Good Reads & Views

Unorthodox: The Scandalous Rejection of My Hasidic Roots by Deborah Feldman 
Nonfiction

What it’s about: This was a very touching, first person account of a very shielded young girl moving away - first emotionally, then physically - from a restricting religious environment into an unconventional free-thinking world. You struggle with her as she tries to make herself conform and cannot.

Why you might like it: It is written from the raw perspective of a young woman caught in a world where she does not belong.

You might also like: The author's other two books: Exodus & Überbitten. 

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Shuggie Bain by Douglas Stuart
Fiction

What it’s about: The focus of this raw and powerful novel is a working-class family in Thatcher-era Glasgow, featuring young Hugh “Shuggie” Bain, a boy struggling with poverty, a dysfunctional family, and his own sexual identity. Shuggie’s father is a philanderer who abandons his family, and his older siblings escape to lives of their own, leaving Shuggie to cope with Agnes, his alcoholic mother who is both his burden and his idol. And despite his best efforts to be normal, he doesn’t fit in—the neighbors think he is “no right” and he doesn’t understand why.

Want a taste? No matter how far she falls, Agnes keeps her pride and maintains her appearance: “Every day with the make-up on and her hair done, she climbed out of her grave and held her head high. When she had disgraced herself with drink, she got up the next day, put on her best coat, and faced the world. When her belly was empty and her weans were hungry, she did her hair and let the world think otherwise.”

Why you might like it: This tender coming of age story is centered on its compassionate portrayal of troubled characters and is packed with emotional truths. Vibrant details—sights, smells, and sounds—provide a slice of life on Glasgow streets and make every sentence a pleasure to read. It is both a tragedy and a survival story, as Shuggie eventually discovers his strength and takes charge of his life. It is a real journey to follow the rise and fall of this family’s hopes, but it is ultimately an uplifting story of resilience. Shortlisted for the 2020 Booker Prize.

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Big Summer by Jennifer Weiner
Fiction

Reviewers Say:  "If you love Jennifer Weiner, you’ll love this one. And if you’re a newbie, start here" (Kirkus Reviews).

About the Author: Jennifer Weiner is the bestselling author of seventeen books. She is a graduate of Princeton University and a contributor to the New York Times Opinion section. She lives with her family in Philadelphia.

You might also like: Starting Now by Debbie Macomber or The Rumor by Elin Hilderbrand     

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Making Comics by Lynda Barry
Nonfiction

What it’s about: Lynda Barry is a writer/cartoonist best known for her comic strip in the Chicago Reader and for her illustrated novels. Now in her role as a professor at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, she teaches creativity to art students and to people who didn’t think they could draw. (Both groups have things to teach the other.)

Why you should read it: Some of Barry’s books, including What It Is, Picture This, Syllabus, and now Making Comics, give insights into the classes she teaches and can be used to inject more creativity into your life by offering writing exercises and questions to ponder. I love the mental muscles she gets me to flex while I’m reading and examining the dynamic illustrations.

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The Calculating Stars by Mary Robinette Kowal
Fiction

What it's about: Set in 1950s USA, a huge meteorite strikes off the East Coast, obliterating Washington DC and upsetting the climate. The International Space Coalition is created to get as many people off Earth as possible before it becomes uninhabitable.  But Dr. Elma York, a pilot and a "computer" for the ISC, can't help but notice only men are being selected to be astronauts. After an appearance on a children's show to explain rocketry, Elma finds herself dubbed the Lady Astronaut by the press. Now if only she can convince the ISC to take women seriously.

Reviewers say: "Readers will thrill to the story of this ‘lady astronaut’ and eagerly anticipate the promised sequels" (Publishers Weekly);  "A fast-forward thrill ride, Hugo Award winner Kowal's exciting alternate history...highlights the space race and the sexism of the time" (Library Journal).

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Life’s Accessories: a memoir & fashion guide by Rachel Levy Lesser
Nonfiction

What is it? Do you have items in your jewelry box or hanging up in your closet that you can’t seem to part with because they’re attached to a memory? Growing up, did you attend summer camp and make bracelets with your life-long camp friends? Rachel Levy Lesser did, and in this memoir she chronicles those stories attached to her most precious accessories.  

Why you might like it: This collection of essays really got me thinking about my own accessories. You might like it if you’re sentimental about things. If you can look at an item and get emotional thinking about it, this book is for you. You’ll love how a scarf can take her back to the last day shopping with her mother before she died of cancer, or how a Kate Spade bag represented a huge step-up in her professional career. I think what she writes about is relevant to everyone in its own way. You might not have a watch that is significant to you, but that tchotchke from your grandmother definitely has a story to tell.

Moving forward: Take an opportunity to rummage through your jewelry box, closets, and/or china cabinet. Take pictures of your items and write down their story. You’ll be happy you did.

