Blog

Calling All Bourbon Aficionados

by Victoria Lafean, Programming Librarian

Bourbon can be a fulfilling hobby, encompassing various aspects like collecting, tasting, learning about its history and production, and even home distilling on a small scale. Many enthusiasts find it a rewarding experience, fostering community and offering opportunities for education and enjoyment. Bourbon is a type of American whiskey, specifically defined by its production methods and ingredients. It must be made in the United States, with at least 51% corn in the grain bill, distilled at or below 160 proof, and aged in new, charred oak barrels. This process results in a whiskey known for its rich, often sweet, and spicy flavor profile, with notes of vanilla and caramel. The Manhattan Public Library is here to help you further this interest, whether it be in our fiction stacks or our non-fiction stacks.

All shelf locations and book descriptions quoted in this list can be found in the Manhattan Public Library catalog located at https://catalog.manhattan.lib.ks.us/polaris/default.aspx.

“Whiskey Distilled: A Populist Guide to the Water of Life” by Heather Greene

“In this lively and authoritative guide, Greene uses bright visuals, an easy-to-read format, and the familiar vocabulary of wine to teach readers about whiskey and encourage them to make their own evaluations. Peppered with wry anecdotes drawn from her unusual life–and including recipes for delicious cocktails by some of today’s most celebrated mixologists—’Whiskey Distilled’ will be enthusiastically greeted by the whiskey curious as well as by journeymen whiskey drinkers thirsty to learn more about their beloved tipple.”

“Pappyland: A Story of Family, Fine Bourbon, and the Things That Last” by Wright Thompson

“This is the story of how Julian Van Winkle III, the caretaker of the most coveted cult Kentucky Bourbon whiskey in the world, fought to protect his family’s heritage and preserve the taste of his forebears, in a world where authenticity, like his product, is in very short supply. Julian Van Winkler III provides a testimony to the challenge of living up to your legacy and the rewards that come from knowing and honoring your people and your craft.”

“Jim Murray’s Whiskey Bible, 2024” by Jim Murray

“This is the most comprehensive and thoroughly researched guide to the world’s whiskies ever produced. Honest, forthright and proudly independent, Jim Murray has, for this 20th Anniversary edition, tasted and rated over 4,000 whiskies, shedding light on more than 1500 Scottish single malts, nearly 400 blended scotches and more than 900 American whiskies. ‘Jim Murray’s Whisky Bible’ provides an unrivalled and invaluable source of reference to the consumer, the whisky industry and the drinks trade alike. In terms of whisky, this is, and has been for the last 20 years, the gospel!”

 

If non-fiction isn’t your cup of tea, oh I mean bourbon, here are some selections from our fiction section:

“The Bourbon Thief” by Tiffany Reisz

“Betrayal, revenge and a family scandal that bore a 150-year-old mystery. When Cooper McQueen wakes up from a night with a beautiful stranger, it’s to discover he’s been robbed. The only item stolen–a million-dollar bottle of bourbon. The thief, a mysterious woman named Paris, claims the bottle is rightfully hers. After all, the label itself says it’s property of the Maddox family who owned and operated Red Thread Bourbon distillery since the last days of the Civil War, until the company went out of business for reasons no one knows.”

“100 Proof Murder” by Mary Ellis

“Travel writer Jill Curtis is in Louisville, Kentucky, on the next stop of her bourbon tour assignment, and is keen to explore the local distilleries with her videographer, Michael Erickson. But the night before Jill’s first tour at Parker’s Distillery, she is shocked to learn that the master distiller, William Scott, has died suddenly of a heart attack – and even more shocked when she discovers William’s daughter, Alexis, suspects foul play. Jill is soon drawn into a deadly blend of rivalry, jealousy, and cold-blooded murder as she attempts to uncover the truth behind William’s unexpected demise.”

“The Bourbon Kings” by J.R. Ward

“For generations, the Bradford family has worn the mantle of kings of the bourbon capital of the world. Their sustained wealth has afforded them prestige and privilege–as well as a hard-won division of class on their sprawling estate, Easterly. As family tensions, professional and intimately private ignite, Easterly and all its inhabitants are thrown into the grips of an irrevocable transformation, and only the cunning will survive.”

 

We hope that these “Top Shelf” selections will quench your thirst, and bring out the bourbon drinker, or “Tater” as they call themselves, in you.

Manhattan Public Library is a cornerstone of free and equal access to a world of ideas and information for the Manhattan, Kansas community. Learn more at mhklibrary.org.

Cozy Up with a Cup of Fantasy

by Crystal Hicks, Collection Services Manager

As a youth, I loved high fantasy: expansive worldbuilding, epic storylines, and difficult-to-pronounce imaginary names. Tamora Pierce’s books whet my palate early on, and I tore through series after series, devouring legendary tales and mythic adventures, loving every second.

As an adult, I struggle to read fantasy. Not because I don’t love it (that spark will never go out), but because I don’t have the time to invest in it. On a Friday off, I got halfway through R.F. Kuang’s “Babel”—far enough to appreciate its groundbreaking nature and clever magical schema, but not far enough to finish it before my interest waned over the next two weeks. Between a full-time job and a family, time is fleeting, so when I need a dose of fantasy, instead I turn to cozy fantasy.

