Looking for your next book, film, or podcast? Our Off the Shelf series features recommendations from our very own Countway staff. We’ll be adding new picks all summer long - check back often for fresh inspiration!
Clytemnestra by Costanza Casati
Recommended by: Emily R. Novak, MLS, Deputy Director
Why they liked it: If you’re (ahem) one those people who have been waiting for, I don’t know, a year for Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey to come out, you might enjoy Clytemnestra, a stunning 2023 novel by Costanza Casati written from the perspective of the Spartan queen married to Agamemnon. A feminist revenger’s tale (and more), Clytemnestra tells the life story of a strong and fiercely intelligent woman ultimately reviled for murdering her husband to avenge his brutally sacrificing their daughter, Iphigenia, to the goddess Artemis…so that his ships can get to Troy and provide aid to his brother Menelaus…who is waging a war against Troy to get his wife, Helen, back…because she ran away with Paris…and…
If you end up liking this, I highly recommend reading Casati’s 2025 novel, Babylonia.
Where to find it: Clytemnestra in HOLLIS
The Mother's Recompense by Edith Wharton
Recommended by: Charlotte Lellman, MS, Collections Services Archivist
Why they liked it: Two summers ago I recommended Summer by Edith Wharton, and I'm back with another Edith deep cut. This was Edith Wharton near her best: deep inside the mind and heart of a character in a series of impossible situations. And she avoids her occasional pitfall of belaboring: this is one of her shorter novels. (As for a non-recommendation, I also recently read A Son at the Front, her World War I novel, which I heartily dis-recommend.)
Where to find it: The Mother's Recompense in HOLLIS
More Weight: a Salem Story by Ben Wickey
Recommended by: Charlotte Lellman, MS, Collections Services Archivist
Why they liked it: This graphic memoir, many years in the making, is an impressive feat of illustration and storytelling. It's also deeply researched (with detailed endnotes) and a fascinating work of historiography. You'll learn a lot about the Salem Witch Trials, but even more about how we've understood and interpreted those events in the centuries since. Sometimes it almost feels like Wickey is trying to do too much, but given the rich source material, you can hardly blame him.
Where to find it: More Weight: a Salem Story in HOLLIS
The Street by Ann Petry
Recommended by: Charlotte Lellman, MS, Collections Services Archivist
Why they liked it: I learned about the post-World War II-era novelist Ann Petry because some of her work was recently republished for the first time in many years. This novel was her most successful. It's a close-up of a particular woman (Lutie) trying to make it with her son in Harlem. The titular Street is almost its own character in the book, representing everything that Lutie wants to get away from but can't. We see Lutie's perspective: the indignities, absurdities, and racism she endures; and we occasionally see the alternate perspectives of a few key characters. The tense mood mounts as Lutie faces increasingly impossible and unfair choices.
Where to find it: The Street in HOLLIS
Check, Please! by Ngozi Ukazu
Recommended by: Ashley Thomas, MLIS, MA, Health Science Data & Digital Services Librarian
Why they liked it: It might be sacrilege to say, but after your umpteenth re-Heat, you might need some new content (assuming you've read the entirety of Rachel Reid's Game Changers series). Why not check out one of the OG hockey romances?! Check, Please! has it all - comedy, romance, baked goods, non-toxic hockey bro culture, numerous Boston/Massachusetts references (who hasn’t gone to a sketchy Stop n Shop?), and even a Harvard mention! Enjoy the adventures of Bitty, Jack, and the whole Samwell men’s hockey team in this beautiful illustrated and wonderfully written webcomic.
Where to find it: Check, Please! in HOLLIS or Check, Please! website
Yokohama Kaidashi Kikou by Hitoshi Ashinano
Recommended by: Matthew Noe, MSLS, Lead Collection and Knowledge Management Librarian
Why they liked it: This beautifully illustrated manga follows the life of Alpha, an android running a small cafe in a seaside town after an environmental catastrophe fundamentally altered the world. There are five volumes released in this deluxe edition format, and they are all equal parts cozy and pensive and will speak directly to anyone struggling with climate anxiety. This is one of my favorite manga and really fits well into the expanded view of graphic medicine we take here at Countway.
Where to find it: Check, Please! in HOLLIS or Check, Please! website
Opioids and Organs by Arizona O'Neill
Recommended by: Matthew Noe, MSLS, Lead Collection and Knowledge Management Librarian
Why they liked it: From Matthew's Booklist starred review, he notes: "After her father’s death from a fentanyl overdose and the subsequent donation of his organs, O’Neill finds herself struggling to come to terms with the contradictions at play in the way society treats people living with addiction and the organ transplant industry. ... Opioids & Organs is at once a gripping meditation on grief, a vital exploration of medical history, and an indictment of an industry—and a society—that takes advantage of those most at risk. A must-read for fans of graphic medicine, medical history, and social justice."
