Reviewer: Tim Johnson, Librarian II
A little boy stakes his claim on a moose and they become best friends. But then the little boy finds out the moose has other "best friends." This moose reminds me of my great dane.
Reviewer: Terry Verner, Library Assistant The 100-year-old man who climbed out the window and disappeared by Jonas Jonasson is a first class "relentlessly sunny" comedy. The reviews were deadon correct…a really good read that will leave you with a smile!
Reviewer: Cammie Brantley, Branch Manager
This book may become a modern classic. After a year and a half on the New York Times Bestseller list the world is discovering this amazing tale of World War Two and destiny.
Reviewer: Beverly Wrigglesworth, Librarian II - Children's Services
This is the fourth and final book in her Restoration series, in which an EMP from a pulsar disables every electronic gadget in the world, and thrusts society back into a simpler time. The series features a Christian family and their neighbors in a suburban community called Crockett in Arkansas. Everyone has to learn to cope without electricity, running water, working toilets, etc. And each family has to determine whether they will hoard their resources, or share with others. Each book in the series features a murder mystery as well. The books were well-written, suspenseful, and impossible to put down. Interestingly enough, these books were published before Rick Yancey’s 5th Wave and before the television series Revolution.
Reviewer: Sierra Mendez, Digital Library Services Assistant
A beautiful book about a young man's quest for his family's redemption and the great tragedy of being human.
Reviewer: Tracey Knouse, Manager
I listened to the audiobook and love the English accents of the three different readers for the main players in the book. From the first page this title grabs you for what is going on with Rachel the principle character that goes through a number of psychological and suspenseful events. Well written for the first title from Ms. Hawkins.
Reviewer: Cheryl Sheehan, Public Services Administrator
Despite the book being over 700 pages and sometimes feeling the story was a bit drawn out and could have just been as impactful if it were a couple of hundred pages shorter, I think the book is well worth the read. It tells the story of four males who have been friends since college and centers around Jude, a pained and complex character who is revealed slowly throughout the story. His past not only profoundly impacts the totality of his life but also carries over to the friends and family who love him. At times excruciatingly sad and hard to read emotionally, this is a book that will stay with me a long time after finishing it.
Reviewer: Raina Oster, Library Aide
I had read the first book in this series the year previous. All I can say is Jasper Fforde is brilliant. This book is hilarious! Also possibly a bit strange. Put this at the top of your reading list.
Reviewer: Sierra Mendez, Digital Library Services Assistant
The lives of the people in Neawanka, Oregon are indelibly tied to each other, the land, and the sea--beautiful words, beautiful characters, beautiful stories.
Reviewer: Cheryl Sheehan, Public Services Administrator
A gentle story about an older man who receives a letter from an old friend who is dying and impulsively decides that he needs to walk hundreds of miles across the English countryside to see her. Along the way, Harold’s journey becomes a reflection of his life – beginning as a hesitant boy filled with self-doubt and loneliness who eventually opens up the many people he encounters along the trek. Ultimately the story reminds us that it is never too late to begin something new and following our hearts can lead to unforeseen outcomes.
Reviewer: Rebeka Delgado, Circulation Attendant
Haruki Murakami will draw you in to his surreal novel from the very first page. A man named Toru Okada meets a wide array of characters, young and old, that take him on a strange and unpredictable adventure. Be prepared for just about anything, including a few stories from an old war veteran that will leave you wondering if they are true, while sincerely hoping that they are coming straight out of the wild imagination of Murakami.
This book certainly left me hungry for more crazy Murakami stories and from what I’ve read so far I have yet to be disappointed.
Reviewer: Kimberly King, Circulation Attendant
In Montreal, when creepy old asylums are transformed into orphanages with asylum patients still inside in the mid-twentieth century, nothing good comes of it. Part police procedural, part historical, Asylum intrigues from the first chapter.
Reviewer: Kimberly King, Circulation Attendant
Investigator Geri is the only one who can hear her Chihuahua, Pepe, talking to her. Pepe turns out to be a great, if a bit self-absorbed, sidekick. A great read for dog lovers and mystery buffs.
