Looking for your next great read? See what the Newfields librarians are reading and loving this month…
Year of Yes: How to Dance it Out, Stand in the Sun and Be Your Own Person by Shonda Rhimes
I struggle with New Year’s Resolutions. More often than not, it’s because I can’t decide on one as I have so many that I want to accomplish and I don’t really challenge myself to do it.
When I find myself in a rut such as this, I usually turn to forms of media that can help inspire me; whether that’s a show, a video game, or a book. It is always comforting to see a character or an individual going through similar challenges such as me. Imagine my surprise when I found a book by one of my favorite showrunners and writers of all time that talks about a familiar feeling.
Shonda Rhimes is a massively successful media icon. From writing hit shows such as Grey’s Anatomy, to becoming a CEO of her own production company, to inspiring others to create interesting works, she is a creative marvel. And she is the absolute last person I thought I’d relate to.
In her memoir Year of Yes, Rhimes details her year in the life of saying “yes” more when previously she was very reclusive and declined many invitations and opportunities. It was refreshing to see a prominent figure similar to me with introversion and the fear of uncomfortable external situations. Throughout her journey in the memoir she realizes how closed off and small she has made the world around her through fear, and continously works through that. The book touches on the idea that it is important to find the balance that makes you happy and to live your most authentic life. Which is something I think we’re all striving for at the end of the day.
This was quite a motivational read for me in that it encouraged me to push myself out of my self-imposed box more, to acknowledge when I’ve rocked something, and to be mindful as I go through life continuosuly trying to make myself my own “best” but, more importantly, contentedly happy. If you are interested in starting the New Year on a fresh and thoughtful foot, I’d recommend checking this book out and “saying yes” to the little voice in your head that tells you to go out and do something!
This book is available in both our physical library collection as well as the Libby app.
-Lauren B.
The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by VE Schwab
This book seems to divide readers into two camps. Some said the author didn’t do enough to hold their interest and the others said the book was perfect. About a third into the book I did become restless enough to check out other reader’s reviews. There were many rave reviews, so I continued to listen to it on our Libby account. I enjoyed the book and worried about Addie.
We must take into account our young heroine Addie LaRue might not have been thinking clearly when she made a deal with the devil to get out of an arranged marriage. We also must consider she was living in 1714, which was nothing like our lives in 2024, so we might want to cut her some slack. She didn’t have the internet to tell her this might be a really bad idea and offer up better solutions.
The very handsome devil does save her from an arranged marriage, but as to her request to be completely free and live as long as she wanted to in return for her soul, he chose to interpret her wish by making her completely forgettable, which wears hard on one’s soul. As a result, she cannot say her name, she can not leave a mark with a pencil or paintbrush, which frustrates her artistic side to no end. Her family has no idea who she is, and she is cast from the village.
She can feel pain, but she will survive it beautifully. Not a mark on left on her. Almost every year, the devil returns to see if she’s ready to relinquish her soul to him. And no matter how bad things have been, she says “No.” It is a contest of wills. Some years, he does not show up for their yearly meeting, which makes her apoplectic since he is the only person who remembers who she is.
Addie, like many of us, learns things the hard way. It’s going to take some time, perhaps close to 300 years, for her to find her way. Finally, Henry shows up, and it seems her life has become balanced at last. For Henry remembers who she is.
This book takes us on a historical journey through well-known artists’ lives and France’s wars. Addie loves New York City. It’s a good place to forget and be forgotten but also for her to learn how to leave her mark on the world. The book ends on an open note, which leaves one to speculate if V. E. Shwab might treat us to a sequel. It would be interesting to see where Addie will go next.
-Cori C.
Starter Villain by John Scalzi
Inheriting your uncle’s supervillain business is more complicated than you might think. Particularly when you discover who’s running the place.
Charlie’s life is going nowhere fast. A divorced substitute teacher living with his cat in a house his siblings want to sell, all he wants is to open a pub downtown, if only the bank will approve his loan.
Then his long-lost uncle Jake dies and leaves his supervillain business (complete with island volcano lair) to Charlie.
But becoming a supervillain isn’t all giant laser death rays and lava pits. Jake had enemies, and now they’re coming after Charlie.
-Goodreads
This book had me at the cover. But the inside was just as delightful.
Funny, quirky, and well-paced. Charlie’s world is utterly normal. A broke, divorced substitute teacher with no more ambition than to open his own pub downtown, Charlie’s life takes a sharp turn when his estranged uncle Jake dies and leaves him his business. But it’s not just any business. It’s a supervillain business.
And villainy comes with some interesting perks. Like intelligent spy cats. Talking dolphins (who have an annoying level of class consciousness), and even a secret lair under an island volcano.
But with a supervillain business comes supervillain responsibilities. And a fair number of villainous enemies.
We follow Charlie along this hilarious adventure around the world as he tries to piece together what his uncle wants him to do and why he chose Charlie of all people to will his supervillain empire.
If you need a boredom buster with wit and charm, pick this book up immediately. It’s a fast read that will have you chuckling all the way through. I’m actually a little sad it’s not a series—I’d have liked to spend more time with Charlie and his intelligent spy cats.
This book is available to check out in our collection as well as via ebook on the Libby app.
-Brittney T.