Where to find it: Opioids and Organs in HOLLIS or Opioids and Organs at public libraries
Bleeding Edge by Thomas Pynchon
Recommended by: Carrie Wade, MLIS, Interim Manager, Research & Instruction
Why they liked it: I would do you a disservice if I tried to tell you what this book is about, but I can tell you that it's a novel that was written in 2013, set in 2001, and highly applicable to 2026.
Where to find it: Bleeding Edge in HOLLIS
Oldies (But Goodies!): Recommendations from 2025
Movie: KPop Demon Hunters
Recommended by: Ashley Thomas, MLIS, MA, Health Science Data & Digital Services Librarian
Why they liked it: Don’t worry, you don’t need to know terms like Stay, Blink, Army, bias, or maknae to fall in love with this animated movie! Although, fair warning, the songs WILL get stuck in your head on repeat … so just accept that fact going in.
My little soda pop! Pop!
When they aren’t selling out stadiums as the hottest KPop girl group Huntr/X, Rumi, Mira, and Zoey use their badass demon hunting secret identities to keep their fans, and the world, safe from Gwi-Ma and his minions. But when a new group, the Saja Boys, come on to the scene, the battle is no longer just with Gwi-Ma, but themselves and their own personal demons.
Set against the colorful backdrop of KPop music, fashion, and culture, this movie will have you laughing, crying, cheering, and singing throughout! Seriously, this movie has NO business being as good as it is. A wonderful drop of fun and escapism you can enjoy at anytime.
Where to find it: KPop Demon Hunters on Netflix
Book: All Systems Red (Book One of The Murderbot Diaries) by Martha Wells
Recommended by: Matthew Noe, MSLS, Lead Collection and Knowledge Management Librarian
Why they liked it: Murderbot is one of my favorite characters in all of fiction and I've re-read the entire series (that is available to this point) 3 or 4 times since first reading the books during the early parts of the COVID-19 pandemic. All Systems Red introduces us to Murderbot and there are six more books for even more adventures! Basically, Murderbot is a construct (part cloned human tissue, part machine/AI) that has some serious anxiety, struggles with humans but really would prefer they not die in front of it, and just wants to watch downloaded serial media. Who can't relate to that?
If a premium TV show experience is more your speed, you are in luck: the first season of Apple TV's Murderbot adaptation is finished and is fantastic! Here's a favorite still of mine:
Where to find it: All Systems Red in HOLLIS
TV Show: How To with John Wilson
Recommended by: Lexie, Chunxiaoxue Lu, MA, Library Digital Technology Specialist
Why they liked it: "Hey, New York” — John Wilson uses his camera to record everything happening in New York City. At first, it all seems unrelated—but somehow, through his lens, everything becomes connected.
Everything is real, and every person’s story is fun. When we laugh at what unfolds in front of his camera, it feels like having dinner with your best friend just talking and laughing about the little things in everyday life. This show makes me laugh out loud, and the more I watch, the harder I laugh.
Where to find it: How To on HBO
Movie: Force Majeure/Forza Maggiore
Recommended by: Lexie, Chunxiaoxue Lu, MA, Library Digital Technology Specialist
Why they liked it: A Swedish family goes to the Alps for a vacation. While they are dining at a mountaintop restaurant, an avalanche suddenly strikes, breaking their peaceful moment. Tourists flee in panic, and the mother calls out for her husband to help protect their children, however, he runs away instead! Although the avalanche doesn't physically harm them, it creates a deep trust issue within the family.
The film explores human instinct versus family responsibility when faced with a sudden crisis. The script is well-structured, and the highlight for me is the use of Concerto No. 2 in G minor, Op. 8, RV 315, "Summer" (L’estate) from Vivaldi’s Four Seasons, which perfectly matches the mood of the movie.
Where to find it: Force Majeure on streaming platforms
Movie: Robot Dreams
Recommended by: Lexie, Chunxiaoxue Lu, MA, Library Digital Technology Specialist
Why they liked it: A lonely puppy meets a robot in a vast city, and they grow close, relying on and warming each other with their companionship. But one accident separates them, and from then on, they can only long for each other in their dreams. This movie connects deeply with anyone living in a big city or those who’ve been separated from friends or loved ones. It explores themes of time, connection, and the bonds between friends and lovers.
There is no dialogue throughout the entire film, which makes it easy to immerse yourself in the story and truly feel the tender, heartwarming moments between the puppy and the robot. It gently shows how to love yourself, how to love others, and how to carry that love forward in life. Life goes on, but memories are eternal.
Where to find it: Robot Dreams on Hulu (or Disney+)
TV Show: Adolescence
Recommended by: Lexie, Chunxiaoxue Lu, MA, Library Digital Technology Specialist
Why they liked it: A teenager is accused of murdering his schoolmates. His parents, therapist, and the detective on the case all want to uncover what and Why really happened. This limited series (only three episodes), released on Netflix this year, immediately caught my attention.
