Clif Hostetler (clif_) (Kansas City, KS)'s comments from Booklover's Calendar Showing 1-20 of 552 (2024)

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Jan 01, 2018 05:32AM

Jenny Lawson’s hilarious debut memoir, Let's Pretend This Never Happened, was a huge hit. Now she’s followed it up with a book that is much more personal, but no less funny. In Furiously Happy, Jenny chronicles her attempts to find joy through the haze of anxiety and depression. Her insights into mental illness alone are worth the price of admission, but it’s her ability to find humor in her struggles and her incredible enthusiasm for life that really makes this book stand out.
FURIOUSLY HAPPY: A FUNNY BOOK ABOUT HORRIBLE THINGS, by Jenny Lawson (Flatiron, 2015)

Fifteen-year-old Kambili lives in relative luxury in Nigeria, thanks to her wealthy father who is heralded in their village as a political hero. He is even nicknamed “Omelora,” which means One Who Does for the Community. But behind closed doors, Kambili’s father is causing his family terrible pain. Kambili feels trapped, but when she visits her kind and progressive Aunt Ifeoma outside of the village, she is inspired to question authority and stand up for herself. You can’t help but root for Kambili as she returns home to save her family against all odds.
PURPLE HIBISCUS, by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie (Algonquin, 2012)

David is an American expatriate living in Paris in the aftermath of World War ll. On the surface, his life seems to be running according to script—he’s engaged to Hella and anticipating a traditional marriage and a comfortable life. But when he begins to experience feelings for an Italian man named Giovanni, David's understanding of himself and the meaning of love are thrown into question. Giovanni's Room is both a heart-wrenching story of self acceptance and a beautiful snapshot of 1950s Paris.
GlOVANNI’S ROOM, by James Baldwin (1956 Vntage; 2013)

Smart, energetic, and hilarious, comedian Aziz Ansari of Parkes and Recreation fame is the perfect guide to the tricky world of modern romance. He seems to speak for a whole generation as he laments the pitfalls of online dating and navigates the search for a soul mate in an entitled and easily distracted society. His theories are backed up by the research of NYU sociologist Eric Klinenberg and other social scientists, ensuring that the book is as substantial and helpful as it is laugh-out-loud funny.
MODERN ROMANCE, by Aziz Ansari (Penguin, 2015)

Set in China in the 1920s during the reign of the last emperor, this Pulitzer Prize-winning novel from Nobel Laureate Pearl S. Buck is the story of Wang Lung, a farmer and peasant who marries one of the slaves of a wealthy house. O-Lan is the ideal wife for Wang—she works hard, and she bears his children. But when Wang begins to accumulate wealth, he is corrupted by prosperity, and he eventually makes a choice that will break O-Lan’s heart. This intricately woven rags-to-riches tale is a modern classic.
THE GOOD EARTH, by Pearl S. Buck (193I; Washington Square, 2004)

The 12 Olympian gods of Greek legend are having a tough time in the modern world. With their powers and influence waning, they take day jobs to make ends meet and pay for their overcrowded London flat—Dionysus becomes a DJ, Artemis takes up clog-walking, and Aphrodite works as a phone sex operator. When Apollo lustfully pursues a cleaning lady named Alice, all hell breaks loose among the disgruntled gods—and the lives of mortals are at stake. Gods Behaving Badly is a delightfully modern twist on a timeless cast of characters.
GODS BEHAVING BADLY, by Marie Phillips (Little, Brown, 2007)

Jan 01, 2018 05:32AM

Shonda Rhimes, the successful and charismatic creator of TV shows like Grey's Anatomy and Scandal, had been plagued by insecurities for years. As she reveals in this surprising memoir, it took one comment from her sister—"You never say yes to anything"—to set Shonda on her journey: a year of saying yes to all the opportunities she would have otherwise rejected out of hand. Funny, warm, and inspiring, Shonda's story might just inspire you to make 2018 your own Year of Yes.
YEAR OF YES: HOW TO DANCE IT OUT, STAND IN THE SUN AND BE YOUR OWN PERSON, by Shonda Rhimes (Simon & Schuster, 2015)

Sam Clay is a 17-year-old aspiring writer in Brooklyn with an entrepreneurial streak. His cousin, Joe Kavalier, is an escape-artist-in-training who pulls off the greatest feat of all—he escapes Prague and flees to New York City on the eve of World War II. Once united, they launch a wildly successful comic book series starring the fictional Escapist. As Kavalier and Clay grow up together through the golden Age of Comics and WWII, they grapple with issues of family responsibility, Jewish identity, and sexuality. At turns hilarious and deeply moving, this Pulitzer Prize-winner is Michael Chabon at his prime.
THE AMAZING ADVENTURES OF KAVALIER AND CLAY, by Michael Chabon (Random House, 2012)

When Leo Plumb drives drunk with a 19-year-old girl in the passenger seat and then wrecks the car, the future of "The Nest"—is up in the air. Desperate for the money, Jack, Beatrice, and Melody Plumb don't take kindly to Leo's blunder, and as the four siblings reunite in New York City, a lifetime of family drama reaches the boiling point. A razor-sharp and humorous story about an endearingly dysfunctional family.
THE NEST, by Cynthia D'Aprix Sweeney (Ecco, 2016)

Have you ever wondered why that one song keeps getting stuck in your head? Neuroscientist and former rock band member Daniel Levitin might just have the answer. In This Is Your Brain on Music, Levitin reveals what's going on in our heads when we listen to the music we love. He lays out the basics of music theory and explains the science behind music with examples you're sure to recognize, including U@, Metallica, and "Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star." You'll never listen to music the same way again.
THIS IS YOUR BRAIN ON MUSIC: THE SCIENCE OF HUMAN OBSESSION, by Daniel J. Levitin (Dutton, 2006)

Delaney Wright is hoping for her big break when she's assigned to report on the murder trial of Betsy Grant, an old woman accused o killing her Alzheimer's-afflicted husband. Delaney is also busy with a personal project—looking for her birth mother. As secrets surface in both the case and Delaney's own life, the tension rises higher and higher. Another instant classic from the author the Los Angeles Times Book Review called "the grande dame of American thriller writing."
AS TIME GOES BY, by Mary Higgins Clark (Simon & Schuster, 2016)

Harry Potter is back! Now an adult working for the Ministry of Magic and raising three children, Harry can't seem to escape his past—especially when his youngest son, Albus, must confront the complicated family history. this official eighth installment of the beloved series comes in the form of a script book for the hit play of the same name. It's penned by playwright Jack Thorne, but fans of J. K. Rowling need not worry—the play is based on a story developed by Rowling, and it recaptures all of the old magic.
HARRY POTTER AND THE CURSED CHILD PART I & II, by J. K. Rowling, John Tiffany and Jack Thorne (Arthur A. Levine, 2016)

In this collection of intricately woven short stories, a college student turns in a paper that her professor suspects is plagiarized—and the confrontation evolves into a most unlikely friendship. A woman enlists the help of her childhood therapist in a quest to prove her fiance is cheating on her. At a Manhattan dinner party, a guest enchants listeners with the tale of how she lost a limb to a bobcat in Nepal. By turns rousing and heartbreaking, Rebecca Lee dazzles the reader with her witty prose.
BOBCAT AND OTHER STORIES, by Rebecca Lee (Algonquin, 2013)

Mary Ann Evans, better known by her pen name George Eliot, lost the love of her life when she was 60 years old. In an unexpected move, she married the much younger John Walter Cross, who comforted her during her grief. Part biography and part historical fiction, Dinitia Smith's sensational account of Evans's Venetian honeymoon with Cross casts the legendary writer of Middlemarch in a whole new light. Readers will be captivated by Evans as she faces the reality of aging, the loss of a great love, and the hope of a second chance.
THE HONEYMOON, by Dinitia Smith (Other Press, 2016)

When he was 24 years old and backpacking across the world, Hil Knight made a resolution. He wasn't going to work for someone else—he would build his own business. The result? Nike shoes, one of the world's most recognizable rands. In Shoe Dog Nike's founder and chairman charts the roller-coaster history of the company, from its start-up beginnings (before start-up was a buzz word) to tis eventual market domination. A facinating look into the mind of a visionary businessman.
SHOE DOG: A MEMOIR BY THE CREATOR OF NIKE, by Phil Knight (Scribner, 2016)

Winner of the 2011 National Book Award for Young People's Literataure, Inside Out & Back Again is the story of Hà, a young Vietnamese girl who is forced to flee Saigon with her family in the midst of the Vietnam War. When they land in the United States—first in a refugee camp, and finally in Alabama—Hà and her bislings face culture shock and discimination from all sides. As Hà's family struggles to adjust to their new surroundings, they anxiously await word of her father, a prisoner of war in North Vietnam. Told entirely in verse, Hà's story is poignant, insightful, and surprisingly funny.
INSIDE OUT & BACK AGAIN, by Thanhha Lai (Harper, 2011)

Twenty-two-year-old Tess moves to New York City with no money and no prospects. She lands a job at an illustrious Manhattan restaurant and gets a crash course in oysters and champagne, but things get complicated when she falls into a love triangle with two of the staff members—Jake, the tattooed and edgy bartender, and Simone, a senior server and wine expert. A sensational story of hunger—for good food and new experiences.
SWEETBITTER, by Stephanie Danler (Knopf, 2016)

Explore the life of Dr. Marin Luther King Jr. in his own powerful words. Here he reflects on some of the most important moments of his life, including the events leading up to the civil rights movement, his development of a nonviolent revolution, and the iconic "I Have a Dream" speech. King's brilliance, his peaceful nature, and his spirituality shine through every page of this classic.
WHY WE CAN'T WAIT, by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. (1964; Signet Classics, 2000)

Luisa Brant is eager to prove herself when she becomes the first female state's attorney in her Maryland county. She takes on the case of a mentally ill drifter who killed a local woman, but the case forces Laura to confront her own dark childhood memories, including the night when her brother, AJ, killed a man. At once a riveting murder mystery and a complex family drama, Wilde Lake will keep you guessing until the very end.
WILDE LAKE, by Laura Lippman (William Morrow, 2016)

In Jane Austen's tongue-in-cheek spin on the Victorian Gothic novel, young Catherine Morland accompanies prospective suitor Henry Tilney to his family's home at Northanger Abbey. An avid reader of gothic stories herself, Catherine is convinced she will unearth dark secrets in the abbey, and her curiosity leads her into a series of blunders and assumptions about Tilney's family that place a strain on the budding romance. Even as she pokes fun at the Gothic genre, Austen's social insights are as sharp as ever, and her prose is exquisite.
NORTHANGER ABBEY by Jane Austen (1817; Penguin Classics, 2003)

Sixteen-year-old East is part of a Los Angeles gang along with his hotheaded younger brother, Ty, and several other teenage boys. East has never left LA—in fact, he's never left the projects where he grew up—so when he’s sent to kill an enemy hiding out in Wisconsin, he’s in for a whole lot of new experiences, including his first road trip. This novel is a coming—of age story like you’ve never seen before, with a healthy dose of crime and Americana blended in.
J DODGERS, by Bill Beverly (Crown, 2016)

Helen lost her marriage and custody of her son, Ollie, when she was arrested for a DUI, and though she claims she’s now sober, her ex doesn’t buy it. Helen is floundering until she meets the illustrious and Wealthy Havillands, who make her feel like a part of a whole new family. But while Ava and Swift Havilland seem benevolent, even helping Helen reconnect with Ollie, their support comes at a high price. A masterful drama about the politics of friendship and the search for redemption.
UNDER THE INFLUENCE, by Joyce Maynard (William Morrow, 2016)

Siddhartha Mukherjee Won the Pulitzer Prize and legions of devoted readers with his biography of cancer, The Emperor of All Maladies. He brings the same depth of knowledge and personal touch to the story of the human gene. Covering everything from how Aristotle and Darwin understood genetics to the rnodern phenomenon of mapping the genome, The Gene prepares readers to understand the ethical questions surrounding genetics today. Fascinating, accessible, and timely.
THE GENE: AN INTIMATE HISTORY, by Siddhartha Mukherjee (Scribner, 2016)

When 37-year-old Toru Watanabe hears the Beatles song “Norwegian Wood,” his mind is transported back to his college days at the end of the 1960s—he recalls a tragedy that turned his world upside down, a doomed romance with his close friend Naoko, and his eventual betrayal of Naoko as he fell for the entrancing Midori. First published in Japan in 1987, Norwegian Wood is a classic story of young love and self discovery that catapulted Haruki Murakami into writer stardom.
NORWEGIAN WOOD, by Haruki Murakami, translated from the Japanese by Jay Rubin (1987; Vintage, 2000)

In 1970s Manhattan, a murder in Central Park brings together an eclectic cast of New Yorkers, including a journalist, two rock-and-roll-loving teens, and the heirs to a huge city fortune. As a detective tries to figure out how they are all connected to the tragedy, the New York City blackout of 1977 casts everything into darkness—and each character’s life is thrown radically off course. Stephen King called City on Fire “massively entertaining, as close to a great American novel as this century has produced.”
CITY ON FIRE, by Garth Risk Hallberg (Knopf 2015;

The narrator of this riveting Vietnam War drama is straddling all of the lines—born in North Vietnam but half French, educated in the US but serving in the South Vietnamese army—his loyalties are ever changing and nobody trusts him. Even as he serves as a captain in the war, he maintains ties to the communists, feeding them information in secret coded letters. This Pulitzer Prize-winning novel deftly explores the mind of a man caught between worlds, while offering a unique perspective on a controversial war.
THE SYMPATHIZERER, by Viet Thanh Nguyen (Grove Press 2015)

Jan 01, 2018 05:32AM

The star of the high school basketball team is found dead in the woods on Halloween night with a gun in his hand, throwing the conservative town into chaos. In the midst of the panic, two teenage girls—Hannah Dexter and the edgy Lacey Champlain—forge an unhealthy friendship that leads them both down a dark path and ultimately to a heart-stopping shocker of an ending. A haunting and addicting story of female friendship gone awry and a community descending into hysteria.
GIRLS ON FIRE, by Robin Wasserman (Harper 2016)

Henry and his daughter, Henrietta, are part of the Forge family, one of the wealthiest and most powerful in Kentucky, and they have one goal: to breed an undefeatable racing horse. Allmon Shaughnessy is a young black man descended from slaves who arrives to work at the Forge farm. Soon, the fates of Henry, Henrietta, and Allmon are all bound to Hellsmouth, a powerful thoroughbred set to race at the Kentucky Derby. A powerful tale of race, prejudice, and greed in the American South.
THE SPORT OF KINGS, by C. E. Morgan (Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 2016)

A great speech can inspire or stir people to action. Chris Anderson—one of the masterminds behind TED Talks—shows how to capture some of that magic in your public speaking. Recognizing that everyone is an individual with a unique message, Anderson helps readers find their own voice and communicate in a modern and effective way. A fascinating read for those looking to hone their skills, or those who are simply curious about how language and rhetoric shape our world.
TED TALKS: THE OFFICIAL TED GUIDE T0 PUBLIC SPEAKING, by Claris Anderson (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2016)

Eve meets Jim on campus when she punctures her bike tire and he offers to help. They fall in love and live happily ever after. But what if Eve hadn't punctured her tire, and they never met? Or what if she did meet Jim that day, but she was already seeing someone else? This wholly original debut novel follows the same two characters through three different possible futures, demonstrating how a chance meeting—or a missed opportunity—can shape the rest of our lives. Laura Barnett is an author to watch.
THE VERSIONS OF US, by Laura Barnett (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2016)

Maya, a former special ops pilot, is back home and trying to adjust to life as a single parent following her husband’s brutal murder. One day while she’s checking the nanny cam, she’s surprised to see her two-year-old daughter playing with her husband, who appears to be very much alive. Maya doesn’t trust her eyes—and if she wants to find out what°s really going on, she's going to have to confront dark secrets about the man she loves. Harlan Coben’s thrillers are top-notch, and Fool Me Once is no exception.
FOOL ME ONCE, by Harlan Coben (Dutton, 2016)

Jan 01, 2018 05:32AM

The tiny Irish village of Cloonoila is shaken up when a mysterious seer named Dr. Vladimir Dragan arrives and offers to heal the locals. The women of Cloonoila are swept away by Vladimir, none more so than Fidelma, who places all of her hopes in his dark powers. But when Vladimir is revealed to be a war criminal, Fidelma flees town in disgrace, eventually seeking a new life in London. In a New York Times Book Review, Joyce Carol Oates called We Little Red Chairs “Boldly imagined and harrowing . . . A work of meditation and penance.”
THE LITTLE RED CHAIRS, by Edna O'Brien (Little, Brown, 2016)

