Top Ten Reading Group Suggestions
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“This flawless debut novel follows two young women, boarding-house roommates, making their way in 1938 Manhattan. A chance meeting with an enigmatic young businessman launches the pair into areas of society heretofore closed to them, where they encounter a large cast of characters both charming and repellent. With echoes of Fitzgerald, Towles evokes effortlessly the era of pre-war Manhattan, from the workplace politics of a law office secretarial pool to the alcohol-fueled lawn party of the Long Island gin-and-horses set. This is an astonishing book!”
— Matthew Lage, Iowa Book L.L.C., Iowa City, IA
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“The Night Circus can be described in so many ways; It's a love story, a mystery, a fairy tale. However one describes it, it is definitely an exercise in imagination of the finest type. Share the amazement! You will become consumed by this story until the very last word. This is the type of book that should be debated over cups of coffee-grown-cold, long, long into the night! Highly recommended.”
— Nancy Simpson-Brice, The Book Vault, Oskaloosa, IA
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“Ella is an independent woman ahead of her time. When deserted by her husband and faced with the loss of her home and livelihood, the mother who will do anything for her children emerges. Ella is aided in her endeavors by her husband's cousin, Lanier, who is running from his own demons and is also 'gifted' with the ability to heal. The depiction of a male dominated society and the lack of women's rights inspires a real appreciation for the women who forged paths toward equality. The good and bad of the Old South is woven into a story that captivates the reader. An excellent book club selection!”
— Jackie Willey, Fiction Addiction, Greenville, SC
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“This graceful memoir describes a true love affair with books. After losing her 46-year-old sister to cancer, Sankovitch embarks on a year of reading: one book every day for a full year. Her project, complete with daily book reviews, becomes an ongoing conversation with her sister and provides insight into her own past and contact with bibliophiles across the world. This is the best description of the power of books that I have ever encountered!”
— Caitlin Doggart, Where the Sidewalk Ends, Chatham, MA
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“Carmen and Matt's wedding was festive, full of dancing, drinking, and celebrating the joining of two lives. But for Carmen and Matt their wedding night would not be remembered solely with joy, but rather as the night a car full of their relatives and close friends headed out into the dark and accidentally killed a young girl on a lonely stretch of road. The occupants of that car and the wedding couple would be shackled by the guilt of that night for years to come. Carry the One examines the subtle shades of change this tragic accident causes in their lives. It is a compelling story of friendship, loss, betrayal, and life at its most real.”
— deon Stonehouse, Sunriver Books, Sunriver, OR
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“There is nothing like a good visit with old friends, and that is what it's like to savor this novel. Even better, really, since in this retelling of Jane Eyre the characters are imbued with a more modern sensibility -- and this time around Mr. Rochester is not a reprehensible misogynist! Livesey's Gemma remains true to the spirit of Jane, and the dark settings of Scotland and the Orkney Islands are as atmospheric as they come. This is the perfect book to curl up with for a weekend with a pot o' tea -- or perhaps a wee dram of something stronger.”
— emily Crowe, Odyssey Bookshop, South Hadley, MA
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“The intense intrigue of the Incan-Spanish conflicts, Hiram Bingham's controversial 'discovery' of the hidden city of Machu Picchu, and the astounding bio-diversity of the Andes were almost unknown to most North Americans until Adams, a confirmed unadventurous, desk-bound travel writer decided to leave New York, follow Bingham's trail, and write an addictive book about his perilous misadventures. Adams' self-deprecating humor allows the history and geography of this majestic site to take center stage, and he ignites the reader's curiosity about a fascinating culture.”
— Ellen Davis, Dragonwings Bookstore, Waupaca, WI
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“This is a modern take on the Old West that is part classic Western, part Coen Brothers, part Homer's Odyssey, and part murder ballad. This wry, weird, and wonderful tale tells of hitmen Eli and Charlie Sisters as they meet funny and tragic characters on their journey to kill a man. Along the way, Eli examines both what has brought him to this point and the violent world around him. As with many adventures, that of the Sisters Brothers is really a quest to find some kind of home.”
— Steven Salardino, Skylight Books, Los Angeles, CA
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“Although Flannery O'Connor's literary and personal history has been well examined, Napolitano shows an exquisite ability to capture the essence of mid-20th century Georgia and the fictional characters that O'Connor created. Some novelists might have been tempted to emulate her Southern Gothic style; Napolitano treads lightly in this field, letting tragedy work where it best fits. She captures both the joys and weaknesses of O'Connor's characters in a parallel to the beloved author's belief that it is difficult to distinguish between blessings and curses. A Good Hard Look is an artful novel that is as electrifying as O'Connor's peacocks and as magnetic as her life.”
