Susan is our floor manager and bookseller.
My reading choices are eclectic, and like quirky characters. The genres I read most are literary fiction, southern noir, sci-fi/fantasy, current events, and memoir.
Favorite Genres: Literary Fiction, Southern Noir, Sci-fi/Fantasy, Current Events, and Memoir
5 Most Recent Books:
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5 Favorite Books:
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5 Favorite Children's Books:
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"Real Life is a raw, dark, and profoundly powerful coming of age tale. Adeline Dieudonné brings to life a heroine for the modern world. The book grabs you with the opening lines; “Our house had four bedrooms. There was mine,my little brother Sam’s room, that of my parents, and the one with the carcasses.” The father is a big game hunter, physically abusive, and the mother lives in a state of fear. The foreshadowing of domestic violence and fear quickly turns to terror with a violent death that the children witness. This senseless act of violence tears the relationship of the siblings, our narrator notices Sam has developed a relationship with the carcasses and their father. She is determined to save him from himself, their father, and the outside world both real and imagined. This debut has won many awards in France, and its taut prose, dark comedy, and compelling story will keep you up at night until you reach the end."--Reviewed by Susan
"Zelda is determined to be a heroine. She has just turned 21, her parents are dead, her older brother Gert is her caretaker, and she is on the fetal alcohol spectrum. Gert is in college on scholarship, and Zelda spends many of her days at the library, reading about Vikings, and at the Community Center for Literacy and Social classes. Zelda likes rules, she can speak the Viking language, and she admires the Valkyrie. She would also like to have sex with her boyfriend Marxy, but his mother keeps getting in the way of their relationship. When she discovers that her brother has been lying to her, and may be in trouble, Zelda decides that she must become the warrior that she is meant to be in order to save her tribe, and to create the life that she deserves. For fans of The Silver Linings Playbook and Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine, this book could definitely be a young adult crossover title as well."--Reviewed by Susan
"The Vanished Birds is one of my favorite debut novels out this year. It’s science fiction, but it transcends genres, and while it’s a story of time travel, cloning, and corporate greed run amok, it’s also a love story. This is a complex tale of loves lost, families found, and the choices, risks, and sacrifices we make for them. The story opens when a young boy, who doesn’t speak, falls from the sky and the tribal community feels that this is a bad omen. Nia, the captain of a ship sent to bring in the harvest, hides the boy on her ship as powerful corporations are searching for him. Beautiful imagery and complex characters emerge in this cacophony of distant planets, corporate greed, and technology run amok."--Reviewed by Susan
"This powerful debut thriller will grab you from the very first page! There’s a serial killer on the loose who calls himself the Chestnut Man. As the bodies stack up, and more mysteries unfold, Detectives Hess and Thulin must race against time to stop the brutal murders. Written with complex characters and an intricate plot, this will keep you guessing to the surprising end. This is a thriller that you don’t want to miss!"--Reviewed by Susan
"Bea is a psychologist, sympathetic to the underprivileged, and newly married to Dan, an aspiring artist working as a realtor so the two can make ends meet. When they decide to rent their London flat to take a vacation, it isn't long before the vipers invade in the form of Bea's family. The first stop on their trip is to visit Bea's older brother Alex at a decaying hotel that his parents have purchased for him to restore. The hotel has no guests, and there are snakes living in the attic. Dan can't understand Bea's devotion to her emotionally stunted brother, and then the parents arrive. While Dan knew that Bea's family had money, their wealth is more than he can imagine, and the fact that Bea herself eschews that wealth to live on a pittance, confuses and frustrates him. When tragedy strikes, both Dan and Bea struggle with the greed and privilege that can buy your place in society at catastrophic costs. Sadie Jones's terror-stricken novel is a social commentary on class, and the tragic results of unmitigated greed. Enjoy!"--Reviewed by Susan
