Month: February 2025

Online Reading Challenge – February Wrap-Up

- Stephanie Leave a comment

Hello Fellow Challenge Readers!

How did your reading go this month? Did you read a mystery that you enjoyed? Share in the comments!

I read our main title: The Lamplighters by Emma Stonex. I started reading a print copy of this book, but life got in the way, so I quickly turned to listening to the audiobook. Inspired by the true story of three lighthouse keepers disappearing from a remote tower in 1972, The Lamplighters dives into the lives of the keepers and those they left behind. The premise was fascinating and hooked me from the start. Flipping back and forth between 1972 and 1992, readers learn about what happened before the keepers disappeared and then 20 years later to present day. The circumstances surrounding their disappearances are never known, but theories abound. When a writer decides to interview the family members of the men in 1992, he hopes to find a united front, but instead discovers that the three main women have separated.

This narrative is tense, dark and unsettling. Saying that I enjoyed it sounds a bit wrong, but the exploration of the psychological impacts that lighthouse keeping, the tower, and grief have on everyone involved was intriguing. Multiple different points of view are shared, secrets are uncovered, and lives are woven together into a messy normal life. Seeing how the relationships change over time is typical of normal life with some changes. While this is a mystery, supernatural theories are explored. The ending wasn’t what I expected and I would LOVE to know your thoughts on it! While I know that we truly will never know what happened both to the real life men that disappeared and to the men in this book, the ending was challenging for me (I’m trying so hard not to spoil anything). Let me know your thoughts and concerns in the comments!

Next month, we will be reading biographical fiction!

In addition to following the Online Reading Challenge here on our Info Cafe blog, you can join our Online Reading Challenge group on Goodreads and discuss your reads!

See some 2025 Oscar-nominated films using your library

- Beth Leave a comment

The 97th Academy Awards airs on Sunday, March 2, and your library has some of the nominees available on DVD and Blu-ray. Place a hold on the movies you want to see and start your own Oscar-viewing marathon today!

Alien: Romulus. Nominated for Visual Effects

 

 

 

The Apprentice. Nominated for Actor in a leading role (Sebastian Stan) and Actor in a supporting role (Jeremy Strong)

 

 

 

Conclave. Nominated for Best Picture; Actor in a leading role (Ralph Fiennes); Actress in supporting role (Isabella Rossellini); Writing (adapted Screenplay); and other nominations. Here’s a link to the book the movie is based on, “Conclave” by Robert Harris.

 

 

Dune: Part Two. Nominated for Best Picture; Cinematography; and other nominations

 

 

 

Gladiator II. Nominated for Costume Design

 

 

 

Inside Out 2. Nominated for Animated Feature Film

 

 

Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes. Nominated for Visual Effects

 

 

Nosferatu. Nominated for Cinematography; and other nominations

An Oscar nominee for Best Documentary Feature, “Soundtrack to a Coup d’Etat” is available on DVD or streaming through Kanopy.

 

 

The Substance. Nominated for Best Picture; Actress in a leading role (Demi Moore); Directing; and Writing (original Screenplay)

Wicked. Nominated for Best Picture; Actress in a leading role (Cynthia Erivo); Actress in a supporting role (Ariana Grande); and other nominations

 

 

The Wild Robot. Nominated for Animated Feature Film. You can also read the book “The Wild Robot” by Peter Brown that inspired the movie.

 

New Music on QCBeats

- Bill Leave a comment

Six new albums are now available on QC Beats!

Bontempi by Centaur Noir,
Music for the Next Scene by Chrash,
REVELATIONS by Connor Lyle,
Fish Out Water by Lewy Canoe,
Light of the Dark by Molly Conrad, and
and Shapes and Colors by The Textures.

 

QCBeats is an online streaming audio collection of original music featuring Quad Cities musicians and artists. QC Beats is a collaboration between Davenport Public Library, Bettendorf Public Library, and St. Ambrose University.

New Spirituality Books

- Stephanie Leave a comment

If you’re looking for a book about spirituality, you may be surprised at all the different types of books that fall under this category. If you’re unsure where to start, I recommend you look at our new spirituality books. Below you will find a list of new spirituality books that have just hit our new shelves. If you’re looking for more, don’t hesitate to reach out and ask!

