Staff Picks
Check the blog every Wednesday for updates on what our staff is reading and recommendations for our new and all-time favorite books. What is your favorite book? Post your answer in the comments section below. To see all previous Staff Picks posts, simply type "Staff Picks" in the search box at the top left of this blog and click the "search blog" button.

The Watchmen by Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons - recommended by Jeff
Not to be confused with the current Robert Crais novel, The Watchman, Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons graphic novel The Watchmen was originally released in the mid 1980s. Set in an alternative time line where Richard Nixon didn't resign, and super heroes exist and have been outlawed by the government, the story follows a group of retired heroes as they examine the murder of one of their comrades. With multiple stories intertwining and twists and turns to keep you guessing, The Watchmen has been hailed by Time Magazine as one of the best novels written in English since 1923. I highly recommend it for people looking for a different kind of read.

A Walk in the Woods by Bill Bryson
Talk about ambitious! If you've ever thought about trekking, read this hilarious true story.

The Reluctant Tuscan by Phil Doran - recommended by Valerie

Mama Mia! We all have an inner Italian. Read this for "Scoppio de risa" (Gales of Laughter).