"This dark, disturbing collection of short stories is Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah’s brilliant debut. The very first story in the collection will leave you feeling like you were punched in the chest, all the air has escaped, and you’re trying to breathe, but there’s a next story to read, and a next after that. These stories address racism, consumerism, and capitalism head-on with powerful prose and dark satire. “The Finkelstein Five” confronts the judicial system as a white man claims self-defense in the brutal murder of 5 black children with a chainsaw. The title story, “Friday Black,” is an indictment of unbridled consumerism in America today. All of these stories need to be told, and need to be read. Adjei-Brenyah is one of the 5 under 35 honorees chosen by the National Book Foundation. This is a collection that fans of George Saunders will love, and that everyone must read!"--Reviewed by Susan
"Nico Walker served as a medic in Iraq. Upon returning home, he ultimately became a heroin addict and a bank robber. Cherry is his autobiographical debut novel. Our narrator meets Emily in college and falls in love, and then they both fall for ecstasy. When Emily is forced to return home, he drops out of school and joins the army. Serving as a medic in Iraq, he encounters the horrific realities of war, the death of friends, and the brutal acts of inhumanity that are a daily part of life. Returning home to Emily, he confronts the horror of PTSD, and the ravages of addiction that lead to crime. Walker’s debut novel is raw, honest, and yes sometimes funny. Although it is not for the faint of heart, read a little further than you might, as this is an essential picture of war and America today. Fans of gonzo fiction, Hunter Thompson, and Denis Johnson will appreciate this radically honest debut."--Reviewed by Susan
"In the not so distant future, 'Happiness is Apricity.' The Apricity machine is about the size of a deck of cards, and with a DNA cheek swab and a computer chip, it will recommend a contentment plan. The story is told from multiple viewpoints as each attempt to find happiness. Pearl, is an Apricity technician, one of the best, and she works with customers to apply the changes that the machine recommends. Pearl’s teenage son, Rhett, is recovering from an eating disorder, and is estranged from his school friends. When the Apricity recommendations are altered with disastrous consequences, Rhett is enlisted to help his friend Saff sort through the damage. The cast of characters struggling with technology run amok include, Pearl’s ex- husband, his new wife, and Pearl’s boss. This is a clever, funny debut with complex characters, and the inevitable comparison to 'Black Mirror.'--Reviewed by Susan
"Barracoon is the story of Cudjo Lewis, or Oluale Kossola, the last known survivor of the Transatlantic slave trade. Cudjo lost his entire family, and was taken prisoner by an army of female warriors in Bante. He was then sold to Captain William Foster, who was there to purchase slaves, and bring them to the United States, despite the fact that slavery had been illegal for more than 50 years. During her study of African culture and folklore, Hurston conducted a series of interviews with Cudjo about his captivity, enslavement, and of his life after slavery was abolished. Told in Cudjo’s original vernacular, this is a horrific, vital account of the tragedy of the life of a slave. Everyone needs to read this book! An interesting side note: In December of 2017, musician Questlove appeared on “Finding Your Roots” with Henry Louis Gates Jr., and discovered that his ancestors were on that same slave ship, the Clotilda."--Reviewed by Susan
"Cassandra 'Cassie' Bowden is the flight attendant, and our unreliable narrator. She is an alcoholic that blacks out frequently, is fond of one night stands, and she’s a petty thief. She meets Alex Sokolov, a hedge fund manager, on a flight to Dubai and they plan a rendezvous at his hotel. They have dinner, and go to his room. They drink, have sex, and drink some more. At some point an associate of his, Miranda, joins them for more drinks. The next morning Cassie wakes up with a killer hangover, and discovers Alex next to her in bed, dead. She has gaps in her memory from the night before. She remembers Miranda leaving, and she remembers getting dressed to leave as well. What she doesn’t remember is how she came to be back in the room, how Alex was killed, and who killed him. Being an American in Dubai with a dead body seems like a bad idea, so Cassie decides to cover her tracks and return on her scheduled ight to Paris, and then New York. But, the FBI is waiting to question the airline crew when they arrive, and Cassie’s answers unravel quickly. Bohjalian creates complex characters and places them in an intricate plot that will leave you on the edge of your seat."--Reviewed by Susan