These titles are currently owned by the Davenport Public Library at the time of this writing. Descriptions have been provided by the publishers.

Finding God’s Will for Your Life: Discovering the Plans God Has for You by Joyce Meyer

Did you ever dream about what you would be when you grew up? We think naturally about our purpose because God tells us that He created us to do great things. But how do we know when we have truly found God’s calling for our lives? Many people live most of their lives striving to find and follow God’s will but still wondering whether they’ve gotten it right. The many pressures, expectations, and distractions we experience can create confusion and anxiety and cause us to doubt whether we are following God’s will or if He even has a plan for us at all.

Beloved Bible teacher Joyce Meyer invites us on a journey to confidence, freedom, and peace through exploring the wisdom of what the Bible tells us about God’s character and about His love and purpose for us. She also offers practical steps to discovering how to build your trust in God, seek His guidance, and overcome the fear of missing out on His best for you.

If you’re struggling to have confidence that you can hear God’s voice and know what He’s created you to be and do, Finding God’s Will for Your Life will leave you with more peace and more confidence to live joyfully in God’s love and walk the path He has for you. – FaithWords

In My Time of Dying: How I Came Face to Face with the Idea of an Afterlife by Sebastian Junger

A near-fatal health emergency leads to this powerful reflection on death—and what might follow—by the bestselling author of Tribe and The Perfect Storm.

For years as an award-winning war reporter, Sebastian Junger traveled to many front lines and frequently put his life at risk. And yet the closest he ever came to death was the summer of 2020 while spending a quiet afternoon at the New England home he shared with his wife and two young children. Crippled by abdominal pain, Junger was rushed to the hospital by ambulance. Once there, he began slipping away. As blackness encroached, he was visited by his dead father, inviting Junger to join him. “It’s okay,” his father said. “There’s nothing to be scared of. I’ll take care of you.” That was the last thing Junger remembered until he came to the next day when he was told he had suffered a ruptured aneurysm that he should not have survived.

This experience spurred Junger—a confirmed atheist raised by his physicist father to respect the empirical—to undertake a scientific, philosophical, and deeply personal examination of mortality and what happens after we die. How do we begin to process the brutal fact that any of us might perish unexpectedly on what begins as an ordinary day? How do we grapple with phenomena that science may be unable to explain? And what happens to a person, emotionally and spiritually, when forced to reckon with such existential questions?

In My Time of Dying is part medical drama, part searing autobiography, and part rational inquiry into the ultimate unknowable mystery. – Simon & Schuster

Life After Doom: Wisdom and Courage for a World Falling Apart by Brian D McLaren

A deeply insightful exploration of how to live with wisdom, resilience and love in our turbulent times

For the last quarter-century, author and activist Brian D. McLaren has been writing at the intersection of religious faith and contemporary culture. In Life After Doom, he engages with the catastrophic failure of both our religious and political leaders to address the dominant realities of our time: ecological overshoot, economic injustice, and the increasing likelihood of civilizational collapse. McLaren defines doom as the “un-peaceful, uneasy, unwanted feeling” that “we humans have made a mess of our civilization and our planet, and not enough of us seem to care enough to change deeply enough or quickly enough to save ourselves.”

Blending insights from philosophers, poets, scientists, and theologians, Life After Doom explores the complexity of hope, the necessity of grief, and the need for new ways of thinking, becoming, and belonging in turbulent times. If you want to help yourself, your family, and the communities to which you belong to find courage and resilience for the deeply challenging times that are upon us — this is the book you need right now. – St. Martin’s Essentials

The False White Gospel: Rejecting Christian Nationalism, Reclaiming True Faith, and Refounding Democracy by Jim Wallis

It is time says Jim Wallis, to call out genuine faith—specifically the “Christian” in White Christian Nationalism—inviting all who can be persuaded to reject and help dismantle a false gospel that propagates white supremacy and autocracy. We need–to raise up the faith of all of us, and help those who are oblivious, stuck, and captive to the ideology and idolatry of White Christian Nationalism that is leading us to such great danger. Wallis turns our attention to six iconic texts at the heart of what genuine biblical faith means and what Jesus, in the gospels, has called us to do. It is time to ask anew: do we believe these teachings or not?