Isabella Peralta of Reedsy defines cozy fantasy as “lighter fantasy stories that highlight character journeys over epic adventures,” according to her article “What Is Cozy Fantasy?”. These are light, happily-ever-after stories about relatable characters who happen to live with or around magic, generally with low stakes. Many of these books have a strong sense of community or found family, and they can focus on emotionally-healing journeys. Most of these stories are built in worlds very similar to our own (either historically or currently), or they riff on popular fantasy games and tropes, so minimal time is devoted to worldbuilding and it’s easier to jump into the story. Cozy fantasy books are easier for me to pick up at any time because tensions are low and, frankly, I’m less likely to run into a philosophically-deep thought I need to mull over.

Heather Fawcett’s Emily Wilde series (begin with “Emily Wilde’s Encyclopaedia of Faeries”) got me started on cozy fantasy. In each book, grouchy professor Emily Wilde is working on a new, titular research project with the annoyingly personable Wendell Bambleby in tow. Set in a vaguely Edwardian setting, Emily’s dryadology research takes her to remote locations, where the reader can enjoy Emily’s social awkwardness and deep knowledge of folklore that always manages to save the day. Appropriately, the books are littered with footnotes.

“The Ornithologist’s Field Guide to Love” by India Holton also takes place in an alternate historical version of England. As may be clear from the title, this book is as much rom-com as it is cozy fantasy, following ornithologists in a competition to see who will be awarded Birder of the Year as they persevere through magical shenanigans and falling in love. Holton writes with tongue firmly in cheek, cheerfully poking fun at Victorian manners and making up the most ridiculous magical birds possible. For more banter and magical adventures, the series continues with “The Geographer’s Map to Romance.”

Finishing my trifecta of Anglophile cozy fantasies is “A Sorceress Comes to Call” by T. Kingfisher, which embraces its Regency romance parallels. The book’s plot? A sorceress, determined to make a good match for herself and her daughter, targets a wealthy old Squire. The heroes? The Squire’s spinster sister and the sorceress’s tween daughter, who do all they can to sabotage the impending marriage proposal. Kingfisher pushes the line of cozy fantasy by braiding together fairy tale, Regency romance, and horror elements, but it was still a refreshing, heartwarming read with just the right amount of magic.

I would be remiss if I didn’t mention T.J. Klune’s “The House in the Cerulean Sea,” a book best described as the epitome of a hug. Linus Baker, a downtrodden case worker who inspects orphanages for magical youth, visits the titular house on Marsyas Island. There, he meets a gaggle of magical children and their caretaker, Arthur Parnassus. Despite his fear and skepticism of magical creatures, Linus’s views are slowly broadened, and he falls in love with Arthur, the children, and the island. Klune continues the story from Arthur’s perspective in “Somewhere Beyond the Sea,” and it’s wonderful seeing the couple come into their own as the children’s adoptive parents.

On a different Friday off, I picked up “The River Has Roots” by Amal El-Mohtar, and it delighted me on many fronts. Most excitingly, this was a novella, so I finished it in mere hours! Secondly, it’s a fairy tale retelling, so the story immediately felt familiar, simple and yet complex in its emotions. Finally, the backbone of the narrative is the deep love of two sisters, depicted so beautifully it made me cry as they were separated by love and death, then reunited by magic. I absolutely cannot wait for El-Mohtar’s upcoming short story collection, “Seasons of Glass and Iron.”

Where to settle in next? My to-be-read list has several cozy fantasies on it. First, viral sensation “The Spellshop” by Sarah Beth Durst, where a former librarian sets up a jam shop and surreptitiously sells spells. Next, “Half a Soul” by Olivia Atwater, the first in her Regency Faerie Tales series. Julie Leong’s “The Teller of Small Fortunes” follows Tao, a fortune teller determined to avoid big fortunes, for those come rife with big risks. For those into Dungeons & Dragons, you may want to pick up “Can’t Spell Treason without Tea” by Rebecca Thorne or “Legends & Lattes” by Travis Baldree.

For more recommendations, cozy fantasy or not, feel free to contact us at the Reference Desk, or ask us to fill out a Personalized Reading List with book suggestions just for you and your reading tastes. I wish you a happy fall, with many warm beverages, blankets, and cozy books to read.

Manhattan Public Library is a cornerstone of free and equal access to a world of ideas and information for the Manhattan, Kansas, community. Learn more at mhklibrary.org.

Celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month

by Kaitlyn Ring, Readers’ Advisory Librarian

In September we celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month to give special recognition to the amazing Hispanic and Latine members of our community. While we like to celebrate Hispanic culture and identities throughout the year, this month gives us the extra opportunity to showcase the many wonderful authors and stories that we have in our collection at the Manhattan Public Library.

All information about these books has been taken from our catalog, which you can visit at https://catalog.manhattan.lib.ks.us/polaris/default.aspx.