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The Warmth of Other Suns: The Epic Story of America’s Great Migration by Isabel Wilkerson
Nonfiction

What it’s about: From 1915 to 1970, nearly 6 million Black Americans moved from the South to the North in search of a better life. This poignant book follows three people who made this migration, and the author interweaves their individual experiences into the broader fabric of the time period.

Why it’s significant: The Great Migration was an important part of 20^th century American history, and this book blends history and personal experiences -- so you get to learn about this time frame while also gaining insight into the lives of a few of the people who made the journey. Wilkerson’s beautiful writing and evocative detail make The Warmth of Other Suns an absorbing read. If you enjoy reading narrative nonfiction that reads like fiction, this book is for you.

Book buzz: This book won the National Book Critics Circle Award and was named one of the 10 best books of the year by The New York Times, Amazon, and Publishers Weekly.

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Tyll by Daniel Kehlmann
Fiction

What it’s about: Tyll Ulenspiegel, a vagabond and jester from the 17th century, embarks on a journey of discovery as he travels through history in this novel of magical realism.

Want a taste? " He has never been elsewhere. And although several people who have been elsewhere before have told him that it’s exactly the same there as here, he can’t stop wondering where you would end up if you just kept going on and on, not merely to the next village, but farther and farther still."

Reviewers say: “Located somewhere between German romanticism and modernism, superstition and science, history and high fantasy, this is a rapturous and adventuresome novel of ideas that, like Tyll's roaming sideshow, must be experienced to be believed” (Publishers Weekly).

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The Gifts of Imperfection by Brene Brown 

What it’s about: This book contains so much insight about understanding various behaviors and thought patterns that hold us back in life. While it is clear, as with all books by this author, that she is an experienced and highly skilled researcher, her gift for story telling radiates through even stronger. She authentically connects with the reader by disclosing her own “imperfections” and life experiences.

Why you might like it: If you have ever struggled with "should-ing" yourself, this book can be a spiritual awakening that will help you get past whatever you “should” yourself for.

You might also like: Rising Strong by Brene Brown. 

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Chronicles of a Radical Hag by Lorna Landvik
Fiction

What it’s about: When newspaper columnist Haze Evans falls into a coma, her editor and good friend Susan decides to reprint highlights of her 50 years of observing small town life. Haze’s commentary is full of local news, current events, and personal memories, sometimes controversial (earning her the name the “radical hag”), and always charming. This archive of columns and their accompanying recipes and responses from readers intrigues Susan’s 14-year-old son Sam, who has reluctantly taken a summer job at the paper. Then Sam’s curiosity about Haze uncovers a deep secret.

Why you might like it: Humorous and leisurely paced, this big-hearted novel is full of love and wit and is peopled by delightful characters to care about.

Reviewers say: “At a time when local newspapers are nearing extinction, and reporters are deemed enemies of the people, Landvik’s smart and lovely paean to journalists is a welcome reminder of the important role they play in the lives of those who depend on newspapers for more than just information” (Booklist).

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Ghosts of Harvard by Francesca Serritella
Fiction  

Author Alert: Ghosts of Harvard is her first novel.

Reviewers say: “Every time I thought I knew where Ghosts of Harvard was heading, I turned out to be wrong. Part mystery, part ghost story, part psychological thriller, this novel is all entertainment” (#1 New York Times bestselling author Jodi Picoult).

You might also like: Someone Knows by Lisa Scottoline or Let me Lie by Clare Mackintosh.

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Network Effect by Martha Wells
Fiction 

What it’s about: Murderbot is back in its first full novel adventure! The snarky cyborg/AI construct and its research team are pulled into a wormhole and threatened by very odd humanoids aboard a ship that seems distressingly familiar. Can Murderbot figure out how to save its crew and find out what happened to its missing bot pilot friend?

Why you should read it: The Murderbot series (beginning with All Systems Red) protagonist just wants to be left on its own to watch media. And yet, over time, it has become loyal to the humans who have seen it as more than a machine and developed feelings, whether it wants them or not (not). This series is great on audio voiced by Kevin R. Free, who puts in little touches of annoyance and snark aimed at the smelly, slow, and stupid humans who nevertheless get Murderbot to care for them. I’ve enjoyed listening to the voice of Murderbot and its slow progression toward figuring out what it wants.

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Wonderland Creek by Lynn Austin

What it’s about: During the Great Depression, Alice Ripley has spent her 22 years with her nose in a book. When her boyfriend breaks up with her and she loses her job, she decides to take donated books from her hometown of Blue Island down to Acorn, Kentucky, for the Packhorse Librarians. Thinking to stay only a few days, Alice gets caught up in the lives of the library staff and patrons and realizes that she has hardly lived at all before.

Why you might like it: This is a Christian historical novel with a heartwarming coming of age story. There are elements of romance as well.