"Suffering from agoraphobia, Anna Fox spends her days indoors drinking too much wine, taking too many prescription drugs, watching classic noir films, while also watching her neighbors through the windows. One night, Anna witnesses a woman being murdered by her husband. However, she’s an unreliable witness as well as an unreliable narrator. Who will the police believe with no evidence? What are we to believe with Anna’s increasing paranoia, and the twists and turns that weave throughout her story? The writing is captivating, and the characters complex in this psychological thriller reminiscent of Hitchcock’s ‘Rear Window.’ Best to read with a glass of merlot, and a classic black and white film playing in the background. Enjoy!"--Reviewed by Susan
"Wiley Cash breathes life into this fictionalized account of the very real Ella May Wiggins, who fought for social and racial justice in the early 20th century. Ella May struggled to raise her four children alone, with another on the way, by working at the local textile mill. When the unions came to town, Ella May made a decision that would alter her life, and the lives of her family and friends. At her very first union rally, Ella May showed immense courage when she faced off against anti-union thugs, and became a unifying voice with her heartfelt ballads dedicated to the mill workers. I’m ecstatic that Wiley Cash re-discovered Ella May. She was a brave and extraordinary woman. This is an enthralling tale of struggle and courage, injustice, and hope. This book needs to be read by everyone!"--Reviewed by Susan
Recemmended by Andrew and Susan
"This memoir by Alexie is not so much his own story, but rather an elaborate ode to his mother, and her in uence then and now onhis life and work. While it not only touches on the expected markers in one’s life; in Alexie’s case this mostly means the grief and poverty that permeated his life until he managed to physically, if not mentally, escape, it also shows how having a powerful anchor in one’s life can give it direction and focus, even if the anchor itself is a bit unsteady. Told in short-story- like chapters and poetry, this gives an un inching window into where Alexie came from, where he has gone, and the main thread in his mother that ties all of it together."--Reviewed by Andrew
"After the death of his mother, Alexie turns his memories and emotions into an intense, and complicated memoir that only Alexie could write. He uses prose and poetry to convey the complicated bonds of family amid addiction and trauma, with compassion, humor, and love. Admitting that he may be an unreliable narrator of his own life, he writes of her life, and their relationship with brutal honesty. This is a heartbreaking, beautiful, and emotionally raw memoir. And, it is simply mesmerizing!"--Reviewed by Susan
"Kate Moore discovered the 'radium girls' while directing a play in London by Melanie Marnich, 'These Shining Lives.' The play was based on true events, and as Moore researched the story of these lives, she realized that they had never been given the justice they deserved. Upon the discovery of radium, young women were hired to paint watch faces in radium factories, assured of not only the safety, but also the benefits of this new wonder. The Radium Girls is a compelling page turner that reads like a novel. The strength of these young women, as they literally fight for their lives in the early 1900s, is inspiring, and heart-breaking. From The London Theatre Review: 'bitterness turns to anger as you begin to realize how little value corporations, back then and now, placed on the lives of their workers and the public.' For those who liked The Secret Life of Henrietta Lacks and Hidden Figures, The Radium Girls is another story of the forgotten sacrifices made by women that ultimately changed lives."--Reviewed by Susan
"Hala Alyan’s debut novel is a piercing portrayal of war, displacement, and belonging that begins during the Six Day War. In Salt Houses, Alyan portrays the impact of exile on the individual, the family, and the generations that follow. The Youcab’s, a Palestinian family, are uprooted time and again over a span of fifty years. Told through the perspective of different characters, Salt Houses is an intimate portrayal of love, loyalty and loss. At times heartrending, this is a lyrical, powerful, and timely novel."--Reviewed by Susan