---

Adult Fiction

“Malinalli” by Veronica Chapa

“A real-life historical figure, the woman known as Malinalli, Malintzin, La Malinche, Dona Marina, and Malinalxochitl was the Nahua interpreter who helped Spanish conquistador Hernan Cortes communicate with the native people of Mexico. When indigenous leaders observed her marching into their cities, they believed she was a goddess–blessed with the divine power to interpret the Spaniards’ intentions for their land. Later, historians and pop culture would deem her a traitor–the ‘Indian’ girl who helped sell Mexico’s future to an invader. In this riveting, fantastical retelling, Malinalli is all of those things and more, but at heart, she’s a young girl, kidnapped into slavery by age twelve, and fighting to survive the devastation wrought by both the Spanish and Moctezuma’s greed and cruelty.”        

 

“Woman of Light” by Kali Fajardo-Anstine

“Luz ‘Little Light’ Lopez, a tea leaf reader and laundress, is left to fend for herself after her older brother, Diego, a snake charmer and factory worker, is run out of town by a violent white mob. As Luz navigates 1930’s Denver on her own, she begins to have visions that transport her to her Indigenous homeland in the nearby Lost Territory. Luz recollects her ancestors’ origins, how her family flourished and how they were threatened. She bears witness to the sinister forces that have devastated her people and their homelands for generations. In the end, it is up to Luz to save her family stories from disappearing into oblivion.”

 

“The Cemetery of Untold Stories” by Julia Alvarez

“When celebrated writer Alma Cruz inherits a small plot of land in the Dominican Republic, she turns it into a place to bury her untold stories–literally. She creates a graveyard for manuscript drafts and revisions and the characters whose lives she tried and failed to bring to life and who still haunt her. Alma wants her characters to rest in peace, but they have other ideas, and the cemetery becomes a mysterious sanctuary for their true narratives.”

---

Young Adult Fiction

“Salvacion” by Sandra Proudman

“Lola de La Pena yearns to be free from the societal expectations of a young Mexican lady of her station. She spends her days pretending to be delicate and proper while watching her mama cure the sick and injured with sal negra (black salt), a recently discovered magic that heals even the most mortal of sicknesses and wounds. But by night, she is Salvacion, the free-spirit lady vigilante protecting the town of Coloma from those who threaten its peace and safety among the rising tension in Alta California after the signing of the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo.”

 

“This Is the Year” by Gloria Muñoz

“‘This is the year. Yes, Ofe, on this gloomy first day of my last year of high school, I swear before your grave, Hermana, this is the year I am getting out of here.’

So swears Julieta Villareal, a seventeen-year-old wannabe writer whose twin sister died in a hit-and-run a few months ago. Juli’s Florida home is crumbling in the face of climate disaster, and with Ofelia gone, Juli can’t stand to stay any longer in a place that doesn’t seem to have room for her. She’s not sure how she’s going to do it, everyone knows brown-skinned, poverty-stricken New Americans like Juli have no options, but she’s getting out.”

 

“These Vengeful Wishes” by Vanessa Montalban

“When her stepfather is arrested, aspiring artist Ceci moves back to her mother’s hometown of Santa Aguas, an eccentric small town steeped in the legend of La Cegua, the specter of a wronged witch who appears on lonely roads at night, luring untrustworthy men to their deaths. Ceci and her mother take up residence in the abandoned manor of the Sevilla family, rumored to have been cursed by La Cegua, where she begins to uncover a past connected to her mother.”

---

Children’s

Join us for bilingual stories and activities celebrating Spanish language and culture.

We will read picture books by Latinx authors and illustrators, followed by a fun craft or activity. “¡Cuenta cuentos! / Tell Tales!” is a collaboration with the K-State Department of Modern Languages. We welcome both Spanish speakers and English or other language speakers. Suggested for ages 5 and up.

¡Acompáñenos para disfrutar de cuentos bilingües y actividades que celebran las culturas y comunidades latinas! Vamos a leer libros álbumes de autores e ilustradores latinos y después divertirnos con manualidades o arte. “¡Cuenta cuentos!” es una colaboración con el Departamento de Lenguas Modernas de K-State. Hablantes de todos los idiomas son bienvenidos. Recomendado para niños de 5 años en adelante.

Our next “Cuenta cuentos! / Tell Tales!” Bilingual Storytime will take place at 2 p.m. Saturday, October 11, 2025.

---

Manhattan Public Library is a cornerstone of free and equal access to a world of ideas and information for the Manhattan, Kansas, community. Manhattan Public Library serves more than 75,000 people in the Riley County area through curated book and other media collections, knowledgeable staff, relevant programming for all ages, and meeting space. Learn more at mhklibrary.org.

Playing Detective with Epistolary Fiction

by Savannah Winkler, Adult Services Librarian

One of my favorite parts of reading mystery books is getting to play detective. I have always enjoyed the classics, like Agatha Christie or Sherlock Holmes, where I feel like I’m cracking the case from my couch. Within the last year, I also discovered that I enjoy a good epistolary novel. If you’re not familiar with epistolary novels, these books don’t tell stories in the usual way. Instead, they unfold through emails, texts, transcripts, photos, and other “found” documents. This makes you the one sorting through the clues. You’re not just reading—you’re investigating. So, if you’re like me and love the thrill of piecing together a puzzle, you might enjoy these epistolary mysteries.

