Need a good book? Library shares top reads of 2018
It’s hard to believe that a few short weeks ago we were floating in lakes of gravy and summiting mountains of sugar cookies, reveling in the overindulgence of the season. Or we were achy, shaky, and chugging cough syrup instead of eggnog. After all, winter in North Idaho is nothing if not a fine example of extremes. And speaking of extremes, something I both love and hate at the end of every year is the preponderance of “best of” lists: Best Cat Memes of 2018 (not a thing, hopefully), Top 2018 Dog Names (definitely a thing), Longest Government Shutdowns (sigh), and the one category I actually pay attention to: Best Books.
Of course, “best” is a subjective opinion for any item, and always depends hugely on the audience, but usually best book lists are based on reviews and/or sales, and are generally a decent indication of the popularity of particular titles. But why should the New York Times or Publishers Weekly or Amazon have all the fun? Rhetorical question, but I’ll answer it anyway - they shouldn’t! So, without further ado, I present to you:
East Bonner County Library District’s Top 50 Books of 2018:
I’m not claiming that you’ll learn much from this listicle apart from the fact that our readers really like thrillers, and C.J. Box in particular. But, maybe it will give you some ideas for what to read next, or provide some insight into what your neighbors might be reading. No need to peer creepily through their windows, trying to read the titles of the books on their coffee table. Just kidding - please don’t do that. Read this list instead! And remember, of course, that all of these books can be found at The Library.
*This list represents the most checked-out adult and young adult books of 2018, in descending order of popularity.
And remember, of course, that all of these books can be found at The Library!
- “The Great Alone” by Kristin Hannah
- ““Less” by Andrew Sean Greer
- “The Midnight Line” by Lee Child
- “Deep Freeze” by John Sandford
- “Little Fires Everywhere” by Celeste Ng
- “The Rooster Bar” by John Grisham
- “The Western Star” by Craig Johnson
- “Before We Were Yours” by Lisa Wingate
- “Artemis” by Andy Weir
- “The Disappeared” by C.J. Box
- “Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine” by Gail Honeyman
- “A Gentleman in Moscow” by Amor Towles
- “No Middle Name: The Complete Collected Jack Reacher Short Stories” by Lee Child
- “Paradise Valley” by C.J. Box
- “Camino Island” by John Grisham
- “The Wife Between Us” by Greer Hendricks
- “Killers of the Flower Moon: The Osage Murders and the Birth of the FBI” by David Grann
- “The Affair” by Lee Child
- “Dark in Death” by J.D. Robb
- “Fifty-Fifty : Heads She Wins, Tales She Dies” by James Patterson
- “Out of Range” by C.J. Box
- “Robicheaux” by James Lee Burke
- “Rules of Civility” by Amor Towles
- “The Story of Arthur Truluv” by Elizabeth Berg
- “Unbound” by Stuart Woods
- “The Wanted” by Robert Crais
- “The Whistler” by John Grisham
- “The Woman in the Window” by A.J. Finn
- “End game by David Baldacci
- “Hardcore Twenty-Four” by Janet Evanovich
- “All Systems Red” by Martha Wells
- “Breaking Point” by C.J. Box
- “Cold Earth” by Cleeves, Ann
- “The Fifth Season” by N.K. Jemisin
- “The Girl Who Takes an Eye For an Eye’ by David Lagercrantz
- “The Immortalists” by Chloe Benjamin
- “Lincoln in the Bardo” by George Saunders
- “The Lying Game” by Ruth Ware
- “Noir” by Christopher Moore
- “Pachinko” by Min Jin Lee
- “Savage Run” by C.J. Box
- “Twisted Prey” by John Sandford
- “Leonardo da Vinci” by Walter Isaacson
- “Crisis Shot” by Janice Cantore
- “Fall From Grace” by Danielle Steel
- “Breaking Free: How I Escaped Polygamy, the FLDS cult, and My Father, Warren Jeffs” by Rachel Jeffs
- “I’ll Be Gone in the Dark: One Woman’s Obsessive Search for the Golden State Killer” by Michelle McNamara
- “Why We Sleep: Unlocking the Power of Sleep and Dreams” by Matthew P. Walter
- “Blue Exorcist Vol. 1” by Kazue Kato
- “Maximum Ride The Manga Vol. 2” by NaRae Lee
All of the following classes and events take place at the Sandpoint Library, 1407 Cedar St., unless otherwise noted.
East Bonner County Library District Calendar:
- Friday, Jan. 18, and Friday, Jan. 25 — Clark Fork Mother Goose, 10:15 a.m. at the Clark Fork branch library. A special story time for babies and toddlers followed by 20 minutes of play time. Information: 208-2661321.
