Category Archives: Audiobooks

Short Stories Might Be Just What You Need

Finding it a little hard to concentrate? Now might be a great time to read or listen to short stories while you’re staying home and staying safe. Here are a few suggestions that you can download from Overdrive with your Fairfield Public Library card.

 

Title details for Growing Things and Other Stories by Paul Tremblay - Available

GROWING THINGS AND OTHER STORIES
By Paul Tremblay

“Tremblay’s (The Cabin at the End of the World, 2018) short story collection brilliantly takes ordinary situations—an author reading, an AP history class, a family vacation—and seamlessly sprinkles in a sense of unease that quickly builds to a sense of pure horror.” ~Booklist

For more information, please click here.

 

Title details for Full Throttle by Joe Hill - Available

FULL THROTTLE
By Joe Hill

“Hill returns to short stories where his terrifying genius most brightly shines. The stories that follow the heartfelt introduction, most of which were first printed elsewhere, including one previously only available on LP, incorporate tropes of psychological suspense, science fiction, dark fantasy, and of course horror… Several stories, including one written with Hill’s father, Stephen King, are in development for TV and Netflix.” ~Booklist
*Staff Favorite!

For more information, please click here.

Title details for Florida by Lauren Groff - Available

FLORIDA
By Lauren Groff

“In 11 electric short stories, the gifted Groff unpacks the “dread and heat” of her home state. In her first fiction since President Barack Obama named Fates and Furies his favorite book of the year, Groff collects her singing, stinging stories of foreboding and strangeness in the Sunshine State.” ~Kirkus

For more information, please click here.

Title details for Thirteen Ways of Looking by Colum McCann - Available

THIRTEEN WAYS OF LOOKING
By Colum McCann

“This collection by McCann, winner of the National Book Award for Let the Great World Spin, features one novella and three stories depicting people experiencing drastic life changes… McCann’s first story collection in 12 years marks his triumphant return to the genre. Luminescent prose and finely rendered characters create a spell readers will be reluctant to shake.” ~Library Journal

For more information, please click here.

Title details for You Know When the Men Are Gone by Siobhan Fallon - Available

YOU KNOW WHEN THE MEN ARE GONE
By Siobhan Fallon

“The crucial role of military wives becomes clear in Fallon’s powerful, resonant debut collection, where the women are linked by absence and a pervading fear that they’ll become war widows.” ~Publisher’s Weekly
*Staff Favorite!

For more information, please click here.

Title details for The Wonder Garden by Lauren Acampora - Available

THE WONDER GARDEN
By Lauren Acampora

“The dark underside of picture-perfect suburban life is familiar territory in American fiction, but Acampora brings fresh insight to the theme in this debut collection, offering short stories that connect various residents in an upscale Connecticut town.” ~Library Journal

For more information, please click here.

Title details for Dear Life by Alice Munro - Available

DEAR LIFE
By Alice Munro

“Every new collection from the incomparable Munro, winner of the Man Booker International Prize for her lifetime body of work, is cause for celebration. This new volume offers all the more reason to celebrate as it ends with four stories the author claims are the most autobiographical she has written…Read this collection and cherish it for dear life.” ~Library Journal

For more information, please click here.

Title details for Uncommon Type by Tom Hanks - Available

UNCOMMON TYPE
By Tom Hanks

“Academy Award winner Hanks gives readers a wide variety of stories in this first collection. His characters run the gamut; old and young, rich and poor, male and female, serious and funny. He writes like someone who has paid attention to humans in their many guises… Hanks’s stories evoke dreams and flights of imagination that everyone has experienced, making the “what ifs” of life tangible. Highly recommended, and not just for the actor’s many fans.” ~Library Journal

For more information, please click here.

 

Humorous Fiction-Digital Downloads

Looking for some humorous fiction to read or listen to while you’re staying home and staying safe? Here are a few suggestions that you can download from Overdrive with your Fairfield Public Library card.

