Staff Picks
Anna Karenina
by Tolstoy, translated by Richard Pevear & Larissa Volokhonsky
Summary: Described by William Faulkner as the best novel ever written and by Fyodor Dostoevsky as “flawless,” Anna Karenina tells of the doomed love affair between the sensuous and rebellious Anna and the dashing officer, Count Vronsky.
Why: I've always been drawn to long, epic novels--even before this period of self-quarantine & social distancing. If you've shied away from tackling Tolstoy in the past, the time has come. No excuses. This classic will whisk you up and plop you down into the mesh of 19th Century Russian society -- love, betrayal, scandal, aristocrats in drawing rooms, peasants in the fields, philosopher farmers -- everything is there to help you forget the anxieties of our days as well as offer some perspective. Make sure to get this particular translation by these two modern masters. The liveliness, immediacy, and flow allows readers easy access to the inner lives of Anna, Count Vronsky, Levin, & Kitty as the plot winds its way to the devastating conclusion. So you know the ending -- so what? The point is in the journey. Bonus--the latest film version starring Keira Knightley and Jude Law is available to stream on Netflix.
Availability: Ebooks & audiobooks - hoopla
Audiobook - libby
ebook - libby
Staff: Rosemary Farrell, Senior Librarian Programs & Community Engagement
In Five Years: A Novel
by Rebecca Serle
Summary: Where do you see yourself in five years?
Dannie Kohan lives her life by the numbers. Her meticulous planning seems to have paid off after she nails the most important job interview of her career and accepts her boyfriend’s marriage proposal in one fell swoop, falling asleep completely content. But when she awakens, she’s suddenly in a different apartment, with a different ring on her finger, and beside her a very different man. Dannie spends one hour exactly five years in the future before she wakes again in her own home on the brink of midnight—but it is one hour she cannot shake.
Why: I read her 1st book ‘The Dinner List’ & both books have an intriguing story line.
Availability: ebook - libby
audiobook - libby
Staff: Irene Tricano, CRC staff
by Rebecca Serle
Summary: Where do you see yourself in five years?
Dannie Kohan lives her life by the numbers. Her meticulous planning seems to have paid off after she nails the most important job interview of her career and accepts her boyfriend’s marriage proposal in one fell swoop, falling asleep completely content. But when she awakens, she’s suddenly in a different apartment, with a different ring on her finger, and beside her a very different man. Dannie spends one hour exactly five years in the future before she wakes again in her own home on the brink of midnight—but it is one hour she cannot shake.
Why: I read her 1st book ‘The Dinner List’ & both books have an intriguing story line.
Availability: ebook - libby
audiobook - libby
Staff: Irene Tricano, CRC staff
Exodus: A Memoir
by Deborah Feldman
Summary: The author of the explosive New York Times bestselling memoir Unorthodox (now a Netflix limited series) chronicles her continuing journey as a single mother, an independent woman, and a religious refugee.
Why: Honest memoir written by a woman who was born into Hasidism. This book is rich in the ability to understand and empathize with the author.
Availability: ebook - libby
audiobook - libby
Staff: Irene Tricano, CRC staff
by Deborah Feldman
Summary: The author of the explosive New York Times bestselling memoir Unorthodox (now a Netflix limited series) chronicles her continuing journey as a single mother, an independent woman, and a religious refugee.
Why: Honest memoir written by a woman who was born into Hasidism. This book is rich in the ability to understand and empathize with the author.
Availability: ebook - libby
audiobook - libby
Staff: Irene Tricano, CRC staff
The Great Gatsby
by F. Scott Fitzgerald
Summary: The Great Gatsby is a 1925 novel written by American author F. Scott Fitzgerald that follows a cast of characters living in the fictional towns of West Egg and East Egg on prosperous Long Island in the summer of 1922
Why: At this point we are on week 6 of quarantine and it looks like we will be here for at least a month more, so this is the perfect time to read. As of recently I re-read one of my favorite books “The Great Gatsby” by F. Scott Fitzgerald, and it still holds up as one of the best books in my opinion. The first time I read the book was when it was a requirement for summer reading this year for my AP English class, so I obviously did not go into it very excited, since most books required by schools tend to be boring but this was not the case.
I really enjoyed this book and would definitely recommend this book to anyone. The book is an amazing spin of New York City and the corrupt high class in the 1920’s. Basically it showed how most wealthy people have some messed up actions or background that got them to where they are now. Almost every character is cheating on their marriage and they are unhappy but since they have money they think it is ok to do so. This book shows what money can do to you and how it made and continues to make people feel superior. It also portrayed the fact that money can’t buy you happiness. Gatsby is a prime example of him having everything but still only wanting Daisy’s love and holding out hope for it everyday.