You might also like: The Giver of Stars by Jojo Moyes is another book about the Packhorse Librarians of the Great Depression. Prayers for Sale by Sandra Dallas is about friendship between an older and younger woman.

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Holy Hannah by Will Dinski
Nonfiction

What it’s about: Hannah manufactures software. Years back she hit it big and earned a lot of money and semi-fame. With said money, she was able to live a quiet, solitary life, eating only in a café beneath her apartment. But, money doesn’t last forever. And humans need other humans. Lacking a purpose, she develops a new app called Know Me. It’s purpose is to have people answer personal and intimate questions anonymously. She tests it out at a local church, and the congregation gets very into it. Eventually, she moves into the church dormitories. She gets involved with the Reverend. And completely swept up in the cul-, err, church.

Is it for you? This graphic novel seems long (544 pages) but reads very quickly. It also serves as a cautionary tale as to why you shouldn’t blindly follow someone. And why it’s best to think for yourself and make the decisions that are best for you. Don’t drink the Kool-Aid.

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The Yellow House by Sarah M. Broom
Nonfiction

What it’s about: Sarah M. Broom grew up in the New Orleans that tourists never see—New Orleans East, where her family lived in the Yellow House, a shotgun house that was destroyed during Hurricane Katrina. In this coming of age story, she writes from the perspective of “the babiest” of 12 children, raised by a widowed mother who supported her family. 

Why you should read it: If you appreciate beautiful writing, this book is for you. Broom’s phrasing is often poetic, sometimes blunt, always original; her unique voice speaks from these pages. In this memoir about race and class, her matter-of-fact tone and lyrical writing make her story all the more powerful.

Book buzz: Winner of the National Book Award for Nonfiction, this book was also named a Best Book of 2019 by the Chicago Tribune, New York Times Book Review, and Washington Post.

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How to Eat: All Your Food and Diet Questions Answered by Mark Bittman and David L. Katz
Nonfiction

What it is: This “artful (or at least competent!) blend of science and sense” is a straightforward resource about the current state of nutrition, debunking myths and addressing diet trends.

Why it stands out: It is formatted as a conversational Q & A with readers. Instead of stating that a food is good or bad, the authors recommend that one should ask what that food is replacing. Is the bagel replacing oatmeal for breakfast or a donut? Is the fruit juice replacing water or a sugary soft drink?

Reviewers say: “A sensible guide to health from two genial experts” (Kirkus Reviews); “a versatile, approachable guide” (Library Journal).

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The Fifth Season by N. K. Jemisin
Fiction

What it’s about: In a world plagued by seismic upheaval and waves of disasters known as Seasons, there are people, called orogenes, who have special powers to control the land, but are tightly controlled by authorities. Three orogenes are at major turning points in their lives. Damaya has been torn from her childhood home; Syenite's life’s work is challenged; and Essun has set off on a vengeful pursuit of her husband, who murdered one of their children and kidnapped the other. The first of the Hugo Award winning Broken Earth series.

Why you might like it: Come for the excellent and fascinating world-building and the lyrical and gritty prose, but stay for the vivid, diverse, and intensely real characters. Essun is a rarity—a fierce and strong middle-aged heroine in a science fiction series.

Reviewers say: “Jemisin’s graceful prose and gritty setting provide the perfect backdrop for this fascinating tale of determined characters fighting to save a doomed world” (Publisher’s Weekly).

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Daring Greatly by Brene Brown 
Nonfiction

What it’s about: This book unearths our deepest feelings and motives. As social beings, it is deeply rooted for us to seek acceptance. As a result, our fear of rejection impels us to behave in ways we’re not always proud of, creating a cycle of shame and self-doubt. This book explains all of that and how to break that cycle.

Why you might like it: The agonizing nature of feeling vulnerable and exposed is something everyone struggles with. Brené does a superb job of including stories from her life, her research, and then bringing it all together with results you can clearly understand, relate to, and implement into your life.  

You might also like: The Gifts of Imperfection by Brene Brown. 

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Me for You by Lolly Winston
Fiction

Reviewer’s say:  "The story uses quiet prose and unexpected moments of gentle humor to illustrate the importance of human connection during trying times. … [A] poignant story about loss, unexpected connections, and the circuitous path toward healing” (Kirkus Reviews).

About the author: Lolly Winston was born and raised in Hartford, Connecticut. She has an MFA in creative writing from Sarah Lawrence College and is the author of New York Times bestselling novels Good Grief and Happiness Sold Separately, the latter of which is being developed as a film.

You might also like: One Summer by David Baldacci or Rescue by Anita Shreve     

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Stamped: Racism, Antiracism, and You by Jason Reynolds and Ibram X. Kendi
YA Nonfiction

What it’s about: “This is not a history book,” Reynolds begins. He reworks Kendi’s book Stamped from the Beginning: The Definitive History of Racist Ideas in America for a young adult audience, laying out the history of racism in America from its beginnings to the present in a personal, conversational way that is by no means dry or dull (even though it is a history book!). Jason Reynolds also reads the audiobook.

