Good Reads & Views

Goliath by Tom Gauld

What it is: A retelling of the classic David and Goliath story, with a twist. In this graphic novel, Goliath keeps a low profile as the Philistines bookkeeper, doing mainly paper pushing for the king, and has no interest in fighting. He gets forced into provoking the enemy camp across the valley simply because of his size. After 40 days, he meets David.

Why you might like it: Most people know how Goliath is portrayed in the bible, but if you’re looking for a new perspective that will make you feel and care of the Giant, this is for you.

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The Wait: Love, Fear, and Happiness on the Heart Transplant List by Jennifer Bonner
YA Nonfiction

What it’s about: Jennifer Bonner was born with severe heart defects and eventually needed a heart transplant to survive. In her diary at the time, she wrote about her passion for art, her hopes for love and for the future, and her quest to live each day fully. Author Susan Cushman fills in the gaps about Jennifer’s life in and out of the hospital and the advances taking place in heart surgery at the time.

Why you should read it: I went to college with Jennifer Bonner and knew a few of the people she writes about, but her story is larger than that. Jennifer’s voice leaps off the page here as she shares intimate thoughts of a life that may have been hampered by her health but that didn’t dampen her remarkable zest for life. She is funny, profound, passionate, and deserves to be heard.

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I Miss You When I Blink: Essays by Mary Laura Philpott
Nonfiction

Why you might like it: If you like gaining insight into other people’s lives, Philpott’s essays are likely to delight you. She writes with warmth and striking honesty about motherhood, the unexpected ways our lives can twist, and the Type A characteristics that are the source of her greatest strengths and most significant challenges.

You might also like: If you enjoy confessional personal essays, also check out Tell Me More: Stories about the 12 Hardest Things I’m Learning to Say by Kelly Corrigan.

Reviewers say: Kirkus Reviews calls this book “Warm, candid, and wise… Delightfully bighearted reading.”

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Big Sky by Kate Atkinson
Fiction

Featuring: The return, after nine years, of private investigator Jackson Brodie—brooding, compassionate, and unable to resist rescuing others. In this case, Brodie stumbles on a murder that may be linked to a sex trafficking ring. Also featuring Jackson’s “protégé,” who reappears from When Will There Be Good News? If you are new to Jackson Brodie, start with the first book in the series—Case Histories.

Why you might like it: Atkinson excels at creating characters to care about—she really gets you inside their heads, revealing their inner lives and motivations. Her compelling storyline moves back and forth in time and is told from multiple perspectives, giving it depth and complexity. The multiple storylines intertwine in unlikely ways, but one of Brodie’s maxims is "A coincidence is just an explanation waiting to happen."

Reviewers say: Brodie “is not so much the central character as the grumpy, anxious, largehearted gravitational field that attracts a motley assortment of lost souls and love interests…. The deaths and disappearances that Jackson investigates change with every book, but the human heart remains the central mystery. The welcome return of an existential detective" (Kirkus Reviews).

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The Plague Charmer by Karen Maitland
Fiction

What it’s about: 14^th century England; the plague is spreading from village to village. There is a dwarf who was banished from his life as a jester, dead children and one alive wild woman retrieved from a shipwreck, superstition and holy relics, an apocalyptic cult, and the all-around breakdown of society.

Who it’s for: If you like dark and atmospheric, with interesting characters, give this one a try. It is a fascinating look at the Middle Ages and the ways society dealt with the Black Death and superstition.

Want a taste? “What I have to offer you cannot be bought with coins. I have a price, but it is not to be paid in gold or silver.”

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The King's Curse by Philippa Gregory
Fiction

What is it? The King's Curse, written by historical fiction writer Philippa Gregory, takes you into the world of Margaret Pole, the Countess of Salisbury and the cousin of Elizabeth of York. She was forced to marry the father of Henry the 8th, the infamous King of England. This story provides an intriguing perspective of the reign of King Henry VIII from one who would have intimately known it well.

Key insight: The reader should not lose sight of the fact that this is historical fiction. The author, as always, weaves these true historical facts and events with her own thorough and exhaustive research concluding ideas of what may conceivably have been the backstory, thoughts and actions of the women of that time period.

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Time Song: Journeys in Search of a Submerged Land by Julia Blackburn
Nonfiction

What it’s about: Once upon a time, not so long ago, England was connected to Europe by land. First a savannah, with mastodons, mammoths, and woolly rhinos, it changed as the earth’s temperature rose. Grasslands gave way to marshes, rivers, and woodlands, ideal for human habitation, until enough ice had melted to inundate the land. What was once Doggerland is now under the North Sea, known primarily by what comes up in fishing nets.