Before there was the smash Broadway musical Hamilton, there was Ron Chernow’s groundbreaking biography of the often-neglected founding father. With countless first-hand sources, Chernow deftly traces Alexander Hamilton's life—his impoverished Caribbean childhood, his ascent through the American political system, and eventually his role as leader of the Federalist Party and the first treasury secretary. An eye-opening portrait of a man who shaped the course of a nation.
ALEXANDER HAMILTON, by Ron Chernow (Penguin, 2005)

Top scientist Mary Roach’s latest venture is a lively, fast-paced exploration of military science. With fascinating anecdotes straight from the feld—including the night she worked alongside the crew of a nuclear submarine—Roach explores why military uniforms are designed the way they are, how soldiers handle amputation, and how to stay physically and mentally healthy during times of war. Readers may develop a deeper understanding and appreciation for the military and the scientists who help keep soldiers safe.
GRUNT: THE CURIOUS SCIENCE OF HUMANS AT WAR, by Mary Roach (W. W. Norton, 2016)

As teenagers growing up in the 1980s, Carrie and Meadow bond over their shared passion—cinema. They both go on to successful careers in film, but while Meadow makes avant-garde documentaries, Carrie makes commercial comedies. Then there’s Jelly—an older woman and movie buff who uses her “active listening” skills on the phone to seduce bigwig men into revealing their deepest secrets. Each character is richly drawn, and it’s mesmerizing to watch their lives collide.
INNOCENTS AND OTHERS, by, Dana Spiotta (Scribner, 2016)

In 1917, the three Jewett brothers lose their father and decide to escape their poor, sharecropping existence on the Georgia-Alabama border. Taking a cue from Bloody Bill Bucket, a pulp fiction hero they all admire, the boys ride north and leave a trail of blood and crime in their wake. Soon they are the most wanted men in the country, but their reckless adventure is far from over.
THE HEAVENLY TABLE, by Donald Ray Pollock (Doubleday, 2016)

Frank Herbert’s science-fiction masterpiece will delight fans of Game of Thrones and The Lord of tha Rings with its brilliantly imagined world and immersive plot. Duke Atreides is the new steward of Atreidis, a desert harboring a rare and valuable spice called melange that grants magical powers. As a conspiracy to unseat Atreides unfolds, the duke’s son Paul is cast into the vast and unwelcoming desert, where he struggles against the odds to defend his family and fulfill his destiny.
DUNE, by Frank Herbet (1965; Ace, 1990)

In her acclaimed novel The Paris Wife, Paula McLain shone a spotlight on a woman often overlooked by history. Here she does it again in brilliant fashion, this time focusing on Beryl Markham, the fiercely independent daughter of a British colonialist who grew up in Kenya, became a renowned horse trainer, got entangled in a love triangle with author Karen Blixen—aka Isak Dinesen—and safari hunter Denys Finch Hatton, and eventually made history as the first woman to fly east to West across the Atlantic.
CIRCLING THE SUN, by Paula McLain (Ballantine, 2015)

From legendary New York Times sportswriter David Goldblatt comes the ultimate history of the Olympics. How did the Olympics start, and why did they become a global phenomenon? Where did symbols like the eternal flame originate? How have the games been shaped by world history? Goldblatt has answers to all of these questions and more. Booklist called The Games “a significant contribution to sports history.”
THE GAMES: A GLOBAL HISTORY OF THE OLYMPICS, by David Goldblatt (W. W. Norton, 2016)

In 18th-century Ghana, Effia is married off to a white British slave trader, but she doesn’t realize that her half-sister, Esi, is trapped in the dungeon of her husband°s castle. Esi is soon shipped to America as part of the burgeoning slave trade, and over the next several generations, the two women’s descendants face terrible struggles and show incredible strength in both Ghana and the US. Homegoing is an ambitious and wildly successful story of resilience in the face of oppression.
HOMEGOING, by Yaa Gyasi (Knopf 2016)

California’s Manderley Resort is finally about to open to the public. Blending unparalleled decadence with a super high-tech security system, Manderley is set to usher in a new era of luxury hotels. There°s just one problem-the staff members are getting murdered one by one. Security races breathlessly to a shocking conclusion that will satisfy fans of Stephen King and Alfred Hitchco*ck. Be warned: You will never look at surveillance equipment the same way again.
SECURITY, by Gina Wohlsdorf(Algonquin, 2016)

A dying wife carves jack-o’-lanterns with her husband late into the night. A married banker vacationing in Malta sees a beautiful woman walking her dog and decides to introduce himself in a dystopian future where teenagers are microchipped and constantly monitored, two young lovers plot their great escape. Featuring stories by Chekhov, Nabokov, Faulkner, Raymond Carver, Miranda July, Alice Munro, and many other esteemed writers, this powerhouse collection celebrates love in all of its forms, from the thrill of first love to the sorrow of a broken heart and everything in between.
MY MlSTRESS’S SPARROW IS DEAD: GREAT LOVE STORIES, FROM CHEKHOV T0 MUNRO, edited by Jeffrey Eugenides (HarperCollins, 2008)

On Valentine’s Day, two deadly earthquakes hit San Prancisw and fires ravage the city. Underneath a crumbling auditorium, tensions run high among three survivors. Max and Vashti are former high school sweethearts thrown back together by the disaster. Gene, meanwhile, must find a way out of the wreckage if he wants to find the love of his life, a sick, older man who may or may not have survived. The circ*mstances are dire and the setting is unusual, but as the title promises, this is ultimately a love story—and a beautiful one at that.
ALL STORIES ARE LOVE STORIES, by Elizabeth Percer (Harper, 2016)

It’s summer, 1976. Fern and Edgar are whiling away the hours at their beach house on Martha’s Vineyard with their three Children and life seems perfect. But when Fern’s family fortune runs out—their only source of money—the idyllic family implodes. Bizarre adventures ensue as Edgar runs off with another woman, Fern catches a ride with a stranger she meets at a retirement home, and the three children are left to their own mischievous devices. A funny and vibrant story about a family in crisis.
SONS AND DAUGHTERS OF EASE AND PLENTY, by Ramona Ausubel (Riverhead, 2016)

The inspiration for Martin Scorsese’s popular 2011 film Hugo, Brian Selznick’s story of an orphan hiding between the walls of a Paris train station is enchanting from start to finish. When he loses his father and his uncle goes missing, Hugo is alone in the world—that is, until he meets Isabelle and her godfather, Georges, in the train station. Hugo and Isabelle soon learn that Georges has a hidden past, and together they work to discover his secrets—secrets that he isn’t so keen on sharing. Selznick illustrates the book with hundreds of his own original drawings, offering readers a closer look into Hugo°s whimsical Parisian world.
THE INVENTION OF HUGO CABRET, by Brian Selznick (Scholastic, 2007)

In this thought-provoking yet accessible national bestseller, physicist and writer Alan Lightman imagines the dreams Einstein might have had in 1905 when he was living and working in Switzerland. Through his dreams, presented as a series of vignettes, Einstein begins to develop his theory of relativity that will eventually alter the course of science forever. Lightman paints Einstein as a creative genius as well as a scientist, and offers rich insights into the relationship between science and art.
EINSTEIN’S DREAMS, by Alan Ligbtman (Vintage, 2004)

Clint Hill served as a Secret Service agent during the terms of five US presidents, from Eisenhower to Ford, and he has a lot of stories to tell. This brilliant narrative takes places across 17 turbulent years of American political and social upheaval, from the Cold War to the assassination of President Kennedy, from the civil rights movement to Watergate. With the help of journalist Lisa McCubbin, Hill shines a light on the humanity and complexity of five presidents who each faced unique challenges and shaped the country’s future.
FIVE PRESIDENTS; MY EXTRAORDINARY JOURNEY WITH EISENHOWER, KENNEDY, JOHNSON, NIXON, AND FORD, by Clint Hill and Lisa McCubbin (Gallery, 2016)

Lotto is a former actor turned playwright and his Wife, Mathilde, is an actress. They are beautiful, enviable, and passionately in love—but their marriage is built on secrets, and they can only avoid the truth for so long. Told from both Lotto's and Mathilde’s perspectives, Fates and Furies is a nuanced tale of two creative lovers who prove the old adage: There are two sides to every story. The New York Times praised Groff’ s writing and her ability to “turn a sentence into a small hurricane.”
FATES AND FURIES, by Lauren Groff (Riverhead, 2015)

Country music fans might already be familiar with the morning radio program The Bobby Bones Sbow, a winning blend of country music, pop culture, and humor that reaches an audience of five million. Even if you’ve never heard of the show, however, Bobby Bones’s hilariously self-deprecating autobiography will capture your heart. Bare Bones traces the DJ’s impoverishfid upbringing, the development of his passion for radio (starting with a radio his aunt gave him when he was five), and his inspiring pursuit of the American Dream.
BARE BONES: I'M NOT LONELY IF YOU'RE READING THIS BOOK, by Bobby Bones (Dey Street, 2016)

Ross Lockhart is an aging billionaire who has invested in a remote cryogenics facility in central Asia. The facility’s goal? To preserve dying bodies until future medical advances can bring them back to life. Ross’s son, Jeffrey arrives at the compound in time to say good-bye to his stepmother, Artis, who is about to be preserved. What ensues is a thought-provoking and surprisingly funny father-son conllict over the meaning of life, where the stakes are quite literally life and death. In a starred review, Booklist called Zero K a “magnificently edgy and profoundly inquisitive tale.”
ZERO K, by Don Delillo (Scribner 2016)

Jan 01, 2018 05:32AM

A tsunami wreaks havoc on the Australian city of Brisbane, killing Frank Mercy's family. When Frank rescues a drowning boy named Ian, he decides to sidestep the law and raise Ian himself—and together they forge a new family, relocating to a farm in the American Midwest. But lan is not an ordinary child. He has a magical gift that puts everyone around him in grave danger, and Frank will be pushed to his limits in order to protect his new son. Two If By Sea is a riveting family drama infused with the supernatural.
TWO IF BY SEA, by Jacquelyn Mitchard (Simon & Schuster, 2016)

The year is 1838. Sadie and James Goodenough are pioneers on the American frontier, and it’s not exactly a walk in the park—while James cultivates an apple orchard, Sadie uses sour apples to make alcoholic applejack, which she drinks to forget her crumbling marriage and the constant threat of swamp fever. When their son Robert heads west during the California Gold Rush, he gets a chance to build a new life ... but it means forsaking his family. A mesmerizing tale about an important chapter in American history.
AT THE EDGE OF THE ORCHARD, by Tracy Chevalier (Viking, 2016)

Wilbur and Orville Wright were bicycle mechanics from Dayton, Ohio. Neither of them had a college education or much money, but they had a lot of ingenuity. Together they risked their lives in the first attempts at human flight—and their success paved the way for the future of airplanes. David McCullough brings empathy and a sense of wonder to the Wright legend, and also reveals the crucial role that their overlooked sister, Katherine, played in their story. This inspirational biography is terrific from beginning to end.
THE WRIGHT BROTHERS, by David McCullough (Simon & Schuster, 2015)

In 1948, the three Syrkin sisters take their children to a cottage in Woodmont, Connecticut, a shoreline haven for Jews in the years following WWII. With their husbands only visiting on weekends, Ada, Vivie, and Bec enjoy a rare sense of freedom during the week. But when one of their children is killed in a tragic accident, the idyllic summer turns into a nightmare and the tight-knit Woodmont community begins to crumble. Publishers Weekly called As Close to Us as Breathing “an exquisitely written investigation of grief and atonement.”
AS CLOSE TO US AS BREATHING, by Elizabeth Poliner (Lee Bouilreaux, 2016)

Hope Jahren was destined to study plants. Her childhood was spent in her mother’s garden and her father’s lab. Now an accomplished researcher with a few laboratories of her own, she shares what she’s learned from a career of studying nature. Even if plants and trees aren't your thing, Jahren’s elegant prose will arrest your attention from the get-go, particularly as she describes a close friendship with her longtime lab partner Bill, and the struggles and triumphs they face as they pursue a shared passion. A riveting look at an acclaimed scientist and a reminder of the beauty of nature.
LAB GIRL, by Hope Jahren (Knopf 2016)

In the 1600s, two young Frenchman arrive in Canada’s New France seeking fresh starts. When they land jobs as woodcutters, their fates become bound to the region’s dense forests in ways they never expected. Over the next three hundred years, the descendants of these two immigrants strip the forests for timber and fortunes, but at a high price-both for the natural world, and for the lives of those carrying out the destruction. This sweeping, multigenerational tale of human greed and environmental loss is nothing short of breathtaking.
BARKSKINS, by Annie Proulx (Scribner, 2016)

Jan 01, 2018 05:31AM

When ten-year-old Winnie Foster runs away from home to escape her overbearing family, she encounters a young man in the woods named Jesse Tuck. Jesse is drinking water from a spring that happens to be a literal fountain of youth—Jesse and his whole family are immortal. As Winnie's fate becomes tied to the Tuck family secret, she realizes that living forever might not be such a wonderful gift after all. A modern fairy tale, Tuck Everlasting is pure magic for readers of all ages.
TUCK EVERLASTING, by Natalie Babbit (1975; Square Fish, 2007)

Antoinette Cosway grows up on a plantation in the West Indies until she is sold into marriage to an Englishman by the name of Mr. Rochester—yes, the same Mr. Rochester of Jane Eyre fame. In Wide Sargasso Sea, Jean Rhys imagines the early life of the madwoman locked in the attic in Charlotte Bronté’s Victorian classic. Even if you aren’t familiar with Jane Eyre, there’s much to enjoy in Rhys’s novel—it’s a brilliant character study with fascinating observations about the struggles 19th-century women faced as they entered into marriage.
WINE SARGASSO SEA, by Jean Rhys (1966; W. W. Norton, 1992)

Isabel Moore is left wondering where everything went wrong after her best friend Josie dies in a car crash, her husband leaves, and her daughter begins to rebel. But she doesn’t give up—instead, after years of being defined as a friend, wife, or mother, she decides to find herself in the middle of all the chaos. Days of Awe is an emotional page-turner about discovering inner strength when the world seems to be falling apart around you.
DAYS OF AWE, by Lauren Fox (Knopf, 2015)

Aron, a 13-year-old Jewish boy living in the Warsaw Ghetto during the Holocaust, bravely provides for his family by smuggling food . . . until his family is taken away. Aron falls into the care of Dr. janus Korczak, who runs the Warsaw orphanage, but even Dr. Korczak can’t protect the children from the Nazis. As the threat of concentration camps looms larger for the orphans, Aron plots his great escape. Jim Shepard’s heart-pounding story is a fresh take on Nazi-era Germany, captured through the eyes of a resourceful and heroic teen.
THE BOOK OF ARON, by Jim Shepard (Knopf, 2015)

From the bestselling author of Eat Pray, Love comes an impassioned treatise on creativity that’s sure to inspire anyone with an artistic leaning, whether your passion is writing, visual arts, dancing, or just about anything else. In a kind and empathetic voice, Gilbert urges readers to accept creativity as a gift, one that is rewarding whether or not it earns you attention or praise from others. A blend of spiritual sensibility and practical advice, Big Magic is just the energy boost you need to get started on your next creative project.
BIG MAGIC: CREATIVE LIVING BEYOND FEAR, by Elizabetb Gilbert (Riverhead, 2015)

Christopher Moore, a master satirist, draws inspiration from Shakespeare and Edgar Allan Poe in The Serpent of Venice. Three scheming Venetians lure Fool Pocket—a recurring Moore character—to Venice with the offer of wine and a beautiful woman. But when Fool arrives, he is taken to a dungeon, and the dastardly plot to kill him is underway. Luckily, Fool knows a thing or two about getting out of a tricky situation. Rarely has a spoof of classic literature been this much fun.
THE SERPENT OF VENICE, by Christopher Moore (William Morrow, 2015)

As a girl, Kathy attended Hailsham, a boarding school in the English countryside for “special” students. Now 31 years old, Kathy crosses paths with two of her former classmates, Ruth and Tommy, inspiring a walk down memory lane. As the three old friends recount their childhood adventures, they begin to arrive at the truth behind Hailsham—and what, exactly, made them so special. Eerie but totally captivating, Never Let Me Go is a story that will stick with you long after you read the last page.
NEVER LET ME GO, by Kazuo Ishiguro (Vintage, 2006)

The narrator of The Gargoyle is deeply flawed but gets by on his physical beauty—until he crashes his car into a ravine and ends up with severe burn wounds. He loses his will to live while recovering in the hospital, until a gargoyle sculptress named Marianne appears at the foot of his bed and tells him that she was once his lover in another lifetime. She sounds crazy but the narrator isn't so sure she’s lying. An unusual yet beautiful love story that blurs the line between fantasy and reality.
THE GARGOYLE, by Andrew Davidson (Doubleday, 2008)