"Down City reads like noir, but is in fact a powerful tale of death, corruption, destruction and love. Leah Carroll’s mother was brutally murdered by the mob when she was 4-years- old. She was intermittently raised by her alcoholic father, and their relationship was wrought with turmoil, as well as unconditional love. He was found dead in a seedy motel room in down city when Leah was 18. In Down City, Leah returns to Providence to discover what happened to her family, and why. Part memoir, and part investigative journalism, this is a tragic story of an inept justice system, a broken family, and one woman’s search for the truth."--Reviewed by Susan
"Annie Hartnett’s debut novel, Rabbit Cake, is a truly unique tale told through the eyes of 12-year-old Elvis, who is trying to make sense of the sleep-swimming death of her mother. While Elvis seeks to explain her loss through medical texts, her sister’s sleepwalking becomes out of control, and her father grieves by wearing his wife’s belongings.Through it all the Babbit family attempts to save one another as they try to heal. Rabbit Cake is an exploration of life, death, and how grief can tear a family apart, and put them back together. This debut is smart, dark comedy that you won’t be able to put down."--Reviewed by Susan
Neil Gaiman transports you to the land of ice and fire itself in his retelling of the Norse myths. mGaiman has used the gods to spin tales of fantasy in his novels, and his storytelling skills will captivate you in his newest book, Norse Mythology. I’ve always had an interest in Norse Mythology, but found most texts dry considering how interesting the myths themselves were. From Yggdrasil to Ragnarok he breathes life into these gods; their jealousy, vanity, courage, and cunning. Norse Mythology is accessible, yet magical, and you won’t want the stories to end!
This strong debut novel follows a young couple of disparate backgrounds from Yale to New York City in the midst of the 1980’s financial meltdown. While Evan is a scholarship kid at Yale, Julia comes from a comfortable, privileged background. Young and in love, they move to New York City where Evan lands a job at a hedge fund and Julia accepts a position at a non-profit arts organization. As Evan becomes immersed in his career, Julia becomes lonely and isolated leading to disastrous consequences. The telling of the story in alternate viewpoints of the two main characters makes for a compelling debut!
Susan recommends
Dark Matter by Blake Crouch defies genre. It is a mystery, a thriller, and a sci-fi love story. I really can’t say too much without giving away it’s secrets, or spoiling the ending, but I’ll try. Jason Dessen is a contented family man. He’s a college physics professor who loves his wife and son, and he’s chosen this life over the alternative life of pursuing academia discovery, honors, and distinction. While walking home for family night, Jason is kidnapped by a man in a mask who asks him “Are you happy with your life?”, before rendering him unconscious. Jason awakens to find himself strapped to a gurney, surrounded by people welcoming him back to a world he never knew. This is a thrilling page turner, and the plot is simply brilliant!
Fourteen year old Lucia Stanton is reminiscent of Huck Finn, Scout, and other legendary young characters. She lives with her eccentric aunt in a one room garage, her father is dead, and her mother has been institutionalized. Lucia is sarcastic, funny, cynical, and more intelligent than many of the adults that she encounters. Arriving at her new school, having been expelled from her previous one after stabbing a classmate in the neck with a pencil, she discovers the Arson Club. Armed with only her wit, and her dad’s zippo, she’s ready to set the world on fire. Jesse Ball’s newest novel is captivating, harrowing, and so much fun!
Under the Harrow is a powerful, psychological thriller, by debut novelist Flynn Berry. The story of two sisters, their relationship, and the trauma and secrets that surround them will haunt you from the very first page. Nora is looking forward to spending the weekend at her sister's home in the countryside, but she arrives to find Rachel has been brutally murdered. Nora's struggle to search for her sister's killer, turns into obsession, and as past history comes to light, this complex and compelling tale will keep you spellbound.