What the reviewers say: “Exploring natural history as part of humanity, this unique, artistic, and original work will be enjoyed by a wide range of readers.” (Library Journal)

You might also like: Underland by Robert MacFarlane, Sightlines by Kathleen Jamie, and Wildwood by Roger Deakin

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Becoming Mrs. Lewis by Patti Callahan Henry
Fiction

About the author:  Patti Callahan Henry is a New York Times bestselling author. Her work has been included in short story collections, anthologies, magazines, and blogs. Patti attended Auburn University for her undergraduate work and Georgia State University for her graduate degree. The mother of three children, she lives in both Mountain Brook, Alabama, and Bluffton, South Carolina, with her husband.

Reviewers say: "It's a novel. And it's a very good one. . . extraordinarily accurate. . . more accurate than most biographical essays that have been written about my mother" - Douglas Gresham, son of Joy Davidman, wife of C.S. Lewis (Read Aloud Revival).

You might also like: The Aviator’s Wife by Melanie Benjamin or Love and Ruin by Paula McLain.

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When Parents Text: So Much Said… So Little Understood by Lauren Kaelin & Sophia Fraioli
Nonfiction

What’s inside: Hilarious anecdotes and conversations millennials have with their parents and grandparents over text message. Everything from the discovery of emoticons, to hilarious autocorrect situations. In it, we learn the origins of bowtie man :-)8, Starbucks *$$$, and acronyms like, GGMM (Good Golly, Miss Molly).

Why you might like it: It’s a quick and funny read that doesn’t have to be read cover to cover. It illustrates the technological gap in a humorous way and demonstrates why it’s so important to keep up with technology and ways to communicate. It also is interesting to see how the written language has changed so much with the invention and prevalent use of the cell phone. Conveying emotion with symbols *\0/*, emoji’s, pictures, and video is becoming the norm. You can almost consider this book a piece of technological history, albeit a comical one.

Want a taste? Mom: Did you happen to put 6 sticks of butter in your purse before going to the mall? Me: No.

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With The Fire On High by Elizabeth Acevedo
YA Fiction

What it’s about: Emoni Santiago is a senior in high school and a wonderful mother to her young daughter, which means she has a lot of responsibilities. Emoni works hard to provide for her daughter, but how can she teach her daughter to follow her passion if she won’t follow her own dreams of becoming a chef and finding love?

Why you should read it: This is a delicious read in terms of language and the included recipes! Emoni has a gift in the kitchen, and her friends and teachers find ways to encourage her to follow her dreams and do what she hadn’t imagined for herself. The story was much more hopeful than I thought it would be, and I liked how the main characters changed over the course of the story and learned to find space for pursuing their dreams. The audiobook is read by the author, and I especially enjoyed the conversations between Emoni and her "Buela."

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Rules for Visiting by Jessica Francis Kane
Fiction

What it’s about: In this gently humorous novel, May, a professional gardener, visits four old friends in an effort to expand her quiet world. This is a story of friendship and of a likeable, slightly quirky character stretching outside her comfort zone. 

Why you might like it: If you like character-driven novels told through clever and observant first-person narration, this book may be right up your alley. 

You might also like: Try the novels of Elinor Lipman, especially Isabel’s Bed and On Turpentine Lane—for their wry storytelling and relatable female characters. Anne Youngson’s Meet Me at the Museum shares this novel’s everyday wisdom and calm tone.

Another Brooklyn by Jacqueline Woodson
Fiction

What it is: This #ownvoices novel is a bittersweet prose-poem about childhood, friendship, race, love, and grief. August returns to Brooklyn to say goodbye to her dying father, and remembers her childhood spent adapting to a move from Tennessee to Brooklyn while her father tries to rebuild their family, haunted by an absent mother; longing to belong to the world she and her brother observe from the window of their Bushwick apartment. Despite her mother’s warnings about the treachery of women, more than anything young August wants to be friends with a trio of girls she has admired from the window. To August’s amazement, the girls befriend her, and the trio becomes four, "Sylvia, Angela and Gigi, the four of us sharing the weight of growing up Girl in Brooklyn, as though it was a bag of stones we passed among ourselves." But as the girls mature, each faces her own challenges that may not be carried by the others.

Reviewers say: “Woodson brings the reader so close to her young characters that you can smell the bubble gum on their breath and feel their lips as they brush against your ear. This is both the triumph and challenge of this powerfully insightful novel. ‘This is memory,’ we are reminded.” Tayari Jones for The New York Times. “Another Brooklyn is a short but complex story that arises from simmering grief. It lulls across the pages like a mournful whisper.” Ron Charles, The Washington Post

You might also like: Salvage the Bones by Jesmyn Ward, River, Cross My Heart by Breena Clarke, and The Burning Girl by Claire Messud.

