Transcript: JESSICA: Hi, this is Jessica Russell. I'm the assistant director of collection services at Sno-Isle Libraries. And welcome to Book Buzz. Today's two reading recommendations will introduce you to handpicked favorites that have captured the hearts and minds of our staff. We'll give you the inside scoop on titles you may not have heard about. First, we're going to hear from Lois, librarian at the Snohomish Library, for a tale of a sinister curse. Over to you, Lois. LOIS: "Silver Nitrate" by Silvia Moreno-Garcia combines magic, mystery, and horror in an intricately plotted story about breaking curses and the power of film. Set in 1993 in Mexico City, this story follows Montserrat, a talented sound editor, and her childhood friend, Tristán, a soap opera star. Both are obsessed with horror films, Tristán arranges a meeting with his new neighbor, a cult director whose legendary career was destroyed by his last unfinished film. The film was written by a Nazi occultist and was an attempt to cast a good luck spell. The director believes that this unfinished film is causing him bad luck and he convinces Montserrat and Tristán to help him finish by adding sound to the last scene. But after the sound is added, Montserrat and Tristán start to realize they've awoken something dangerous. They must work together to undo the spell or be killed by the supernatural forces and evil cultists bent on their destruction. Author Moreno-Garcia tells a story that explores misogyny and racism through the lens of real film history and occultism. This suspenseful novel started as a slow burn for me but intensified over time. I particularly loved the well-rounded characters, including the relationship between the two main characters. Creepy and compelling, "Silver Nitrate" is a unique thriller for film buffs and horror lovers alike. JESSICA: Thanks, Lois! Try Moreno-Garcia's book "Mexican Gothic" for more fantastic, evocative horror — I couldn't put it down. Next, let's hear about a book on how bookstores shape our culture, from Robyn, library associate at the Stanwood Library. Take it away, Robyn. ROBYN: My favorite bookshop is a quaint, dimly lit haven filled with the rich aroma of aged paper, over-stuffed leather chairs, and creaky wood floors. The shelves are lined with meticulously organized books, creating a cozy labyrinth where I can lose myself for hours. Reading "The Bookshop: A History of the American Bookstore" is delightfully like being there. This book creates odd little nooks, detours and curios where I enjoyed lingering in unexpected subjects. Evan Friss's history of the bookshop draws on oral histories, archival collections, municipal records, diaries, letters, and interviews with leading booksellers to offer a fascinating look at this institution beloved by many. The story begins with Benjamin Franklin's first bookstore in Philadelphia and takes us to a range of booksellers including the Strand, Chicago's Marshall Field & Company, the Gotham Book Mart, specialty stores like Oscar Wilde and Drum and Spear, sidewalk sellers of used books, Barnes & Noble, Amazon Books, and Parnassus. "The Bookshop" is also a history of the leading figures in American bookselling, and a history of how books have been marketed and sold over the course of more than two centuries. Friss's book is a love letter to bookstores, a charming chronicle to enjoy for anyone who cherishes these sanctuaries of literature, and an essential reading to understand how these vital institutions have shaped American life — and why we still need them. JESSICA: Thanks, Robyn! Friss really captures not just the history of bookstores, but also the soul. Join us next time, when we'll explore more great reading recommendations — interesting books you can find at your favorite local bookstore or at your local library. Until then, I'm Jessica Russell from Sno-Isle Libraries. Thanks for joining us for Book Buzz.