Now out in paperback:
"I devoured Secondhand Souls, the sequel to A Dirty Job, and loved every clever, quirky minute of it! 7-year-old Sophie, the Luminatus, is missing her hellhounds, the souls of the dying are being stolen, and there is a congregation of ghosts residing atop the Golden Gate Bridge. It is left to the fervent death dealing heroes from A Dirty Job, along
with some new recruits, to make sense of it all in time to thwart the Morrigans and save San Francisco, along with a lot of souls. Oh, and the Squirrel People are not making this any easier. Moore’s writing is witty and incisive, and the characters, both human and
non-human alike are ripe with empathy, truly the Author Guy at his finest. Secondhand Souls was so much fun, I want to re-read A Dirty Job and start this long, strange trip all over again!"
This is a tale of mystery, hope, and above all a love. story. You will be charmed by 69 year-old Arthur, you really can't help it. His story begins on the one year anniversary of the death of his beloved Miriam. They had always lived a simple life, and kept to a strict schedule, which Arthur continued to maintain. Sorting through her belongings, he discovers a charm bracelet that he has never seen before. He finds a telephone number engraved on the bracelet, which takes him on a journey to find the mysteries of the charms, and the mysteries of his love, Miriam. If you enjoyed A Man Called Ove, or The Storied Life of A. J. Fikry, this is your next favorite book.
"This is Brown’s middle grade debut and he doesn’t disappoint. Roz is a robot who awakens on an island with no idea of who she is or how she landed in this bewildering environment. As this wonderful heroine finds a way to survive among her encounters with strange creatures, she learns how to adapt as well as the meaning of compassion,
acceptance, and family. A heart warming and charming tale for young and old alike, Brown provides us all with the opportunity for thought provoking discussion across generations. Read it alone, read it with others, and read it again! Peter Brown has been
awarded the Caldecott Honor Award, the New York Times Best Illustrated Children’s Book Award, and, The Children’s Choice Book Award for Best Illustrator of the Year. (The Children’s Choice is the only book award voted on by children themselves!)"
Now out in paperback:
"Marcykate Connolly’s debut children’s novel, Monstrous, is absolutely delightful!
Kymera is not your typical young girl. Her father has brought her back to life, and in the process has made some modifications, giving her wings and a serpent’s tail. She is forbidden to interact with the humans in the nearby city of Bryre because they would harm her. However, the city is under the spell of an evil wizard and the young girls are becoming ill and slowly dying. Under the direction of her father, Kym enters the city under the dark of night and rescues girls so that her father can heal them and send them to a better home. During one of her trips to the city, Kym is befriended by the king’s page, Ren, and their friendship leads her to question everything she has known. I loved, loved, loved this book! The characters are compelling and I promise that you will be captivated by the monstrous Kymera."
I finished this and was absolutely spellbound by Joy's writing. Jacob McNeely has been dealt a raw hand, as most in this corner of Appalachia have. He works for his father, who runs a meth drug ring, waiting for the payday that he has been promised. The drug has driven his mother insane, and all of his hopes ride on his one true love, the only beauty in his life, to escape this savage landscape. His characters ring true; they are damned, hopeful, and hungry in a harsh reality that requires true survival skills, physically and emotionally. This is an authentic, brutal, and beautiful page turner that you just can't put down. Truly, a compelling debut!
Now out in paperback:
"Pigs Can’t Swim is a touching and heartfelt memoir. Helen Peppe looks back at at her life growing up on a small farm in rural Maine. The youngest of nine, Peppe had to contend with poverty, sibling rivalry and the troubling realization that the farm animals that she so loved, would eventually be served as dinner. From an early age she found solace and escape through her love of reading. This is a moving memoir told with great humor and great sadness."
"City of Thorns is a compelling and haunting account of life in the refugee settlement of Dadaab, an isolated city located in Kenya, that was born of many a crisis. This city of refugees was initially created in 1992 as tens of thousands of refugees fled the civil war in Somalia, and now in 2016, it is home to roughly half a million people. Security forces,
supported by the United States and Great Britian, prey upon the populace with violence and extortion. Forbidden to leave the camp and unable to work, they are a largely forgotten populace. Although I hesitate to compare one book to another, it has rightly been compared to Behind the Beautiful Forevers. Rawlence, a former Human Rights Watch researcher, follows nine families to bring attention, and humanity to the plight of those forgotten in Dadaab. A must read that puts a spotlight on the current refugee crisis."
