Our newest recommendations are right at the top of the list. Enjoy!
Once again, Therese Anne Fowler has written a powerhouse of a woman back into history. Excellent job bringing me into the life and times of Alva Smith Vanderbilt and Gilded Age New York. Toward the end of her life, Alva was a pre-eminant American suffragette. Throughout this book I felt, "Wow. I get it. I get her, her circumstances, and what she's doing for herself, women, and the culture at large." And all in an enjoyable "19th century novel." Hurrah! Recommended by Alena
I like the people in this book so much!!! And the writing. And the story. And the river. I have that double feeling of wanting to read and read to know how it ends -- but not wanting it to end. Recommended by Alena
Holy shit, this is something else altogether. "Cross-dressing gun-fighter" doesn't even scratch the surface. It really stuck with me. Recommended by Christie
A deceptively simple story that gets under your skin, so that you find yourself drifting to these people and places days and weeks after finishing the book. An unusual love story set on the Eastern Front of WWII. Recommended by Christie
Three things about this novel -- 1) A retirement community with a twist 2) A touch of mystery 3) A narrator to die for! All in all, an unexpected pleasure with surprising humanity & kindness. Recommended by Alena
Follow Lois, a robotics specialist, as she embarks on a most unusual journey and discovers what truly makes her happy. I loved SOURDOUGH, but be forewarned: It is zany -- wonderfully so -- and, it may just inspire you to bake -- it did me! Recommended by Jane
P.S. Boonville makes a cameo appearance.
Geni seems to know something about humans & nature that the rest of us don't. The Wildlands, like her previous novel, delves into those places in the psyche that can be revealed only at the extremes: tornado, disaster, isolation. It's gripping! Recommended by Christie
I wish this book had come out a few years ago when I still worked with Native American juvenile delinquents so they could have gained some insights from the realistic portraits of urban NDNs. Take a look! Recommended by Jeanette
Vivid, violent, gory, and gorgeous, with luscious illustrations, these fairy-tales come from a recently re-discovered cache of German folk tales. At once both unknown yet recognizable, these are new (to us) stories with familiar shapes, and they are delicous. Recommended by Molly
This is fantastic -- fantastic & fantastical! Rich with complicated characters, intrigue, advenure, strange worlds, rivalries & magic! And, the best thing of all, it's the first of a trilogy. Recommended by Jane
Ever wonder what Catsby is thinking? Here's a fellow cat who tells a story as well as (or better than!) most humans. A kind-hearted, Japanese tale. Quietly and deeply engaging. Recommended by Alena
"I find things." Private Investigator Roxanne Weary has lost a lot. Her father, paying clients, and her tenuous romantic relationship. So when a paying client asks her to track down the witness to an old crime, she agrees. But when the evidence begins piling up, she finds herself caught in something much larger than she ever could have predicted. A compulsively readable mystery that breathes new life into the PI genre. Recommended by Emily
Mothers, daughters, China, adoption, tea, California, dreams ... And at this story's hidden core, a grove of ancient trees. I love this book. Recommended by Alena
A fabulous southern sisters novel with many twists on the genre (and in the plot!), including a comic book, superhero, graphic novel artist who is having a baby fathered by Batman (from Comic-Con :-)). I truly care about all the women in this book, young and old. And the end is uplifting and spot-on! Recommended by Alena
I consider Ward our best contemporary Southern writer, as well as a damn fine novelist in general. Recommended by Jeanette
In the rural landscape of Northern California, it is widely understood that the McKenna crime family rules. Harley McKenna has tried her best to distance herself from the family name - using her skills with a gun and burning anger to protect and run a women's shelter. But when a nearby crime family begins encroaching on her father's territory, Harley allows herself to be drawn back into that world to protect her charges. This novel is unflinching and gorgeously written. Fantastic. Recommended by Emily
An unputdownable police procedual with an ending I didn't see coming. CLOSE TO HOME would make an excellent book club pick -- I guarantee you'll want to talk about it! Recommended by Jane
THE JOB OF THE WASP is an eerie and haunting story that seeps into your thoughts just as you're turning out the lights at night. Truly, a must-read for lovers of Gothic ghost stories and spooky tales. Colin Winnette must be fine-tuning the art of cinematic writing in this amazingly visual novel. Recommended by Rob
This is a stunning collection of stories. They're fantastical, supernatural, and surreal, and yet all deeply true. I cannot recommend this book highly enough! Recommended by Molly
Delicious!! Dive in and enjoy. (Adult stories by the Newbery Medal winning author of THE GIRL WHO DRANK THE MOON.) Recommended by Alena
