Here are this month’s great recommendations from staff member Christopher Jennings Penders! Click on a title to place a hold. To find previous Chris Picks just click on the “what to read” link at the bottom of this page or type “Chris Picks” into the search bar on our home page.

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Since February is Valentine’s Month, and I don’t typically read romance books, I thought of a twist on the “heart” motif. Here are five books with the word “heart” in the title. Each book is entirely different from the previous one.  Hope you <3 each one.

The Tell-Tale Heart
Edgar Allan Poe
“The Tell-Tale Heart” is in this collection. Poe is one of my favorite deceased writers.

Inkheart
Cornelia Funke
As with January’s children’s list where I mentioned The Great Good Thing, Inkheart follows the same path where the characters in the book come to life.

Moonheart
Forests of the Heart
Charles DeLint
As you can see, I’m a huge fan of Charles DeLint. I love that he has created a fictional town in Canada and every character appears in every book. It’s like getting to see your old friends again.

In the Heart of the Sea
Nathaniel Philbrick’s masterpiece in my opinion. In the Heart of the Sea is the story of the vessel Whaleship Essex, which was the inspiration for Melville’s Moby Dick. Don’t miss Philbrick’s book.

An Open Heart
Dalai Lama XIV
I’ve always searched for spiritual meanings behind life and books have been one vehicle I have used to find my way. Finding joy has been a guiding principle of my life as well. The Dalai Lama is also on this journey and reading An Open Heart gives everyone a chance to practice joy and compassion.