Janice Hallett has written a handful of mystery novels that use an epistolary format. The first of hers that I read was “The Mysterious Case of the Alperton Angels.” This book opens with you, the reader, discovering a safe deposit box filled with documents. You are instructed to read them and then make a decision: destroy them or take them to the police. The story that follows is told through those documents including email, text messages, transcripts, and more. The documents reveal information about the Alperton Angels, a cult that believed a newborn was the anti-Christ. Decades after the cult’s crimes, writer Amanda Bailey is determined to find the Alperton baby, now eighteen years old. However, as she searches, Amanda realizes that the dark story of the Alperton Angels isn’t the whole truth. Unfortunately, the events surrounding the cult are even worse than she could have imagined.

Following the “Alperton Angels,” I checked out Hallett’s other epistolary novels. “The Appeal” was equally as fun and unpredictable. This story follows The Fairway Players, a diverse group of community members that participate in the local theatre. Tragedy befalls the group’s director, Martin Hayward, when his granddaughter is diagnosed with a rare form of cancer. The acting group rallies together to start raising money for the Hayward family. However, disagreements and tensions arise, and a dress rehearsal takes a sudden and explosive turn. Then something even worse occurs, and the body of one actor is discovered.

After “The Appeal,” I also picked up Hallett’s 2024 release, “The Examiner.” This book had a twist that actually made me gasp out loud. The story tells yet another murder mystery through the multimedia. This time, the characters are a group of six students as they work on an art degree. The camaraderie of the group is doomed from the start. Throughout the book you get to read their class group chats and assignments, which are filled with obvious disagreements and distrust. The situation escalates as students steal from one another and vandalize each other’s projects. When the class’s external examiner arrives, he begins to believe that one of the students has been murdered. But who, and why?

After finishing all of Hallett’s books, I still had the itch for more mysteries that followed a similar format. I recently discovered a Japanese author named Uketsu. Uketsu is a well-known horror Youtuber in Japan, and part of their intrigue is that no one knows their real identity. Uketsu recently started publishing novels, and those have been translated into English. Their first novel is “Strange Pictures.” As the title suggests, the story’s mystery unfolds through a series of pictures.  Although on the surface the pictures seem unrelated, a macabre series of events connects them all. Uketsu’s second novel, “Strange Houses,” follows a similar premise. This time, the story centers on an unusual house. While it seems perfect on the outside, it turns out to be anything but. Images of the house’s floor plan reveal mysterious spaces and hidden rooms. Both of Uksetsu’s books invite the readers to think critically and try to figure out the mystery.

If you’d prefer a mystery that follows a slightly more traditional format, I also recommend “Penance” by Eliza Clark. A decade after the events occurred, journalist Alec Z. Carelli investigates the murder of sixteen-year-old Joan Wilson. Joan was murdered in the seaside town of Crow-on-Sea by three of her high school classmates. Little is known about the girls or why the murder occurred. As Alec investigates, he uncovers a complicated community and a disturbing internet culture. “Penance” is an impactful mystery told through podcast transcripts, interviews, and Alec’s own unreliable narration.

All these titles and more are available for checkout at the Manhattan Public Library. And if you’d like to know more about what others are reading, consider attending the library’s “Donuts and Danger” book discussion. The next discussion will be on September 25^th from 6:30 – 8:30 p.m. in the library’s auditorium.

Manhattan Public Library is a cornerstone of free and equal access to a world of ideas and information for the Manhattan, Kansas, community. Learn more at mhklibrary.org.

Books for Struggling or Reluctant Readers

by Corey Ptacek, Collection Development Librarian

Libraries are a place for all, and the Manhattan Public Library has recently taken a step towards making reading more accessible for readers with dyslexia by identifying print books with dyslexic-friendly fonts and books with high interest and low vocabulary, making them searchable within the catalog.

Dyslexia, which is the most common learning disability, affects up to 1 in 5 people worldwide. People with dyslexia often have trouble spelling, reading, and saying words. While the severity will vary from person to person, some symptoms for most people with dyslexia include:

• Similar-looking letters are often confused with each other
• Trouble rhyming
• Reluctance to read aloud
• Difficulty spelling simple words (https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/6005-dyslexia)

Dyslexic-friendly fonts use unique letterforms (so ‘p’s are not just mirrored ‘q’s) and heavy-weighted bottoms to prevent the rotation of letters that people with dyslexia often experience (opendyslexic.org/about).

High interest, low vocabulary (hi-lo) books are typically shorter than average and feature interesting themes and topics while using easy-to-understand vocabulary. Young people who find that books targeted to their age range are too difficult to read shall no longer be relegated to the children’s room to browse the same books that appeal to children just beginning their reading journeys. Now, they can find engaging and relatable hi-lo materials written in simple language for their age range.

I want to highlight a few books released in recent years from Orca Book Publishers, who offer ‘ultra-readable’ books for young people ages 12-18. These books are both high interest, low vocabulary and dyslexic-friendly. Search the catalog for “dyslexia-friendly font” or “high interest/low vocabulary” to find other titles and place your requests! Information about these books has been taken from the publisher and our catalog, which you can visit at https://catalog.manhattan.lib.ks.us/polaris/default.aspx.

