Story Tags

The Terror by Dan Simmons

Winter Horror

Spooky things hide in the snow.

The snow makes it seem peaceful and quiet… almost too quiet. Weird things abound in the coldness outside. What’s out there? I think I see something in the distance, but the snow is too thick. Is there something moving out there? You go check. I’m going to stay inside by the fire, and drink my hot cocoa.   All is quiet. Nothing is moving. What’s scarier than that?

Walking in a Winter Wonderland

Wintery Picture Books

let it snow, let it snow, let it snow

I have a confession: I love snow. Okay, so I prefer to be inside while it's happening, but I love the way snow looks as it descends on the city. Here are some picture books that reflect and showcase the childlike joy snow can bring.   Walking in a Winter Wonderland illustrated by Tim Hopgood

The Carrying by Ada Limon

Year End Reads

As the official winter season gets closer, the weather slows things down and instills a heaviness that really makes us feel ourselves in our bodies. When we are not as frenetic, books are a great companion to the new (but cyclical) rhythm. It’s a vista from which to take stock, particularly with a new year on the horizon line. The books below offer characters or writers who are speaking to a centeredness, steadiness, or timeliness.

Friend cover

2018 National Book Awards

The winners of the 2018 National Book Awards have been announced!  The award is one of the most prestigious literary prizes in the country.  Categories include adult fiction and non-fiction, poetry, translated literature and teen. Here are this year's winning titles: The Friend by Sigrid Nunez

Blame it on the Duke

Historical Romances to Distract You

More favorites

I've been increasingly reading only romance and speculative fiction recently, as general fiction ceases to distract me from the news of the day. I prefer to read books that allow me to escape into another time or place. I've written before about Regency-inspired romances I've enjoyed and also about some highlights of our e-book romance collection, so here are some more romances I've read recently that are set in another time and/or place.

Cut

Is This Really Controversial?

Books about teens that have been challenged by parents, schools or libraries.

Banned Books Week is a very popular time for readers everywhere.

Are You Sleeping

BOO!ks

A Halloween Prep Course of Eerie Reads

What pairs well with pumpkin spice lattes? Spooky reads to get you in the mood for Halloween, of course! From slightly scary to totally terrifying, these recent titles should prove just as hair-raising as any old Stephen King or Lovecraft story, and earn their place amongst those hallowed masters of the macabre. Are You Sleeping by Kathleen Barber

A Year in Rock Creek Park

DC's Wild, Wondrous Heart

Ecological, Historical & Poetic Explorations of Rock Creek Park

When many people think of our nation's capital, they focus on its political life. Yet residents here know our city environment encompasses much more than federal politics. At its heart lies my favorite area, Rock Creek Park. Over double the size of Central Park, it includes forests, streams, hills, fields, recreational and historical sites. Here residents and tourists can escape from urban stress, slow down, engage in recreation, and commune with nature.

Nation's Capital Brewmaster cover

Summertime Fun: Bottled and Brewed

The Washington, D.C. area is home to a number of vineyards and breweries.  If you'd like to be more knowledgeable about your next glass, check out these titles. The Nation's Capital Brewmaster by Mark Elliot Benbow

Crazy Rich Asians cover

Novel to Screen: Crazy Rich Asians by Kevin Kwan

Staff Recommendation

When Rachel Chu goes to Singapore for the summer, her boyfriend Nick doesn't tell her a few important details about himself. Find out what happens next in the best selling novel, Crazy Rich Asians by Kevin Kwan. The novel is the basis for the movie by the same name.

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