"In the case of good books, the point is not to see how many of them you can get through, but rather how many can get through to you."
~ Mortimer J. Adler, philosopher & author of How to Read a Book.
Mooallem uncovers what is interesting in people and brings that to us in these uniquely inviting pieces. The writing is so compelling that you will be filled with a sense of wonder. We all have stories, and Jon is clearly a master storyteller. ~ Jane
Valerie Perrin, author of Fresh Water for Flowers, has created another masterpiece in a novel of the powerful and unlikely friendship between three young schoolmates, set in a small village in France. Tragedy, an unsolved missing person, and deep secrets divide them as young adults, until decades later they find themselves together again, this time to unearth truths that haunted them for years. A gorgeous novel. ~Jane
As a bookseller I couldn’t help but love this novel, set in a haunted bookstore owned by the author (who plays a minor role in this story)! Tookie rebuilt her life after serving a prison sentence for an absurd crime. After years of stability, she must survive the pandemic, the George Floyd riots, an unloving stepdaughter, and finally a very scary ghost. Filled with humor and indigenous wisdom, this is a perfect book. ~Jane
A complex web of wacky hilarity with poignant sharp edges. Told from the perspective of the town graveyard, Unlikely Animals is an absolute gem. ~Cappy
This is my favorite of Murata’s works translated to English so far. She is a master of mixing the macabre with the sweet; every bit of the horror and bizarreness found in these pages is tempered by beauty and kindness. ~Cappy
A speculative fiction lover’s dream of a story collection. Serene and melancholy, Ma shows some things are best explained with a touch of fantasy. ~Cappy
This might be my favorite WWII novel; the characters are deeply engaging and heart-breakingly memorable, and the landscapes they inhabit are beautifully drawn. Joanna Quinn has made a staggeringly grand debut, and I am hard-pressed to convey how precise, lyrical, and assured her writing is, as well as how adroitly she brings the past – both human and historical – to life. ~Rafe
This debut is a must-not-miss. Nethercott has an astonishing gift for bringing the past to life, and for creating characters as indelible as the memories those characters are fighting to preserve. This is a masterful examination of the mechanisms people employ to avoid (and sometimes embrace) their potential, and how a generation’s legacies and traumas shape and follow its descendants. ~Rafe
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This is a marvelous and deeply charming book of natural history. The striated caracara, also called the Johnny Rook in its Falkland Island homeland, is a strange and captivating bird, and Meiburg’s examinations of the bird’s life and history, and the accompanying role of global evolution, are gorgeously rendered. It’s quite a journey and a beautiful labor of love. ~Rafe
Equal parts profane and magnificent, this novel about lumberjacks, bootlegging, heartbreak, and vengeance in the Prohibition-era forests of Idaho is as great and glorious as the title would suggest. Our narrator, Weldon Applegate, is an old man telling an even older tale, and it can be hard to gauge, in the best of ways, what is real and what isn’t. ~Rafe
Portraying the bond between an aging lawyer and his son, Guterson’s gripping and heartrending novel follows a court case based on real life. With all the nuance of description he gave to Snow Falling on Cedars, the story is elegant, fearless, profound, revelatory, and very much of our time. ~ John, Bookseller Emeritus
Ozeki’s novel shares the wonder and amazement of her previous masterpiece, A Tale for the Time Being, one of the most frequently recommended books at the store. The sense of play, compassion, wisdom, and delicate allusion to Buddhist thought make this a thoroughly rewarding and enjoyable read. ~ John, Bookseller Emeritus
Clint Smith travels to a variety of locations across the United States and abroad and investigates how each location interacts with the history of slavery, be it with sadness, curiosity, surprise, or defensiveness. His eloquent meditations on the myriad landscapes and voices he encounters offer a uniquely grounded reckoning. This award-winning book is a thought-provoking meditation on one of the darkest periods in U.S. history, and its abiding, persistent patterns. ~Lily & John, Bookseller Emeritus
In this Golden Girls meets James Bond thriller, you'll find out what happens when the organization of assassins you've worked for over the past 40 years turns against you. After reading this, you will know how to murder someone and get away with it! ~Lily
This is a beautiful coming-of-age novel set during an alternate history where women around the world voluntarily transformed into dragons overnight, and the governments of the world refused to acknowledge it. It is a tale of generational trauma and what it means to be family. This story will enthrall, shock, and heal all at the same time. ~Lily
The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse is a beautifully curated piece of art, full of intricate drawings and thoughtful prose. The story and journey of this cast of characters reminds one of the innocence of childhood while calming the fears and anxieties of adulthood. ~Lily
