Wrap Up 2023: Staff Favorites
It’s time to wrap up the year with Wrap Up 2023! Check out LPL staff’s favorites of the year. Books, movies, TV shows, graphic novels, & other library goodies are now on display on the 1st floor. What were some of your favorites from this past year?
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Alex:
Charlotte’s Web by E. B. White:
I decided to read this after my mom quoted from it for my godmother’s funeral, and it’s such a perfect fit. Charlotte is the greatest friend anyone could ask for, with a big heart and a clever mind. This is a comforting way to hold someone close to my heart.
So Much for Love: How I Survived a Toxic Relationship by Sophie Lambda:
This is the book I wish I’d read when I was 16 and coming out of the toxic relationship that is still affecting me to this day. I have done so much good processing through reading this book.
The Grace of Wild Things by Heather Fawcett:
A retelling of Anne of Green Gables with witches and magic! I particularly loved the banter between Grace, the melodramatic and loquacious orphan, and the curmudgeonly old witch in the forest.
Rose:
The Book Eaters by Sunyi Dean:
Out on the Yorkshire Moors lives a secret line of people for whom books are food, and who retain all of a book’s content after eating it. To them, spy novels are a peppery snack; romance novels are sweet and delicious. Eating a map can help them remember destinations, and children, when they misbehave, are forced to eat dry, musty pages from dictionaries.
Lady Tan’s Circle of Women by Lisa See:
According to Confucius, “an educated woman is a worthless woman,” but Tan Yunxian—born into an elite family, yet haunted by death, separations, and loneliness—is being raised by her grandparents to be of use. Her grandmother is one of only a handful of female doctors in China, and she teaches Yunxian the pillars of Chinese medicine, the Four Examinations—looking, listening, touching, and asking—something a man can never do with a female patient.
Big Swiss by Jen Beagin:
A fantastic, weird-as-hell, funny novel, Big Swiss is both a love story and a deft examination of infidelity, mental health, sexual stereotypes, and more.
Drowning by T. J. Newman:
Six minutes after takeoff, Flight 1421 crashes into the Pacific Ocean. During the evacuation, an engine explodes and the plane is flooded. Those still alive are forced to close the doors—but it’s too late. The plane sinks to the bottom with twelve passengers trapped inside.
Joey:
Into the West by Mercedes Lackey:
The midpoint in Lackey’s world-setting prequel trilogy about the foundation of Valdemar, Lackey’s best-known fantasy world. This entry does a lot to explain the underpinnings of Valdemar while managing to be grippingly entertaining. Given the significance of the world of Valdemar in inspiring generations of fantasy readers and authors, this title has generated a lot of interest in fantasy circles. Having spent so much time as a reader in the world of Valdemar, I thoroughly enjoyed getting to see a number of longstanding world-building puzzles slowly being solved over the course of the narrative.
National Dish by Anya von Bremzen:
If you love food, history, or travel memoirs, then you will find something to love in National Dish. If you love all three, this is a must-read! Anya von Bremzen chronicles her journey to investigate the origins of monolithic nationally representative foods. Most of the time, the truth behind the food identity of a nation turns out to be complicated, nuanced, and contradictory. The author manages to explore these contradictions with a ruthless yet respectfully sincere drive that consistently astonishes the reader.
Dancing with Myself by Billy Idol:
A fascinating look inside the mind and life of a once-larger-than-life celebrity. What is most immediately striking about Idol’s autobiography is the unique way in which he describes his life. Sometimes Idol is taking the view of a dry historian, giving a very literal chronological accounting of what he deems to be the important and formative events in his life. Other times, the whimsical/poetic songwriter’s voice takes over, conveying raw emotion and romantic musings on life. The two styles intermingle messily, in a way that somehow manages to enhance the authenticity of the experience. I lost sleep on multiple occasions because I could not put this one down.
Sarah H.
