Book Buzz

Episode 145 - Air date: March 15, 2026

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 Lorraine, collection development librarian, for the life story of one of Hollywood's most iconic actors. Over to you, Lorraine.

LORRAINE:

“Making It So: A Memoir” by actor Sir Patrick Stewart is a treat for people who like celebrity memoirs. You don’t even need to be a Trekkie to enjoy it.

Stewart discusses a career spanning seven decades and recounts his humble beginnings in Yorkshire, England, and his ascent to the heights of stage and screen. He has amassed fans of his work with the Royal Shakespeare Company, and in the roles of Captain Jean-Luc Picard in “Star Trek the Next Generation” and Professor Charles Xavier in multiple X-Men films, to name a few.

I have been a fan of Patrick Stewart since seeing him in the miniseries “I, Claudius” in 1978, and was an avid “Star Trek: Next Generation” watcher from the inception of the show, and was lucky to experience his one-man stage production of Charles Dicken’s “A Christmas Carol” in the early 1990s. I enjoyed learning about his life and the relationships that made him the actor and person he is today.

Though he has reached a pinnacle of fame and critical acclaim, Stewart writes with a tone of humility and gratitude toward the people who helped him in his journey.

I highly recommend this memoir, especially the audio book version. Hearing Sir Patrick tell his own stories in his familiar voice is a joy.

JESSICA:

Thanks, Lorraine! Stewart has done such a wide range of work on stage and screen, with hopefully many more roles to come.

Next, let’s hear about an adventurous tale of an unexpected avenger, from Emma, a library associate at the Lakewood/Smokey Point Library. Over to you, Emma.

EMMA:

If you love morally gray protagonists and have a weary knowledge of millennial office politics, the book “Hench” by Natalie Walschots is perfect for you.

In a modern world where superheroes and villains regularly make headlines, 9-5 office jobs are still a thing. Meet Anna, who works with a temp agency for villains because even criminals need office help. She’s elated to land a promising assignment, but things go wrong when a superhero sends her to the hospital with a permanent injury.

Unemployed and angry, Anna uses the internet to tally up the human cost of heroic stunts and discovers that the fatality rates between heroes and villains aren’t so different. As she realizes that the line between good and evil is simply good marketing, she sets out to change the narrative and shed light on the dubious activities of the superhero community.

While this book did not fit with my usual preference for fantasy, I was fascinated with Natalie Walschots’ ability to reconceptualize the classic theme of good and evil and serve it up in shades of gray. I would recommend this book to anyone who likes to debate morals, loves spreadsheets, and is not bothered by inaccurate depictions of quantum mechanics.

JESSICA:

Thanks, Emma! I love that her superpowers involve weaponizing spreadsheets.

Our recommendations this week are: “Making It So: A Memoir” by Patrick Stewart and “Hench” by Natalie Walschots.

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.