Seventeen-year-old Agnieszka loves her quiet mountain village of Dvernik, but the woods outside of town are clark and full of danger. A powerful Wizard is able to keep the evil of the woods at bay . . . for a price. Every ten years, the old man demands that a village girl be sent to his tower to serve him. As the day of his next selection approaches, everyone assumes he will pick beautiful Kasia, Agnieszka’s best friend. But the wizard has other plans in mind. Gregory Maguire, author of Wicked, called this epic fantasy tale “confidently wrought . . . bewitching.”
UPROOTED, by Naomi Norvik (Del Rey, 2015)

If you’ve ever found yourself in a debate with a friend over which musician or band is better—the Rolling Stones or the Beatles? Jimi Hendrix or Eric Clapton? The White Stripes or the Black Keys?—This is the book for you. Journalist and music critic Steven Hyden takes readers on a journey through some of the most famous pop music rivalries of the last several decades, and along the way he offers insights into why music is so important to our identity. Funny fascinating, and wildly entertaining.
YOUR FAVORITE BAND IS KILLING ME: WHAT POP MUSIC RIVALRIES REVEAL ABOUT THE MEANING 0F LIFE, by Steven Hyden (Back Bay, 2016)

Set in northwestern Nigeria, this novel is the story of Dantala, a Muslim teen whose name translates to “born on a Tuesday.” Dantala leaves school to join a gang of street youths, but when he is caught up in an attempt to burn the headquarters of a political party, Dantala runs. He ends up at a mosque, where he serves the religious leaders, all the while trying to figure out what he believes—about God, about himself and about the world. A powerful coming-of-age story from Nigerian author Elnathan John.
BORN ON A TUESDAY, by Elnathan John (Grove, 2016)

It's 1914 In Sussex England but Agatha isn't too concerned with the mounting international tension. She's busy selecting a replacement for her town's Latin teacher but the beautiful and progressive new teacher Beatrice Nash turns out to be more than Agatha bargained for. As a small-town fiasco unfolds, England marches closer to a war not even Agatha will be able to ignore. This witty period drama is sure to delight fans of Jane Austen and Downton Abbey
THE SUMMER BEFORE THE WAR, by Helen Simonson (Random House 2016)

Ender Wiggin is a child prodigy—a brilliant problem-solver with maturity beyond his years. So it makes sense that the Battle School recruits him with the hope of turning him into a ruthless commander in the war against the Buggers, an alien race threatening the survival of humanity. Removed from his family and placed in training on an orbiting battle station, Ender must hone his skills to become the savior that the world needs—while also dealing with the usual growing pains. This sci-fi coming-of-age story is an enduring classic for readers of all ages.
ENDER’S GAME, by Orson Scott Card (1985; Tor, 1994)

The Rough Riders were a regiment under the leadership of Theodore Roosevelt that played an important role in the Spanish-American War, claiming a decisive victory at the Battle of San Juan Hill. But who exactly were these riders? Mark Lee Gardner goes behind the scenes and shines a spotlight on Roosevelt, his band of cowboys, and how they came to represent the fantasy of the American West. Chock-full of quality research, Gardner’s account is compulsively readable and as rousing as the best adventure novels.
ROUGH RIDERS: THEODORE ROOSEVELT, HIS COWBOY REGIMENT, AND THE IMMORTAL CHARGE UP SAN JUAN HILL, by Mark Lee Gardner (Wlliam Morrow, 2016)

Betsy Lerner did her best to leave behind her mother and her childhood in suburban Connecticut—until her mother’s surgery brings her back home years later. As she tries to reconnect with her estranged family, Betsy is surprised to find herself sitting in on her mother’s bridge group, where she learns the rules of the game and the secrets of the aging women who play. A touching memoir about healing old wounds and the lessons we can learn from older generations.
THE BRIDGE LADIES, by Betsy Lerner (Harper Wave, 2016)

When Nick Mason is five years into his 20-year prison sentence, a fellow inmate and Chicago crime lord named Darius Cole offers Nick a chance to escape—on the condition that Nick will be indebted to Darius for the next 20 years. Nick agrees, with the hope of reuniting with his ex-wife and daughter and resuming a comfortable life. But when Darius later calls in a dangerous favor, Nick will have to risk everything to honor his deal with the devil. In a starred review, Booklist said this thriller “moves like a bullet train, told in a deceptively simple, gin-clear prose that all but sucker punches the reader.”
THE SECOND LIFE OF NICK MASON, by Steve Hamilton (Putnam, 2016)

Zoe, Andrew, and Elizabeth were college bandmates and close friends, living life on the edge. Now they are middle-aged with families, and their wild days are long behind them ... but when their children begin to rebel, the three old friends have a chance to reconnect with their youth and rekindle some of the old magic. Funny and warm, Modern Lovers is a reminder that it’s never too late to rock and roll.
MODERN LOVERS, by Emma Straub (Riuerhead 2016)

Dr. Rachel Bell is studying a bizarre natural phenomenon—every hundred years, the water surrounding an island off the coast of Washington takes on a mysterious glow that lasts for exactly six days. Rachel suspects that this “100 Year Miracle" holds the key to a medicinal breakthrough that could change the world, and save herself. When the water begins to glow, the race is on and she only has six days to figure it out. Rich in atmosphere and suspense, this book might just make you believe in miracles.
THE 100 YEAR MIRACLE, by Ashley Ream (Flatiron, 2016)

If the prospect of reading Moby Dick is a little daunting, here’s an alternative whale-hunting yarn—a brilliant mystery set on a 19th-century whaling ship. The Volunteer is bound for the Arctic, and the conditions in the far north are anything but hospitable. The shipmates have more than just survival to worry about, though—there’s a murderer on board. In her review for The New York Times, Michiko Kakutani called The North Water “a great white shark of a book—swift, terrifying, relentless and unstoppable.”
THE NORTH WATER, by Ian McGuire (Henry Holt, 2016)

A playwright, director, and actress, Anna Deavere Smith has a lot of insights about the artist’s life—and in her book, she shares them in the form of letters addressed to a fictional friend. Smith's writing is warm and encouraging as she discusses building confidence and a sense of selfworth, staying healthy, coping with feelings of isolation that artists often face, and much more. The advice will help anyone seeking to nurture creativity, not just those in the entertainment industry. You might just feel like Smith is writing the letters directly to you.
LETTERS T0 A YOUNG ARTIST, by Anna Deavere Smith (Anchor 2006)

Jan 01, 2018 05:31AM

Charlotte Maynard’s family has always been a bit of a patchwork quilt—when her mother, Joan, married Whit Whitman, Charlotte and her sister ended up with two stepbrothers from Whit’s previous marriage. Years later, when Whit dies and the youngest brother brings his fiancee home to meet the family at their Connecticut lake house, veiled tensions among the siblings are exposed in dramatic fashion. The Children is a multifaceted look at a modern family, with a touch of humor.
THE CHILDREN, by Ann Leary (St. Martins, 2016)

When her best friend Corinne went missing, Nicolette left the small town of Cooley Ridge and vowed to never look back. Now, ten years later, her sick father finally draws her home . . . and Nic quickly gets entangled in a new town drama that has painful echoes of Corinne’s disappearance. All the Mssing Girls tells Nic’s homecoming story in reverse, and with each step backward in time, the suspense reaches a new high.
ALL THE MISSING GIRLS, by Megan Miranda (Simon & Schuster, 2016)

Ove is your typical grumpy old man. He doesn’t like the neighbors, he believes all rules are meant to be followed, and he can't be bothered with technology. But behind 0ve's gruff exterior is a heartbreaking story—and it all comes to the surface as he becomes acquainted with the young family that moves in next door. A light-hearted and feel-good yarn, A Man Called Ove is a helpful reminder that everyone has a story worth hearing.
A MAN CALLED OVE, by Fredrik Backrnnn, translated from the Swedish by Henning Kock (Washington Square, 2015) april 26

When the nation of Israel formed in 1948, the Palestinian family of Al-Khairi had to abandon their stone house and flee the country. The house—and its lemon tree—eventually fell into the hands of the Eshkenazis, a Jewish family escaping the Holocaust. Years later, Bashir Al-Khairi makes the journey back to his childhood home and breaks all the rules when he develops an unlikely friendship with a young member of the Eshkenazi family. Based on extensive research and interviews, The Lernon Tree is a powerful true story about two lives shaped by war.
THE LEMON TREE: AN ARAB, A JEW, AND THE HEART OF THE MIDDLE EAST, by Sandy Tolan (Bloomsbury, 2007)

Jill Traynor, a powerful executive and extreme sports aficionado, lapses into depression when a tragic accident confines him to a wheelchair. At first he treats his new caretaker, Louisa Clark, with contempt, but Louisa’s quirky charm slowly but surely wins him over. A romance blooms as the date of Will’s planned assisted suicide quickly approaches—and it’s up to Louisa to show him that life is still worth living. Fair warning: This love story packs a heavy emotional punch.
ME BEFORE YOU, by Jojo Moyes (Viking 2013)

Woodrow Cain’s life in WWII-era North Carolina was going according to plan—he had a wife, a daughter, and a job on the local police force. But when his wife leaves him, his partner is murdered, and his sister agrees to look after his daughter, Woodrow takes off for New York City and lands a job with the NYPD. The big city has a lot of new challenges, as Cain faces corrupt politics, mafia conspiracies, and the gritty underworld of 1940s New York. Luckily, he soon finds a new ally—a mysterious “letter writer” who calls himself Danziger. Dan Fesperman’s high-octane prose will keep you on the edge of your seat.
THE LETTER WRITER, by Dan Fesperman (Knopf, 2016)

Jan 01, 2018 05:31AM

In this Pulitzer Prize-winning novel from Marilynne Robinson, dying Congregational minister John Ames tells his life story and waxes philosophical in a series of letters addressed to his seven-year-old son. "Through the wise, witty, and endearing character of Ames, Robinson delves into deep questions about religion in small-town America, the father-son relationship, and the meaning of life itself. The ideal blend of accessible writing and intellectually stimulating ideas, Gilead is a much-beloved modern classic. Time magazine called it “Lyrical and meditative . . . potently contemplative.”
GILEAD, by Marilynne Robinson (Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 2004)

Richard Mayhew is living a perfectly ordinary life in London until an unusual girl named Door draws him down into London Below—a secret and dangerous world buried among the train lines of the London Tube. Richard soon finds himself in the company of a strange and beautifully rendered cast of characters, including the Marquis de Carabas, a talking rat named Anaesthesia, and the deadly and mysterious Hunter. Spellbinding and surprising at every turn, Neverwhere is the perfect introduction to Gaiman’s brand of dark, imaginative fantasy.
NEVERWHERE, by Neil Gaiman (1996 William Morrow, 2003)

Frankie Presto, a war orphan from Spain with few prospects but a prodigious musical talent, catches a ride to America when he's nine years old. He goes on to become the world's most accomplished guitarist, and his music begins to affect his listeners in a way he never could have imagined. Mitch Albom, author of The Five People You Meeet in Heaven, delivers a heartwarming and inspirational tale about the power of music to bring people together and change lives.
THE MAGIC STRINGS OF FRANKIE PRESTO, by Mitch Albom (Harper, 2015)

Rebecca Stead, author of the Newbery-winning When You Reach Me, writes the kind of children’s literature that speaks to readers of all ages. Goodbye Stronger is the story of a girl named Bridge who is hit by a car while crossing the street and recovers in a hospital, only to be left wondering, “What is my purpose on Earth?” A big question, but her friends Tabitha, Emily, and Sherm help her to sort it all out. As they face the roller-coaster experience of middle school-talent shows, the pitfalls of social media, and the first twinges of love—Bridge begins to understand her place in the world.
GOODBYE STRANGER, by Rebecca Sterzel (Wendy Lamb, 2015)

C. S. Lewis is best known today for the fantastical Chronicles of Narnia series, so his science-fiction trilogy—written years before The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe—may surprise some readers when Professor Elwin Ransom is drugged and kidnapped by a scheming physicist and taken aboard an unusual spacecraft, he is understandably distraught. But when Ransom escapes his captor on the red planet Malacandra, he finds the adventure of a lifetime. Lewis's remarkable imagination is evident throughout the Space Trilogy, which continues in Perelandra and That Hideous Strength.
OUT OF THE SILENT PLANET, by C. S. Lewis (1938; Scribner Classics, 1996)

When Nick Hornby was 11 years old—the same year his parents separated—he saw his first Arsenal Football Club game with his father, and from that moment he was hooked. In his autobiographical love letter to British football (aka soccer in America), Hornby recalls some of the most memorable games he witnessed during his childhood and adolescence. Along the way, he explores the obsessional devotion that sports so often inspire. Hornby’s passionate writing will resonate with sports fans or anyone who has ever taken fandom to the extreme.
FEVER PITCH, by Nick Hornby (Penguin, 1994)

Margaret stood by her fiancé, John, when he was hospitalized for depression, but years later she faces a new set of challenges when their anxious son Michael begins to exhibit some of the same symptoms. Along with her daughter, Celia, and her other son Alec, Margaret must once again demonstrate the power of devotion to a loved one in pain. Adam Haslett has crafted a moving story about a complicated and resilient family, and his haunting prose will arrest your attention.
IMAGINE ME GONE, by Adam Haslett (Little, Brown, 2016)

Milo Andret is a child of prodigious intelligence raised in rural northern Michigan in the 1950s. His high functioning brain eventually lands him a spot at the University of California, Berkeley, where he earns awards and accolades by solving near-impossible math problems. But Milo°s genius is a double-edged sword, and as he faces the destructiveness of alcoholism and an ill-fated love affair, it is the very complexity of his mind that allows him to fall so far—and that makes his descent so riveting.
A DOUBTER'S ALMANAC, by Ethan Canin (Random House, 2016)

Emma Blair’s world crumbles when her husband, Jesse, disappears at sea on their one-year anniversary. She doesn't think she will ever love again—until, years later, she reconnects with her old friend Sam. A new romance blossoms, but shortly after Sam and Emma get engaged, Jesse is discovered—and he’s alive. Caught between two great loves, Emma must figure out what she truly wants. Booklist called One True Loves a “gut-wrenching yet upbeat story about love and life.”
ONE TRUE LOVES, by Taylor Jenkins Reid (Washington Square, 2016)

When Helen Graham walks out on her abusive husband, takes up residence at Wildfell Hall, and begins to make a living for herself as an artist, she is the subject of all the local gossip—especially when a new suitor, Gilbert Markham, falls in love with her. Anne Brontë's novel of a strong-willed, independent woman scandalized Victorian English society when it was first published, and though less famous today, it is just as rich and rewarding as the works of her sisters Charlotte and Emily.
THE TENANT OF WILDFELL HALL, by Anne Brontë (1848; Penguin Classics, 2016)

Pip Tyler doesn't know who her father is, her relationship with her mother is on the rocks, and she’s drowning in college debt. When she gets involved with the Sunlight Project, a South American organization that leaks the world’s secrets onto the Web, Pip hopes she can find some of the clues to understanding her own life within the vast web of information. Purity is another home run for Jonathan Franzen, acclaimed author of The Corrections.
PURITY, Jonathan Franzen (Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 2015)

Mary Karr is a master of writing memoirs—her previous books, The Liars’ Club, Cherry, and Lit, have all been hugely successful bestsellers. So she is the perfect person to teach the craft of memoir writing. In this beautifully written how-to, Karr explains her creative process and helps readers find interesting ways to share their own life stories. The Art of Memoir is for aspiring writers, of course, but also for anyone curious about the challenges—and rewards—of reflecting on the past.
THE ART OF MEMOIR, by Mary Karr (Harper, 2015)

In pre-WWII San Francisco, three Chinese American women meet at the Forbidden City nightclub. Ruby, Helen, and Grace become close friends and together they forge new lives for themselves, but when Ruby’s Japanese heritage is discovered in the wake of Pearl Harbor, their devotion to one another is put to the test. Lisa See writes about female friendship and the Asian American experience with conviction and style while transporting readers back to a turbulent time in US history.
CHINA DOLLS, by Lisa See (Random House, 2014)

Evan Smoak was raised in the secret Orphan Program, a government initiative to train top-notch assassins. When Evan escapes the program and takes on the mantle of the Nowhere Man, his specialized skill set makes him a threat in the eyes of the government. Soon he is a priority target—and his life becomes a high-stakes game of cat and mouse. A tightly wound and memorable thriller for fans of Jack Reacher and Jason Bourne.
ORPHAN X, by Gregg Hurwitz (Minotaur, 2016)

Psychologist Angela Duckworth lays out the new rules for success in Grit, arguing that it’s a combination of passion and perseverance that leads to victory, not innate talent or “genius.” Her book is chock-full of research as well as entertaining stories about spelling bee contestants, West Point cadets, and others who have gotten ahead by using grit. Duckworth’s message is a call to action—stop lamenting that you weren’t born with a skill; instead, start developing it!
GRIT: THE POWER 0F PASSION AND PERSEVERANCE, by Angela Duckworth (Scribner, 2016)

