Discover October’s Library Reads

October brings pumpkins, colorful leaves and a brand new collection of Library Reads. Chosen by librarians across the country as their favorite new releases of the month, Library Reads is an easy way to find a great read. Check out this month's picks, including these spotlighted selections. You're sure to find something you'll love!

Mystery

Remain: A Supernatural Love Story by Nicholas Sparks and M. Night Shyamalan - A one-of-a-kind novel that grapples with the supernatural mysteries of life, death, and human connection—an unprecedented collaboration between the globally bestselling author of love stories like The Notebook and the renowned writer and director of blockbuster thrillers like The Sixth Sense

When New York architect Tate Donovan arrives in Cape Cod to design his best friend’s summer home, he is hoping to make a fresh start. Recently discharged from an upscale psychiatric facility where he was treated for acute depression, he is still wrestling with the pain of losing his beloved sister. Sylvia’s deathbed revelation—that she can see spirits who are still tethered to the living world, a gift that runs in their family—sits uneasily with Tate, who struggles to believe in more than what reason can explain. But when he takes up residence at a historic bed-and-breakfast on the Cape, he encounters a beautiful young woman named Wren who will challenge every assumption he has about his logical and controlled world.

Tate and Wren find themselves forging an immediate connection, one that neither has ever experienced before. But Tate gradually discovers that below the surface of Wren’s idyllic small-town life, hatred, jealousy, and greed are festering, threatening their fragile relationship just as it begins to blossom. Tate realizes that in order to free Wren from an increasingly desperate fate, he will need to unearth the truth about her past before time runs out . . . a quest that will make him doubt whether we can ever believe the stories we tell about ourselves, and the laws that govern our existence. Love—while transformative—can sometimes be frightening.

Thriller

Bog Queen by Anna North - The story of an anthropologist's monumental discovery and the clash of civilizations it sets off over the fate of the land that holds us

When a body is found in a bog in northwest England, Agnes, an American forensic anthropologist, is called to investigate. But this body is not like any she has ever seen: Although its bones prove it was buried more than two thousand years ago, it is almost completely preserved.

Soon Agnes is drawn into a mystery from the distant past, called to understand and avenge the death of an Iron Age woman more like her than she knows. Along the way she must contend with peat-cutters who want to profit from the bog and activists who demand that the land be left undisturbed. Then there is the moss itself: a complex repository of artifacts and remains with its own dark stories to tell. As Agnes faces the deep history of what she has unearthed, she is also forced to question what she thought she knew about her talent, her self-reliance, and her place in the world.

Flashing between the uncertainty of post-Brexit England and the druidic order of Celtic Europe at the dawn of the Roman era, Bog Queen brims with contemporary urgency and ancient wisdom as it connects two young women learning to harness their strange strengths in a mysterious and complex landscape.

Historical Fiction

The Missing Pages by Alyson Richman - Harry Widener boards the Titanic holding tight to a priceless book he just purchased in London. After mayhem strikes the ship, Harry’s last known words are that he must return to his cabin for his treasure. Neither the young man nor the book are seen again. In his honor, his mother builds the Harry Widener Memorial Library at Harvard to memorialize her son and house his extensive book collection.
​ Decades later, Violet Hutchins, a Harvard sophomore recovering from her own great loss, is working as a page at the Widener Library. When strange things begin happening at the library—books falling off shelves or opening to random pages—Violet wonders if Harry Widener’s ghost is trying to communicate the missing pieces of his story from beyond the grave.

Join Us for Books, Brews & BBQ!

Love books, tasty BBQ and local craft brews? Join us for an afternoon of fall fun, at Books, Brews & BBQ, Saturday, Sept. 27, at Crystal Lake Brewing, 150 N. Main St. in Crystal Lake, from 12-4pm.