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Coming Clean by Kimberly Rae Miller
Nonfiction

What is it? As Miller says in her book, it's easy for people to watch the TV show “Hoarders” and judge “those people.” However, in reality Kim's parents weren’t behaving that way because they wanted to. Hording is a disorder; just as obsessive-compulsive behavior is. They can't help themselves, and people like that deserve help, not ridicule.

Personal note about the book: As a child from hoarding parents this was a very emotional read. The same words, the same behavior, and the same emotions. The anger that develops can easily overshadow the underlying mental issue. It did to me. Kim did an amazing job staying on topic to pinpoint the real issues with hoarders. Her loving approach towards her parents made it easier to process this difficult topic.

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The Mausoleum by David Mark
Fiction

What it’s about: The year is 2010. Two old women are waiting for a dying old man to wake up so they can find out what he knows. The women’s story is told in alternating narratives and skips back to 1967 when the women first met in the graveyard of an isolated village by the Scottish border. WWII, espionage, POWs, Nazis, betrayal, they are all part of the story.

Reviewers say: “Deft writing, a plot filled with strange and unexpected twists, vivid characters, and a constant feeling of foreboding make this a gripping and unusual read” (Booklist). “Mark is writing at the top of his game” (Publishers Weekly).

Author notes: Mark is also the author of an excellent series of police procedurals, starting with The Dark Winter, which introduces DS Aector McAvoy.

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Flash Count Diary: Menopause and the Vindication of Natural Life by Darcey Steinke
Nonfiction

About the author: Darcey Steinke is the author of the memoir Easter Everywhere and the novels Milk, Jesus Saves, Suicide Blonde, Up Through the Water, and Sister Golden Hair. Her nonfiction has appeared in The New York Times Magazine, The Boston Review, Vogue, Spin, The Washington Post, Chicago Tribune, and The Guardian.

What it’s about: Menopause hit Darcey Steinke hard and she longed to understand menopause in a more complex, spiritual, and intellectually engaged way. In Flash Count Diary, Steinke writes frankly about aspects of Menopause that have rarely been written about before.

What the reviewers say: “A keen exploration of menopause . . . Provocative ideas and illuminating personal stories centered on the idea that ‘it is not menopause itself that is the problem but menopause as it’s experienced under patriarchy.’” ―Kirkus

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Earth Girl by Janet Edwards
YA Fiction

What it’s about: In a universe where most humans can portal between planets, Jarra is stuck on Earth. She longs to show the “exos” that a “nean” (short for Neanderthal) like her is just as good as they are. So she enrolls to study history, the subject she loves, through Asgard University, knowing her first year studies will be on Earth, so she can pretend to be an “exo.”

Why you should read it: Jarra is a strong female character who wins the admiration of her classmates because of her knowledge of Earth pre-history (before portals) and of archeological digs into the ruins of abandoned cities like New York. It was cool to get a glimpse into this future culture through her eyes, and to see how her own world view must change as she gets to know her classmates.

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Rising: Dispatches from the New American Shore by Elizabeth Rush
Nonfiction

What it’s about: On travels around the United States to see where sea level rise is already affecting our world, Rush encounters persistent flooding, disappearing land, old trees newly dead of salt poisoning, people—sometimes whole communities—driven from their homes, as well as people fighting to try to protect the land or help its inhabitants adapt to the new normal. Since the book came out, the first location profiled, Isle de Jean Charles in Louisiana, had to be evacuated by helicopter and boat ahead of Hurricane Barry.

What the reviewers say: “Timely and urgent, this report on how climate change is affecting American shorelines provides critical evidence of the devastating changes already faced by some coastal dwellers.” (Publisher’s Weekly)

You might also like: How the World Breaks by Stan Cox

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Black Leopard, Red Wolf by Marlon James
Fiction

What it’s about: Gifted with an extraordinary sense of smell, lone wolf Tracker is hired to join a motley band of magically gifted mercenaries in a far-ranging search for a mysterious kidnapped boy. The book opens with the story of Tracker’s youth, when he learns to use his gift and begins his complex relationship with the shape-shifting Leopard. This is a hallucinatory, nightmarish trek across a richly-detailed landscape peopled with witches, magical children, mermaids, vampires, and trolls, and it also is funny, violent, heartbreaking, and romantic. The first of a trilogy.

Is it for you? If you miss Game of Thrones, and are looking for a sweeping, brutal, yet lush and compelling Afrofantasy that blends genres and tells stories within stories within stories, this book is for you. It’s about the power of storytelling, political pawns, chosen families, and love and hate in all forms.