Title details for Class Mom--A Novel by Laurie Gelman - Available

CLASS MOM
By Laurie Gelman

“Gelman’s debut is a literary stand-up routine, and you might as well just give in: this woman is going to get a laugh out of you.” ~Kirkus

For more information, please click here.

Title details for Last Couple Standing by Matthew Norman - Wait list

LAST COUPLE STANDING
By Matthew Norman

“Charmingly realistic and clear-eyed about the peaks and pitfalls of modern relationships, Last Couple Standing explores the vulnerability required to make a marriage work”. ~Booklist

For more information, please click here.

Title details for The Accidental Beauty Queen by Teri Wilson - Available

AN ACCIDENTAL BEAUTY QUEEN
By Teri Wilson

“A happily nerdy elementary school librarian ends up competing in a beauty pageant in this fun and frothy read.” ~Kirkus

For more information, please click here.

Title details for No Sunscreen for the Dead by Tim Dorsey - Available

NO SUNSCREEN FOR THE DEAD
By Tim Dorsey

“In their latest outing, cheerful Florida psychopath Serge Storms and his permanently stoned sidekick Coleman come to the aid of the residents of a retirement community.” ~Booklist

For more information, please click here.

Title details for The Hating Game by Sally Thorne - Available

THE HATING GAME
By Sally Thorne

“From Lucy’s hilarious inner dialogue to Joshua’s sharp retorts, the chemistry between them is irresistibly adorable—and smokin’ hot… this one’s a real winner.” ~Kirkus

For more information, please click here.

Title details for Carnegie Hill by Jonathan Vatner - Available

CARNEGIE HILL
By Jonathan Vatner

“Vatner’s debut novel is absorbing and comforting in its omniscient perspective and delicate handling of its carousel of characters. A good old-fashioned read on the venerable theme of marriage.” ~Kirkus

For more information, please click here.

“We need never be hopeless because we can never be irreparably broken.”
~John Green, Looking For Alaska

Cozy Mysteries-Digital Downloads

Looking for a cozy mystery to read or listen to while you’re staying home and staying safe? Here are a few suggestions that you can download from Overdrive with your Fairfield Public Library card.

Title details for Murder Cuts the Mustard by Jessica Ellicott - Available

MURDER CUTS THE MUSTARD
By Jessica Ellicott

“Witty prose, distinctive characters, and an enchanting setting all make for a winner.” ~ Publisher’s Weekly

For more information, please click here.

Title details for A Murder for the Books by Victoria Gilbert - Available

A MURDER FOR THE BOOKS
By Victoria Gilbert

“Gilbert’s series kickoff offers an intricate mystery, an interesting look at the past, and a clever and determined heroine.” ~Kirkus

For more information, please click here.

Title details for The Cracked Spine by Paige Shelton - Available

THE CRACKED SPINE
By Paige Shelton

“This spotlessly clean, fun-filled read takes plenty of twists and turns on the way to the satisfying ending.” ~ Publisher’s Weekly

For more information, please click here.

Title details for Murder in Morningside Heights by Victoria Thompson - Available

MURDER IN MORNINGSIDE HEIGHTS
By Victoria Thompson

“A fantastic historical with a wonderfully plucky amateur female sleuth.” ~Library Journal

For more information, please click here.

Title details for Grace Under Pressure by Julie Hyzy - Available

GRACE UNDER PRESSURE
By Julie Hyzy

“Launching the Manor of Murder series with plenty of thrills and laughs, Hyzy creates the well-researched and believable estate of Marshfield Manor, part mansion and part museum.” ~Publisher’s Weekly

For more information, please click here.

“Even the darkest night will end and the sun will rise.”
~Les Misérables by Victor Hugo

Staff picks For October

The Gifted School by Bruce Holsinger

Four families have been friends since infant swim class. Flash forward 10 years to when a magnet school opens for the gifted. The gloves are off as they try to outmaneuver each other to get their kids in the school. ~CS

For more information, or to  place a hold, please click here.