— Bill Threlfall, Tattered Cover Book Store, Denver, CO
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“It's a daunting effort to recast an ancient tale, but classics scholar Miller proves that she is worthy of the task with this finely wrought debut grafted from the historical root of the Trojan War. By focusing on Achilles' near-fatherly love for Patroclus, we see an intimate side of the great Achilles, long overshadowed by Homer's portrayal of his exploits in war and his 'great rage' against the Trojans. Miller's homage to The Iliad is sharp and strengthened by her knowledge and exquisite prose.”
— Robert A. Geake, Brown University Bookstore, Providence, RI
Exciting New Voices
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“At its simplest American Dervish is a coming-of-age story. At its most complex, it is a story of religious faith, marital strife, human nature, love, envy, sexual awakening, betrayal, and racism. It is impossible to leave Akhtar's exceptional debut novel without experiencing the struggles and pain of young Hayat as he comes to terms with both his Muslim faith and his humanity.”
— Lynn Riggs, Books & Company, Oconomowoc, WI
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“Glaciers recounts one day in the life of Isabel, a young woman who repairs damaged books in the basement of a library. She loves thrift stores and collects old objects and postcards that allow her to both imagine the stories and lives of other people and tell her own story. Smith is able to evoke a full range of emotions in very few words. This is a short but beautiful novel that will stay with you long after you have read it.”
— Pierre Camy, Schuler Books & Music, Grand Rapids, MI
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“Wingfield has the storyteller's gift, and writes her debut tale of preacher-without-a-church Samuel Lake and his family with the assurance of a seasoned author. After the death of his father-in-law, John, Samuel moves his wife, Willadee, and their three children into his mother-in-law's house in rural Arkansas. John used to run Never Closes -- a bar that stayed open all night -- from the back porch of his house. Calla, his wife, runs Moses -- a convenience store that is open all day -- from the front porch. Inside the house between those two porches, an extraordinary family lives a life complete with love, lust, heartbreak, heroics, and miracles. A perfect book for book groups.”
— Jill Miner, Saturn Booksellers, Gaylord, MI
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“Milkweed's 2011 National Fiction Prize winner takes us deep into the lives of three women separated by four hundred years, and living on the shores of Lake Superior, as they cope with the hardships and solace of the large, cold, and brutal lake. Each has a story to tell very much in keeping with her era: Grey Rabbit, an Ojibwe, is haunted by disturbing dreams in 1622; Berit is the wife of a Norwegian fisherman in 1902 who deals with loneliness and tragedy; Nora's life as a seasoned bartender unravels in 2000, and she takes a journey around the lake to find herself. There is a rhythm to these stories, reflecting that of the turbulent waves of the lake.”
— Barbara Seipker, The Cottage Book Shop, Glen Arbor, MI
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“The world in 2044 is a mess. Energy sources are depleted, cities are jam-packed, and the lives of average people are full of misery. In order to escape the hardships of everyday life, billions escape into the electronic virtual world OASIS. When the multi-billionaire creator of OASIS dies, he leaves his fortune in trust for the first avatar to complete three virtual quests. Wade Watts, a lonely teenage misfit, decides to compete and win the prize. Filled with references to 1970s and '80s pop culture, Ready Player One is a love story, a quest novel, and a parable for the electronic age.”
— John Hoover, Misty Valley Books, Chester, VT
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“Peter Geye brings to life images of maritime history from a time when the ore ships plied the waters of the Great Lakes to feed the great industrial heart of America. Classic themes of redemption, reconciliation, and family ties are set against the awesome power and beauty of the north shore of Lake Superior. In the final weeks of his life, Olaf relives the story of his survival in an ore boat wreck decades earlier, and acknowledges his feelings of guilt and regret, while his estranged son Noah discovers that things are not always as they seem.”
— Joni Montover, Paragraphs on Padre Boulevard, South Padre Island, TX
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“Spanning the years from 1848 to 1945, We, the Drowned follows the sailors of Marstal ' a tiny town on the island of Aero in the Danish archipelago ' as they travel the oceans of the world as adventurers, soldiers, sailors, fathers, and sons. As each narrative voice moves on, another picks up the tale and makes it his own. Funny and poignant, heartwarming and powerful, dark and foreboding in a way that only the events of our own world can actually be. This is a gorgeous and gripping novel.”