 

“Spotting Dottie” by Gail Anderson-Dargatz

“When Charlotte gets a drone for her fourteenth birthday, she’s determined to get footage of Dottie, the elusive lake monster of Dorothy Lake. Her grandma, who has dedicated her life to searching for the monster, is the joke of the town. But when Charlotte manages to capture a video of the monster and posts it online, she’s the sudden target of a media storm. Now everyone is making fun of her too. Worse, droves of monster hunters arrive in her town, crowding the lake. When their boat propellers threaten to hurt Dottie, Charlotte is faced with a difficult choice.”

 

“Leon Levels Up” by Paul Coccia

“Twelve-year-old Leon loves video games. When he plays, he feels confident for just a little while. The rest of the time he feels like a loser. So Leon is shocked when Nico, the coolest kid ever and the son of a video-game developer, invites him over to test out the newest game at his dad’s high-tech lab. To play, they must submerge themselves in giant tanks filled with nanobots, which are programmed to interact with the players and form the physical gaming world. It sounds perfectly safe. But a glitch causes the tiny robots to start behaving oddly, putting the boys in real-life danger. Now it’s up to Leon to slay a dragon, to beat the game and save Nico and himself…before the timer runs out.”

 

“Lucky Break” by Brooke Carter

“Seventeen-year-old Lucy ‘Lucky’ Graves is devoted to her championship rugby team, but her dreams of a scholarship are destroyed when she breaks her ankle during an important game. If it doesn’t heal properly, Lucy could be benched for the rest of the year. Goodbye pro career, goodbye college, goodbye future. Without rugby, who is she? Now her anxiety and OCD are getting worse, and a past trauma has resurfaced to haunt her. Lucy needs to stop running from her past to discover what it really means to be a team player.”

 

The Manhattan Public Library has even more options for readers of any age with dyslexia, including large print books, ebooks, and graphic novels. Large print books have bigger spaces between the lines of text and larger lettering. Some books are also printed with “larger print,” a font size between large print and regular print, and these can be found by searching the catalog for “larger print.” Ebooks can be borrowed from the Libby app or the Hoopla app, and both offer dyslexic-friendly font options (as well as other customization, such as background color, brightness, and text size). Graphic novels typically have fewer words than traditional novels, and images can provide context that clarifies the text. Graphic novels can also build confidence and drive motivation in struggling readers, which might just be enough to have them (or you) clamoring for the next volume in the series.

Reading and listening simultaneously can also improve reading ability. This can be done several ways through the library. Eaudiobooks are available through the Libby and Hoopla apps, and audiobooks on CD are available for all ages, so you can listen while you follow along with the print book. Additionally, we offer read-alongs for children, which are books with an attached MP3 player in a convenient, all-in-one package. No matter your reading level or preference, Manhattan Public Library has you covered. Manhattan Public Library is a cornerstone of free and equal access to a world of ideas and information for the Manhattan, Kansas, community. Learn more at mhklibrary.org.

Finding Your Happily Ever After

By Steph Wallace, Library Assistant 2, Adult Services

While families across Manhattan and beyond are gearing up for back-to-school season, my fiancé and I are preparing for the biggest event of our lives to date: our wedding. Naturally, as an avid reader of romance and romantasy, I’ve been reading many books with marriage plots and books about creating real life happiness whenever I’m not working on my own happily ever after.

The most recent title that mirrors my current feelings is “Tea You At The Altar” by Rebecca Thorne. The third book in the romantasy “Tomes and Tea” series follows Kianthe and Reyna as they prepare for their own upcoming wedding while also hunting down missing dragon eggs and overthrowing a corrupt queen. Though the sapphic couple struggles with their professional roles as the Mage of Ages and Queendom guard turned tea shop owner, their love for each other never falters. It is this commitment to each other that inspires me to follow their example. I’m eagerly awaiting the continuation of their story in “Alchemy and a Cup of Tea,” which will be published on August 12, 2025.

What would the romance genre be without the “marriage of convenience” trope? India Holton runs with this idea and kicks it up with an extra dose of humor in “The Geographer’s Map to Romance,” the second of her “Love’s Academic” series. This title focuses on side characters from “The Ornithologist’s Field Guide to Love,” the Professors Tarrant – that is, Elodie née Hughes and Gabriel Tarrant, who are both experts in thaumaturgic geography. As storm-chasing tourists are turned into cows and innkeepers consistently fail to have more than one bed available, the rockily married couple are forced to reconcile their mutual mixed feelings for each other to tame the unnatural disasters plaguing England and Wales. It takes all of their combined cunning, hex skills, and a bag of magical items to find the truth, evade their foes, and break the enchantment. And if one mystery isn’t enough, their adventures continue in “A Tangle of Time,” which will be published in September.

Want a marriage plot without a lot of romance? Check out “I Want to be a Wall” by Honami Shirono. The third and final volume of this manga neatly ties up the slice-of-life story between Yuriko and Gakurouta, an asexual woman and a closeted gay man. After getting married to stave off attempts by their parents to arrange partners for them, the couple’s relationship transcends romance as they learn what it means to live together as platonic partners. Equal parts touching and hilarious, their story validates the lives of people who value nontraditional partnerships.

