Staff Pick List

Julia

Hello! My name is Julia (they/them) and I’m a part-time bookseller at LBB. I’m particularly drawn to books that exist somewhere outside of genre and enjoy a good deal of ambiguity and interdisciplinary subject matter within a read.

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The Argonauts By Maggie Nelson Cover Image
$16.00
ISBN: 9781555977351
Availability: On Our Shelves (Note - We update this inventory once per day.)
Published: Graywolf Press - January 26th, 2016

Nobody writes like Maggie Nelson and I will stand by that until the day I die. This composition of theory, memoir, gender studies, and philosophy is something I think everyone needs to pick up and savor. Nelson gets you to think, think more, feel, feel deeply, and reframe how you engage with those you hold closest, especially as you both change and endlessly become. I devoured this.


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The Orchard: A Novel By David Hopen Cover Image
$17.99
ISBN: 9780062974754
Availability: On Our Shelves (Note - We update this inventory once per day.)
Published: Ecco - September 28th, 2021

If you're a fan of Dark Academia, and teenage existentialism, this is the one for you. Come for the moral quandary, stay for the exploration of modern Jewish orthodoxy. An incredibly unique, deeply engrossing, and painful read that rivals Tartt and her Dark Academia companions.


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Dune By Frank Herbert Cover Image
$18.00
ISBN: 9780441013593
Availability: On Our Shelves (Note - We update this inventory once per day.)
Published: Ace - August 2nd, 2005

THIS IS MY FAVORITE NOVEL OF ALL TIME. A MASTER CLASS IN WRITING AND WE ARE OH SO LUCKY TO HAVE IT!


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American Gods: A Novel By Neil Gaiman Cover Image
$19.99
ISBN: 9780063081918
Availability: Ships quickly (1-7 days)
Published: William Morrow Paperbacks - March 16th, 2021

Hands down one of the best novels I've ever read. Here, speculative fiction meets roadside Americana, mythology, crime, satire, and so much more. Neil Gaiman never disappoints and this novel is one of the greatest we've got. Prepare to meet characters you never could have dreamt up and go along on adventures that question your understanding of the universe, past and present.


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I Know This Much Is True: A Novel By Wally Lamb Cover Image
$20.00
ISBN: 9780061469084
Availability: On Our Shelves (Note - We update this inventory once per day.)
Published: Harper Perennial - April 8th, 2008

This was one of the most engrossing, painful, and complex novels about family dynamics, sibling love, and intergenerational trauma I have ever read. If you are looking for a read that will chew you up from the inside out and spit you out anew, please pick this up. Wally Lamb knows what he's doing and he does it so well.


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How to Be Multiple: The Philosophy of Twins By Helena de Bres, Julia de Bres (Illustrator) Cover Image
By Helena de Bres, Julia de Bres (Illustrator)
$28.99
ISBN: 9781639730346
Availability: On Our Shelves (Note - We update this inventory once per day.)
Published: Bloomsbury Publishing - November 7th, 2023

This was a stunning insight into the socialization of twins while respecting the identities of each sibling as separate and complete on their own. As an identical twin myself, I have never felt more seen or validated. As De Bres puts it, every "singleton" should pick this up, if only to better understand and respect the twin siblings in their lives. Every twin sibling should pick this up to finally hear the words we've always wanted to hear...but you'll have to read to find out!


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The Guest Lecture By Martin Riker Cover Image
$17.00
ISBN: 9780802160416
Availability: On Our Shelves (Note - We update this inventory once per day.)
Published: Grove Press, Black Cat - January 24th, 2023

This is a novel that feels like a dream, or at the very least, a sleepless night in great company. Amidst conversations on leisure, economics, and utopia, Riker delivers a masterpiece that reminds all of us that there is a better world out there, waiting to be created. One of my favorite, unexpected reads of 2023!


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We Eat Our Own: A Novel By Kea Wilson Cover Image
$17.00
ISBN: 9781501128325
Availability: On Our Shelves (Note - We update this inventory once per day.)
Published: Scribner - April 2nd, 2019

Want to be kept in the dark as much as the characters are? Want to be frightened as much as you are repulsed? Want to be lulled with dreamy language as much as you are surprised with vulgarity? This is one of the most unique and creative novels I've ever read and one that will stick with me for a long, long time.


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The Seaplane on Final Approach: A Novel By Rebecca Rukeyser Cover Image
$18.00
ISBN: 9780593314029
Availability: On Our Shelves (Note - We update this inventory once per day.)
Published: Anchor - June 13th, 2023

Rukeyser has crafted an experience of female sensuality in its rawest form. Are you in the mood for yearning, Alaskan wilderness, sleaze, and teenage naivety? Then come on in, the water's warm (or cold, seeing as we're talking about Alaska).


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These Violent Delights: A Novel By Micah Nemerever Cover Image
$17.99
ISBN: 9780062963642
Availability: Ships quickly (1-7 days)
Published: Harper Perennial - September 14th, 2021

If you're a fan of "The Secret History," give this a try! It's just as, if not even more, brooding and intense and features a complicated queer relationship that keeps the tension at a height until the very end.


