Library Blog - book reviews

This week we'll be showcasing some book reviews! Want to review something you've read or watched for the library blog? Let us know by filling out the Durham Tech Book or Media Review form. Being in your late 20s and not knowing what you want to do is hard, so of course when your friend from your brief foray into boarding school asks you to come take care of her step-children who catch fire when upset or scared, you say yes. Right? Sure. You weren't doing anything anyway. Title: Nothing to See

Emotionally intuitive PIs help an overworked small town investigate the sudden disappearance of two young girls from a parking lot. Fast-paced plot with unexpected twists and turns. This book was read by Meredith Lewis, the [mostly] Orange County Campus Librarian. Title: Two Girls Down Author: Louisa Luna Genre: Mystery, Thriller, PI Crime Novel #ReadGreatThings2020 Category: A book that is part of a series [ The Janes-- the second book in the Alex Vega series--is also available at the Orange

This book was read by Susan Baker, a Reference Librarian at the Main Campus Library. Title and Author: Meg & Jo by Virginia Kantra Genre: Contemporary romance, domestic fiction Read Great Things Challenge 2020 category: Recommended by a Durham Tech librarian Description: Meg March Brooke as a stay at home mom may not stretch the imagination too far, but Jo March as a prep cook and food blogger in New York City sure does! Louisa May Alcott's classic Little Women is delightfully re-imagined by

Do you like coming-of-age stories [a.k.a. bildungsromans] and dragons, but in contemporary settings? Oh, and bad guys and mob guys and the swamp? Don't mind a little drinking and swearing (well, more than just a little)? Want something that isn't super depressing? Have I got the read for you! This book was read by Meredith Lewis, the [mostly] Orange County Campus Librarian. Title: Highfire Author: Eoin Colfer (yes, the Artemis Fowl guy) Genre: contemporary fantasy, dragon and boy stories, swamp

This book was read by Meredith Lewis, the [mostly] Orange County Campus Librarian. Title: Dominicana Author: Angie Cruz Genre: Historical Fiction, Coming-of-age stories [a Bildungsroman] #ReadGreatThings2019 Category: A book about an immigrant or immigration Dominicana has been selected as Good Morning America's Cover to Cover book club's inaugural pick. Why did you choose to read this book? Well, I read a review of it and realized it would fit one of my remaining #ReadGreatThings2019 categories

This book was read by Meredith Lewis, Orange County Campus Librarian. Title: The Nickel Boys Author: Colson Whitehead Genre: Historical Fiction #ReadGreatThings2019 Category: A book suggested by a Durham Tech librarian Also Ekpe Udoh's October 2019 Book Club pick! Why did you chose to read this book? I read a Time Magazine interview with Colson Whitehead and had also read an article about the boy's school in Florida on which he based the book. The final quote from a man who had been there really

This series was read by Courtney Bippley, Reference Librarian, Lance Lee, Spanish Instructor and TLC Director, and Meredith Lewis, Orange County Campus Librarian. Title: The Murderbot Diaries ( All Systems Red, Artificial Condition, Rogue Protocol, and Exit Strategy), a series of 4 novellas Author: Martha Wells Genre: Science Fiction #ReadGreatThings2019 Category: A book about technology [fiction counts for this category, too!] Why did you choose to read this book? Courtney (CB): Meredith told

Title: Hillbilly Elegy: A Memoir of a Family and Culture in Crisis Author: J.D. Vance Genre: memoir Why did you choose to read this book? I am a member of a two-person book club and the other member suggested this book. What did you like about it? It was a quick read. J.D. Vance details his upbringing in the Rust Belt as the descendant of Appalachian migrants to Ohio. He details the culture and communities of Scots-Irish people in West Virginia and Middletown, Ohio. Vance grew up in a close-knit

This book was read by Meredith Lewis, the [mostly] Orange County Campus Librarian, and is available for checkout at the Orange County Campus Library. Title: The Feather Thief: Beauty, Obsession, and the Natural History Heist of the Century Author: Kirk Wallace Johnson Genre: Social Science, True Crime [against a museum and the historical record], History [of animal specimen collection and feather fashion], Ethics #ReadGreatThings2019 Category: A social science book; A book by a person you admire

This book was read by Meredith Lewis, the [mostly] Orange County Campus Librarian, and is available for checkout at the Main Campus Library. Title: The Influencing Machine: Brooke Gladstone on the Media Author: Brooke Gladstone and illustrated by Josh Neufeld Genre: Social Science, Graphic Novel, Historical Overview #ReadGreatThings2019 Category: A social science book; A book about technology; A book that will help you with one of your personal goals [if increasing your media literacy is one of