The Emerald Cinephile: Three Family Films from Ireland
“Y’know Dad, I like how you bring home weird movies that no one’s heard of.” And with that statement, spoken by my nine year-old son, my work as a parent...
Posted by Book Rex on May 20, 2015
The Royal We
To celebrate the birth of Princess Charlotte, the newest addition to the British Royal Family, I decided to fall head first down a rabbit hole of Kate Middleton/Prince William romantic...
Five Days Left
Five Days Left by Jennifer Lawson Timmer is the story of two people connected through an online forum for parents with non-traditional parenting arrangements. Mara Nichols is a 42-year-old, Indian-Canadian...
Posted by on May 15, 2015
Exquisite Corpse
Exquisite Corpse by Penelope Bagieu is a great read that explores the concept of ego and the question, “What do you deserve?” The art is a classic black and white,...
Posted by Book Rex on May 8, 2015
Paper Cowboy
I am very much a native of the western suburbs of Chicago. My only homes have been in Downers Grove and Westmont, and I’ve always felt that suburbia was a...
Posted by Adrian L. on May 1, 2015
Shhhhhh! It’s The Art of Secrets!
Arson, possible hate crime, losing everything, gaining new things, a school benefit, new friendships, a fortune in lost art found only to be lost again, intrigue, mystery, and so much...
Posted by on April 17, 2015
Inside the O’Briens
Lisa Genova has yet again found the perfect vehicle for a sincere, funny, heart-wrenching story with her east coast family story, Inside the O’Briens. I find that reading her novels is...
Posted by Adult Services on April 6, 2015
Mouse Mansion
Each week, I feel privileged to share some beautiful, fun, and educational picture books with large groups of children in our storytimes here at the Westmont Library. Lately, though, a...
Posted by Adrian L. on April 3, 2015
Being Mortal
Being Mortal is an accessible and fascinating look at aging – the failings of nursing homes and also the way that people with terminal illnesses live their remaining time. Atul Gawande,...
Posted by on February 27, 2015
The Girl on the Train
I’ll admit it: there are many people out there (including all the publicity departments and book sellers) that are saying The Girl on the Train is the next Gone Girl novel....
Posted by Adult Services on February 11, 2015
Daytripper
Daytripper by Gabriel Bá and Fábio Moon is the most spellbinding, jarring, and exquisite graphic novel I have ever read. It fills the dreamless void with dreams worth living. It...
Posted by on July 16, 2014
Paperboy by Vince Vawter
Paperboy, a 2014 Newbery Honor Book, accomplished both. An 11 year-old boy growing up in Memphis in 1959 takes over his best friend’s paper route for a month. While throwing...
Posted by Adrian L. on May 30, 2014