Why you should read it: Jason Reynolds initially balked at rewriting Kendi’s book, but Kendi eventually talked him into it. This book offers a compelling and eye-opening look at how racism has shaped the United States. Dr. Kendi’s original book is a great choice for a deeper delve into the topic for adults, but this “remix” is Reynolds’ take on the subject material to make it livelier and more accessible for a younger audience.

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The Aeronaut’s Windlass by Jim Butcher
Fiction

What it’s about: In a fantasy world where humans have retreated to Spires far above the deadly surface, Merchant Captain Grimm flies his merchant ship Predator for Spire Albion until he is tapped to lead a team of agents on a secret mission.

Why you might like it: The cast of characters is large yet  nonetheless fully realized. Humor is mixed equally with suspense. The main characters are fundamentally good people caught up in an epic battle. It is the first in a series, and a lot of the world is yet to be explored by the characters.

You might also like: The Guns Above by Robyn Bennis another steampunk world with airships.

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Lost Causes of Bleak Creek by Rhett McLaughlin & Link Neal
Fiction

What is it: Rex, Leif, and Alicia are best friends living in the small southern town of Bleak Creek. They’re spending their summer before 9^th grade filming a movie about a ghost dog appropriately named “PolterDog.” While shooting a pivotal scene, they have an accident involving the head of The Whitewood School, which is a reform school in their town. Many troublesome children, or lost causes, get sent there. Some are sent home, changed somehow. Others never make it back home. When Alicia gets sent there, Rex and Leif are determined to figure out a way to help her escape. But strange things start to happen, which cause Rex and Leif to question what is really going on at The Whitewood School.

Why you might like it: This story will keep you in suspense. There are some very dark and creepy elements, reminiscent of Stranger Things. So, even though the 2 main characters are 14 years old, this isn’t a book for kids. Readers will develop with the characters and the story unravels nicely. Readers will be begging for a sequel.

About the Authors: Rhett & Link are popular internetainers, with over 20 million subscribers on YouTube. They host a daily morning show, Good Mythical Morning, and produce a weekly podcast, Ear Biscuits.

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Catherine House by Elisabeth Thomas

What it’s about: At an elite and secretive college, Ines—a student with a haunting past—tries to find her place among her brilliant and troubled peers. The strangeness of the academic program and the unusual rituals of the place gradually increase in intensity, which will keep you turning the pages.

Why you might like it: If you enjoy atmospheric stories infused with a mild and growing sense of eeriness, this book is a great choice for you. Also, if you’re looking for great debut novels by authors of color, pick up this book—it offers a compelling story, lush writing, and a beautifully evoked setting.

You might also like: If you like this book, also try The Secret History by Donna Tartt—another complex, quietly suspenseful story about students at a prestigious school.

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The Ghost Clause by Howard Norman
Fiction

What it’s about: The story is narrated by Simon, a ghost who is haunting his former Vermont home, now occupied by a young couple. Muriel translates Japanese poetry, her husband Zach is a rookie detective at a local detective agency. Simon witnesses the impact of a child's disappearance on the couple's relationship and is also privy to their desire to have a child, mirroring the difficulties Simon and his wife Lorca experienced in their own marriage.

Reviewers say: “Thoughtful, elegiac, a good book to read by the fireside with a snifter of bourbon” (Library Journal). “This is an astute, beautifully written novel” (Publishers Weekly).

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Haunted by James Patterson
Fiction

What is it? James Patterson came thru again with a splendid story of love, family and crime. Set in small town Maine, but concludes in small town USA, the shattering drug culture is claiming the promising youth. This book tells a story that may hit close to home.

Is it for you? The authors wrote this book with such talent that I felt the magnitude of Bennett's emotions along with him. If you are looking for books that you can't put down, this book and the entire series will keep you entertained and busy. Also, don't miss Alex Cross and The Women’s Murder Club series too.

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The Other Americans by Laila Lalami
Fiction

What it’s about: When her immigrant father is killed by a speeding car, composer Nora returns home to her grieving family, where she struggles to relate to her more traditional mother and sister. As Nora learns more about her father’s death, she becomes suspicious that it was more than a simple hit-and-run. This blend of mystery, family saga, and love story is told by multiple voices representing the schisms and alienation of American community, but also their many connections.

Reviewers say: "An eloquent reminder that frame of reference is everything when defining the 'other'” (Booklist). “Lalami captures the complex ways humans can be strangers not just outside their “tribes” but within them, as well as to themselves” (Publishers Weekly).

You might also like: Exit West by Mohsin Hamid is another own voices novel that offers an authentic perspective of the immigrant experience. For a more character-driven, literary mystery, try Miracle Creek by Angie Kim.

