MADreads

Book reviews by library staff and guest contributors

Good intentions?

Cover of That Kind of Mother
A review of That Kind of Mother by Rumaan Alam

Reader reviews on Goodreads for this title seem to be either in the "love it or hate it" category - not many in between. I fell on the love it side of things, but can definitely understand why some might not agree. The protagonist, Rebecca Stone, in whose head we spend the majority of time, is not exactly likable. She's not really unlikable either. She's an privileged white woman in 1980s Washington DC with a pretty narrow range of experiences and has no realization of just how limited her worldview is.

Posted by Jane J on Oct 10, 2018

The Petulant Penguin

Cover of Grumpy Pants
A review of Grumpy Pants by Claire Messer

We all have grumpy days, and sometimes we don't even know why we are grumpy! This short book shares some good calming ways to get through a grumpy spell, and the grumpy underpants page is sure to be a hilarious hit. Practice counting and breathing and snuggling up to help you feel better, and pair with Hooray for hat! for a great discussion about grumpiness.

Posted by Holly S-P on Oct 5, 2018

James Patterson presents Max Einstein

Cover of Wisconsin Book Festival
Wisconsin Book Festival

The world's #1 bestselling author James Patterson will be appearing at the Wisconsin Book Festival in conversation with Steve Paulson from WPR's To The Best of Our Knowledge. Patterson will discuss the motivation behind writing Max Einstein, his life in books, his love of reading, his method of writing, and what makes a good story. Free copies of Max Einstein will be distributed to the first 500 young readers. Attendees will get exclusive pre-release access to buy Patterson's latest Detective Michael Bennett Thriller, Ambush.

Posted by Jane J on Oct 3, 2018

Time Travel to East Berlin with the Newest Big Library Read from Overdrive!

Cover of The Girl With the Red Ball
A review of The Girl With the Red Balloon by Katherine Locke

Explore history with a touch of magic this October with Overdrive’s newest Big Library Read! Katherine Locke’s novel The Girl With the Red Balloon ebook will be available without holds to all Overdrive users October 1 through October 15.

Posted by Katie H on Oct 2, 2018

Tools to get through the everyday bits

Cover of Tell Me More: Stories Abou
A review of Tell Me More: Stories About the 12 Hardest Things I'm Learning to Say by Kelly Corrigan

What are the hardest things to say? Or the things that would help us all if we said them more? Phrases like, "I don't know," "I was wrong," "Tell me more," "I love you," and "You can go." Phrases that enrich lives with active listening and help us through the pain and discomfort of human interactions.

Posted by Molly W on Oct 1, 2018

When a book becomes a movie

Cover of Now a Major Motion Picture
A review of Now a Major Motion Picture by Cori McCarthy

Imagine your grandmother was as big as J. K. Rowling and had written the number one fantasy series of all time - with all the fandom that that entails. Now imagine the first book in that series is being made into a movie, which has pushed the fandom into an even more frenzied state. And though you've tried your hardest to distance yourself from everything to do with the books, you're now being forced to join the set of the movie being made. That's just where Iris Thorne finds herself. Her grandmother, M. E.

Posted by Jane J on Sep 17, 2018

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