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Library book recommendation lists ~~ 2023
Everything the Light Touches--Janice Pariat sounds appealing, a book with Carl Linnaeus and Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, what can go wrong? This, from the write up, "How it's told: in alternating perspectives, interspersed with reflections from modern Delhi resident Shai, whose travels in rural Assam parallel the respective journeys of the book's other three narrators."I'm not ready for that this year, particularly as the "For fans of" comparison note with David Mitchell's Cloud Atlas, which i liked but found daunting by the middle. Good book, don't get me wrong, but a challenge.
Instead, maybe Marmee? I'm intrigued that this author, Sarah Miller, in addition to this book about Louisa May Alcott's Little Women mother, has also written Caroline: Little House, Revisited, about "Ma" Ingalls of Little House on the Prairie fame.
Neat. Btw, the Marmee book would be good for prompt #57-A Novel related to Classics, such as a character from Moby Dick with his/her own story/book fulfillment.
I appreciate the list, Alias.
Recent Releases
------ A Trace of Poison
by Colleen Cambridge
Welcome to... Mallowan Hall, home of famed mystery writer Agatha Christie as well as housekeeper Phyllida Bright.
What happens: At a charity fete and amateur mystery writing competition, a guest drinks a poisoned cocktail, which might have been intended for someone else, and Phyllida investigates.
Don't miss: This fun 2nd Phyllida Bright novel following Murder at Mallowan Hall features cameos by G.K. Chesterton, Dorothy L. Sayers, and Anthony Berkeley.
------ Blue Like Me
by Aaron Philip Clark
Starring: Trevor "Finn" Finnegan, an ex-LAPD detective turned private eye for a law firm focusing on policing the police.
Dirty cops? In November 2016, Finn reluctantly tails his former partner, whom he was once close to, and witnesses her get shot and her partner killed. Had she really gone bad? And who wanted her dead?
For fans of: Walter Mosley's Easy Rawlins books, which, like this gritty 2nd in a series, offer a compelling look at a Black Los Angeles private detective.
------ A Death in Tokyo
by Keigo Higashino
Starring: unorthodox, persistent, and extremely observant Tokyo Police Detective Kyoichiro Kaga.
A strange death: Kaga investigates the murder of a businessman who, after being fatally stabbed, went to the historic Nihonbashi bridge to die. The obvious suspect is a young man who fled from the police and was found with the victim's wallet, but Kaga thinks there's more to the story.
Series alert: A Death in Tokyo is the intricately plotted 3rd Kyoichiro Kaga mystery, following Malice and Newcomer, though readers can start here.
------ No Strangers Here
by Carlene O'Connor
Introducing: Dimpna Wilde, a veterinarian who returns home after a wealthy racehorse owner is murdered, his body staged on the beach; DI Cormac O'Brien, who's sent to Dingle, County Kerry, to investigate the death.
What happens: When Dimpna's father, also a vet, is accused of the crime, she races against O'Brien to find the truth even as she takes over her dad's practice due to his memory issues.
Is it for you? Not cozy like Carlene O'Connor's other Irish mysteries, this 1st in her new County Kerry series retains the evocative setting, smart plotting, and appealing characters.
------ Secrets Typed in Blood
by Stephen Spotswood
New York City, 1947: Former circus performer turned PI Willowjean "Will" Parker and her boss, famed detective Lillian Pentecost, sign up to help pulp magazine writer Holly Quick figure out who's recreating her fictional murders in real life.
Series alert: Though this is the 3rd Pentecost and Parker mystery, newcomers can start here. Those who'd like to begin with the 1st book should pick up the Nero Award-winning Fortune Favors the Dead.
For fans of: Rosalie Knecht's Vera Kelly stories; atmospheric hardboiled detective stories starring strong women.
***** Books You May Have Missed
------ The Family Chao
by Lan Samantha Chang
The setup: In small-town Wisconsin, locals have eaten at the Chao family's restaurant for decades, but there's trouble at home for patriarch Leo as his wife has finally left him and become a Buddhist nun.
What happens: Leo's three very different grown sons gather at the restaurant for a Christmas party. When Leo is murdered, his children fall under suspicion of the town and police, even as they reckon with the legacy of their father's outsized appetites.
Why you might like it: The Family Chao is a modern take on Fyodor Dostoevsky's classic The Brothers Karamazov and offers "a disruptive, sardonic take on the assimilation story" (Kirkus Reviews).
------ Death by Bubble Tea
by Jennifer J. Chow
Introducing: Yale Yee, who's just lost her bookstore job and is helping out at her family's Los Angeles restaurant; Celine, Yale's rich influencer cousin from Hong Kong whom she hasn't seen in years.
What happens: Yale's dad has the cousins run a food stall at the Eastwood Village Night Market. All goes well and their bubble tea is a big hit, but then a customer turns up dead, fatally poisoned.
For fans of: fun series starters; cozy food-themed mysteries (recipes included) featuring vibrant young women sleuths, like Mia P. Manansala's Tita Rosie's Kitchen mysteries.
------ Fox Creek
by William Kent Krueger
What happens: Sometime-PI Cork O'Connor gets hired by a man who's not who he says he is. It's all related to Cork's wife, who accompanies a stranger to visit to her 100-year-old uncle, Ojibwe healer Henry Meloux, before all three go missing.
Series alert: Like other entries, this compelling 19th Cork O'Connor mystery has an intricate plot and a vividly described northern Minnesota.
Reviewers say: "A must for fans of beautifully written crime fiction" (Library Journal); the author "skillfully blends an evocative look at nature’s beauty and peril with Native American lore" (Publishers Weekly).
------ Real Easy
by Marie Rutkoski
Missing and dead: In 1999, a dancer at the Lovely Lady strip club outside of Chicago gives a co-worker a ride home. But they don't make it; the car is found with one woman killed and the other gone, her seatbelt cut.
What happens: The cops investigate, including Harvard-educated detective Holly Meylin, who recruits one of the other dancers to help with the case, which looks more and more like the work of a serial killer.
Why you might like it: Narrated by various characters, this gritty crime novel offers "moving portraits of desperate lives on both sides of the law" (Publishers Weekly).
------ Nine Lives
by Peter Swanson
What it is: a clever, modern take on Agatha Christie's And Then There Were None featuring nine people scattered across the United States who all receive a cryptic list of names that includes their own.
Among them is... a father, a professor, a nurse, and FBI agent Jessica Winslow. Though some dismiss it as a joke, bad things start happening to listees, prompting Jessica to search for the link that binds them all together.
Read this next: Yukito Ayatsuji's The Decagon House Murders, Gilly Macmillan's The Long Weekend, Rachel Howzell Hall's They All Fall Down, or Lucy Foley's The Guest List.
Sign me up for Keigo Higashino’s A Death in Tokyo. Others sound neat (i.e.,A Trace of Poison—Colleen Cambridge, featuring Agatha Christie Mallowan’s home), too. Thanks.
I'm glad you found some titles that appeal to you, deb.
I'll just bet you are! ;-) You like adding to my TBR, i suspect it's an addiction for you. LOL!
Ah, for tomato throwing season! This is the first time i've wished for summer & the ensuing heavy tomatoes, Alias. :-)
Recent Releases
------ Reflections on the Sunday Gospel: How to More Fully Live Out Your Relationship With God
by Pope Francis
What it is: an inspiring collection of sermons built around the liturgical calendar that emphasize reconnecting with scripture and the early church leaders on a regular basis in order to deepen your connection to God.
Read it for: the uplifting tone and straightforward, approachable writing style.
Don't miss: the discussions of lesser-known figures like St. Irenaeus and the wisdom to be gained from their stories.
------ Beyond Welcome: Centering Immigrants in Our Christian Response to Immigration
by Karen González
What it's about: the Christian case for welcoming immigrants, explored through the teachings of Jesus and the author's own experiences as an immigrant and advocate for immigrants.
Topics discussed: Jesus and hospitality; assimilation as a myth; and movement as a fact of human civilization.
Reviewers say: Thanks to "strong storytelling skills" Beyond Welcome effectively "challenges readers to rethink their understanding of immigrants" (Library Journal).
----- Confessions of a Crappy Christian: Real-life Talk About All the Things Christians Aren't...
by Blake Guichet
What's inside: relatable reflections on personal and spiritual insecurities, the pitfalls of perfectionism, and the indirect path to grace.
Chapters include: "My Church Hurt Me; Now What?" "Where Do I Get My Worth?" and "Should I Just Fake Forgiveness?"
About the author: Blake Guichet is a ministry and business coach who hosts the podcast also named Confessions of a Crappy Christian.
----- Heretic
by Jeanna Kadlec
What it is: a thoughtful and compelling memoir of trauma and rebirth that explores issues like identity, indoctrination, and the ways evangelical Christianity affects American society.
Read it for: author Jeanna Kadlec's candid reflections on growing up evangelical in the Midwest, her dysfunctional marriage to a pastor's son, and her struggles to reconcile the shame she felt as a queer woman with her church's teachings about unconditional love.
Reviewers say: Heretic is "a poignant story of being born again in a secular world" (Publishers Weekly).
----- American Caliph: The True Story of a Muslim Mystic, a Hollywood Epic, and the 1977 Siege...
by Shahan Mufti
What it's about: the politically and religiously motivated hostage crisis that shut down Washington, D.C. for 3 days in 1977, from its origins to its fallout.
The forces behind it: conflicts between the Nation of Islam and other groups in the Black Muslim movement; the assassination of Malcolm X; the 1973 Hanafi Massacre, in which 2 adults and 5 children were killed.
Key players: Hamaas Abdul Khaalis, a critic of NOI leader Elijah Muhammad and leader of the 1977 siege; Muslim ambassadors Ashraf Ghorbal (Egypt), Sahabzada Yaqub-Khan (Pakistan), and Ardeshir Zahedi (Iran), whose mediation was critical in ending the crisis and saving lives.