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Searching for Sylvie Lee by Jean Kwok 
Fiction

About the Author: Jean Kwok is an award-winning, New York Times and international bestselling author. Jean immigrated from Hong Kong to Brooklyn when she was five and worked in a Chinatown clothing factory for much of her childhood. She received her bachelor's degree from Harvard and completed an MFA in fiction at Columbia University. She currently lives in the Netherlands. 

Reviewers say: “Kwok’s story spans generations, continents and language barriers, combining old-fashioned Nancy Drew sleuthing with the warmth and heart we’ve come to expect from this gifted writer” (New York Times Book Review).

You might also like: The Namesake by Jhumpa Lahiri or The Book of Unknown Americans by Cristina Henriquez.

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False Value by Ben Aaronovitch 
Fiction

What it’s about: In the eighth book in the Rivers of London series, a book stuffed with Douglas Adams references, Peter Grant is tasked with catching a possible spy in the office, but he uncovers something far more sinister. Yet what he finds may require his skills as a wizard after all…

Why you should read it: Ben Aaronovitch’s Rivers of London series packs so much into each book, and they are well written. I especially like to listen to the audiobooks, for Kobna Holdbrook-Smith does a wonderful job of capturing all of the voices of the diverse characters.

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Leadership in Turbulent Times by Doris Kearns Goodwin
Nonfiction

What it's about: A presidential historian looks at 4 presidents and asks, are leaders born or made? Goodwin looks at Abraham Lincoln, Theodore Roosevelt, Franklin D Roosevelt and Lyndon B Johnson, examining their early lives, dramatic reversals of fortune each experienced early in adulthood, and shows how they proved equal to the crises of their time.

Why you might like it: If you enjoy U.S. history, particularly learning new things about our presidents, give this a try. Or pick this up if you want a study in leadership qualities that is easily and compulsively readable.

You might also like: Presidents of War by Michael Beschloss if you're looking to read more about presidents and their times. Or try Dare to Lead: Brave work, Tough Conversations, Whole Hearts by Brene Brown if you're looking for more on leadership.

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Salt: A World History by Mark Kurlansky
Nonfiction

What it is: The history of an ordinary substance, the only rock humans consume. Throughout civilization, salt has been used as currency, influenced the establishment of trade routes, financed wars and secured empires. And flavored our food, of course.

Want a taste? “The Romans salted their greens, believing this to counteract the natural bitterness, which is the origin of the word salad, salted.” “It takes two years for the salt to reach the center of a wheel of Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese.”

Reviewers say: “Throughout his engaging, well-researched history, Kurlansky sprinkles witty asides and amusing anecdotes. A piquant blend of the historic, political, commercial, scientific and culinary, the book is sure to entertain as well as educate” (Publishers Weekly).

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Open Book by Jessica Simpson
Nonfiction

What’s inside: Open Book is a memoir of Jessica Simpson, a pop star who hit her stride in the late ‘90s, early ‘00s. You may remember her from her MTV reality show Newlyweds with her then-husband Nick Lachey. She was portrayed through the media as a ditzy-dumb blond who is always the butt of the joke. But her memoir reveals just how much hurt and pain she was in during most of her adult life. She was thrust into the limelight at such a young age, she never really had a chance to discover who she was without the influence of media, her family, or her significant others.

Is it for you? This memoir truly is a story of discovering yourself and who you are. Jessica figured out who she was meant to be, and how she was supposed to spread light in this world. If you’ve had a similar journey, this book is for you. If you’re a woman who has felt judged or scrutinized by how you look, this book is for you. And even if you love pop culture and are looking for Jessica to spill the tea on her past relationships, this book is DEFINITELY for you.

Want a taste? “You’ve been listening to me talk, so I want to hear from you. Press pause for a second on your life and ask yourself, What is my calling? What makes you feel passionate? … I think sometimes we get so caught up in the vessel of the work rather than what matters: the spirit that fills it” (Open Book, 259).

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The Lager Queen of Minnesota by J. Ryan Stradal
Fiction

What it’s about: Edith is as sweet as pie, and has a loving marriage, but she struggles to make ends meet. Her estranged sister Helen can be manipulative, inherited the family farm, and built her own brewing empire. When Edith’s pregnant granddaughter Diana runs into trouble starting a craft brewery, Edith brings in her cadre of grandmother friends to help, but it isn’t enough—can she reconcile with Helen, and rescue the brewery?

Why you might like it: Sharp writing and delightful characters (beer-making grannies!) combine for a heartwarming and witty portrayal of Midwestern persistence.

You might also like: Try The Recipe Box by Viola Shipman for another heartwarming story about Midwestern families helping each other. American Pop by Snowden Wright is another family saga about entrepreneurs and familial conflict.