Reviewers say: “Reading Black Leopard, Red Wolf was like being slowly eaten by a bear, one inviting me to feel every pressure of tooth and claw tearing into me…. But I can't deny that having finished it, I went back to the beginning to find things I now better understood, felt better able to withstand — as if in hollowing me out the book had made space for itself, had given me something in exchange for everything it put me through.” Amal El-Mohtar for NPR

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The Art of Gathering: How We Meet and Why It Matters by Priya Parker

Who it’s for: If you ever host gatherings at your home, plan events for your organization, or hold business meetings, this thought-provoking book provides intriguing and helpful guidance on how to make those gatherings more meaningful and effective. Learn some counter-intuitive tips, such as why your guests will be more comfortable if you’re a somewhat bossy host.

What sets it apart: The author’s conversational tone and evocative examples (including a “cage match” at an architecture firm’s meeting to decide their mission) make this book both enjoyable and fascinating. Also: you’ll hear stories here that you’ll want to tell others.

You might also like: Daniel Pink’s When: The Scientific Secrets of Perfect Timing is another delightfully readable business / self-improvement book that gives insight into the way we humans work best.

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Overcoming Shock by Diane Zimberoff & David Hartman 
Nonfiction

What is it? This is an amazing read for anyone who works with traumatized people, as well as those that want to work on their own healing. The experience of Diane and David shows through in this captivating book where they communicate complex concepts and ideas in a way that's easy to understand, incorporate and apply.

Is it for you? This book is helpful for all mental health professionals as well as those who are trying to overcome shock. I agree it IS important to teach yourself how to recognize shock, overcome it, and break the patterns of being re-traumatized.

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The Hopefuls by Jennifer Close
Fiction

About the author: Jennifer Close is the bestselling author of Girls in White Dresses and The Smart One. Born and raised on the North Shore of Chicago, she is a graduate of Boston College and received her MFA in fiction writing from The New School in 2005. She now lives in Washington, D.C., and teaches creative writing at George Washington University.

Reviewers say: “Hilarious…A pleasure to read…[Close] has a light, precise touch about the way a young marriage works when the partners are caught between old ideals and new realities.” —Ron Charles, The Washington Post 

You might also like: All We Ever Wanted by Emily Giffin or Alternate Side by Anna Quindlen

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The Word is Murder by Anthony Horowitz
Nonfiction

What it’s about: The mother of a well-known actor makes arrangements for her funeral and ends up murdered hours later. A fictionalized Horowitz, and eccentric police detective Hawthorne, are on the case. Twisty, and great fun.

Want a taste? “As a rule, I don’t go to funerals. I find them too horrible and upsetting and the older I get, of course, the more invitations I receive. As a favour to my friends, I’ll make sure that none of them are told the date of mine.”

Reviewers say: “Horowitz's mystery is as cleverly constructed as the classic whodunits of the golden age, populated by fascinating characters and peppered with fair-play clues” (Publishers Weekly).

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Underland: A Deep Time Survey by Robert MacFarlane
Nonfiction

What it’s about: MacFarlane delves far underground, into natural caves, catacombs, scientific laboratories in old mines, the roots of a forest, hidden rivers, nuclear waste storage, and more. Sometimes it’s a matter of walking down a few steps; sometimes he rappels deep into the earth. As he explores, he tells stories of the people who preceded him into darkness.

What the reviewers say: “In the astonishing, keen sequel to The Old Ways, revered nature writer Macfarlane considers the disparate spaces humanity has used to shelter, yield, and dispose that which we fear and wish to lose, and that which we love and wish to save.” (Booklist)

You might also like: the other books in MacFarlane’s series: Mountains of the Mind and The Old Ways: A Journey on Foot, as well as To a Mountain in Tibet by Colin Thubron

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I Was Their American Dream by Malaka Gharib
Nonfiction

What it’s about: Malaka Gharib spent most of her childhood with her Filipina mother’s side of the family and summers with her Egyptian father. She shares what it’s like to be not quite part of either of those cultures or any of the groups at her California high school.

Why you should read it: This graphic novel reminded me of immigrant experiences shared in Marjane Satrapi’s Persepolis and Firoozeh Dumas’ Funny in Farsi. I loved the author’s humor and her insights into growing up Catholic and Muslim, Filipina and Egyptian, American and as the daughter of immigrants. The page about her Southern-Baptist-Muslim-Filipina-Egyptian wedding was my favorite!

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Daisy Jones & The Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid
Fiction

What it’s about: In this fast-moving, fictional oral history about the ’70s rock band Daisy Jones & the Six, you’ll meet all seven band members, who tell the story in their own words. Also interviewed: their spouses, managers, music reviewers, and others—who provide their own wry, tell-all angle on the band’s rise and fall.

