Column: May's Sherwood Book Corner

Intro by Adam Bienvenu, reviews by Rebecca Nelson

SHERWOOD, Ore. — Hello everyone! This month we’re celebrating our first full year in business at the bookstore, and we couldn’t be happier. In the last year we’ve had the opportunity to meet and get to know so many members of the community. Many people have enjoyed spending time lounging in our comfy old chairs, reading books and sipping tea, while mellow music plays in the background. Our goal of creating an analog hideaway in Sherwood has so far been quite successful, and really seems to have been working to fill a need in the community.

To bring people together, we have a handful of different book clubs and social gatherings that we do each month. Our Romance Book Club in particular has been wildly successful, with close to 20 attendees, but we also have events for writers, crafters, and puzzlers. This summer we are hoping to open up the floor to some open mic poetry readings, live music, and even more book clubs. If you have an idea for a book club or social gathering you’d like to see, let us know!

I hope you’re enjoying the longer days this spring, giving us all a bit more light in the morning and evenings. Spending time outside is a bit more enjoyable, but the rain and chilly days remind us that summer isn’t here yet. When we get our sunny weekends, take time to slow down and enjoy the outdoors, but when the rain comes, we can still get cozy with a book.

The Astral Library by Kate Quinn

Down-on-her-luck, Alexandria “Alix” Watson has just lost the most stable of her three jobs, been evicted from the couch she has been renting, and had her identity stolen, compromising the $36.82 she has left in her bank account. All in one day. Desperate, she visits the one place that has given her comfort since her days in the foster care system, the Boston Public Library. When an open door becomes a portal into the Astral Library, Alix finds herself with an unexpected choice: Face her latest troubles head-on, or escape into a literary world where she can create her own story.

Before she fully decides, danger interrupts, sending her on a journey that blurs the lines between fiction and reality. As Alix moves through these magical spaces, she is forced to face not only outside threats but her own fears, experiences, and sense of identity.

In this portal quest fantasy from Kate Quinn, readers will love the sharp and feisty Alix, contrasted with the dragon of a Librarian. Mixing magical realism, literature, a desire to belong, and romance, Quinn’s novel is a love letter to readers of all ages and genres. The Astral Library is filled with cultural references, from fashion to literature, video games to historical paintings. For example, readers will find references to various artistic pieces such as The Great Gatsby, Jane Eyre, Skyrim, and The Witcher. However, Quinn doesn’t stop there. This novel challenges the commonly held belief that fantasy literature is meant as an escape from the “real” world by positioning it as a vehicle for its protagonist to work through complex emotions and events. Because of this, the novel may especially appeal to readers who can relate to Alix’s experiences, from the embarrassment of a declined card at the grocery store to a deeper desire to belong.

Overall, I found The Astral Library to be an engaging and thoughtful read. Occasionally, the references to Alix’s abandonment by her mother felt repetitive, but not in a way that took away from the story. Some readers might find the number of literary and artistic references overwhelming. I enjoyed them all, however, and the way they added to the world. I do wish there had been more time spent within some of the books, as those moments were especially interesting. As someone who enjoys fantasy, I appreciated Quinn’s subtle exploration of the genre as a way of coping with reality rather than simply escaping it, which made the novel feel like a meaningful conversation starter.

The Poet Empress by Shen Tao

After burying her fifth sibling, Wei Yin is desperate. Famine has consumed her village and much of the Azalea Empire, leaving both the land and its once powerful poetic magic in decline. In search of a way to feed her remaining family, Wei enters herself as a candidate for concubinage under the emperor-in-waiting, Terren. Through a mix of luck – and a little begging – she makes her way to the heart of the Empire, where she is assessed for a place in the Inner Court.

This dark fantasy debut from Shen Tao stayed with me long after I finished reading. Though it is by no means a Romantasy, love is a prevalent theme throughout. In my opinion, the relationship between the brothers, Maro and Terren, is the heart of the novel rather than Wei’s conflict over writing the heart-spirit poem, or her relationship to Terren. Provided third-hand over the course of Wei’s investigation, readers experience the shared trauma of the brothers, complicating the desire to label either as strictly “good” or “evil.” It encouraged me to contemplate what constitutes redemption, and whether that is achieved through repentance or the acknowledgment of suffering. 

Beautifully written, Tao weaves a narrative that manages to be both dark and hopeful, resonating long after its end.