Mizzou Librarians Share Their Favorite Reads of 2023

We asked Mizzou Librarians to recommend their favorite reads of 2023 and asked them to explain why it was their favorite. They could:

  • Write a few sentences OR
  • Provide 3-5 descriptive words OR
  • What emojis would describe the book?

And of course, we got a lot of recommendations. The books could be published in any year and any genre as long as they were available at Mizzou Libraries or in Mobius.

Check out some books to help keep you entertained during these cold January days.

 

Y/N by Esther Yi

“Darkly funny, intense, beautiful prose, 3-am uncanny,” – Amanda M.

 

The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern

“Magical, Victorian, atmospheric, gentle,” – Julia P.

 

Iron Widow by Xiran Jay Zhao

“Sci-Fi, Dystopia, Revenge, Kick-Ass Women AND invitation to fight🥊,” Megan B.

 

Thirty-three Teeth by Colin Cotterill

“Quietly humorous mystery set in Laos featuring elderly coroner. (Bonus note: the Soho Crime imprint is a fun way to travel the world: https://sohopress.com/soho-crime/),” Anne B.

 

Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi

“”Homecoming” by Yaa Gyasi captivated me with its sweeping narrative that spans generations, exploring the impact of slavery on two half-sisters and their descendants. The characters are vividly drawn and left a lasting impression on me. It’s powerful and thought-provoking, making it a standout and one of the best things I read this year,” Shannon C.

 

Still Life by Sara Winman

“This book is a lovely exploration of love in its many forms. It is a historical fiction book set in England during the end of WWII and stretching from then through the lives of the characters after the war. And, there is a wonderful, mystical parrot. Who can ask for more?”- Cindy B.

 

The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes by Suzanne Collins

“Historic, Chilling, Action-Packed, Thought Provoking, Fashionable.” Gabe H.

 

The Wager by David Grann

“I love history and Mystery and this has all of that and more! Mutiny, Murder and Non Fiction,” Michelle B.

 

Trejo: My Life of Crime, Redemption, and Hollywood by Danny Trejo

“Unusual & honest autobiography of a Mexican-American; sort of like a rags-to-riches story. You may not recognize his name, but you will know his face from the many characters he has played. He is currently on “Saint George” with George Lopez.” – Tammy G.

 

The Covenant of Water by Abraham Verghese

“This is a beautifully written story spanning three generations of a family in India. They have mysterious medical condition which causes someone in each generation to die by drowning. I found both the joy and sorrow in this book incredibly moving.” -Katy E.

 

Goth: A History by Laurence Tolhurst

“Like a ghost of Goth past, Lol holds your hand and reminds you of all your gorgeous, beloved memories of days past. I felt seen, nostalgic, and vindicated. A must for all the Elder Goths out there. 💀🧛🧛‍♀️🖤” – Mara I.

 

Shadow divers: the true adventure of two Americans who risked everything to solve one of the last mysteries of World War II By Robert Kurson

“This is a real life story of some hobby SCUBA divers that find a WWII U-Boat off the coast of New Jersey, once again proving that truth is stranger than fiction.”- Diane J.

 

Brave Men by Ernie Pyle

“The author, Ernie Pyle, wrote for “Stars and Stripes” and was killed by a sniper in the Pacific Theatre later during WWII. This book begins with the invasion of Sicily in 1943, covers D Day in France, and ends with the arrival of Allied troops in Paris in 1944. I was so surprised how much I enjoyed this book. I feel like I learned more about WWII, how soldiers fought and the support network behind them. The chapters/entries are brief, so it’s easy to pick up and put down.” – Gwen G.

 

Cathedral: Stories by Raymond Carver

“I’m on a big short story kick right now – Raymond Carver, Richard Ford, and (most recently) Jess Walter. Carver reminds me a bit of John Steinbeck; his characters are all hard-luck guys like the men in Steinbeck’s Tortilla Flat.” – Kris A.

