"So many books, so little time," is the common lament for booksellers everywhere. So, to make it easier for you to choose, we present you with our staff's favorite reads from the past year. Click any title below to learn more about why we loved these books.
This extraordinary novel depicts the Dust Bowl of the great plains, and the migration to California that brought unrelenting hardship to those who dared make the trip. Elsa, the indomitable heroine of this truly American story, goes through many transformations, and against all odds creates a loving family. Throughout this tale, it is hope and love that endure. This is another brilliant historical fiction from Hannah, and I devoured every word. ~ Jane
What happens when a man with talent and ambition, has it stripped away, time after time, until he has all but given up on society? The only solace is the grandeur and grace of the nearby Cascade Mountains. Living off the land with his young daughter provides the joy and beauty he craved, but also the harsh realities of nature. This is a powerful and well-told story of survival and determination, with a hint of mysticism, in a setting of absolute glory. ~ Jane
Does the world exist as we perceive it? Or is it something else entirely? A brilliant, mind-bending novel. ~ Jane
Roy's lyrical prose engages us to consider nature, music, literature, botany, and philosophy. It is seductive in enchanting ways, inviting us to reconsider our pace, our needs, and our perspective. ~ Jane
An ancient text joins people across time and place, from ancient days into the future. This is another masterpiece from Doerr, and a subtle ode to the power of books to change lives. ~ Jane & Rafe
With a magic touch, Francis Spufford affirms his fascination with “the complicated fractured broken-up difficult surface of the real world,” as he imagines the lives of five children killed during the bombing of London – had they survived. Easily, the best literary fiction I’ve read since Hamnet and A Gentleman in Moscow. ~ Dave
Abedin’s memoir is like three fascinating stories of disparate women. Born into wealth and privaledge, a childhood in Saudi Arabia, and ascencion to the world stage as Hilary Clinton's assistant, and a marriage that nearly broke her. Surely no one experiences this much complexity before the age of 50! The positive side of growing up female in Saudi Arabia and how she coped with motherhood, career and a failing marriage were particularly arresting. ~Dave
Luminous but steeped in hardship, dismal weather, and a world that is savage to women, Groff tells a vital story of Marie de France, a 17-year-old illegitimate sister of King Henry II of England, sent to an impoverished abbey to be its prioress. Marie is a prickly heroine, which she herself will admit. Yet the power she unleashes, though unorthodox and defiance of the church, makes an astonishing read. ~ Victoria
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Poignant, dream-like, and devastatingly honest. At first glance, El Akkad’s (American War) book appears ripped from headlines about the migrant crisis around the world. But the author brilliantly describes the crisis through the eyes of two children, one the sole survivor of an overfilled boat of refugees that sinks off an island, and the other a 15-year-old girl there who decides to hide and help him. The shared days these two spend, as well as their backstories, compel us to witness the humanity behind the news stories. ~Victoria
Revolving around a conversation between an Irish village priest and a woman whose husband has just died, this delicate meditation on morality, love and survival packs a lot of wisdom along with its wonderful story. The new intro by Ann Patchett, a miniature in itself, is also first rate! ~ John, Bookseller Emeritus
I loved Gallen’s masterfully striking debut novel, in which we meet Majella, a complex and engaging protagonist who works at a fish and chips shop in Northern Ireland, her alcoholic mother, and a host of quirky, small-town folks. Filled with humor and hard-won insights, Majella is an oddly triumphant and most memorable heroine. I feel lucky to have found this gem of a book. ~ John, Bookseller Emeritus
Tóibín’s novel of the life of Thomas Mann enthralled me, even though I read Thomas Mann’s Death in Venice and The Magic Mountain way back in high school. Not ordinarily a fast reader, I found the pages flying by in this superbly fictive look inside the mind of a private and enigmatic novelist. ~ John, Bookseller Emeritus
It takes quite an author to both tell a whole story in a paragraph and also create a novel that kaleidoscopes out from that paragraph in dizzying and often heartbreaking detail. The Book of Form and Emptiness is mostly the story of Benny Oh, a boy surrounded by the voices of the inanimate objects he encounters, and the Book, which functions as his narrator, guide, and sometimes-friend. But it is also a story about grief, street art, libraries, crows, mental health, and that one perfect clarinet note that lingers equally in a smoky room or a broken heart. ~ Rafe