This book isn’t only for Christians but for all faith traditions, and even those with no faith at all. When we see a civic promotion of fear, hate, and violence for the trajectory of our politics, we need a civic faith of love, healing, and hope to defeat it. And that must involve all of us–religious or not. Learning to practice a politics of neighbor love will be central to the future of democracy in America. And more than ever, the words of Jesus ring, “You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” – St. Martin’s Essentials

More New Spirituality Books

February 2025 Checked In: A Davenport Public Library Podcast Wrap!

- Brittany Leave a comment

In this blog post, I will give you helpful links to area resources, Library resources, and links to the books discussed in our February 2025 episode! If you have not listened to this episode yet, you can listen to Checked In: A Davenport Public Library Podcast online or wherever you get your podcasts!

Romance Tropes!

It’s February and love is in the air! Our hosts shared some of their favorite romance tropes as well as least favorite and gave examples of some of their favorite reads! The books and tropes discussed in this segment are below!

One Bed Trope
– The People We Meet on Vacation by Emily Henry
– Love You a Latke by Amanda Elliot
– The Love of My Afterlife by Kirsty Greenwood
Fake Relationship Trope
– A Proposal They Can’t Refuse by Natalie Caña
– Funny Story by Emily Henry
– The Wedding Date by Jasmine Guillory
– The Fiancé Dilemma by Elena Armas
– The Love Hypothesis by Ali Hazelwood
– The Kiss Quotient by Helen Hoang
Enemies to Lovers Trope
– Summertime Punchline by Betty Corrello
– The Love of My Afterlife by Kirsty Greenwood
– Bad Publicity by Bianca Gillam (publishes in May – check back!)
Grumpy x Sunshine Trope
– Assistant to the Villain by Hannah Nicole Maehrer
– The Love Hypothesis by Ali Hazelwood
– It Happened One Summer by Tessa Bailey
– My Killer Vacation by Tessa Bailey
Forbidden Romance Trope
– The Cinnamon Bun Book Store by Laurie Gilmore
Arranged Marriages/Honorable Marriages/Political Marriages Trope
– Dark Olympus Series by Katee Robert
Forced Proximity Trope
– The Unhoneymooners by Christina Lauren

 

 

The FRIENDS of the Davenport Public Library

The FRIENDS of The Davenport Public Library! The mission of the FRIENDS of the Davenport Public Library is to raise funds and manage an endowment portfolio that will provide resources to support the literary and educational purposes of the Davenport Public Library. In addition to all of this, they also operate our bookstores! To learn more about the FRIENDS and how to get involved, visit friendsofdavenportlibrary.org.  

 

 

The Librarians Celebrate Spunky Old Broads Day

Spunky Old Broads Day is a day to celebrate older women for their wisdom, courage, and vivacity, and is celebrated on February 1, but you can celebrate all month long! Below are the titles showcased in this segment!

– My Name is Barbara by Barbara Streisand
– Notorious RBG: The Life and Times of Ruth Bader Ginsburg by Irin Carmon and Shana Knizhnik
– The Final Revival of Opal and Nev by Dawnie Walton
– The Marlow Murder Club Series by Robert Thorogood
– The Thursday Murder Club Series by Richard Osman
– Mrs. Plansky Series by Spencer Quinn
– Agnes Sharp Murder Mysteries by Leonie Swann
– Don’t Forget to Write by Sara Goodman Confino
– The Stephanie Plum Series by Janet Evanovich
– Summertime Punchline by Betty Corrello

DavenportU Citizens Academy with Allie McWilliams

DavenportU Citizens Academy is a ten-session program aimed at connecting citizens to their local government. If you have ever been curious about how the City prioritizes projects or how heavy a firefighters turnout gear is – this academy could be for you!