----- The Mexican Witch Lifestyle: Brujeria Spells, Tarot, and Crystal Magic
by Valeria Ruelas
What it's about: brujería, or "witchcraft" in Spanish, a term which has come to include a spectrum of Afro-indigenous spiritual practices embraced in Latin American communities around the world.
Topics include: how to respectfully acquire herbs and other materials needed for your practice; how to create your first altar; and the importance of honoring ancestors.
Reviewers say: "Ruelas’s simple instructions and the thorough glossary explicating key terms and concepts make for a rich primer" (Publishers Weekly).
------ The White Mosque: A Memoir
by Sofia Samatar
No, not those: The titular house of worship probably isn't one you've heard of, such as the Ottoman-built mosques in Nazareth and Acre, the former state mosque of Malaysia, or the 8th-century mosque in Ramla, Israel. Instead, The White Mosque described here was a small church, built in what is now Uzbekistan in 1884 in the style of a mosque.
Who built it: the followers of Prussian-born minister Claas Epp Jr., who came to Russia during a period when the Tsarist government allowed Mennonite settlement. Epp's leadership was controversial and divisive, but members of the community lived and worshipped in the area until Soviet collectivization in 1935.
About the author: Sofia Samatar is a writer best known for her fantasy and speculative fiction, including the novel A Stranger in Olondria and the story collection Monster Portraits. In The White Mosque, she chronicles the community's history and reflects on her identity as the descendant of both Swiss-German Mennonites and Somali Muslims.
------ To Sanctify the World: The Vital Legacy of Vatican II
by George Weigel
What it is: a well-researched but accessible analysis of the Second Vatican Council -- how it started, controversial topics addressed, key players, and fallout for the modern Catholic Church.
Don't miss: the effort author George Weigel makes to place the Council in the context of World War II and the Cold War.
Reviewers say: To Sanctify the World is a "fluid reevaluation of Vatican II's origins and impact" (Publishers Weekly).
Holy Cow, Book Nookers! Everything we want to know about religions and faith. Ok, not really but i had to bring a cow into the discussion.ANYway, The Mexican Witch Lifestyle: Brujeria Spells, Tarot, and Crystal Magic--Valeria Ruelas sounds good to me. I have no knowledge of these believes/acts. This may well be my Wild Card for our 100 Challenge.
Thanks for the list, Alias. You shared a variety on the faith spectrum. Everyone should be able to find something interesting to read from it.
madrano wrote: "Holy Cow, Book Nookers! Everything we want to know about religions and faith. Ok, not really but i had to bring a cow into the discussion."
lol
Recent Releases
----- Astrid Parker Doesn't Fail
by Ashley Herring Blake
You better get your life! An opportunity to appear on the popular home renovation show Innside America may be just what interior designer Astrid Parker needs to get her life and career back on track.
HBIC? Astrid clashes with lead carpenter Jordan Everwood, the granddaughter of the inn's owner, and soon everyone notices their onscreen chemistry.
Try these next: Readers who enjoy this reality TV-themed, enemies-to-lovers 2nd Bright Falls romance (after Delilah Green Doesn't Care) may want to check out Alison Cochrun's The Charm Offensive or Tessa Bailey's Tools of Engagment.
------ Ship Wrecked
by Olivia Dade
Unresolved sexual tension: Gods of the Gates costars Maria Ivarsson and Peter Reedton have spent the last six years filming in a remote corner of Ireland while ruminating on their extraordinary one-night stand. Now it's time for the wrap party.
Don't miss: the group chats of the Gods of the Gates cast members, which includes characters from Spoiler Alert and All the Feels.
Is it for you? Although the overall vibe of this 3rd Spoiler Alert novel is one of body positivity, both Peter and Maria must deal with the fatphobia of the entertainment industry.
------ Well Traveled
by Jen DeLuca
Starring: corporate attorney Louisa "Lulu" Malone, who impulsively quits her job and runs away with the Renaissance Faire.
What happens: Lulu meets ladies' man Dex MacLean, guitarist for the Dueling Kilts, and as she gets to know him better, discovers that he has hidden depths.
Why you might like it: Like its predecessors, this 4th Well Met novel, after Well Matched, is a "comforting, low-angst" (Kirkus Reviews) Ren Faire-themed romance.
------ The Gentleman's Book of Vices
by Jess Everlee
What it's about: Gay soon-to-be ex-bachelor Charlie Price wants an autograph from his favorite erotica author, "Reginald Cox," otherwise known as bookseller Miles Montague. He gets the signature -- and much more as the two embark on a passionate, and probably doomed, affair.
Series alert: Set in Victorian England, The Gentleman's Book of Vices kicks off the Lucky Lovers of London series.
For fans of: K.J. Charles, Cat Sebastian.
------ A Dash of Salt and Pepper
by Kosoko Jackson
What happens: Reeling from a series of personal and professional setbacks, gay Black culinary student Xavier Reynolds returns to tiny Harpers Cove, Maine, and takes a job as sous chef at local restaurant The Wharf, run by white bisexual single dad Logan O'Hare.
Is it for you? This stand-alone romantic comedy by the author of I'm So (Not) Over You features a boss-employee relationship with a significant age gap between the lovers.
The Reluctant Countess: A Would-Be Wallflowers Novel
by Eloisa James
A bad reputation: No stranger to scandal, Lady Yasmin Régnier offers to help Giles Renwick, Earl of Lilford, prevent his reckless younger sister's ruination.
Something to talk about: Despite the gossip that follows Yasmin, Giles can't resist a closer acquaintance with a woman he desires but cannot wed, due to the skeletons in his own family's closet.
Why you might like it: Opposites attract in this 2nd installment of the Would-Be Wallflowers series, after How to Be a Wallflower.
----- Two Wrongs Make a Right
by Chloe Liese
What it's about: Weary of their friends' matchmaking attempts, artist Bea Wilmot and pediatrician Jamie Westenberg decide to fake a relationship, followed by an acrimonious breakup...only to discover along the way that they're perfect for each other.
What sets it apart: Bea is autistic, while Jamie has anxiety and OCD, all of which are sensitively depicted in this romantic comedy, which pays homage to Much Ado About Nothing.
------ Pride and Protest
by Nikki Payne
What it is: a contemporary retelling of Pride and Prejudice, set in a rapidly gentrifying neighborhood in Washington, D.C.
Starring: DJ and activist Liza Bennett, who clashes with real estate CEO Dorsey Fitzgerald over a planned development in her beloved neighborhood.
Reviewers say: "A lively, sexy, and fresh take on a beloved classic" (Kirkus Reviews).
------- Before I Let Go
by Kennedy Ryan
Starring: Divorced soulmates Yasmen and Josiah, who co-parent their two children while running a restaurant together.
What happens: Both tentatively begin dating other people, only to realize that they've never stopped loving each other.
Is it for you? This emotionally intense second chance romance covers difficult subject matter, including pregnancy loss, the death of a relative, and depression, as it follows one couple's journey back to each other.
------ Second Chance at Rancho Lindo
by Sabrina Sol
What it's about: Returning to Esperanza, California, following a medical discharge, army veteran Gabe Ortega readjusts to civilian life on his family's ranch and is reunited with horticulturist Nora Torres, whom he ghosted years ago.
Read it for: a gentle second chance romance, a charming small-town setting, and Gabe's complicated relationships with the other members of his close-knit Mexican American family.
For fans of: Rebekah Weatherspoon's Cowboys of California series, which places similar emphasis on character growth and family dynamics.
----- Friday Black
Adjei-Brenyah, Nana Kwame
In the stories of Adjei-Brenyah’s debut, an amusement park lets players enter augmented reality to hunt terrorists or shoot intruders played by minority actors, a school shooting results in both the victim and gunman stuck in a shared purgatory, and an author sells his soul to a many-tongued god.
----- Yinka, Where Is Your Huzband?
Blackburn, Lizzie Damilola
Meet Yinka: a 30-something, Oxford educated, British Nigerian woman with a well-paid job, good friends, and a mother whose constant refrain is "Yinka, where is your huzband?" Yinka's Nigerian aunties frequently pray for her delivery from singledom, her girlfriends think she's too traditional (she's saving herself for marriage!), her sister thinks she needs to get over her ex already, and the men in her life...well, that's a whole other story. But Yinka herself has always believed that true love will find her when the time is right. Still, when her cousin gets engaged, Yinka commences Operation Find A Date for Rachel's Wedding. Aided by a spreadsheet and her best friend, Yinka is determined to succeed. Will Yinka find herself a husband? And what if the thing she really needs to find is herself? With shades of Bridget Jones' Diary and Jane Austen herself, Yinka, Where is Your Huzband? brilliantly subverts the traditional romantic comedy with an unconventional heroine who bravely asks the questions we all have about love. Wry, acerbic, moving, this is an #OwnVoices love story that makes you smile but also makes you think--and explores what it means to find your way between two cultures, both of which are yours.
----- The Black God's Drums
Clark, P. Djèlí
Creeper, a scrappy young teen, is done living on the streets of New Orleans. Her sights are set on securing passage aboard Captain Ann-Marie's smuggler airship Midnight Robber, earning the captain's trust using a secret about a kidnapped Haitian scientist and a mysterious weapon he calls the Black God's Drums. But Creeper keeps another secret close to her heart-- Oya, the African orisha of the wind and storms, who speaks inside her head and grants her divine powers. And Oya has her own priorities...