Why you might like it: If you like creative, compulsively readable stories told in an unusual format, this book might be for you. Brimming with grim humor, this is a stark look at the creative life of rock stars and the relationships that grow and strain within the sex, drugs, and rock-and-roll lifestyle.

Reviewers say: “The book ’s prose is propulsive, original, and often raw. Readers will accept and appreciate why and when the narrator’s identity is finally revealed. Reid’s gift for creating imperfect characters and taut plots courses throughout this addictive novel.” (Publishers Weekly)

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How to Be a Good Creature by Sy Montgomery
Nonfiction

What it is: Naturalist and award-winning author (The Soul of an Octopus) Sy Montgomery explores the ways animals have taught her “to be a good creature” in thirteen essays about the animals she became acquainted with at home and in the wild. A Scottish terrier called Molly was Sy's childhood muse, providing inspiration to closely and intimately study animals. A surprise encounter with an ermine in the henhouse teaches Sy to appreciate her mother’s ferocity and determination. Emus, a special pig, an octopus, tigers, tarantulas, more dogs and beloved pets are portrayed with love and wonder, and as valued parts of the human existence.

Why you might like it: Part memoir, part natural history, this charming little book is filled with boundless enthusiasm, curiosity, and love. Fall in love with some of the animals—Christopher Hogwood’s big personality is irresistible, and you might be surprised by tenderness toward a tarantula. Along the way you’ll experience Sy’s frankly shared struggles with depression and her joy as her connection to animals help her to remember “the wildness that keeps us sane and whole, the wild, delicious hunger for life.” Appealing illustrations by Rebecca Green add whimsy.

You might also like: H Is for Hawk by Helen MacDonald, The Owl Who Liked Sitting on Caesar by Martin Windrow, or The Soul of an Octopus by Sy Montgomery.

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Milkman by Anna Burns
Fiction

What it’s about: An unnamed narrator struggles to make sense of being pursued by a dangerous man, her town’s resultant ostracization of her, and the violent political environment that surrounds her. A complex story of community, belonging, and the power of rumor.

Why you might like it: Experimental, challenging, and embraced by critics on both sides of the pond, Milkman is a must-read for anyone who likes to keep up with the literary scene.

Book Buzz: 2018 Man Booker Prize for Fiction; 2019 National Book Critics Circle Award for Fiction.

Touch: The Science of Hand, Heart, and Mind by David Linden
Nonfiction

What is it? I think I highlighted half of this book. Touch is such a vital part of our lives, yet it's astonishing how little we’re aware of it. The great news is that the science of touch has been growing in recent years. Linden does a brilliant job of communicating his findings in a comprehensive and engaging manner.

Key insight: While humans can be said to be primarily visual in interacting with the world, in part from his research as a neuroscientist, Linden makes a persuasive case that touch is much more fundamental to our emotional well-being and way of relating to the world.

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A Paris Year by Janice MacLeod
Nonfiction

What’s inside: A journal in words, drawings, and photographs of the author’s year in Paris. Check out Hemingway’s favorite spots, read the history of the beret, view street art, architectural details, cafes… You can learn to tell the 2 Napoleons apart, drool over pictures of terrific looking food, and walk in your imagination through the Most Romantic Spot in Paris.

Who it’s for: Anyone who has ever dreamed of visiting the City of Light

Reviewers say: "MacLeod's (Paris Letters) outsider view of Paris is a lovely portrayal of the romantic city, as she shares her experiences living there as an expat. This book is written in a font resembling handwriting, and the diary-like format recalls the author's days with reflections, quotes, photographs, drawings, and stamps." Library Journal

You might also like: Lunch in Paris by Elizabeth Bard and Paris in Winter by David Coggins

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You’re Dead by Chris Knopf
Fiction

What it’s about: Dr. Waters, an organizational psychologist for an aerospace manufacturer, comes home one night to find the dismembered head of his boss lying in a pool of blood in a guest bedroom. When the rest of the body shows up in Water’s storage locker, his mortgage is paid off, and a large sum of money ends up in his checking account, he becomes suspect #1.

Reviewers say: “Finally, a professional-grade detection-cum-actioner with a hero who actually has a logical reason for being so emotionally disengaged. More, please” (Kirkus).

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Check, Please! by Ngozi Ukazu
YA Nonfiction

What it’s about: Eric “Biddy” Bittle begins his college hockey career at Samwell University. Problem is, he’s a former figure skater who has never had to deal with being checked before, and it’s causing him major anxiety. Thankfully, his attractive team captain, Jack Zimmerman (son of hockey great Bob Zimmerman) is helping him cope. And Eric bakes pies as a form of therapy. A LOT of pies.

Why you should read it: This is a breezy look at the world of college hockey. Eric keeps a vlog where he talks about his teammates, and although there is a bit of drama, it didn’t take the turns I expected and stayed fresh and funny throughout.