The year is 1829 and the setting is rural Iceland. Agnes Magnusdottir has been accused of murdering her master and her lover, and as she awaits execution, she is imprisoned at a local farm. The family who runs the farm is deeply afraid of Agnes, but the more they get to know her, the more they understand that there are two sides to every story. It°s a good thing, too—Agnes needs allies, and fast. Based on a haunting true story, Burial Rites will keep you up all night.
BURIAL RITES, by Hannah Kent (Little, Brown, 2013)

Noah and his twin sister, Jude, were inseparable as young children, but during the tricky teenage years, a tragedy hits their family and sends them reeling in different directions. As they struggle to reconnect, they each embark on a personal journey of first love, heartbreak, and grief. I’ll Give You the Sun is told from both Noah and Jude’s perspectives, and you’ll fall in love with each character as they reveal their innermost thoughts and feelings. Perfect for fans of John Green’s The Fault in Our Stars or Rainbow Rowell’s Fangirl.
I'll GIVE YOU THE SUN, by Jandy Nelson (Dial Books, 2014)

The king’s granddaughter Yeine is enjoying her life in the barbarian lands, far from the political drama of the capital city of Sky. But when her mother dies, Yeine is summoned back to Sky, where she must compete with two of her cousins to earn the title of heir to the throne—and her cousins aren’t going to play fair. Jemisin’s richly layered fantasy novel—the first installment in the Inheritance Trilogy—will appeal to fans of George R. R. Martin’s A Song of Ice and Fire series.
THE HUNDRED THOUSAND KINGDOMS,, by N. K. Jemisin (Orin, 2010)

What happens when home doesn’t feel like home anymore? Mimi Miller was raised on her family’s century-old farm in a valley, but now the government wants to buy the valley, build a dam, and flood it. As the Millers fight to preserve the valley, Mimi discovers uncomfortable truths about her family—particularly her reclusive Aunt Ruth and an older brother suffering from PTSD after serving in Vietnam—that make her question everything. Miller's Valley is a sparkling novel about searching for belonging—in a place, in loved ones, and in one’s self.
MILLER'S VALLEY, by Anna Quindlen (Random House, 2016)

One night a stranger passes a note to the chief of the CIA at a fling station in Moscow. 'The information in the letter sends shockwaves through the CIA, and soon the stranger—Adolf Tolkachev—is the most valuable spy reporting to the United States during the Cold War. This true story of Soviet-era espionage and intrigue shines a spotlight on a man who risked it all to turn the tide of a decades-long international struggle. It reads like a spy thriller, utterly gripping from start to finish.
THE BILLION DOLLAR SPY: A TRUE STORY OF COLD WAR ESPIONAGE AND BETRAYAL, by David Hoffman (Doubleday, 2015)

Jan 01, 2018 05:30AM

New York City’s Greenwich Village is one of the most famous neighborhoods in the world, and for good reason: It’s played host to countless icons, including Walt Whitman, Marcel Duchamp, and James Baldwin, and it served as the cultural center for Prohibition-era lawbreakers, the Beat generation, 1960s counterculture, and the gay rights movement. John Strausbaugh covers all of this and more in his brilliantly researched history of the neighborhood, and though the book is fact-filled, his lively writing captures the free spirit and magic of the Village itself. A must-read for anyone interested in New York City history.
THE VILLAGE: 400 YEARS OF BEATS AND BOHEMIANS, RADICALS AND ROGUES, A HISTORY OF GREENWICH VILLAGE, by John Strausbaugh (Ecco, 2013)

In a desert city in the Middle East, the Caliph of Khorasan takes a virgin bride as his wife each night, only to have her executed the next morning. Everyone is surprised when Shahrzad volunteers to be the Caliph’s next choice—who would ask for such a fate? But Shahrzad has a plan to take down the man who has killed one of her closest friends. An enchanting and intoxicating spin on The Arabian Nights, rich in atmosphere and full of memorable details.
THE WRATH AND THE DAWN, by Renée Ahaieh (G. P. Putnam's Sons, 2015)

Evelyn Gallagher manages the camera network of the National Security Agency, but it’s just a means to an end—the income lets her send her deaf son, Dash, to private school. But when she stumbles across the top-secret NSA project God’s Eye, Evelyn becomes a liability, and soon government assassins are on her trail . . . and she may not be able to protect Dash. This addictive, high-stakes thriller will keep you on your toes with blackmail, espionage, and political drama.
THE GOD’S EYE VIEW, by Barry Eisler (Thomas & Mercer, 2016)

At the onset of WWII in England, Mary North signs up at the War Office with the hope of serving her country. Instead, she is sent to teach at a London school for children who were not evacuated because of their race or disabilities. As Mary fights to protect the marginalized children, she also begins to fall for her boss, Thomas—but the developing war will put their love to the test. Inspired by real letters between the author’s grandparents, Everyone Brave Is Forgiven is a mesmerizing story of romance, tragedy, and resilience.
EVERYONE BRAVE IS FORGIVEN, by Chris Cleave (Simon & Schuster, 2016)

Rich Cohen isn’t shy about his love for the Rolling Stones—and his enthusiasm is infectious. A young journalist who went on the road with the Stones in the 1990s, Cohen offers a unique perspective on the inner lives of some of the World's most famous rock stars and chronicles the band's rags-to-riches story in this electric page-turner. Perfect for fans of the Rolling Stones, and anyone interested in how rock music shaped pop culture.
THE SUN & THE MOON & THE ROLLING STONES, by Rich Cohen (Spiegel & Grau, 2016)

The town of Bakerton, Pennsylvania, once thrived off the coal mining industry but has since fallen into disrepair. When a deposit of natural gas is discovered underneath the town, Bakerton has the opportunity to rebuild its economy around a new kind of energy—but the ensuing conflict over drilling rights and environmentalism threatens to overwhelm the community, impacting each citizen in a unique and dramatic way Jennifer Haigh perfectly captures small-town America While casting the modern energy debate in a new light.
HEAT AND LIGHT, by Jennifer Haigh (Ecco, 2016)

Things are not going well for school nurse Harper Grayson. She’s been treating patients infected with Dragonscale, a fatal spore that results in spontaneous combustion, and discovers that she’s infected—oh, and she’s also pregnant. In her fight to protect herself and her unborn child, she finds an unlikely ally in the Fireman, another Dragonscale victim who has learned the secret to survival. The Fireman is an exhilarating race-against-time novel that builds to a breathtaking finale.
THE FIREMAN, by Joe Hill (William Morrow, 2016)

Jan 01, 2018 05:30AM

Jill Bryson’s first account of his journeys in Great Britain, Notes From a Small Island, is a classic travel book. Now, 20 years later, he returns to that “small island” and looks at what’s changed and what’s stayed the same. As always, Bryson’s insights are laugh-out-loud funny, and while part of the book’s charm lies in his grumpy cynicism, this is ultimately a love letter to a nation with a rich culture and history. Best enjoyed alongside a scone and a cup of tea.
THE ROAD T0 LITTLE DRIBBLING: ADVENTURES OF AN AMERICAN IN BRITAIN, by Bill Bryson (Doubleday, 2016)

In the late 1950s, Paul Collier gets sent to a small military town in rural Idaho to work on one of the earliest nuclear reactors in the US. It sounds like a great opportunity, but Paul’s wife, Nat, and their two daughters struggle to adjust to their new community. As Nat falls under the sway of a charming local rancher, Paul unearths troubling secrets at the nuclear base, and soon there is more than just a marriage at stake. Based on a true nuclear disaster, The Longest Night is a stunning portrait of Cold War~era America.
THE LONGEST NIGHT, by Adria Wlliams (Random House, 2016)

Noah is an unusual four-year-old. He is terrified of water, he is full of random trivia no child his age should know, and he is haunted by memories of a previous life. His mother, Janie, is at her wit’s end, until she discovers Dr. Anderson, a psychologist who specializes in reincarnation studies. Dr. Anderson may have the answers that janie seeks—but he’s also fighting his own demons, including dementia and aphasia. A riveting and mind-bending read for fans of Cloud Atlas.
THE FORGETTING TIME, by Sharon Guskin (Flatiron, 2016)

The Library exists beyond time and space, collecting great works of literature from all of the different realities for safekeeping. When Irene, the Library’s professional spy, is sent to an alternate version of London to collect a book of fairy tales, she soon realizes this is no ordinary assignment. The book in question has been stolen, alternate London is overrun by dark monsters, and her assistant Kai is harboring dangerous secrets. This suspenseful fantasy is a story about book lovers, for book lovers.
THE INVISIBLE LIBRARY, by Genevieve Cogman (Roc, 2016)

Putting a fresh spin on a beloved Jane Austen novel is no easy feat, but Curtis Sittenfeld is up to the task. In Eligible, Liz is a thirtysomething NYC magazine editor who travels home to Cincinnati when her father falls ill. When Chip Bingley, a dashing doctor and recent contestant on the reality TV show Eligible, begins to woo her older sister, Jane, Liz begrudgingly finds herself in the company of Chip’s questionable friend Darcy. Clever, pithy, and playful, this retelling of Pride und Prejudice will please Jane Austen’s most critical fans.
ELIGIBLE, by Curtis Sittenfeid (Random House, 2016)

What exactly is the American Dream? This is the question that Jende and his wife, Neni, immigrants from Cameroon, must grapple with as they try to build a new life in Harlem. Jende is thrilled to land a job working for an executive at Lehman Brothers, but when the Great Recession of 2009 hits and Lehman Brothers collapses, Jende and Neni are left floundering and their marriage might not survive the fallout. A beautiful debut novel from Imbolo Mbue, a Cameroonian immigrant herself.
BEHOLD THE DREAMERS, by Imboio Mbue (Random House, 2016)

We already know whodunit. The question is why. In London, 1895, 13-year-old Robert Coombes killed his mother, was arrested for matricide, and held on trial at the Old Bailey. He was eventually sent to Broadmoor, the most infamous asylum of its day but this was only the beginning of Robert’s bizarre journey. A true-crime story set in foggy Victorian England, The Wicked Boy is brilliantly researched and as compulsively readable as a mystery novel. The perfect book for a dark and stormy night.
THE WICKED BOY: THE MYSTERY OF A VICTORIAN CHILD MURDERER, by Kate Summerreule (Penguin, 2016)

In Amsterdam, 1631, master painter Sara de Vos paints a winter landscape called At the Edge of a Wood, defying the era’s gender roles—women were only supposed to paint indoor subjects. Fast forward to New York, 1957, when a graduate student named Ellie Shipley forges At the Edge of the Wood for an art dealer, an act that will haunt her for the rest of her life. This tale of two women, linked across time by a single painting, is intricately woven with fascinating insights into the art world.
THE LAST PAINTING OF SARA DE VOS, by Dominic Smith (Sarah Crichton, 2016)

When World War II was raging, General Eisenhower said, “When final victory is ours, there is no organization that will share its credit more deservedly than the Merchant Marine.” This is the true story of a group of seven brothers from tiny Mathews County, Virginia, who became merchant marines and targets of the German U-boats attacking American coastal ships in 1942. Though often overlooked by history, these men showed incredible bravery and made heart-wrenching sacrifices. A wholly fresh perspective on WWII.
THE MATHEWS MEN: SEVEN BROTHERS AND THE WAR AGAINST HITLER’S U-BOATS, by William Geroux (Viking, 2016)

A psychotic man drives a Mercedes through a crowd of people, killing eight and wounding many more. Bill Hodges is on the case, but he doesn’t have much of a lead until he mysteriously receives a message from the driver of the Mercedes, who is planning a much more ambitious crime that could kill thousands. lt’s up to Hodges and his unlikely sidekicks to catch a criminal mastermind before the clock runs out. Stephen King’s heart-pounding foray into crime fiction continues in Finders Keepers and End of Watch, books two and three in the Bill Hodges Trilogy.
MR. MERCEDES, by Stephen King (Scribner, 2014)

In a small village in rural Bengal, India, Sabitri gets a rare chance to attend college when her mother convinces a wealthy woman from Kolkata to sponsor her education. As Sabitri pursues her studies, she begins to fall for her patron’s son—but when she makes one tragic mistake, she risks losing the man she loves and her chance at a better life. Sabitri’s story is juxtaposed with the lives of her daughter and granddaughter, creating a beautiful cross-generational and transcontinental story about the legacies that mothers pass on to their daughters.
BEFORE WE VISIT THE GODDESS, by Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni (Simon & Shuster, 2016)

Randall Munroe, the mastermind behind the hilarious Web comic xkcd and the bestselling book What If, lands another huge success with Thing Explainer. Using only the thousand most common words in the English language, Munroe explores how things work in a way that actually makes sense, from the International Space Station (“the shared space house”) to human cells (“the bags of stuff inside you”). This is the encyclopedia you wish you’d had in grade school. Bill Gates called Thing Explainer “Brilliant . . . a wonderful guide for curious minds.”
THING EXPLAINER: COMPLICATED STUFF IN SIMPLE WORDS, by Randall Munroe (Houghton Miffin Harcourt, 2015)

Juan Diego is an orphan in Mexico working at the Oaxacan dumps. His younger sister, Lupe, has strange powers—she can read minds, and sometimes she can even predict the future. When Lupe foresees coming danger for Juan and herself they must fight to change their future, whatever the cost. The New York Times Book Review praised John lrving’s latest home run: “From the first page to the last, there is a goodness to this novel, a tenacious belief in love and the redemptive power of human connection.”
AVENUE OF MYSTERIES, by John Irving (Simon & Schuster 2015)

Tina Fontana, 30-year-old assistant to the famous CEO of a huge multimedia company, finds a loophole in the expense report system that might just let her pay off all of her student debt on the company’s dime. While she questions the ethics of stealing money, other disgruntled assistants drowning in debt rally behind her, and soon she is leading an unstoppable force: the revenge of the angry assistants. This breezy and comical novel is perfect after a stressful day at the office.
THE ASSISTANTS, by Camille Perri (G. P. Putnam's Sons, 2016)

Nora takes the train from London to visit her sister Rachel in the English countryside, but when she arrives at Rachel’s house, she finds her sister dead and all signs point to murder. Nora doesn't trust the police so she undertakes the investigation herself and as her desire to find the killer grows into an all-consuming obsession, Nora begins to lose her grip on sanity. This unflinching psychological thriller will keep you turning the pages long into the night.
UNDER THE HARROW, by Flynn Berry (Penguin, 2016)

If you’ve ever had a desire to become a burglar, this endlessly amusing book will show you the way. There are tips on how to infiltrate a building, break locks, avoid security, and open a bank’s vault. Along the way, there are stories of great criminal heists throughout time, from Ancient Rome to modern day. Whether you are plotting your supervillain career or you have no intentions of breaking the law, A Burglar? Guide to the City will keep you entertained and engrossed.
A BURGLAR’$ GUIDE T0 THE CITY, by Geoff Manaugh (Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 2016)

The women of Newport Cove, one of the safest neighborhoods in the US, have their share of secrets. Susan is stalking her ex-husband, Gigi’s relationship with her teenage daughter is crumbling, and Kellie is falling for her handsome coworker. But the newcomer to the street, Tessa, is hiding secrets the other women can’t begin to imagine. This suburban mystery deftly explores what lurks behind the manicured lawn and the white picket fence.
THE PERFECT NEIGHBORS, by Sarah Pekkanen (Wasbington Square, 2016)

Sixty-year-old Sully can't catch a break. He's broke, unemployed, and facing eviction, his arthritic knee is killing him, his ex-wife is quickly losing her mind, and he is haunted by memories of his abusive father. In spite of it all, Sully is utterly endearing—especially when he reconnects with his estranged son, who is facing his own set of difficulties. Like Richard Russo’s other novels, Nobody's Fool is a brilliant character study, rich with humor and warmth.
NOBODY’S FOOL, by Ricbarti Russo (Random House, 1993)

In 1933, Jean-Paul Sartre, Raymond Aron, and Simone de Beauvoir met at a Parisian café and enjoyed apricot co*cktails. Their discussion of philosophy was the seed of a new movement—existentialism. Sarah Bakewell’s lively history traces the existentialist movement from its humble origins in that little café to its modern-day relevance, shining a spotlight on a number of fascinating philosophers along the way. lt’s both brainy and breezy—and best enjoyed with an apricot co*cktail.
AT THE EXISTENTIALIST CAFE: FREEDOM, BEING, AND APRICOT co*ckTAILS, by Sarah Bakewell (Otber Press, 2016)

This poignant young reader°s novel tells the story of 13-year-old Suzy, who can’t believe it when her best and only friend, Franny, drowns. After all, Franny was a great swimmer. The only reasonable explanation, Suzy decides, is that Franny was stung by a rare Irukandji jellyfish, and she’s not going to let the case rest until she can prove her theory correct. A deeply moving account of a young girl’s unique experience with grief The Thing About Jellyfish will enchant children and remind adults what it’s like to be young, when the world feels big, scary, and beautiful all at once.
THE THING ABOUT JELLYFISH, by Ali Benjamin (Little, Brown, 2015)

