Staff Picks

  • Book Review: The Soul of an Octopus by Sy Montgomery

    September 24, 2021Book Review: The Soul of an Octopus by Sy Montgomery
    I have always loved Octopus and, after reading this book, you will too.  A rich, fascinating, and surprisingly heartwarming exploration of these smart (and funny!) sea dwellers, with stunning color photos that take a deeper dive (pun intended) into their fascinating world.
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  • Book Review: Downeast: Five Maine Girls and the Unseen Story of Rural America by Gigi Georges

    September 17, 2021Book Review: Downeast: Five Maine Girls and the Unseen Story of Rural America by Gigi Georges
    In September, I always find myself leaning into the back-to-school spirit of becoming more interested in the non-fiction section of the bookstacks. I heard some buzz about the book, Downeast: Five Maine Girls and the Unseen Story of Rural America by Gigi Georges and set to finishing it. My family and I travelled to Downeast Maine ...
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  • Book Review: The Ghosts of Eden Park by Karen Abbott

    September 10, 2021Book Review: The Ghosts of Eden Park by Karen Abbott
    This book is absolutely captivating.  It’s a tale of bootlegging, a government investigation to stop the smuggling, and a marriage gone awry.  It reads like a novel, but you’ll find it in the nonfiction stacks.  Abbot has researched the real-life case of George Remus and every phrase of dialog, detailed article of clothing, and weather ...
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  • Book Review: Dead by Dawn by Paul Doiron

    September 3, 2021Book Review: Dead by Dawn by Paul Doiron
    Mike’s in hot water – or, rather, cold water.  In the first several paragraphs, we witness warden investigator Mike Bowditch hit metal spikes tossed onto the road for his benefit, skid off a corner, and plunge into the icy Androscoggin River.  Part survival story, part multi-threaded mystery thriller, and Doiron’s best work to date answers ...
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  • Book Review: Ahab’s Wife, or, the Star-Gazer by Sena Jeter Naslund

    August 27, 2021Book Review: Ahab's Wife, or, the Star-Gazer by Sena Jeter Naslund
    Melville makes a passing reference to a wife on Nantucket in Moby Dick…Naslund imagines a full and rich life for Una that weaves in loads of historical detail and context. I found myself rooting for her from the first page and her thoughts and perspective on everything from slavery to marriage to technological advancement feel ...
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  • Book Review: The Drowning Kind by Jennifer McMahon

    August 20, 2021Book Review: The Drowning Kind by Jennifer McMahon
    In this thriller, we are set on an old estate in Vermont with a brilliant rose garden and an ancient, spring-fed swimming pool. The pool is icy cold and has been rumored to be haunted by a young girl who tries to pull swimmers below. Our main character, Jax, receives multiple phone calls from her ...
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  • Book Review: Wild Game: My Mother, Her Lover, and Me by Adrienne Brodeur

    August 13, 2021Book Review: Wild Game: My Mother, Her Lover, and Me by Adrienne Brodeur
    One summer night when Adrienne is fourteen, her mother wakes her up to confess that she just kissed her father’s best friend. So begins a story of a codependent mother-daughter relationship, a love affair that spans decades, and a family of larger than life personalities. It’s a memoir that reads like a juicy novel- but ...
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  • Book Review: Later by Stephen King

    August 6, 2021Book Review: Later by Stephen King
    If you’re one of the people who have dismissed Stephen King as being “just” a horror writer, it’s time to give his books another go. King’s handle on reality and relationships is what makes the Stantons loyal readers of his work. This summer read introduces us to a young man who can speak to dead ...
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  • Book Review: The Heart’s Invisible Furies by John Boyne

    July 30, 2021Book Review: The Heart's Invisible Furies by John Boyne
    Ignore the unwieldy title and ill advised cover art.  This book is for anyone who is a fan of historical fiction. Set in post world war II Ireland, the reader visits the main characters every seven years. It’s a great look at the heroic people who are the foundation for our LGBTQ community.  This isn’t ...
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  • Book Review: “We Ride Upon Sticks” by Quan Barry

    July 23, 2021Book Review:  "We Ride Upon Sticks" by Quan Barry
    You don’t need to be a field hockey player from the 1990s to love this book, nor do you need to have a keen interest in the lore of the Salem Witch trials. If you can check those boxes, the Stantons can pretty much guarantee you will LOVE this book. The rest of you will ...
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