If you’re feeling in need of inspiration right now, look no further.

If you feel yourself withdrawing from others right now after months of limited social interaction, I highly recommend this book.  

Here are two novels, a short story collection, three nonfiction books, and four movies that I wish had gotten more attention in this overwhelming year.  With a special focus on women authors and actors!
 

This year’s Southern Festival of Books has gone online and will take place October 1-11.

Almost six months into constant cooking, you may feel in need of some inspiration.  Luckily, NPL has lots of eBook cookbooks that you can access immediately!

This was so uplifting and joyful I could hardly stand it!  This is the pick-me-up you need this summer.

If you need some optimism in face of rising coronavirus fears, read this darkly humorous account of the heroes who successfully fought other plagues in history.

I'm still waiting for George Singleton to get the following that he deserves.

See for yourself why Portis has a cult following and why he will be missed.  

Are you on the holds list for any of these?  Here are some suggestions for books to read in the meantime.

You asked, we answered!

Let me start by saying that I am not a fan of self-help books. 

It was a good year for nonfiction!

A cookbook, an essay collection, a chef memoir, and a book by a James Beard Award-winning food journalist.

Mark your calendars! The Southern Festival of Books is October 11-13.  The festival takes place at Nashville Public Library and War Memorial Plaza and is free and open to the public.

It’s almost fall, which means it’s almost time to curl up with a blanket and hot chocolate and read some classics!  Here are some lesser-known suggestions.

Emily Guendelsberger spent several months working at an Amazon fulfillment center in Kentucky, a Convergys call center in North Carolina, and a McDonald’s in San Francisco.  Her account of this time is an enraging, eye-opening, essential book.

This novel was completely insane in the very best possible way. 

Four very different books about female empowerment.

This is the funniest and most enjoyable book I’ve read this year.  If you’re a little misanthropic and have a vacation coming up, you need to place your hold now.

You’ve probably heard about the upcoming movie versions of The Woman in the Window, The Goldfinch, and Where’d You Go, Bernadette.  But are you ready for Lovecraft Country and Motherless Brooklyn?

You may have forgotten what a great movie year 1999 was.

Go ahead and place your hold for this one—you’ll thank me later.

A serial killer novel, a memoir, and an Ottessa Moshfegh readalike.

You know you can’t resist a 5 ingredient cookbook.