Reader's Corner: Getting Started

Need to fill your "Under 200 pages" square in the Boston Public Library's 2019 Adult Summer Reading Bingo Game? Struggling to find a short but satisfying book for a day at the beach? Pick up one of these 20 bite-sized books today! Please note that page number counts may change from edition to edition.

Are you looking for a great new read that's not too time consuming? Here is a selection of short fiction and nonfiction titles to add to your TBR list.

If you are keen to break into audiobooks but don't know quite where to start, check out some of these short titles. The list includes fiction, nonfiction, and memoirs, and the time commitment ranges from 51 minutes for Adichie's "We Should All be Feminists," to 9 hours and 45 minutes for Michelle McNamara's true crime classic "I'll Be Gone in the Dark."

Love audiobooks but feeling short on time? Here are ten recommended audiobooks that will take you 10 hours or less to finish. These titles are available to request or check out through Overdrive.

For those of you who like to keep up with all things Hub related, here is a list of titles to select from for your TBR list. Choices range from a guide to Boston's 50 oldest buildings by city archaeologist Joseph Bagley, to an account of a murder in the city's notorious Combat Zone in 1976.

Sit back and enjoy these 12 novels (mostly thrillers) set in the great city of Boston!

Looking for a popular, local read? These are classics that are set in (or are about) New England. They come highly recommended. Enjoy!

Interested in learning more about Beantown? Choose from nonfiction books as well as novels set in Boston to learn about this great East Coast city.

This list of local authors covers a number of different genres.

Louisa May Alcott's beloved classic Little Women continues to influence American culture and authors to this day, as can be seen from the number of adaptations it has inspired.

The Irish presence in Boston dates back to the 18th century. As one of Boston's most prominent immigrant groups, they have contributed significantly to the political, social, cultural, and economic life of the city. Use this guide to explore their unique history.

For Banned Books Week, we've created a list of books that have been banned/challenged in New England. For an interesting article from 2013 about censorship (or lack thereof) in Massachusetts, check out this link: http://bit.ly/2cRoVG5.

With October comes decreasing daylight and a chill in the air. Do you live in New England and love a good scare? Try one of these scary, spooky or suspenseful reads...if you dare.

A list of books that you can check out to find out all about the notorious mob boss of Southie, Whitey Bulger.

June is Caribbean American Heritage Month! Celebrate with one of these novels by Caribbean and Caribbean American authors.

Mother's Day can be a difficult reminder for many who struggle with loss or infertility, have a nontraditional family, or have a complicated relationship with their family. If you find Mother's Day to be a challenging rather than uplifting holiday, we hope you will find comfort in one of the memoirs featured below, and realize you are not alone.

Commemorate Armistice Day (November 11) with one of these works of World War I literature.

Sick of tofurkey? Looking for new and creative recipes to liven up your Thanksgiving? Not sure what to make for the vegan or vegetarian in your family? These nine cookbooks provide you with tons of great ideas for Thanksgiving dinner — and beyond.

National Bike Month is a chance to showcase the many benefits of bicycling and to encourage more folks to give biking a try. In recognition of our library's very own Bibliocycle, we have created this list to celebrate all things cycling.

Ramadan is a holy month of fasting, introspection, and prayer for Muslims, the followers of Islam. It commemorates the first revelation of the Quran to Muhammad according to Islamic beliefs. This list highlights books, both fiction and nonfiction, for all ages. Learn more about Islam and its holiest time of the year.

To celebrate Father's Day this year, the Boston Public Library has compiled a Top 10 list of books as a way to honor great and memorable fathers of literature - both fiction and non-fiction. Many of the titles listed are available in other formats, and some have been made into movies and/or TV mini-series. Check the catalog, or speak with a librarian, for holdings.

This winter, explore cold landscapes from the comfort and safety of your bed with one of these snowy books from the Boston Public Library. Get your hot chocolate and marshmallows ready and borrow one of these books today before the snow starts flying!

In honor of Mother's Day, the Boston Public Library has compiled a list of books, both fiction and nonfiction, featuring 10 of the most memorable moms in literature. Facing different challenges, these mothers from different time periods, countries, socioeconomic classes, and ethnic groups are united by their determination to be the best mothers they can be. Many of the titles listed are available in other formats, and some have been made into movies and/or TV mini-series. Check the catalog, or speak with a librarian, for holdings.

Just as every book has a reader, every book can be inspiration for the perfect Halloween costume. The only thing as exciting as seeing your favorite fictional character come to life is free candy. If you have not yet decided on who (or what) you will be for Halloween, take a look at our list of novels and characters for inspiration to help get those creative, pumpkin spiced, juices flowing.

Dive into this booklist of fiction and non-fiction books about love and romance. Includes books for teens, new adults, and adults; and encompasses many sub-genres of romance.

In honor of Veterans Day, the Boston Public Library has compiled a list of books that explore the experiences of American soldiers during wartime and the problems they encounter on their return to civilian life. The list includes memoirs, nonfiction, and fiction. Check out these 16 titles today.