A new addition to Downtown Crystal Lake's popular Johnny Appleseed Festival, and sponsored by the Algonquin Area, Cary, Crystal Lake and Huntley libraries, the event welcomes 10 Chicago-area writers;

Mingle with the authors and learn about their latest releases. Crystal Lake's Abalabix Books will have books available for sale and signing, (pick up a book for yourself, and maybe an early holiday gift or two!) The Midwest Smoke BBQ food truck will be serving up brats, sandwiches and more. Crystal Lake Brewing will offer favorite brews and seasonal specialties on tap.

No registration is needed, drop by anytime between noon and 4. We'll see you there!

Meet September’s Artist of the Month

Bold. Exciting. Abstract. Citing influences that include Salvador Dali, Jackson Pollock and pop culture icon Bob Ross, local artist david's work captures unexpected elements and brilliant color. Stop by AAPLD's Adult Services Department at the Main Library during the month of September for a look at his cathartic, and compelling contemporary art. (Lower case usage at the artist's request)

Your name: david

Your community: lake in the hills

Your background as an artist: I'm corporate finance/cpa by trade, and my art "training" consists of one art class in middle school, architectural drafting in high school and watching countless hours of Bob Ross. Excluding one painting on a pair of functioning bifold closet doors in 2006, my first painting was on Oct. 25, 2023. The triggering event was making some special custom Halloween cards. Painting #207 was completed at the end of August, 2025. I have four more pieces that are currently in progress.

Your preferred medium: aside from the 'traditional' acrylic on canvas, 'non-traditional' components tend to be incorporated, such as earth, fire, gasoline, barbed wire, various adhesives, nails. The medium du jour is spray paint direct to raw, untreated cement board.

Your preferred subject: the abstract, the angular, the anguish

Your inspirations: Jackson Pollock, Hans Ruedi Giger, Hieronymus Bosch, Salvador Dali, Vincent Locke, Stan Rice and of course, Bob Ross

Is your work for sale? If so, how can someone contact you? Selected works are for sale and reasonable offers will be considered. Find me on Instagram at art.of.catharsis , on etsy at artofcatharsis.etsy.com (store re-launch coming in October, 2025) or via email, artofcatharsisofficial@gmail.com

 

 

 

 

Spice Club – September 2025 – Chili Powder

Chili powder is a blend of ground dried chilies and spices like cumin, garlic powder, oregano, and paprika, though in some countries it refers only to pure ground chilies. With a smoky, earthy, mildly spicy flavor, it is less fiery than pure cayenne or red pepper. Chilies, first cultivated over 6,000 years ago in Central and South America, have spread worldwide, and chili powder now holds cultural significance in Mexican, Indian, Thai, Korean, and Southwestern U.S. cuisines, symbolizing tradition, regional identity, and culinary heritage.

Culinary Uses: Chili powder is a versatile spice widely used in Tex-Mex and Mexican cuisine, adding depth and gentle heat to dishes like chili con carne, tacos, enchiladas, soups, stews, rubs, and marinades. It enhances the flavor of meats and seafood when included in marinades. Beyond savory dishes, some chefs incorporate chili powder into chocolate desserts or hot cocoa for subtle warmth and complexity. It also works beautifully on roasted or grilled vegetables, in scrambled eggs, breakfast burritos, spicy omelets, and even snacks like popcorn, nuts, roasted chickpeas, or cheese spreads.

Health Benefits: It contains vitamin A, vitamin C, potassium, and capsaicin (the compound that gives chilies their heat), which may boost metabolism and have anti-inflammatory effects.

Cultural Facts: Chili powder as a seasoning blend was invented in the late 1800s in Texas to make Mexican-inspired cooking more accessible in the U.S. Many countries, particularly the U.S. and Mexico, celebrate chilies with festivals, contests, and “chili cook-offs,” highlighting its cultural importance.

ALLERGEN WARNING: AAPLD is not responsible for any reactions or sensitivities to any spice. Please be aware that spices may contain or come into contact with common allergens like dairy, eggs, soybeans, tree nuts, peanuts, fish, shellfish, or wheat. Stay safe! Cook with caution.

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