Blog Post
Staff Picks: Can You Karaoke?
by Employee 37
The great and noble art of karaoke may seem like something that you need to experience at a bar, but sometimes you need to do karaoke on the go. If that need arises, then rest assured the library has you covered.
But not with a karaoke machine, though. Those are typically middling-quality PA systems with unreliable microphones and a very cheap screen attached, which then require you to log into an app like YouTube to access musical content.
If there’s one thing that most of us already have, it’s a screen with access to online content. So get your phone, smart TV, or tablet ready, and choose from numerous free online sources of music with lyrics. Then pair your device with the library’s tools below and start doing some karaoke!
Plus, you can also use these tools for things other than karaoke!
PA System—Small Venue | Request Now
Our Bose S1 Pro Small Venue PA System is great for karaoke! It comes with two Shure SM58 vocal mics and extra-long 20-foot cables. That way, you can get a reliable connection quickly and easily.
If the speakers on your media screen aren’t up to par, then pair your device straight to the PA using the Bluetooth or 1/8-inch audio input connection!
The handy built-in, three-channel mixer allows you to adjust the levels between your mics and the sound input. The mic lines also come with fun reverb, bass, and treble adjustments.
This is really all you need for doing karaoke at home!
Disco Ball | Request Now
Why not elevate your karaoke experience with some event lighting?
The Rotosphere Q3 is a disco-style light with a modern twist: it emits its own powerful beams of light!
The onboard preset settings cycle through three colors, while the orb slowly rotates on its base to provide a memorable light show.
Bar Lights | Request Now
Colorband Q3BT ILS doesn’t quite roll off the tongue, so we just call them bar lights.
You get two 40-inch-long lights that you can link together with a separately available cable should you desire.
They’re great for providing a wash effect on a large surface such as a wall. You can select solid colors or chasing-light effect shows from the lights’ impressive preset menu.
Par Lights | Request Now
Par-style lights produce a narrow beam of light, and four of them come in the SlimPACK Q12BT ILS!
They’re great for illuminating architectural features like columns or doorways, or you can spread them out for a different effect.
They can provide anything from a subtle highlight effect to a color-shifting light show, using the effect presets and optional link cables.
Blog Post
Staff Picks: Cozy Fantasy
by audreyh
Fantasy offers a true escape from our world into one completely different from our own. In fantasy, this usually involves magic, dragons, and all the problems that come along with a totally different structured society. These books offer all of those thrills, with the added benefit of being light, cheerful reads that are a balm to anyone overwhelmed by the mundane problems of our world.
The Spellshop by Sarah Beth Durst | Request Now
Kiela returns to her childhood home with a magically sentient spider plant, Caz, and an armful of spell books after a fire destroys her previous life as librarian of the Great Library of Alyssum. She’s always enjoyed the peace and quiet of the library, something her new island life seems to have in short supply as neighbors, especially a very handsome one, keep showing up to help her. Eventually, Kiela discovers a talent for making jam and decides to open a spell shop to help her community, even though sharing spells with commoners carries a death sentence.
Wyrd Sisters by Terry Pratchett | Request Now
The Discworld gifts are a delightful gift to humanity; if you haven’t checked out a Terry Pratchett book, you should run, not walk, to the catalog and put in a request for any of them; they don’t really require being read in order. Wyrd Sisters is the tale of a kingdom whose king is murdered by a scheming Duke and Duchess, and what the witches decide to do about that injustice. I’ve recommended the “first” book about his witch characters here since the setting in a remote village feels cozier, but all of Pratchett’s books are funny, thoughtful, comforting reads.
Can’t Spell Treason Without Tea: A Cozy Fantasy Steeped With Love by Rebecca Thorne | Request Now
Reyna is a member of the Queen’s private guard, while Kianthe is the most powerful mage in existence. They are both in love with a dream of owning a bookshop that sells tea. And they do throw it all away to follow their dream, and of course the Queen throws a fit, and it’s a bit harder to walk away from your past life than we might wish. As Reyna and Kianthe build a new life together and face the challenges of starting over, they slowly discover what they exactly mean to each other.
