A character study of a misunderstood tween demi-goddess living among normies. A comedy sketch mining laughs from an inept villain who is verrrrry bad at being bad. A lyrical ode to birth, decay and renewal in the natural world. A multigenerational saga about clashing dragon clans. These are just a few examples of the imaginative […]
As much as I love to sink into a long novel, and even a series of long novels, sometimes a shorter tale is exactly what you need. Enter the novella, loosely defined as being shorter than a novel and longer than a short story (and usually smaller than a breadbox); generally, in publishing terms, a […]
Working on the library’s service desks, I see plenty of people who are very aware of new and forthcoming books, particularly fiction, and add their names to multiple hold lists immediately. Many library staff, booksellers and reviewers have the opportunity to read books ahead of publication dates to prepare to share new titles with you […]
Since this is my debut as a blogger for the library, I’ve been thinking about the inspiration for “Sloppy Firsts,” my first novel published nearly twenty-one years ago. I was born and raised on the Jersey Shore. (Pause for a fist pump.) When you grow up being told you reside in the armpit of the […]
Summer can be a glorious opportunity to indulge in some quality reading time. If you’re lucky enough to go on vacation, packing an unwieldy pile of books (or a fully stocked e-reader) is its own kind of tradition for many people. Aside from discovering new favorites, or revisiting old ones, there are even more incentives […]
In my younger days, there was a vibrant trend on YouTube for fans of TV series or films to create video compilations of their favorite clips, especially featuring either canonical or “shipped” couples, set to music that would capture the essence of those characters. It was all very dramatic, but the storytelling power of music […]
We have thousands of titles in our physical and virtual library, and it can be daunting looking for exactly the right book. Browsing the new book display is one of my favorite ways to find a book, but sometimes you just need a little extra help or don’t have the time to browse the shelves. […]
As easily as a song can get stuck in your head, so can a story. Whether it’s a book, series, film, or something else, you’ll find yourself continuously thinking about it, mentally replaying your favorite parts, or the parts that challenged you, and wondering what comes next. The stories that stick with you can change […]
Celebrate the official start of summer at the library by joining our annual Summer Reading program, beginning June 15. Open to readers of all ages, we invite you to reflect, investigate and interact with the world around you and see how “Reading Colors Your World.” Children and teens who log at least 20 days of […]
When planning library programs or book lists throughout the year, our staff takes into consideration heritage months, or other national or state recognitions. For example, celebrating Women’s History Month is a wonderful way to help highlight the rich tapestry of experiences and histories that form the American consciousness. However, it’s also important to consider these […]
The end of every year usually brings all sorts of wrap-up lists: “best of” collections of everything from cookware and electronics to music and YouTube makeup artists. At the library, we see an almost endless array of “best of” book lists, some organized by reviewer or review site, others by genre or format, and still […]
As we move into November and tune personal thoughts to our 2020 harvest celebrations, this month we also commemorate the heritage and history of the native peoples of North America. We’re featuring a selection of poetry, memoirs, history, and fiction from our collections, as well as related links to elibrary resources and Indigenous People’s Day […]
The Christmas when I was 12, my uncle gave my mother the audiobook tapes of “Angela’s Ashes” by Frank McCourt as a gift in our family exchange. She may have listened to the first tape once, but otherwise I don’t think she ever heard them, because I stole them away almost immediately. I began listening […]
Virtual Princeton Public Library is open. While our building is off-limits for the community and staff, the business of the library moves along, with staff planning online events, curating digital collections, providing research assistance, and recommending reads. We aim to stay connected. In these homebound days, work is done on time we carve out of […]
Last week, the library hosted its version of Jolabokaflod, the Icelandic holiday tradition that includes exchanging books and drinking cocoa. Several staff members, including myself, picked a few of the books we loved from the previous year to talk about, and it was fun to see how different people reacted to titles we mentioned, growing […]
As 2019 draws to a close, I find myself thinking about my reading goals for next year. When it comes to reading for pleasure, most people (including me) tend to stick to what they know. Downtime is such a rare commodity that you want to spend it reading the books you know you’ll like — […]
In the 1998 film “You’ve Got Mail,” Tom Hanks’ character tells his anonymous online penpal, played by Meg Ryan, “Don’t you love New York in the fall? It makes me want to buy school supplies. I would send you a bouquet of newly-sharpened pencils if I knew your name and address.” He’s got something there. […]
