Book Buzz

Episode 127 - Air date: Nov. 9, 2025

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, let's LOL with Danielle, library associate at the Mariner Library. Go ahead, Danielle.

DANIELLE:

Samantha Irby’s fourth collection of essays, “Quietly Hostile,” combines comedy and tragedy with ultimately hilarious results.

Irby covers issues such as chronic illness, depression, and familial trauma, yet I found myself laughing out loud even at the bleakest descriptions. Irby doesn’t make light of these issues, but she does normalize and poke fun at them with candid glimpses into hospital visits, reunions with estranged family members, and compulsive QVC shopping sprees.

I couldn’t stop laughing through a chapter describing a severe allergic reaction that results in anaphylactic shock. Upon arriving at the emergency room, fueled by a desire to not inconvenience anyone, she patiently waits in line to check in, only to be admitted immediately to the hospital. I identified with this ever-present guilt about taking up space. She knows it’s absurd and laughable, but I didn’t feel embarrassed that it resonated with me. Instead, I felt seen and understood.

I love Samantha Irby’s books for that reason — she exposes her vulnerabilities and brings to light what most of us would be too self-conscious to share, demonstrating that we’re not as uniquely dysfunctional as we might feel. She reminds us that life’s ups and downs are so ridiculous that you just have to laugh about it.

JESSICA: Thanks, Danielle. That ER scene resonates with me, too.

Next, let’s hear from Celeste, library associate for Library on Wheels, for a debut novel about a struggling veteran turned survivalist. Over to you, Celeste.

CELESTE:

“The Instructor” by T.R. Hendricks is the first in a brand-new series. A compelling page-turner with excellent world-building details and intense, realistic tension. This will be one you won’t want to put down.

Our main character, Derek, has retired from the military after serving 22 years as a SERE instructor. Now, he is a survivalist instructor finding clients online, never knowing their backstories. One such customer hires him to train his community to survive on the land. He soon learns that they aren’t who they claimed, and now Derek is asked to go undercover and infiltrate the isolated, extremist organization, which basically knows all his techniques.

With a checkered past and struggling family dynamics, Derek is a character you can’t help but hope comes out on top. Written by a former US Army Captain, you can see that his experience helped him craft this fast-paced thriller.

I listened to the audio version of the story read by Jay Snyder. I definitely recommend the print and audio versions!

Perfect for fans of 90s Jerry Bruckheimer movies like “The Rock” and “Con Air.” This debut novel by T.R. Hendricks is a must-read for fans of fast-moving thrillers.

JESSICA:

Thanks, Celeste! If you enjoy this one, the second book in the series, “The Infiltrator,” is out.

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.