For the people watching other people getting married or struggling with their own marriages, Alison Espach’s “The Wedding People” could offer some catharsis. This New York Times bestseller satire stars recently divorced Phoebe Stone, a woman with plans to take her life at a ritzy seaside resort, only to be mistaken for one of the guests of bridezilla Lila’s wedding. The two women seem to have nothing in common, and yet they manage to build a friendship that surprises both of them.

If you’re more interested in nonfiction books about marriage, pick up “I Do (I Think): Conversations About Modern Marriage” by Allison Raskin. This series of essays explores what marriage means today for millennials and Gen Zers, two demographics with new approaches towards lifelong commitments. The essays include Raskin’s life experiences as well as expert research. “I Do (I Think)” also covers topics such as prenuptial and postnuptial agreements, division or unification of finances, non-monogamous and LGBTQ relationships, intimacy, and a fresh perspective on divorce. For anyone who wants to broaden their understanding of how people create, sustain, or peaceably end relationships, this book is a must-read.

If you couldn’t care less about holy matrimony but you’re still looking to rebalance the relationships in your life, this next book might be for you. “Fair Play: A Game-Changing Solution for When You Have Too Much to Do (and More Life to Live)” by Eve Rodsky illuminates a new way to look at how work is divided in a household. Though most of the advice is geared towards married couples with children, it’s also helpful for non-traditional families or people with roommates.

Whether you’re in a partnership or single, I hope you’ll connect with one of these titles. Marriage might not be for everyone, but everyone deserves to experience love in any of its forms.

Manhattan Public Library is a cornerstone of free and equal access to a world of ideas and information for the Manhattan, Kansas, community. Learn more at mhklibrary.org.

I Forgot

By Victoria Lafean, Programming Librarian

July 2 is known as “I Forgot Day.” If you are a forgetful person who frequently forgets anniversaries, birthdays, special occasions, or even to bring the milk from the store on your way back home, then this is the unofficial holiday you should be celebrating.

Did you know that according to some studies, walking through doors can create memory lapses? Psychologists believe that this is because when people walk through a door from one room to another, the transition indicates to the brain that the scene has changed, and all information gathered in the previous room or scenario is no longer needed. Which of course we still need that information, that is why we got up in the first place, isn’t it? To avoid these lapses and absentmindedness in the future, let’s focus on our brain health. The Manhattan Library has many books for your brain in their catalog.

All information about these books has been taken from our catalog, which you can visit at: https://catalog.manhattan.lib.ks.us/polaris/default.aspx 

 

“Brain Energy: A Revolutionary Breakthrough in Understanding Mental Health–and Improving Treatment for Anxiety, Depression, OCD, PTSD, and More” by Christopher M. Palmer (Psychiatrist).

The main idea is this: Mental illness is caused by a metabolic disorder in cells, specifically in the brain cells’ mitochondria. Mitochondria are responsible for an INCREDIBLE array of metabolic functions in your cells, and especially in your brain. When you have anxiety? Your mitochondria are firing too hot. When you have depression? They’re not doing enough (or not able to do enough). “Do human cells have ‘drivers’ making the cells stop and go? It turns out that they do. The drivers of human cells, and human metabolism, are called mitochondria. And they are the common pathway to mental and metabolic disorders.”

Harvard psychiatrist Dr. Chris Palmer outlines a revolutionary new understanding that for the first time unites our existing knowledge about mental illness within a single framework: Mental disorders are metabolic disorders of the brain.

This groundbreaking book reveals: • Why classifying mental disorders as “separate” conditions is misleading • The clear connections between mental illness and disorders linked to metabolism, including diabetes, heart attacks, strokes, pain disorders, obesity, Alzheimer’s disease, and epilepsy • The link between metabolism and every factor known to play a role in mental health, including genetics, inflammation, hormones, neurotransmitters, sleep, stress, and trauma • The evidence that current mental health treatments, including both medications and therapies, likely work by affecting metabolism • New treatments available today that readers can use to promote long-term healing.

 

“Brain Health As You Age: A Practical Guide to Maintenance and Prevention” by Steven P. Simmons.

While we may expect to live longer, many wonder if their brains will keep up with their bodies. This book looks at typical functions and declines of an aging brain, the signs and symptoms of problems, the available treatments, the financial responsibilities, and the factors that determine what kinds of care people might need as they age.

The book covers a surprising amount of ground. It starts with understanding what affects natural aging has on the brain and what owners of healthy aging brains can expect. It provides an impressive list of specific strategies that readers can use to help keep their brains active and healthy. From there, the book goes into unhealthy aging brains. Specifically, this means exploring the varying levels and types of impairment (such as dementia). It explains what is normal (or not), what to expect and how conditions progress. I think the most valuable aspect of the book, however, is its last quarter, which discusses in very practical terms how to prepare for, deal with and address the effects of cognitive impairment from the perspectives of both a potential patient and a prospective caregiver.

 

“Power Up Your Brain: The Neuroscience of Enlightenment” by David Perlmutter.