“I look forward to meeting Davenport’s most engaged citizens in each year’s cohort,” said Davenport Mayor Mike Matson. “Even long-time residents of Davenport can learn something new at DavenportU.”

Each session of DavenportU takes citizens behind the scenes of City government with interactive experiences, tours, and presentations. From community and economic development to public safety and parks, DavenportU participants move around the City to learn about the inner workings of each department. DavenportU concludes with a graduation ceremony at the City Council Meeting on May 28, 2025.

Be sure to apply by February 21st here! 

Show Your Love for Our Library

Davenport Public Library is proud to be supported by our vibrant and diverse community! The resources on this page are intended to make it easy for you to share information about the value of The Library with your friends and family and to advocate with your elected officials and other community stakeholders.
Advocacy is critical for public libraries! By telling others about The Library, you are:
  • Showing how The Library positively impacts Davenport by connecting a diverse community to resources that educate, enrich, and entertain.
  • Spreading awareness of free services that many in our community may not otherwise know about or have access to.
  • Advocating for funding to meet our community’s needs through The Library’s resources.

To get more involved or to learn more about how to share your love, visit our Advocacy Page! 

Black History Month Reading Suggestions

February is Black History Month! Below are some titles that the hosts have enjoyed and hope that you will too!

The Heaven and Earth Grocery Store by James McBride
Deacon King Kong by James McBride
James by Percival Everett
Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi
The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennett
An American Marriage by Tayari Jones
Punching the Air by Ibi Zoboi and Yusef Salaam
Sing, Unburied, Sing by Jesmyn Ward
Becoming by Michelle Obama
If Beale Street Could Talk by James Baldwin
The Nickel Boys by Colson Whitehead
Monday’s Not Coming by Tiffany D. Jackson
Long Way Down by Jason Reynolds
On the Come Up by Angie Thomas

What Our Hosts Read In January

Beth’s Reads:
The Story of Arthur Truluv by Elizabeth Berg
Becoming Laura Ingalls Wilder: The Woman Behind the Legend by John E. Miller

Brittany’s Reads:
People We Meet on Vacation by Emily Henry
Being Henry: The Fonz… and Beyond by Henry Winkler, narrated by Henry and Stacey Winkler
In Five Years by Rebecca Serle, narrated by Megan Hilty
The Love of My Afterlife by Kirsty Greenwood, narrated by Sofia Oxenham
A Dish Best Served Hot by Natalie Caña
The Last Love Note by Emma Grey, narrated by Leeanna Walsman
The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald

Stephanie’s Reads:
The Great Believers by Rebecca Makkai, narrated by Michael Crouch
Girl Forgotten by April Henry
The Bletchley Riddle by Ruta Sepetys and Steve Sheinkin
On Earth We’re Briefly Gorgeous by Ocean Vuong, narrated by Ocean Vuong
Buried in a Good Book by Tamara Berry
The Christie Affair by Nina de Gramont, narrated by Lucy Scott
Honey Mead Murder by Dahlia Donovan (Not Available in Rivershare)
Guilt and Ginataan by Mia P. Manansala, narrated by Danice Cabanela
The Pumpkin Spice Café by Laurie Gilmore
The Last One at the Wedding by Jason Rekulak
Ace of Spades by Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé, narrated by Jeanette Illidge & Tapiwa Mugweni
On Spine of Death by Tamara Berry

If you would like to listen to our episode, it can be found wherever you get your podcasts. If you prefer listening on the web, it can be found here!

We love hearing from our listeners, please feel free to comment on this blog post, on our socials, or email us at checked.in@davenportlibrary.com.

2025 All Iowa Reads Selections

- Stephanie Leave a comment

The State Library of Iowa has announced the 2025 All Iowa Reads titles! I look forward to this announcement every year. Per the State Library of Iowa’s website, ‘Established in 2003, the purpose of All Iowa Reads is to foster a sense of unity through reading. Iowans are encouraged to come together in their communities to read and talk about a single book title in the same calendar year. All Iowa Reads consists of three programs, each with one title chosen per year: adults, teens ages 12-18, and kids ages 8-12.’ Resources such as discussion questions, author biographies and more related to each title are available on the State Library of Iowa All Iowa Reads website. Take time this year to read these titles and discuss with others! We look forward to hearing what you think of these selections.

