Did You Know?

The Oxford Public Library now has a Book Group collection!  But what does that mean exactly?  It means that we have multiple copies (between 5-7) of single titles available to check out, perfect for your small book group.  For more information, ask a librarian at the Adult Reference Desk, and be sure to browse some of these titles, and more!
Wild by Cheryl Strayed
The Book Thief by Markus Zusak
Winter's Bone by Daniel Woodrell
The Paris Wife by Paula McLain
Detroit City Is the Place to Be by Mark Binelli
Cleopatra's Daughter by Michelle Moran

A difficult woman

Brian Morton's new novel Florence Gordon, is a portrait of a difficult woman. Florence is blunt, unafraid, and brilliant. A lifelong New Yorker, she is a writer, mostly essays and feminist thought. She was involved in the feminist movement and now, in her seventies she is writing her memoir. An article on the front page of the New York Times Book section praises her and she goes from being a minor writer to an icon of the feminist movement to celebrity. Morton also explores, with multiple points of view, relationships with her son, daughter-in-law, and granddaughter and how things change between them after the article comes out. The novel never stoops to false sentimentality. The dialog and inner thoughts of the characters are witty and honest. I loved this book. ML

A New Leaf

Autumn is a great time to enjoy the beauty of nature. The leaves are turning colors and slowly leaving the trees. For a truly gratifying look, check out TreesUp Close: The beauty of bark, leaves, flowers, and seeds by Nancy Ross and Robert Llewellyn. These colorful photographs provide a chance to see buds, cones and seeds in varying stages. The book can be enjoyed by readers of all ages. The trees in your backyard never looked so good! DB

Blood on the Snow

You can think of As Red as Blood by Salla Simukka as Nordic crime fiction "lite" -- it's a young adult thriller in the (less gruesome) vein of works by authors like Jo Nesbø and Stieg Larsson.  This first in a trilogy introduces readers to 17 year-old Lumikki, an invisible outsider living on her own while attending high school in frigid Tampere.  When she discovers a stash of euros covered in blood, she's pulled into a dangerous mystery that takes her deep inside the Finnish criminal underworld.  Honed by a childhood trauma that is hinted at throughout the book, Lumikki possesses a unique skillset that makes her part detective, part action star -- she herself jokes that she is the secret lovechild of Lisbeth Salander and Hercule Poirot.  Fast moving, this title is enjoyable on its own, but is also an effective setup for the rest of the trilogy, as readers will want to know more about Lumikki and her own mysterious background.  HM

The end of the world as we know it...

Set in the days of civilization's collapse, Station Eleven, by Emily St. John Mandel, is a novel about the twists of fate that bring us together. As a Hollywood star has a heart attack and dies on stage, the virus that will change the world takes over. An EMT leaps on the stage in attempt to save him and a child actress watches in horror. The lives of these characters intersect, in the twenty years after the collapse, in unusual ways, which is part of the charm of the book. Spanning decades with multiple points of view this suspenseful novel is full of beauty and humor as well as the darkness of the times. ML

Totally Awesome Towels!

Have you ever been on a cruise and wondered how they make all those cute little towel animals? Well check out The Lost Art of Towel Origami for the answer! Author Alison Jenkins gives instructions for a cute fish, puppy, and ladybug. There’s even a basket made of towels that you can fill with bath goodies. This book is full of great ideas to customize gifts for birthdays, showers or just bath-time treats.  You could even try the designs with napkins for a special dinner party. Enjoy! DB