Jan 01, 2018 05:29AM

One moment, 12-year-old Jensen Karp was rapping at a friend’s bar mitzvah in the L.A. burbs. The next, he was negotiating a huge recording deal with a major label, recording a rap album under the name “Hot Karl,” and brushing shoulders with future legends like Kanye West and will.i.am. The glory was short-lived, though; his album was canceled when another white rapper (code name Slim Shady) stole his thunder and his dream career. Never has a story of failure been delivered with so much humor and humility.
KANYE WEST OWES ME $300: AND OTHER TRUE STORIES FROM A WHITE RAPPER WHO ALMOST MADE IT BIG, by Jensen Karp (Crown Archetype, 2016)

After her grandmother dies, Cassie inherits a crumbling Ohio manor. It’s the perfect spot to mourn, until one day a stranger shows up at the door with some surprising news: Cassie is the sole beneficiary to the fortune of Jack Montgomery, a famous actor who had a secret connection to her grandmother. Jack's daughters aren’t going to let the estate out of their hands without a fight, though. Jumping from present day to the 1950s, June has it all: a spooky mansion, old-school Hollywood glamour, and a lot of small-town secrets.
JUNE, by Miranda Beverly-Whittemore (Crown, 2016)

This heart-pounding novel takes place over the course of one afternoon in Seattle, 1999, when tens of thousands of people gathered to protest the World Trade Organization. At the heart of the story is Victor, a runaway teenager who abandons his father, Police Chief Bishop, and gets swept up in the protest. As Bishop resorts to increasingly violent methods for controlling the mob, he risks losing any chance of reconciling with his son. The resolution will leave you breathless.
YOUR HEART IS A MUSCLE THE SIZE OF A FIST, by Sunil Yapa (Lee Boudreaux, 2016)

Violet is a popular cheerleader and Pinch is the school freak, so their paths don’t intersect very often-that is, until they both find themselves on the ledge of the school’s six-story-high bell tower, driven to the edge by their own personal demons. As they step back from death together, an unexpected and beautiful friendship begins to blossom. It may be a young adult novel, but All the Bright Places packs an emotional punch that will resonate with readers of all ages, and the writing is top-notch.
ALL THE BRIGHT PLACES, by Jennifer Niven (Knopf 2015)

This Pulitzer Prize winner may be one of the best pieces of historical fiction you’ll ever read. Michael Shaara brings the Battle of Gettysburg to life by imagining the thoughts and feelings of the key players on both sides of the fight, including familiar names like Robert E. Lee, as well as the lesser-known Colonel Joshua L. Chamberlain, who helped turn the tide of battle in favor of the Union. Shaara’s beloved Civil War Trilogy starts with Gods and Generals and ends with The Last Full Measure.
THE KILLER ANGELS, by Michael Snaara (1974; Modern Library, 2004)

Teo Avelar is a Brazilian medical student with a psychopathic streak. He lives with his paraplegic mother and has no friends, except for a cadaver—until he meets Clarice, an aspiring screenwriter. Teo falls head over heels for Clarice, and when she rejects his advances, he kidnaps her and takes her on a road trip across Brazil. This English debut from Brazilian crime writer Raphael Montes is a brilliant and unique psychological thriller.
PERFECT DAYS, by Raphael Montes, translated from the Portuguese by Alison Entrekin (Penguin, 2016)

Jan 01, 2018 05:29AM

With her daughters all grown up and out of the house, Leda feels relieved—and finally free. She heads to the Ionian Coast for a vacation and some much-needed alone time, but soon finds herself fixated on Nina, a young, beautiful, and attentive mother she meets at the beach. Nina’s daughter, Elena, is hopelessly devoted to a doll named Nani, and one day Leda steals the doll, for reasons she can’t admit to herself. This little crime is the first domino to fall—soon Nina’s life is unraveling before Leda’s eyes, and Leda must confront her own complicated feelings about motherhood. A rich and multifaceted drama from the acclaimed author of the Neapolitan series.
THE LOST DAUGHTER, by Elene Ferrante, translatd from the Italian by Ann Goldstein (Europa Editions, 2008)

You might be more familiar with the Stanley Kubrick-helmed film 2001: A Space Odyssey, but the novel adaptation—written by Kubrick’s coscreenwriter Arthur C. Clarke—demands a closer look. A mysterious monolith appears in Africa three million years ago, bewildering a society of ape-men. Flash-forward to present day: Dr. David Bowman and his fellow astronauts are on a spaceship bound for Saturn, but things go awry when the ship’s artihcial intelligence system begins to malfunction. As Clarke reveals the connections between these two story threads, things get weird—really weird. This oddball sci-fi classic is the perfect companion to the film, but also stands on its own.
2001: A SPACE ODYSSEY, by Arthur C. Clark (1968: Rac. 2000)

Craig Thompson is raised in a strict Evangelical Christian community, and as a young child he strives to do everything right—if he falters, his parents won’t hesitate to lock him away in a dark closet. Later, as a teenager preparing to enter the ministry, Craig meets a girl on a church retreat who makes him question everything he thought he knew about morality, faith, and love. This autobiographical graphic novel is a deeply personal coming-of-age story and will resonate with anyone who remembers the tumultuous teenage years. If you’re looking for a place to start with graphic novels, this is it.
BLANKETS, by Craig Thompson (Drawn and Quarterly, 2015)

The young nobleman and poet Orlando comes of age during the reign of Elizabeth I, serving as a page at the aging queen’s court. Later in life, Orlando undergoes a mysterious transformation—
after days of sleep, he awakes as a woman. And that’s not all—Lady Orlando has been blessed with an extraordinarily long life span. Living through the 18th and 19th centuries, Orlando comes face-to-face with a roster of famous English writers and poets. At once a satire of English literary history and a hugely influential feminist classic, Orlando is one of Woolf’s most beguiling works.
ORLANDO: A BIOGRAPHY, by Vrginia Woolf (1928; Mariner, 1973)

In Jonathan Safran Foer’s impressive debut novel, a young Jewish American college student travels to Ukraine to find the woman who helped save his grandfather during the Holocaust. His translator and companion for this adventure abroad is Alex Perchov, and the story is mostly told through Alex’s letters in broken English. Rounding out the cast are Alex’s very grumpy grandfather and a seeing-eye dog with behavioral issues. Foer deftly weaves humor into the story of a young man's quest to unearth his family’s complicated past.
EVERYTHING IS ILLUMINATED, by Jonarhan Safran Foer (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2002)

From the author of Because of Winn-Dixie and The Tale of Despereaux comes another instant children’s classic. After the death of his mother, Rob and his father relocate to the Kentucky Star Motel in Florida. One day Rob finds a caged tiger in the woods behind the motel, and this unusual discovery quickly sets into motion a series of events that offer Rob the chance to deal with his grief`and maybe even make a few new friends. A powerful story about healing that holds truths for readers of all ages.
THE TIGER RISING, by Kate DiCarmillo (Candlewick, 2002)

The tiny town of Clarinda, Iowa, doesn’t draw much attention but for sports fans, maybe it should. It was here in Clarinda, in a ball field between hog yards and corn fields, where legendary baseball coach Merl Eberly spent five decades turning local boys like Ozzie Smith and Von Hayes into some of the greatest Major League players in the sport’s history. Merl’s extraordinary story is about much more than baseball, though it’s about the power of a great mentor, the life lessons gained from teamwork, and the unexpected beauty ofAmerica’s heartland.
THE BASEBALL WHISPERER: A SMALL-TOWN COACH WHO SHAPED BIG LEAGUE DREAMS, by Michael Tackett (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2016)

Nobel laureate Toni Morrison’s first novel is the story of Pecola Breedlove, a young black girl growing up in a predominantly white community in Ohio. Pecola fervently wishes that she could have blonde hair and blue eyes so that she would feel “normal” and not be ridiculed anymore. As her obsession with her appearance and a bevy of personal struggles cause her mind to deteriorate, the novel raises important questions about race and standards of beauty. As always, Morrison’s prose is hauntingly beautiful.
THE BLUEST EYE, by Ybni Morrison (1970; Wntage, 2007)

What happens when two mythological creatures from different cultures collide in 1899 in New York City? Chava is a golem from Poland, made of clay by a rabbi practicing dark magic. Ahmad, a jinni, is a fire creature from Syria who is released from a copper flask in lower Manhattan. When they meet, folklores and cultures collide—and sparks fly. Magical from start to finish, this story of unlikely soul mates will leave you wanting more.
THE GOLEM AND THE JlNNI, by Helene Wecker (Harper Perennial, 2013)

From the author of The Other Boleyn Girl comes another sensational Tudor-era drama. When Henry VIII commands Kateryn Parr to marry him, she knows the odds of survival aren't exactly in her favor—his first five wives didn’t fare so well. But Kateryn is smart and resourceful, and while queen she becomes the first woman to publish writing in English and rules the country as regent when Henry is away at war. A fascinating look at a strong and courageous woman that history often overlooks.
THE TAMING OF THE QUEEN, by Philippa Gregory (Touchstone, 2015)

Eighteen-year-old Jill Charron wakes up in a hospital room with a bruised and broken body and no memory of the last six weeks. She learns that she was injured in an accident while on her senior trip to Italy. But as Jill begins to piece together the story of her trip abroad, she starts to suspect that the accident might not really have been an accident. A chilling and riveting tale of amnesia, With Malice was heralded as a “Seriously Scary Summer Read” by Entertainment Weekly.
WITH MALICE, by Eileen Cook (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 20I6)

Set in Northern California during the social upheaval of the late 1960s, this story follows Evie Boyd, a teenage girl neglected by her parents and searching for a community. She finds it in Suzanne, an older girl who exudes confidence and charm. Suzanne ushers Evie into a cult at a California ranch, but despite her initial excitement, Evie soon finds herself privy to terrible acts of violence. The Girls is a shocking and breathless debut from Emma Cline, a promising new author.
THE GIRLS, by Emma Cline (Random House, 2016)

Frankie Lombard was raised on an apple orchard surrounded by nature and family, and it’s the only life she can imagine. But with college fast approaching, Frankie must come to terms with the idea of leaving the orchard and venturing out into the world alone. The idyllic orchard comes alive through Jane Hamilton’s vivid and beautiful descriptions, and Frankie’s dilemma is sure to resonate profoundly with anyone who remembers leaving home for the first time.
THE EXCELLENT LOMBARDS, by Jane Hamilton (Grand Central 2016)

Hisham Matar’s father was kidnapped by Libyan dictator Muammar Qaddafi and thrown into prison when Hisham was just 19. This exquisite autobiography picks up 22 years later, after the fall of the Qaddafi regime, when Higham takes his mother and his wife on a trip to their homeland to search for the father he lost so long ago. A deeply moving meditation on the unbreakable bond between a father and son,
THE RETURN: FATHERS, SONS AND THE LAND IN BETWEEN, by Hisham Matar (Random House, 2016)

Valerie Torrey, former actress on a cult science-fiction TV show, packs up the car and heads west from New York with her nine-year-old son, Alex, in tow. The destination? California, where Alex will reunite with his estranged father, Valerie°s costar from the show. Along the way, Valerie makes appearances at comic book conventions across the country, and Alex gets a crash-course in the colorful world of superheroes and fandom. This zany coming-of age story is as magical and action-packed as the best comic books.
A HUNDRED THOUSAND WORLDS, by Bob Proehl (Viking 2016)

When first published in 1890, Oscar Wilde’s novel offended British readers with its hedonistic and sensual protagonist; and though less shocking for modern readers, the strange tragedy of Dorian Gray remains as enigmatic as ever. When a well-intending painter named Basil Hallward captures Dorian’s young and beautiful face in a portrait, Dorian wishes that he would remain forever young while his portrait ages. His vain wish is granted, and he quickly forsakes all his scruples in pursuit of a life of sheer pleasure-but a reckoning is coming.
THE PICTURE OF DORIAN GRAY, by Oscar Wide (I890; Penguin Classics, 2003)

George Hall is newly retired but struggling to enjoy it. His wife is cheating on him with his former coworker, his daughter is hurtling toward her second questionable marriage, and his gay son is convinced that the family isn’t ready to accept his sexuality. To top it off George, who is a hypochondriac, has a “spot of bother”-a discoloration on his skin that he is certain foretells his end. A brilliant and hilarious portrait of a family on the brink, from the writer of The Curious Incident of tbe Dog in the Night-Time.
A SPOT OF BOTHER, by Mark Haddon (Doubleday, 2006)

When Jenna Gray loses her five-year-old son in a hit-and-run accident, her grief leads her to a remote village on the Welsh coast, where she hopes to find a fresh start. Back home in Bristol, however, a full police investigation into her son’s death is underway, and the revelations might just pull jenna back into the unthinkable past. An intense psychological thriller with a jaw-dropping twist, perfect for fans of Gone Girl.
LET YOU GO, by Clare Mackintosh (Berkley, 2016)

In a dystopian, war-torn world where most people have evacuated to other planets, Rick Deckard is a bounty hunter lingering on Earth. lt’s Rick’s job to find and kill androids, but the latest batch of robots are nearly indistinguishable from humans, and Rick soon Ends himself in a moral quandary as he begins to empathize with the machines he’s supposed to destroy. Philip K. Dick is a science-fiction master, and this novel—the inspiration for the hit film Blade Runner—is one of his best.
DO ANDROIDS DREAM OF ELECTRIC SHEEP?, by Pnilip K Dick (1968; Del, Rey, 1996)

Jan 01, 2018 05:28AM

Fans of David Sedaris’s hilarious essays will love this anthology of his favorite short stories, featuring Alice Munro, Lorrie Moore, Tobias Wolff, Patricia Highsmith, Flannery O’Connor, Dorothy Parker, and many more brilliant writers. Blending classics with contemporaries, and the humorous with the serious, this collection is a beautiful tribute to the short story form and an interesting look at the writing that has influenced Sedaris, one of the world’s most cherished humorists.
CHILDREN PLAYING BEFORE A STATUE OF HERCULES, edited by David Sedaris (Simon & Schuster, 2005)

This tour de force from Barbara Kingsolver is the story of Nathan Price, a deeply troubled evangelical Baptist minister who uproots his family and takes them to the Belgian Congo in 1959. As Nathan, his wife, and their four daughters face poisonous snakes, unwelcoming villagers, and the beginnings of a political revolution led by the Congolese, their faith and resolve are tested in extraordinary ways.
THE POISONWOOD BIBLE, by Barbara Kingsolver (HarperCollins, 1998)

The lie tree produces fruit when it hears a lie, but when consumed, the fruit reveals a secret truth. It may be the only way for Faith Sunderly to figure out who killed her father, a famous reverend and scientist. But the lies that Faith must conjure in order for the plant to grow begin to lead her down a dark path. She needs to solve the whodunit, and fast, because she’s already in the murderer’s crosshairs. Blending fantasy and suspense, The Lie Tree is an addictive young adult mystery with a bold and inspiring heroine.
THE LIE TREE, by Frances Hardinge (Amulet, 2016)

On spring break in Miami Beach, college student Flora Dane was kidnapped. After over a year of torture and confinement, Flora killed her captor and escaped, but now, seven years later, Flora has disappeared again. As detective D. D. Warren races to find her, secrets come to light that suggest Flora might not be a victim this time—she might be a vigilante. Dozens of shocking twists await the reader in this spellbinding thriller.
FIND HER, by Lisa Gardner (Dutton, 2016)

Jan 01, 2018 05:28AM

This fictionalized account of the relationship between Truman Capote and the “Swans” of 1950s New York is as glamorous and seductive as the society it depicts. When Capote rolls into town, he falls into the company of Barbara “Babe” Paley and her squad of elite socialite women. But Capote seems to leave a wake of destruction wherever he goes, and when his drug addiction begins to spiral out of control, Babe and her friends will not make it out unscathed.
THE SWANS OF FIFTH AVENUE, by Melanie Benjamin (Delacorte, 2016)

Though Catch-22 was published in the heyday ofthe 1960s counterculture, it has stood the test of time beautifully. Set in Italy during WWII, this is the story of John Yossarian, a bombardier who doesn°t understand why so many people want to kill him. He is always on the verge of completing the number of combat missions he needs to finish his service, but the army keeps raising the minimum, driving Yossarian quite literally mad. Catch-22 is one of the smartest, funniest books you’ll ever read.
CATCH-22, by Joseph Heller (1961; Simon & Schuster, 2011)

The Nile shows up in history time and again, from Ancient Egypt to biblical stories to Victorian-era adventures, but Levison Wood is the first person to walk its entire 4,000-mile length, from the river’s beginning in Rwanda all the way to the Mediterranean Sea. Every step along the way is a thrilling adventure—Wood encounters angry hippos and vicious Crocodiles, becomes a local celebrity in Uganda, and gets detained by the secret police in South Sudan.
An epic travel narrative for fans of Cheryl Strayed’s Wild.
WALKING THE NILE, by Levison Wood (Atlantic Monthh Press, 2016)