The quest for enlightenment has occupied mankind for millennia. Perlmutter explores the exciting phenomena of neurogenesis and mitochondrial health, while Villoldo brings his vast knowledge of shamanic and spiritual practices to the table. Together they draw from the most powerful tools in each discipline to create the Power Up Your Brain program, a ground-breaking, five-week plan that helps prime the brain for enlightenment. It pairs a scientific approach, teaming a Neurologist with a Shaman to mix a clear and compelling description of what is happening neurologically with spiritual practices that help awaken the brain. The “Power Up Your Brain” program includes diet, dietary supplement, physical exercise, shamanic exercises, meditation, and relationship practices and changes. The program is a 5-week timespan. Perlmutter states, “Experience coupled with attention leads to physical changes in the structure and future functioning of the nervous system. This leaves us with a clear physiological fact . . . moment by moment we choose and sculpt how our ever-changing minds will work, we choose who we will be the next moment in a very real sense, and these choices are left embossed in physical form on our material selves.”

 

Other titles that can be found are: · “Unleash the Power of the Female Brain: Supercharging Yours for Better Health, Energy, Mood, Focus, and Sex” by Daniel G. Amen. · “The Gut-Brain Paradox: Improve Your Mood, Clear Brain Fog, and Reverse Disease by Healing Your Microbiome” by Steven R. Gundry. · “The Ageless Brain: How to Sharpen and Protect Your Mind for a Lifetime” by Dale E. Bredesen. · “Use Your Brain to Change Your Age: Secrets to Look, Feel, and Think Younger Every Day” by Daniel G. .

Hopefully, these resources can help you get your brain in tip-top shape so you can purposely forget “I Forgot Day” next year.

Manhattan Public Library is a cornerstone of free and equal access to a world of ideas and information for the Manhattan, Kansas, community. Learn more at mhklibrary.org.

Light Reads for Summer

by Rhonna Hargett, Assistant Director

Summer is a great time to sit back and relax with a cold drink and a good book. I’ve gathered some of my favorite light reads to help you unwind.

I just finished reading “Eddie Winston Is Looking for Love” by Marianne Cronin, and I truly enjoyed it. At 90 years old, Eddie has retired from his career as a university lecturer but has worked for several years sorting through donations at a thrift shop in Birmingham, UK. One day, 24-year-old Bella comes in to donate the belongings of her boyfriend who recently passed away. They form a steadfast if odd friendship. He helps her process her grief and she helps him in his quest to get his first kiss and expand his fashion taste. “Eddie Winston Is Looking for Love” is a beautiful story about friendship, lost love, and looking for the joy in every moment. Available in print and as a digital audiobook or ebook through Libby.

“The Thursday Murder Club” mysteries by Richard Osman is a delightful series about a retirement community in Kent. Retired MI6 agent, Elizabeth, starts a group in the puzzle room to investigate cold crimes. Consisting of a union activist, a therapist, and a widow with a life mission to make everyone around her comfortable, the group enjoys their non-traditional activity without much success until a local developer is murdered. They use their skills to work the case, although their assistance isn’t always appreciated by the local police. Witty and poignant, “The Thursday Murder Club” tells a gripping story of a unique way to stay active in one’s senior years. Available in print and as a digital audiobook or ebook through Libby.

“Not in My Book” is a spicy contemporary romance by Katie Holt. Rosie and Aiden have been in several writing classes together but have nurtured a vindictive rivalry almost since they met. With Aiden’s love for literary fiction and Rosie’s focus on romance, they have contentiously and loudly judged each other, even though they are both known to be fantastic writers. Adding to their conflict, Peruvian American Rosie is working her way through school, not even able to afford to fly home for Christmas, while Aiden is the child of New York wealth. When their combative interactions start to disrupt the class, their instructor gives them an assignment to write a romance novel together. Although this is a classic “enemies to lovers” romance, “Not in My Book” provides surprising twists and introspection along the way. Katie Holt’s novel would likely be a good read for Emily Henry fans. Available in print and as a digital audiobook or ebook through Libby.

I’m a little behind the times, but I finally read “A Man Called Ove” by Fredrik Backman. Ove is a widower who is frustrated by the world and the people in it. A new neighboring family starts as an irritant but over time coaxes him into a friendship and helps him to see the good in the world. This Swedish debut novel touches on some dark themes but still manages to be uplifting and heartwarming while finding humor in the struggles of life. Backman has published several titles since “A Man Called Ove,” including many more treasures. Available in print and as a digital audiobook or ebook through Libby. The library also provides access to both movie adaptations “A Man Called Ove” and “A Man Called Otto.”

“Miss Austen” by Gill Hornby came to my attention recently when PBS created a series adaptation of the novel. Hornby tells the story of classic author Jane Austen’s sister, Cassandra, who is viewed with mixed feelings by Austen fans. She was the author’s dearest companion in life, but she was also accused of burning many of Austen’s letters, destroying material that would give insight to a mostly unknown life. “Miss Austen” goes back and forth between Cassandra’s youth and later life, fleshing out the historical information we have about both Austen sisters with an engaging fictionalized idea of what might have led her to destroy the evidence that scholars and fans long for. There’s a bit of romance, but the story is really about love between sisters. Hornby has created an intriguing novel that might help redeem Cassandra Austen for devoted Jane Austen readers.

