One of the best parts of visiting the library is discovering a book you might never have picked up on your own. Sometimes that discovery comes from browsing the shelves, and sometimes it comes from a conversation with someone who has just finished a book they cannot stop talking about. In August, the Colusa County Free Library introduced a new monthly Staff Picks feature to share some of those recommendations with our community.
Each month, library staff will highlight books they have enjoyed, found thought-provoking, or simply believe deserve a little more attention. The selections will span genres, age groups, and interests, offering readers a chance to explore something new.
Our second collection of Staff Picks includes “The Sound of Gravel” by Ruth Wariner, a powerful memoir about growing up in a polygamist community and finding the courage to build a different life. For readers who enjoy true crime and unforgettable settings, “Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil” by John Berendt offers a captivating portrait of Savannah, Georgia, and the people at the center of a notorious murder case.
Readers looking for something entirely different might try “Dungeon Crawler Carl” by Matt Dinniman, a fast-paced science fiction adventure that combines dark humor, survival, and an unusual game-like world. “With the Fire on High” by Elizabeth Acevedo is a young adult novel about a teenage mother pursuing her passion for cooking while balancing family, school, and her dreams for the future. “Martyr!” by Kaveh Akbar explores identity, grief, faith, and the search for meaning through the story of a young Iranian American poet.
Two selections we especially encourage patrons to read together are “Into the Beautiful North” by Luis Alberto Urrea and “The Distance Between Us” by Reyna Grande. Urrea’s novel follows a young woman who travels north from Mexico in search of men who might help protect her hometown. Grande’s memoir recounts her childhood in Mexico, her family’s separation, and her journey to the United States. One is fiction and the other nonfiction, but together they offer complementary perspectives on migration, family, belonging, and the human experiences behind the headlines. Reading them side by side allows the themes to coalesce.
We hope Staff Picks becomes a starting point for conversations, discoveries, and perhaps a few new favorite authors. Stop by the main branch in Colusa to explore these titles, ask about availability, or share a recommendation of your own. Your next great read may be waiting on a shelf you have never explored.