If you think you learned everything about the Revolutionary War in school, think again—Nathaniel Philbrick’s account of the years 1776 through 1780 focuses on two men integral to the revolution, George Washington and Benedict Arnold, blending history with riveting character studies. While Washington grows from an unsteady general to a strong leader, Arnold’s doubts about the American cause eventually culminate in a heart-wrenching betrayal. This fascinating read manages to build edge-of-your-seat tension and uncertainty into a familiar story about a nation’s beginnings.
VALIANT AMBITION: GEORGE WASHINGTON, BENEDICT ARNOLD, AND THE FATE OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION, by Nathanie! Philbriek (Viking, 2016)

Following up on her New York Times bestseller Is Everyone Hanging Out With Me? the creator of The Mindy Project is back with a collection of essays that are as hilarious and intelligent as you would expect. Her down-to-earth style makes her anecdotes about TV stardom, celebrity gal-pals, and dating fellow stars accessible. Her style is personal and warm—you might just feel like Mindy is your new best friend.
WHY NOT ME?, by Mindy Kaling (Crown Archetype, 2015)

Anna hears voices whenever she°s around her young daughter, and her sociopathic husband isn’t making her life any easier. When Anna runs away with her daughter and takes up residence in a shabby hotel on the coast of Maine, her husband is soon in hot pursuit, and the hotel might not be such a safe haven. After all, something isn’t quite right with the other guests at the hotel. This eerie psychological thriller—a Pulitzer Prize finalist—is not for the faint of heart.
SWEET LAMB OF HEAVEN, by Lydia Millet (W W Norton, 2016

Daniel Sullivan is collecting his grandfather’s ashes in Ireland when he meets Claudette, a former film star who staged a dramatic disappearance from Hollywood and fled to an Irish farmhouse. They both have painful memories and complicated family histories they want to leave behind, but as they build a new life together in Ireland, they soon realize that you can never fully escape the past. No matter how many love stories you’ve read, This Must Be The Place feels fresh from start to finish.
THIS MUST BE THE PLACE, by Maggie O'Farrell (Knopf 2016)

Seventeen-year-old Yuri might be the only person on Earth who knows how to stop a deadly asteroid that’s racing toward the planet. The problem is, NASA's physicists refuse to listen to the advice of a kid, even one as brilliant as Yuri. While he struggles to make his voice heard before Earth is destroyed, Yuri also meets a captivating girl named Dovie who reminds him why life really is worth saving. A wildly creative end-of-days story with a lot of heart.
LEARNING T0 SWEAR IN AMERICA, by Katie Kennedy (Bloomsbury USA Children's, 2016)

This is a fictionalized account of real-life Russian composer Dmitri Shostakovich, but you don’t have to be a classical music fan to enjoy this beautifully Woven novel. In the 1930s, as Stalin and the Soviet Union begin censoring art, Shostakovich faces a dilemma: Does he risk his life by continuing to make his controversial music after Stalin has denounced it, or does he conform to Soviet values and survive? The Noise of Yirne is a poignant treatise on freedom, integrity, and art.
THE NOISE OF TIME, by Julian Barnes (Knopf 2016)

The After Party is the story of Joan and Cece, two glamorous socialites in 1950s Houston. While Cece is reserved and pursues a traditional life—marriage to a good man and a child to dote on—Joan is a free spirit with a dangerous streak Who defies society’s expectations for Women. As Joan’s behavior becomes increasingly alarming to Cece, their unlikely friendship is put to the test. An excellent beach read.
THE AFTER PARTY, by Anton DiSclafani (Riverhead, 2016)

Oxford professor Henry Lytten has an ambitious goal: He Wants to Write an epic fantasy novel as good as The Lord of the Rings. His partner-in-crime is his young neighbor Rosie, who gladly listens to all of Lytten’s story ideas. One day Rosie stumbles into Lytten’s cellar and discovers a portal to a magical world, and soon she is on a fantastic quest of her own. Arcadia is a gem of a book about the power of storytelling.
ARCADIA, by Iain Pears (Knopf 2016)

When a teenage girl named Jenny Kramer is attacked at a party in the small town of Fairview, Connecticut, she turns to a psychiatrist to work through the trauma. He proposes an unusual medication—a drug that can erase Jenny’s memories of the assault. She decides to take the drug, but the community of Fairview is not yet ready to forget the crime. A taut psychological thriller, brimming with secrets and suspense.
ALL IS NOT FORGOTTEN, by Wendy Walker (St. Martins Press, 2016)

Kyung Cho resents his parents, ]in and Mae, after a childhood of abuse and neglect. He is determined to create a stronger family with his wife, Gillian, and their son, Ethan. But when ]in and Mae barely survive a home invasion and attack, Kyung is obliged to take in his parents and care for them under his own roof Family tensions reach a boiling point as Kyung comes to terms with his old family, his new family, and himself A beautifully rendered family drama with many rich insights into parent-child relationships.
SHELTER, by Jung Yun (Picafor, 2016)

Robert Hendricks is a London author trying to escape the painful memories of his experience in World War ll.
Dr. Pereira, a neurologist and a World War I vet, is a fan of Robert’s work. When their paths cross on a tiny island south of France, Robert finally has the chance to share his demons with a kindred soul-and the memories he tried so long to suppress turn out to be beautiful, heartbreaking, and inspiring all at once. This breathtaking drama gets to the heart of what it means to be human
WHERE MY HEART USED T0 BEAT, by Sebastian Faulks (Henry Holt, 2016)

Will Rhodes has a job most of us would envy-he’s a travel writer, traipsing across the globe on behalf of Travelers, a New York City-based magazine. He gets more than he bargained for, though, when he is caught on film cheating on his wife in Argentina. The strangers who own the footage blackmail Will, and soon he gets entangled in a deep web of international conspiracy. Shifting from Iceland to Paris to Dublin to Barcelona and beyond, this country-hopping adventure will appeal to fans of lan Fleming and James Rollins.
THE TRAVELERS, by Cbris Paz/one (Crown, 2016)

In a futuristic, social media-saturated world, Zoey Ashe lives in a trailer park on a minimum-wage salary, until her estranged father dies and she inherits a massive fortune. The money isn’t exactly clean, though, and Zoey is now the target of the city’s most dangerous denizens who believe they have a claim to the cash. Hilarity ensues as Zoey navigates her new, hazardous life with the help of her very smelly cat, Stench Machine. You’ll be laughing out loud every step of the way.
FUTURISTIC VIOLENCE AND FANCY SUITS, by David Wong (Thomas Dunne, 2015)

uthor Brad Watson captures the American South like few other writers can. Miss ]ane Chisolm, born and raised in rural Mississippi in the early 1900s, suffers from a rare birth defect that prevents her from having children.
Unable to serve the role that society expects of her, ]ane is free to live her life as she pleases-and her journey as a Hercely independent woman is nothing short of inspiring. ln a starred review, Libraryfoarnal praised Watson’s Missfane as “sensitive, beautifully precise prose.”
MISS JANE, oy Brad Wztson (W W Norton, ZOIQ

In France during World War I, British troops find a wounded officer at the base of a tree on a battlefield. He is carried to the nearest British aid station where he is placed into the care of nurse Bess Crawford. But Bess soon realizes that her patient is not what he seems . . . he’s French, not British, and he speaks fluent German. As Bess seeks to understand who this man is and Whose side he’s on, she puts her own life in grave danger. This rich and compelling mystery set against the dramatic backdrop of war will inspire readers to pick up the other installments in the Bess Crawford series.
THE SHATTERED TREE, by Charles Yoda (William Morrow, 2016)

For generations, the women in Simon Watson’s family have performed as circus mermaids, aided by their ability to stay underwater for a very long time. But they have also all drowned on the same date—July 24—a date fast approaching again, Simon suspects his sister, Enola, a tarot card reader who joined the Circus six years ago, might be the next victim of the family curse that as already claimed his mother, and it’s a race against time to save her. The Book of Speculation reads like a modern fairy tale, darkly enchanting and memorable.
THE BOOK OF SPECULATION, Erika Swyler (St. Martin’s Press, 2015)

Lada Dragwyla grows up as a political pawn in the Ottoman Empire, separated from her family in Wallachia and only safe with the Ottomans as long as she stays quiet. But Lada was not born to be quiet—in fact, she is hatching a plot to fight the empire that has enslaved her. The only complication? She happens to be falling in love with the young heir to the Ottoman throne. Part period piece, part love story, part political thriller, And I Darken is immersive and epic.
AND I DARKEN, by Kiersten White (Delacorte, 2016)

Roald Dahl’s books are an absolute delight, and Matilda is one of his most beloved. Matilda is a brilliant young girl with a penchant for mischief. She’s got her fair share of adversaries—her parents despise her, and Miss Trunchbull, the nasty headmistress at Matilda’s new school, loathes children. But with the help of a kind teacher and a little bit of magic, Matilda is determined to rise above it all and create a beautiful new life for herself
MATILDA, by Roald Dahl; illustrated by Quentin Blake (1988; Puffin, 2013)

Jan 01, 2018 05:28AM

This children’s classic, first published in 1908, still holds a wealth of wonders for modern readers-young and old alike. Springtime has arrived in the Thames Valley, and Mole can’t be bothered anymore with his spring-cleaning. He ventures outdoors and ends up on a wild adventure with Rat, Toad, and Badger, discovering both the beauty of nature and the value of camaraderie. It’s charming, heartwarming, and the best kind of nostalgic.
THE WIND IN THE WILLOWS, by Kenneth Grahame; illustrated by E. H Shepard (1908; Penguin Classics, 2005)

A comedy of manners for the 21st century, A Wife of Noble Character is the story of Vivienne Cally, an orphan from a wealthy family who is raised by her cold-hearted aunt in Houston, Texas. She grows up under the judgmental eyes of elite socialites, who expect her to marry rich and settle down. When she finally does fall in love, however, it’s with a man who couldn’t care less about tradition and social norms. It’s a life of privilege versus the love of a renegade, and there’s no shortage of drama and humor as Vivienne sorts it all out.
A WIFE OF NOBLE CHARACTER, by Yvonne Georgina Puig (Henry Holt, 2016)

Before post-apocalyptic became a buzzword, there was this masterpiece from Cormac McCarthy, and it remains one of the most affecting visions of a future Earth torn apart by violence. The ground is ash, the sky is dark, and it’s bitterly cold. In these conditions, a father and son—armed with only a revolver and two bullets—brave the journey to the coast, facing cannibals, starvation, and terrifying moral choices at every turn. They don’t know what awaits them at the coast, but they can only hope it’s something better than the world they know.
THE ROAD, by Cormac McCarthy (Vintage, 2006)

Dangerous creatures roam the deserts of Miraji, but humans can stay relatively safe in the town of Dustwalk. Amani, a young orphan, doesn’t want to play by the rules, though—she jumps at the chance to flee Dustwalk with a foreign man named Jin, and together they brave the harsh deserts and all of the dark forces that lurk among the dunes. With a strong female protagonist, nail-biting action, a large dose of romance, and a beautifully imagined world, Rebel of the Sands will leave you desperate for the sequel.
REBEL OF THE SANDS, by Alwyn Hamilton (Viking, 2016)

For fans of All the Light We Cannot See, here is a masterfully wrought tale of war, tragedy, and resilience. Joana, Emilia, and Florian are struggling to survive in East Prussia in the later days of World War ll. Their only hope is to board the William Gustloff, an evacuation ship that promises freedom. But the Wilhelm is bound for its own tragic fate, and survival is far from guaranteed. Kirkus Reviews said it best: “Heartbreaking, historical, and a little bit hopeful.”
SALT TO THE SEA, by Ruta Sepetys (Philomel, 2016)

When Christine and her husband, Marcus, learn that they are unable to conceive a child, they decide to find a donor. Two months later, after selecting blond-haired and blue-eyed Donor 3319, Christine is thrilled to be pregnant . . . until she sees a report of a serial killer on the news, a man who looks uncannily like Donor 3319. Unnerved, Christine soon becomes obsessed with the alleged murderer, and is determined to prove that the biological father of her unborn child is innocent. The Washington Post called author Lisa Scottoline “a virtuoso of suspense, fast action, and intricate plot.”
MOST WANTED, by Lisa Scottoline (St. Martin’s Press, 2016)

In the 1930s, as severe dust storms storms wreak havoc across the Dust Bowl, Annie Bell struggles to survive on her Oklahoma farm as the crops die and her children grow sick from dust pneumonia. Meanwhile, Annie’s husband is having dreams of rainfall . . . but his dreams are turning into nightmares. A beautifully written tale of a family’s hardship, I Will Send Rain is full of unforgettable imagery and vivid insights into the human condition.
I WILL SEND RAIN, by Rae Meadows (Henry Holt, 2016)

Jan 01, 2018 05:27AM

If you’ve ever wanted to create something with your hands, let Robert Penn be your guide. Penn’s adventure began when he cut down a single ash tree and decided to craft as many objects from it as he could. His exploration of woodworking took him across the world as he met the very best wood artisans and learned how to make wagon wheels, bows and arrows, and much more. Of course, Penn’s story is about more than woodworking—his writing shines with a reverence for nature and the thrill of creating.
THE MAN WHO MADE THINGS OUT OF TREES, by Robert Penn (W. W. Norton, 2016)

Jazzy lives a glitzy life in Singapore, and she has a plan that will help her and her girlfriends climb even farther up the social ladder: They will marry Western expats by the end of the year and start having babies. Old-world tradition stands in the way, but Jazzy is used to getting what she wants by any means necessary. Like a modern-day Jane Austen novel set in Asia, Sarong Party Girls is a sharp and hilarious satire of social ambition and the tricky politics of love.
SARONG PARTY GIRLS, by Cheryl Ln-Lien Tan (William Morrow, 2016)

Welcome to London in the year 2052. Our hero is Cuthbert Handley, who has an extraordinary gift: He can communicate with animals. He’s been hearing their voices ever since he was a child, and now the voices have commanded him to break into the London Zoo and open all of the cages. Just as Cuthbert is setting the animals free, however, a dangerous cult invades London and throws the city into chaos. A dark and creative reimagining of Noah’s Ark that will delight fans of dystopian stories.
NIGHT OF THE ANIMALS, by Bill Brown (Ecco, 2016)

Here is a book for anyone who savors beautiful language. We don’t know our narrator’s name, and nothing extraordinary is happening in her life; but through her observant eyes, we witness her day-to-day routines in a small coastal village, and every page is a reminder that magic can be found in the most unsuspecting places. Like Virginia Woolf’s Mrs. Dalloway, Pond explores the internal life of a fascinating woman, and the result is utterly compelling. Vogue called Pond "A gorgeous debut . . . that enchants to the final page.”
POND, by Claire-Louise Bennett (Riverbend 2O16)

The Romanovs were a hugely successful and influential dynasty for three centuries, but behind the scenes, scandal and danger lurked around every corner. Focusing on everyone from Catherine the Great and Bismarck to Tolstoy and Rasputin, here are tales of illicit affairs, assassinations, family betrayals, and horrifying wars. Like the best historical nonfiction, it’s both educational and utterly sensational, and Montefiore's writing is exquisite.
THE ROMANOVS: 1613-1918, by Simon Sebtag Montefiore (Knopf,2016)

Fans of the Percy Jackson books will be delighted with this first installment in a new saga from Rick Riordan. This is the story of the Greek god Apollo, who ticks off his father, Zeus, and gets banished to New York City, stripped of his powers. Being a god was never that simple, but surviving in the modern world as a regular kid might be even more of a challenge. Another instant classic from Riordan, who Publishers Weekly called “Storyteller of the Gods.”
THE TRIALS OF APOLLO, BOOK 1: THE HIDDEN ORACLE, by Rick Riordan (Disney-Hyperion, 2016)

Mary and her husband, Graham, are thrilled with their new cottage, perfectly located in a tiny, idyllic English village. It has old-world charm, a lovely garden, and an apple orchard. But as Mary soon discovers, it may also be under the influence of an evil presence. Shifting between present-day and 150 years ago, when a red-haired man suffered a terrible accident outside the cottage, The Stopped Heart is an engrossing haunted house yarn that will give you chills.
THE STOPPED HEART, by Julie Myerson (Harper Perennial, 2016)

In 16th-century Venice, one of the glassmakers behind the invention of the mirror hatches a plan to escape the island, a crime punishable by death. His fate is intrinsically linked to two other individuals in two other Venices, as the story hops to 1950s Venice Beach in California and the Las Vegas Venice casino in the 21st century. An epic time-traveling, globetrotting adventure, The Mirror Thief delight fans of Cloud Atlas and The Goldfinch.
THE MIRROR TIEF, by Martin Seay (Melville, 2016)