The Lady from the Black Lagoon by Mallory O’Meara

This is a delightful, entertaining, and at times horrific account of a little known Hollywood actress, animator, and artist named Milicent Patrick. While Patrick endured abuse from men in her industry, she was still hugely successful. She designed the monster outfit worn in the classic horror movie THE CREATURE FROM THE BLACK LAGOON. ~KC

For more information, or to  place a hold, please click here.

The Daughter of a Daughter of a Queen by Sara Bird

Freed slave Cathy Williams is determined to head out west so she joins the Army’s 1st Colored Cavalry Unit, the Buffalo Soldiers, as a man. Cleverness and strength from her warrior queen grandmother’s spirit see her through. Based on a true character. Bahni Turpin’s brilliant reading makes for a compelling audiobook. ~JF

For more information, or to  place a hold, please click here.

For more information about the audio book, or to  place a hold on the audio book, please click here.

Lock Every Door by Riley Sager

Jules’ new dream job as an apartment sitter in the upscale Bartholomew turns into a nightmare when she discovers the building has a history of people disappearing without a trace and several unforeseen deaths. When Jules starts uncovering the dark secret, she realizes she must get out of there fast-but is it too late for her? ~SR

For more information, or to  place a hold, please click here.

The Silent Patient

The Silent Patient
by Alex Michaelides
Artist Alicia Berenson is accused of brutally shooting her husband, however, she will not speak, not even to defend herself. Her only voice is through her last painting which holds the key to this mystery and reveals a deep psychological connection to the murder. ~SR

For more information, or to place a hold on this book, please click here.

This is also an excellent audiobook choice. If you would like more information about the audio version of this title, please click here.

Staff Picks For March

We have some great recommendations for reading and listening from the Library staff!
Here are some of our favorites for March.

Killer Choice by Tom Hunt
His wife is sick. He needs $200,000 to save her. A mysterious man offers to give him the money with just one catch: he has to murder someone to get it. How far would you go to save the one you love? —Linda                                                                                                                                            For more information, or to place a hold, please click here.

Tangerine by Christine Mangan
Twisted mind games abound in this atmospheric debut novel. —Sue B                                          For more information, or to place a hold, please click here.

The Power by Naomi Alderman
The Handmaid’s Tale, #metoo, and The Hunger Games all come to mind in this genre bending page turner. —Claudia                                                                                                                               For more information, or to place a hold, please click here.

Only Child by Rhiannon Navin
Told to us through the voice of a 6 year old, Only Child is the story of a family dealing with the aftermath of a school shooting. Excellent debut! —Mary C                                                                For more information, or to place a hold, please click here.

Ginny Moon by Benjamin Ludwig
Torn between a life she once knew and her forever home, an autistic teen tries to figure out where she belongs. —Sharyn                                                                                                                   For more information, or to place a hold, please click here.

AUDIOBOOKS:

Ready Player One by Ernest Cline
Smart, funny, sci-fi thriller with 80’s pop culture nostalgia in a futuristic setting. —Jess                  For more information, or to place a hold, please click here.

Grouchy Historian by Ed Asner
Asner tells us, in his unique style, the story of our constitution, the men who created it and why we need to pay attention. —Jan                                                                                                               For more information, or to place a hold, please click here.

The Swerve

[Cover]

Title: The Swerve: How the World Became Modern

Author: Stephen Greenblatt (narrated by Edoardo Ballerini)

Publisher: WW Norton, 2012

Summary/Review: Stephen Greenblatt (Ph.D. Yale) is Cogan University Professor of the Humanities at Harvard University and is a historian.  His most recent book ,winner of the 2012 Pulitzer Prize for general Non Fiction, revolves around a Roman poem  by Lucretius entitled On the Nature of Things. The poem, startling even for its time, asserts that there are only atoms that make up this universe, and the matter and the recombining of matter is all accidental – there is no god who guides and plans our lives; no god that cares about our existence. This is a startling assertion: a very disturbing and very modern idea is postulated about 50 years BCE!