Legends & Lattes: A Novel of High Fantasy and Low Stakes by Travis Baldree | Request Now
The unexpected runaway success of this novel is single-handedly responsible for the current run of cozy fantasy in publishing. Viv is an orc barbarian who’s doing her best to retire from a life of adventuring to live out her dream: owning a coffee shop. Of course, being a small business owner is its own kind of challenge, especially when you’ve made a few enemies in your past life.
Blog Post
Staff Picks: Spectacular Sequels
by eapearce
There’s a common saying that a sequel is rarely as good as the first book, but that’s not always true! Sometimes authors manage to hit it out of the park with follow-ups, too. If you’re looking for sequels that will keep you turning the pages just like the start of the story did, check out some of these stellar series continuations.
The Sequel by Jean Hanff Korelitz | Request Now
In this fittingly titled thriller, Jean Hanff Korelitz continues the story of the twisty characters that she introduced in The Plot. Anna Williams-Bonner is enjoying riding the waves of her late husband’s dramatic literary success. Since he can’t go on a book tour anymore, she’s doing it for him and enjoying all the perks. But when she decides to write her own novel, things take an unexpected turn. She starts receiving excerpts in the mail from a novel about her life, containing secrets no one should know. Anna will stop at nothing to figure out who knows things about her they shouldn’t, and readers who loved the twists in The Plot will be thrilled with the new, and just as shocking, twists in The Sequel.
Doctor Sleep by Stephen King | Request Now
If you’re a fan of horror, Stephen King, or good, suspenseful writing, you may have read The Shining back when it was first published in 1977, or in the years since. Perhaps you missed the fact, though, that King wrote a sequel to The Shining more than 30 years later—and that’s Doctor Sleep. Called “a vivid frightscape” by The New York Times, Doctor Sleep hits all the same notes—and then some—as its famous precursor. Readers may remember Danny Torrance, the character from The Shining whose paranormal gifts lead him to witness horrific things. Now an adult, Danny has done his best to recover from his childhood trauma and works in hospice, where he uses his supernatural gifts to calm and comfort patients on their deathbeds. But when he meets someone else who shares his special skills, he finds himself fighting to save them both after they witness and catch the wrath of a powerful and violent tribe called the True Knot. This one is sure to keep you up at night!
Bring Up the Bodies by Hilary Mantel | Request Now
Hilary Mantel’s Wolf Hall was a Man Booker Prize Winner, a New York Times bestseller, and has since been made into a popular TV series. Wolf Hall is set in 1520s England, where King Henry VIII is desperate for a male heir—so desperate that he wants to annul his 20-year marriage and wed Anne Boleyn, though the pope and most of Europe are horrified by this plan. If you’re familiar with this historical drama, you’ll know that his decision ultimately split the Church of England from the Catholic Church. There’s lots more to Wolf Hall, and it’s certainly worth the read, but if you’ve already read it and missed the sequel, Bring Up the Bodies is just as riveting. Set seven years after King Henry has married Anne Boleyn, the book centers on his disenchantment with her—she’s failed to give him a son—and the web of conspiracy that she finds herself embroiled in over three tumultuous weeks. Though Anne has many against her, she and her powerful family won’t give up the crown easily.
The First Time I Saw Him by Laura Dave | Request Now
In Laura Dave’s The Last Thing He Told Me, Hannah’s husband of a year suddenly disappears, and she’s left with hardly any information about what happened or how to look for him. Her sole ally is her husband’s teenage daughter Bailey—her stepdaughter—with whom she has a deeply fraught relationship. In The First Time I Saw Him, the sequel, it’s five years after the first book, and Hannah and Bailey have settled into a new life in Southern California. They’ve worked hard to put the past behind them and have even forged a relationship with Bailey’s grandfather. But when Hannah’s husband reappears, Hannah knows the only reason he would do that is if she, Bailey, or both of them are in danger. They’re forced to go on the run to try and evade their past, and Hannah is desperate to keep Bailey safe. Through it all, Hannah can’t help but wonder if they make it through; might there be a second chance for her and her husband, whom she still loves and misses dearly? Readers who wonder about the characters and what happened to them will be grateful to get the rest of the story in this follow-up.