You can find all of these titles at Manhattan Public Library. If you are enjoying reading this summer, you might as well win prizes for it through our Summer Reading Program. Find out more at MHKLibrary.org.

Booklist: Many Colored Pages

by Savannah Winkler, Adult Services Librarian and Homebound Coordinator

This summer is shaping up to be a colorful one, especially at your local library. This year’s Summer Reading program is under way, and the theme is “Color Our World.” If you stop by the library, you’ll notice an array of color-themed decorations, including rainbow butterflies and giant paintbrushes.

But our decorations aren’t the only thing that’s bringing extra color to the library. If you frequent the library’s “New Books” collection, you may have noticed an interesting trend. Many books—particularly in the fantasy and romance genres—now have colorful sprayed edges, or pages with painted colors and designs on the outer sides of the book’s pages. Although sprayed or stenciled edges are nothing new, they’ve gained popularity amongst book collectors on internet spaces such as “BookTok” (aka, the book community on the app TikTok). For many readers, sprayed edges add an extra touch of aesthetic and personality to their favorite books. Here are a few of these books that you can find at the library.

All information about these books has been taken from our catalog, which you can visit at: https://catalog.manhattan.lib.ks.us/polaris/default.aspx

“Wooing the Witch Queen” by Stephanie Burgis:

“After successfully wrestling the throne from her evil uncle, Queen Saskia only wants one thing: to keep her people safe from the empire next door. She doesn’t have time to bring order to her chaotic library of magic. When a mysterious dark wizard arrives at her castle, Saskia hires him as her new librarian on the spot. “Fabian” is sweet and a little nerdy, and his requests seem a little strange – what in the name of Divine Elva is a fountain pen? – but he’s getting the job done. And if he writes her flirtatious poetry and his innocent touch makes her skin singe, well….”

“His Face is the Sun” by Michelle Jabès Corpora:

“Princess. Priestess. Rebel. Thief. Tensions run as hot as the Khamsin winds in the great kingdom of Khetara. Rumors of the pharaoh’s mysterious illness abound, and with them, murmurs of rebellion grow. Meanwhile, in the quiet desert, a forgotten oracle begins to unfold, setting a dark prophecy into action and drawing together four strangers… Princess SITA lives in the abundance of the palace, and in a moment of passion, she unmasks a betrayal that will put her life—and the entire royal court—in grave danger. A priestess-in-training, NEFF strives to understand her intense visions from the gods, except theirs is not the only magic at play in the grand temple. As a farmer’s daughter, RAE knows how much the pharaoh’s men have taken from her land, her people. Still, who will step forward to confront the king? KARIM was raised among the pyramids of the Red Lands and survives on the wealth of the dead as a tomb robber. But amid the spoils, an ancient evil awakens. Bloodshed is coming. Only together do these four have the potential to save the kingdom from destruction. But when the dust has settled, who will sit on the throne of Khetara?”

“Story of My Life” by Lucy Score:

“Hazel is given a one-two punch when she’s forced to move out of her Upper East Side apartment and is given a final warning from her publisher. If she doesn’t turn in a book by her next deadline, they’re cutting her loose. Hazel rashly decides to leave what’s left of her city life behind and impulse buys a house in rural Pennsylvania sight unseen. How better to entertain the loyal readers she still has and rediscover her writing mojo than immersing herself in small-town life? Too bad this town looks to be on its last legs. At least she’s finding swoon-worthy inspiration from her hot, grumpy contractor Cam and his animal-rescuing, community-involved family. It’s all just research. What could go wrong?”

“Tea You at the Altar” by Rebecca Thorne:

“Kianthe and Reyna are ready to finally walk down the aisle–in just seven days, their wedding of a wifetime will be a reality. There’s loads to do–but like all best laid plans, everything seems to be going awry. Between their baby dragons causing mayhem in Tawney, Kianthe’s uptight parents inviting themselves to the wedding, and Reyna becoming embroiled in a secret plot to overthrow Queen Tilaine, the world seems against them–how are they going to live long enough to say ‘I do’?”

“A Monsoon Rising” by Thea Guanzon:

“After a lifetime of war, Alaric and Talasyn were thrust into an alliance between their homelands that was supposed to end the fighting; however, being married to their sworn foe feels far from peaceful. Now Talasyn must play the part of Alaric’s willing empress while her allies secretly plot to overthrow his reign. But the longer the couple are forced together, the harder it becomes to deny the feelings crackling like lightning between them. When the time comes to act, can she trust him, or must she ignore her heart for the sake of so many others?”

“Legacy of Gods” Series by Rina Kent:

“In this six-book series, a spicy dark romance takes place in rival universities—Kings U and Royal Elite University—where kids from American/Russian mafia families and the English royalty attend, respectively. This college romance series details the intense sexual attraction of brooding and angsty young protagonists who become obsessed in subduing their rivals in power plays and in bed.”

The Summer Reading Program is going on now and lasts through the end of July. Readers of all ages are invited to join the Reading Challenge and earn prizes such as coupons and free books. Learn more at mhklibrary.org/sr.