Readers of polar exploration narratives are familiar with Franklin's fatal search for the Northwest Passage and Shackleton's unhappy results at the South Pole. Happily, we now have Andrea Pitzer's Icebound: Shipwrecked at the Edge of the World, the story of the doomed 16th century Dutch efforts to find a path through, around, or over the North Pole to open trade routes to the Far East. Centered on the outsized ego (and mostly matching navigational prowess) of William Barents, Icebound presents both a critique of the frequent bad behaviors of European explorers and a riveting perspective on surviving (or not) a sub-zero winter, scurvy, and hungry polar bears. ~Rafe
Paraic O'Donnell pulls together all the best tropes of Victorian-ish Gothic literature -- including intrepid lady journalists, earnest young detectives, glowing Spiritualist miasmas, decrepit mansions and their decrepit inhabitants – and crafts them into something unique, engaging, and occasionally a little grisly. With pervasive spookiness and an over-the-top-in-all-the-right-ways villain, The House on Vesper Sands is tremendous fun. ~ Rafe
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This is a story about faith – finding it, losing it, sublimating it, and craving it in equal measure -- and also a story about identity. Agatha is a young nun dedicated to her sisterhood and to service, simultaneously determined to find her place and avoid her own questions about who she is and where she belongs. Her internal conflict is beautifully examined; through the prism of a rich cast of characters that conflict becomes the key to something else deeply necessary. Claire Luchette's debut is crystalline and precise, and I can't wait to see what they write next. ~ Rafe
The Unwinding goes deep into a poetic exploration of creativity and the power of dreams, but there are elements as well of magic, love, and our human relationship to the animals that were here before us. ~ Rafe
After her parents move back to Korea during her teenage years, Eun Ji stays in California with her brother, never opening the letters her mother sends. This memoir explores Koh's complicated longing for her mother, her Korean identity and family history, and the mode of language as the often tenuous and futile way we try to connect with those we love most. Koh, first a poet, is subtle and skillful as a memoirist. This book touches pain with a compassionate hand, transforming it into love. ~ Carrie
This book is a celebration! Abdurraqib writes artfully, and clearly revels in the sheer freedom of his artistry and skill. He turns a critical eye on white America for trying to pimp out the genius of Black performers such as Aretha Franklin, Don Shirley, Mike Tyson, Whitney Houston, and others. Abdurraqib joins in the dance, focuses on the movements of his Black partners in art, dances through both anguish and delight, and ultimately "shows out" the power and autonomous glory of Black performance. Stay for the ending! ~ Carrie
Lucille Clifton is a poet I return to, perhaps more than any other. These poems demonstrate the power of well-chosen words over acrobatic or exotic ones. With the simplest of tools, Clifton carves out the most precise of griefs. She offers her own vulnerabilities and fears to become a beacon. She becomes the mother who grabs our faces and turns us to what we need to see, to what we feared would kill us but will not. ~ Carrie
Kimmerer accurately describes her book as "an intertwining of science, spirit, and story." I felt as if I was curled by a fire every time I read another chapter, listening to the bounty of Kimmerer's ecological wisdom, in a space with no fleeting urgency, only an earnest invitation to join her in gestures of knowledge, reciprocity, and gratitude toward our shared planet. I hope Braiding Sweetgrass will echo across the earth for ages to come. ~ Carrie
There’s so much of everything in this exquisitely crafted tale. Love, coming to terms with imperfection, Covid-19, George Floyd, a heavy dose of humor, books, (and a bookstore! and fabulous booksellers!) ghosts, and--as always with Erdrich--an in depth look at the Native American experience. We’ll go anywhere she takes us. ~ Cappy & Victoria
Zauner's writing flows naturally and gently, revealing the complex and beautiful relationship she had with her Korean mother, who passed away when Zauner was just 25. She centers her memories around the importance of Korean food, intertwining her sometimes volatile relationship with her mother with vivid memories of steaming hot broth and eating live octopus. To top it all off I also loved the PNW connection. ~ Cappy
