GRAB A BOOKMARK

Grab Grab a

Welcome the coziness of winter with a good book! Here are two recommendations for your December reading list, courtesy of the librarians at Geneva Public Library.

 FOR YOUR KIDS OR GRANDKIDS: “Pie” by Sarah Weeks Would you leave a valuable recipe to your pet? “Pie” by Sarah Weeks features one great mystery about a famous pie crust recipe that fell into the paws of a cat … a not-so-nice cat named Lardo. Alice's Aunt Polly is the Pie Queen of Ipswitch. When Polly passes away, it seems that she takes the secret to her world-famous pie crust recipe to her grave. But in fact, Polly leaves the recipe to her large, disagreeable cat — who is left to Alice’s care. Everyone is going pie-crazy with the desire to be the next big pie contest winner. Meanwhile,

Alice and Charlie discover that friendship, family and doing things right is the not-so-secret recipe for happiness. “Pie” is funny and enjoyable all the way through. The characters are lovable, and it is a quick read for ages 8-12. It may also leave you wanting to bake a pie!

— Lexy Rodriguez, librarian

 FOR OUR READERS: "Pachinko" by Min Jin Lee A tale of sacrifice, resilience, feminism, love, integrity, loyalty and honor, "Pachinko" by Min Jin Lee is an epic, passionate story that will keep you captivated. The novel begins with Sunja, a young woman born in a Korean seaside village to parents who adored her. As a teenager, she fell in love and conceived a child with a wealthy stranger — whom she later learned is a powerful but married businessman. After he learns Sunja is pregnant, the man offers to keep her as his mistress, but Sunja refuses to be bought.

To save her honor, she gladly accepts an offer of marriage from a young minister on his way to Japan. This book, detailing the lives inside the tenements, in the street markets and in the pachinko gambling houses, provides an educational experience that rivals any history class on the subject. This historical fiction page-turner is one of the most compelling books I've read in the past year. “Pachinko” was also a National Book

Award Finalist.

— Mary Foster, library associate