-----The Wind at My Back: Resilience, Grace, and Other Gifts from My Mentor, Raven Wilkinson
Copeland, Misty
Misty Copeland made history as the first African-American principal ballerina at the American Ballet Theatre. Her talent, passion, and perseverance enabled her to make strides no one had accomplished before. But as she will tell you, achievement never happens in a void. Behind her, supporting her rise was her mentor, Raven Wilkinson, who had been virtually alone in her quest to breach the all-white ballet world when she fought to be taken seriously as a black ballerina in the 1950s and 60s. A trailblazer in the world of ballet decades before Misty's time, Raven faced overt and casual racism, hostile crowds, and death threats for having the audacity to dance ballet. The Wind at My Back tells the story of two unapologetically Black ballerinas, their friendship, and how they changed each other-and the dance world-forever. Misty Copeland shares her own struggles with racism and exclusion in her pursuit of this dream career and honors the women like Raven who paved the way for her but whose contributions have gone unheralded. She celebrates the connection she made with Raven, the only teacher who could truly understand the obstacles she faced, beyond the technical or artistic demands. A beautiful and wise memoir of intergenerational friendship and the impressive journeys of two remarkable women, The Wind at My Back captures the importance of mentorship, of shared history, and of respecting the past to ensure a stronger future.
----- Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, an American Slave, Written By Himself: A New Critical Edition
Douglass, Frederick
Born a slave circa1818 (slaves weren't told when they were born) on a plantation in Maryland, Douglass taught himself to read and write. In 1845, seven years after escaping to the North, he published Narrative, the first of three autobiographies. This book calmly but dramatically recounts the horrors and the accomplishments of his early years—the daily, casual brutality of the white masters; his painful efforts to educate himself; his decision to find freedom or die; and his harrowing but successful escape.
------ The 1619 Project: A New Origin Story
Hannah-Jones, Nikole (creator and editor)
The animating idea of The 1619 Project is that our national narrative is more accurately told if we begin not on July 4, 1776, but in late August of 1619, when a ship arrived in Jamestown bearing a cargo of twenty to thirty enslaved people from Africa. Their arrival inaugurated a barbaric and unprecedented system of chattel slavery that would last for the next 250 years. This is sometimes referred to as the country's original sin, but it is more than that: It is the country's very origin. The 1619 Project tells this new origin story, placing the consequences of slavery and the contributions of Black Americans at the center of the story we tell ourselves about who we are as a country. Orchestrated by the editors of The New York Times Magazine, led by MacArthur "genius" and Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Nikole Hannah-Jones, this collection of essays and historical vignettes includes some of the most outstanding journalists, thinkers, and scholars of American history and culture--including Linda Villarosa, Jamelle Bouie, Jeneen Interlandi, Matthew Desmond, Wesley Morris, and Bryan Stevenson. Together, their work shows how the tendrils of 1619--of slavery and resistance to slavery--reach into every part of our contemporary culutre, from voting, housing and healthcare, to the way we sing and dance, the way we tell stories, and the way we worship.
------ This Boy We Made: A Memoir of Motherhood, Genetics, and Facing the Unknown
Harris, Taylor
One morning, Tophs, Taylor Harris's round-cheeked, lively twenty-two-month-old, wakes up listless and unresponsive. At the hospital, her maternal instincts are confirmed: something is wrong with her boy, and Taylor's life will never be the same. With every question the doctors answer about Tophs's increasingly troubling symptoms, more arise, and Taylor dives into the search for a diagnosis. This is a stirring and radiantly written examination of the bond between mother and child, full of hard-won insights about fighting for and finding meaning when nothing goes as expected.
------ Of One Blood: Or, The Hidden Self
Hopkins, Pauline E.
Story of Reuel Briggs, a medical student who couldn't care less about being Black and appreciating African history, but find himself in Ethiopia on an archeological trip. His motive is to raid the country of lost treasures.
----- Hitting a Straight Lick with a Crooked Stick: Stories from the Harlem Renaissance
Hurston, Zora Neale
In 1925, Zora Neale Hurston was living in New York as a fledgling writer. This collection of stories, found in archives after her death, reveal African American folk culture in Harlem in the 1920s. This book includes eight of Hurston's "lost" Harlem gems.
------ The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind: Creating Currents of Electricity and Hope
Kamkwamba, William
An enterprising teenager in Malawi builds a windmill from scraps he finds around his village and brings electricity, and a future, to his family.
------ Kill 'Em and Leave: Searching for James Brown and the American Soul
McBride, James
National Book Award winner James McBride goes in search of the “real” James Brown after receiving a tip that promises to uncover the man behind the myth. His surprising journey illuminates not only our understanding of this immensely troubled, misunderstood, and complicated soul genius but the ways in which our cultural heritage has been shaped by Brown’s legacy.
----- Illustrated Black History: Honoring the Iconic and the Unseen
McCalman, George
A gorgeous collection of 145 original portraits that celebrates Black pioneers--famous and little-known--in politics, science, literature, music, and more, with biographical reflections, all created and curated by an award-winning graphic designer.
------ Chasing Space: An Astronaut's Story of Grit, Grace, and Second Chances
Melvin, Leland
A memoir by the former NASA astronaut and NFL wide receiver traces his personal journey from the gridiron to the stars, examining the intersecting roles of community, perseverance, and grace that create opportunities for success.
------On Rotation: A Novel
Obuobi, Shirlene
For fans of Grey's Anatomy and Seven Days in June, this dazzling debut novel by Shirlene Obuobi explores that time in your life when you must decide what you want, how to get it, and who you are, all while navigating love, friendship, and the realization that the path you're traveling is going to be a bumpy ride.
------A Quantum Life: My Unlikely Journey from the Street to the Stars
Oluseyi, Hakeem M.
This memoir of the renowned astrophysicist tells the story of how he overcame his personal demons, including an impoverished childhood and life of crime as well as an addiction to crack cocaine and entrenched racism.
------South to America: A Journey Below the Mason-Dixon to Understand the Soul of a Nation
Perry, Imani
An essential, surprising journey through the history, rituals, and landscapes of the American South--and a revelatory argument for why you must understand the South in order to understand America.
-------Black Fortunes: The Story of the First Six African Americans Who Escaped Slavery and Became Millionaires
Wills, Shomari
The astonishing untold history of America's first black millionaires - former slaves who endured incredible challenges to amass and maintain their wealth for a century, from the Jacksonian period to the Roaring Twenties - self-made entrepreneurs whose unknown success mirrored that of American business heroes such as Henry Ford, John D. Rockefeller, and Thomas Edison. Between the years of 1830 and 1927, as the last generation of blacks born into slavery was reaching maturity, a small group of smart, tenacious, and daring men and women broke new ground to attain the highest levels of financial success.
Since we must find a Romance for our 100 Challenge, i'm looking into Well Traveled--Jen DeLuca. I like the idea of a Renaissance Faire calling to an attorney for her "escape". Fun list, i must admit.Of the others i can only vouch for Frederick Douglass and his Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass. Others sound good, though. Thanks for these helpful titles for our prompts and for February's Black History Month.
madrano wrote: "Thanks for these helpful titles for our prompts and for February's Black History Month..."The books may also fit these two prompts.
28 - Book about inequality (financial, racial, gender or other)
72- Book about racism
------ The Writing Retreat: A Novel
by Julia Bartz
"Alex and her ex-best friend, Wren, along with 3 other women are picked for a writing retreat with infamous author Roza Vallo. They must finish writing their books in a month's time, and the best one will be published. Roza is a mercurial taskmaster, becoming stranger while the awe the women have for her turns to fear. This is an unusual horror story with many twists and turns."
Judy Gaynes Sebastian, Eastham Public Library, Eastham, MA
NoveList read-alike: The Dark Game by Jonathan Janz
------ The Crane Husband
by Kelly Barnhill
"An artist and her children live on a small farm. The teen daughter manages not only her mom's business but also the household and care of her little brother. It is a life she can handle until mom brings home a crane and declares him her husband. A unique fairy tale with a feminist message: don't trust a crane to make you complete. For readers who enjoyed Juniper & Thorn."
Kimberly McGee, Lake Travis Community Library, Austin, TX
NoveList read-alike: Boy, Snow, Bird by Helen Oyeyemi
------- A Day of Fallen Night
by Samantha Shannon
"Fans of The Priory of the Orange Tree will be thrilled to revisit the intricately detailed world Shannon has created. In this standalone prequel, the stories of four women are spun out as the Dreadmount erupts and civilizations crumble. The large cast of characters is deftly handled, and readers will enjoy the fascinating mythology."
Beth Mills, New Rochelle Public Library, New Rochelle, NY
NoveList read-alike: Beneath the Keep: A Novel of the Tearling by Erika Johansen
------- For Her Consideration
by Amy Spalding
"Aspiring screenwriter Nina writes e-mails for other people, including Hollywood darling Ari Fox. Nina is enamored of Ari but a bad breakup made her vow never to date again. This rom-com with a queer actress and plus size woman offers great representation of realistic body positivity. Readers will root for the characters in this funny, smart, and heartwarming book!"
Andrea Tucci, Glencoe Public Library, Glencoe, IL
NoveList read-alike: Something to Talk About by Meryl Wilsner
------- The House of Eve: A Novel
by Sadeqa Johnson
"Johnson's latest historical features dialogue that snaps and settings that perfectly evoke 1950s Philadelphia and Washington, DC. Readers will be captivated by this story of two young women who struggle to overcome racism and misogyny to have a family and a meaningful future."
Jodi Prather, Bartholomew City Public Library, Columbus, IN
NoveList read-alike: The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennett
------- I Have Some Questions for You: A Novel
by Rebecca Makkai
"Engaging story of a boarding school murder being solved 20 years later by true-crime podcast enthusiasts. Or is it a story of memories and how you interact with them, depending on your stage in life and your biases, or one about how as a teen you simultaneously know everything and nothing? Or is it all three? For fans of Jean Hanff Korelitz."