High Tide at Midnight (Trese #6) by Budjette Tan:
The award-winning graphic novel series, Trese by Budjette Tan follows Alexandra Trese as she investigates supernatural crimes and murders in an effort to keep peace between Manila’s human population and the underworld. The series features information about Filipino folk creatures such as enkanto and aswang woven with action-packed fights and political intrigue. High Tide at Midnight is my favorite volume so far, but the entire series is phenomenal.
The Dead Take the A Train by Cassandra Khaw & Richard Kadrey:
Visceral cosmic horror at its finest! The Dead Take the A Train by Khaw and Kadrey is a wild ride that follows supernatural fixer Julie Crews who is burned out on drugs and her dangerous lifestyle. Looking to score a lucrative job she finds herself needing to use all of her magical abilities, physical prowess, and quick thinking to protect her closest friends by fighting an eldritch god who is hungry for revenge and world annihilation.
The Nice House on the Lake by James Tynion IV:
I can’t say much about this riveting horror graphic novel series without giving anything away other than it may have you questioning just how well you know your friends.
House of Hunger by Alexis Henderson:
House of Hunger is a gothic horror set in a world were being a bloodmaid to members of the upper echelons of society is a way for young women to build a future beyond their stature. Chosen as a bloodmaid for the notorious House of Hunger, Marion Shaw finds herself in a complicated relationship with the countess Lisavet that has her questioning if her position is one of privilege or a death sentence.
Renee:
Across A Field of Starlight by Blue Delliquanti:
A story about two non-binary characters who meet as children when Fassen’s ship crashes as a child. Lu quickly seeing someone in distress provides the little help they can and the two keep in contact via coms into their teens. The story continues to talk about topics like war and family. It’s illustrations are beautiful and the plot so interesting and addictive to the very end.
In the Lives of Puppets by TJ Klune:
In the Lives of Puppets is more of the concept of what would happen in a world that humans become not only extinct, but hunted by robots. In the forest, safe from the society that robots have built, Gio raises Vic, a human boy, with the help of a nurse robot and a vacuum in safety and secrecy. Vic’s world busts wide open when he finds a unit named Hap and Gio is taken from their quiet home by the government to return to the City of Electric Dreams. This book mixes the concept of Wizard of Oz and Pinocchio into a science fiction delight. The characters are beautifully crafted and the story will leaving feeling so overwhelmed with love. It’s a must read.
Greenwild: The World Behind the Door by Pari Thomson:
A new middle grade fantasy series that’s a delightfully whimsical adventure, about a Daisy, who’s mother goes missing in the amazon on assignment as a environmental writer and activist. When no one seems to be looking for Daisy’s mother, she takes it upon herself to look into the missing crew members while also dodging someone attempting to kidnap her. There is magic, found family, an adorable cat companion, and a beautiful world that’s bursting with beauty.
Tracy:
My Friend Fear by Meera Lee Patel:
It took me a few days to review this book because I couldn’t seem to put all I felt into words, but I’ll try. I really enjoyed this book; the watercolor illustrations really helped the book come more alive for me. While reading this book I felt calm, curious, like the author related to some of my feelings and insecurities, a little fearful, joy, and some sadness. We tend to forget that sometimes fear can also be a good thing, not just something bad. Sometimes fear can even be healthy, as long as it’s not moving towards taking over your life (which, coming from someone who suffers from anxiety and depression, can and has happened). I am so glad this book was recommended in my book club and highly recommend it!
The Red Tent by Anita Diamant:
I’ve read this for the third time this year, go back to it every so often. Her name is only mentioned in one sentence in the Bible, now Dinah has a chance to tell her story.
Maayan:
The Witch Haven by Sasha Peyton Smith
All Our Hidden Gifts by Caroline O’Donoghue
Wild is the Witch by Rachel Griffin
The Marvellers by Dhonielle Clayton
Ben:
Forty Stories by Donald Barthelme
Absolutely bananas, a wild ride, and a joy to read. Forty Stories recaptures the delight of reading short, absurd, and very silly stories like I did when I was younger. No rules, just fun flash fiction that’s a blast to read in short bursts. Barthelme was a huge influence of a lot of my favorite authors so it was nice to see where the absurdity all began.
