SJPL Picks Rec News: January 2025

Welcome, or welcome back, to the Rec News, an occasional publication featuring recreational and recommended reading from our SJPL Librarians. It's been a couple months since my last issue of Rec News, falling out of my monthly pattern to accommodate a busy time of year. The holidays are busy for everyone, so while I hope you didn't miss some recs to use as a gift guide, I also hope that you're ready to check out some unique reading lists to help inspire you to read more in 2025.

New Years is one of my favorite holidays as the rebirth of the year offers us each an annual occasion to set new goals and intentions for the kind of me we'd like to see in the mirror 365 days from then. For many, including myself, this will include resolutions to read more. I fell out of more than just monthly posts for Rec News last year; I also failed to meet my Goodreads reading goal in 2024 (unless you count the copious picture books I read in perpetual preparation for Storytime, then I smashed it). So, I am setting the same goal again since it seemed to truly be a challenge for me. I had one other resolution last year, to travel someplace new, to which I was an overachiever. Not to brag, but I was privileged to travel to three someplaces new, which moving forward I will claim to be an attempt to overcompensate in one resolution due to my failure in another. I will have the same two goals this year: read more, and travel someplace new. I'll look forward to updating you of my triumphs or failures in one year's time.

If you have similar goals for the new year, I'm hoping to offer up some booklist inspiration to spur you on.

Inspiration for Someplace New

If, like me, you are hoping to travel someplace new in the coming year, let me tell you a little secret about where I often find my inspiration for travel. I bet, since you know I am a librarian, that you can guess.

Go on.

Did you say books?

Because it's books.

I was inspired to travel to Prague after reading Daughter of Smoke and Bone, opens a new window by Laini Taylor, and other titles have led my traveling feet far from home. Even if the book isn't set specifically in a real place, for me, when great fiction takes inspiration from cultures different to my own it draws me in and draws forth real world adventure; the dystopian Nea So Copros storyline in Cloud Atlas,, opens a new window for example, inspired me to learn more about (and eventually live in) real South Korea. While there are many realistic stories that take you to other countries, I am hoping to instead ignite an interest in elsewhere by offering up lists featuring mythological and folkloric inspirations today. Perhaps a deity or folk hero beckoning will serve as an enticing entry point to a whole new world in both fiction and true life.

Mythological & Folklore-inspired Picks

More Resolution-related booklists

If you were looking for a more "traditional" set of New Years Resolution Recommendations, well, we have those too.

To help you along with any reading goals we have booklists for teens, opens a new window and adults, opens a new window that feature duologies, trilogies, and series. I encourage everyone to include a reading resolution (or listening, for audiobook fans) among their goals this year. I will once again aim to read 18 books this year.

If you're looking to dive into a new hobby in the new year, we've also updated our Start a Hobby booklists for kids, opens a new window and adults, opens a new window, with new reads on trendy and timeless hobbies.

SJPL Picks: Quick Links

If this month's featured reads aren't quite what you're in the mood for, or you're looking to expand your browsing further, try checking out any and all of the lists from our librarians on our SJPL Picks team. All our lists will be labeled "SJPL Picks" or "SJPL Recommends".

SJPL 5forU, opens a new window

If you're looking for further recommendations and aren't in the mood to browse, let us do the browsing for you! San José Public Library's 5forU team offers personalized recommendations via email. You can also fill in the profile on someone else's behalf and we can find just the right titles - perfect for caregivers looking to recommend books to their children, for book clubs stumped on what to discuss next meeting, or if you're hoping to give the gift of literature. Just fill in the profile and we'll do the rest - and remember, the more information you give us in the profile, the better and more tailored your recommendations will be! Hearing exactly why you love or hate a book gives us more clues to find your new favorite- it just so happens to be what we love to talk about, too, so don't hold back. Ready to begin your 5forU journey?

Start your 5forU Request!, opens a new window