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Maybe You Should Talk to Someone: A Therapist, Her Therapist, and Our Lives Revealed by Lori Gottlieb
Nonfiction

What it’s about: In this intimate and compelling memoir, therapist Lori Gottlieb shares stories from behind the scenes in therapy—from both sides of the couch. Over the course of the book, you’ll feel like you’ve gotten to know her and her patients… and her therapist.

Why you might like it: If you enjoy great storytelling and narratives about work life, this book offers both. For fiction readers who rarely delve into nonfiction, this book is a great choice because of the way it delves into the inner lives of the characters. Who would’ve ever thought a therapist’s introspective memoir could also be a page-turner?

What sets it apart: Gottlieb’s warm humanity and unflinching self-scrutiny make her a delightful guide on this journey into the messy parts of life.

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The Stranger by Harlan Coben
Fiction

What is it? The idea that "No one knows what goes on behind closed doors" is played out in this story. As secrets continue to be revealed, you quickly realize how fragile life can be and how badly we want to preserve our “image." This is a non-stop book of excitement, gasps, and heartache. 

Is it for you? This is the first book I’ve read written by Harlan Coben. I love this book and now can’t wait to read another one by him! If you’d like to read a suspenseful thriller that might make you think about your answer to the question, “How far would you go to protect your family?” then you’ll want to read this book!

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Summer of ‘69 by Elin Hilderbrand
Fiction

Reviewers say: "The grande dame of beach reads...Hilderbrand shifts among characters with her usual ease, weaving a saga that will make you forget the dynamics of your own dysfunctional people as you crowd into a too-small vacation rental" (New York Times Book Review).

About the Author: Elin Hilderbrand was born on July 17, 1969 in Boston, Massachusetts. She has used her fifty years to write twenty-three novels and raise three children on Nantucket Island.

You might also like: The Bookshop at Water’s End by Patti Callahan Henry or The Round House by Louise Erdrich  

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Rising Strong by Brené Brown
Nonfiction

What it’s about: Brown discusses her work moving beyond shame into resilience and looks at it as a practice of evaluating our personal narratives and rewriting our own “stormy first draft” stories after reflection to help our personal growth. She adds personal anecdotes and answers a reviewer’s questions about how being vulnerable can open us up to a world of possibilities.

Why you should read it: Brené Brown’s work is eye-opening, and her presentation here is funny as well as enlightening. The rewriting she talks about is to help us understand where others are coming from and to answer them in ways that clear our relationship path and avoid misunderstandings.

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Dorothy Must Die by Danielle Paige
YA Fiction

What it’s about: Amy Gumm lives in Kansas with her deadbeat mother and their pet rat, Star. Her mom goes through waves of depression, in and out like her hand in her bag of Bugles. She is usually found on the couch, but the night of the storm she found her way out to a tornado party. While she is away, Amy gets swept up in the tornado, and lands in Oz. But this isn’t Oz like she remembers. Nothing is cheery. Nothing is bright. She wanders, accompanied by Star, meeting up with a munchkin, Indigo, who has swirling, twirling tattoos, and Ollie, a wingless-winged monkey. She quickly learns you can’t trust anyone in this version of Oz and winds up training with the wicked to kill Dorothy. Will she succeed?

Is it for you? If you have an emotional attachment to the angelic, doe eyed, rosy cheeked, Judy Garland version of Dorothy Gale, might I suggest a different title? But if you like gruesome, and sometimes macabre retellings of classic stories, give this one a go.

Look for: Book 2 in this series: The Wicked Will Rise.

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The Chilbury Ladies' Choir by Jennifer Ryan
Fiction

What it's about: World War II has come to the small English village of Chilbury. This charming ensemble story follows four female narrators through romance, intrigue, and heartbreak as they and their neighbors try to keep their spirits up during a dangerous time.

Why you might like it: If you like reading about women who find their strength in adversity, you might enjoy this book. If you enjoy following a carefully crafted narrative of multiple viewpoints, then this book is for you.

You might also like: If you like novels told in letters, try The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer which is set just after WW II, or Dream When You're Feeling Blue by Elizabeth Berg about young women finding their place amid the upheaval of WWII America.

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Julie and Julia: My Year of Cooking Dangerously by Julie Powell
Nonfiction

What it’s about: When the idea of cooking every recipe in Julia Child’s Mastering the Art of French Cooking entered Julie Powell’s head, it became an all-consuming project (pun intended). So many recipes, so many things that could go wrong—especially when cooking in a tiny apartment kitchen. With a sharp, frank tone, Powell conveys the delights and terrors of cooking like Julia.

Why you should read it: If you like reading about cooking or following people as they pursue ambitious year-long projects, give this book a try. Also, if you like memoirs that don’t mince words. (I swear that pun was not intended.)

You might also like: For more Julia Child, pick up her memoir, My Life in France. If instead, you’re in the mood for a book about a life-changing project, try Gretchen Rubin’s The Happiness Project.