Reviewer: Sierra Mendez, Digital Library Services Assistant
Cliffhanger puzzles and plots combined with a fantastically stuffy British voice make this the best Holmes novel since Doyle.
Reviewer: Leigh Bedford, Librarian II
Fascinating look at the history of "America's Whiskey." The book is arranged chronically, starting with George Washington's home distillery and up to modern times, when bourbon is manufactured in huge plants by huge corporations. Prohibition is covered of course, and how clever marketing affects sales. Even teetotalers will find this book intriguing.
Reviewer: Elissa Vura, Library Assistant
Alternately hilarious, deadly serious, achingly sad, cute, silly, and poignant, the photographs and accompanying stories in this book show the people of New York in all their amazing humanness. I laughed, I cried, and I marveled.
Reviewer: Cristine Mitchamore, Librarian I
I enjoyed this book much more than I expected. I anticipated something rather silly, but instead I got a surprisingly good introduction to various elements of federal law using characters I already know rather than people I've never heard of, which made the explanations more interesting and easier to follow.
Questions about the Second Amendment and whether they apply to Wolverine's claws might be expected, but I was surprised by the discussion of business law as it applies to superheroes. (Just how liable is Wayne Enterprises for actions taken by Batman?) And I found the discussion of criminal law interesting as the authors explored how superpowers would affect actus reus and mens rea ("guilty act" and "guilty mind"). For example, can someone be convicted of attempted murder for shooting Wolverine. (Answer: it depends on whether or not the person reasonably expected to kill Wolverine with the action.)
Overall, I enjoyed The Law of Superheroes, and I feel like I better understand a number of different facets of federal and state law.
Reviewer: Beverly Wrigglesworth, Librarian II - Children's Services
I read this book to my husband while we were traveling this summer and we enjoyed it immensely. With chapters on the first thousand years, pronunciation, varieties, spelling, and swearing, plus several other chapters, Bryson always manages to find the funniest examples and stories. Chapter 1 begins with: "More than 300 million people in the world speak English and the rest, it sometimes seems, try to," and continues in the same vein to the end.
Reviewer: Leigh Bedford, Librarian II
I literally could not put this book down until I'd finished the very last page. An accessible, exciting telling of the 1900 Galveston Hurricane, it starts by clearly explaining what causes such monster storms and ends with the aftermath and how even now, Galveston is affected by this tragedy in which thousands lost their lives. There are incredible tales of courage and survival and sad stories of individuals who realize their lives are forever altered.
Reviewer: Deedee Lu, Librarian I
A short (less than 200 pages) but compelling portrait of brothers growing up in the South during Jim Crow era and how the endemic racism of that time affected each brother in profoundly different ways. It's an enlightening read, reflecting the complexity of attitudes toward race that still reverberate today.
Reviewer: Deedee Lu, Librarian I https://stanmed.stanford.edu/2015spring/before-i-go.html
It's a very affecting memoir from a young neurosurgeon facing his own mortality with a fatal diagnosis at age 36. There's a San Antonio connection too: The Intro/Forward is by Abraham Verghese who was the founding director of UTHSCSA's Center for Medical Humanities & Ethics.
Reviewer: Tapley Trudell, Adult Services Librarian
In City of Stairs, Robert Jackson Bennett has created a world that is original and fascinating, characters that are flawed yet sympathetic, and a story that engrosses the reader while providing food for thought long after the last page has been read. There are many mysteries in this book, starting with the murder that brings our protagonist to Bulikov, the eponymous City of Stairs, and ranging up to the truth of history and the very nature of reality. Bennett's novel is likely to appeal to fans of N.K. Jemisin's Inheritance Trilogy.
Reviewer: Tricia Masterson, Librarian I
An intricate story filled with romance, magic, and history. Diana, a young scholar, inadvertently brings forth a manuscript that sets in motion a chain of events that change her life from the quiet scholar to world beyond her wildest imagination. Her life, and heart, now lies in dangerous peril of forever being changed in ways she never could have guessed. This is the first book in a trilogy with each book bringing forth more and more fantastical adventures.
