Molly, Answers, Author at Eisenhower Public Library

The Rathbones by Janice Clark

The allure of a story steeped in mystery is the delight in the handling of the reveal.

The Last Graduate by Naomi Novik

Last year, I reviewed Naomi Novik's first book in the Scholomance series, A Deadly Education. I was eager to plunge again into the complex world of a closed-system school for burgeoning wizards, and the second in the series, The Last Graduate, did not disappoint.

When the Stars Go Dark by Paula McLain

A compelling thriller, When the Stars Go Dark by Paula McLain is steeped in ache and trepidation.

Hidden Valley Road by Robert Kolker

Schizophrenia has had a long, torrid history in the world of mental illness. As a disorder that manifests in a wide range of presentations and is only partially understood, it is also a fascinating peek into the complexity of the mind.

Knitting the Galaxy: The Official Star Wars Knitting Pattern Book

This official Stars Wars knitting book by Tanis Gray does not disappoint!

Seven Unmissable Books from Molly

From Victorian London horrors to magical realism, here are a few books from Steven Johnson, Shaun Tan, Aimee Bender, Vivian Shaw, Alexander Dumas, Megan Whalen Turner, and Tara Westover that I think are unmissable.

Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno-Garcia

Moody and atmospheric, this is the type of horror book that seeps into your psyche, leaving you wondering who is controlling whom, and how.

The Wood Burn Book by Rachel Strauss

Wood burning is an easy and fun way to customize and personalize wooden objects. I have dabbled in it myself and love the low cost entry point, and versatility.

March is National Craft Month!

In 1994, the Craft & Hobby Association created National Craft Month to help people rediscover and learn about the benefits of crafting. Dabble in a fun new hobby, or pull out those trusty old needles, hooks, threads, paints, and spatulas for some fresh experimenting. Get started with dozens of crafting ebooks at hoopladigital.com if you prefer physical books try some from the library catalog.

On the Horizon by Lois Lowry

Lois Lowry explores the strange mysteries of humankind, arcing around and around, circling back to the chance crossing of paths.

A Deadly Education by Naomi Novik

Wizard schools may seem like an old trope these days, but Naomi Novik's A Deadly Education puts a new twist on the education of the next generation of magic-wielders.

Super Simple Hand Lettering Projects by Kiley Bennett

What I love most about this book is how practical it is. You don't have to be a master hand letterer or go buy a bunch of fancy tools - Kiley Bennet shows you how to use multiple art mediums to add personalization and charm to gifts and projects with basic materials and things you already have on hand.

Anthony Horowitz Mystery Venn Diagram

Mom mom Karen and I each read an Anthony Horowitz novel to compare plot details. Of Magpie Murders, my mom says, "It was decent. I would recommend it to someone I knew likes manor house English murder mysteries." I liked the quirky way of telling the story in The Word is Murder, and the development of the narrator's thought processes and opinions. I found the actual rationale for the murder to be a bit disappointing, but enjoyed the red herrings and the storytelling a great deal.

Beaucoup Fish by Underworld

When I was in college for my undergraduate degree, I had an incredibly tough first year. I would go to the park near my dorm, lie on the grass and stare up at the trees and listen Beaucoup Fish by Underworld on repeat, on my discman (remember those??)

Animal Tails, Human Tales

Charming animal characters can be a lovely stand-in for the humanity in all of us. Mole, Rat, Badger, and Toad in The Wind and the Willows, our WE ALL READ book selection, express all kinds of human sentiments and behaviors.

Organize Your Books

Got some time on your hands and always wanted to organize and catalog your book collection?

Quarantine Quizzes & Puzzles

Get your brain going with a COVID-themed puzzle challenge!

Knitting Magic: The Official Harry Potter Knitting Pattern Book by Tanis Grey

Harry Potter evokes a breathless magic that captivates fans the world over. Knitting Magic's officially licensed patterns embrace the joy and spirit of the whole series.

Sloth Crafts by Ellen Deakin

Craft books usually focus on a material theme, i.e. knitting, paper, beads - but Sloth Crafts uses the sloth image to explore all kinds of media.

Shades of White from Country Living Magazine

If you have never thought of white as a complex color, think again. Shades of White explores the versatility of this timeless color in the home setting. With breathtaking photos of rooms whose only common denominator is the thoughtful use of the color white, the book is broken out into four styles: rustic, classic, vintage, and modern.

Whimsical Stitches by Lauren Espy

I'm the kind of person who thinks eyes and a smile make any inanimate object instantly adorable and irresistible. If that speaks to you (or your inner child) you will delight in every page of Lauren Espy's Whimsical Stitches: a Modern Makers Book of Amigurumi Crochet Patterns.

Woodcraft by Barn the Spoon

Even if you never end up crafting with wood, Woodcraft is one of those books that gets you excited about the possibilities.

Modern Memory Quilts by Suzanne Paquette

Modern Memory Quilts goes beyond a sewing instructional book and looks at the emotional drive behind creating.

Quilled Christmas by Alli Bartkowski

Quilling is one of those vintage crafts that has seen a resurgence in the last few years. Alli Bartkowski's Quilled Christmas elevates the traditional, relatively flat construction of quilled scenes and shows how quilling can be used to construct three dimensional paper sculptures like a miniature Christmas tree, a manger scene (with a quilled donkey, cow and sheep!), and several ornaments.