Matilda (Roald Dahl): I appreciated Matilda’s bookishness and thought her revenge antics were hilarious.
The Westing Game (Ellen Raskin): As soon as I read this in ~6th grade, it was one of my favorites. I grew up on mysteries and yet somehow didn’t peg the [spoiler]. Lately I find myself rereading this one every couple of years.
Logan Likes Mary Anne (Ann M. Martin): This is really a stand-in for the entire Baby-Sitters Club series, which I absolutely devoured. I was totally a Mary Anne type, and it was nice to think girls like us could get guys like Logan ahead of [redacted] like Cokie Mason.
Adulthood
The Yiddish Policemen’s Union (Michael Chabon): Kavalier and Clay won the Pulitzer, but IMHO this is the better little-n novel. It’s basically the Stefon of plots, but somehow it totally worked (for me at least).
Love Lettering (Kate Clayborn): This was my introduction to my favorite author and hypothetical best friend Kate Clayborn. It’s a lovely little chocolate pretzel of a book (sweet and salty) and was exactly the right read at the right time.
The Bookish Life of Nina Hill (Abbi Waxman): Trivia-based meet-cute! And also very real depictions of anxiety. Actually, I think I’m due for a reread…
I am loving all of the book lists! And, I am trying VERY hard to keep myself from buying the ones I have never read. If you could see the stacks waiting beside my bed…
I absolutely love the book selections, I’m adding most of them to my to read list.
Here are mine-
-The Velveteen Rabbit by Margery Williams - My absolute favorite as a child, though my kids never loved it as i did. About love, devotion, magic, & perception.
-The Pokey Little Puppy by Janette Sebring Lowrey- it was always my favorite to read aloud
-Children of the Dust by Louise Lawrence- I read this as a tween & it was a lot of emotions. Post nuclear war life, told from 3 different perspectives.
-Magic Bites (Kate Daniels Series) by Ilona Andrews- this is my bonus because it has already been posted, but I love nearly everything Ilona Andrews & this is a series that I introduced my husband to & he liked it so much we now read the whole series together nearly every other year.
-Salt to the Sea by Ruta Sepetys- fictionalized WWII history, diving into the depths of humanity, desperation, & found family (honestly everything I’ve read by this author has been great)
-The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek by Kim Michelle Richardson- Another historical fiction, this time about the “Blue People of Appalachia” & a traveling library, about prejudice & poverty & strength & resilience of women
-Starfarers by Vonda N McIntyre - I debated if this should be put in as children’s or adult- I first read it when I was 15, but I feel it was one of my first adult/grown up mind forming/affirming books.
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LovelyMiss
(Ashley - Nerd Games Chief Morale Officer)
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Library Visit 6: Due February 28
You found a really old book in the history section. It still has one of those stamp cards in the back! Take a few moments to look back at some cool projects you made and appreciate your creativity and growth. Feel free to share them in this thread (though it is NOT required).
Little House in the Big Woods by Laura Ingalls Wilder
This is the first book series I can remember reading. I credit it with my future love of series.
The Witch of Blackbird Pond by Elizabeth George Speare
This book gave me an interest in New England history, and in the history of witch hunts.
Of Nightingales That Weep by Katherine Paterson (also famous for The Bridge to Terabithia)
This book was the first I can remember that gave me a good look at other cultures. I was fascinated by life for a young woman in feudal Japan, and I credit it with my starting to understand that other countries were real places.
Adulthood
Moon Called (aka the Mercy Thompson series) by Patricia Briggs
This is my all time favorite urban fantasy series. I love the heroine. Mercy is funny, smart, and her moral compass is always pointing in the right direction, even if she has to skirt the law to do the right thing. The world building is seriously fascinating. Bonus: The narrator of the audiobooks, Lorelei King, is just phenomenal. She just gets Mercy’s sneaky sense of humor.
Green Rider (aka the Green Rider series) by Kristen Britain
My friend & former student BJ, got me to read this series about the slightly magical messenger service in a fantasy kingdom (about the technology of the 1700’s). I love some fantasy, but find some of it silly. This one struck just the right balance for me, and I was totally hooked. One of the novels takes place in a future timeline (about the 1860’s) in a mill city. I grew up in a historic mill city (Manchester, NH) and was struck by the accuracy. I later learned the author was a park ranger at the Lowell Mills in MA, Manchester’s Sister City. I’ve since turned several more people (including some LC members!) onto this series.
Just One Damn Thing After Another (aka the Chronicles of St. Mary’s series) by Jodi Taylor
This one is crazy. A very, very British historical adventure series, that is a bit Doctor Who, a bit Monty Python, a bit The Mummy, and a bit history text book. In the series the scholars of St. Mary’s Institute study “major historical events in contemporary time”, which they insist isn’t time travel, but total is. Everyone is a bit eccentric and bonkers, but lovable. And the author will have you laughing uproariously, only to rip your heart out on the next page, and while crying uncontrollably, will have you laughing yet again. Warning: If you enjoy tea, be prepared to triple your consumption while reading this very long series. Every time Max (Madeline Maxwell) wants a cup, you will want a cup.
Brief Description: Have you seen the costumes that the ice skaters wear in the Olympics? Men and women alike have some pretty impressive duds. My son asked me for a coat they designed, that was remarkably similar in color and style to several of the mens costumes this year. It was way beyond my comfort zone (and kinda beyond my skill level if I’m being honest), but after many hours and much angst, I made the thing! (My son loves it, so totally worth it).