In this stupendous, masterful novel, the urbane, self-aware narrator is a half-French, half-Vietnamese bastard, a communist spy among the forces of the resistance, sent to America as a deeply embedded mole. As such he is the perfect figure to reveal the Vietnamese experience of the war from both sides, as well as that of an evacuee to the US. (There are descriptions of the atrocities of war, including torture and sexual assault, that warrant a trigger warning.) ~McNevin
Jennifer Egan expands the concept of social media into a society wherein one can upload their memories and share them in exchange for access to the memories of others. She takes us through the linked lives of multiple characters with empathy, humor, and dazzling clarity to reveal their deep humanity, their struggles for authenticity, and their longings for love, connection, and redemption. The Candy House is moving and thought provoking as well as incredibly entertaining. ~McNevin
This charming, unexpected novel features a violin teacher who convinces her students to barter their souls to the devil; her latest student, an extremely talented but abused trans runaway; and a starship captain who has rescued her family from an intergalactic war and now runs a donut shop. Insightful and unsparing, yet preposterous, hilarious, and deeply compassionate, Aoki’s book encompasses seemingly impossible dichotomies while enfolding you in its world. ~McNevin
The Passenger is an intoxicating and mesmerizing duology. Bobby Western is deeply in love with his younger sister, a mathematical genius and schizophrenic. He is also a salvage diver increasingly afraid of the deep, and who is being pursued by shadowy men with vast resources. Alicia Western is brilliant, but uncompromising to and past the point of self-destruction. Compelling, fascinating, and haunting. ~McNevin
Kelefa Sanneh shares his sophisticated sense of the role of music in popular American culture during the past five decades. He examines how musical genres draw listeners together and divides them into clans. What’s more, he treats musicians and their songs with care and respect, and inspires his readers to explore music that they've previously ignored, disdained, or been unaware of. ~David
Douglas London worked at the Central Intelligence Agency for several decades recruiting foreign citizens to become spies for the U.S. In this fascinating memoir, he offers richly detailed stories with nuanced and reflective views on the ethical dilemmas and moral ambiguities involved. He also takes us inside tense situations where he and/or his agents faced severe consequences if their espionage work was exposed. ~David
When you start reading former First Lady Michelle Obama’s book The Light We Carry – part memoir, part self-help – you’ll want to have a highlighter nearby; it’s that special. Her candor, advice, and stories of growing up are all deeply endearing. Even though she’s one of the most famous women on the planet she’s absolutely relatable and authentic. The Light We Carry is a breath of fresh air! ~Kathie
This riveting biography tells how Winn and her husband Moth lost their beloved farm in Wales. Soon after, Moth received a diagnosis of a brain disease with no treatment or cure. Ignoring his doctor’s admonitions, and with no home to return to, the couple took to the outdoors and embarked on a strenuous months-long hike along England’s Southwest Coast Path, living in a tent all the way. With dogged determination to keep going, they felt redeemed by the beauty and wonder of the outdoors and became painfully aware of what it means to be homeless in today's world. ~Signe
Our Missing Hearts tells the story of a future America where the sense of nationalism is so strong and the hatred for China so intense that anyone who questions this can be arrested and sometimes even killed. 12-year-old Bird’s Chinese American mother left him and his father when he was 9. Bird lives his life keeping his head down, never asking questions about his mother, until a mysterious letter starts him on a quest to find her. With beautiful and haunting prose, Ng tells the story of Bird’s journey and of how a quiet network of librarians and dissidents help him along the way. ~Signe
The scope of this book is vast, its rewards rich. Anthropological and sociological studies have amassed new evidence over the last hundred years or more that has not been incorporated into our assumptions about human society and potential. This is the very task that Graeber and Wengrow address in this deeply researched and thoroughly documented tome. Fascinating and inspiring. ~McNevin & Jim
Ray McMillan is a prodigy with a dream to be a world-class violinist. But growing up Black in rural North Carolina his opportunities are limited. Readers who loved Queen’s Gambit will find the mystery of Ray and his stolen Stradivarius every bit as compelling and rewarding. He’s the ultimate underdog, and you’ll find yourself rooting for him as you turn every page! ~Susan
Sprakkar is Icelandic for extraordinary women. Eliza Reid, Iceland’s First Lady, leads the reader on a journey from medieval legends to the day in 1975 when Iceland’s women went on strike. Part memoir, part cultural commentary, this marvelously insightful and inspiring look at one of the world’s most gender equal countries is a joy to read! ~Susan
