the story of Ana Magdalena Bach and her sensual island adventures. I'd recommend the book to anyone who reads Marquez, but don't expect too much excitement from the story. It would have been better if he had had the time to finish Ana's story. Marquez did not want the book published because of this reason.
- Kelly

The Thursday Murder Club

by Richard Osman

Knowing I like mysteries, a fellow library worker recommended this book to me. It's a lighthearted mystery solved by the Thursday Murder club. The club is made up of 4 quirky septuagenarians living at Coopers Chase retirement community. It's a pleasant read so far.
- Sally

Best Hikes St Louis: The Greatest Views, Wildlife, and Forest Strolls

by J.D. Tanner

I'm always looking for good places to hike and I hope this book will lead me to some new places.
- Sally

The Foxhole Victory Tour

by Amy Green

While I remembered watching the Bob Hope USO specials on TV I didn’t know much about the smaller USO groups who toured behind the front lines without getting a lot of attention from the press or public. The characters in the book are fascinating, they pull you in to their stories, you laugh with them, cry with them and, in short, become a part of their world.
- Joyce

Erasure

by Percival Everett

A few of Percival Everett’s novels have been on my to-read for a while, but I moved this one to the top of the list after its film adaptation, American Fiction, was released. In this relatively short novel, Everett manages to pack in both a clever satire of how publishers and their related promotional industries commodify identity regardless of authenticity, as well as a deeply emotional and insightful family drama involving the main character’s mother losing her memory owing to Alzheimer’s. Funny, sad, and thought-provoking.
- Charlie

The Hazelbourne Ladies Motorcycle and Flying Club

by Helen Simonson

Years ago, I read Major Pettigrew's Last Stand by the same author and enjoyed it, so I decided to give this one a try. I like the characters and the exploration of what happened to the women in England who had taken over the jobs of the men who were fighting in WWII and then told they had to give them up when the men returned.
- Katherine

Expected publication May 14, 2024

Outlive: The Science and Art of Longevity

by Peter Attia

I just started listening to this book and am intrigued. If there are things we can now to live better and longer in the future, I want to know about it. So far this book is easy to listen to and is very interesting!
- Katherine