Blog Post
Staff Picks: Animal Companions
by audreyh
We love the animals in our lives, so it’s no surprise when they show up in our art! These prints from our Art Print collection focus on fabulous animals! Check out one of these prints to add a little something extra to your home today.
Black Bear by BreeAnn Veenstra | Request Now
Bears hold a special kind of fascination for humans. They’re undeniably dangerous, and yet they’re so stinking cute! While you might not want a real bear in your home, you can compromise by hanging this simple little painting! The soft blues of the bear’s coat give this painting a dreamy quality and a touch of whimsy.
Lady Greyhound, the Pompous Pooch by Weegee | Request Now
Sometimes the title says it all. Hang this glamorous lady greyhound on your wall to elevate your domain into an estate. Photographed by the famous New York photojournalist Weegee, this pooch has pedigree for days.
Lydia Cat by Horst Janssen | Request Now
Relax with this delightful depiction of a sleeping cat. Cats are masters of lounging, and this particular composition captures their special way of sleeping. Add this feline to any room to honor the cat in your life.
Basking by Richard Wilson | Request Now
I’m very biased when it comes to pastoral images of cows lounging in fields. It summons all sorts of notions about the peaceful countryside and a simpler life. We can dream, right? Add in the beautiful composition of this particular piece, and you have a recipe for a really wonderful print to hang on your wall.
Blog Post
Staff Picks: True Crime—Without the Murder!
by emjane
We continue to live in a true-crime boom, be it books, podcasts, or documentaries. Though many can get grisly, some crimes certainly happen besides murder! Here are some recommendations for stories of scams, heists, and crimes without the bodies.
Bad Blood: Secrets and Lies in a Silicon Valley Startup by John Carreyrou | Request Now
Business book or true crime? Why not both? John Carreyrou, a reporter from The Wall Street Journal who was instrumental in breaking the Theranos scam, details the rise and fall of this fraudulent company and its founder Elizabeth Holmes. A full battery of blood tests, run on a sample acquired by a single finger prick? Sounds too good to be true! Turns out it was. While Carreyrou writes with a journalist’s precision, his straightforward retelling reveals what happens when someone seeks power, fame, and money above all else.
The Less People Know About Us: A Mystery of Betrayal, Family Secrets, and Stolen Identity by Axton Betz-Hamilton | Request Now
Axton Betz-Hamilton had no hope of having a normal childhood. Growing up an only child on a farm in rural Indiana, she already lived somewhat removed from her classmates. But when identity theft takes over her family’s life, they cut off most ties from the outside world in an attempt to curb it. While money keeps disappearing, Betz-Hamilton finally escapes to college and soon discovers it wasn’t just her parents’ credit that was compromised, but hers as well. She then dedicates her academic and professional life to educating folks about identity theft. Though she logically knows she’ll never get answers to her identity theft, Betz-Hamilton learns that discovering more information leads to more questions. The Less People Know About Us reads as an affecting memoir, even without the thriller-like twists of the family’s finances, as Betz-Hamilton is an excellent writer!
All That Glitters: A Story of Friendship, Fraud, and Fine Art by Orlando Whitfield | Request Now
Former art dealer and gallery owner Orlando Whitfield tells the story of his friendship with Inigo, an art dealer who rose to great heights, then spectacularly crashed, and fled to Vanuatu before getting arrested by the FBI. Though Inigo’s shady dealings and outright crimes are what propel the narrative, what engaged me most were Whitfield’s descriptions of the art-dealing world. It was no wonder that Whitfield ended up having a breakdown and leaving the dealing/gallerist life: the stress and high-stakes finances of the art trade are peppered with anxiety and adrenaline.
The Thief Collector | Request Now
Well, we have the documentary for you! The Thief Collector tells the story of a stolen Willem de Kooning oil painting discovered inside the New Mexico house of two retired schoolteachers who had recently passed away. Once the painting is found, it raises questions about the schoolteachers’ exotic travels and how they financed their trips on educator salaries. Were there more unrealized crimes? Perhaps the book of short stories the husband wrote was more truthful than initially realized? Though not every question is answered, The Thief Collector is a satisfying watch!