At the time of this writing, all titles are owned by the Davenport Public Library. Descriptions have been provided by the publishers.

Adult Selection

Distant Sons by Tim Johnston

What if Sean Courtland’s old Chevy truck had broken down somewhere else? What if he’d never met Denise Givens, a waitress at a local tavern, and gotten into a bar fight defending her honor? Or offered a ride to Dan Young, another young man like Sean, burdened by secrets and just drifting through the small Wisconsin town?

Instead, Sean enlists Dan’s help with a construction job in the basement of a local—the elderly, reclusive Marion Devereaux—and gradually the two men come to realize that they’ve washed up in a place haunted by the disappearance of three young boys decades earlier. As Sean and Dan’s friendship deepens, and as Sean gets closer to Denise and her father, they come to the attention of a savvy local detective, Corrine Viegas, who has her own reasons for digging into Dan’s past—and for being unable to resist the pull of the town’s unsolved mystery. And with each chance connection, an irreversible chain of events is set in motion that culminates in shattering violence and the revelation of long-buried truths.

Gripping and immersive, this crime novel by bestselling author Tim Johnston becomes so much more: a book about friendship and love and good hard work—and a masterful read about how the most random intersection of lives can have consequences both devastating and beautiful. – Algonquin Books

Teen Selection

Rez Ball by Byron Graves

These days, Tre Brun is happiest when he is playing basketball on the Red Lake Reservation high school team—even though he can’t help but be constantly gut-punched with memories of his big brother, Jaxon, who died in an accident.

When Jaxon’s former teammates on the varsity team offer to take Tre under their wing, he sees this as his shot to represent his Ojibwe rez all the way to their first state championship. This is the first step toward his dream of playing in the NBA, no matter how much the odds are stacked against him.

But stepping into his brother’s shoes as a star player means that Tre can’t mess up. Not on the court, not at school, and not with his new friend, gamer Khiana, who he is definitely not falling in love with.

After decades of rez teams almost making it, Tre needs to take his team to state. Because if he can live up to Jaxon’s dreams, their story isn’t over yet. – Heartdrum

Kids Selection

Jawbreaker by Christina Wyman

Max Plink’s life just got a lot more complicated. Trouble at home? Check—with money tight, her parents haven’t been getting along lately. School bullies? Double check—especially if you count her sister, who is the worst bully of them all. Dental drama? Oh, you have no idea. With a mismatched puzzle of a jaw, Max has a Class II malocclusion, otherwise known as a severe overbite. She already has braces, which means she lives on Advil and soft foods after each orthodontist appointment. But now Max has to wear totally awkward orthodontic headgear nicknamed “the jawbreaker.” Could things get any worse?

Yes, they could. The journalism competition Max wants to enter has a video component. But being on camera means showing her face not just to her junior high classmates, but possibly the whole city. Going viral is the last thing Max needs, but winning this competition is what she wants most. Turns out, following her dreams is complicated, too.

Inspired by Christina Wyman’s own experience with a Class II malocclusion, Jawbreaker is a humorous and refreshingly honest story perfect for fans of Raina Telgemeier, Terri Libenson, Kelly Yang, Gordon Korman, and other endlessly funny and deeply heartfelt books that tackle big topics and universal coming-of-age experiences alike. – Farrar, Straus and Giroux (BYR)

February 2025 Picture Book Spotlight: Friendship Reads

- Brittany Leave a comment

Happy February! In February, I usually read books about love or hugging and kissing. This year, I wanted to focus on the people that get us through this crazy and beautiful life, our friends. February is centered around love but it is also centered around friendship and who doesn’t love a good story about friends?! Below are the titles that I am sharing in my storytime outreach stops!

You Will Be My Friend
by Peter Brown

Lucy wakes up excited, today is the day that she will make a new friend! After sharing her big news with her mom, Lucy sets out on her journey through the forest to find a new friend who will do cartwheels, have a picnic, climb trees, go swimming, and have a dance party with her! After many unsuccessful attempts at making friends, Lucy is about to give up when she is greeted with an unexpected friend!

