Book Reviews

Misbelief: What Makes Rational People Believe Irrational Things by Dan Ariely

A few years ago Dan Ariely, Professor of Psychology and Behavioral…

The Adventures of Amina Al-Sirafi by Shannon Chakraborty

Amina al-Sirafi used to be a pirate. She sailed the Indian Ocean…

Lady Tan’s Circle of Women by Lisa See

The setting for Lisa See’s latest New York Times bestselling…

Enjoyable Audiobooks

When I was younger I went through a phase where I turned up my…

Tolkien Companion Books

  Titles reviewed: The Atlas of Middle Earth…

Brave Hearted: The Women of the American West by Katie Hickman

Katie Hickman’s Brave Hearted: The Women of the American West…

Murder at an Irish Castle by Ellie Brannigan / Lonely Hearts Book Club by Lucy Gilmore

I was set to introduce the first book in a new cozy mystery series…

Trust by Hernan Diaz

How vast individual wealth is amassed often hits its mark in…

Ninth House by Leigh Bardugo

For as long as she can remember, Alex Stern has been able to…

The Celebrants by Steven Rowley

In April, the Library hosted bestselling author Shelby Van Pelt. …

I’m Glad My Mom Died by Jennette McCurdy

As a reader I generally gravitate toward novels. From time to…

Cryptid Club by Sarah Andersen

  It’s that time of year again–the 2023 Will Eisner…

1000 Design Classics by Phaidon

Phaidon’s revised and updated 1000 Design Classics (2022) is…

“The Night Before Freedom” by Glenda Armand and “Nic Blake and the Remarkables” by Angie Thomas

Summer is here! At the Joplin Public Library, that means the…

Small Mercies by Dennis Lehane

There’s a refrain that spans time and distance. When circumstances…