A dystopian tale from the “queen of Finnish weird”, Johanna Sinisalo, The Core of the Sun is set in a patriarchal world where women are bred for sex and procreation. Intelligent, independent women are shunned, sterilized, and relegated to menial labor. Vanna and her sister Manna, are complete opposites. While Manna is an eloi, the sub-human species bred to reproduce, Vanna is a morlock, an intelligent woman who must pretend to be an eloi like her sister in order to survive. Vanna befriends the handyman, Jare, at her grandmother’s estate in order to access books and knowledge. When Manna marries and disappears, Vanna and Jare need to work together to uncover the secrets of Manna’s life and death. Together they infiltrate the chili pepper drug trade in order to finance their venture, ultimately uncovering a strange religious cult that possesses the highly addictive chili pepper, the Core of the Sun.Wickedly engaging, The Core of the Sun is a social commentary reminiscent of The Stepford Wives and The Handmaid’s Tale.
Alexander Feldmann is a handsome, charming, worldrenowned cellist, and the owner of a rare Stradivarius cello, the Silver Swan. Mariana, his only child, grew to become a gifted and sought after cellist herself. As her father grows older, Mariana leaves her life behind to care for him in his final years. Upon his death, Mariana learns that he has left his prized Silver Swan to a former student. Bound by their relationship to the Silver Swan and Alexander, Claude and Mariana’s lives become entwined. As dark secrets from her father’s past emerge, Mariana begins to question the relationship with her father, his relationship with Claude, and the legacy of the Silver Swan. This is an amazing debut from Elena Delbanco. Her characters are complex and passionate, and their tale is intense and beautifully flawed. You needn’t have traveled the world’s famous music halls to fall in love with The Silver Swan.
Bartholomew Neil has lost his mother, and at the age of 38, is left to fend for himself, for the first time – ever. He comes across a letter in his mother’s belongings from Richard Gere, and he reaches out to Gere in order to find meaning in his life. With the help of a defrocked priest, a shy librarian and her paranoid brother, Bartholomew and company set out on a road trip to find truth and peace of mind, or maybe just each other. The Good Luck of Right Now is charming and heartfelt. You cannot help but to fall in love with these flawed, quirky characters trying to find themselves, together, in a world that is foreign to all of them.
One of Susan's 5 Favorite Children's Books
I have never been disappointed by Kelly Braffet. I loved Josie and Jack, as well as ,Last Seen Leaving. Her newest novel, Save Yourself, is another great work of terrible beauty. SaveYourselfinserts us into the lives of sisters Layla and Vernaas we follow them from a world of hippie turned born-again parents, into a world of dysfunctional families, troubled friends and vicious peers. Her vivid dialogue will keep you hanging on every word. A truly captivating summer read!
With or Without You has it all, heartbreak, humanity and a search for truth and understanding amidst a dysfunctional universe. Domenica grew up with her louder–than–life mother in Danvers, Massachusetts. An only child in a large, extended family, Domenica always felt a step outside of her contemporaries. Her mother, Kathi, while her biggest obstacle, was also her biggest champion. Kathi pushed Domenica to pursue scholarship opportunities that landed her in a prestigious prep school. Kathi’s demons, however, are visited upon Domenica herself and it is their love/hate relationship that drives this darkly humorous, self-deprecating, compelling tale of hope and recovery.
One of Susan's 5 Favorite Books
One of Susan's 5 Favorite Children's Books
One of Susan's 5 Favorite Children's Books
One of Susan's 5 Favorite Children's Books
One of Susan's 5 Favorite Books
One of Susan's 5 Favorite Books
One of Susan's 5 Favorite Books
One of Susan's 5 Favorite Books
One of Susan's 5 Favorite Books