 

Unmask Alice: LSD, Satanic Panic, and the Imposter behind the Worl’s Most Notorious Diaries by Michelle Ross

“Unmask Alice is a masterpiece of a book that I would describe as part biography, part horror story, part documentary about the author of Go Ask Alice. It gives the personal history of troubled teens and disturbed icons, while also giving a big-picture perspective of mass hysteria and the effect that it has on politics, and vice versa. In our current era of (targeted) censorship, I believe this is a MUST READ, much like Go Ask Alice was in the 70s.” – Rebecca

 

Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus

“Chemist Elizabeth Zott is a single mother and the unlikely host of a popular cooking show, “Supper at Six”. She is not an average woman since she stands up for and advocates for women in the 1950s and 60s and wants to be judged on her own work In the 1950s, she has a relationship with a very gifted chemist, Calvin Evans, resulting in her daughter, Madeline. The book has humor mixed with the plight of women during the 1950s and 1960s along with deception in boys’ homes and in research centers.” – Georgia B.

 

The Day After Roswell by Philip Corso

“When I started digging for background information about the David Grusch hearing before Congress in 2023, I discovered this book by a high-ranking military intelligence officer in the 1960’s, whose book dates all the way back to 1997! Wow! It certainly gave me a different view of tech developments and international politics, particularly the relationship between the US and Russia under Ronald Reagan.  The chapter on the Star Wars aspect of the Reagan presidency cast the outcomes of his work in an entirely new light!  It’s definitely worth the time to have a glimpse at the hidden world behind the scenes to aid your understanding of what the big deal is about the Grusch testimony!” – Deb W.

 

The Extraordinaries by TJ Klune

“Teen Angst. Pining. Humor. Superheroes. The audiobook narrator was A+. What more could you want?” – Taira M.

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Taira Meadowcroft

Taira Meadowcroft is the Public Health and Community Engagement Librarian at the Health Sciences Library at the University of Missouri.

Vice Provost for Libraries and University Librarian to Retire

Deb Ward, Vice Provost and University Librarian

Deb Ward has served for more than 25 years in a variety of roles

University of Missouri Provost and Executive Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs Latha Ramchand announced today that Deb Ward, the vice provost for MU Libraries and University librarian, will retire on May 31, 2024. Ward’s more than 25-year career has spanned key roles, culminating in her appointment as interim and then permanent vice provost for MU Libraries and University librarian.

Before accepting the position of vice provost, Ward served as the director of the J. Otto Lottes Health Sciences Library. During her tenure, Ward played a pivotal role in advancing the integration of electronic information delivery into health care, introducing clinical librarian services, and promoting the use of evidence-based information in healthcare delivery.

As the leader of MU Libraries, Ward navigated challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, ensuring uninterrupted library services while implementing safety protocols and managing a shutdown. Additionally, Ward spearheaded strategic space planning initiatives for Ellis Library, serving as the project director for an NEH challenge grant aimed at upgrading the West Stacks for Ellis Library to create a permanent location for distinctive collections.

One of Ward’s enduring legacies is her unwavering commitment to tailoring library services to meet the evolving needs of students and faculty throughout her years at MU.

“It has been an honor to serve the MU community and contribute to the growth and evolution of our libraries,” Ward said. “I am grateful for the opportunities and support I’ve received throughout my career. As I step into retirement, I look forward to witnessing the continued success and innovation of MU Libraries under new leadership.”

The university will commence a national search for a new vice provost for Libraries, with the desired start date of June 1, 2024. A number of constituent groups will be contacted for input and feedback on potential search committee members.

Celebrate Open Access Week: How to Increase Your Research Impact

Every year we celebrate a week of open access to encourage the sharing of research in an open and impactful way. This year, the theme “Community over Commercialization” focuses on just that. This year encourages us to have a candid conversation about which approaches to open scholarship prioritize the best interests of the public and the academic community—and which do not.

