Asking a second librarian who is also a book blogger for book recommendations?

I am definitely glad to go last on this one - it's much easier to pick something I don't think any of you have read, if I know what you're recommending first! Sadly, with all the studying my "recently" is actually kind of a month or more, but as long as the books/films are awesome who cares about that, right?

Okay. So, I'm going to start with visual media, because that's faster. I'd say the best thing I've watched recently that some of you may not have watched is a TV show called Eureka. It's a SyFy original that is now off the air, but it's on NetFlix which is how I've been watching it. Basically, this fairly average (except for the fact that he's a US Marshal) guy gets "promoted" to being sheriff of a town called Eureka where everyone just happens to be a genius. It's a semi-top-secret research base for the government and his job is to clean up the messes when somebody screws up. In fact, that's the premise for just about every episode - somebody's experiment goes BANG in a big way and he has to figure out how to clean it up because he's the only one with any common sense. Seriously. You know that big threatening red button that must never ever be pressed? There is a character whose entire job (so it seems) is to find that button and press it "just to see what happens"

And hilarity ensues. Especially when the Sheriff's talking AI house gets snarky.

Now for books, we've already had some pretty heavy suggestions, so I'm going to go on the lighter side of things. Some favorites in the past year are as follows [links will take you to the GoodReads page where you can read the official blurb etc.]:

YA Fantasy/Paranormal:

Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas - Cinderella, eventually, maybe, but in the meantime, snarky assassin kicking some butt! In order to escape grueling work in the salt mines, Caelina (who also happens to be the best known anonymous assassin in the realm) agrees to participate in a competition to the death as the high prince's champion. I gave this one to Katie last year, and she'll back me up on it - it's cool! :-)

The Ruby Red trilogy by Kerstin Gier: Originally written in German, this is still one of my favorites, even though it's been more than a year since I read it. Someone want to teach me German REALLY FAST so I can read the next one? Warning: Contains time travel.

Jenny Pox by J.L. Bryan: Jenny has grown up with her very own curse - anyone who touches her bare skin becomes violently ill, and eventually dies. One day, she meets the one boy she can touch, and suddenly everything changes. Even if you've read the other two, I doubt you'll have read this one - self-published, available in eBook format only as far as I know, and the VERY BEST self-pubbed book I have ever read. Better than some traditionally published books.

And I have to include the Graceling (Seven Realms) series by Kristin Cashore, because they must be read by everyone, everywhere.

Adult Fantasy:

The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern: Beautifully written fantasy about a circus open only at night, and the game that it hides. I read this one three times in a single year (one of those times on audiobook). Considering my TBR list is currently in the realm of the 680s that's pretty significant.

Adult Contemporary:

The Austenland series by Shannon Hale: Modern retellings of classic Austen pieces, set on Pembrook Estate - a manor where anyone with the money can pay to spend 2 weeks reenacting Regency England. The first is sort of Pride and Prejudice while the second is Northanger Abbey (I believe).

Adult... who the eff knows?!:

Castle Waiting by Linda Medley: Graphic novel of twisted feminist fairytales. It's very good - I can't wait till the library finds a copy of vol. 2 for me to finish it!

That should be enough to keep you all busy for a while. Back to the (text)books for me!