Lorri Steinbacher, Ridgewood Public Library, Ridgewood, NJ
NoveList read-alike: The It Girl by Ruth Ware
------- It's One of Us
by J.T. Ellison
"J.T. Ellison has written a beautiful story from start to finish. Olivia and Park struggle with infertility. A woman is found dead, and DNA shows the murderer is related to Park. Not only is this a well-done mystery of whodunit, it is also a drama of what happens as a couple deals with loss. Another great book from an incredible author. For fans of All the Dangerous Things."
Andrea Galvin, Mt. Pulaski Public Library, Mount Pulaski, IL
NoveList read-alike: The Last Thing He Told Me by Laura Dave
------- The Last Tale of the Flower Bride
by Roshani Chokshi
"A husband cannot resist prying into his wife's past when he visits her childhood home. This gorgeously written gothic fairy tale about forbidden knowledge and dangerous love is perfect for fans of Silvia Moreno-Garcia or V.E. Schwab."
Mara Bandy Fass, Champaign Public Library, Champaign, IL
NoveList read-alike: The Death of Jane Lawrence by Caitlin Starling
------- The Neighbor Favor
by Kristina Forest
"Lily Greene needs a date for her sister's wedding but doesn't want her family's "help" to find one. She ends up asking her hot neighbor Nick for help instead, but complications ensue when she realizes he's N.R. Strickland -- the fantasy author who ghosted her. The lead characters who see the best in each other and help each other grow make for a satisfying second-chance romance. For fans of The Love Wager."
Midge Loery, Mark Twain Library, Redding, CT
NoveList read-alike: The Singles Table by Sara Desai
------- Take the Lead: A Dance Off Novel
by Alexis Daria
"Gina Morales, a professional on a dance competition show, is determined to win this season. However, instead of the Olympian she wanted as a partner, she is paired with survivalist Stone Nielson. Worse, her producer is pushing for a showmance! This is a fun and flirty romance with a wonderful cast of characters. Perfect for fans of Dancing with the Stars!"
Tristan Draper, Dekalb Public Library, Dekalb, IL
NoveList read-alike: Kiss Me, Catalina by Priscilla Oliveras
The Crane Husband--Kelly Barnhill sounds curious. Still, i see it's listed as horror, magic realism and fantasy. I'll pass but i'm also intrigued by the cover design.
Thanks for the list, Alias. That last one is different, isn't it?
I am about to read The Violin Conspiracy by Black author, Brendan Slocumb. Slocumb is himself a musician and a music educator. I would definitely have read this even if it wasn't February because I'm interested in novels that relate to music or musicians.
Shomeret wrote: "I am about to read The Violin Conspiracy by Black author, Brendan Slocumb. Slocumb is himself a musician and a music educator. I would definitely have read this ev..."The synopsis sounds very good. I hope it meets your expectations, Shomeret !
I started today for my historical fiction zoom book club “By Her Own Design: A Novel of Ann Lowe, Fashion Designer for the Social Register” by Piper G Huguley for Black History Month while putting aside for now until finished my other read, which is very good “I Must Betray You” by Ruta Septys - 1989 Communist Romania. Ann Lowe btw is the wedding designer who created in 1953, Jackie Kennedy’s wedding dress.
Thanks for the idea for an interesting read for Black History Month, Simon. I have a friend who loves fashion and went to college to study it. I'm going to pass the title on to her. Thank you !
Shomeret wrote: "I am about to read The Violin Conspiracy by Black author, Brendan Slocumb. Slocumb is himself a musician and a music educator. I would definitely have read this ev..."I'll check your blog to read your reaction to it, Shomeret. The reviews i've read sound appealing. Enjoy!
Simon wrote: "I started today for my historical fiction zoom book club “By Her Own Design: A Novel of Ann Lowe, Fashion Designer for the Social Register” by Piper G Huguley for Black History Month while putting ..."Neat. I look forward to your review on the Goodreads board, Simon. Thanks for the additional info about it.
Sounds good Alias! I realize I maybe should’ve posted that comment in another thread no?
Yes Madrano, I’ll be sure to write a review - usually do on books I read, just have been delayed.
Simon wrote: "Sounds good Alias! I realize I maybe should’ve posted that comment in another thread no?"Anywhere is fine. Though I don't know that many read this particular thread.
Interesting point, Alias. I didn't make note of that, i just figured folks didn't find much of interest, unlike me, who seems unable to stop finding books that draw me to them!
I'm just guessing, deb, as very few comment in the thread. I used to post these book suggestions in the Book Salon Folder. Then someone asked for a separate thread.
Oh, i didn't remember that. Or do i? I'm now thinking someone suggested that as they were "losing" the lists. I must admit i agree. Often i know exactly which folder a book rec was from because i cannot associate a "name" with it. Most times i'm correct.
Recent Releases
----- A Wicked Game
by Kate Bateman
Family feud! Neighbors and rivals since the Middle Ages, the Montgomery and Davies clans can count on mapmaker Harriet Montgomery and naval officer Captain Morgan Davies to carry on the tradition. Or can they?
Why you might like it: Low on angst and high on sexual tension, this lively enemies-to-lovers Regency romance, the 3rd book in the Ruthless Rivals series, begins with a scandalous wager and contains cartography-related intrigue.
------ The Rodeo Queen
by Marcella Bell
Starring: former rodeo queen Sierra Quintanilla, who hosts Closed Circuit, a reality TV rodeo competition; and lawyer Diablo Sosa, who learned bullriding in his teens as part of a program for at-risk youth.
What happens: When Diablo agrees to appear on the show as a favor to his mentor, he finds himself back in the ring for the first time in years. But forget the bulls: it's Sierra who could trample his heart.
What sets it apart: With its Black Dominican hero and Cuban American heroine, this 2nd Closed Circuit novel, after The Wildest Ride, offers a unique perspective on competitive rodeo.
------ In It to Win It
by Sharon C. Cooper
Then: College student Morgan Redford, the wealthy daughter of a socialite and a Hollywood A-lister, dated Drake Faulkner...and ghosted him after he became the guardian of his orphaned younger siblings.
Now: Bidding on a commercial building brings them back together: developer Drake wants the property for his real estate empire, while Morgan seeks a larger space for her nonprofit organization.
Family ties: Although In It to Win It is a standalone book, Morgan is the younger sister of Karter Redford, the star of author Sharon C. Cooper's previous novel, Business Not As Usual.
------ The Valentine's Hate
by Sidney Halston
What happens: While in Cancún for her best friend's wedding, Lisette Alonso and her childhood nemesis, Brian Anderson, agree to a mutually beneficial fake relationship.
Read it for: "clever plotting, laugh-out-loud dialogue, and a memorable cast" (Publishers Weekly).
For fans of: the enemies-to-lovers arc of Mazey Eddings' The Plus One; the anti-Valentine's vibe of Cara Tanamachi's The Second You're Single.
------ Back in a Spell
by Lana Harper
The premise: A dating app (mis)matches witch Nineve "Nina" Blackmoore with Morty Gutierrez (he/they), the non-magical owner of the Shamrock Cauldron, which Nina's powerful family is determined to put out of business.
Series alert: Back in a Spell is the 3rd book in the Witches of Thistle Grove series, after From Bad to Cursed.
For fans of: small-town paranormal romances such as Celestine Martin's Elemental Love series, Erin Sterling's Ex Hex novels, or Avery Flynn's Witcha Gonna Do?
------ Lunar Love
by Lauren Kung Jessen
What happens: Olivia Huang Christenson takes over Lunar Love, her grandmother's traditional matchmaking service, only to discover that ZodiaCupid founder Bennett O'Brian's Chinese Zodiac-themed dating app might put her out of business.
Match me if you can: Olivia and Bennett make a bet: each will use their own methods to find the other's soulmate. Who will prevail?
For fans of: the astrology-themed matchmaking of Minnie Darke's Star-Crossed or Alexandria Bellefleur's Written in the Stars series.
------ Token
by Beverley Kendall
Starring: Kennedy Mitchell, the Black co-founder of boutique PR firm Token, which works with companies to create more inclusive workplaces; and her ex, white tech CEO Nathaniel "Nate" Vaughn, who needs Kennedy's skills to weather a scandal.
Why you might like it: This steamy second chance romance gives its heroine a happily-ever-after in life and love while taking an unflinching look at racism and workplace discrimination.
For fans of: Farrah Rochon or Denise Williams.
------ How to Win a Wallflower
by Samara Parish
The problem: Shy inventor John Barnesworth, the new Viscount Harrow, has just inherited his late brother's estate, debts, and odious fiancée.
Gambling on love: Lady Charlotte Stirling, his best friend's sister, proposes a risky plan that, if successful, will get John out of debt and free him from his betrothal to the spoiled heiress who just so happens to be Charlotte's nemesis.
Why you might like it: Opposites attract in this 3rd book in the Rebels with a Cause series, after How to Deceive a Duke, which casts a man as the "wallflower" in question.
------ Three Cowboys and a Baby
by Kate Pearce
Parenthood 101: When another veteran abandons his baby son, Sky, at Nilsen Ranch, gruff Marine-turned-cowboy Noah Harding and his fellow ranchers must quickly learn to how to take care of a child.
Meanwhile... Returning from a deployment to find her ex gone and her son missing, Jen Rossi embarks on a frantic hunt for Sky and arrives at the ranch just as a snowstorm descends.
Series alert: This series opener pays homage to the 1987 film Three Men and a Baby; future installments of the Three Cowboys series will focus on Luke and Max, Noah's military buddies and co-ranchers.
------- Never Cross a Highlander
by Lisa Rayne
What it's about: After three long years in captivity, Black Highland lass Ailsa Connery escapes her enslavers with the aid of "the Shepherd" -- aka Black warrior Kallum MacNeill -- who reluctantly accompanies Ailsa on her journey to reunite with her clan.
Is it for you? Set in the 18th-century Scottish Highlands, this gritty series opener doesn't shy away from the harsh realities of life during this period, including physical abuse, sexual assault, and fatal swordfights.