Peter Brown is so popular right now with his hit The Wild Robot becoming a box office smash! This story not only highlights Brown’s artistic talent but also how he can make a reader feel all emotions in one sitting! I highly recommend this title and really, honestly, anything written by Peter Brown is going to be absolute gold!

My Best Friend
by Rob Hodgson

Mouse introduces readers to his very best friend, Owl. Owl is so attentive, making sure that Mouse is always fed and is always there when Mouse needs him. In fact, sometimes, Owl is there even when Mouse doesn’t need him. Sometimes Mouse just wants some space and alone time. Oh well, I guess that is what happens when you have a very best friend, they are just always there for you.

This tongue in cheek book has grownups snickering while explaining to children the circle of life. Don’t worry, no mice were harmed in the creation of this book.

 

Fiona’s Friends
by Dr. John Hutton, photographs by Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden

Fiona, the adorable hippo calf introduces readers to all of her little friends living in the Cincinnati Zoo in this short board book. Young readers will have the opportunity to identify animals that they know (tigers, cheetahs) and meet some less known animals as well!

The photographs in this short story are adorable! My favorite part is at the end, there is a wrap up of all of the baby animals the readers met in the story to help associate names and animals.

Flora and Friends ABC
by Molly Idle

Join the adorable Flora as she introduces readers to the ABC’s through birds! This beautifully illustrated lift and flap book engages readers young and less young!

As I share this story with my partners, it is fun to see the teachers also get excited. We have also learned about some new birds together! Did you know that there is an umbrella bird? So cute!

 

 

Let’s Be Friends
by Leah Osakwe, illustrated by Becky Paige

Friends make everything better. In this beautiful board book, follow children as they share all of the amazing ways friends make the world brighter.

With colorful illustrations, my storytime kiddos have really enjoyed this title!

 

My Best Friend is a Giraffe
by Siân Roberts

In this touch and feel book, young readers are able to engage with the book while learning about Giraffe’s characteristics.

While reading this title, we discussed opposites while touching the different textures on the pages. This is a quick read and very cute!

 

Making a Friend 
by Tammi Sauer, illustrated by Alison Friend

Beaver is great at making things. Exhibit A: he made his own lodge! Exhibit B: he constructed a slide outside of the lodge leading directly into the lake. Exhibit C: he knitted his own stripy socks! What Beaver struggles with is making a friend. For some reason, he has a hard time connecting with others. One day, Beaver decides that he is going to make a friend out of snow and enlists Raccoon for help.

This is a wonderful story of friendship and a great life lesson. Sometimes it just takes connecting with one person to create a bond that lasts a lifetime.

My New Friend is so Fun!
by Mo Willems

Gerald and Snake become really concerned that their best friends are hanging out without them. At first it is totally fine, Brian the Bat is super great and so is Piggie, then all of a sudden, Gerald and Snake begin to worry that their best friends will decide that they have more fun with each other than they do with Gerald and Snake. Intent to put a stop to this new friendship, Gerald and Snake are met with a surprise!

I love Elephant and Piggie books. I love narrating them and I love the joy that they spark in young people!

 

 

Have you read any of these titles? I would love to hear about what you thought of them in the comments!

Check out these books by local authors

- Beth Leave a comment

Dozens of titles were added to our Local Authors collection in 2024. These are books written by authors born or living in Scott County, Iowa, or Rock Island County, Illinois. In most cases, the items were donated to the Davenport Public Library by the authors themselves. Here are just some of the newest Local Author items available for checkout.

Fiction and genre fiction

Poetry

 

Nonfiction

Teens

Kids

If you are a Quad Cities-based author, whether traditionally published or self-published, please consider donating a copy of your book to our Local Authors collection so that it can be checked out and enjoyed by our patrons. Email Beth Paul at bpaul@davenportlibrary.com for details about making the donation.