Celebrate Open Access Week with us by reviewing the Open Access Library Guide and attending a virtual workshop:

And if you have some additional time, be sure to check out some of our other blog posts about the different facets to consider when making your research open:

Want to lean more? Talk with your Subject Specialist about open access in your area or request a Zoom workshop for your department, team or lab. 

home Gateway Carousel HSL, Gateway Carousel Journalism, Gateway Carousel Zalk Veterinary Medical Library, Resources and Services Publish For Free (Or for a Discounted Price) in These Journals and Keep Your Author Rights

Publish For Free (Or for a Discounted Price) in These Journals and Keep Your Author Rights

Mizzou Libraries has agreements with several publishers to offer discounts and author processing charge support for the following journals.

Want to lean more? Talk with your Subject Specialist about open access in your area.

American Chemical Society (ACS) Journals
The American Chemical Society offers a discounted open access fee to MU affiliates since MU is a Subscribing Institution. Members of ACS receive an additional discount. ACS Open Access Fee Chart

Astronomy & Astrophysics: A European Journal
Starting in 2022,  the EDP Sciences journal Astronomy & Astrophysics will be published under the Subscribe to Open (S20) model.  MU affiliated corresponding authors can publish their articles Open Access without paying APC’s (article processing charges) as long as the University of Missouri Libraries continue to

Cambridge University Press Journals
NOTE: All waivers for the 2023 calendar year have been exhausted.
MU Libraries has entered into a transformational “Read and Publish” agreement with Cambridge University Press. This agreement greatly expands electronic access to Cambridge University Press journals and provides 10 APC waivers for MU corresponding authors to publish their work OA.

Because of the limited number of waivers available with this agreement, MU Libraries has decided to support authors on a first come, first served basis. If there are remaining waivers at the end of the year, MU Libraries can retroactively make other articles OA with the approval of the author.

BMJ Case Reports
The Health Sciences Library subscription to BMJ Case Reports includes a waiver of the individual membership fee of £273 normally required to publish cases. Submission instructions.

Company of Biologists
From 2023 through 2025 MU is participating in the Company of Biologist’s Read & Publish Open Access Initiative. MU authors can publish OA at no charge. Some of the journals Company of Biologists publishes include Development, Journal of Cell Science, and Journal of Experimental Biology.

Electrochemical Society (ECS) Journals
MU is a subscriber to ECS Plus, an agreement that allows MU faculty to publish their articles in Electrochemical Society (ECS) journals (Journal of the Electrochemical Society and ECS Journal of Solid State Science and Technology) as Open Access with no charge to the author. There are no limits on the number of papers that can be published in any given subscription year. Find out more.

Journal of Agriculture, Food Systems, and Community Development
The University of Missouri has joined the shareholder consortium of the Journal of Agriculture, Food Systems, and Community Development. This open-access journal features interdisciplinary academic research and practice articles on all things food systems. The shareholder membership, good through April 2024, covers the University of Missouri-Columbia, including MU Extension. This membership waives the typical Article Processing Charge for publishing in this journal.

Proceedings of the National Academies of Science of the United States of America (PNAS)
MU researchers publishing articles in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS) receive a discounted open access fee of $2,000, compared to the regular fee of $2,500, to make their papers immediately free online. Find out more.

Book A Librarian For Research Help

Whether you are starting your first research project or have written a dozen articles, you can benefit from a consultation with a librarian. It’s free and you can book online in advance according to your schedule.

Librarians can meet with you virtually or in-person.

MU Students can use Canvas to schedule an appointment via MU Connect* and meet with the librarian assigned to your class. Students, if you book a research consultation with a librarian, you can earn a point towards your S.T.A.R. recognition.

MU Faculty and Staff can fill out the form to schedule an appointment.

*What is MU Connect, and how do you use it? Watch this short video to find out and make an appointment today.

TAGS:

Taira Meadowcroft

Taira Meadowcroft is the Public Health and Community Engagement Librarian at the Health Sciences Library at the University of Missouri.