— Seth Marko, UCSD Bookstore, La Jolla, CA
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“The sisters in this funny and touching book are not 'weird' in the modern sense of the word; the title refers to the three witches in Shakespeare's Macbeth. Headed by a father who was a professor of Shakespeare and his loving wife, the Andreas family was certainly unusual, and the three daughters grew up speaking in couplets, quoting Hamlet, and reading constantly. When their mother develops breast cancer, all three sisters return to their Midwestern home to aid in her care -- and end up caring for each other as well. This is a wonderful tribute to literature, the bonds of sisterhood, and the importance of family.”
— Ellen Burns, Books On The Common, Ridgefield, CT
Extraordinary Lives
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“This is an admiring biography of the minor German princess who, through cleverness, audacity, and ambition, deposed her incompetent husband, a grandson of Peter the Great, to become Empress of Russia. An 'enlightened' autocrat, Catherine did not succeed at all she attempted, but Massie argues persuasively that she truly earned the title bestowed upon her by the Russian people. What a woman, what a book!”
— Arlene Cook, Watermark Book Co., Anacortes, WA
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“Dr. Taylor's misfortune in suffering a stroke at age 37 becomes the reader's good fortune. Learning first-hand about the experience of having a stroke, as well as about the recovery process, from a brain scientist makes for fascinating book group discussions. We have so much to learn about our brain functions, and Jill Taylor is a wonderful teacher!”
— Dee Robinson, Village Books, Bellingham, WA
By Dorothy Wickenden
Scribner
“This is the biography of two spunky young Smith graduates who, in the early part of the last century, bucked the trend and society's expectations and hired on as school teachers in a remote area of Colorado. The history and period detail is compelling and brings to life the hardships and courage of the Colorado settlers and the bright and brave spirits of Dorothy Woodruff and Rosamond Underwood. I wish I'd known them!”
— Cathy Langer, Tattered Cover Book Store, Denver, CO
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“This charming memoir has the potential to spark a revolution in reading. Ozma describes growing up with her single father from the unique perspective of the thousands of nights that he spent reading to her from the age of eight until the day she left for college. The value of reading, or more specifically, of being read to, is celebrated not only as an important part of intellectual and creative development, but also as a way to forge and to nurture relationships.”
— Lisa Stefanacci, The Book Works, Del Mar, CA
By Kate Whouley
Beacon Press
“Whouley is a wonderful writer, who allows a range of emotions to sit on the page, waiting to be picked up and confronted by her readers. A born storyteller, she shares a story all too common these days'children journeying with parents into the feared land of memory loss, wanting desperately to make the path as smooth and harmless as possible, and feeling thwarted at every turn by legal issues, the medical establishment, and the economic realities of aging. Although this not a happy story, in Whouley's intimate and insightful telling there are moments of pure hilarity.”
— Gayle Shanks, Changing Hands Bookstore, Tempe, AZ
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“This is the story of a young man whose fateful journey collides with that of a battlefield puppy, setting into motion an extraordinary tale of devotion. Beginning with a tale of redemption, Orlean unfolds a riveting account of the history of both the German shepherd, whose breed exemplifies the good-natured qualities that have made dog and human relationships unparalleled in society, and early American movie making. The result is a wonderful odyssey beautifully depicting loyalty and friendship in a remarkable history lesson and an entertaining read.”
— Megan Bruce, Watermark Books, Wichita, KS
Fantastic Fiction
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“Tobar has written an incredibly timely novel about a Southern California family and their live-in maid in the throes of an economic downturn and a troubled marriage. Araceli is the last of the hired help in the Torres-Thompson house, who is now charged with all of the housework as well as minding the children. Following a disturbing chain of events, Araceli is left alone with the two boys, and after unsuccessfully exhausting the emergency contact list, she heads off in search of the boys' grandfather. Their journey and the end result is an incredibly observant and perfectly written story of our country's difficult situation with undocumented workers. Highly recommended!”
— Sherri Gallentine, Vroman's Bookstore, Pasadena, CA
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“This is perhaps the most ambitious, complex, and brilliant novel I have ever read. Mitchell takes six completely different storylines, written in six distinct genre styles -- from pulp mystery novel to pidgin English-laden sci-fi -- set in six completely different time periods ranging from the 1800s South Pacific to far into a post-apocalyptic future, and chops them up and blends them to form one seamless, intricate, awe-inspiring saga of humanity. When your copy seemingly ends mid-sentence on page 39, please trust me and keep reading!”
— Seth Marko, UCSD Bookstore, La Jolla, CA
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“Kate has conquered cancer, and now she has the goal to ride the white-water rapids in the Grand Canyon. During a celebration dinner, she gives each of her six friends an equally personal challenge. Bauermeister masterfully weaves the stories of the seven women together, allowing the reader to empathize with and root for each one as she jumps her own personal hurdle. A great selection for book clubs!”