That Librarian: The Fight Against Book Banning in America by Amanda Jones

- Beth Leave a comment

When Amanda Jones spoke out against censorship at a public library board meeting in Livingston Parish, Louisiana, she became the target of two local bloggers. They produced memes and other social media posts with targets on her head and called her a groomer and pedophile. Soon after, her personal information and work address were publicized, and she started receiving death threats. Jones decided to fight back. She filed defamation and harassment lawsuits against the men.

That Librarian: The Fight Against Book Banning in America by Amanda Jones goes beyond describing the legal battle between Jones and the two men. If you’re just dipping your toe into anti-censorship work and need to learn about the foundational arguments around intellectual freedom, this is the book for you. If you are interested in why more books are being challenged in public libraries and public schools, this book explains the motivation behind those challenges. Finally, if you are interested in a manifesto from a librarian on the front line, defending her student’s right to read freely and the public’s right to see themselves represented at their library, you will enjoy this book.

One caveat, the book does get repetitive. I read this as an ebook and there were times I thought I accidently scrolled back to a previous chapter. Instead, it was Jones making the same point as in a previous chapter, just in a slightly different way. The book does describe the lawsuits, dismissals and appeals, but it is not the focus of the book. Also, there is not a satisfactory ending to the legal battle because the appeals are ongoing. However, there is inspiration in knowing that Jones is a leader in advocating for inclusivity and representation in all libraries.

That Librarian: The Fight Against Book Banning in America by Amanda Jones is available in regular print and large print at the time of this writing.

February 2025 QCL (Quad Cities Live) Book Club Selections

- Brittany Leave a comment

In January, Morgan and I read The Last Love Note by Emma Grey in honor of Thank a National Handwriting Day on January 23rd. Below is a short synopsis of the book.

Kate’s husband, Cam receives a diagnosis with no cure that progresses quickly leaving her a 39-year-old widow with a small son. Quickly in survival mode, Kate jumps into caring for her son, and dives into her new job. Living through her grief every day, Kate finds it hard to move on from losing the love of her life.

When a work trip presents itself, Kate and boss/friend Hugh jump on a plane but end up stranded on the other side of the continent. The first time away from her son, Kate has the ability to deal with her grief head-on and decide where she wants her life to go and who will be joining her on this next journey.

This book gutted me, it was so beautiful and sad and full of hope. Emma Grey dove headfirst into the grieving process and did so with many little snippets of comical relief with mix of beautiful characters.

Morgan and I have a very exciting lineup of book options for February. Below are our 4 options including our winning title: Just Another Missing Person. Feel free to check them out from Davenport Public Library! 

On Rotation by Shirlene Obuobi (In Honor of Black History Month & Women Physicians Day February 3rd )  

For fans of Grey’s Anatomy and Seven Days in June, this dazzling debut novel by Shirlene Obuobi explores that time in your life when you must decide what you want, how to get it, & who you are, all while navigating love, friendship, and the realization that the path you’re traveling is going to be a bumpy ride.– provided by Goodreads

 

The Lost Apothecary by Sarah Penner (In Honor of International Day of Women in Science February 11th )

A female apothecary secretly dispenses poisons to liberate women from the men who have wronged them – setting three lives across centuries on a dangerous collision course.– provided by Goodreads

 

Mango, Mambo, and Murder by Raquel V. Reyes (In Honor of Galentine’s Day February 13th ) 

Cuban-American cooking show star Miriam Quinones-Smith becomes a seasoned sleuth in Raquel Reyes’s Caribbean Kitchen Mystery debut, a savory treat for fans of Joanne Fluke and Jenn McKinlay.– provided by our Goodreads

 

Just Another Missing Person by Gillian McAllister (In Honor of Missing Day February 20th )

From the author of the Reese’s Book Club Pick and the New York Times bestseller Wrong Place Wrong Time comes a new heart-stopping thriller in which a missing-person case unravels deeper, darker secrets that lead a detective to an impossible moral choice.– provided by Goodreads

 

If you are interested in any of these titles, or have read them, I want to talk about them! Please consider leaving a comment!  

Want to converse with other QCL Book Club followers? Consider joining our Goodreads Group!  

You can also access our recorded interviews by visiting the QCL Book Club Page! 

If you missed the segment, you can watch it here!