Blog Post
Staff Picks: Icelandic Eclipse!
by erin
On August 12, a total solar eclipse will sweep across Greenland, Iceland, Northern Russia, the Atlantic Ocean, Spain, and a small corner of Portugal. The U.S. will see a very partial solar eclipse from Alaska to North Carolina! Below are some great books, a puzzle, and a video for kids and adults to share! We're sorry, but AADL has no eclipse glasses available.
Eclipse by Andy Rash | Request Now
Eclipse is a picture book based on a trip the author took with his son to see the eclipse in August 2017. They find the perfect spot, put on their glasses, and share the amazing moments when the sun hides behind the moon! This special story explores the intense, joyful feelings of experiencing something amazing together! Maps and eclipse facts are also included.
Solar Eclipse Puzzle: Earth Day | Request Now
If you want to stare at the sun without hurting your eyes, this spectacular puzzle is for you! A perfect meditation on the power of the eclipse, a celebration of the great outdoors, and the wonder of the cosmos. This 1,000-piece puzzle is a fun challenge!
Great American Eclipse | Request DVD or Watch the Streaming Video
Two years ago in April 2024, the U.S. experienced a total solar eclipse—the last one until 2044! This video takes you back to the spectacular cosmic phenomenon that brought people together for a special darkness that lasted 4 minutes and 28 seconds!
A Few Beautiful Minutes: Experiencing a Solar Eclipse by Kate Allen Fox | Request Now
This stunning science picture book is told from a child’s perspective and highlights the splendor of the cosmos! Readers will go through each phase of the eclipse, including when the day animals get quiet and the night animals wake up. The captivating illustrations will also inspire sky gazers.
Blog Post
Staff Picks: Up North Reads
by Sara W
Going "Up North" is a classic Michigan summer experience, but if you’re not heading there this summer, then here are some reads that will transport you!
Sisters in the Wind by Angeline Boulley | Request Now
Angeline Boulley, superstar author of Firekeeper’s Daughter and Warrior Girl Unearthed, weaves in threads from these earlier books into this intense standalone mystery. Lucy’s father never told her about her Native American heritage, but now that she’s fending for herself as a ward of the state, she’s learning all kinds of things she never knew. Lucy must figure out whom she can trust, both within the failing foster system and her newfound relatives on a Michigan reservation in this gripping tale of identity and belonging.
Early Morning Riser by Katherine Heiny | Request Now
Sure, a lovelorn city girl meets a handsome small-town guy in this sweet romance novel, but that only scratches the surface. Told over the course of 17 years, we watch our funny, creative protagonist Jane fall in love with Duncan, and along the way, she falls in love with her community, her new friends and neighbors, and the place she has made for herself in Boyne City, Michigan.
The Trouble Up North by Travis Mulhauser | Request Now
What happens when generations of one family interpret a “love of the land” in entirely different ways? What if they all have fiercely independent streaks and make questionable decisions? Author Travis Mulhauser gives his readers a front-row seat to the Sawbrook family drama in this fast-paced thriller set in a rapidly gentrifying vacation spot in Northern Michigan. If you enjoy this one, then check out Fair Chase, Mulhauser’s 2026 thriller!
Great Water: The Lost Mines of Lake Superior by David P. Pompeani | Request Now
This in-depth regional history makes the case that Indigenous peoples in the Northern Great Lakes pioneered metal technology by mining copper before civilizations across the ancient world did. Author David P. Pompeani pieces together the story of these prehistoric mines and their complexity through research findings and artifacts while debunking myths. Nonfiction fans will find much to admire in this examination of the societies thriving in the Great Lakes thousands of years ago.
Blog Post
Staff Picks: Modern Retellings of Classics
by eapearce
It’s often said that “classics are classics for a reason.” While reading classics can bring joy and discussion, it’s also interesting to see what other authors have done with classic stories in creating retellings. This week, we’re looking at a few modern retellings of classic stories, in which authors put their own spin on familiar tales.