Nina Totenberg’s Supreme Court and legal coverage has won her every major journalism award in broadcasting. Along the way she forged an enduring friendship with Ruth Bader Ginsburg. Both carved careers in male dominated fields, their friendship helping fuel their efforts to strengthen the rights of women. The memoir of a titan of journalism, Totenberg’s book is also a unique view of American jurisprudence at the highest level and an homage to the exceptional friendship of two fierce and brilliant women. ~Susan
Kathryn Schulz, a writer for The New Yorker, contemplates two major life events in this memoir — losing her father and, shortly thereafter, finding the love of her life. Lost & Found is a beautiful meditation on love and loss, and what it means to experience those things almost simultaneously. ~Zac
This collection of Fleet Foxes lyrics, compiled with notes by songwriter and lead vocalist Robin Pecknold, is a journey through the band's musical catalogue. Each song is essentially a poem in this bound collection, and together they tell a story of love, grief, and natural beauty. No prior listening required. ~Zac
In the late 1990s, Hua Hsu’s friend was killed in a violent carjacking. Over the last twenty years, Hua has been processing their friendship, the parallels between their lives, and what it means to come of age in the shadow of tragedy. His memoir, Stay True, is that story. ~Zac
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David Rakoff presents a series of 12 loosely connected vignettes in this work. But here’s the novel’s quirk: it’s written all in verse. Rakoff balances an ability to convey stories with heavy themes— about love, abuse, and death — with the light, beautiful rhythm of a couplet. ~Zac
What do you know about the history of the thermometer? How did we come to define the meter? Why do we have different systems of measurement? James Vincent’s Beyond Measure contemplates these questions and more — and makes the argument that the history of measurement is the history of knowledge. ~Zac
This is the story of one strong and fierce warrior seeking revenge for the death of her beloved sister while stuck in a world that is trying to bend her to its will. Iron Widow is both fantasy and sci fi, but more than anything you’ll be drawn in by the emotionally complex characters. ~Aran
A magical realism tale told around the world of map making and preservation, The Cartographers kicks off with an unexpected death at the New York Public Library and unspools into a massive mystery centering on a single lost map of great importance. ~Aran
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This compelling true case history covers the intersection of modern feminism, Victorian morals, and the sex work industry. The author puts her heart into telling the story of this almost vanished woman, preserving her legacy and exploring the lives of the many individuals involved. ~Aran
As someone who loves animals and deep dives into niche topics, I loved this collection of Susan Orlean's animal stories, covering everything from pigeon racing to keeping tigers. While I was reading it, I couldn’t stop telling people about it - and evidently, I haven’t stopped. ~Megan
O'Brady pulls you right in with the gripping story of his solo trek across Antarctica, but also reflects on the love and support that made his start line possible - and that's what made me love this book. ~Megan
Ethereal, lush, and captivating, Tan's debut is not one to miss. Following the daughter of the Chinese moon goddess, the story has everything from daring adventures and battles to themes of family, introspection, and love. A book that has you falling back in love with reading and a world you won't want to leave. ~Chloe
Jess Walter’s new collection is an arm-around-the-shoulder kind of read that draws you in with humor and warmth. I loved the surprises in these stories, the mastery of the telling, and their hopefulness. The title story had me grinning from ear to ear. ~Erin
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These poems, many written in Japanese syllabic forms, are like little wishing stones for your mind to hold and smooth over. Fans of Neruda's Book of Questions will love this. Perfect for dipping into during quiet moments of the day. ~Erin
Welcome to the heart of the Silver Industrial Revolution — a British empire driven by language and where the art of translation becomes a personal, political, and ultimately tragic maelstrom for four students at Oxford’s Royal Institute of Translation. Kuang deploys incisive footnotes and pulls no punches in her exploration of the methods by which colonialism devours the lives and languages of the colonized, and the ghastly choices our cohort of students must make in response. ~Rafe & Lily & Chloe
With every book, Emily St. John Mandel adds more layers to the utterly unique literary landscape she's been crafting for years. In the stunning Sea of Tranquility, she explores art as our salvation, our burden, and our ontological concern. The characters in this novel are intensely alone—an exile, an author on tour, a time-traveling sleuth—and there are not a lot of writers who delve so painstakingly into what "alone" can mean, or what loneliness is. Compelling, intriguing, and spectacular. ~Rafe & McNevin