The Circle by Dave Eggers

Title: The Circle

Author: Dave Eggers

Genre: Fiction, Technological Dystopian

The Circle by Dave Eggers is the tale of social media at its most heinous. Imagine your favorite social media platform magnified; it keeps an eye on you at all times, watches your every move, and somehow is still fully endorsed by most of the public. Main character Mae takes a job at The Circle and is quickly swept up in the social media tornado. The Circle is a novel that really makes you think about how entwined social media is in your life, and at what point does it become too involved. Fans of dystopian fiction and technology would enjoy this  look at what could happen if too much privacy is willingly given away.

- Jamie

Check out The Circle @ the library.

Ice Bowl '67: The Packers, the Cowboys, and the Game That Changed the NFL by Chuck Carlson

Title: Ice Bowl '67: The Packers, the Cowboys, and the Game That Changed the NFL

Author: Chuck Carlson

Genre: Sports

Professional football fans in general and Green Bay Packer fans in particular are well-versed with the NFL Championship game played on New Year's Eve in 1967. Accurately known as the Ice Bowl, the temperature in Green Bay that day was minus 15 degrees, with a wind chill that stood at -45 at kickoff and dipped to -65 by game's end. The conditions made for a legendary game that pitted not only players from the Green Bay Packers against the Dallas Cowboys, but players vs the elements.

Author Chuck Carlson does a good job of reviewing the scenarios leading up to the game, including the legendary coaches Tom Landry vs Vince Lombardi. This would be Lombardi's last hurrah - succumbing to cancer two and a half years later after coaching the Washington Redskins in 1969. For the Packers, the game would prove to be an end of an era, with the team having to endure thirty years of futility before winning a Super Bowl in 1997.The Cowboys, despite the loss, would move on to greater success over the next few decades - taking on the moniker of "America's Team."

Carlson breaks the book up into sections covering the game from the view of coaches, players and fans. The book concludes with the impact on both teams and how the ice bowl grew to almost mythical status among fans. In a nice addition, the author covers the current status of key players from the game.

The Ice Bowl '67 is an easy read that provides a nice overview of one of the most important football games in NFL history. 

- Mike

Check out Ice Bowl '67: The Packers, the Cowboys, and the Game That Changed the NFL @ the library.

My Berlin Kitchen: A Love Story (with Recipes) by Luisa Weiss

Title: My Berlin Kitchen: A Love Story (with Recipes)

Author: Luisa Weiss

Genre: Memoir, Recipe Book

If you enjoyed Julie & Julia by Julie Powell, you should take a look at this one. Luisa takes the reader on a personal, well-crafted journey through the ups and downs of her childhood living on different continents between her parents' homes and then on the road to finding who she is in the kitchen and where she feels most at home. If you enjoy books with recipes thrown in, this one is a must.

- Elizabeth

Check out My Berlin Kitchen: A Love Story (with Recipes) @ the library.

The Magnolia Story by Chip and Joanna Gaines

Title: The Magnolia Story

Author: Chip and Joanna Gaines

Genre: Memoir

The Magnolia Story is written by the hosts of HGTV’s hit show Fixer Upper, Chip and Joanna Gaines. Like many fans the show, a big reason why I love watching is (aside from the beautiful home redesigns) seeing the genuineness of the Gaines’ relationship and their family life and values that are clearly present. The book gets more into this as it tells the story of how Chip and Joanna met, how they got into the business, and is interspersed with anecdotes and family moments. Chip and Joanna switch back and forth in the narrative, which at first I thought would be distracting, but I actually enjoyed the style and found it read like a conversation. This inspiring memoir would appeal to fans of the show or even anyone looking to start their own business.

- Sarah P.

Check out The Magnolia Story @ the library.