Unlike other murder documentaries or shows, this one focuses more on the people, the influence of social media, the relationship between the teenage suspect and the therapist, and how the parents' lives change after their child is accused of murder. Each character is well-developed, and the storyline is very clear. Also, all episodes are filmed in a one long shot, which adds to the intensity. Everyone in the show gives their best performance.
Where to find it: Adolescence on Netflix
Book: Crazy Brave by Joy Harjo
Recommended by: Corey Purcell, MLIS, Information Desk Coordinator
Why they liked it: This innovative memoir by former US Poet Laureate and citizen of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation, Joy Harjo, effortlessly weaves together memory, poetry, and myth to tell the story of how Harjo found her way to poetry.
Equal parts heartbreaking and uplifting, Crazy Brave recounts stories of families coming together and falling apart, falling in and out of love, and finding oneself through art.
Where to find it: Crazy Brave in HOLLIS
Graphic Novel: Checked Out by Katie Fricas
Recommended by: Tré Quarles, MLIS, Research Public Services Librarian
Why they liked it: Checked Out by Katie Fricas is a semi-autobiographical graphic novel that follows Louise, a queer woman in her twenties working at a library in New York City, as she navigates life, love, and her artistic ambitions. The story blends witty humor, frustration, unrequited crushes, and a genuine affection for the chaotic world of public service.
While I was in Philadelphia for a conference, I attended a book launch at a local comic shop where Katie did a reading. I was struck by her whimsical cartoony art style and dry, observant humor. It made me want to read the whole book right away. If you have ever worked in a public-facing job or just love libraries, you will find a lot to connect with. The memoir is honest, funny, and surprisingly moving.
Where to find it: Checked Out on Amazon
TV Series: Building the Band
Recommended by: Tré Quarles, MLIS, Research Public Services Librarian
Why they liked it: Building the Band is a new Netflix reality competition where singers form groups based only on vocal talent and perceived chemistry, without ever seeing each other. It’s basically Love Is Blind meets The X Factor. I’ve always enjoyed singing shows, and so far this one has been a mostly fun and lighthearted watch.
Where to find it: Building the Band on Netflix
Book: The Magicians by Lev Grossman
Recommended by: Tré Quarles, Research Public Services Librarian
Why they liked it: The Magicians is often described as an adult Harry Potter, but it’s much more than that. When a group of smart, moody college students discover that magic is real and enroll at Brakebills, a secret school for magicians, they soon learn the magical world is far darker and more chaotic than they imagined. Eventually, they enter Fillory, a Narnia-like world from their favorite childhood books, only to find it is just as dangerous and unpredictable.
I first discovered the world of The Magicians through its Syfy TV adaptation. As a fan of fantasy, I appreciate how this book explores a more complex and often unsettling vision of magic. It deals with mental health, disillusionment, and the difficult transition into adulthood. It also asks what happens after you get what you have always wanted.
Where to find it: The Magicians in HOLLIS
Podcast: Root of Evil
Recommended by: MJ Grein, Administrative Operations Lead
Why they liked it: This podcast is dark, horrific and strangely healing. It’s based on the Hodel Family and the Black Dahlia murder in Hollywood. There are 8 episodes and I was truly captivated by the story, the craziness and the aftermath / healing of this family. It’s a wild story, it’s not for the faint at heart. If you are into crime investigation stories, this one is for you!
Where to find it: Root of Evil on Spotify
Book: Everything is Tuberculosis: The History and Persistence of Our Deadliest Infection by John Green
Recommended by: Charlotte Lellman, MS, Collections Services Archivist
Why they liked it: This short and straightforward book is a holistic look at tuberculosis in today's world. Green (most famous for his young adult fiction) explores everything from historical medical and social understandings of the disease to the geopolitics and economics that result in its ongoing devastation in some parts of the world. The through-line is the moving story of a young man in Sierra Leone who is fighting drug-resistant TB.
Where to find it: Everything is Tuberculosis in HOLLIS
Book: My Cousin Rachel by Daphne Du Maurier
Recommended by: Charlotte Lellman, MS, Collections Services Archivist
Why they liked it: I recently read and enjoyed Du Maurier's best known work, Rebecca. This novel shares Rebecca's careful plotting and sense of foreboding and mystery, but the deep and confusing relationships between the main characters are even more emotionally intense.
Where to find it: My Cousin Rachel in HOLLIS
Book: The Usual Desire to Kill by Camilla Barnes
Recommended by: Charlotte Lellman, MS, Collections Services Archivist
Why they liked it: It's rare that I literally laugh out loud while reading, but Barnes's wry and observant novel about a pair of aging parents and their adult daughters made me do it.
Where to find it: The Usual Desire to Kill in HOLLIS