Staff Picks Adult

Wicked Autumn

by G.M. Malliet

Max Tudor a retired MI5 agent, has adapted well to his post as vicar of St.  Edwold’s . All is well in the idyllic village of Nether Monkship until a woman is found dead. Max’s training as a former agent kicks in, and before long he suspects foul play.

Recommended by: Holly Balasa, Youth Services Shelver

Posted in: Adult Fiction

Emeralds of Oz: Life Lessons from over the rainbow

by Peter Guzzardi

What a pleasant surprise to find this gem of a book.   As a long time fan of the 1939 MGM production of the Wizard of Oz and Frank L. Baum, I dove right in.  Guzzardi gleans pearls of wisdom from the actions of our beloved cast.  Lessons of compassion and understanding are hidden just beneath the surface.   MGM dedicated their classic movie to the young at heart and to those who faithfully return to it again and again.  This book is for anyone who loves the book as much as the movie and who is eager to spend even more time with it.

Recommended by: Theresa Hildebrand, Patron Services Manager

Posted in: Adult Fiction

Uncommon Type: some stories

by Tom Hanks

This is a delightful book! This book is made up of a bunch of short stories that keep you turning the page. As you go from story to story you will find you run into familiar characters. Hanks takes you back to characters from a previous story to share another moment/event in their lives. This book made me laugh, made me emotional, and inspired me. This is a must read!

Recommended by: Jenna Schwartz, Reference Librarian 

Posted in: Adult Nonfiction

Big Little Lies

by Liane Moriarty

Follow the intertwined lives of Madeline, Celeste and Jane as they deal with and try to conceal struggles within each of their own lives:  domestic abuse, bullying, infidelity and murder.  Although addressing social and moral issues that are hot button topics of today, author Liane Moriarty uses well-placed humor, sharp language, and insightful scenes to make this the page turning book of the summer.

If you enjoyed the book, check out a DVD or Blu-Ray copy of HBO’s Big Little Lies, Season One, an award-winning limited series available at the Orland Park Public Library.

Recommended by: Mary Adamowski, Assistant Library Director

Posted in: Adult Fiction

Shed Your Stuff, Change Your Life

by Julie Morgenstern

Shed Your Stuff, Change Your Life, by Julie Morgenstern, is a very practical book that helps readers decide how they may want to simplify their lives and make space for new pursuits. The author addresses three areas including the physical things we collect, the habits we keep, and the time commitments we make. She also addresses some of the psychological reasons we might be holding on to certain things and provides various exercises to help readers become un-stuck. Unlike some of the other simplifying and organizing books I have read, this author does not propose to know how much stuff is the right amount for an individual to keep or shed; she believes that whatever amount makes the individual comfortable is the right amount.

Recommended by: Julie Pryor, Patron Services Assistant Manager

Posted in: Adult Nonfiction