City of Dark Magic by Magnus Flyte
City of Dark Magic is an indulgent combination of magic and suspense. This fast-paced novel is set in Prague, a city filled with history and mystery. The novel features Sarah Weston, a grad student who has traveled to the city to catalog Beethoven’s manuscripts. After being warned early in the novel that "Prague is a portal," she ingests a time-warping drug, befriends a 400-year-old dwarf and has an impassioned tryst with a prince in the courtyard. If you are interested in mystery, history and a little romance, this novel is for you.
- Recommended by Christi Rippy, Access Services Specialist
Kitchen Confidential by Anthony Bourdain
Having been a fan of Anthony Bourdain for years, I took it upon myself to read one of his first books, Kitchen Confidential. I was thoroughly entranced by his wit, crudeness, honesty and perspective. Here are a few things that stuck with me:
- Never, ever order seafood from a restaurant on a Monday – particularly when it's a special. Bad idea.
-The kitchen of the 80s and 90s was a man's world.
- The world of the "celebrity chef" is relatively new and not necessarily a good thing.
- Never order mussels from a restaurant unless you know the chef and where he got them.
- Want to be a chef? Learn Spanish and prepare to be treated like pawn for a very, very long time.
- Recommended by Terri Artemchik, Information Literacy Librarian
The Children of Abraham: Judaism, Christianity, Islam by F.E. Peters
I have been reading The Children of Abraham: Judaism, Christianity, Islam by F.E. Peters. This updated edition of the classic book is about the origins of the three religions from the time of Abraham up through the Medieval period. Peters presents a brief introduction to the principles of each religion as well as the basic exegesis of each canon and supporting texts. My favorite part about this book is the interesting information regarding the origins of the canonical texts and the path each religion has traveled. The updated edition presents the reader with great resources for further reading. The casual reader may find this book a challenge due to the scholarly nature of the text, but it is a rewarding experience all the same.
- Recommended by Brady Cross, Access Services Specialist / Interlibrary Loan
Drums of Autumn by Diana Gabaldon
Fourth in the Outlander series, Drums of Autumn continues the story of time-traveler Claire Randall Fraser and Jamie Fraser. This time we meet Claire and Jamie in pre-colonial (ca. 1760s) America, with the characters working their way to North Carolina and settling in. I'm pretty new to the South, so it is interesting to me to do some side research on some of the places mentioned in the book; Charleston and Wilmington have already made an appearance in the first hundred pages. There are also some flash-forwards to late 1960s Boston and to Brianna, Claire and Jamie's daughter, with more time travel to come.
The books can be a slow read at times, and do contain violence. They are often realistic and gritty, with a strong romantic element throughout the series. I find myself often reading other books in between instead of reading the series in order. There is even a series focusing on a side character that can be mixed in. I like the series, but in doses.
- Recommended by Amy Fyn, Coordinator of Library Instruction
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