------- Hell Bent
by Leigh Bardugo
What it is: the highly anticipated 2nd book in the Alex Stern paranormal fantasy series, following Ninth House.
What it's about: With her mentor, Darlington, trapped in hell, Yale sophomore Alex assembles an unlikely team of allies to help her plot a dangerous rescue, though their efforts require sacrifices Alex isn't sure she can make.
For fans of: dark academia, immersive world-building, and cliffhangers.
------ A History of Fear
by Luke Dumas
Meet... Grayson Hale, a sensitive if neurotic grad student studying in Edinburgh. A childhood fraught with neglect and religious fanaticism has left him ill-prepared for adulthood.
What happens: Grayson reluctantly agrees to ghostwrite a book about the devil. His teetering sanity soon dissolves, leading to a brutal crime. Did the devil make him do it?
Try this next: The Devil Aspect by Craig Russell.
------ How to Sell a Haunted House
by Grady Hendrix
How it begins: Estranged 30-something siblings Louise and Mark Joyner have a tense reunion in their South Carolina family home following the mysterious deaths of their parents.
What happens next: As the pair squabble over inheritance and prepare to sell the house, their mother's prized puppets and dolls seem to take on a life of their own, forcing traumatic family secrets out into the open.
Read it for: an unforgettable villain in maniacal puppet Pupkin.
------ Bad Cree
by Jessica Johns
What it's about: Shortly after her sister's tragic death, grief-stricken Cree woman Mackenzie is haunted by vivid dreams that take shape in the waking world. She returns to her family in Alberta in hopes of putting her nightmares to rest, but something has followed her.
Want a taste? "Before I look down, I know it's there. The crow's head I was clutching in my dream is now in bed with me."
For fans of: White Horse by Erika T. Wurth and The Only Good Indians by Stephen Graham Jones.
Winter Chills
------ Zodiac Station
by Tom Harper
Sole survivor? Rescued from an ice floe in the middle of the Arctic, scientist Thomas Anderson paints a baffling picture of his escape from the Zodiac Station outpost, where foul play and an explosion claimed the lives of the other researchers. But something's not adding up, and when other survivors are discovered, they tell a much different story...
Read it for: gripping, page-turning prose and an unpredictable ending.
Don't miss: evocative nods to classic works of horror and science fiction including Frankenstein, Alien, and The Thing.
------ The Winter People
by Jennifer McMahon
What it's about: After her mother goes missing, 19-year-old Ruthie discovers the diary of Sara Harrison Shea, a woman whose flayed body was found at Ruthie's Vermont farmhouse in 1908. As Ruthie sets out to find her mother, using the diary for clues, she fears her mother's fate may be linked to Sara -- and that history is repeating itself.
Try this next: Karen Novak's Five Mile House, another small-town New England thriller featuring a centuries-old mystery.
------- Travelers Rest
by Keith Lee Morris
What it's about: A snowbound family finds themselves separated from each other in the maze-like Travelers Rest, a remote Idaho hotel that exists in multiple places and times simultaneously.
Read it for: an atmospheric, steadily unraveling plotline reminiscent of Stephen King's The Shining.
Reviewers say: Keith Lee Morris' weighty, suspenseful writing style envelops the reader like "a curtain of drifting snow identified too late as an avalanche" (Publishers Weekly).
------- Wonderland
by Zoje Stage
What it's about: Eschewing life in the Big Apple for a fresh start upstate, the Bennett family discovers that the remote paradise they now call home is anything but, as malevolent forces lurk in the trees -- and in their minds.
Read it for: creeping paranoia, an intensifying pace, and evocative writing from award-winning Baby Teeth author Zoje Stage.
For fans of: Brendan Duffy's House of Echoes.
------ I Want to Die but I Want to Eat Tteokbokki
by Baek Sehee; translated by Anton Hur
What it is: a candid and relatable memoir of depression, stigma, and the one thing author Baek Sehee could still summon enthusiasm for in the depths her mental health struggle -- the titular spicy fried snack.
Recommended by: K-pop superstar RM of the group BTS.
Reviewers say: "This is a sincere attempt at self-discovery that will resonate with young people who suffer from similar forms of depression and anxiety" (Library Journal).
------ How to Calm Your Mind: Finding Presence and Productivity in Anxious Times
by Chris Bailey
What it's about: learning to embrace the other side of the productivity coin by making time and space for calm and being more present in the moments outside of our productive time.
Why you might like it: Ironically, it was Chris Bailey's work specializing in productivity that gave him insight into the need for periods of restorative calm as an important part of our ability to get things done.
Topics include: the pitfalls of "busyness" for its own sake; the relationship between anxiety and the brain's drive for dopamine; the similarities and differences between analog and digital experiences and how they affect anxiety.
------ The Sugar Jar: Create Boundaries, Embrace Self-Healing, and Enjoy the Sweet Things in Life
by Yasmine Cheyenne
What it is: an inclusive, accessible guide to taking care of yourself and healing from the past with an emphasis on learning to set boundaries.
Sugar jar? This is author Yasmine Cheyenne’s handy metaphor for your energy in its many forms -- a resource that is limited but can be replenished as much as it is depleted.
Read it for: the practical tools and exercises that will help you take stock of what saps or restores your energy and teach you a proactive approach to managing it.
------ Financial Feminist: Overcome the Patriarchy's Bullsh*t to Master Your Money and Build A...
by Tori Dunlap
What it is: a well-researched look at the gender gap in personal finance education and how women can reclaim power and autonomy through financial independence.
Read it for: the busting of popular financial myths (lattes and avocado toast are not keeping young women from amassing wealth); the practical tips and judgment-free tone.
About the author: Tori Dunlap is the founder and CEO of Her First $100k, a financial literacy platform created to help women learn to manage and grow their money.
------ The Stress Prescription: Seven Days to More Joy and Ease
by Elissa Epel, PhD
What it's about: evidence-based approaches to harnessing the mind’s natural stress response instead of letting it overwhelm you.
Topics include: stress as a fact of life, which had evolutionary benefits for early humans; focusing on what you can control and learning to let go of everything else.
Reviewers say: “This is just what the doctor ordered” (Publishers Weekly).
------- Why We Meditate: The Science and Practice of Clarity and Compassion
by Daniel Goleman and Tsoknyi Rinpoche
What it is: a well-researched and reflective guide to meditation as a tool to help you break free from negative thought and behavior patterns.
Read it for: the careful examination of the purpose behind a different aspect of meditation that opens each chapter.
For fans of: The Zen of Therapy by Mark Epstein; Finding Peace by Yeshe Losal Rinpoche.
------ Two Old Broads: Stuff You Need to Know That You Didn't Know You Needed to Know
by M.E. Hecht, MD and Whoopi Goldberg
What it's about: making the most of life's later years with curiosity and humor.
Why you might like it: the infectious enthusiasm and irreverent tone are well balanced with reflections on some of the inescapable challenges of aging, such as chronic pain.
Reviewers say: Two Old Broads is “a fun, sassy reminder that no one is just a number” (Library Journal).
------- Overcoming Parental Anxiety: Rewire Your Brain to Worry Less & Enjoy Parenting More
by Debra Kissen, PhD; Micah Ioffe, PhD; and Hannah Romain, LCSW
What it is: affirming, science-based advice for navigating the understandable anxieties that come with parenting and savoring its joys.
Read it for: the practical tools and actionable tips which are presented in digestible, accessible chunks.
Try this next: Mother Brain by Chelsea Conaboy.
------ Sleep Reimagined: The Fast Track to A Revitalized Life
by Pedram Navab, FAASM
What it's about: the importance of sleep, the factors that can disrupt it, and what we can do to repair our relationship with it.
Why you might like it: The mix of information and straightforward advice provides something for everyone, from those who are just curious about sleep to those desperately seeking it.
Reviewers say: “This solid manual will put readers to sleep, in a good way” (Publishers Weekly).
------- Breathe In, Breathe Out: Restore Your Health, Reset Your Mind and Find Happiness Through...
by Stuart Sandeman
What it is: a candid and impassioned look at the transformative power of breathwork to improve your stress management,
Read it for: author Stuart Sandeman’s personal connection with breathwork, which he became interested in while working through grief.
Is it for you? Although the concept of breathwork can seem a bit too mystical for some, the tips and exercises presented here are short and low-stakes enough that it's worth everyone's time to give meditative breathing a chance.
I've added these to my TBR notebook.------- Why We Meditate: The Science and Practice of Clarity and Compassion
by Daniel Goleman and Tsoknyi Rinpoche
What it is: a well-researched and reflective guide to meditation as a tool to help you break free from negative thought and behavior patterns.
Read it for: the careful examination of the purpose behind a different aspect of meditation that opens each chapter.
For fans of: The Zen of Therapy by Mark Epstein; Finding Peace by Yeshe Losal Rinpoche.
------ Two Old Broads: Stuff You Need to Know That You Didn't Know You Needed to Know
by M.E. Hecht, MD and Whoopi Goldberg
What it's about: making the most of life's later years with curiosity and humor.
Why you might like it: the infectious enthusiasm and irreverent tone are well balanced with reflections on some of the inescapable challenges of aging, such as chronic pain.
Reviewers say: Two Old Broads is “a fun, sassy reminder that no one is just a number” (Library Journal).
What a delectable batch of books, Alias. The sole book i found from the first list is the one i will read for our "Romance" prompt on the 100 Challenge. While The Rodeo Queen--Marcella Bell is the second in the series, it also looks unconnected to the first. It doesn't matter, a look at rodeo queens (there are several cousins of mine who have held that title in Ok & Tx) sound interesting. Add in closed circuit rodeos and the leads from Caribbean Americans, and i'm set!But wait! I found more. Oddly, they were in the horror category. What?! Or, Alias, did you select those novels with "cold" themes with Frigid-lovin' Deb in mind? LOL. What's not to love about the idea behind Zodiac Station--Tom Harper? You've got the Arctic, Science, Mystery!
