Looking for book suggestions? Our staff have put together some suggested reading lists. Many are available in multiple formats. Most have direct links to the titles.
Would you like some personalized book suggestions? Contact us and we’ll be happy to help.
Book Club picks: View a list of the books the Rowley Book Club has read in the past. Want to know what we’re reading now? Check our Book Club page.
25 most popular reads in 2020 : What was Rowley reading in 2020? Check out this list of our most popular check-outs.
Inspirational Reads During Challenging Times : A list of five spiritual and inspirational women writers.
Gardening Vicariously : Each year when spring comes around and I start looking for those little green shoots poking up in my garden (is that a flower or a weed?) I have an urge to read books about gardens. Not having a green thumb myself, I become an interloper in other people’s gardens. Here are some of my favorites.
Gone Girl read-alikes : Like your plots with a twist you don’t see coming? Try these books.
Janet Evanovich read-alikes : If you love sassy female sleuths, quirky characters and zany happenings, give one of these series a try.
Pulitzer Prize-winning Books of 2020 : Includes the winners and finalists.
Seeking Racial Understanding : While there is a large body of literature on the subject of race in America, here are a few books we have read recently which have been helpful in furthering understanding.
STAFF PICKS: Who better to suggest some new titles? Our staff! We work with books and we love to read- a lot! If you are looking for a new author, genre, or book, we put together a small list of some of our favorites. There are links to the books in our catalog and of course if you have any questions about the books listed ask our staff!
Star Wars : In honor of May the 4th, staff have put together a short list of Star Wars books. To find more, just search “Star Wars” in the catalog or Overdrive.
Delve Into an Author provides resources to explore an interesting writer. In this time of isolation, getting to know an author can provide a source of connection, learning and diversion.
Delve Into: Temple Grandin : Temple Grandin is a 72-year-old writer, lecturer, autism rights activist, animal behavior expert and inventor who was officially diagnosed autistic in her 40s.
Delve Into: Sy Montgomery : “Sy Montgomery is equal parts Indiana Jones and Emily Dickenson” (Boston Globe)
Library Resources to help you find your next read
Novelist In the Library | From Home : A comprehensive readers’ advisory solution for fiction lovers that answers the question: What should I read next? Log in with your library card.
Wowbrary : Sign up to receive free weekly emails of Rowley’s latest books, movies, and music.
Author Alerts : Never miss the latest books or movies of interest! Get notified immediately by e-mail or text message when new releases by your favorite authors or performers are added to any MVLC library. Sign-up for Author Alerts is quick and easy – all you need is an e-mail address or phone number.
Booklist Reader: a monthly magazine of upcoming books. Read it online today:
Web sites to help you find your next read
The American Library Association : Complied lists of suggested print/media.
New York Times Sunday Book Review : Book reviews and suggestions.
Fantastic Fiction : Search and browse bibliographies of over 50,000 bestselling fiction authors, with the latest books and series information.
Goodreads : The world’s largest site for readers and book recommendations to help people find and share books they love.
Joy of Books : A blog of current book reviews written by one of our own, Tracy.
Stop You’re Killing Me! : A resource for lovers of mystery, crime, thriller, spy, and suspense books.
Whichbook : A new way to choose what to read next. Whichbook enables millions of combinations of factors and then suggests books which most closely match your needs.
More free options for books:
Internet Archive : A non-profit library of millions of free books, movies, software, music, websites, and more.
New York Public Library SimplyE : The NYPL E-Reader app. While many titles require a NYPL library card, the SimplyE Collection is a selection of classics and contemporary materials available to anyone, with no library card required.
Project Gutenberg : Free audio books and e-books of the world’s great literature, with focus on older works for which U.S. copyright has expired.