One of the best things about working at the Cumberland County Public Library is that you’re never at a loss when it comes to finding a good book. With a staff of more than 140 people, our reading tastes are all over the map. Take a look at what we’re reading, and you might find something that will interest you.
Nonfiction is always popular, from cookbooks to quilting to history. Some specific titles include “Dress Codes” by Richard Thompson Ford; Douglas Brinkley’s “American Moonshot”; and “The Rise of the Black Quarterback” by Jason Reid.
Biographies and autobiographies make the list too, like “Finding Me: A Memoir” by Viola Davis. One library staff member says true-crime fascinates her “because of the psychology behind it, and I like to be scared — in a controlled way.”
Mystery in its many forms has a lot of fans. Cozies, historical mysteries, thrillers — we love them all. Popular authors are big names like Grisham and Baldacci, as well as classics like Hillerman and Christie. Brenda Jackson’s “Locked in Temptation” is a great example of romantic suspense. A library staff member explains what draws her to this genre: “Mysteries and thrillers allow you to explore the darker aspects of the human mind.”
Science fiction and fantasy populate the list for many of us. One staffer is reading Genevieve Cogman’s “The Invisible Library,” which she describes as “a fantasy/sci-fi novel with steampunk-style technology mingled with magic.” Another recommends the “Wayward Children” series by Seanan McGuire for readers who “were always looking for Narnia growing up.” Other flavors of sci-fi and fantasy enjoyed by our staff include romantic fantasy (romantasy) from authors like Sarah J. Maas and Jennifer L. Armentrout; young adult fantasy; and humorous fantasy from Terry Pratchett.
Romance is just as popular with your library staff as it is with the general reading public. A staffer just found the light-hearted, humorous books of Jennifer Cruisie. Another staffer likes paranormal romance, while several of us enjoy historical romances from authors like Lyndsay Sands, Julia Quinn and Stacey Reid. Getting to that “happily ever after” can be a rewarding reading journey, regardless of the setting.
Another staff member mentioned his taste for graphic novels. Another colleague says that horror is her go-to, especially “creature features where the main character has to escape from a monster.” A couple of us voiced a preference for literary fiction and classic literature “because they so beautifully and creatively use words and language that they are more of an art form than just a book.”
Whatever your reading taste, if you’re looking for a good book, we can help. Stop in at any of our eight locations and talk with us or browse our catalog at www.cumberlandcountync.gov/library.
Here’s to your next great read.
