Chaparral 2024-2025: What Are You Reading?

Rosemarie Shamieh, CE-Business and Life Skills says: I’ve been re-listening to the Andy Carpenter series by David Rosenfelt--it's about a 7 hour listen (or a quick read), and it’s been such a fun escape.

The protagonist, Andy, is a wisecracking New Jersey lawyer who somehow juggles murder cases, courtroom twists, and dog rescue—all with a sarcastic edge that totally works. He’s also completely devoted to his golden retriever, Tara, who’s basically his moral compass and emotional support system rolled into one.
The narrator (Grover Gardner) is fantastic—he nails Andy’s dry humor and makes the character even more likable. The mix of sharp legal maneuvering and wit has been a great way to unwind without zoning out.

If you're in the mood for something clever, fast-paced, and just the right amount of snarky, this one’s worth a listen!

Becka Cooling, Library says: "I Know You Are, but What Am I? explores the cultural legacy of Pee-wee Herman, the cult television star of Pee-wee’s Playhouse. This children’s show—that was also for adults—ran on network TV from 1986 to 1990 and starred comedian Paul Reubens as Herman, a queer man-boy whose playhouse, the set for the show, was tricked out with a profusion of animate computational toys and technologies.” - from publisher

Paul Reubens deserves this insightful analysis of his brilliant work, and so does everyone who saw their hero ruthlessly publicly shamed in the homophobic cultural backlash of the 90s. This sets the record straight for those who may have misremembered the facts. Read it before [watching] the HBO special in May.

Anonymous says: "This open access book examines how selected African American authors—Colson Whitehead, Edward P. Jones, Toni Morrison, Brit Bennett, Percival Everett, Maurice Carlos Ruffin, Sherri L. Smith, and N.K. Jemisin—narrate relationships between emotion, race, and space." - publisher site

Happy to see open access scholarship that includes contemporary authors and provides an insightful sort of reader alongside their works. It is almost like having a movie critic's commentary as you watch a film.