Reviewer: Kimberly King, Circulation Attendant
Melanie is the star of this heartbreaking, frustrating, thrilling zombie story. Story made me mad, sad, and sometimes glad. Shows what it means to be human – or not.
Reviewer: Tim Johnson, Librarian II
Okay, so let me get this straight. Not only are we dealing with the void of space but now there are zombies? Space zombies? And not only that but they don't actually have to bite you to infect you, just projectile vomit on you? Vomiting space zombies, great. Next thing you know they'll be fast too. Fast-projectile-vomiting-space zombies! This planet stinks. I'm leaving, just let me play one more round at the craps table before I cash in my chips. The basics: Past-his-prime cop works with loud-mouthed but "righteous" ship captain to uncover corporate espionage that has nearly started a war between the inner planets (Earth and Mars) as well as the OPA (Outer Planet Alliance). Oh yeah, and a protomolecule that creates vomit zombies.
Reviewer: Elissa Vura, Library Assistant
This is high-caliber new fantasy in the vein of George R.R. Martin and Patrick Rothfuss. The funny, action-packed tale centers on a guild of thieves, their charismatic and colorful leader, and an Ocean’s Eleven-style heist. Scott Lynch has created a rich and interesting fantasy world as the backdrop for the story where the ladies are just as tough and saavy as the gentlemen.
Reviewer: Sarah Carolan, Digital Library Services Specialist
A very upbeat, technical, and funny book about survival after being marooned on Mars. Although the book is filled with scientific explanations and jargon, it feels more like a problem-solving/adventure story than a textbook.
Reviewer: David Cooksey, Performance & Innovation Manager
I loved listening to the audiobook. I could hear Mark Watney with his dry wit as he tried to survive the impossible while marooned on Mars without enough food to survive. The whole experience was one of trying things that had never been done and learning from failure while just hoping not to die. You know basic science with duct tape for backup.
Reviewer: Laura Lopez, Library Aide
A tough read but arguably a great one! Heinlein is able to create lovable characters, intense action scenes, and an emotional computer that will leave the reader wanting "Mike" to be a real person. Mycroft or "Mike" is a supercomputer that becomes self-aware. He is much like a child, having more knowledge than any human can collectively have, yet so very emotionally naïve, asking questions to Mannie about being human. Mannie is a computer technician who becomes Mike's trusted friend while teaching him how to identify if a joke is funny or not. ALSO—Heinlein creates this fabulous strong female character named Wyoming (I LOVE her!). This is a classic must read!
Reviewer: Dan Garcia, Library Assistant
What a thrill-ride! This massive adventure (part five of the Expanse series) is a pulse-pounding, page-turning beast… and that's NOT hyperbole. Once the action begins, the epic score begins playing in your head, and there's no putting this book down. Easily the best space opera out there, with the most plausible near future setting I’ve ever read.
Reviewer: Raina Oster, Library Aide
Early in 2015, with the approach of Episode 7 coming at the end of the year, I decided to give Star Wars books a chance. I have a 30 min ride to and from work, so I got this on audio book to help pass the time. This book, slightly cheesy at times was so much fun! It made me a Star Wars fan. Of course all my excitement was crushed when I discovered that these books are no longer considered canon, but "legacy," therefore they would not be included in the new movie. I mourned the loss of all my new favorite characters. This is also the very last set of books in the entire "legacy" books. So there is a lot of history that is explained throughout this series. Anyway, set all prejudice aside and read these books.
Reviewer: Tapley Trudell, Adult Services Librarian
If Ocean's Eleven and Guardians of the Galaxy had a love child that got adopted and raised by Firefly, that love child could grow up to become The Palace Job by Patrick Weekes. This is a fun and funny caper novel with lots of action and plenty of heart. I don't even really want to try to summarize the plot because I don't want to give away any of the twists. Suffice it to say that readers who enjoyed Scott Lynch's Gentleman Bastard novels and are open to a lighter tone and more overt magic are likely to be quite entertained.
