Midwest thrillers are few and far between, but every time one crops up it scratches a special itch in my heart. There is something rich and powerful at having scenes from your childhood play out with hints of something absolutely foreign. Mindy Mejia is helping build the Midwest mystery genre with the third installment of her “Iowa Mysteries” series…
Book Reviews
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Fully Booked at DMPL: Tantalizing Time-Benders
The prequel to the TV show Outlander, Outlander: Blood of My Blood, premiered recently, so I must talk about time slip novels. In these novels, the characters accidentally stumble through time, without any knowledge of how they got there. Alone and desperate, they must navigate a world unknown. Will they find love? Will they meet […]
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Book Review: ‘Dear Marty, We Crapped In Our Nest’ by Art Cullen
Being an Iowan has been difficult for those of us who love our home and are horrified by its policies. Art Cullen, in his new book Dear Marty, We Crapped In Our Nest (Ice Cube Press), lays bare the complicated web of events that made it this way…
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Book Review: ‘The Whisper Place’ by Mindy Mejia
Mindy Mejia’s The Whisper Place continues her Iowa Mysteries series, following cop-turned-private-investigator Max Summerlin and his psychic friend and work partner, Jonah Kendrick.
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Book Review: ‘The Body Farm’ by Abby Geni
The Body Farm by Abby Geni is a collection of stories rooted deeply in the physical. Although the collection derives its title from the final short story of the book, it is an aptly chosen one; each story focuses on the disastrous effects of life on the human body, running from the miraculous to the […]
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Book Review: ‘At the Park on the Edge of the Country’ by Austin Araujo
Austin Araujo’s debut poetry collection At the Park on the Edge of the Country (Ohio State University Press) explores life at the intersections of immigration and naturalization, adulthood and childhood, understanding and apathy. Using figurative language and descriptive imagery, the collection’s three sections separate poems into formal and thematic movements. The first section addresses borders, […]
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Book Review: ‘New and Old’ art zine by Cooper Whittlesey
There’s something omnivorously large about Cooper Whittlesey’s aesthetic. He’s obviously spent time studying his craft, even though he might be considered an outsider or underground artist. His work suggests that of Gary Panter, Jean-Michel Basquait and Harmony Korine. That’s who came to mind when I came across Whittlesey’s book of collected works, New and Old, […]
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Fully Booked at ICPL: Reads for the whole family
We all have a unique relationship with our family. Some of us get along really well, others not so much. Whether a fictional family feels familiar or foreign to you, family dynamics make for compelling stories. Here are some reading suggestions that represent a variety of family dynamics. Worry by Alexandra Tanner is a newer […]
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Fully Booked at DMPL: Pageturners for any mood
I’ve just checked out the latest book by one of my favorite authors that I’ve been anticipating for months. I am excited, ready to dive into what is sure to be a new favorite. After reading a few paragraphs, I lose focus. Even if the writing and plot are brilliant, I just don’t feel like […]
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Book Review: ‘Off Izaak Walton Road: The Grace that Comes Through Loss’ by Laura Julier
In Becoming Native to This Place, Wes Jackson says, “Either all the earth is holy or none is. Either every square foot of it deserves our respect or none does.” In Off Izaak Walton Road, winner of the River Teeth Literary Nonfiction Prize, Laura Julier shows us how true this is with heart, grace and […]
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Book Review: ‘Plain Clothes Hamburglar’ by Sean Moeller
Sean Moeller’s debut poetry collection Plain Clothes Hamburglar (Rejection Letters Press) is a tightly compressed collection of vignettes that are laden with beat, location and nostalgia to create an anthemic volume of poems that, despite their playful dressing, ask to be taken seriously. Divided into sections by ingredients in a hamburger (bun, pickles and onions, […]
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Fully Booked at ICPL: Books to keep kids reading over break
School’s out! To keep kids reading over the summer — especially reluctant readers — grab these high-interest, page-turning titles for your middle-graders (3rd-6th) to encourage recreational reading and bust boredom all summer long. Graphic novels are a great place to start. Those who love the format but are ready to move on to meatier stories […]