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The Blue Bistro by Elin Hilderbrand
Fiction

About the author: Elin Hilderbrand first discovered the magic of Nantucket in July 1993. She has lived there for 25 years, has written 20 novels, and is the mother of three teenagers. Her latest, Summer of ’69, is her first historical novel.

What the reviewers say: “Hilderbrand keeps things moving briskly in between sumptuous descriptions of food, drink, and tableware, throwing in an in-depth lesson on the restaurant business for good measure. Fun, stylish, and absorbing vacation reading.” Joanne Wilkinson―Booklist

You might also like: The Little French Bistro by Nina George or The Last Time I Saw Paris by Elizabeth Adler

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Working: Researching, Interviewing, Writing by Robert A. Caro
Nonfiction

What it’s about: In his trademark, lively writing style, Robert A. Caro shares anecdotes that reveal the admittedly compulsive way he’s researched his award-winning biographies. Even more fascinating, he explains how some of his interviewing techniques prove infuriating, but effective in uncovering the details he needs to make his writing so vivid. And he reveals that he writes “SU” (“shut up”) at the top of his notepad to remind himself to stay silent during pauses.

Why you might like it: In just over 200 pages, Caro reveals many of the secrets to his success—and his self-deprecating tone makes it a pleasure to spend time with him in these pages. If you like learning the quirks and inside story of how people do their work, this book is for you.

Reviewers say: “Caro's skill as a biographer, master of compelling prose, appealing self-deprecation, and overall generous spirit shine through on every page.” (Kirkus Reviews)

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My Sunshine Away by M. O. Walsh
Fiction

What it’s about: “It was the summer everything changed.” An adult narrator looks back on his fourteenth summer, when his idyllic Baton Rouge neighborhood was shattered by a violent crime against his friend and crush—the girl across the street. Golden girl Lindy is raped by an unknown assailant, and as the police investigation proceeds, suspicion spreads, affecting the entire neighborhood and tearing apart families. The unnamed narrator becomes a suspect for a time, and once cleared, he attempts to track down the real culprit. This noir-tinged coming-of-age story perfectly portrays the doubts and insecurities of a teen-age boy.

Reviewers say: “You (will) suck down the story like a cold beer on a hot Louisiana afternoon.” Kirkus. “As a Baton Rouge native, Walsh gives the reader an intimate understanding of the place as if it were a beloved but misunderstood grandmother. Rarely does a new author display the skill to develop a page-turner with such a literary tone.” Library Journal.

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The Idiot by Elif Batuman
Fiction

What it’s about: The Idiot follows a young Turkish American woman as she makes her way through her first year at Harvard College in the 1990s. Along the way she becomes friends with the strong-willed Svetlana and the enigmatic Ivan, and her negotiation of these relationships drives the novel.

Why you might like it: If you like quirky characters and dry, offbeat humor, you’ll enjoy this narrator’s voice. The 1990’s setting may also be nostalgic for some readers.

Braving the Wilderness by Brene Brown
Nonfiction

What is it? The book's theme is "true belonging", which the author defines as: "...the spiritual practice of believing in and belonging to yourself so deeply that you can share your most authentic self with the world and find sacredness in both being a part of something and standing alone in the wilderness. True belonging doesn't require you to change who you are; it requires you to be who you are." This might sound a bit unfamiliar, but the book develops this idea in wonderful ways that will appeal to every reader.

Is it for you? If you are seeking true connection and the feeling that you belong because of who you matchlessly are, read this book. "If I get to be me, I belong. If I have to be like you, I fit in."

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Strange Practice by Vivan Shaw
Fiction

Introducing: Dr. Greta Helsing, whose specialization in treating supernatural creatures runs in the family. Vampires, werewolves, mummies, and so on may not be strictly human, but they still need medical care on occasion, especially when the torches & pitchforks come into play. Right now a coven of mad monks is infesting London. They are determined to eliminate anyone who doesn’t live up to their somewhat peculiar code of behavior, and every supernatural is automatically guilty by default, including Greta and all her friends, human or not.

Why you might like it: It’s funny, irreverent, and fast-paced, with an intelligent and competent protagonist, and a group of unusual close friends determined to protect one another.

For fans of: Ben Aaronovich and Gail Carriger

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The Lost Man by Jane Harper
Fiction

What it’s about: Brothers Nathan and Bub haven’t seen each other in months, even though they are neighbors in the remote Australian outback. Now they are brought together when their brother Cameron’s desiccated corpse is discovered a few miles from his fully functioning truck. Why would Cam walk away, without taking water and food, in an area where you might not see anyone for days and the hot and dry conditions can kill a grown man in no time at all? Was it an accident, murder, suicide? Suspicions start to take hold and long-buried family secrets are revealed. 

