Circe by Madeline Miller

Circe (the “Witch of Aeaea”) is best known for transforming Odysseus’ men into pigs in Homer’s The Odyssey.  What if they story had been told from her point of view?  Madeline Miller returns with a . . . read more »

Dear Wife by Kimberly Belle

Running away from an abusive husband took Beth Murphy more than a year. Constantly moving, Beth has a new name, new look and resides in a new city miles from her violent husband.  Miles away, . . . read more »

The Liar by Ayelet Gundar-Goshen

The Liar by Ayelet Gundar-Goshen tells the story of a teenage girl named Nofar who feels invisible.  After she tells a lie that grows out of control, she is recognized everywhere she goes.  In Part . . . read more »

EPL Librarians share their favorite scary stories and movies

Boo!  If you’re looking for a scare, check out these books and movies that are sure to give you a fright this Halloween season.  Read on, if you dare! Neil: “Mountains of Madness” by H.P. . . . read more »

Eventown by Corey Ann Haydu

Eventown, a middle grade novel by Corey Ann Haydu, is a good introduction to utopian fiction for tweens.  Elodee and her family have lived through a traumatic event and are looking to escape their reality . . . read more »

The Elements of Fiction by Walter Mosley

The Elements of Fiction is a follow-up to the book This Year You Write Your Novel. Walter Mosley is a prolific author who also has the gift of knowing how to share his expertise.  As . . . read more »

The Vexations by Caitlin Horrocks

This is a historical fiction novel about the French composer Erik Satie and his two siblings, Louise and Conrad. Horrocks takes an interesting approach in making the siblings’ stories very primary to the plot, especially . . . read more »

EPL Librarians share their favorite banned books

In honor of Banned Books Week, here are the EPL librarian’s favorite books which have been banned or challenged in the past.  Happy Reading! Amy Wisehart, Director:  My banned book pick is Song of Solomon . . . read more »

Orange World by Karen Russell

Orange World is the latest short story collection from the masterful Karen Russell.  One of my favorite writers of all time, Russell is known for her ability to craft incredibly rich short stories as well . . . read more »

The History of Living Forever by Jake Wolff

The History of Living Forever, the spectacular debut novel from Jake Wolff, tells a multi-layered story about mankind’s quest for immortality throughout the ages.  This book combines the beautiful prose of literary fiction with the . . . read more »

My Lovely Wife by Samantha Downing

My Lovely Wife by Samantha Downing Every marriage has its secrets. Mr. and Mrs. Smith seem to be the perfect couple. Their kids are usually behaved, but they have a secret life that no one . . . read more »

Girl Most Likely by Max Allan Collins

When Krista Larson becomes the female police chief in the county. After 20 years, she did not expect a murder in her small Midwest town. Her retired Dad, a former decorated detective, is willing to . . . read more »

The Gifted School by Bruce Holsinger

What does it mean to have a gifted child and why is it so important?  The Gifted School explores this question from many angles, following four families who have children ready to enter middle school.  . . . read more »

The Chain by Adrian McKinty

Rachel Klein, a divorced mother, is on her way through the Boston traffic to an oncology appointment when she gets the call. Her teenage daughter, Kylie, has been kidnapped. The stranger on the phone informs . . . read more »

The Radium Girls by Kate Moore

The Tuesday Readers meet on the first Tuesday of the month at 2:00 p.m. to discuss a book.  Everyone is welcome to attend!  The group will be discussing An American Marriage by Tayari Jones for . . . read more »

The Wolf in the Whale by Jordanna Max Brodsky

The Wolf in the Whale is a really beautifully written story about Omat, a girl born with the soul of a hunter and raised by her grandfather as the Inuit tribe’s next angakkuq, or shaman. . . . read more »

City of Girls by Elizabeth Gilbert

City of Girls by Elizabeth Gilbert is an epistolary novel recounting the life of Vivian Morris, a young woman growing up in New York City in the 1940s.  Though much of the book focuses on Vivian’s . . . read more »

The Rationing by Charles Wheelan

Set in the near future, The Rationing takes place when the government supply of a modern miracle drug, Dormigen, is depleted just as a disease erupts that calls for that drug. The story is from the . . . read more »

The Bees by Laline Paull

The Bees by Laline Paull, is without a doubt the most unusual book I have read. Flora 717 is a sanitation worker, born to the lowest class of the hive. She’s born large and hideous . . . read more »

Liar by K.L. Slater

After Ben’s wife dies, his mother Judi does everything she can to help Ben raise his two boys. To Judi family is everything and nothing is too much to do for her “boys”. Then, Ben . . . read more »

The Mother-in-law by Sally Hepworth

This book shows how complicated relationships within families can be. When Lucy met her mother-in-law, there was definitely a chill in the air.  Her mother-in-law, Diana, was polite, but it seemed Lucy was not good . . . read more »

Dandelion Wine by Ray Bradbury

Dandelion Wine by Ray Bradbury chronicles the summer of 12 year old Douglas Spaulding in the fictional town of Green Town, Illinois.  Drawing from his own childhood, Bradbury captures the magic of the summer months, . . . read more »

All You Can Ever Know by Nicole Chung

This is a beautifully written memoir about adoption and family. Nicole Chung was born premature to a Korean American family and given up for adoption. Her adoptive parents are white and she grew up in . . . read more »

The Little Paris Bookshop by Nina George

The Little Paris Bookshop by Nina George follows Jean Perdu, a bookseller who has a special gift.  He uses literature as medicine to cure his customers of melancholy, heartache, and other emotional illnesses.  Although Perdu . . . read more »

The Dreamers by Karen Thompson Walker

There is some science fiction that I like and will read—this book was one. At a campus dorm in California, a student goes to sleep and doesn’t wake up. Than another student falls asleep and . . . read more »

Spinning Silver by Naomi Novik

This is a well written fantasy/fairy tale novel about Miryem, the daughter of a moneylender who lives in a small village. Her father is not good at getting the villagers to pay their debts so . . . read more »

One of Us is Lying by Karen McManus

A student dies in detention surrounded by four classmates. At first, it looked like an accidental death. However, the student is allergic to peanuts and all he drank was water. His EpiPen is missing and . . . read more »

Good Talk by Mira Jacob

Mira, an Indian woman married to a Jewish man and living in NYC, explores her place in America in this graphic novel memoir.  Her son, a precocious 6 year-old the author refers to in the . . . read more »

No Exit by Taylor Adams

This is a fast, suspenseful thrill ride of a novel with lots of twists and turns. College student Darby is driving home in a terrible snowstorm, trying to make it to see her dying mother. . . . read more »

The Secret Lives of Color by Kassia St. Clair

Did you know that silver was once thought to detect poison, which made it a popular choice for utensils, which lead to our everyday silverware?  That’s just one example of the 75 color profiles found . . . read more »