Elena

Hello, my name is Elena (they/them/elle)! I enjoy watching clouds, petting cats, and sipping a good shot of espresso. My hobbies include wandering around my home, drawing pictures, and improving my cartwheels.

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Thunder Song: Essays By Sasha LaPointe Cover Image
$27.00
ISBN: 9781640096356
Availability: On Our Shelves (Note - We update this inventory once per day.)
Published: Counterpoint - March 5th, 2024

LaPointe’s connection to her identity and her homeland resonate; when you close your eyes what do you see? What stories do you hear? This fabulous collection of essays explores the cultivation of our past and home in our bodies, and how we can share ourselves in our own way, while supported by our ancestors.


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No Meat Required: The Cultural History and Culinary Future of Plant-Based Eating By Alicia Kennedy Cover Image
$26.95
ISBN: 9780807069172
Availability: On Our Shelves (Note - We update this inventory once per day.)
Published: Beacon Press - August 15th, 2023

A fascinating historical dive into veganism & vegetarianism here in the USA. Kennedy explores the several different ideologies that feed into modern veganism, and how they inform (and differ) from the plant based plethora that we see today. She echoes my sentiments on lab grown meat, and just how much shameless capitalism has hollowed out such a radical act as refusing meat. As our planet continues to warm and change, Kennedy asks us to think critically about how we eat and how we can participate in ecological harmony.


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In Limbo By Deb JJ Lee Cover Image
$17.99
ISBN: 9781250252661
Availability: Ships quickly (1-7 days)
Published: First Second - March 7th, 2023

An absolute bummer, but in the most beautiful way. The art and story are equally spectacular.


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Our Migrant Souls: A Meditation on Race and the Meanings and Myths of “Latino” By Héctor Tobar Cover Image
$19.00
ISBN: 9781250335814
Availability: Coming Soon - Available for Pre-Order Now
Published: Picador - September 24th, 2024

A beautiful exploration of what binds us across the label of “Latino.” Tobar accurately captures the stress of migration and having your family torn across two continents; the stress of coming to a country that actively does not want us to be here. This is a book for anyone who has left home, unsure if they would ever return or see their families in person ever again. Fair warning: there will be lots of tears.


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Sun of Blood and Ruin: A Novel By Mariely Lares Cover Image
$30.00
ISBN: 9780063254312
Availability: On Our Shelves (Note - We update this inventory once per day.)
Published: Harper Voyager - February 20th, 2024

A fast-paced fantasy, filled with shapeshifting, sorcery, and epic battles. Lares weaves together a rich world from mesoamerican history and mythology, alongside a thoughtful exploration of mestiza identity, and finding one’s place in the world.


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Tranny: Confessions of Punk Rock's Most Infamous Anarchist Sellout By Laura Jane Grace, Dan Ozzi (With) Cover Image
$19.99
ISBN: 9780316264372
Availability: On Our Shelves (Note - We update this inventory once per day.)
Published: Hachette Books - August 29th, 2017

A queer punk classic! Laura Jane Grace, frontwoman of Against me! recounts her life and career, punctuated with her experiences of gender dysphoria. This electric memoir about a chaotic life with an underlying hum of identity exploration and acceptance is absolutely fabulous!


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Open Veins of Latin America: Five Centuries of the Pillage of a Continent By Eduardo Galeano, Isabel Allende (Foreword by) Cover Image
By Eduardo Galeano, Isabel Allende (Foreword by)
$22.00
ISBN: 9780853459910
Availability: On Our Shelves (Note - We update this inventory once per day.)
(This book cannot be returned.)
Published: Monthly Review Press - January 1st, 1997

Una historia poderosa pero indignante. Todas las personas de las Americas necesitan leer este libro!


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Sellout: The Major-Label Feeding Frenzy That Swept Punk, Emo, and Hardcore (1994-2007) By Dan Ozzi Cover Image
$19.99
ISBN: 9780063269149
Availability: Ships quickly (1-7 days)
Published: Dey Street Books - October 18th, 2022

I was, and continue to be, obsessed with several of the 11 bands the author chronicles, so this was absolute perfection. Ozzi captures the chaos of the DIY/hardcore punk, the music industry, and the artists caught in between; very readable, fun, and devastating all at the same time. A great read for all flavors of punks.


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Freshwater By Akwaeke Emezi Cover Image
$16.00
ISBN: 9780802128997
Availability: On Our Shelves (Note - We update this inventory once per day.)
Published: Grove Press - December 18th, 2018

Dark magic to remind us that our bodies are ours, even if it doesn't feel like it. This tribute to ancestors, mental illness, and the human capacity for growth is absolutely spellbinding.


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How Music Works By David Byrne Cover Image
$26.00
ISBN: 9780804188937
Availability: On Our Shelves (Note - We update this inventory once per day.)
Published: Crown - May 2nd, 2017

I read this almost 4 years ago, and I still think about it all the time. I loved learning about the impact of the music industry on musical creation and how we think about "professional" creativity. A must read if you love music, make music, or enjoy any creative endeavor.


