Lifestyles

Recommended reads

From the staff of the Public Library of Youngstown and Mahoning County

"At The Bottom of The Garden"

by Camilla Bruce

An old house filled with ghosts, murder, witchcraft and malice encompasses the pages of Camilla Bruce's novel, "At the Bottom of the Garden."

Clara, a cold and calculating murderer, desperately needs money when she agrees to take in her extraordinarily wealthy orphaned nieces to exploit and steal from them. What Clara doesn't realize is that the traumatic deaths of her brother and sister-in-law have awakened paranormal powers in their children.

As the girls learn to harness these abilities to their advantage, Clara discovers she has more than met her match in 9-year-old Violet and 14-year-old Lily.

In a quest for balance between life and death, greed and generosity, and light and dark, this tale explores themes of revenge, jealousy, trauma and the journey toward navigating the darker aspects of life into something far more complicated yet satisfying.

Recommended for teen and adult fans of paranormal gothic horror.

"The Art of Danish Living: How the World's Happiest People Find Joy at Work"

by Meik Wiking

The novel examines the Danish approach to living a balanced and fulfilling life in the professional realm.

Wiking, also the author of "The Little Book of Hygge" and "CEO of the Happiness Research Institute," discusses principles like trust, work-life balance and hygiene (coziness), contributing to the country's high happiness levels.

He also explores stress management, community building, and identifying opportunities at work that can enhance joy. This book guides readers on making small changes in their work environment to achieve a rewarding work-life balance that fosters happiness.

Recommended for adults looking to find joy in their jobs.

"The Inheritance"

by Trisha Sakhlecha

A wealthy family gathers on a private island to discuss their father's impending retirement and the changes he has made to his will.

Myra, the eldest daughter, owns the island but is concealing a terrible secret.

Aseem, the heir apparent, and his wife Zoe are also hiding something from the family, while the youngest sister, Aisha, arrives with a mysterious stranger.

How will the family react when the

will is read, and what secrets is this family keeping? The twists continue to unfold until the very last sentence.

Recommended for Adults who like a good mystery.

Lifestyles

Recommended reads

From the staff of the Public Library of Youngstown and Mahoning County

"Things Don't Break on Their Own"

by Sarah Easter Collins

Presents a multitude of characters and offers a gripping thriller that's hard to put down. It follows the lives of two sisters, Willa and Laika Martenwood, who endure abuse from their father, coupled with their mother's silence.

Laika experiences physical abuse, while Willa's suffering manifests as numbing fear and mental control. The narrative unfolds around their life journeys and the consequences stemming from their father's cruel manipulation.

The author has skillfully crafted a roller coaster of events that keeps readers on the edge. The title is quite fitting; things do not break on their own.

Recommended for adults.

"Victorian Psycho"

by Virginia Feito

The Turn of the Screw meets American Psycho in this follow-up to the author's debut novel Mrs. March, mixing the Victorian gothic fiction subgenre with gratuitous violence.

Miss Notty enters a wealthy family's home as their new governess, revealing from the start that everyone will die in three months.

With dark humor and vivid gory imagery, the psychopath narrator's inner thoughts are revealed as she scares the children, tolerates the husband's unwanted attention, and plots her revenge. Recommended for readers of gothic fiction and horror who aren't squeamish.

"Carson The Magnificent"

by Bill Zehme

Bill Zehme, a former writer for Esquire magazine, has crafted an engaging biography of the late king of late-night, Johnny Carson.

He explores the talk show legend's journey from his childhood in Nebraska to nearly thirty years as the host of NBC's The Tonight Show. Readers will find this biography both entertaining and insightful as they discover the intimate side of the talk show icon behind the scenes.

Featuring interviews with close family, friends and major stars from film and television, this biography offers fans of Carson's work a comprehensive view of this famed television personality, both on and off the screen.

Overall, those who grew up with the King of Late-Night will find this biography delightful and humorous from start to finish.

Recommended for adults interested in comedy, talk-variety shows and the king of late-night.

Lifestyles

Recommended reads

From the staff of the Public Library of Youngstown and Mahoning County

"Cuddly Crochet Plushies"

by Glory Shofowora

Want to expand your crochet skills? Look no further!

This nonfiction how-to guide is a must-read.

The animals featured are incredibly cute.

The step-by-step instructions for creating these fun animals are easy to follow.

You'll find animals from woodland creatures to mythical beings. There's an animal here that you'd love to create for that special someone.

Recommended for anyone looking to expand their crochet skills.

"Falsehoods Fly: Why Misinformation Spreads and How to Stop It"

by Paul Thagard

In the modern world, information is constant; it can be found anywhere,

at any time, about anything.

With this comes the misuse and abuse of how we receive and interpret information, whether when faced with serious issues like a pandemic or in our day-to-day lives, such as an ad on social media.

Thagard excavates the deep roots of misinformation, including where it exists, how to identify it and how to be prepared when confronting it.

"With A Little Luck"

by Marissa Meyer

Jude Barnett is an aspiring comic illustrator and D&D dungeon master who is content with his day-to-day life.

However, when he discovers a ruby-colored D20 on a turntable in his family's record shop, he suddenly experiences a surge of good luck.

From winning concert tickets and acing his school assignments to getting the girl of his dreams, Jude is on cloud nine.

But when his lucky

D20 goes missing, everything takes a turn for the worse.

From undelivered merchandise to his family's store to his girlfriend wanting to just be friends, everything Jude worked for crumbles at his feet.

With everything falling apart around him, will Jude be able to get his life back on track, or will he be cursed with bad luck forever?

Recommended for young adults interested in D&D and lucky charms.