March by Geraldine Brooks | Request Now
This 2006 Pulitzer Prize winner imagines the life of the March family patriarch from Louisa May Alcott’s Little Women. In the original story, the father March is typically away aiding the Union cause in the Civil War. Readers don’t hear much about his experiences aside from the occasional letters he sends home to his wife and daughters. Geraldine Brooks’ retelling focuses on this character and details how the war changes him, his beliefs, and his marriage. If you’re not familiar with Little Women, then don’t worry. This award-winner can certainly stand on its own as a fascinating piece of historical fiction.
Home Fire by Kamila Shamsie | Request Now
The seventh novel by this award-winning author, Home Fire reimagines Sophocles’ Antigone and unfolds among modern-day British Muslims. The story centers around three Pakistani siblings, eldest sister Isma and her younger brother-and-sister twins, Parvaiz and Aneeka. Isma spent much of her teens raising the twins after their mother’s death, and is now pursuing a PhD in the United States. Parvaiz holds tightly to the secret that his father was a jihadist, but when he befriends the son of a man who was acquainted with his father, he begins to follow in his father’s footsteps. Worried for his safety, Aneeka tries to help Parvaiz, but becomes entangled with a man to whom Isma is also attracted. This absorbing story covers a wide range of topics and is a great fit for book groups looking for lots to discuss.
Killing Commendatore by Haruki Murakami | Request Now
While not based on a classic book, Killing Commendatore is based upon the famous opera Don Giovanni by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. In this 2017 book, which was originally published in two volumes in Japanese, the protagonist—an unnamed painter—is devastated when his wife leaves him at the start of the story. Unable to paint because of his grief, he embarks on a long road trip, during which he meets a variety of unique and intriguing characters. Eventually settling in a mountainside town, the narrator begins teaching painting classes. He later finds a hidden, violent painting in the attic of the house he is renting titled Killing Commendatore, which is an allegorical adaptation of Mozart’s opera. Ultimately, his physical and mental journey leads him to a magical realm and a pivotal moment in his artistic development. While complex, not unlike the opera itself, this is a gripping reading experience that is not without both humor and reward.
Son of Nobody by Yann Martel | Request Now
You’ve likely heard of the most famous stories of the Trojan War and its aftermath: Homer’s Iliad and Odyssey. However, other stories of the war were shared through oral tradition during the Greek Dark Age and later distilled into literary form. Those stories are known as the Epic Cycle. Yann Martel, a Booker Prize winner and author of Life of Pi, is inspired by the Epic Cycle and tells the story of a literary scholar who discovers an alternate account of the Trojan War. When Canadian PhD student Harlow Donne finds a long-lost work called The Psoad, he is fascinated by its common hero, the son of a goatherd who leaves his wife and family to fight on the beaches of Troy. Donne translates the story of Psoas into an accessible style and muses deeply on the questions of human nature and the distinction between fact and fiction. Anyone interested in ancient poetry might find this an excellent addition to their reading list.
Blog Post
Staff Picks: The Odyssey Inspired Reads
by ohheyitselle
Christopher Nolan's The Odyssey is causing quite the stir this summer! If you have some time on a long journey home, try some of these reads inspired by Homer's epic poems!
Circe by Madeline Miller | Request NowY'all. This is THE book to read if you haven't already!!
Madeline Miller brilliantly reimagines the life of the sorceress/goddess/nymph Circe from the Odyssey as she discovers her own power and forges her own path against the gods. Starting as a young child, Circe discovers she possesses power that can transform others into monsters which ultimately threatens the gods. Circe gets banished to a deserted island where she hones her powers and has multiple run-ins with various figures from Greek mythology (Matt Damon, is that you????). Circe faces various struggles with both gods and mortals in this unforgettable retelling.
Also we'd be remiss if we didn't give a shoutout to The Song of Achilles!