Four college friends graduate in the late 1990s with wide eyes and heads full of dreams. They go their separate ways: Eva goes into banking and Benedict pursues a PhD in physics, while Sylvie and Lucien lead bohemian lives among artists and partiers. Flash-forward twenty years and they have all failed to realize their dreams. Yearning for simpler times, they find their way back to one another in a heartwarming fashion. Invincible Summer is a testament to the power of life-long friendship.
INVINCIBLE SUMMER, by Alice Adams (Little, Brown, 2016)

Calvin Sidey was once a local legend—a Montana-bred cowboy who deserted his family to live by himself on the prairie. Now it’s 1963, Calvin is in his seventies living in a trailer outside of town, and the son he abandoned has a favor to ask: Can Calvin babysit his two grandchildren for a week? As Calvin returns to the town he once left behind, he must come to terms with his past and the choices he°s made. This quiet, thoughtful novel is a beautiful meditation on family.
AS GOOD AS GONE, by Larry Watson (Algonquin, 2016)

Sir Charles is the latest member of the Baskerville family to meet a terrible fate on the moors by Baskerville Hall, and everyone’s favorite detective is called in to investigate. Rumor has it that the culprit is a hellhound lurking in the dark and dangerous moors, and while Sherlock believes there must be a more rational explanation, he can’t entirely rule out the supernatural. This spooky mystery is the perfect introduction to the wonderful world of Sherlock Holmes.
THE HOUND OF THE BASKERVILLES, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle (1902; Puffin, 2012)

Regardless of whether you’re familiar with the true story of Patty Hearst, this riveting historical account will keep you glued to the page. In the early 1970s, Patty—a college student and the heir to the massive Hearst fortune—was captured by the Symbionese Liberation Army. The world waited with bated breath for her rescue . . . until video footage was released showing that Patty had joined the revolutionaries. By exploring Patty’s infamous story, masterful historian Jeffrey Toobin crafts a fascinating portrait of American culture and paranoia in the 1970s.
AMERICAN HEIRESS: THE WILD SAGA OF THE KIDNAPPING, CRIMES AND TRIAL OF PATTY HEARST, by Jeffrey Toobin (Doubleday, 2016)

Justine and her family move from London to Devon in search of a quieter life. What they find instead is a nightmare. It starts when Justine’s daughter Ellen drops out of her new school because her best friend George was expelled. Justine speaks to the principal and learns that there never was a George. Ellen, meanwhile, is busy writing a gruesome story about an alternate family living in their new house—a family being murdered by the youngest daughter. A Game for All the Family is an ingenious puzzle that will keep you guessing until the very end.
A GAME FOR ALL THE FAMILY, by Sophie Hannah (William Morrow, 2016)

"A brief history of humankind” might sound like an impossible feat, but Yuval Noah Harari’s treatise on human evolution is shockingly easy and enjoyable to read—and his wry sense of humor will keep you smiling. He begins with one question: Out of the six species of humans that existed a hundred thousand years ago, how did hom*o sapiens come to dominate the planet? It’s not a simple answer, but historian Dr. Harari is more than up to the task, offering fascinating insights into what it means to be human.
SAPIENS: A BRIEF HISTORY OF HUMANKIND, by Yaval Noah Harari (Harper, 2015)

When Beth follows her husband, Matt, to Washington D.C., so he can pursue a political career, she quickly grows disillusioned with their new social scene, a world of elitist dinner parties and coded conversations. Beth and Matt feel lost, until they cross paths with a friendly White House Staffer named Jimmy, and his wife, Ashleigh. They become a tight-knlt group . . . but Jimmy is bound for glory, and he might just leave everyone behind in his wake. A razor-sharp and cheeky portrayal of young political ambition and the havoc it can wreak.
THE HOPEFULS, by Jennifer Close (Knopf, 2016)

During WWII, Leo Auberg, a gay German teenager, is deported from Romania and shipped to a forced-labor camp in the Soviet Union. The work is unbelievably grueling—but the biggest challenge is hunger. As Leo starves along with his fellow prisoners, he must keep a strong grip on his mind if he wants to leave the camp with his sanity intact. Like Herta Müller’s other novels, this work of literary fiction is not an easy read, but the rewards are many: beautiful language, vivid images, and a protagonist who will stay with you long after you turn the last page.
THE HUNGER ANGEL, by Herta Müller, translated from the German by Philip Boehm (Metropolitan, 2012)

In The Dreamer, Pam Munoz Ryan brilliantly imagines the childhood of beloved Nobel Prize-winning poet Pablo Neruda. A sensitive and shy Chilean boy, Pablo is discouraged from developing his creativity by his harsh father and the cruel neighborhood kids. But Pablo hears poetry wherever he goes—and his pursuit of beautiful language leads him on a journey across Chile’s stunning landscapes, from the rain forests down to the ocean. A deeply moving tribute to poetry, nature, and self-discovery.
THE DREAMER, by Pam Muńoz Ryan; illustrated by Peter Sis (Scholastic, 2010)

First published in 1936, this bestseller from then-editor of Vogue Marjorie Hillis is a hilarious, warm, and surprisingly enduring manifesto on the single life. While some of the tips may seem outdated (get the right “coiffure” to make yourself feel elegant, and remember that “the civilized place for any woman to have breakfast is in bed”), much of Hillis’s tongue-in-cheek advice is still relevant today as she explores the glorious benefits of living alone and the empowerment and self-reliance that develop when you set aside the time to take care of yourself.
LIVE ALONE AND LIKE IT: THE CLASSIC GUIDE FOR THE SINGLE WOMAN, by Marjorie Hillis (1936; Hachette, 2008)

Attorney Paul Madriani’s latest client is Emma Brauer, who is facing a conviction for “mercy killing” her father, Robert Emma claims she’s innocent, and Paul is inclined to believe her—but if he wants to prove it, he’s going to have to untangle a decades-old conspiracy dating back to Robert Brauer’s service in World War II. An old Nazi relic known as the “Blood Flag” might just hold the answers. Kirkus Reviews praised the “sure-handed, suspenseful storytelling” in Martini’s latest runaway hit.
BLOOD FLAG: A PAUL MADR|AN| NOVEL, by Steve Martini (William Morrow, 2016)

It’s hard to keep track of all the headlines these days about nutrition—what’s good for you one day seems to be terrible for you the next, and words like “organic,” “cage-free,” and “free-range” can get downright confusing. Luckily Larry Olmsted is here to help you sort it all out, revealing what’s really going on behind the scenes in the food industry and how you can make informed choices about what you eat. It’s revelatory, sometimes shocking, and always brilliantly researched.
REAL FOOD/FAKE FOOD: WHY YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU’RE EATING AND WHAT YOU CAN D0 ABOUT IT, by Larry Olmsted (Algonquin, 2016)

Jan 01, 2018 05:27AM

Nick and Phoebe Maguire are expecting a breezy life on the beach when they relocate to Southern California. Instead, they find themselves broke and facing foreclosure in a neighborhood filled with paranoid homeowners who carry shotguns. Nick and Phoebe each devise their own plans for getting life back on track—but unless they work together, they might lose their marriage in the midst of all the chaos. A dark yet riveting portrait of suburbia-gone-wrong.
CAROUSEL COURT, by Joe McGinniss Jr. (Simon & Schuster, 2016)

While he was hiking the Appalachian Trail, Robert Moor began to think about paths and their origins. Why do we make them? What makes one person decide to stay on a trail, while another veers off into the wild? Do animals form trails, too? In search of answers, Moor traveled across the world, studying Native American trails, ant trails, modern highways, and much more. This is the collection of insights he found along the way—and the result goes far beyond the physical trail, touching on what it means to be a person searching for the right path in life. Profound and surprising.
ON TRAILS; AN EXPLORATION, by Robert Moor (Simon & Schuster, 2016)

A family of werewolves lurks in the shadows on the fringes of society, poor and distrusted by everyone. A young boy born into this family must wait till adolescence to see if he has the wolf gene that will lead to his own transformation, but in the meantime he must come to terms with his family’s biggest problem: discrimination from a world that just doesn’t understand. This is a monster yarn unlike anything you've read before, beautifully written and heartfelt.
MONGRELS, by Stephen Graham jones (Wiliam Morrow, 2016)

When the body of a young boy is discovered in Stockholm, Detective Jeanette Kihlberg is on the case. lt’s anything but simple: The police force won’t give her the resources she needs, the prosecutor is apathetic, and when more children are found dead, Jeanette realizes that this is not an isolated incident. As her investigation puts her on the trail of an elusive serial killer lurking in Sweden, this tense crime drama builds to a harrowing conclusion.
THE CROW GIRL, by Erik Axl Sund, translated from the Swedish by Neil Smith (Knopf 2016)

Catherine West loves her Manhattan apartment, her collectron of line art, and her expensive handbags. She has everything she wants—except for a family. When she meets Wllllam Stockton, a charming man who shares her taste for the liner things, Catherine thinks she’s hit the jackpot. But William is not what he appears to be, and if Catherine wants to find out the truth about her new lover she will have to risk her life of luxury. A sensational story of love, wealth, and dangerous secrets.
WE COULD BE BEAUTIFUL, by Swan Huntley (Doubleday, 2016)

Jan 01, 2018 05:27AM

Amy Schumer’s collection of personal essays is just as funny, bold, and insightful as her comedy. Whether she’s refiecting on her upbringing and her first experiences with romance or revealing the dark and hilarious secrets of her CrossFit instructor, Schumer always manages the deft trick of seeming like your best friend—the one who always has a fantastic story to share when you meet up for a drink. You will definitely laugh, you might cry, and you will easily understand how Amy Schumer became one of the world’s biggest comediennes.
THE GIRL WITH THE LOWER BACK TATTOO, by Amy Schumer (Gallery, 2016)

Alice Pearse is determined to have it all—the perfect job, the perfect family, and a happy life. But while she’s juggling three children, a dog, part-time editorial work, and a new job at a hip start-up, her life—and her marriage—begin to spin out of control. As she scrambles to pick up the pieces, Alice realizes that having it all might not be such a realistic goal. Funny and warmhearted, A Window Opens explores what happens when you bite off more than you can chew.
A WINDOW OPENS, by Elisabeth Egan (Simon & Schuster, 2015)

Set in the early 16th century in what is now Germany, The Castle of KIngs is the riveting story of two young lovers trying to survive a revolution. Agnes is the daughter of a wealthy aristocrat, and Mathis, her childhood friend, is poor. Naturally, they can’t be together—until thousands of peasants revolt against the upper class and Agnes flees town with Mathis. It's love on the run, and danger lurks around every turn. A winning blend of history, action, and romance.
THE CASTLE OF KINGS, by Oliver Pötzsch, translated from the German by Anthea Bell (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2016)

In Victorian London, an escaped prisoner drowns in the cold waters of the Thames. All clues point to a conspiracy, and Commander Monk of the Thames River Police is called in to investigate; but Monk is increasingly plagued by amnesia, and he struggles to piece together the mysteries of his own past, let alone solve a crime that grows more convoluted by the minute. If you enjoy Revenge in a Cold River, you’ll be pleased to know that Anne Perry has a whole series of brilliant thrillers starring Commander Monk.
REVENGE IN A COLD RIVER, by Anne Perry (Ballantine, 2016)

Often overlooked in the history of space exploration is the team of brilliant women who worked at California’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in the 1940s and ’50s. Led by Macie Roberts, these “human computers” used math to calculate designs for superior rockets and the first American satellites, paving the way for America’s space program. Author Narhalia Holt explores the lives of these incredible women with unbridled enthusiasm, showing how they overcame prejudice and changed history forever. A wonderful book club pick, ripe for discussion.
RISE OF THE ROCKET GIRLS: THE WOMEN WHO PROPELLED US, FROM MISSILES T0 THE MOON T0 MARS, by Nathalia Holt (Little, Brown, 2016)

Riley MacPherson’s life is plagued by loss. Her sister Lisa committed suicide, her brother Danny won’t speak to her, and now her father has died. When Riley returns to her childhood home to reconnect with Danny and go through her father’s personal things, she finds startling evidence that Lisa might still be alive—but living with a new identity and a slew of secrets. A dramatic and arresting portrayal of a dysfunctional family and the unbreakable bond between siblings.
SILENT SISTER, by Diane Cbamberlain (St. Martin's Press, 2014)

Evelyn Beegan is no stranger to high society. Her upper-middle-class mother has obsessively clawed her way up the social ladder, sending Evelyn to an elite prep school in New England and exposing her to Manhattan’s posh Upper East Side. Evelyn still has a nagging feeling that she doesn’t truly belong in this world of wealth and power, and she decides that the only way to fit in is to begin telling lies—lots of them. The drama is explosive in this wry tale of ruthless social ambition, which reads like a modern F. Scott Fitzgerald or Edith Wharton novel.
EVERYBODY RISE, by Stephanie Clifford (St. Martin's Press, 2015)

Ben Jones is a trucker serving the isolated people who live off Route 117 in the Utah desert, and they are a rich and fascinating cast of characters. One day he finds a gorgous woman named Claire living in an abandoned house, and he knows she's running from something. In fact, Claire’s demons aren't far behind, and when her past catches up to her the lives of everyone on Route 117 will be changed forever. The Never-Open Diner is an addictive noir mystery set in an unlikely corner of the world.
THE NEVER-OPEN DESERT DINER, by James Anderson (Caravel, 2015)

In 1971, David Hepworth was 21 years old, witnessing the explosion of rock and roll firsthand. Now, after a long and successful career as a music journalist, he turns his eye back to that fateful year when Pink Floyd, David Bowie, Joni Mitchell, and other stars arrived on the scene, ushering in a new era of music and capturing his imagination. Hepworth’s enthusiasm for rock is totally contagious»—this book is best enjoyed with Led Zeppelin’s “Stairway to Heaven” playing in the background.
NEVER A DULL MOMENT: 1971 THE YEAR THAT ROCK EXPLODED, by David Hepworth (Henry Holt, 2016)

Elsa is seven years old and her only friend is her wacky grandmother, who entertains her with stories of the Land of Almost-Awake. When Granny dies, Elsa discovers a series of letters that Granny wrote to the other tenants in their apartment building apologizing for various offenses. As Elsa sets out to deliver the letters, she learns that her grandmothers fairy tales might not have been so make-believe after all. An uplifting story about a special friendship and the power of imagination.
MY GRANDNIOTHER ASKED ME TO TELL YOU SHE’S SORRY, by Fredrik Backman, translated fom tbe Swedish by Henning Koch (Atria, 2015)

In the not-so-distant future, the United States has become the Republic of Gilead, and women have been stripped of their rights. Offred is one of the Handmaids, a group of women expected to get pregnant and then turn their children over to the ruling class. Offred remembers better days before she was separated from her own family—but if she wants information on her husband and daughter, she’s going to have to play her cards right. If you’ve never read Margaret Atwood before, this is the place to start.
THE HANDMAID’S TALE, by Margaret Atwood (1985, Anchor Books, 1998)

Ivan the gorilla lives in a glass cage at the Exit 8 Big Top Mall and Video Arcade. He doesn’t think much about his family or the jungle where he was born, until the arrival of a frightened baby elephant named Ruby reminds him of the sad truth: They have both been stolen from their homes. If he wants to save Ruby from a lifetime at Exit 8, Ivan must risk it all. A heartwarming story about finding the courage to stand up for what’s right.
THE ONE AND ONLY MAN, by Katherine Applegate; illustrated by Patricia Castelao (HarperCollins, 2012)

This is where the James Bond saga began back in 1953: lan Fleming's first novel featuring the charming yet ruthless British spy with a license to kill. With the assistance of the beautiful Vesper Lynd, Bond goes head-to-head with a member of the Russian secret intelligence in a game of baccarat at a French casino. The story takes a dark and gritty turn when Lynd is captured and Bond is subject to torture. The success of Casino Royale led to 11 more novels, many short stories, and, of course, a beloved and enduring series of films.
CASINO ROYALE, by [an Fleming 1953; Thomas & Mercer, 2012)

Former child star Chase lnsteadman spends his days attending dinner parties on Manhattan’s Upper East Side and generally feeling dissatisfied with his life, until he crosses paths with Perkus Tooth, a scholar and recluse with a penchant for conspiracy theories and marijuana. They quickly form an unlikely friendship that upends Chase’s stagnant life and shows him a whole new side of Manhattan. Acclaimed writer Jonathan Lethem brings his reliable wit and charm to Chase’s story and crafts an unusual yet moving tribute to New York City.
CHRONIC CITY, by Jonathan Lethem, (Doubleday, 2009)

From the New York Times bestselling author of The Devil Wears Prada comes another compulsively readable tale of a girl trying to find her way in the world. Tennis prodigy Charlotte “Charlie” Silver is America’s sweetheart, until she teams up with the ruthless coach Todd Feltner, who decides to transform Charlotte’s image from sweetheart to “Warrior Princess.” As Charlotte’s new bad-girl image becomes a tabloid fixation, she realizes her makeover comes at a cost—she’s losing her grip on herself and everybody is waiting to see her fall.
THE SINGLES GAME, by Lauren Weisberger (Simon & Schuster, 2016)