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Dr. Hall takes us on a gripping journey to uncover women's vital role in slave revolts. Hugo Martinez's illustrations are absolutely fantastic, giving Dr. Hall a superhero vibe as she fights to tell enslaved women's history. I loved seeing her personal experience intertwined with the historical narrative, particularly her choice not to gloss over how intensely emotional the research process can be. Unique, exciting, and profound. ~ Cappy
Technically #2 in the series, you can start anywhere with the smart, steamy, feminist League of Extraordinary Women books and this was my personal favorite. I loved the historical background of the suffrage movement and the strong female friendships. The romance was a cherry on top! ~ Cappy
Funny, magical, and absolutely strange, this book lives permanently in my mind. Clarke’s excellent writing is on full display here, leading the reader through a labyrinth of stone walls and rushing rides, unfolding an utterly creative plot along the way. ~Cappy & McNevin
This is a collection of fragments and micro-stories uncovered by Kafka biographer Reiner Stach, and translated into English by renowned poet Michael Hofmann. Each is powerful, fascinating, revelatory and mysterious.This is Kafka at his hilarious, insightful, anxiety-ridden, reality-bending best. I felt transformed by this thin volume. ~ McNevin
Told hilariously in breathless, dizzying, fragmented stream of consciousness, this depicts a young woman whose career is to lecture about the internet (or 'portal') to which she is addicted. This is a wholly unique voice, filled with poetry, insight, absurdity, humor, the profane, and deep heartfelt empathy. I read this one straight through twice and am sure I will read it again. ~McNevin
An hilarious and sometimes frightening novel. In Northern Ireland, nothing is safe and you can't hide, though you can try to live. Names are dangerous. Suspicion is constant. The story is told from the point of view of "middle sister," whose life is utterly disrupted by the appearance of the milkman, who insinuates himself into her days, bringing danger she has spent her life trying to avoid. The language and cadence in this one need to be experienced! ~ McNevin
I reread paragraphs and entire chapters of this novel immediately after finishing them for their sheer beauty and surprise. A boy is transported to another realm, where he is transformed into an adult man, enchanted, and assigned a quest. The story is told in the form of an endless letter from that boy after he has disappeared from our world. Mysteries transform into still greater mysteries – and into dazzling revelations – with masterful finesse. Heroic, beautiful, and haunting. ~ McNevin
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Jackson and Datlow together, at last, in a combo as perfect as chocolate and peanut butter. I cannot oversell this collection, for which the renowned editor assembled a stellar cast of contributors and original stories inspired by one of the previous century's greatest authors. The full range of Jackson's work is reflected here: precise language and eerie narrative ambiguity, supernatural horror, creeping psychological dread, familial dysfunction, and that nearly indefinable otherness that's so singularly Jacksonian. One of my absolute favorites of 2021. ~ Luciano
Justly deserving of the vehement praise which was heaped upon it, Ward's novel is a twisty (and twisted) portrait of two damaged people on a collision course with each other and simultaneous reckoning with reality that will leave nobody unscathed. A talking cat, monster trucks, missing kids, and disgusting sandwiches all figure in this deranged drama. ~Luciano
Patricia Highsmith meets Michael Chabon in this literary mystery/thriller about a once-celebrated novelist who cribs a brilliant idea from a recently deceased student. Fame and fortune follow, but so do anonymous messages on social media accusing him of that vilest of literary sins: plagiarism. Gripping, realistic, and propulsively readable. ~ Luciano
Genre means little to Evenson, whose stories blend traditional speculative and macabre elements so seamlessly they defy categorization. Spaceships and aliens are as often invoked as hauntings and possession. He drifts effortlessly from absurdist, dream-like imagery to gritty recognizable reality without a word feeling forced. Throughout, themes of identity, reality, and nature reappear. The title story alone is worth the price of admission to this show, a masterpiece from one of modern horror's true masters. ~ Luciano
Set following an alternate outcome to the 2016 election, McQuiston puts forth a contemporary LGBTQ+ romance that’s heartwarming and witty. Following a potentially disastrous international incident involving a wedding cake, Alex Claremont-Diaz, First Son of the United States, and Henry, Prince of Wales, are forced into friendship for the sake of diplomacy. Neither of them are particularly pleased with this… at first. Fun and tender with dashes of political intrigue, this book will make you believe in love. Perfect for anyone who enjoys rivals to lovers, friends to lovers, and secret dating tropes. ~Chloe
