Reviews & Recommendations

Kids Books About Dogs

Wednesday, June 22, 2022.

Dog reading book

It's no secret that the Brilliant Books team is fond of dogs.  We absolutely love to meet our customers' canine companions — and we're known for our Brilliant dog bowls out in front of the store (currently in safe-keeping during construction).  Plus, we just got in a whole bunch of signed books from W. Bruce Cameron, full of stories of precious pups!

But today we're sharing a very special category of canine chronicles: Brilliant dog books for young readers.

Jump Into the Dog Days of Summer

Human Sexuality

Wednesday, June 8, 2022

Couple at PrideLGBTQ+ Pride Month is a time of celebration, of protest, of community, and also of education—about identity, sexuality, intersectionality, and so much more

This month, our bookseller Periwinkle is delving into the field of human sexuality, a somewhat off-limit topic in our society (and the subject of Peri's current degree).  In a series of articles, they will guide people of all ages and sexual orientations through many complex (and often taboo) topics included under the umbrella of human sexuality.

First up, Periwinkle's top recommendations for covering the basics, including those you never learned about in school.

Peri's Introduction to Human Sexuality

It's Audiobook Month!

Tuesday, June 7, 2022.

Cassette tapeIn honor of Audiobook Month, we're taking a moment to celebrate one of the fastest growing ways to enjoy a book. Thanks to the rise of digital audio, it no longer takes a stack of cassettes or a sleeve of CDs to listen to even the longest of books.  And with so many talented narrators lending their voices to books both new and old, audiobooks are more diverse and accessible than ever!

Looking for a great new read to enjoy in audio?  Today Caitlin, our audiobook selector for Brilliant Books Monthly, is sharing some of her favorite audiobooks!

Caitlin's Top Audiobooks

Asian American & Pacific Islander Heritage Month

Tuesday, May 24, 2022.

AAPI books

May is Asian American & Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month!

This is a month to celebrate the diverse people, communities, and stories that fall under the AAPI umbrella.  It's also a great time to look at the media we consume and ask ourselves: what AAPI stories have I been reading recently?

And if you're looking to diversify your bookshelf this spring, explore some of our favorite books by Asian American, Pacific Islander, and Asian authors!  We've got literature, memoirs, poetry, science fiction, and more.

See the AAPI Collection

Graphic Memoirs

Friday, May 13, 2022.

graphic memoirs

Graphic novels are a wonderful way to add some color to all kinds of stories.

See how these brilliant artists, writers, and activists have put down their stories in comics and graphic novels.

Dive In!

Weird and Wonderful

Thursday, April 28, 2022.

Weird booksHave you ever finished a book and immediately thought to yourself "what did I just read?!"  Well we certainly have!

Explore some of our favorite books that are curious, mystifying, extraordinary, and just plain weird.  These books will definitely have you thinking long after the final page.

Get Weird!

Falling in Love With Love

Friday, April 15, 2022.

Flower heartLGBTQ+ romance is a rapidly growing subgenre.  According to a recent New York Times article, over the past five years, LGBTQ+ romance book sales have increased by a whopping 740%!  It’s clear that people are hungry for happy queer stories, so Leo is here to give the people what they want.

Check out some of Leo's favorite LGBTQ+ romance books (featuring both YA and Adult)—plus read abut how queer representation has changed Leo's relationship with the romance genre.

Fall In Love!

Tales Retold

Thursday, March 17th, 2022

Actors in bright dresses dance onstage during a performance of Cinderella at the Old Town Theatre. At the bottom, a purple banner featuring the Old Town Playhouse logo and the following text: "Rodgers + Hammerstein's Cinderella, February 17th through March 19th"What do Rodgers and Hammerstein have in common with YA authors?  The knack for a great retelling!  Caitlin shares her love for adaptations, from a classic fairy tale onstage at the Old Town Playhouse to works of classic literature, mythology, and more rewoven into new shapes for readers to discover all over again.

See Them All

 

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