Clytemnestra by Costanza Casati | Request NowCasati's stunning debut follows Clytemnestra, one of the most notorious villainesses and a legendary queen in Greek mythology. Clytemnestra knows that queens are either hated or forgotten. Additionally, if power isn't given to you, you must take it for yourself. Clytemnestra, wife of Agamemnon, stands by helplessly as Agamemnon sacrifices their daughter in order to appease the gods and ensure their help in the journey to Troy.
While Agamemnon is waging war on foreign soil, Clytemnestra plots. When he returns, she is faced with a choice. Casati deftly writes with fury, passion, and strength when retelling the life of this queen.
Troy by Stephen Fry | Request NowUnclear of the events leading up to The Odyssey?? GOOD NEWS! Author and actor Stephen Fry retells the tale of the Trojan War in a book full of wit and vibrance in his series Greek Mythology
Full of tragic heroes and gods, Fry retells the epic battle with all the drama, humor, and emotion that comes with it. Achilles, Hector, Odysseus, Helen, and all their mortal enemies are brightly shown with his compelling prose. If you have been wanting to read The Iliad but are a bit intimidated, this is an approachable start!
Ilium by Dan Simmons | Request NowWe're bringing some sci-fi into the mix here! Hugo and Stoker winner, Dan Simmons, displays a large scale space opera in this elegant novel. Far into the future, an alternate Earth is in the ninth year of its battle of Troy. Hector, Achilles, and the other combatants act as if they are following some sort of script. Living on Mars are the Gods who have resurrected Thomas Hockenberry, a late 20th century classics professor, to take notes on the war and compare its progress to that of Homer's tale. Did we mention there's a civilization of partially organic AIs on the moons of Jupiter that are heading to Mars for an investigation? No? You'll just have to read to figure out how that turns out!
It comes as no surprise that this monster of a novel is full of literary references, grand scenery, and fascinating characters.
Blog Post
Staff Picks: Farm Curious
by audreyh
The surging popularity of Yesteryear is undeniable; part of its popularity is the thrilling mystery at its core, and the other part of its success is its questions about what we make of life. Time and again, our culture has come back to the deceptively complex question: what is the simple life really like? For example, remember the whole reality TV show about Paris Hilton and Nicole Ritchie working on farms called The Simple Life? Yeah, it was a thing. We like the romance of the farm life. These books about farming pull back the curtain on a way of life that is very different than living within the city boundaries of Ann Arbor. Each of these books captures both sides of the farming life: the difficulty and the beauty that comes from living close to nature.
Cold Antler Farm: A Memoir Growing Food and Celebrating Life on a Scrappy Six-Acre Homestead by Jenna Woginrich | Request Now
Farms don’t have to be giant affairs, as Jenna Woginrich’s scrappy six-acre farm proves. Woginrich beautifully captures the contradictions of farm life as she explores living according to an ancient agricultural year rather than a calendar year. It’s a different way of living, but one that might be worth exploring as we look for ways to unplug ourselves from the digital landscape.
Half Broke Horses: A True-Life Novel by Jeannette Walls | Request Now
While technically listed as fiction, this book tells the true story of the author’s grandmother who grew up helping her father break horses and left home at age 15 to find a different life. She winds up running a large ranch in Arizona, surviving extreme weather—which is always a worry when your livelihood depends on the cooperation of the weather—and the Great Depression. Told in rich and lively detail by a masterful author, this absorbing story is a fascinating account of tenacity and grit.
Bootstrapper: From Broke to Badass on a Northern Michigan Farm by Mardi Jo Link | Request Now
Set in Traverse City, Mardi Jo Link’s memoir is her story of divorce and discovering a new way to live and keep her century-old farmhouse, which is on the brink of foreclosure. Link struggles to raise three boys and piece her life back together while she decides to tackle farming. Like many stories of survival, you have to marvel at the iron will that holds the whole show together.
Pastoral Song: A Farmer’s Journey by James Rebanks | Request Now
Farms are not built in a day, or even a year, as James Rebanks’ rumination on his family farm reveals. Rebanks chronicles the history of his family farm, now in its third generation, and how farming practices have necessarily changed over time in response to local and global pressures. A fascinating read that reminds you that we are still connected to the wider world, no matter how remote our physical location might be.