- Saturday, Jan.19, and Saturday, Jan. 26 — Explore virtual reality, reservations. 2-4 p.m. Reserve a 15-minute session in the new VR room at ebonnerlibrary.org/Events on the event listing. Under 18 must accompany parent consent form. Under 10 must be accompanied by parent/legal guardian. Information: Contact the Tech Desk, 208-263-6930, ext.1251.
- Monday, Jan. 21 — Closed for Martin Luther King Jr. Day
- Tuesday, Jan. 22 — Mother Goose. 10 a.m. in the glass children’s area. Stories and singing for babies and toddlers 0-3 yrs. and their caregivers with stay & play until 10:40 a.m. Information: 208-263-6930, ext. 1211, or suzanne@ebonnerlibrary.org.
- Tuesday, Jan. 22 — Preschool Stories. 11 a.m. in the glass children’s area. Stories and crafts for kids and their caregivers. Information: 208-263-6930, ext. 1211, or suzanne@ebonnerlibrary.org.
- Tuesday, Jan. 22 — Basic Computers. 1-3 p.m. in the upstairs computer lab. A computer class for the beginning beginner in a small-group setting. Registration is required: 263-6930.
- Tuesday, Jan. 22 — Robotics. 3 -5 p.m. at the Clark Fork branch library. Explore STEAM with Lego Mindstorm robotics. Information: 208-2661321.
- Tuesday, Jan. 22 — Explore Virtual Reality. 3-6 PM, drop-in 15-minute sessions, first come, first served. All ages welcome. Under 18 must accompany parent consent form. Under 10 must be accompanied by parent/legal guardian. Information: Contact the Tech Desk, 208-263-6930, ext.1251.
- Tuesday, Jan. 22 — MAGIC the Gathering. 3:30-5 p.m. Teens meet in Community Room A to play the game, MAGIC. Information: 263-6930 ext. 1245 or kimber@ebonnerlibrary.org.
- Tuesday, Jan. 22 — 3D Printing Workshop. 5 p.m. in the 2nd Floor Computer Lab. Design your own 3D printed object and learn some fascinating ways 3D printers are being used. Space is limited and pre-registration is required for this beginner-level class. Register online from the Events calendar at ebonnerlibrary.org or call 263-6930.
- Wednesday, Jan 23 — Clark Fork Stories and More. 10:30 AM. Stories, crafts, prizes and snacks for kids ages 3-8. At the Clark Fork branch library.
- Wednesday, Jan 23 — Cooking for College. 4:30 p.m. in the Teen Lounge. How can you prepare awesome meals on the cheap and with only small electrical appliances? Join us on a college dorm room culinary journey. Permission slip required – info: 263-6930 ext. 1245 or kimber@ebonnerlibrary.org.
- Wednesday, Jan 23 — 3D Printing Club. 4:30-6 p.m. in the VR Room. Drop in at our new 3D Printing Club to collaborate with others and learn more from staff about 3D printing and design. A few laptops will be provided or you may bring your own device. Open to all ages and skill levels. Information: Tech Desk 208-263-6930 ext 1251.
- Saturday, Jan. 26 — Visual/Verbal Exchange, Presentation and Show – Part 1: The Exchange. 2-3 p.m. in the Community Rooms. A 4-part activity that is open to writers and artists of various mediums. Participants meet and swap pieces by a random process. Each participant may bring one to two pieces of work. A free initiative organized by Sandpoint Parks and Recreation and the East Bonner County Library District. Info/registration: 208-263-6930 deadline is January 15, 2019.
- Now through March 15 — The Library’s Winter Reading Challenge. For all ages! A new adult reading challenge is now open! Register for the Winter Reading Challenge to log your reading and read-to-me time for prizes, drawings, and a party! Details at ebonnerlibrary.org. Contact Suzanne Davis for more information: 208-263-6930, ext. 1211, or suzanne@ebonnerlibrary.org.
- StoryWalk — Pages from a children’s book are posted along a trail for a fun, family experience. Enjoy “King Bidgood’s in the Bathtub” by Audrey Wood at Dover City Park and “A Hat for Minerva Louise” by Janet Morgan Stoeke at McNearney Park. Read, connect, and get outside at a StoryWalk, a partnership of The Library, Kaniksu Land Trust, city of Dover, and city of Ponderay. For more information, visit Facebook.com/BonnerStoryWalk.
This guest post is from Vanessa Velez, the collection development librarian at the East Bonner County Library District.