Reviewers say: “Harper's masterful narrative places readers right in the middle of a desolate landscape that's almost as alien as the moon's surface, where the effects of long-term isolation are always a concern. The mystery of Cam's death is at the dark heart of an unfolding family drama that will leave readers reeling, and the final reveal is a heartbreaker. A twisty slow burner by an author at the top of her game” (Kirkus).

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The Distancers: An American Memoir by Lee Sandlin
Nonfiction

About the author: Lee Sandlin is the author of Wicked River, Storm Kings, and The Distancers. He is an award-winning journalist, essayist, and book reviewer for The Wall Street Journal. Born in Wildwood, Illinois, he grew up in the suburbs of Chicago. He died in 2014.

What it’s about: Follows seven generations of the author's Midwestern family through The Great Depression, World War Two, and the dust bowl years, where he learned the value of family and the art of keeping one's distance.

Reviewers say: “A bit of general Americana and the ghosts of one family that settled comfortably for a while in a place between Chicago and the Mississippi provide an amalgam that now and again buttresses important matters known to all of us.” (Kirkus Reviews, June 1, 2013)

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Royals by Rachel Hawkins
YA Fiction

What it’s about: Daisy works at a Florida grocery store, but her sister Eleanor is dating the Crown Prince of Scotland. When Eleanor’s engagement is announced, Daisy is strong-armed into going to Scotland for the summer and is swept into the world of the royal entourage, where she witnesses plenty of royal misbehavior by the prince’s brother and sister and is talked into a fake romance with the insufferable Miles…who becomes more sufferable the more she gets to know him.

Why you should read it: I’m a sucker for breezy royal romances, and this one took some fun turns without getting too steamy. Daisy’s narrative voice and her washed-up rocker dad’s comments made me laugh out loud a number of times. If you like this one, there’s a companion book called Her Royal Highness, about Princess Flora’s romance with her boarding school roommate.

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The Home Edit: A Guide to Organizing and Realizing Your Home Goals by Clea Shearer and Joanna Teplin

Who it’s for: If you love organizing your home—or simply looking at beautiful home organization books—this book is a delight. Filled with practical tips and lovely photos, this guide is inspiring and friendly in tone. As an added bonus—the authors have organized several celebrities’ homes, and the book is sprinkled with photos of their bright and colorful closets, mudrooms, and pantries.

What sets it apart: This book’s cheerful, conversational tone, along with its gorgeous color photos, make reading this book a very pleasant experience. Also—this book emphasizes labeling practically everything, and the authors’ suggested label format is seriously pretty.

Further reading: If you’re into beautiful home organization books, also check out Beautifully Organized: A Guide to Function and Style in Your Home by Nikki Boyd and Simple Organizing Wisdom: 500+ Quick & Easy Clutter Cures by Laurie Jennings.

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The Priory of the Orange Tree by Samantha Shannon
Fiction

What it’s about: In a land divided by religions that either worship dragons or fear and condemn them, the two sides must come together to defeat the ultimate source of evil, putting aside their differences and coming to terms with the truth about their long-held beliefs in the process. 

Why you might like it: If you like action-packed high fantasy but have been searching for more representation of people of color and LGBTQA+ characters, this is the book for you. 

For fans of: High fantasy series’ such as A Song of Ice and Fire (Game of Thrones), or readers who enjoyed Eragon (the Inheritance series) and are looking for dragon-centered books for adults.  

 

There There by Tommy Orange
Fiction

What it is: Above all, this is a novel about a specific place—Oakland, California—and about what the notion of belonging means for Native Americans. Narrated by 14 different characters, all Native Americans connected to the upcoming Big Oakland Powwow, this gripping novel explores the contemporary urban Native American experience. “I feel bad sometimes even saying I’m Native,” one of the characters says. “Mostly I just feel I’m from Oakland.”

Why you might like it: Lyrical prose, fast-paced and dramatic storyline, and the sensitive portrayal of the many characters contribute to a unique and haunting story that examines the meaning of home, culture, and tradition. As one character muses: "But home for Jacquie and her sister was a locked station wagon in an empty parking lot. Home was a long ride on a bus. Home was the three of them anywhere safe for the night.”

What critics are saying: “Allow(s) for moments of moments of pure soaring beauty to hit against the most mundane, for a sense of timelessness to be placed right beside a cleareyed version of the here and now” (The New York Times). “Engrossing at its most granular, in characters’ thoughts and fleeting moments, There There introduces an exciting voice” (Booklist). A 2019 Batavia Public Library Tournament of Books Sweet 16 nominee.

