Book Buzz

Episode 98 - Air date: April 20, 2025 

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 Bryan, library manager at the Clinton Library, for an inter-dimensional story. Go ahead, Bryan. 

BRYAN: 

Thanks, Jessica. I’ve become a pretty big fan of sci-fi writer John Scalzi over the past few years, and I suspect it’s because I need a little more absurdity in my life. Maybe we all do. He evidently felt the same way, because when he sat down in 2020 to pen the dramatic, political space opera his publishers were expecting, the state of the world during the pandemic led him to instead write “The Kaiju Preservation Society,” an absolutely preposterous book about a recently-fired tech worker who gets recruited to watch over gigantic monsters in another plane of reality.  

The book centers on a team filled with some of the smartest scientists of their generation as they study these Godzilla-like monsters, and they’re joined by protagonist Jamie whose primary responsibility is to “lift things.” Jamie bonds quickly with the team and it’s all going great until corporate and military interests come into play and everything, inevitably, falls apart.    

In the tradition of movies like “Jurassic Park” and “Pacific Rim,” “The Kaiju Preservation Society” is a ridiculous romp through sci-fi/thriller tropes that had me flipping through the pages as fast as I could to move the story forward to its next hilarious turn. 

If you like monsters, pop culture references, and don’t take things too seriously, then this book is probably right up your alley – if bad movie science isn’t your jam, I’d steer clear.  

JESSICA: 

Thanks, Bryan! You had me hooked at “gigantic monsters” and I loved his book “Red Shirts.” 

Next, let’s change gears to hear about a collection of essays that cover all the seasons, from Robyn, library associate at the Stanwood Library. Take it away, Robyn 

ROBYN: 

Thank you, Jessica. If you need to restore your spirits in dealing with ecological grief, the essays of Margaret Renkl’s “The Comfort of Crows: A Backyard Year” is the fuel to take you on “A Luminous Journey Through Seasons and Souls.” 

In “The Comfort of Crows,” Renkl invites readers into her backyard — a microcosm of life, love, and loss. With poetic grace, the author chronicles fifty-two weeks of nature’s dance, intertwining it with the ebb and flow of human existence. 

Renkl’s prose is like sunlight filtering through leaves: warm, gentle, and illuminating. She introduces us to the crows who become our companions throughout the seasons. We witness their resourcefulness, their communal bonds, and resilience.  

As the days unfold, we encounter bluebirds, butterflies, and blooming flowers. We feel the rhythm of life — the birth of spring, the languid days of summer, and the bittersweet farewell of autumn. 

Yet, “The Comfort of Crows” isn’t just about the external landscape. It delves into the inner seasons — the joys and sorrows that shape us. Renkl shares glimpses of her family, her memories, and her own vulnerability. 

So, dear reader, I invite you to step into this enchanting backyard. Let the crows guide you. Feel the earth beneath your feet. And may you find comfort in the ordinary miracles that surround us all; a gentle reminder that nature whispers its wisdom to those who listen.  

JESSICA: 

Thanks, Robyn! A bonus from this book is that it includes 52 original color artworks by the author's brother, Billy Renkl. 

Our recommendations this week are: “The Kaiju Preservation Society” by John Scalzi and “The Comfort of Crows: A Backyard Year” by Margaret Renkl.  

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 on KSER.