— Sam Droke-Dickinson, Aaron's Books, Lititz, PA
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“Sometimes we say that a book tries to be too many things. This thought-provoking novel is many things -- an adventure tale, an examination of identity and the nature of the self, a meta-narrative, a political novel, a love story, a survivor story, and more -- and it succeeds on all counts. Like the works of David Mitchell, The Orphan Master's Son is at once a joy to read, a challenging work, and, ultimately, a terrific and satisfying story.”
— Mark LaFramboise, Politics & Prose Books and Coffee Shop, Washington, DC
Tales of the Past
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“This most unusual story is both intriguing and overwhelming. The literary style is striking, and the author offers readers a complete picture of the lives of Japanese mail order brides in the U.S. during the early 1900s. Emotionally moving and a 'must read,' The Buddha in the Attic is perfect for book groups.”
— Stephanie Crowe, Page & Palette, Fairhope, AL
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“Doc Holliday and Wyatt Earp are icons of the Wild West - whiskey-swilling, poker-playing, quick-draw gunslingers -- whose exploits are the stuff of American legend. In real life, however, Doc was raised a genteel Southern gentleman, a dentist who went West hoping the dry air would help his tuberculosis. The Gunfight at the O.K. Corral was the culmination of a long string of events and setbacks, and Russell concentrates on Doc's life before the infamous shoot-out, when the friendship between the two men was just beginning. As always, Russell's dialogue is witty, her characters memorable, and her pacing effortless. This is an adventure tale, a love story, and an impeccably researched historical novel.”
— Dana Schulz, Snowbound Books, Marquette, MI
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“In 1939 Prague, Lenka and Joseph, who are both Jewish, meet, fall in love, and marry, only days later to be separated for a lifetime. In her historical novels, Richman develops the plot with a question in mind. How could beauty and art come from the horrific conditions within the walls of the Terezin Concentration Camp? This is a difficult subject, but don't be hesitant to dive into this incredibly written work of Holocaust literature.”
— Kathy Shattuck, Northwind Book & Fiber, Spooner, WI
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“On the eve of the Civil War, Albany midwife Mary Sutter desperately wants to be a surgeon. When Dorothea Dix puts out a call for nurses, Mary leaves her family behind and rushes to Washington. Told from the point of view of nurses, family members, and politicians, this novel is an enthralling, exquisitely crafted debut, a story for lovers of historical fiction as well as anyone who believes in the power of the human spirit.”
— Erin Kurup, Book House of Stuyvesant Plaza, Albany, NY
War and Peace
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“Fobbit: U.S. Army employee stationed at a Forward Operating Base who avoids combat by remaining at the base. Abrams tells the tale of the military paper pushers and cubicle workers who take refuge at the base outside of Baghdad during Operation Iraqi Freedom. Fobbit life is portrayed in a witty and realistic retelling of military life, giving the reader a unique perspective on the brutality of war. Funny, captivating, and intelligent, Abrams' tale is based on his 20 years of experience in the Army.”
— Rachel Kelly, Sunriver Books, Sunriver, OR
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“As the Civil War ends, many broken lives await their own personal reconstruction. Pitts weaves together the stories of former slaves seeking family members from whom they were long separated, abolitionists opening a school to educate Southern blacks for a new life, and defeated, still angry Confederate soldiers. The characters are multi-dimensional and the historical detail is astonishingly accurate. Freeman is an engrossing, moving read and an original portrayal of a pivotal time in our nation's history.”
— Terri Weiner, Village Books, Bellingham, WA
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“Rye Barcott's unstoppable drive to do good in the world leads him to concurrent forms of public service. To serve the Kibera slum of Nairobi, Kenya, he co-founds the organization Carolina for Kibera (CFK). To serve his country, he joins the Marines and trains to be a Human Intelligence Officer. Drawing on his experiences and the people around him, Rye applies what he learns in Kibera to the challenges of the Marines, and vice versa. This book will restore your faith in humanity, and remind you how much impact one person can have.”
— Andrea Avantaggio, Maria's Bookshop, Durango, CO
By Mitchell Zuckoff
Harper Perennial
“May 13, 1945. Twenty-four U.S. soldiers stationed in Dutch New Guinea pack into a C-47 for a sightseeing trip over a lush, mysterious, newly discovered valley. Unable to navigate the dense tropical clouds and steep mountain faces, the pilot crashes the plane deep in uncharted jungle. Only three injured passengers, including a WAC, survive. How they attempt to save themselves while caught between Japanese troops and hostile headhunters, what happens when they encounter a Stone Age tribe that had never seen white men or women, and how they are finally rescued is at the heart of this amazing true story.”