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The Ultimate Retirement Guide for 50+ by Suze Orman
Nonfiction

What it is: Nine chapters of solid financial information about your retirement for those still years removed from retirement, those approaching retirement, and those already in retirement.

What sets it apart: There are many books that cover the same territory, but Orman has a very straightforward (at times even brutally honest) style. She considers pros and cons and couples it all with a lot of common sense and plenty of humor to boot. Chapters 2-9 feature a checklist at the end of each chapter that summarizes its main points.

Want a taste? “Remember: You are the best financial advisor you will ever have. When you aren’t sure about something, slow down and learn more. It is better to do nothing than to do something you don’t understand.”

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Red, White & Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston
Fiction

What it’s about: When the America’s First Son, Alex, is forced to make amends with his archnemesis Henry, Prince of Wales, their unlikely companionship blossoms into a secret romance. Framed by a royal wedding and a reelection campaign, this amusing romantic comedy is sweet and steamy.

Why you might like it: This funny and hopeful debut is set in a weird alternate reality that McQuiston calls “an escapist, trauma-soothing, alternate-but-realistic reality. Not a perfect world…just a little better, a little more optimistic.” The texting relationship between Alex and Henry is particularly witty, and the companionship of the three “White House kids” is comforting and reassuring.

You might also like: For another book about archrivals hiding an attraction, try the YA fantasy Carry On by Rainbow Rowell; for a different take on fake relationships, check out The Unhoneymooners by Christina Lauren; and for another royal romance, read A Princess in Theory by Alyssa Cole.

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Boundaries for Leaders by Henry Cloud
Nonfiction

What is it? Henry Cloud uses a great mixture of neuroscience, years of first-hand experiences, and tangible steps to guide leaders into lasting strategies for success. Readers will be primed to lead their business, their teams, and themselves in a way that will energize and strengthen them, not deplete them.

Is it for you? Also addressed in this book are the deep-seated issues of why and how people deal with their decision-making process. Every one of us have filters that we sort out information through. If we process through our past hurts and failures, we will make faulty decisions. This book encourages us to keep the big picture in focus while dealing with ourselves and others.

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They Called Us Enemy by George Takei
Nonfiction 

What it’s about: George Takei and his family were taken to an internment camp during World War II. Although young George looked at the trip to the camp as an adventure, he also saw in hindsight how stressful the situation was for his parents. He discusses how they coped during the war and afterwards, how they struggled as a result of losing their home, their dry-cleaning business, and nearly their citizenship.

Why you should read it: This is an eye-opening look at the experience of an American family and the racism they endured because of other people’s fears after Pearl Harbor. It’s also a poignant study of the love the Takei parents had for their children, making the best they could out of a dreadful situation.

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Eddie Olczyk: Beating the Odds in Hockey and in Life by Eddie Olczyk
Nonfiction  

About the author: Eddie Olczyk is an award-winning television commentator on NBC’s coverage of the NHL and thoroughbred horse racing, and for the Chicago Blackhawks. He played 16 seasons in the NHL and was inducted into the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame in 2012.

Reviewers say: "Olczyk, with Toronto Sun journalist Lefko, presents a gripping account of his remarkable life, from his selection for the 1984 U.S. Olympic Hockey team through his remarkable battle with colon cancer. Olczyk, now a sportscaster for NHL and NBC, takes readers through his life and career with insights from coaches, teammates, and family members…While Olczyk discusses the joys of his post-playing career nimbly, it’s his unflinching account of his battle with cancer that truly stands out" (Publishers Weekly). 

You might also like: The Boys of Winter by Wayne R. Coffey and Orr: My Story by Bobby Or

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The Whole Town’s Talking by Fannie Flagg
Fiction

What it’s about: When Swedish immigrant Lordor Nordstrom founded the Missouri town of Elmwood Springs, he set aside a beautiful parcel for the town cemetery. Over the course of more than a century, this novel tells the interconnected stories of Elmwood Springs’s inhabitants—later the inhabitants of the cemetery after they pass away.

Why you might like it: A book about the dead might sound macabre, but in Fannie Flagg’s capable hands it is endearing and funny: “I went to your funeral and sent you flowers.” “Thank you. I’m sorry I wasn’t able to reciprocate.”

Reviewers say: “Flagg does a clever job of tracking her clan of interconnected families through the decades...[She] doesn’t stray far from her winsome and winning formula: adorable town with a cute history, check. Quirky characters, check” (Kirkus).

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Video/Art: The First Fifty Years by Barbara London
Nonfiction

Why it’s significant: If anyone’s qualified to tell the complicated story of the field of video art—from early experimenters in the 1970s like Nam June Paik, to contemporary internet and video game innovators like Cory Arcangel—it’s museum curator Barbara London. London worked at the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in New York City from 1970 to 2013, where she founded and maintained the video exhibition and collection programs. She was supporting technology-informed installations and performances well before most critics and institutions got onboard with “media art.” In her fascinating and informative new book, Video/Art, London traces developments in the medium—discussing her efforts at MoMA and the artists she championed in the context of the larger New York, United States, and global art scenes. While taking the reader on a journey that spans everywhere from California and China, to Tokyo and India, Barbara London also answers questions about acquiring and archiving media art, such as: what’s the difference between experimental film and video art, and how can media art that relies on outdated technology be preserved? The art world is lucky to have forward-thinking supporters like London, and we’re equally lucky to now have her narrative down on paper.