Travelers Rest--Keith Lee Morris has a blizzard! And a "remote Idaho hotel that exists in multiple places and times simultaneously." Yes!
And what about How to Sell a Haunted House--Grady Hendrix? Ok, this one is NOT going on my list. What a creepy teaser, "...their mother's prized puppets and dolls seem to take on a life of their own." Nope.
Finally, the third group of book listings. Breathe In, Breathe Out: Restore Your Health, Reset Your Mind and Find Happiness Through Breathwork--Stuart Sandeman sounds good to & for me.
Two Old Broads: Stuff You Need to Know That You Didn’t Know You Needed to Know--Dr. M. E. Hecht & Whoopi Goldberg's book sounds neat to me, too, Alias. I love that one of the points on the page i read was that they'll help you, "win friends and influence people or take a nap, depending on the day" LOL!
Others which appeal follow:
Why We Meditate: The Science and Practice of Clarity and Compassion--Daniel Goleman
Sleep Reimagined: The Fast Track to a Revitalized Life--Pedram Navab. This, for the cognitive behavioral approach.
I Want to Die But I Want to Eat Tteokpokki--Baek Se-hee. Honestly, this is because it's from South Korea and i'm curious about Tteokpokki.
Thank you, Alias, for this romp through genres i usually pass by. Well done.
madrano wrote: (there are several cousins of mine who have held that title in Ok & Tx) sound interesting.."Wow ! That's so cool. I've never been to a rodeo. I've seen bits on TV years ago. I don't know if they broadcast them anymore.
Glad you enjoyed the lists. I get them from various libraries. Most of the synopsis are from the publisher.
It's neat knowing that librarians shared the titles, too.
------ Pests: How Humans Create Animal Villains
by Bethany Brookshire
The takeaway: "Pest is all about perspective," explains science journalist and podcaster Bethany Brookshire (Science for the People) in this thought-provoking examination of why we demonize certain animals.
You'll learn: how the rise of cheap supermarket chicken led to flocks of feral urban pigeons; why rats are pests but cats (the leading cause of animal extinction) are pets.
For fans of: Mary Roach's Fuzz, Hal Herzog's Some We Love, Some We Hate, Some We Eat, or Rob Dunn's Never Home Alone.
----- Tracers in the Dark: The Global Hunt for the Crime Lords of Cryptocurrency
by Andy Greenberg
Follow the money: Journalist Andy Greenberg (Sandworm) profiles the federal officials, cryptographers, and security experts who trace cryptocurrency transactions to shut down darkweb markets.
You might also like: the thriller-like blend of true crime and technology reporting found in Renee Dudley and Daniel Golden's The Ransomware Hunting Team, or Nick Bilton's American Kingpin.
----- How Far the Light Reaches: A Life in Ten Sea Creatures
by Sabrina Imbler
What it is: a collection of ten essays by science journalist Sabrina Imbler that focuses on marine creatures that live and thrive in hostile environments.
Includes: self-cloning jellyfish, the terrifying sand-striker worms; and self-sacrificing octopus parents.
What sets it apart: Imbler pairs their reflections on being a queer, mixed race person (in a field dominated by white cisgender men) with lyrical observations on distinctive sea creatures.
----- What the Ear Hears (And Doesn't): Inside the Extraordinary Everyday World of Frequency
by Richard Mainwaring
What it's about: Musician Richard Mainwaring examines the science of frequency, which shapes our lives in often surprising ways.
Don't miss: how 23 members of a fitness class nearly brought down a skyscraper in South Korea; how the World War II bombing of Coventry might have been prevented by greater musical knowledge.
Did you know? Cats purr in A-flat.
----- Beaverland: How One Weird Rodent Made America
by Leila Philip
What it's about: The North American beaver (Castor canadensis) and its outsized impact on the history, culture, and physical landscape of what is now called the United States.
Why you might like it: Guggenheim fellow and Boston Globe columnist Leila Philip draws on a range of sources, from Algonquian legends to scientific studies, to illuminate the importance of beavers.
Further reading: Ben Goldfarb's Eager: The Surprising, Secret Life of Beavers and Why They Matter and Frances Backhouse's Once They Were Hats: In Search of the Mighty Beaver.
----- Hatching: Experiments in Motherhood and Technology
by Jenni Quilter
What it is: Author Jenni Quilter's "sensitive, politically astute" (Publishers Weekly) history of reproductive technologies, interwoven with her own experiences with infertility and in vitro fertilization.
Is it for you? The history of gynecology, recounted here in well-researched detail, is also the history of white male doctors exploiting and abusing marginalized people, particularly Black and Indigenous women.
For fans of: Belle Boggs' The Art of Waiting.
------Control: The Dark History and Troubling Present of Eugenics
by Adam Rutherford
What it's about: Geneticist Adam Rutherford explores the history of eugenics, "a political ideology that was shackled to genetics," from its Victorian origins to its present-day manifestations.
About the author: Rutherford has tackled genetics-influenced pseudoscience before in How to Talk to a Racist: What Our Genes Do (and Don't) Say About Human Difference.
-------The Matter of Everything: How Curiosity, Physics, and Improbable Experiments...
by Suzie Sheehy
Contains: 12 groundbreaking physics experiments of the 20th century and their far-reaching impact on both our understanding of the universe and our everyday lives.
Read it for: author and physicist Suzie Sheehy's accessible explanations of complex topics, as well as her inclusion of women and people of color whose contributions to science are often overlooked.
For fans of: Brian Clegg's Ten Days In Physics That Shook the World.
------ Remainders of the Day: A Bookshop Diary
by Shaun Bythell
Welcome to... The Bookshop, the largest used bookstore in Scotland, run by witty owner Shaun Bythell.
Read it for: a lively account of the charms and challenges of everyday life at the store, featuring a colorful cast of characters, including cunning shop cat Captain.
Series alert: Bythell previously chronicled his Bookshop adventures in Confessions of a Bookseller and Seven Kinds of People You Find in Bookshops, both of which were translated into more than 30 languages.
------ Your Table Is Ready: Tales of a New York City Maître D'
by Michael Cecchi-Azzolina
What it's about: author Michael Cecchi-Azzolina's decades spent working as a maître d' in some of New York City's hottest fine dining restaurants.
What's inside: a fast-paced account of dysfunction and debauchery within the restaurant industry; dishy anecdotes on serving Jackie Gleason, Dustin Hoffman, Tennessee Williams, Anna Wintour, and more.
For fans of: Anthony Bourdain's Kitchen Confidential.
------ Weightless: Making Space for My Resilient Body and Soul
by Evette Dionne
What it is: National Book Award finalist Evette Dionne's chronicle of how systemic fatphobia has shaped her life as a plus-sized Black woman.
Read it for: an incisive look at the intersection of race, gender, and wellness, featuring personal anecdotes and pop culture musings.
Reviewers say: "A provocatively necessary collection" (Kirkus Reviews) and "an urgent call for change" (Publishers Weekly).
------ Rough Sleepers: Dr. Jim O'Connell's Urgent Mission to Bring Healing to Homeless People
by Tracy Kidder
What it is: an inspiring portrait of physician Jim O'Connell, who founded the Boston Health Care for the Homeless Program.
Why you might like it: Journalist Tracy Kidder spent five years following O'Connell and his team as they navigated bureaucratic challenges to administer compassionate care to some of the city's most vulnerable.
Author alert: Pulitzer Prize winner Kidder is the bestselling author of Mountains Beyond Mountains.
------- The McCartney Legacy: Volume 1, 1969-73
by Allan Kozinn and Adrian Sinclair
What it is: a nostalgic and well-researched biography chronicling the first four years of musician Paul McCartney's post-Beatles life and career.
Featuring: hundreds of interviews with fellow musicians, colleagues, and more; revealing, never-before-seen archival materials.
Series alert: Co-written by music critic Allan Kozinn and documentarian Adrian Sinclair, this richly detailed survey is the first in a planned two-volume series.
******** Focus on: Black History Month ********
-------Until I Am Free: Fannie Lou Hamer's Enduring Message to America
by Keisha N. Blain
Who it's about: Mississippi civil rights activist Fannie Lou Hamer (1917-1977).
What's inside: an inspiring portrait of a woman whose advocacy against voter suppression and police brutality continues to resonate.
Further reading: Walk With Me: A Biography of Fannie Lou Hamer by Kate Clifford Larson.
------- To Walk About in Freedom: The Long Emancipation of Priscilla Joyner
by Carole Emberton
What it is: a thought-provoking look at the limitations of America's Reconstruction era as seen through the eyes of biracial and formerly enslaved North Carolina woman Priscilla Joyner (1858-1944).
Featuring: interviews conducted with Joyner as part of the Federal Writers' Project in the 1930s.
Why you should read it: This richly contextualized blend of biography and history illuminates how Black Americans created their own thriving communities in the wake of emancipation.
-------- Read Until You Understand: The Profound Wisdom of Black Life and Literature
by Farah Jasmine Griffin
What it is: Guggenheim Fellow Farah Jasmine Griffin's impassioned exploration of the ways in which Black literature has shaped and reflected her life, with referenced works grouped thematically.
Chapters include: "The Quest for Justice;" "Rage and Resistance;" "The Transformative Potential of Love;" "Of Gardens and Grace."
Try this next: anthology Well-Read Black Girl: Finding Our Stories, Discovering Ourselves, edited by Glory Edim.
------- True: The Four Seasons of Jackie Robinson
by Kostya Kennedy
What it is: a moving and unconventional biography of groundbreaking Brooklyn Dodgers baseball player Jackie Robinson.
