Ep. 160 "The Woods All Black" by Lee Mandelo; "Where the Deer and the Antelope Play" by Nick Offerman

Transcript: 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 Lois, librarian at the Snohomish Library, for a story where darkness and danger intertwine. Go ahead, Lois.   LOIS:  "The Woods All Black" by Lee Mandelo combines historical folk horror and transgender romance in an atmospheric story about the pursuit of bodily autonomy.    Set in 1920s Appalachia, "The Woods All Black" follows Leslie, a transgender Frontier nurse and war veteran. He is assigned to the remote township of Spar Creek, Kentucky, where he expects to vaccinate the locals and birth babies. But when he arrives, he encounters a hostile town under the control of a fundamentalist pastor — and they want nothing to do with him.   Leslie notices a kindred spirit named Stevie, who seems to be the focus of the community's ire. Despite the outright aggression from the townsfolk, Leslie decides to stay and help Stevie. But the longer he stays in Spar Creek, he realizes that there is more than the dangers of prejudice and hatred — there is also a monstrous danger haunting the woods.   I loved this dark and unsettling read. Despite its short length, the author packs in themes of reproductive justice, transgender identity, and queer resilience. This book isn't for the faint of heart, but if you like historical horror told through a queer lens, and can stomach the intensity, try "The Woods All Black" for a unique tale of revenge and belonging.   JESSICA:  Thanks, Lois! This book is a captivating blend of genres, not just historical horror, but throw in romance, queer themes, and fantasy too.  Next, let's explore the great outdoors, with Paige, librarian at the Edmonds Library. Take it away, Paige.    PAIGE:  The summer in Washington is perfect for exploring. Take a page out of Nick Offerman's book and explore the great outdoors inspired by "Where the Deer and Antelope Play," with the subtitle, "The Pastoral Observations of One Ignorant American Who Loves to Walk Outside."   For those who are fans of "Parks and Rec," you'll remember the gruff Ron Swanson and his love of the outdoors. The actor and author, Nick Offerman, is not too far off this character, but maybe with a dash more whimsy.    In this observation of the outdoors, the reader is brought into Nick's stream of consciousness and observations of three parts of the world just before and during the pandemic. Nick's observations are inspired by pieces of poetry and philosophy on the US and land stewardship, and his own background. This frames his tales of ineffectively helping to restore a wall in the UK, watching his friend make a heroic save of eyeglasses during a rafting expedition, and venturing across the US in "The Nutmeg" with Megan Mullaly. Through all this, the reader is left with observations on how we all can be a little kinder to our world. A bonus treat to those who listen to the audiobook, it is read by Nick Offerman himself.    For those of us who would love to be out in nature more than we are, please do read "Where the Deer and Antelope Play."    JESSICA:  Thanks, Paige! This is an inspiration to think about our own backyard and beyond.  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.   [END]