Reviewers say: “What makes [London’s] book such a fun read is that it’s not exactly the comprehensive survey its title implies. Instead, it’s as much memoir as exegesis, an idiosyncratic front-line report from a deeply informed, intrepid, and passionate pioneer who is still in the trenches.” –Andrea K. Scott, The New Yorker

Try this next: Wondering how you can experience video art for yourself, especially if you live somewhere without a ton of museum-curated content? You’re in luck! UbuWeb has served as a free internet repository for all kinds of avant-garde art since 1996. Here’s a link to their Film & Video holdings to get started: http://www.ubu.com/film/

Nothing to See Here by Kevin Wilson
Fiction

What it’s about: Who wouldn’t want to be a nanny to children who spontaneously combust? In this irreverent, engaging story, Lillian’s old friend hires her to take care of her stepchildren—whose special talent needs to be kept under wraps while their father is being considered for a Cabinet post. The stakes are high, and the situation is really weird. Completely original and full of surprises.

Why you might like it: If you enjoy reading wry, first-person stories about unconventional characters, give this book a try.

You might also like: Be Frank with Me by Julia Claiborne Johnson is another quirky novel narrated by a nanny.

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Lighter Than My Shadow by Katie Green
YA Nonfiction

What is it: This is a story of recovery. Katie Green grew up in a typical family with typical friends. However, the people in her life always seemed to make a big deal about how much she did or did not eat. Her friends would stress and worry about their bodies, pinching at their extra skin, and complaining about boys. Saying things like, “I wish I could be anorexic… to be able to just not eat, if I wanted to” or “I’d do anything to be skinny like Katie” (68). Katie was naturally thin but being surrounded by toxic self-talk and being scrutinized about her body at every turn led her down the road to an eating disorder. At first, she skipped meals, became obsessed with counting her calories, and counting her ribs. Eventually she stopped eating altogether and landed herself in a hospital bed. The remainder of the graphic novel depicts her various routes of treatment and her struggles with recovery and relapse.

Why it’s significant: According to the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, hospitalizations for eating disorders in children under the age of 12 has increased by 119% between 1999 and 2006. It’s so important for young people to be made aware of these diseases and their lifelong implications. The way Katie Green illustrates the fog of her eating disorder, always looming over her every decision and every mouthful, is a powerful image. Its accuracy is spot-on. The feelings she depicts are spot-on. And I think anyone who has ever felt unsure about their body should pick up this title.

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Drive Your Plow Over the Bones of the Dead by Olga Tokarczuk
Fiction

What it’s about: First one of her neighbors turns up dead, then other bodies follow. Janina, or Duszejko, as she prefers to be called, is of an advanced age and lives in a remote Polish village. She does not eat meat, prefers the company of animals over humans, and quotes William Blake. She is absolutely sure she knows who is behind the deaths and inserts herself into the investigation.

Want a taste? “The best conversations are with yourself. At least there's no risk of a misunderstanding.” “Being healthy is an insecure state and does not bode well. It's better to be ill in a quiet way, then at least we know what we're going to die of.”

Reviewers say: “Tokarczuk's novel succeeds as both a suspenseful murder mystery and a powerful and profound meditation on human existence and how a life fits into the world around it. Novels this thrilling don't come along very often” (Publishers Weekly). “In her depictions of her characters and their worlds both internal and external Tokarczuk has created something entirely new” (Kirkus Reviews).

Author info: in 2018 Tokarczuk won the Man Booker Prize International for her novel Flights and in 2019 she was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature.

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Queenie by Candice Carty-Williams
Fiction

What it’s about: Queenie’s long-time boyfriend requests a break, and in her heartbreak she spins out of control, stumbling (literally) from one bad decision to the next as she tries to get over her breakup with Tom. As she navigates her newly single status, she makes choices that endanger her job, her friendships, and her self-worth. It sounds like typical chick lit—the book has been compared to Bridget Jones’ Diary—but Queenie is a frank yet funny examination of racial stereotypes and the female experience.

Why you might like it: The prose is vibrant, the situations are humorous but engender empathy, and you’ll fall in love with the characters—the disarming Queenie, her Jamaican-British family, and her friends, the Corgis (called so because they follow the Queen around).

You might also like: New People by Danzy Senna, Americanah by Chimamanda Adichie, and Bridget Jones’ Diary by Helen Fielding.

Visit Laura’s My Librarian Page