• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

On the Shelf

Header Right

  • Library Home
  • My Account
  • How Do I?
  • Contact Us
  • Get a Library Card!

Header Right Social

FacebookInstagramYoutubeMeetupOn the Shelf Blog

Header Right Search

  • Read, Listen, Watch
    • Search the Catalog
    • eBooks and Audiobooks
    • Streaming Movies and Music
    • eMagazines
    • Search MD Libraries
    • Check Out a Hotspot
    • Check Out a Ukulele
    • Suggest a Title for Purchase
    • Recommended Reading
    • On the Shelf
    • Local Newspaper Archive
  • Library Services
    • Get a Library Card
    • Using Your Library Card
    • SMART Card
    • Curbside Pickup
    • Computers and Printing
    • 3D Printing
    • Meeting and Study Rooms
    • Makerspace at Leonardtown Library
    • Donate to the Library
    • Exam Proctoring
    • Notary Service
    • Tell Us Your Library Story
  • Research and Learn
    • All Online Resources
    • Genealogy and Local History
    • Language Learning
    • LinkedIn Learning
    • Cisco Networking Academy
    • Job Seeker’s Toolkit
    • Resources for Grant Seekers
    • Computer and Technology Instruction
    • Homework Help
    • Local Newspaper Archive
  • Events
    • Calendar
    • Kids Events
    • Teen Events
    • Adult Events
    • Book Discussions
    • Computer and Technology Instruction
  • Kids
    • Kids Events
    • Virtual Storytime
    • Homework Help
    • Recommended Reading
    • Tumble Book Library
    • 500 by Five
    • Ready to Read
    • Resources for Parents and Educators
  • Teens
    • Teens at the Library
    • Teen Events
    • Homework Help
    • SMART Card
    • Recommended Reading
    • Resources for Parents and Educators
  • About Us
    • Locations and Hours
    • Library Policies
    • Library Administration
    • Board of Library Trustees
    • Strategic Plan
    • Libraries Stand Against Racism
    • Donate to the Library
    • Jobs at the Library
    • Volunteer at the Library
    • Friends of the St. Mary’s County Library
    • St. Mary’s County Library Foundation
    • Community Partners

Cecelia

Queenie

September 13, 2019 by Cecelia Leave a Comment

Queenie by Candice Carty-Williams
Format: Book, Audiobook
Who it’s for: Adults

Queenie is the debut novel of Candice Carty-Williams, and it tells the story of 25-year-old Queenie Jenkins, a Jamaican British woman living in London. When we meet Queenie, she is moving out of the apartment that she shares with her boyfriend Tom. The two have agreed to go on a “break” and revisit their relationship in three months. This “break” serves as a catalyst for a series of self-destructive decisions that ultimately leave Queenie plagued by panic attacks and unable to live independently.

Carty-Williams uses Queenie as an opportunity to discuss mental health and as an ode to friendship and strong women, and she does this within the confines of a character that is struggling to find her place as a Black female in a world that does not respect Black bodies. At times, Queenie’s story seems mundane. But, there is a turning point, when the reader starts to observe that many of Queenie’s problems stem from childhood trauma. Thru Queenie, Carty-Williams highlights the PTSD that many underprivileged children experience and the way that PTSD is often mistaken for “bad” behavior.

With a supporting cast of characters that add humor and ease the weight of the novel, Queenie is worth the read. And, Carty-Williams has established herself as an author to watch. That being said, prospective readers should be advised that the novel contains some mature content, and it is recommended for adults only. Find it in the catalog.

Filed Under: Recommended for Adults Tagged With: Audiobook, Book, Diversity, Fiction, Relationships

Furious Hours: Murder, Fraud, and the Last Trial of Harper Lee

July 3, 2019 by Cecelia Leave a Comment

Furious Hours: Murder, Fraud, and the Last Trial of Harper Lee by Casey Cep
Format: Book
Who it’s for: Adults

Furious Hours is many things: a historical account of the actions of the “voodoo priest” Reverend Willie J. Maxwell of Coosa County, Alabama; a gripping retelling of the trial of Maxwell’s vigilante murderer Robert Burns; an ode to the lawyer that defended them both, Thomas “Big Tom” Radney; and the novel that Harper Lee never finished.