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To Kill a Kingdom by Alexandra Christo 
YA Fiction

What it’s About: As a vicious retelling of Hans Christian Anderson’s Little Mermaid, To Kill a Kingdom by Alexandra Christo is a swashbuckling adventure through the eyes of a Siren and the Prince she wants to kill. What makes a devilishly handsome prince even more swoonworthy? Make him a pirate prince--A romantic love/hate tale between a snarky young man and a young woman that wants to rip his heart out. Definitely the most fun I’ve had with a book so far this year, I loved the dark fantasy notes that weren’t afraid to go there. A little bit of grit, a little bit of blood, this story is The Little Mermaid with bite.

You Might Also Like: The Alice in Wonderland retelling, Splintered by A.G. Howard, or the Beauty and the Beast retelling, The Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah H. Maas: both dark retellings of famous fairy-tales.

 

The Plant Messiah by Carlos Magdalena
Nonfiction

What’s inside: The autobiography of a horticulturalist who has traveled to the ends of the earth to locate endangered plant species in the wild, figured out how to propagate them in the greenhouses at the world-renowned Kew Botanic Garden in London, and then struggled to find ways to protect them as they are reintroduced into the wild

Who it’s for: Anyone who loves adventure and passionate commitment to an important goal

Don’t miss: The photo of the author’s excited baby son sitting on a waterlily pad

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Unashamed: Drop the Baggage, Pick up Your Freedom, Fulfill Your Destiny by Christine Caine
Nonfiction

What is it? Unashamed is a wonderful, enriching book. Christine Caine shares some of her deepest, darkest struggles, which helps the often hurting reader identify with her and find hope that change and freedom are possible! It is an easy read, though the subject matter is heavy. Practical steps and exercises in the book are very beneficial.

Is it for you? God is using this book to set women free. Shame is something that we all carry and effects a big part of your life. Christine walks you through her life, and gives you the tools to help you in your life.

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The Stranger in the Woods: The Extraordinary Story of the Last True Hermit by Michael Finkel
Nonfiction

What it’s about: In 1986, 20yr old Christopher Knight drives his Subaru deep into the Maine woods, abandons it and starts walking. He ends up staying in the Woods for 27 years, living off food and other items he steals from a summer camp and local homes during a thousand plus break-ins. The installation of new Homeland Security equipment finally aids in his apprehension.

Want a taste? “Knight said that when he ran out of toilet paper, he sometimes tore pages from John Grisham novels. He mentioned that he didn't like Jack Kerouac either, but this wasn't quite true. ‘I don't like people who like Jack Kerouac,’ he clarified.”

Of note: A National Geographic Best Book of the Year.

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Ambulance Girl: How I Saved Myself By Becoming an EMT by Jane Stern
Nonfiction

What it’s about: Jane Stern was terrified of flying, riding in buses, injuries, and much more. Difficult for anyone, but for a travel writer, it was making her miserable and threatening her marriage. In therapy after a traumatic incident, she figured out the only time she hadn’t been miserable was when she was helping someone else. So she decided to overcome many of her fears by facing them and becoming a volunteer EMT.

Why you should read it: Author Jane Stern and her husband Michael have been writing books about food and travel for a long time. I had no idea she had gone through all of this when I heard her on NPR or read about her travels in Roadfood. She was very honest about her own flaws and struggles and helped me appreciate a little of what EMTs go through in their training.

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Nine Perfect Strangers by Liane Moriarty
Fiction

About the author: Liane Moriarty is the Australian author of seven internationally best-selling novels. Her books have been translated into over forty languages and read by more than 14 million people worldwide.

What the reviewers say: “…Nine Perfect Strangers is a darkly comical novel that defies classification. It manages to be wildly funny and richly emotional at the same time, proving that the Big Little Lies author still has a lot to offer her readers.” ―Bustle

You might also like: The Last Cruise by Kate Christensen or A Long Way Down by Nick Hornby

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The Woman Who Smashed Codes: A True Story of Love, Spies, and the Unlikely Heroine Who Outwitted America’s Enemies by Jason Fagone
Nonfiction

What it’s about: This engaging biography of pioneer codebreaker Elizebeth Smith Friedman reveals the early days of codebreaking when she and her husband literally wrote the book on the topic, tells the story of her marriage to a fellow legendary codebreaker, and explores the reasons she’s not better remembered for her genius codebreaking work before and during WWII.

What sets it apart: Learning about the Friedmans’ work at Riverbank (now the Fabyan Forest Preserve) is particularly absorbing for Fox Valley residents who are familiar with the Fabyan property—and can easily visit the grounds and museum.

Why you might like it: If you enjoy nonfiction that reads like fiction, this book is for you. The author’s journalistic style makes this book hard to put down.

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