Sharp and witty, by turns darkly hilarious and brilliantly horrifying, THE POWER is a compelling parable for our troubled times. By exploring the total reversal of our current power dynamics, Alderman exposes the falacies of gender determinism and the all too real cruelties it perpetuates. This book left a sick feeling in my gut so I can't say that I like it, only that it's important and true in the way that only good speculative fiction can be. Recommended by Molly
A faith healer, a love story and a sarcastic raven set in 1953 in Pennslyvania's mountains. Appealing characters and inventive plot -- it's original. Recommended by Katy
Familiar with flash fiction? If not, this is a thoughtful introduction. If you're already a fan, you'll appreciate the succint and evocative pieces here. Recommended by Jeanette
Michael Poore, though compared to Neil Gaiman, is in a league all his own. Like Gaiman, he uses wit and humor to tackle reincarnation, spirituality, and the after-life. His style however, is entirely unique. This book is a smart, funny, fantasy love story about a guy who has been in love with Death herself for almost ten thousand lifetimes and he's running out of time. True, Gaiman fans will love this, but Michael Poore is creating his own special group of fans. Recommended by Rob
This book is packed with humor and horror and tons of nostalgia. It's a veritable "What If?" Asking the question: What if the kids from Scooby Doo grew up and got back together to fight creatures from the Cthulhu mythos of H. P. Lovecraft. It's funny and exciting. You'll love the references. Recommended by Rob
Surgeon X is part V for Vendetta, part Blade Runner. Set in a Sci-Fi future 20 years from now the medical industry is in collapse. And Surgeon X is called upon to give people medical treatment illegally! Brilliant writing, amazing art and a frightening and timely story that could be more science than science fiction. Recommended by Rob
I loved his first novel, the Reluctant Fundalmentalist, and was curious where he'd go with this one. It reads like a parable. Who would you hold closest to you if you had to flee? How would your love survive in a foreign land? What would you miss most? Hamid allows you to imagine yourself in similar circumstances. Recommended by Jeanette.
Beautiful sentences matched with haunting ideas about the universe -- mystical and practical. All wrapped in the driving stories of an aging businessman and a not quite young novelist. Their adventures are based loosely around the Tel Aviv Hilton. Brilliant. Captivating. Deeply provocative. Recommended by Alena
Whether you're grieving the loss of a beloved pet or a human, this is the novel for you. Yes, it will make you cry, but you'll also laugh. It helped me through a very mournful time in my life. Recommended by Jeanette
I love the set-up -- A young family with a tragic past and an apartment building in the middle of a cemetary. It's the feeling someone is watching you. Kioke has created a modern masterpiece of Japanese horror with a minimal amount of violence and graphic content and has still managed to make me afraid of elevators. Recommended by Rob
Nick Spencer turns Cap and the Marvel universe on their heads by re-writing the character's heroic history and origin. Think Captain Amcerica couldn't possibly be an undercover agent of Hydra? Think again. Nick Spencer makes it happen in a way that is realistic and believable. This book is comic book writing at its best! Recommended by Rob
Now when so many of us could use a model of resilience, along comes this heartening novel about an indomitable girl who refuses to let atrocious circumstances break her spirit. Recommended by Jeanette
You thought Cheryl Strayed's Wild was wild? Then you've got to read this novel. A woman gets lost in a snow storm while hunting with a bow and arrow. How long can she survive? Another woman does her best to rescue her. The personal lives of both women will snare your attention, as you shiver at the perils of winter in the wilderness. Recommended by Jeanette
Grab a cup of coffee and a donut and spend some time making the rounds with Mooncop. Quirky and poignant, Mooncop may just lead your imagination to script further adventures. Recommended by Jane (P.S. For readers of any age!)
I am haunted by this novel. Can't stop thinking about it. Family Stories -- dark & light ones -- How do they affect each of us? Who do they belong to? How do we find forgiveness & redemption? Recommended by Alena
Every character is indelible and full of life, and I cared deeply about them all. Both intensely personal and historic in scope, Homegoing is marvelous. Recommended by Christie
Fantasy and Science Fiction.
Technology and Magic.
Talking birds, talking trees and time machines. Stories cast spells and artificial intelligence evolves by being a good listener. Intelligent. Exceptionally written. My top SciFi - Fantasy pick for 2016. Recommended by Alena
Without a doubt, one of the most beautifully written novels you'll ever read. Recommended by Jeanette
Sleeping Giants is like an episode of "The X-Files" written by Jules Verne. Imaginative, cinematic and utterly addictive -- if you love a good sci-fi thriller, you will not be disappointed! Recommended by Jane.
Agnieszka is a strong-willed and loyal friend, and she is certain her best friend will be the girl chosen to serve the Dragon, a local wizard with a fearsome reputation. But Agnieszka herself is chosen. Lushly written, enthralling. Recommended by Emily