If a book about globalization doesn’t sound very thrilling, think again. Jeffrey E. Garten makes the history of globalization a page-turner by focusing on ten controversial people throughout history who tore down boundaries between nations, whether through force (Genghis Khan), economics (Margaret Thatcher), or technology (Andy Grove, who ushered in the age of computers).
From Silk to Silicon is a welcome reminder that one person really can change the world.
FROM SILK T0 SILICON: THE STORY 0F GLOBALIZATION THROUGH TEN EXTRAORDINARY LIVES, by Jeffrey E. Garten (Harper 2016)

Young Esperanza loves her life in Mexico. She lives on a ranch with her wealthy family and enjoys every luxury that money can buy—until bandits kill her father and Esperanza and her mother are chased out of Mexico by a dangerous uncle. They wind up in California, weathering the Great Depression in poverty and facing prejudice in their migrant camp. But it is here, at her lowest point, when Esperanza finds the strength within herself to create a new and beautiful life. Esperanza°s powerful story will inspire children and adult readers alike.
ESPERANZA RISING, by Pain Munoz Ryan (Scbolastic, 2000)

he titular character of fane Eyre is one of the greatest and most complex heroines in classic literature. The book follows ]ane through her early years and into adulthood, when she falls into the company of the brooding Mr. Rochester, master of Thornheld Hall. The story takes a Gothic turn when ]ane begins to uncover dark secrets in Mr. Rochester’s house. At turns romantic and spooky, Bronte’s masterpiece stands the test of time.
! JANE EYRE, by Charlotte Bronté (1842 Penguin Classics, 200@

overnor Elmer Henderson is running against Michaela Bowden in the presidential primaries. Everyone expects Michaela to win-even Henderson, who plans on joining her ticket as vice president once she earns the nomination. But when Henderson discovers a plot to assassinate Michaela, he calls in detective Lucas Davenport to catch the would-be killers before it’s too late. This latest installment of _john Sandford’s hugely successful Prey series is rife with tension.
U EXTREME PREY, byfabn Sanalybra' (G. P Putnam? Sons, 20]@

The year is 1939. As Nazi forces invade France, sisters Vianne and Isabelle both face new challenges. When her husband leaves for the front and German soldiers occupy her house, Vianne must find a way to keep her daughter safe. Isabelle, meanwhile, is betrayed by the man she loves, and throws herself into the war effort—risking everything. Kristin Hannah paints a vivid portrait of WWII-era France, and the trials and tribulations of Vianne and Isabelle aim straight for the reader’s heart. Keep a box of tissues handy for this one.
THE NIGIHTINGALE, by Kristin Hannah (St. Martin's Press, 2015)

Jan 01, 2018 05:26AM

Before WWII was in full swing, there was the Spanish Civil War—a fascist uprising that captured the attention of the American media. Adam Hochschild, a fantastic historian, explores Spain's war through the eyes of a dozen participants. Some famous names are here, including George Orwell and Ernest Hemingway, but equally fascinating are the stories of the college student who was the war’s first casualty, and the New York Times reporters who risked everything to cover the events. History buffs will enjoy learning more about an often overlooked war.
SPAIN IN OUR HEARTS: AMERICANS IN THE SPANISH CIVIL WAR, 1936-1939, by Adam Hochschild (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2016)

When her mother abandons her after giving birth, baby Cheri falls into the hands of Sol, a Jewish doctor, and Cici, his Italian Catholic child bride. Sol and Cici are an unlikely pairing, and their marriage has offended both of their religious families. As Cheri grows up and blossoms into a fercely independent and fascinating young woman, she must come to terms with her quirky adoptive family even as she yearns to know more about her birth mother. A tender, funny portrait of a modern family.
HAPPY FAMILY, by Tracy Barone (Lee Boudreaux, 2016)

Bill Reed enjoys running a wildlife sanctuary in rural Idaho, and he°s planning on marrying the local veterinarian and living a quiet life—until Rick, Bill’s childhood friend, is released from prison. Rick harbors some troubling secrets about Bill°s past, and he’s ready to share them with the world. As Bill’s simple life is threatened, his connection to his animals—particularly a grizzly bear named Majer—becomes increasingly important. A poignant exploration of the bonds we share with animals.
THE ANIMALS, by Chrisian Kiefer (Liveright, 2015)

It's 1888, the dawn of the electrical age in New York City. Everyone agrees that the world will never be the same, but nobody can agree on who exactly invented the lightbulb. As Thomas Edison sues George Westinghouse over lightbulb patents, young lawyer Paul Cravath, fresh out of Columbia, gets pulled into the fray. Soon he’s rubbing shoulders with mad genius Nikola Tesla, Alexander Graham Bell, and a very mysterious woman. This novel is a legal thriller, a history, a romance, and a magical tribute to America’s Gilded Age.
THE LAST DAYS 0F NIGHT, by Graham Moore (Random House, 2016)

A very old and unusual map is discovered hidden between the walls of a bistro in the town of Three Pines. The villagers are all abuzz, trying to figure out the map°s secrets—until it’s delivered to retired inspector Armand Gamache, who still can°t resist a good mystery. Gamache follows the map, but it leads him directly into danger and a mystery more complex than he ever imagined. In a starred review, Library journal called A Great Reckoning “Riveting . . . with characters of incredible depth who only add to the strength of the plot.”
A GREAT RECKONING, by Louise Penny (Minotaur, 2016)

Running is a timeless sport, and one that takes place all across the world. In this inspiring memoir, lifelong runner and elite marathoner Becky Wade chronicles her journey across the globe as she seeks out running communities and learns new tricks of the trade—the Japanese teach her valuable recovery tips, the Swiss demonstrate the merits of uphill training, and Olympic champion Usain Bolt takes Becky on a breakneck run through the streets of London. Run the World might just inspire you to travel the world yourself—or at least put on your running shoes.
RUN THE WORLD: MY 3,500 MILE JOURNEY THROUGH RUNNING CULTURES ACROSS THE GLOBE, by Beckey Wade (William Morrow, 2016)

It’s never too late to read a classic—especially a spooky one on Halloween. This collection includes Washington Irving”s most eerie and beloved stories, including “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow,” “Rip Van Winkle,” and “The Specter Bridegroom.” They all have the dark charm of old-fashioned fairy tales, and by the time you’re done reading, you’ll understand why Edgar Allan Poe and other masters of the macabre considered Washington Irving a major influence.
THE LEGEND OF SLEEPY HOLLOW AND OTHER STORIES FROM THE SKETCH BOOK, by Washington Irving (1820; Signet Classics, 2006)

Jan 01, 2018 05:25AM

Milo feels that his life is terribly mundane, so when a strange tollbooth suddenly appears in his bedroom, he doesn’t hesitate to drive through it with his toy car. What he finds on the other side is more than enough to satisfy his thirst for adventure—a bizarre world filled with creatures like Tock, the watchdog with an alarm clock for a body, and Rhyme and Reason, two princesses Milo must rescue from the Mountains of Ignorance. Norton Juster’s quirky classic is unbelievably fun and educational for young and old alike.
THE PHANTOM TOLLBOOTH, by Norton Juster; illustrated by Jules Feiffer (1961; Bullseye, 1988)

Oscar is an overweight, nerdy, socially awkward Dominican living in New jersey with his family. While he writes fantasy fiction (with the goal of becoming the Dominican J.R.R. Tolkien), his old college roommate Junior is determined to transform Oscar into someone, well, cooler. It’s not an easy task, especially since Oscar might be under the influence of the faba, a family curse that seems to be getting worse everyday. Diaz’s writing is touching, hilarious, and seamless, and Oscar is a hero for the ages.
THE BRIEF WONDROUS LIFE OF OSCAR WAO, by Junot Diaz (Riverhead, 2007)

A man, known to readers only as the Time Traveller, journeys from Victorian-era England to the year A.D. 802,701. When he arrives, he finds a utopian society of peaceful, childlike humans inhabiting what was once England. All seems perfect, until he discovers another, more sinister species dwelling underground—a species that also evolved from humans, but in a very different direction. In this science—fiction masterpiece, Wells explores the duality of human nature in a spectacularly imaginative way.
THE TIME MACHINE, by H G. Wells (1985; Signet Classics, 2014)

Georgie McCool decides to opt out of the family trip to her in-laws' house for Christmas—but when her husband, Neal, and their two daughters leave, Georgie isn’t so sure they're coming back. Her marriage has been on the rocks for a while and Neal's leave-taking wasn’t very warm. While they’re away, Georgie discovers a mysterious way to communicate across time with an earlier version of Neal—and what she tells him might just rewrite history. Landline is another fantastic drama from the bestselling author of Eleanor & Park.
LANDLINE, by Rainbow Rowell (St. Martins Press, 2014)

Rachel Jenner is a recently divorced photographer now raising her young son, Ben, on her own. One day in the park Ben runs ahead of Rachel and disappears. As the authorities are called in and the search begins for Ben, Rachel must defend her innocence from a media storm casting her in suspicion, all the while trying to find the real culprit. A suspenseful psychological thriller with a brilliantly rendered protagonist—your heart will ache for this heroine.
WHAT SHE KNEW, by Gilly Macmillan (William Morrow, 2015)

What is the secret recipe for genius? According to travel writer Eric Weiner, it might have something to do with location. In the Geography of Genius, Weiner traces the footsteps of history’s most well-known geniuses, from Socrates to Beethoven to today's tech giants, showing how particular places and cultures foster creativity while others don't. Weiner's wild romp around the World, from Athens to Florence to Silicon Valley, is entertaining and enlightening—it might just motivate you to pack your bags and seek out a new, inspiring locale yourself.
THE GEOGRAPHY OF GENIUS, by Eric Winer (Simon & Schuster, 2016)

As the United States prepares to withdraw forces from Iraq, tensions soar between Lieutenant Jack Porter and Sergeant Daniel Chambers, who are vying for control of a group of troops stationed in Ashuriyah. But Jack is soon distracted by Rana, the mysterious daughter of a local sheikh, and his increasing concern for her safety leads him to a difficult decision. Do his loyalties lie with Rana or his country? Youngblood is a gritty and deeply moving look at the complexity of war.
YOUNGBLOOD, by Mart Gallagher (Atria, 2016)

Here is a classic worth a closer look. Things Fall Apart is the story of Okonkwo, a high-ranking member of the Ibo tribe in Nigeria. Okonkwo is strong, fierce, and respected, but he is also deeply afraid—of showing weakness, and of failure. As his insecurities lead him astray, he must also face the arrival of white missionaries who threaten the Ibo way of life. Rarely has a story of colonialism been told with such grace.
THINGS FALL APART, by Chinua Achebe (1958; Ancbor, 1994)

Three young men make the journey from India to Britain, seeking new lives and fresh starts. Tarlochan has himself smuggled to Paris by truck and airplane before making his way to England. Avtar sells a kidney to fund his trip on a student visa. Randeep plans a “visa marriage” to Narinder, who is facing her own poignant struggle. As they each navigate the many challenges and risks of immigration, their lives intersect in powerful ways. Sahota writes with conviction and empathy about a very timely topic.
THE YEAR OF THE RUNAWAYS, by Sunjeev Sahota (Knopf 2016)

When Elka was a little girl, she got lost in the wilderness and nearly died-but a hunter called Trapper saved her life. Trapper raised her as his daughter, teaching her how to survive in a barren land and isolating her from the rest of the world. Now 18 years old, Elka learns a terrible truth about Trapper, and soon the man who once saved her life is the one threatening it. Tough, brave, and resourceful, Elka might just become your new favorite heroine.
THE WOLF ROAD, by Bern Lewis (Crown, 2016)

Two families take a joint vacation to the Sicilian coast with relaxation and beautiful scenery in mind, but the trip doesn’t quite go as planned. Secrets come to light, infidelities are exposed, and a strange child named Snow reveals her true insidious nature. Sirauso is like Elena Ferrante’s Neapolitan series meets Gone Girl—and the shocking finale alone is worth the price of admission.
SIRACUSA, by Delia Ephron (Blue Rider Press, 2016)

Ten-year-old Patrick O’Brien doesn’t seem like the type to get into trouble. He°s painfully shy, small for his age, and dyslexic, so it’s a surprise to everyone when he’s accused of attacking one of the school aides. As the aide sues Patrick’s family, his grandfather recruits the help of attorney Mary DiNunzio. Mary quickly finds out, however, that protecting Patrick will be much harder than she first realized . . . his life is in grave danger. A taut legal thriller full of vivid characters.
DAMAGED, by Lisa Scottoline (St. Martins Press, 2016)

ket in Virginia during the Great Depression, this book for young readers tells the story of 14-year-old Amelia, who suddenly finds herself responsible for her younger siblings when her mother dies. Life is anything but simple: Amelia is now in charge of the family gas station but fuel monopolist Harley Blevins is determined to run her out of business, and the only chance she has at avoiding child services is to convince a homeless man to pretend to be her father. Lucky Strikes is a fun read with a brave and inspiring young heroine.
LUCKY STRIKES, by Louis Bayard (Henry Holt, 2016)

Much attention has been devoted to the Kennedys, but here is a tribute to an often-forgotten member of the famed family: JFK’s sister Kathleen, nicknamed “Kick,”
who moved to Great Britain with her father in 1938, married the wealthy heir to the great Chatsworth estate, and became a top-tier British socialite—all before her untimely death in a plane crash in 1944. Paula Byrne brings Kick’s independent spirit to life with great enthusiasm, while shining new light on a legendary American family.
KiCK: THE TRUE STORY OF JFK'S SISTER AND THE HEIR TO CHATSWORTH, by Paula Byrne (Harper, 2016)

One moment, Sophie Kohl is confessing the details of her sordid extramarital affair to her husband, Emmett, an American diplomat stationed in Hungary. The next, Emmet is assassinated before Sophie’s eyes. Sophie°s search for the motive behind her husband’s murder leads her across the globe, from Cairo to Libya to Eastern Europe, as she uncovers a shocking web of conspiracy. This globe-trotting tale of espionage is pure adrenaline from cover to cover.
THE CAIR0 AFFAIR, by Olen Steinhauer (Minotaur, 2015)

When her Indian community sailed away from the Island of the Blue Dolphins, young Katana was left behind with her brother, who tragically loses his life—but she’s far from alone. As she learns how to hunt, cook, and make shelter, the island's sea birds, otters, and dolphins keep her company. All the while she bides her time, waiting for the sight of a rescue ship on the horizon. A story of survival, self-discovery, and the beauty of nature, Island of the Blue Dolphins is a classic worth savoring.
ISLAND OF THE BLUE DOLPHINS, by Scott O’De[l (1960, Scott O'Dell (1960; HMH Books for Young Renders, 2016)

It’s the 25th century and the world has reached a state of utopia. Mycroft, a convict, travels across the land assisting as many people as he can in order to atone for his past sins. Carlyle is a spiritual adviser in a society that has outlawed organized religion. Bridger is a young boy whose mysterious powers threaten to destroy everything that humans have worked so hard to build. As these three characters collide, this epic sci-fi thriller reaches dazzling new heights of action and suspense.
TOO LIKE THE LIGHTNING, by Ada Palmer (Tor 2016)

Biographer Christopher Andersen, bestselling author of William and Kate and The Day Diana Died, takes another look behind the curtain at the British monarchy in Game of Crowns. His focus this time is three of the most influential royal women of the last several years: Queen Elizabeth, Camilla Parker Bowles, and Kate Middleton. By diving into their similarities and differences, their controversies and drama, and how they interact with one another behind closed doors, Andersen crafts a spellbinding narrative that will delight anyone interested in British royalty.
GAME 0F CROWNS: ELIZABETH, CAMILLA, KATE, AND THE THRONE, by Christopher Andersen (Gallery, 2016)

Gabrie1 A1lon is finally about to be promoted to chief of Israel°s secret intelligence. But when terrorists detonate a bomb in Paris, the French government lures Gabriel into one final field mission. Gabriel teams up with a young, beautiful agent to locate the so-called Saladin, a mastermind terrorist shrouded in mystery and web encryption, before he can strike again. In a starred review, Kirkus praised Gabriel Allon as “one of fiction’s greatest spies” and called The Black Widow “a dark thriller for difficult times.”
THE BLACK WIDOW, by Daniel Silva (Harper, 2016)

This fantasy classic has it all: romance, derring-do, epic sword fights, nefarious villains, and a lot of humor. If you've seen the 1987 film starring Robin Wright, you may already be familiar with Princess Buttercup and the dashing Dread Pirate Roberts and their quest to escape the evil Prince Humperdinck, but the book is well worth a read—William Goldman's writing is pure magic, and there are adventures that didn’t make it into the film.
THE PRINCESS BRIDE, by William Goldman (1973; Mariner, 2007)