Chat With the Librarians Wherever You Are

Need research help? Working on a paper or project? You can ask a librarian for help using our chat service– almost 24 hours a day.

During the day you can chat with Mizzou librarians and library staff. At night, we offer access to a chat reference service called ChatStaff. They will be able to answer most research questions, except for some that are Mizzou-specific.

To access the chat service and see what hours chat reference is available, visit libraryanswers.missouri.edu.

Taira Meadowcroft

Taira Meadowcroft is the Public Health and Community Engagement Librarian at the Health Sciences Library at the University of Missouri.

home Ellis Library, Engineering Library, Journalism Library, Resources and Services Special Spaces in Mizzou Libraries: All Gender Restrooms

Special Spaces in Mizzou Libraries: All Gender Restrooms

Did you know both Ellis Library has all-gender restrooms? And for our other libraries that don’t, there are several all-gender restrooms located near them.

We want Mizzou Libraries to be a welcoming space for students of all gender identities and expressions. 

Ellis Library: Rooms 203 & 412

Engineering Library (Lafferre Hall): Room C1211

Geology Library (Geological Sciences Building): Rooms 16, 212A & 315A

Journalism Library (Neff Addition & Neff Hall): Rooms 061, 137D & 106

Math Library Mathematical Sciences Building): Room 332

You can find the full list of all gendered restrooms on campus here.

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Taira Meadowcroft

Taira Meadowcroft is the Public Health and Community Engagement Librarian at the Health Sciences Library at the University of Missouri.

Finding the Best Study Space

We have spaces for everyone. If you prefer silence, check out rooms 201 and 202 in Ellis Library. Check out this Ellis Library floorplan to see all the quiet spots. Journalism also has four private personal study pods on the bottom floor that are first come, first served.

If you don’t prefer complete silence, try the Information Commons (the first floor of Ellis Library). Or the Bookmark Café on the ground floor for coffee and conversation. You can always take a look at the Ellis Library sensory map to find the best study space for you.

If it’s a group study spot you are searching for, try to reserve one of the group study rooms in either Ellis, Engineering, or Journalism. They can be reserved for up to two hours for each group. Some also have Solstice monitors to help groups studying together share information with one another. Whatever you need, make sure and plan ahead, as rooms fill up quickly! Currently, the Health Sciences Library is under renovation.

Remember, if your program has its own library, be sure to check out those spaces, as they are often designated specifically for you!

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Taira Meadowcroft

Taira Meadowcroft is the Public Health and Community Engagement Librarian at the Health Sciences Library at the University of Missouri.

New Database: ProQuest Dissertations & Theses Global

MU Libraries is pleased to provide reinstated access to ProQuest Dissertations & Theses Global.

Comprehensive curated collection of multi-disciplinary dissertations and theses from around the world, offering over 5 million citations and 3 million full-text works from thousands of universities.

Access provided by the University of Missouri Graduate School.

If you have questions about the database or how to use it, contact your librarian at ask@missouri.libanswers.com.

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Taira Meadowcroft

Taira Meadowcroft is the Public Health and Community Engagement Librarian at the Health Sciences Library at the University of Missouri.

home Databases & Electronic Resources, Ellis Library, Journalism Library New Database: Early American Newspapers Series II

New Database: Early American Newspapers Series II

MU Libraries is pleased to provide access to Early American Newspapers Series II.

Early American Newspapers Series II adds coverage our existing access and now covers 1690-1900. Images and full-content access to historic newspapers from the 18th to mid-19th Century, based on the collections of the American Antiquarian Society, the Wisconsin Historical Society, and 90 other institutions, from every region of the United States.

If you have questions about the database or how to use it, contact your librarian at ask@missouri.libanswers.com.

 

TAGS:

Taira Meadowcroft

Taira Meadowcroft is the Public Health and Community Engagement Librarian at the Health Sciences Library at the University of Missouri.