Time again for some spring staff picks before we push on to Summer Reading!
Check out what Lafayette Public Library staff members have been reading, watching, and listening to lately.
You can always browse staff picks from one of the categories shown in a carousel in the Library Catalog or navigate right to the list at lafayetteco.gov/StaffPicks. Looking for more ideas?
Nonfiction | adults and older teens
Recommended by Cher D.
- “Japanese Paper Flowers: Elegant Kirigami Blossoms, Bouquets, Wreaths and More by Hiromi Yamazaki – Good for Beginners
- “Uncommon Paper Flowers: Extraordinary Botanicals and How to Craft Them” by Kate Alarcón – For Advanced Crafters
Recommended by Deborah M.
- “What If?” by Randall Monroe (and others by same author)
These books of absurd science questions, and serious (but also hilarious) answers to them, are perhaps my favorite thing I’ve ever read aloud with my middle/high-school aged kids. Randall Munro, a science and math geek extraordinaire, delves into the answers to questions like, what would happen if a mole (a VERY large number used in chemistry) of moles (the furry animals) were all together in one place? Hijinks ensue, illustrated by cartoons, and a good deal of science and mathematical reasoning is communicated along the way.
Recommended by Linda B.
Fiction | adults and older teens
Recommended by Betsey Y.
The Empress of Salt and Fortune: A short novella with a large impact. Full of rich worldbuilding and strong character development, Vo creates a world you can’t help but get immersed in.
Recommended by Deborah M.
The backbone of this book is the story of the devastating fire that destroyed the Los Angeles Public Library in 1986 and the extraordinary steps taken to recover damaged books. But for library fans and aficionados, the book is also a treasure trove of information on the history and role of libraries in American culture.
Recommended by Dawn P. and Deborah M.
Percival Everett is a professor of English who describes himself as “pathologically ironic,” and his latest book, James, benefits from his sense of humor, as well as his awareness of the workings of racism in the antebellum era and now. The book is a retelling of The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn from the point of view of the enslaved man Jim, who in this book gains a rich voice, inner reality, understanding, and experience new to readers of Twain’s original. This book’s take on “code-switching” will make you think, and James’s imagined dialogues with philosophers may enrich your vocabulary! – Deborah
The story of Huckleberry Finn from the perspective of his friend Jim. A great retelling of a classic story that brings new dignity to Jim. – Dawn
Recommended by Diana T.
- “Cassandra in Reverse” by Holly Smale – any edition is great, but highly recommended as an audiobook!
Recommended by Isabella C.
Recommended by Linda B.
Movies
Recommended by Deborah M,
This 2014 historical comedy/drama is a beautiful story about collaboration across social divides. A group of lesbian and gay activists from London struggles to find striking Welsh miners (1984 miner’s strike) who will accept their fundraising help, but when they do, wary meetings and serious fun help build an alliance that’s a transformative experience for both groups.
Recommended by Vincent M.