The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up by Marie Kondo
Marie Kondo’s “Konmari” method of tidying up your house involves sorting through your belongings and only keeping them if they truly “spark joy.” The way that Kondo explains how to physically and emotionally part with nick-nacks, old clothes, and miscelania is very healing. Parting with objects from your past is a way of confronting and processing those chapters of your life; by letting go of the things that are tying you down, you can move on and be surrounded by only what you love.
Stay True by Hua Hsu
A funny yet tragic memoir about friendship, zine culture, and identity set in 90s California.
Mickey:
Walking Each Other Home by Ram Dass and Mirabai Bush:
A heartfelt and intimate reflection on living and dying. An incredibly helpful resource for those who want to know how to be with loved ones in their final moments, or those facing those moments themselves. Though the subject is somber, the book itself reads like playful banter between old friends and left me with such a unique sense of peace. Definitely the best book I read this year, and one that I will return to in the future!
Will My Cat Eat My Eyeballs? by Caitlin Doughty:
A much sillier, lighthearted book about death. Caitlin Doughty, a mortician and advocate for death acceptance, tackles interesting questions that children have asked her over the years. This book is ridiculously entertaining, answering all the questions you didn’t know you wanted to ask. Though it is a fun read for adults, it’s written with a younger audience in mind in order to talk about these subjects in a candid yet age-appropriate way. If you typically find nonfiction books a bit boring, this one might just change your mind.
Kyle:
The Last Argument of Kings by Joe Abercrombie:
The final book of Abercrombie’s First Law trilogy, it is a grim dark fantasy in the best way possible featuring incredibly well-rounded characters, tense duels and terrifying battles, and a twist that’ll leave you stunned, heartbroken, but still wanting more from this incredible world.
Words of Radiance by Brandon Sanderson:
The second book in the Stormlight Archive, an immersive and epic fantasy series centered around the planet Roshar. The magic system is incredible and well thought out, the world building is deep and intricate, and Words of Radiance features some of the best action scenes I have ever read!
Light Bringer by Pierce Brown:
The most recent book of the Red Rising saga delivers on all the hype from the previous books. It is my favorite book in the saga so far and Pierce Brown does not fail to deliver on epic space battles, interesting and tense political intrigue, and continues to give some of the best written characters I have read.
Caitlin:
Quantum Leap (2022):
I was a huge fan of the original show and the reboot doesn’t disappoint. The actors and writers do a good job of keeping it fresh without making the show seem repetitive.
Barbie:
I went into the movie a little skeptical thinking that I wasn’t going to like it, but like everyone else I quickly became a fan.
Poster Girl by Veronica Roth:
This is one of my favorite authors and this book is easily one of my favorite dystopian novels now.
Beth:
The Ogress and the Orphans by Kelly Barnhill
People of the Book by Geraldine Brooks
The Boys in the Boat by Daniel James Brown
Dakota:
Gonjiam:
This is one of the best found footage horror movies that I have ever seen. It was tense, atmospheric, didn’t rely on jump scares and has one of the scariest scenes I have ever seen in a movie. Recommended for anyone who loves a good scare and is a fan of ghosts.
Pathologic 2
This is the hardest game I’ve ever played, and it is worth every second. The writing is better than most books I’ve read and it has a beautiful message, presented in an incredibly creative way with stunning visuals and an amazing soundtrack. Recommended for anyone who loves a challenge and is a fan of Russian fiction.
Writing Down the Bones by Natalie Goldberg:
My friend recommended me this book for inspiration when I admitted I was in a creative rut and it helped me immensely! It helped shape my view on writing as a whole and introduced me to a lot of things I had never had interest in before, like poetry. This is an easy recommend for anyone who needs inspiration, or just someone who loves writing like I do.
We hope that you had a wonderful year of reading, listening, watching, playing, and learning. Happy Holidays, and see you in 2024!