What sets it apart: True focuses solely on four years in Robinson's career: 1947 (his first season playing Major League Baseball); 1949 (the year he won Most Valuable Player); 1956 (his final season in the sport); and 1972 (the year his uniform number was retired and he met an untimely death).
Reviewers say: "Baseball fans shouldn't miss this" (Publishers Weekly).
------ Illustrated Black History: Honoring the Iconic and the Unseen
by George McCalman
What's inside: a celebration of the diversity of Black Americans' accomplishments in politics, education, science, the arts, and more.
Featuring: vibrant illustrated portraits and mini-biographies of 145 trailblazers.
Read it for: "a unique and engaging entry point into Black history that will no doubt inspire further research" (Booklist Reviews).
Recent Releases
------- The Personal Assistant
by Kimberly Belle
What it's about: Instagram influencer Alex Hutchinson is known for her unapologetic personal brand, but her latest post has gone viral for all the wrong reasons. Even worse, it could only have been posted by Alex’s personal assistant, who vanished right after the post went live.
Read it for: the intricate plotting and characterization of Alex, who is flawed but compelling.
Reviewers say: “This taut and twisty domestic thriller will keep readers guessing until the very end” (Booklist).
------ Among Wolves
by Erica Blaque
Starring: Sophia Claire, who is fully aware of her pharmaceutical CEO husband Robert's many flaws but cannot believe that he's responsible for the string of murders he's just been accused of.
The poison pill: Each victim had two things in common -- one, she was once one of Robert's lovers and two, her cause of death was an overdose of an opoid developed by Robert's company.
For fans of: Tarryn Fisher and Shari Lapena.
------- Seventeen
by John Brownlow
What it's about: An elite hitman known only as Seventeen receives orders to dispatch his predecessor but things go catastrophically wrong, exposing a plot against both killer and target that they'll have to join forces to resist.
Is it for you? Author John Brownlow is clearly a spy novel enthusiast and plays with the genre in both appreciative and irreverent ways, creating a tone that might not appeal to all readers.
------- Before You Knew My Name
by Jacqueline Bublitz
How it started: Wisconsinite Alice Lee and Australian Ruby Jones arrive in Manhattan at the same time to start new lives, renting apartments that are only a few blocks away from each other.
How it's going: Their paths never cross until Ruby discovers Alice's body in Riverside Park. After Alice is declared a Jane Doe, an understandably shaken Ruby feels compelled to investigate the identity of this young woman and what really happened to her.
Read it for: the “keenly rendered characters and poignant prose” (Publishers Weekly); the narrative focus on Alice instead of her killer.
------ A Ghost of Caribou
by Alice Henderson
Series alert: A Ghost of Caribou is the third wilderness thriller featuring wildlife biologist Alex Carter.
This time: While investigating the possibility that the mountain caribou might not be extinct after all, Alex gets pulled into a complex case outside her jurisdiction after a forest ranger’s body is found in a local park.
Reviewers say: “Environmental crime fiction doesn't get much better than this” (Publishers Weekly).
------- Welcome to the Game
by Craig Henderson
What it is: a fast-paced and gritty crime novel about former rally racer Spencer Burnham, a flawed, spiraling widower who gets more than he bargained for after taking “just one job” as a getaway driver.
What goes wrong: Spencer's daughter is kidnapped by a local crime lord in order to force him to take more work, kicking off a thrilling, action-packed gambit to save her.
For fans of: the Fast and Furious franchise; 1981 neo-noir film Thief starring James Caan.
------- Find Him
by Jake Hinkson
What it's about: Eighteen-year-old mother-to-be Lily is determined to track down her missing fiancé Peter and joins forces with her uncle Allan, the black sheep of the family, to get the job done.
Read it for: the compelling relationship that uncle and niece develop as Allan leans into his role as Lily's protector.
Try this next: Presidio by Randy Kennedy.
------- The Ingenue
by Rachel Kapelke-Dale
The setup: Former piano prodigy Saskia Kreis had a difficult relationship with her recently deceased mother, whose affairs she has returned home to settle.
What goes wrong: Saskia won't inherent the family because her mother willed it to a former colleague, a man who Saskia loathes -- and with good reason.
Is it for you? The ingenue deals frankly with grooming, sexual abuse, and the trauma that survivors like Saskia carry into adulthood.
------- The Break
by Katie Sise
What it's about: After the traumatic birth of her daughter, Rowan O’Sullivan grows suspicious of June, the part-time babysitter hired to help during her recovery. After June's sudden disappearance Rowan feels vindicated, but why do her neighbors say they heard screaming coming from her house? And why is her memory growing increasingly fractured?
Who it's for: readers who enjoy alternating perspectives and unreliable narrators.
Reviewers say: "With this white-knuckle journey, Sise shows her mastery of suspense" (Publishers Weekly).
------- A Sliver of Darkness
by C.J. Tudor
What it is: a compelling and creepy collection of short stories by British thriller author C.J. Tudor.
Stories include: “End of the Liner, ” about a woman trapped on a sinisterly cheerful cruise ship; “Final Course, ” in which friends gather for a dinner party at the end of the world; and “I'm Not Ted,” about the shocking consequences of a case of mistaken identity.
For fans of: gritty writing, fast-paced storytelling, and horror-influenced suspense.
Alias, what a wicked thing you've done! I only found one book in the science & nature post that i wouldn't read! Most appealing is How Far the Light Reaches: A Life in Ten Sea Creatures--Sabrina Imbler. It looks as though i'm gonna be introduced to some wild critters!Then there is Pests: How Humans Create Animal Villains--Bethany Brookshire more creatures but ones i might feel i already know. (And this from a woman who is iffy on the category of critters.)
Finally, in the animal arena, Beaverland: How One Weird Rodent Made America--Leila Philip sounds as though it is going to be part history. I've had questions about the decimation of the beaver population for British hats! Now i hope they'll be answered.
BUT, you were not finished with me yet, Dear Alias! You moved right along to bios. I read Shaun Bythell's The Diary of a Bookseller a couple of years ago & loved it. As it happens a friend was reading it, which enhanced the experience. His sequel was less amusing and more about online selling. Now we have this plus sequel, Remainders of the Day: More Diaries from The Bookshop, Wigtown. Where will he go?
The more i learn about Fannie Lou Hamer, the more i love her bravery. Therefore, i look forward to Keisha N. Blain's book, Until I Am Free: Fannie Lou Hamer's Enduring Message to America. I also noted that there is a specific bio on the woman, which i've added, as well. Walk with Me: A Biography of Fannie Lou Hamer--Kate Clifford Larson.
All of which made me sigh with relief that there were no thrillers or mysteries on the list that called to me. Whew!
And thank you.
I am desperately trying to finish The Books of Jacob before the 21st because I have a mystery that being delivered to my iPad that day that fulfills the teacher-student prompt, I Have Some Questions for You.Thank you for the library recommendations.
madrano wrote: "Alias, what a wicked thing you've done! ":)
Recent Releases
------ The Light Pirate
by Lily Brooks-Dalton
What it is: a believable near-future eco-thriller with hints of magic set in a small Florida town subject to increasingly violent natural disasters.
What happens: Amidst loss, isolation, and societal decay, a young girl with unique abilities comes of age. Her surprising gifts become a source of hope, redemption, and renewal.
Book buzz: Good Morning America Book Club pick, Marie Claire #ReadWithMC book club selection, and is featured on NPR “Books We Love 2022.”
------ The Ingenue
by Rachel Kapelke-Dale
The setup: Former piano prodigy Saskia Kreis endured a rigid, emotionally isolated childhood. Now an adult, she must return home to Milwaukee to settle her mother's affairs.
What goes wrong: Saskia learns her mother has willed the family fortune to an ex-colleague, a man whom Saskia loathes with good reason.
Is it for you? The Ingenue deals frankly with predatory grooming, sexual abuse, and the trauma that survivors like Saskia carry into adulthood.
------- The Book of Everlasting Things
by Aanchal Malhotra
Starring: Samir, a Hindu perfumer, and Firdaus, a Muslim calligrapher, whose forbidden love story sweeps readers from the early 20th century to the present day.
Read it for: a lush, atmospheric story of cultural, political and personal turmoil surrounding the 1947 Partition of India.
For fans of: Elif Shafak's The Island of Missing Trees, Michael Ondaatje's The English Patient, or All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr.
------- Roses, in the Mouth of a Lion
by Bushra Rehman
What happens: After changing schools, Razia -- a young Pakistani American woman -- questions her conservative Muslim upbringing and falls in love with a fellow student, Angela.
Read it for: Razia's 1980s transformation into queer teen rebel, with a side of nostalgic pop culture references.
Try this next: Dominicana by Angie Cruz or Elena Ferrante's My Brilliant Friend.
Theme: Books About Books
------- The Bromance Book Club
by Lyssa Kay Adams
What it's about: Professional baseball player Gavin Scott will do anything to win his wife Thea back, even...join a romance book club?
Why you might like it: Gavin unlearns some bad habits while Thea learns to balance personal goals and family commitments. Members of the book club offer hilarious advice throughout.
Check out: the next in this bookish, funny, heartwarming (occasionally steamy!) rom-com series with #2: Undercover Bromance.
--------- The Starless Sea
by Erin Morgenstern
What happens: A mysterious book leads graduate student Zachary Ezra Rawlins on a magical quest to another world, hidden in plain sight.
What it is: another atmospheric, puzzle box of a story told in dreamlike prose by the author of The Night Circus.
Take a bite: "Zachary Ezra Rawlins stares at...the same symbols he once contemplated in an alleyway behind his mother's store and wonders how, exactly, he is supposed to continue a story he didn't know he was in."
------- Hell of a Book
by Jason Mott
What it is: a complex, metafictional work about Black experiences in white America, told by a child named Soot and an unnamed author, aka "the Writer."