When you think of books to read in the summer, your mind may first conjure up a breezy, clever romance like The Wedding Date by Jasmine Guillory or Unhoneymooners by Christina Lauren. Maybe you think of books like Taylor Jenkins Reid’s Daisy Jones & the Six—a juicy tell-all about a fictional rock-and-roll band. Or perhaps […]
I’m a huge sap. I’ve always loved romantic comedies, and often my favorite element of any book is the romance. But for some reason, I had never been interested in reading romance novels – Romance with a capital R, that is. The genre defined by beautiful people overcoming obstacles to get their happily ever afters. I love […]
To paraphrase the great Jane Austen, it is a truth universally acknowledged that a new release book by a popular author — or a book that has received rave reviews — will have an enormous hold list. You know how it goes: The latest Lee Child book, or the latest literary critical darling like “Pachinko” or […]
Since the clocks turned back and daylight hours dwindle on our way to winter, I find less time to read. Dark evenings make me feel less productive, and I am liable to fall asleep on the couch at 7 p.m. while reading. I particularly enjoy short stories and novellas in these moments. They are long enough […]
Autumn is my favorite time of year. The brisk, snapping air, the marigold crunch of leaves underfoot, cozy nights under cozy blankets — what’s not to love? One of my favorite autumn activities is curling up with a great book, and since I’m a big mood reader, I like finding books that match the season. […]
Once in a blue moon, I read a book so incredible that I can’t stop talking about it. I have to recommend it constantly–at book festivals when I speak on panels, to customers at the Checkout Desk, to friends and family, and on social media. “First, We Make the Beast Beautiful: A New Journey Through Anxiety” by Sarah […]
My inbox has been deluged with summer reading recommendations– from publishers, from professional organizations, from other libraries and from some famous people. Taking a quick survey of summer reading lists I’ve been sent over the month of June (not counting the summer reading lists we have been busy making for adults, for kids and for teens), there are […]
Recently, my life has been rather chaotic. I’ve been preparing for the release of my sixth novel, “Furyborn” (out May 22). It’s the first installment in a young adult epic fantasy series, and, as I promote its release, I’ve been simultaneously putting the finishing touches on the first draft of book two. These are big […]
My resolution plate is happily empty, as I’ve chosen to skate by picking goals to live up to this year. In this waning January of 2018, I find I’m revisiting not-quite-left-behind connections and planning to pick up the pieces. I will refocus daily on juggling work and work life, home and home life, projects, health, […]
What is a crossover book? In the publishing industry, a crossover book is one marketed toward either young adult (YA) readers or adult readers, but frequently read and enjoyed by both teens and adults. The Hunger Games trilogy is one particularly popular example. Check out this list of 15 crossover novels—all available at the Princeton Public Library! Daughter […]
Stories of families account for much of my summer reading so far, having recently waded into three wonderful novels and one quirky memoir that are powerful family portraits: Moonglow by Michael Chabon, All Grown Up by Jami Attenberg, What We Lose by Zinni Clemmons, and The Mighty Franks by Michael Frank. I didn’t purposely seek out a suite […]
What we take away from an experience can morph over time. The secrets we all carry still are ours, even when we reveal them. I wrote these two sentences with some recent reading recommendations, which follow, in mind. I’m also thinking about experiences my colleagues and I had this past month while attending Book Expo, […]
Twelve days into 2017: long enough to consider resolutions passé but not yet time to give up hope for improvements. It’s an aging new year we’re facing. As we multitask to juggle our goals and lives, we’re craning to peer forward, straining to glimpse sight of our hopes and to spark brief touches with our dreams. […]
In “The Art of Memoir“, Mary Karr writes that “memoir done right is an art, a made thing.” If memoirists are artists, their work is elucidated through truth, narrative, voice and vulnerability. Vulnerability is allowing yourself the opportunity to be open and honest, disguising your strength as weakness. It is a virtue that relies on […]
When you’re visiting the library in search of a good read, we have several collections designed explicitly for that purpose, including Library Reads, Staff Picks, and Book Group collections. Located near the Welcome Desk on the first floor, these displays of grab-and-go books often showcase award-winning writing. You may not know that we also have some great online […]
Last year, my daughter and I signed up to participate in the library's early literacy initiative, 1,000 Books Before Kindergarten. The program, designed to promote reading to newborns, infants, and toddlers, encourages parents to bond with their children through shared reading experiences and provides structure and incentive for reaching the 1,000-book goal.
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