Our fascination with libraries is the theme for our latest Staff Picks.
The Book That Wouldn’t Burn by Mark Lawrence
The Book That Wouldn’t Burn follows two protagonists: Livira, a tenacious girl from a poverty-stricken settlement outside the city walls, and Evar, a young man who has spent his entire life trapped in an enormous library, the Athenaeum. The Athenaeum is humankind’s legacy, a large labyrinth housing all the collective knowledge and memory of civilization. As the stories of Livira and Evar spiral around each other, across time and space, the library becomes a battleground as themes of knowledge, misinformation, perception, and xenophobia are explored. - Natashia
The Giver of Stars by Jojo Moyes
The Giver of Stars follows the main character Alice Wright, a young woman from England who moves to Kentucky in the 1930s and feels trapped in her new life. To escape her unhappiness, Alice joins Eleanor Roosevelt’s library project that delivers books to remote Appalachian communities on horseback. She works with a brave group of women, including the strong and rugged Margery O'Hare. As they face tough conditions and prejudice, they also uncover serious corruption with a local mining company. Through their adventure, the librarians form close bonds, discover their own strength, and fight for what’s right. The novel shows how books, friendship, and a little old-fashioned feminism can make a big difference and exhibits the resilience of this amazing sisterhood. - Ashley
The Historian by Elizabeth Kostova
The Historian is an interesting mix of history and mystery, centered around the Dracula legend. The story follows a young woman on a journey through Europe as she uncovers her father’s secret research into Vlad the Impaler. The novel is filled with historical details and suspense, slowly revealing its dark secrets. While the pace is sometimes slow, the rich storytelling and eerie atmosphere make it an enjoyable read. If you like historical fiction with a supernatural twist, The Historian is a great choice. - Jen D.
The Last Heir to Blackwood Library by Hester Fox
"The Last Heir to Blackwood Library" is a spooky and atmospheric gothic mystery, perfect for fall. Ivy finds herself thrust into a world of secrets and danger when she becomes Lady Blackwood and inherits Blackwood Abbey. With a mysterious library hidden behind a locked door, a family curse, and a mad monk, this novel has all the classic gothic elements. Set in the somber years following World War I, the story is both captivating and chilling. - Elisa
The Library Book by Susan Orlean
On the morning of April 28, 1986, the central branch of the Los Angeles Public Library caught fire. It burned for seven hours, reaching a temperature of 2,000 degrees fahrenheit. Four thousand books were destroyed and 700,000 damaged. Years later, people still wonder if the fire was an accident or arson. Using the mystery surrounding the fire as a focus, Orlean writes a fascinating, behind-the-scenes account of how the library operates and of the people who work there, showing the crucial role public libraries play in our communities. - Ken
The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafón
“I still remember the day my father took me to the Cemetery of Forgotten Books for the first time.” This is the opening line of the novel, set in post-WWII Barcelona, about a young boy named Daniel who discovers a mysterious book in a hidden library. As Daniel grows up, he becomes obsessed with uncovering the secrets behind the novel and the enigmatic author who wrote it. This journey leads him through a labyrinth of mystery, romance, and dark intrigue. This book has magic realism plus a suspenseful plot and I could not put it down. This novel is written for book lovers with amazing storytelling. A must-read for anyone who appreciates a well-told story filled with magic, mystery, and a touch of the gothic. - Emma