Staff Picks from Doug

Faster by Neal Bascomb

Bascomb tells the story of how a Jewish racing driver (Rene Dreyfus) a wealthy woman who competed in races (Lucy Schell), and an engineer from the Delahaye car company (Charles Weiffenbach) beat the Third-Reich sponsored team in a Grand Prix auto race. I like reading about twentieth century history. I like cars that are now old.  Why wouldn’t I like Faster?

Borrow Faster from the Boston Public Library with your Pollard Library Card https://bpl.overdrive.com/media/4787741

The Irregulars by Jennet Conant

Like a lot of people, I fell in love with Roald Dahl’s books as a child. I particularly enjoyed Matilda and James and the Giant Peach. Dahl served in the Royal Air Force and worked as a spy in Washington DC during World War II. He was even acquainted with Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt. I did not know that Roald Dahl’s early fiction stories were sometimes depressing and apocalyptic. Nor did I think that he would write anything that was strictly for adults.

Borrow The Irregulars from the Boston Public Library with your Pollard library card

https://bpl.overdrive.com/media/286632

The digital audio book is also available from the Boston Public Library.

https://bpl.overdrive.com/media/180713

The Witch’s Vacuum Cleaner and Other Stories by Terry Pratchett

I’m not a fan of audio books as a format. But I make an exception for this one. These stories are not part of Pratchett’s Discworld series. They take place in the United Kingdom and contain elements of fantasy. Many are laugh out loud funny. Pratchett had a talent for comedy without bad words or gross jokes.  If I had to pick two favorites, they would be The Sheep Rodeo Scandal and The Time Traveling Television.

Borrow The Witch’s Vacuum Cleaner from the Boston Public Library with your Pollard Library Card.   https://bpl.overdrive.com/media/2926106

How to Be an Antiracist by Ibram X. Kendi

I just started this book. The first few chapters have taught me a lot about American history that was glossed over in the classroom. Kendi’s is willingness to share his life experiences and they are eye-opening.

Borrow How to Be an Antiracist from MVLC overdrive with your Pollard Library card  https://mvlc.overdrive.com/mvlc-memorialhall/content/media/4591699

The digital audiobook is also available from the BPL.

https://mvlc.overdrive.com/mvlc-memorialhall/content/media/3994914