— Lisa Howorth, Square Books, Oxford, MS
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“The Civil War had its origins long before Fort Sumter, but possibly the biggest spark was provided by one extremely intense, driven man, John Brown. Brown's raid on Harpers Ferry in 1859 not only provided a frightening specter to nervous Southern slave owners, it was also a moral slap in the face to the rest of the country, especially during his trial. The long-range effects of one man and his moral passion are superbly rendered by the award-winning Horwitz.”
— Bill Cusumano, Nicola's Books, Ann Arbor, MI
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“This finely wrought story is set in England and France during WWII. Marian, who is bilingual, is recruited to train as an agent for British Special Ops. She surprises herself by handily completing and even excelling during training, and finds herself completely committed to the cause. Once in France, things are much more difficult. Readers who empathize with Marian, and many will, will be stunned as they read the final pages of this fast-paced and exhilarating historical novel about a young woman's path to maturity. Merde alors!”
— Jenny Lyons, The King's English, Salt Lake City, UT
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“This is a courageous, noble, and intelligent grapple with myth, history, and spirituality that beautifully elevates the conversation on the role of the military in today's world. Marlantes volunteers his knowledge and experience (and really, his soul) to the cause of crafting the model of a just and ethical warrior in the 21st century. The long-overdue reckoning that Marlantes' novel Matterhorn deftly demanded of America is enhanced and extended with this new work. It is an emotional, honest, and affecting primer for all Americans on war and the national psyche. We ignore this book at our own peril.”
— Ed Conklin, Chaucer's Books, Santa Barbara, CA
New Works from Old Favorites
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“Avis Muir is an architect in the kitchen, who builds acclaimed pastries from flours and fondants and candied decorations. Her husband, Brian, is a lawyer for one of the most respected developers in Miami, who helps create a new international hub of wealth and opulence. So why have they had so much trouble constructing a nuclear family? Abu-Jaber's novel of family dysfunction, cultural adaptation, and human resilience in the face of tragedy ponders the joys and limitations of family, friendship, and career with powerful results.”
— Daniel Goldin, Boswell Book Company, Milwaukee, WI
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“In a story of intricate delicacy and beauty, Ondaatje not only tells the wondrous tale of three boys at sea -- a journey that takes them each from one world to another and into the realm of adult ways and mysteries -- but also one that has the reader in thrall to what it is to look back and remember. The Cat's Table is a luscious, bittersweet rumination on imagination, memory, and place, and what we find by reclaiming what we've lost.”
— Rick Simonson, The Elliott Bay Book Company, Seattle, WA
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“The Kid made a stupid mistake one night and is now excluded from society at the age of 22. Labeled as a sex offender, he is shackled to a GPS monitoring device and forbidden to live within 2,500 feet of anywhere children might gather. One of the few places that remain for him is under a causeway with other convicted sex offenders. Enter the Professor, a bearded, overweight genius with secrets of his own. Has society, with its low tolerance and lack of compassion, created new victims? Banks has tackled a theme important to our welfare as a society. Sure to elicit a stimulating discussion for book groups.”
— Karen Briggs, Great Northern Books and Hobbies, Oscoda, MI
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“Christopher Moore's writing has always been hilariously entertaining, but in recent books -- Fool, loosely based on Shakespeare, and now Sacre Bleu -- he's also expanded his palette to some fascinating interpretations of classic literature and historical events, adding a whole new dimension of enjoyment to his work. Sacre Bleu is based around the color blue and the idea of an artist's muse, taking us into the world of Toulouse-Lautrec and his contemporaries with erudition, along with Moore's typically outrageous humor. The result is a real work of art!”
— Carol Schneck, Schuler Books & Music, Okemos, MI
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“Umrigar's latest recalls the halcyon days at university in 1970s Bombay, which were characterized by intense friendships, fierce ambitions, and a determination to change the world, as remembered by four women whose lives have ended up radically different from their collegiate dreams: one, dying in America, whose last wish is to see her three friends, two living in upper middle class Mumbai, and the fourth who has been long-estranged from their circle. Painful secrets, both past and present, threaten to prevent the reunion. Blood may be thicker than water, but Umrigar proves that friendship is thicker than blood in this marvelous novel that is both fascinating and disturbing by turns.”
— Emily Crowe, Odyssey Bookshop, South Hadley, MA
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