Dealing With Dragons by Patricia C Wrede - I loved the strong female characters (Kazul, Cimorene, and Morwen), the humor, and the way that classic fantasy tropes were turned on their heads. Also dragons. Who doesn’t love dragons? I still love this book (and the rest of the series) as an adult. I’ve re-read it many times, including to my kids, and often gift it as well.
2 The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe by CS Lewis - I loved Aslan, Mr Tumnus, and the Beavers especially, and the idea of a magical world through the wardrobe. I ventured to the back of many closets, got an autographed portrait of Aslan from the local theater production, waited at lampposts in hopes of meeting fauns, learned to make Turkish Delight (which was a disappointing candy to me as a kid…what was Edmund thinking?), and even asked for Narnia for Christmas one year. I still have the giant pillow sized Aslan that Santa brought that year.
Dragon Song (and the rest of the trilogy) by Anne McCaffrey - I listened to this audiobook from the library so many times…and read the book as well. Fire Lizards, Dragons, Music, and Pern were all wonderful. I also could relate to Menolly as a preteen that felt like I didn’t fit in well at my school, and it gave me hope that I would eventually find my people. The writing stands up to repeated reads, I still enjoy these stories.
Bonus Three books loved in my children’s childhood (books I read to my kids that they adored):
The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle - I Still have this one memorized. We wore out multiple copies. The kids loved the caterpillar and putting their fingers in the holes.
Press Here by Herve Tullet - Such a fun interactive book. Love the premise, and my kids both enjoyed it. We had his other books as well, but Press Here was by far the favorite.
3.The Book With No Pictures by BJ Novak - The kids still love this book and making Mom and Dad say silly stuff. They still request it from time to time and laugh when we read it, which is awesome.
Three books loved as an adult:
The Life and Adventures of Santa Claus by L Frank Baum Technically a children’s story, but I reread it every December. I love the magic, and the language. Reading it near the holidays feels like an enchanted, happy, cozy hug. It makes me feel festive.
One Good Knight by Mercedes Lackey - Fantasy escapism, some romance, and a dragon librarian, what’s not to like? I enjoy all the tales of the 500 kingdoms, and reread them for light escapism, though some of the views and tropes do seem a bit dated, I still enjoy them.
MYTH Conceptions by Robert Asprin (and the whole MYTH series) - Light punny fantasy fun. I read these when I wan’t an easy humorous escape from reality. They are quick reads.
Choosing 3 favorites was difficult. I would happily read anything by Patricia C Wrede, Terry Pratchett, Anne McCaffrey, Robin McKinley, Diana Wynne Jones, JRR Tolkien, or Douglas Adams any day of the week, and I read new books I love all the time.
Prompt: The Woodwork in the Willows Team:Veggie Vigilantes Project Name: Woman with the Pearl Earring ATC Project Link:January 2026 ATCs Brief Description: This is watercolour, so it required water to make. Project Photo(s):
Prompt: I a-dough-you Team:Veggie Vigilantes Project Name: Galentine’s ATC 1 Project Link:January 2026 ATCs Brief Description: This required time between the acrylic and metallic marker layers. Project Photo(s):
Prompt: Olive you Team:Veggie Vigilantes Project Name: Galentine’s ATC 2 Project Link:January 2026 ATCs Brief Description: The background to this ATC is black. Project Photo(s):
Prompt: It will be a pizza cake Team:Veggie Vigilantes Project Name: Galentine’s ATC 3 Project Link:January 2026 ATCs Brief Description: This ATC is multicoloured. Project Photo(s):
Prompt: Winnie-the-Glue Team:Veggie Vigilantes Project Name: Jellyfish ATC Project Link:January 2026 ATCs Brief Description: This ATC required glue to put together (the tissue paper was glued down over the watercolour background). Project Photo(s):
Event: It’s in a Book (books and words) Prompt: Free Range Team: Veggie Vigilantes Project Name: Reading Tracker for Terry Pratchett’s Discworld Novels Project Link:Reading Tracker for Terry Pratchett’s Discworld Novels Brief Description: I’ve started reading Terry Pratchett’s Discworld novels again (always a favorite) and wanted a fun way to keep track of what I’ve read. Project Photo(s)
My favorites are also the Death novels, and I like the Witches books a lot as well. The Tiffany Aching series is superb. The Moist Von Lipwig books had excellent audiobooks! There are very few Pratchett’s I don’t like….but I have to be in the right mood for the Ancient Civilization books or the Rincewind books, they are lower on my list for sure.
Absolutely brilliant! I’m doing a reread this year as well. Though I’m going in straight chronological order as much as possible. I just finished MEN AT ARMS. The City Watch books are my faves, but I do love all of them (except Rincewind and the two Ancient Civilizations books).
@HeroicHatchling I love that reading tracker! It’s always fun to add an artistic element to our reading
Very cool coat; good job doing something out of your comfort zone!
@Tapestry that hedgehog is soooo cute! I love the title as well
I love the dragon painting as well, and the sentiment is wonderful. Something I need to hear/read once in a while, for sure
And “murder is an option” made me chuckle!
@megwell I love your gelli printed items; I especially like the black and white one ont he upper left hand corner.