Read it for: the humor of the Writer who -- even as he is chased by an angry husband -- asserts "this is a love story"; the sadness of a bullied kid who'd rather be "unseen and safe" than anything else.
Winner: National Book Awards 2021 for Fiction.
-------- The Banned Bookshop of Maggie Banks
by Shauna Robinson
Starring: Maggie, who starts a top-secret book club to keep a small-town bookshop from ruin; Ralph, guardian of archaic policies that sabotage the shop's success; and Malcolm, who finds Maggie's rule-flouting ways more than a little attractive.
Freedom to read...triumphs in this "charming, funny, and uplifting" (Booklist) story of community redemption and romance.
For fans of: Katarina Bivald, Jenny Colgan, or Abbi Waxman.
-------- Bloodbath Nation
by Paul Auster
What it is: a sobering and well-researched rumination on the history of gun violence in America, from the colonial era to the present.
Featuring: stark black-and-white photographs of sites where mass shootings have occurred; author Paul Auster's candid reflections on his own family's history with gun violence.
Reviewers say: "exceptional in its clarity and arresting in its sense of urgency" (Kirkus Reviews).
------- The Tudors in Love: Passion and Politics in the Age of England's Most Famous Dynasty
by Sarah Gristwood
What it is: a richly detailed history that reveals how courtly love shaped England's Tudor period (1485-1603).
What's inside: illuminating insights on how the era's five monarchs (including Henry VIII and Elizabeth I) utilized notions of courtly love, inspired by Arthurian legends, to shape their public personas and wield political influence.
About the author: Historian Sarah Gristwood is the author of Game of Queens: The Women Who Made Sixteenth-Century Europe.
------- Screaming on the Inside: The Unsustainability of American Motherhood
by Jessica Grose
What it's about: how antiquated and unrealistic expectations of American motherhood harm parents and children.
Why you might like it: Featuring extensive research paired with author Jessica Grose's own parenting experiences and those of the mothers she interviewed, this thoughtful and empathetic survey offers insights on how today's mothers can empower themselves and their families.
------ Empire of Ice and Stone: The Disastrous and Heroic Voyage of the Karluk
by Buddy Levy
What it's about: the ill-fated voyage of the Karluk, which began in the summer of 1913 as part of the Canadian Arctic Expedition.
What happened: Shortly after launch, the ship became icebound and sank; captain Bob Bartlett, accompanied by an Inuit hunter, trekked nearly 1,000 miles to seek help for the survivors.
Read it for: a dramatic and richly detailed tale of courage and survival.
------ Anatomy of 55 More Songs: The Oral History of Top Hits That Changed Rock, Pop and Soul
by Marc Myers
What it is: music journalist Marc Myers' follow-up to 2016's Anatomy of a Song, which provides insightful context behind popular songs released from 1964-1996 and features interviews with the artists involved.
Tracklist includes: Dionne Warwick's "Walk on By;" Redbone's "Come and Get Your Love;" Journey's "Don't Stop Believin';" Sheryl Crow's "If It Makes You Happy," and more.
Try this next: The Number Ones: Twenty Chart-Topping Hits That Reveal the History of Pop Music by Tom Breihan.
************Focus on: Black History Month *************
-----Traveling Black: A Story of Race and Resistance
by Mia Bay
What it's about: how travel segregation in America spurred the civil rights movement.
Awards buzz: Historian Mia Bay's thought-provoking and comprehensive chronicle won the 2022 Bancroft Prize.
Further reading: Driving While Black: African American Travel and the Road to Civil Rights by Gretchen Sorin.
------- Immortal Valor: The Black Medal of Honor Winners of World War II
by Robert Child
What it's about: the lesser-known accomplishments of the seven Black Medal of Honor recipients of World War II, whose heroism went unacknowledged for nearly 50 years due to discrimination.
What's inside: well-researched and richly detailed profiles of the seven servicemen, six of whom were awarded their medals posthumously.
Try this next: Half American: The Epic Story of African Americans Fighting World War II at Home and Abroad by Matthew F. Delmont.
------- The Black Church: This Is Our Story, This Is Our Song
by Henry Louis Gates, Jr.
What it is: a compelling history of the Black church in America that looks at its central role in Black cultural life, including the ways it has helped (and sometimes hindered) social progress and political resistance.
Media buzz: The Black Church was adapted into a PBS docuseries of the same name.
About the author: scholar, journalist, and Harvard professor Henry Louis Gates, Jr. hosts the PBS family history series Finding Your Roots.
------ First Class: The Legacy of Dunbar, America's First Black Public High School
by Alison Stewart; foreword by Melissa Harris-Perry
What it is: a sweeping, 150-year history of Washington, D.C.'s elite Dunbar High School, the first public high school for Black students in the United States.
Read it for: an illuminating chronicle of the rise and fall of a storied institution that fell into disrepute following school desegregation.
Author alert: Award-winning journalist Alison Stewart is the daughter of two Dunbar graduates.
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Books mentioned in this topic
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------ That Summer in Berlin
by Lecia Cornwall
Starring: Viviane Alden, a young British woman who travels to Berlin in 1936 under the guise of working as a photographer at the Olympics. Her true goal? To find evidence that Germany is rearming in defiance of the Treaty of Versailles.
What makes it unique: the high-stakes setting, which has extra layers of artifice for Viviane to parse since any country hosting the Olympics tries to put its best foot forward.
For fans of: the Miss Lily series by Jackie French; the Verity Kent series by Anna Lee Huber.
------ The Poison Machine
by Robert J. Lloyd
Series alert: The Poison Machine is the sequel to The Bloodless Boy, which first introduced readers to Harry Hunt, a 17th-century gentleman scientist and amateur sleuth.
This time: Harry heads to Norfolkshire for a seemingly straightforward investigation that will eventually take him across the English Channel in pursuit of a former royal favorite from the days of Charles I.
Reviewers say: Author Robert J. Lloyd "skillfully combines an endearingly flawed lead, jaw-dropping twists, and the fraught, conspiracy-laden politics of the Stuart Restoration" (Publishers Weekly).
------ Marmee
by Sarah Miller
What it is: a heartwarming, leisurely paced reimagining of classic novel Little Women, from the perspective of the titular March family matriarch.
Read it for: a deeper understanding of the complexities of Margaret March's existence beyond the supporting role she played in the stories of her daughters Meg, Jo, Beth, and Amy.
About the author: Sarah Miller writes juvenile nonfiction about historical topics and historical fiction for both children and adults. Her previous adult novel Caroline reimagined the story of the Caroline Ingalls of Little House on the Prairie fame.
------ In the Shadow of a Queen
by Heather B. Moore
What it's about: Princess Louise (one of Queen Victoria's younger daughters) is a strong-willed young woman with artistic and feminist inclinations who serves as her domineering mother's unofficial secretary until the possibility of marriage to a Scottish peer divides her family and forces her to decide what she really wants out of life.
For fans of: The People's Princess by Flora Harding; A Most English Princess by Clare McHugh.
Reviewers say: In the Shadow of a Queen is "a worthy portrait of a woman divided by duty and self-determination" (Publishers Weekly).
------- Miss Del Río
by Bárbara Louise Mujica
What it is: the dramatic, rags to riches story of Hollywood icon Dolores del Río, beginning with her days as an orphan in northern Mexico before the 1910 Revolution.
Appearances by: Marlene Dietrich, Orson Welles, and Frida Kahlo.
You might also like: Find Me in Havana by Serena Burdick.and The Only Woman in the Room by Marie Benedict.
------ Everything the Light Touches
by Janice Pariat
Starring: Swedish scientist Carl Linnaeus during his 1732 Lapland expedition; German intellectual Johann Wolfgang von Goethe during a trip through Italy that would inspire one of his lesser-known books, The Metamorphosis of Plants; Edwardian era Cambridge student Evelyn, during a botany journey in India.
How it's told: in alternating perspectives, interspersed with reflections from modern Delhi resident Shai, whose travels in rural Assam parallel the respective journeys of the book's other three narrators.
For fans of: David Mitchell's nonlinear, stylistically complex, time-spanning novel Cloud Atlas.
------- Before All the World
by Moriel Rothman-Zecher
What it's about: Leyb Mireles and Gitti Khayeles haven't seen each other since narrowly escaping the pogrom that destroyed their village, but fate is about to pull them back together in Depression-era Philadelphia through the combined forces of an underground gay bar, a Yiddish manuscript, and the work of it unlikely translator.
Read it for: the charming but not-quite-masterful translation of sections of Gitti's memoirs, written by Leyb's American friend Charles Patterson. In addition to exploring how Charles, a Black man, became fluent in Yiddish, the text is full of thought-provoking notes that explore Charles as a character in his own right.
Is it for you? Author Moriel Rothman-Zecher takes great care with prose but Before All the World is a stylistically complex work most likely to appeal to fans of high-concept novels like Jonathan Safran Foer's Everything is Illuminated or Vladimir Nabokov's Pale Fire.
------- The Color Line
by Igiaba Scego
What it is: the remarkable story of Lafanu Brown, an Afro-Chippewa woman who moves to Italy in the middle of the 19th century to escape American racism and pursue her dreams of being an artist.
How the story is told: through the eyes of a modern day Italian art curator of Somali origin who grows attached to Lafanu's art and story, seeing reflections of her own experience and that of her family.
Reviewers say: The Color Line is "fluid and refreshing" (Library Journal) and "an engrossing tale of ambition, survival, and love" (Publishers Weekly).
------- One Woman's War
by Christine Wells
What it's about: the wartime activities of Victoire Bennett, a British Naval Intelligence officer who some believe inspired James Bond mainstay Miss Moneypenny.
Read it for: the engagingly written characters including Victoire, a survival-driven Austrian double agent, and Ian Fleming himself.
For fans of: Kate Quinn's The Alice Network and Ariel Lawhon's Code Name Helene.