In 1978 a California education task force declared the week of March 8th as Women's History Week. Over the years it became popular and was celebrated around the country, though it wasn't until 1987 that Congress declared the whole month of March as Women's History Month. To celebrate the achievements of women around the world, check out one or more of these books today!

Beat the summer heat by curling up next to the air conditioner, or better yet, dipping your feet in a pool while you enjoy one of these great books that take place during the Fourth of July! Whether you prefer a casual beachy read or a holiday-themed whodunnit, this booklist gives you a quieter option to show your patriotism.

Is there anything more annoying than hearing about a great book...only to find out you'll have to wait to check it out? No worries — there's no holds list for these graphic novels from Hoopla, so you can dive straight in!

If you're new to reading graphic novels, or haven't read one since you were a kid, this list will help get you started. Here you'll find classic manga from Japan, graphic memoirs, as well as science-fiction, fantasy, and horror stories. Check one out today and see what graphic novels are all about!

A list of graphic novels that will make a comics fan out of any reader!

Graphic novels, sequential art, comics, manga, bandes dessinées -- whatever you want to call them, books that combine art and words to tell a story are here to stay! If you're interested in the history of this diverse and fascinating genre, here are some books to entertain and educate.

Are you a fan of biographies or memoirs, but want to try that incredibly popular medium of a graphic novel? Then graphic memoirs, a subgenre of graphic novels, should be right up your alley. Enjoy these 11 stand-outs in this genre!

This personalized reading list was created by a librarian at the Boston Public Library for a reader. Would you like your own personalized list of reading suggestions? Visit www.bpl.org/shelf-service.

Are you looking for a suggestion for the "Banned or Challenged Book" challenge in this year's Adult Summer Reading Bingo? Check out one of our picks for a great read! However, you do NOT have to follow our recommendations—you can read any book that you think fits the theme. Not signed up for summer reading yet? No problem! Click the link at the end of the list to learn more about Adult Summer Reading at the Boston Public Library, including information about the challenges, prizes, and how to sign up.

Banned Books Week 2022 is September 18 - 24: celebrate your freedom to read by checking out one of the most hotly contested books of the past year! This list was compiled by the American Library Association based on received reports of attempted book bannings. To explore more banned books throughout the years, such as banned books with diverse content, banned classics, and banned books for children and young adults, visit the following website: http://www.ala.org/advocacy/bbooks/frequentlychallengedbooks

Banned Books Week 2021 is September 26 - October 2: celebrate your freedom to read by checking out one of the most hotly contested books of the past year! This list was compiled by the American Library Association based on received reports of attempted book bannings. To explore more banned books throughout the years, such as banned books with diverse content, banned classics, and banned books for children and young adults, visit the following website: http://www.ala.org/advocacy/bbooks/frequentlychallengedbooks

Banned Books Week 2020 is September 27th - October 3rd: celebrate your freedom to read by checking out one of the most hotly contested books of the past year! This list was compiled by the American Library Association based on received reports of attempted book bannings. To explore more banned books throughout the years, such as banned books with diverse content, banned classics, and banned books for children and young adults, visit the following website: http://www.ala.org/advocacy/bbooks.

Banned Books Week 2019 is September 22nd - September 28th: celebrate your freedom to read by checking out one of the most hotly contested books of the past year! This list was compiled by the American Library Association based on received reports of attempted book bannings. To explore more banned books throughout the years, such as banned books with diverse content, banned classics, and banned books for children and young adults, visit the following website: http://www.ala.org/advocacy/bbooks/frequentlychallengedbooks

For Banned Books Week, we've created a list of books that have been banned/challenged in New England. For an interesting article from 2013 about censorship (or lack thereof) in Massachusetts, check out this link: http://bit.ly/2cRoVG5.

It's summertime and the reading is easy! Looking for a book to get lost in on long summer days? Have fun in the sun with these books that have "Summer" in the title.

Beach bound? Why go away when you can stay local and get all the reads you need right here? From classics to romances and everything in between, these novels just might inspire you to take a much-needed staycation on Cape Cod and the Islands.

The sun is shining, and the beaches will soon be crowded, which can only mean one thing: Summer is underway. Whether you're looking for the ideal recipe for a family get-together or your next beach read, this list will help you celebrate the return of everyone's favorite season.

The sun is shining, and the beaches will soon be crowded, which can only mean one thing: Summer is underway. Whether you're looking for the ideal recipe for a family get-together or your next beach read, this list will help you celebrate the return of everyone's favorite season.

School may be looming, but there is plenty of summer fun to be had with the family. Make the most out of the rest of August -- and beyond -- with these handy nonfiction resources!

Planning to watch the film adaptation of Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark [PG-13] (a book frequently challenged and banned by communities because of the gruesome and macabre content)? Before you do, read the classic and pick up another one of these 13 collections of terrifying short stories!

The popular website, BuzzFeed put together a list with the 31 of the funniest books (novels and non-fiction) around. Annotations are from BuzzFeed.