2025 Staff Favorites: Sue's Favorites

Sue is a Circulation Specialist at Berwick Public Library and also runs the library's book club. Check out her favorite books and shows from this past year.

Books

The Correspondent  by Virginia Evans: a lovely epistolary novel that is a photograph in words of what it is to be alive yet aging

Eleanor: A 200 Mile Walk in Search of England’s Lost Queen by Alice Loxton: a fascinating and fun account of the author’s walk in the footsteps of the funeral procession of Queen Eleanor of Castile. Part history book, part travelogue it was a joy from beginning to end. 

Stonewitch by Skye McKenna:  the fourth book in the wonderful Hedgewitch series written for middle readers.  I want to live in Hedgely!

The Amalfi Curse by Sarah Penner: A terrific page turner set on the Amalfi Coast.  It was like a vacation without leaving home!

The Names by Florence Knapp: This book explores the importance of a name and how it might connect to the path our life takes.   Heartbreaking in parts, hopeful in others, a wonderfully written story of a mother, a son, and choices.

The Teller of Small Fortunes by Julie Leong: This was a cozy lovely read with characters I fell in love with - I didn’t want this one to end.

James by Percival Everett: The masterful retelling of Huckleberry Finn from the perspective of Jim (James), the runaway slave.

Something in the Woods Loves You by Jarod R.Anderson: This book is balm to the spirit, speaking of the power of nature to heal and ground us in uncertain times.  

The Fox Wife by Yangsze Choo:  A mesmerizing read that weaves ancient Chinese folklore with a story of revenge and forgiveness. The story of Snow, a fox spirit, as she searches for the man who killed her daughter.  Beautifully written.

The Queens of Crime by Marie Benedict.  Agatha Christie, Dorothy Sayer, and three other famous British lady detectives join up to solve a real-life murder in this wonderful tribute to British mystery writers.  So much fun, and meticulously researched.

TV shows

Only Murders in the Building Season 5: This series never disappoints!  Hilarious and clever, it is a masterclass in ensemble acting.