This is a highly engaging introduction to critical thinking, drawing on the disciplines of logic and psychology, but employing vivid examples and lively stories. Logic helps us understand the differences between good and bad reasoning, while psychology indicates how our perceptions and memories can be misleading. All of us can benefit from the education that Grimes provides here, to enable us to be on our guard against sloppy thinking. ~David
Bryson takes us on a lively tour of the human body, from macro to micro levels. Although he's clearly done impressively careful research spanning a huge range of disciplines, his prose style is engaging, clever and witty, as longtime fans of Bryson would expect. Highly recommended. ~ David
After losing my father earlier this year I felt alone and like the world was going on for everyone around me and my family, while our world had stopped turning. This biographical account by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, chronicling the months following her father’s death was one of my few comforts. Notes on Grief captures the essence of emotions and physical feelings after death, while mixing in her own personal anecdotes of the father she continues to love so much. Beautifully written, so much that you may cry on the New York subway, it made me feel like the world stops spinning for others too and suddenly I was so much less alone. ~ Willa
In 1905 young Belle da Costa Greene was hired as a librarian at Princeton University to be the personal librarian of J.P. Morgan. She scaled the heights of society in New York, London, and Paris, and navigated the treacherous waters of the world’s most famous auction houses, museums, and galleries, as the lone woman. Her story is stunning by any measure—but the fact that she did it while denying her identity to protect herself and her family from racial persecution speaks volumes. Meticulously researched, her story is inspiring, moving, passionate and totally captivating! ~ Susan
Twenty-three years ago, Maggie D'arcy's cousin Erin disappeared in Dublin. The experience was what prompted Maggie to become a cop in her Long Island town. Fast forward twenty-three years, when Erin’s scarf has been found and another young woman has gone missing. This introduction to a new series by Taylor is filled with lush Irish atmosphere, well defined characters, and a shocking twist that many readers will not see coming! More Maggie D’arcy stories, please! ~ Susan
The village of Three Pines is emerging from the pandemic, when a stranger appears who tests Gamache's belief in our common humanity. Using the statistics of the pandemic to derive a plan to apply eugenics to the control of populations, a well published professor shakes the village to its very core. Good versus evil, our duty to the weak, elderly and challenged, and the endurance of relationships in a post-COVID world are layered throughout what is easily Penny's best, albeit darkest, story to date. It is a book not to be missed! ~ Susan
If you loved Norwegian By Night and American By Day, Miller's third book, a prequel featuring Sheldon Horowitz beginning at the age of 12, will make you laugh out loud and wipe away tears as you share the coming of age of this stunningly crafted character. Norwegian By Night is one of my all-time favorite novels and How to Find Your Way in the Dark just might be a close second. ~ Susan
This book has so much to offer: humor, spooks, empowerment, and cute spiders, to name just a few! Following the story of one of the most relatable protagonists I’ve ever read, I found myself recognizing a lot of the same character flaws we examine in her, and felt introspective by the end of the novel. I highly recommend Cackle as a fun—and surprisingly validating—read. ~ Sara
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A well-researched and well-written tale of love and loss in World War II, Posey’s debut novel is captivating historical fiction at its finest. He takes us on an emotional journey as we watch the growth of two characters, in whom we all can find reflections of our own doubts and failures, all while immersing us in a rich array of settings. Simultaneously tragic and hopeful, I recommend this novel to anyone interested in a character-driven story. ~ Sara
The story of Shuggie Bain and his mother Agnes is a train wreck I couldn't put down, because of the superb writing of Douglas Stuart. Shuggie is a little boy (called a "poofter" by all the neighbors) living in the hard and often violent world of 1980's Glasgow with his mother, who is slowly drinking herself to death. Abandoned by his father and eventually his siblings, Shuggie is left alone to handle his own pain, and to try to lessen his mother's, whom he dearly loves. I couldn't stop turning the pages to see how Shuggie would be able to stumble forward against all odds. A hard read, but a beautiful one as well. ~ Signe