This book fulfills the stereotype of the rich New York City bootlegger in the roaring 20’s, but adds a lot of emotion and twisted love interests. Jay Gatsby changes many times and in many ways throughout the course of the book. In the beginning he is this very mysterious wealthy man who throws extravagant parties and has many rumors about his past life. Then he turns into this amazing man who has it all and is rich and has had an amazing life. He gave the impression that he has rich parents, he went to a good school, and became a war hero. We then continue to find out most of what he said about his past is a lie. He was so in love with Daisy who was old money rich and the girl wanted by all. He was so in love that he spent his whole life acting as though everything he did and any decision he made was for her.
In the end you realize that money does not mean happiness, since in a pivotal moment many people that were influential in his life do not show up except one who was not wealthy. I do not want to spoil too much, but I definitely recommend a read, because what else can you do while stuck inside.
Availability: Audiobook - hoopla
Ebooks & audiobooks - libby
Staff: Anna Fiore, Children's Room Page
by F. Scott Fitzgerald
Summary: The Great Gatsby is a 1925 novel written by American author F. Scott Fitzgerald that follows a cast of characters living in the fictional towns of West Egg and East Egg on prosperous Long Island in the summer of 1922
Why: At this point we are on week 6 of quarantine and it looks like we will be here for at least a month more, so this is the perfect time to read. As of recently I re-read one of my favorite books “The Great Gatsby” by F. Scott Fitzgerald, and it still holds up as one of the best books in my opinion. The first time I read the book was when it was a requirement for summer reading this year for my AP English class, so I obviously did not go into it very excited, since most books required by schools tend to be boring but this was not the case.
I really enjoyed this book and would definitely recommend this book to anyone. The book is an amazing spin of New York City and the corrupt high class in the 1920’s. Basically it showed how most wealthy people have some messed up actions or background that got them to where they are now. Almost every character is cheating on their marriage and they are unhappy but since they have money they think it is ok to do so. This book shows what money can do to you and how it made and continues to make people feel superior. It also portrayed the fact that money can’t buy you happiness. Gatsby is a prime example of him having everything but still only wanting Daisy’s love and holding out hope for it everyday.
This book fulfills the stereotype of the rich New York City bootlegger in the roaring 20’s, but adds a lot of emotion and twisted love interests. Jay Gatsby changes many times and in many ways throughout the course of the book. In the beginning he is this very mysterious wealthy man who throws extravagant parties and has many rumors about his past life. Then he turns into this amazing man who has it all and is rich and has had an amazing life. He gave the impression that he has rich parents, he went to a good school, and became a war hero. We then continue to find out most of what he said about his past is a lie. He was so in love with Daisy who was old money rich and the girl wanted by all. He was so in love that he spent his whole life acting as though everything he did and any decision he made was for her.
In the end you realize that money does not mean happiness, since in a pivotal moment many people that were influential in his life do not show up except one who was not wealthy. I do not want to spoil too much, but I definitely recommend a read, because what else can you do while stuck inside.
Availability: Audiobook - hoopla
Ebooks & audiobooks - libby
Staff: Anna Fiore, Children's Room Page
You Never Forget Your First: a Biography of George Washington
by Alexis Coe
Summary: He took up arms against the British only when there was no other way, though he lost more battles than he on. After an unlikely victory in the Revolutionary War cast him as the nation's hero, he was desperate to retire, but the founders pressured him into the presidency–twice.
Why: "With irresistible style and warm humor, You Never Forget Your First combines rigorous research and lively storytelling that will have readers--including those who thought presidential biographies were just for dads--inhaling every page." - publisher. I'm still in the middle of reading it now, but I find in engaging, well written and anything but dry. History tends to be a predominantly male field so I love that a female author has tackled this.
Availability: ebooks & audiobooks - libby
Staff: Tracy Dunstan, Head of Reference
by Alexis Coe
Summary: He took up arms against the British only when there was no other way, though he lost more battles than he on. After an unlikely victory in the Revolutionary War cast him as the nation's hero, he was desperate to retire, but the founders pressured him into the presidency–twice.
Why: "With irresistible style and warm humor, You Never Forget Your First combines rigorous research and lively storytelling that will have readers--including those who thought presidential biographies were just for dads--inhaling every page." - publisher. I'm still in the middle of reading it now, but I find in engaging, well written and anything but dry. History tends to be a predominantly male field so I love that a female author has tackled this.
Availability: ebooks & audiobooks - libby
Staff: Tracy Dunstan, Head of Reference
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