Cep takes readers back to 1970s Alabama to explore a story that made headlines and captivated news audiences across the country. In a span of a few short years, several of Reverend Maxwell’s family members and acquaintances died under suspicious circumstances, and Maxwell was left to collect the life insurance payments. Lacking sufficient evidence to explain the deaths, the town suspected Reverend Maxwell was using voodoo to kill his victims. Fed up with living in fear and frustrated by the inability of law enforcement to stop the carnage, Burns shoots Maxwell at the funeral of one of his victims.

After reading about these peculiar events, Harper Lee traveled back to her home state on a quest to write a best-selling, true-crime novel that was rooted in old-fashioned journalism and that steered clear of the “fact-bending” that was popular in non-fiction at the time. But, this novel never made it to press.

In Furious Hours, Cep pieces together the facts that still remain and offers an inside look at Lee during the years following the success of To Kill a Mockingbird.  Cep’s novel is informative and well-researched, and she gracefully recaptures the drama of the courtroom. Furious Hours is the debut novel of the Maryland native. Find it in the catalog.

Filed Under: New for Adults, Recommended for Adults Tagged With: Book, Nonfiction, True Crime

The Bride Test

April 22, 2019 by Cecelia Leave a Comment

The Bride Test by Helen Hoang
Release Date: May 07, 2019
Format: Book
Who it’s for: Adults

The Bride Test is the much anticipated follow-up to Hoang’s debut novel The Kiss Quotient. The Bride Test features Khai Diep, a 26-year-old living with autism, and Esme Tran, the woman his mother has selected from Vietnam to be his future wife. As Khai struggles to understand his emotions and Esme battles her insecurities, the pair embark on a journey of companionship. What makes this novel unique is that Hoang, the author, was diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder in 2016, and Hoang’s father also has autism. Additionally, the character Esme was inspired by Hoang’s mother who immigrated to the United States. Hoang’s writing reflects those experiences, and she creates characters that are realistic and believable. She delves into sensory processing issues, as well as the stigma associated with being an immigrant. The result is an affectionate romance novel that will leave readers wanting more. Find it in the catalog.

Filed Under: New for Adults, Recommended for Adults Tagged With: Book, Fiction, Romance

The Happy Vegan: A Guide to Living a Long, Healthy, and Successful Life

February 8, 2019 by Cecelia Leave a Comment

If you’ve ever considered adopting a plant based diet, this book is for you. Simmons takes readers on a journey that begins with his personal introduction to a vegan lifestyle and travels chapter by chapter through the reasons why others should consider this lifestyle as well. He appeals to all fronts by exploring the health benefits of veganism, the environmental impact, animal suffering, and the subconscious, emotional impacts of veganism. And, he does all of this with a very direct, no nonsense approach. He does not sugar coat the truth out of fear of upsetting the reader. This is particularly true in the section about animal abuse that contains graphic descriptions of the conditions inside concentrated animal feeding operations (also known as factory farms) and rendering plants. Although difficult to read at times, the graphic descriptions serve as a catalyst for action and force the reader to at least acknowledge, if not fully accept, the truth about where their meat comes from.

But, despite this direct approach, Simmons does allow that a plant based lifestyle will look different for everyone. Some may choose to be strict vegans. Some will make exceptions and eat this, but not that. For example, Simmons concedes that he’ll eat something cooked in fish stock, but not beef stock. Simmons encourages readers to find a space on the spectrum that works for them and to do their best at doing the least amount of harm possible. The book ends with tips on beginning a plant based diet, and it includes an appendix that takes readers through the practice of meditation. Highly recommended for adults. Find it in the catalog.