Reviewer: David Cooksey, Performance & Innovation Manager
How can a book get any better than this? Most everyone just has a crappy life in a decaying society. Real life is in the virtual world of the OASIS. The creator of the OASIS left a puzzle for everyone. All you have to do is know everything about the 1980’s: video games, tabletop games, movies, TV and pop culture and use that knowledge to find the clues hidden in the OASIS and solve the puzzles to win the ultimate prize! And best of all Wil Wheaton narrates the book for you and becomes a voice in your head.
Reviewer: Tim Johnson, Librarian II Ready Player One is what I imagine it would be like if Gene Wilder's Willy Wonka had a baby with Tron. Yeah, that about does it.
Reviewer: Tim Johnson, Librarian II The Windup Girl is set in Thailand in the not too distant future. Although some forms of science seem to have advanced, in many respects the world has taken a step backwards. The fossil fuel age is gone and much of the power is generated via man or animal power measured in calories. The reader is lead to believe that global warming has persisted and the melting ice caps have swallowed coastal regions around the world. The Thais have only escaped this fate by building a series of pumps and levees powered by an ever-dwindling supply of coal. Heat is the only constant throughout the book. Compounding these already dire realities, is the fact that humans, possibly striving for profits or in the process of attempting to remedy earlier mistakes, have created a number of species that just don't belong. These include some rapidly mutating pests, bacteria, and diseases.
Reviewer: Ramona Lucius, Librarian II
This is a Young Adult novel, but adults will find it moving, informative and relatable. On the surface, it’s the story of a young girl growing up in a German village during World War II. She escapes the horrors of war—and a local bully—by reading, but to acquire the books she reads, she "borrows" them (without permission) from the town mayor. The story has an interesting framework, as it’s told from the point of view of Death, who has much to say and much to figure out about why people behave the way they do. The book touches on themes ranging from bullying to book burning.
Reviewer: Kimberly King, Circulation Attendant
The title refers to the books-within-a-book from Rowell’s Fangirl. The story of Simon and Baz, characters in a Harry Potter-esque land. It really made me really want a sequel to this story.
Reviewer: Nicole Garza, Library Assistant
I was extremely excited to find out SAPL was going to carry The Legend of Zelda: a Link to the Past graphic novel. This was a blast to the past for me. The original comic was published in Nintendo Power gaming magazines in the early 90's. The story explains the plot of the Super NES game The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past. There are similarities to the video game but a handful of new characters are unique to the graphic novel. The main character Link, is thrust into saving a princess in danger as well as preventing his own world from being conquered by a very powerful foe. Link has to overcome personal, mental and physical challenges on his way to prevent his world from being devoured by evil.
Reviewer: Sarah Carolan, Digital Library Services Specialist
Combining aspects of fairy tales and a coming-of-age story as only Pratchett can, The Wee Free Men is the first in a series featuring Tiffany Aching, an aspiring witch. However, in Pratchett's universe, witchcraft is less about magic and more about understanding humanity. I love the character of Tiffany Aching because she is a self-reliant, independent girl filled with common sense, who still has a lot to learn about life and finding her place in the world.
Reviewer: Samantha Gordano, Librarian II Winter is the stunning finale to the main storyline in the sci-fi/fantasy Lunar Chronicles series. Will Cinder be able to reclaim her proper place on the Lunar throne from her evil aunt Levana? Will Scarlet escape her imprisonment on the moon and reunite with her poor weaponized boyfriend Wolf? Will Thorne regain his sight? Will the poor princess Winter ever be able to stop her terrible hallucinations? Will Iko ever get her smoking hot android body without it getting destroyed? A fun, imaginative, and enthralling tale for teens and adults alike. As the author used to be a fan-fic writer, this whole series is a must read for anyone who grew up a fan of Sailor Moon!