Greek papyrus, Roman papyrus and codex suffer:  the ideas of the ancients deteriorate during the middle ages due to book worms, deterioration of ink and paper, persecution by church officials who deem them heretical, and the general ravages of time.  Enter Poggio Bracciolini, a 15th-century papal emissary, scribe and book hunter, who found a neglected copy of On the Nature of Things in a German monastery, copying it and distributing it to his humanist friends, and thus reintroducing important ideas to the Renaissance and beyond, ideas that are even found in our own Declaration of Independence.  There is so much more to this book that I can tell you here – and not all historians agree with Dr. Greenblatt.  But this was a fantastic “listen” – the narrator is excellent.

Who will like this book?:  History buffs and philosophical thinkers.  Someone looking for a non-fiction read that will illuminate the history of thinking.

If you like this, try this:  If you enjoyed Greenblatt’s writing, he has a number of other books – many focused on Shakespeare.  If you’d like to go back to the basics, “On the Nature of Things” is readily available, as are multiple interpretations and writings about the poem.

Recommended by: Susan Z, Reference Librarian

If this looks like something you would be interested, visit the Fairfield Public Library catalog to see if the book or audiobook are available!

My Mother Was Nuts

my mother was nuts

Title: My Mother Was Nuts: A Memoir

Author: Penny Marshall

Publisher: Brilliance Audio, 2012

Summary/Review: Penny Marshall reminisces about growing up in the Bronx, where she spent most of her time in her mother’s dance studio. She talks about her accidental introduction into acting and her later transition into directing. Her brother Garry may have initially opened the door for her, but Penny’s dedication and talent secured her place in Hollywood. Best known for her role on Laverne & Shirley and as director of Big and A League of Their Own, Penny gets up close and personal on her first marriage and entrance into motherhood, her second marriage to Rob Reiner, and relationship with Art Garfunkel (who knew?!). Surrounded by famous friends (Carrie Fisher and John Belushi–to name a few), Penny offers up many private and often humorous moments.

I loved that the audio book was performed by Penny Marshall, however, I wish she did less “reading her book” and more “telling her story”.

Who will like this book: : In addition to Laverne & Shirley fans, anyone with an interest in Hollywood stars or the seventies/eighties would enjoy this book.

If you like this, try this: My Happy Days in Hollywood by Garry Marshall or Bossypants by Tina Fey.

Recommended by: Sharyn, Circulation

To see if this book is available, visit the Fairfield Public Library catalog.  We have it available in both audio and print!

The Life and Times of the Thunderbolt Kid

Title:  The Life and Times of the Thunderbolt Kid

Author:  Bill Bryson

Summary:  This book is ideal for any baby boomer who remembers their childhood fondly.  No heart-wrenching drama here.  The reader needs to have a good sense of humor and delight in the seriously silly adventures of children. I have not laughed out loud this much while reading a book in a long time.  Don’t you remember how seriously you took the “play” time you relished as a child? Don’t you want to feel so astonished by adult behavior again? Don’t you want to jump right into some great nostalgic read where all is fun, good and safe?

Bill Bryson, accomplished author of the favorite A Walk in the Woods(among others), shares his childhood and family life of the 1950′s and 1960′s growing up in Des Moines, Illinois.  He even likes his parents and appreciates their quirks! His storytelling is hilarious and warm. He laments about the wonderful things about this era in American history and what we may have lost. His impressive writing talent allows the reader to a take a nostalgic trip down memory lane in a feel-good and informative way.

I listened to the audio with someone who is not a baby boomer but sadly, was born, a tad too early, and he laughed out loud with me. The stories about childhood and the American way of life are universal. Please pick up a copy of the audio book while going on a long trip this summer and laugh with your family and friends.

Recommended by:  Karen, Deputy Town Librarian