Filed Under: Recommended for Adults Tagged With: Book, Digital Audiobook, Nonfiction, Veganism

How to Be a Good Creature: A Memoir in Thirteen Animals

November 30, 2018 by Cecelia Leave a Comment

The cover of this book caught my eye, so I decided to give it a try. And, I was pleasantly surprised. It is memoir that is interwoven with lessons learned from the animals in the author’s life. The author, Sy Montgomery, has been an animal lover since early childhood, and she developed deep connections with the animals that crossed her path. A writer by trade, Montgomery has traveled the world to conduct research for her writing. Thus, the animals she encounters range from family dogs and backyard hens to emus and octopuses.

Personally, I am not an animal person, but I still found Montgomery’s stories intriguing. In particular, I enjoyed learning about all of the exotic animals that she came across, including the Matschie’s tree-kangaroo and the Goliath birdeater. This was a quick, easy read. But, it may not be suitable for everyone, as it does contain a very frank discussion about depression and mental illness.

Find it in the catalog.

Filed Under: New for Adults Tagged With: Animals, Book, Memoir, Nonfiction

True-Blue Cowboy

September 21, 2018 by Cecelia Leave a Comment

True-Blue Cowboy by Sara Richardson
Format: Book
Who it’s for: Adults

Set against the mountains of Topaz Falls, Colorado, lawyer turned farmer Everly finds a second chance at love with her bull-rider beau Mateo. The two seem an unlikely pair at first. Everly is living a quiet life with her goats Matilda, Honey, Wormwood, and Trunchbull. And, Mateo is the star of the show as one of Raine’s Renegades. But, a blind date that ends with a kiss leaves them both yearning for and fearing more. Things take an interesting turn after Mateo purchases the farm that Everly is leasing, and he becomes her landlord and, later, roommate. In true romance novel style, Mateo is Everly’s protector and saves her no less than three times, and Everly adheres to the typical role of de facto therapist.

Everly and Mateo are a charming couple. Their love story is a cozy, lighthearted read filled with everything from a duck named Walter and grumpy old retirees to mountain lions and drug cartels. And, the book ends with a life lesson about the importance of having people in our lives to make it all worthwhile. Find it in the catalog. 

Filed Under: New for Adults, Recommended for Adults Tagged With: Cowboy, Farmer, Romance

  • Go to page 1
  • Go to page 2
  • Go to Next Page »

Primary Sidebar

On the Shelf Home

 

Welcome to On the Shelf! Find reviews and recommendations for books, movies, music, library resources, and more. All posts from the Kid’s Book Blog have been brought over to On the Shelf, so your old favorites are still here!

Subscribe so you don’t miss a post!

Recent Posts

  • Chunky
  • Light of the Jedi
  • The Guest List
  • The Passover Guest
  • The Silent Patient

Categories

Tags

Adventure African American Animals Audiobook Award Winner Bears Bedtime Being Different Birds Book Cats Classic Clothes Colors Dogs Emotions Family Fantasy Fiction Food Foreign Culture Friendship Go Green History Holidays Humour Interactive Jobs Libraries or Books Mice Monsters Music Mystery New Baby Nonfiction On the Farm Picture Book Rhyming Romance School Seasons Things That Go Tough Stuff True Stories Weather

Archives

St. Mary's County Library

Monday – Thursday: 9 a.m. – 8 p.m.
Friday – Saturday: 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Sunday: 1 – 5 p.m. (Lexington Park Library only)

 

Friends of the St. Mary’s County Library

St. Mary’s County Library Foundation

Locations

Charlotte Hall Library
37600 New Market Rd., Charlotte Hall, MD
301-884-2211

Leonardtown Library
23630 Hayden Farm Ln., Leonardtown, MD
301-475-2846

Lexington Park Library
21677 FDR Blvd., Lexington Park, MD
301-863-8188

Quick Links

  • My Account
  • Search the Catalog
  • eBooks and Audiobooks
  • Streaming Movies and Music
  • Search MD Libraries
  • Online Resources
  • Events
  • Meeting Rooms
  • Mobile Print Service
Contact Us | Privacy Policy | Accessibility
FacebookInstagramYoutubeMeetupOn the Shelf Blog