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Queer Little Nightmares: An Anthology of Monstrous Fiction and Poetry By David Ly (Editor), Daniel Zomparelli (Editor) Cover Image
By David Ly (Editor), Daniel Zomparelli (Editor)
$18.95
ISBN: 9781551529011
Availability: On Our Shelves (Note - We update this inventory once per day.)
Published: Arsenal Pulp Press - October 4th, 2022

These writings left me feeling both disturbed and celebrated; I recommend to fans of the macabre, and anyone whose otherness has made them feel monstrous.


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We Deserve Monuments By Jas Hammonds Cover Image
$18.99
ISBN: 9781250816559
Availability: Ships quickly (1-7 days)
Published: Roaring Brook Press - November 29th, 2022

Queer love, generational trauma, familial healing, and friendship; a perfect salve for my inner teenage heart!


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Undrowned: Black Feminist Lessons from Marine Mammals By Alexis Pauline Gumbs, Adrienne Maree Brown (Foreword by) Cover Image
$15.00
ISBN: 9781849353977
Availability: On Our Shelves (Note - We update this inventory once per day.)
Published: AK Press - November 17th, 2020

Gumbs invites us to relish in the magic of marine mammals. The bite sized chapters are perfect if you need a little space to rest your mind. Her poems and prose are meditative, and inspire daydreams and revolution.


Jackie

Hello fellow book loving friends! My name’s Jackie and I’m one of the booksellers at Left Bank books. When I moved to St. Louis a little over a year ago, one of the first things I did was look up the best Indie bookstore. The second I walked into Left Bank, I knew I found my soul-bookstore. 

Books are my happy place - along with my partner and our three very sassy and opinionated dogs. I love coffee, trying to skating skate board (emphasis on the trying), and am on a quest to find the world's greatest chocolate chip cookie.

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Somewhere Beyond the Sea (Cerulean Chronicles #2) By TJ Klune Cover Image
$28.99
ISBN: 9781250881205
Availability: Coming Soon - Available for Pre-Order Now
Published: Tor Books - September 10th, 2024

I have never been more excited for a sequel, and this one was so unexpected. Will be counting down the seconds till I can get this in my hand.


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The House in the Cerulean Sea: Special Edition (Cerulean Chronicles #1) By TJ Klune Cover Image
$28.99
ISBN: 9781250357243
Availability: Coming Soon - Available for Pre-Order Now
Published: Tor Books - September 10th, 2024

Like VE Schwab says on the cover, this is exactly what being wrapped in a big gay blanket feels like. By far the most heartwarming, whimsical, hopeful book I've ever read. And so funny and clever and perfect in ever way.


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The Fragile Threads of Power By V. E. Schwab Cover Image
$29.99
ISBN: 9780765387493
Availability: On Our Shelves (Note - We update this inventory once per day.)
Published: Tor Books - September 26th, 2023

There are several layers of brilliance to this book. Being an actual magician, VE Schwab wrote undeniably PERFECT new characters for the series, while continuing to expand on story and depth in the ones we already know and love. She also did a wonderful job at making sure new readers can enjoy this book without first reading Shades of Magic - but as an avid fan, please read them all. I will forever be reading everything VE Schwab ever writes forever and ever amen .


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When Women Were Dragons: A Novel By Kelly Barnhill Cover Image
$17.00
ISBN: 9780593466575
Availability: On Our Shelves (Note - We update this inventory once per day.)
Published: Anchor - May 16th, 2023

One of the best books I've ever picked up on a whim. A brilliant blend of history and fantasy and empowerment. If you're someone who's ever been afraid of taking up space, this book is for you.


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The Extraordinaries By TJ Klune Cover Image
$12.99
ISBN: 9781250203663
Availability: Ships quickly (1-7 days)
Published: Tor Teen - July 13th, 2021

This series was SO MUCH FUN. This is one of those stories that will make you laugh and cry multiple times while reaching for the popcorn. A really fun and queer twist on the world of superheroes and villains with a remarkable amount of depth throughout.


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Wolfsong: A Green Creek Novel By TJ Klune Cover Image
$29.99
ISBN: 9781250890313
Availability: On Our Shelves (Note - We update this inventory once per day.)
Published: Tor Books - July 4th, 2023

A truly beautiful and hopeful story about friendship, growing up, belonging, and chosen family. Also... what's not to love about gay werewolves?


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Untamed By Glennon Doyle Cover Image
$28.00
ISBN: 9781984801258
Availability: On Our Shelves (Note - We update this inventory once per day.)
Published: The Dial Press - March 10th, 2020

Glennon Doyle is unlike anyone else in the world. Her words are crafted with so much raw truth, fire, gentleness, and utter brilliance. If you're in a place where you feel like you're in desperate need to come home to yourself, this book is for you.


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The Bone Season: Tenth Anniversary Edition By Samantha Shannon Cover Image
$30.99
ISBN: 9781639732234
Availability: On Our Shelves (Note - We update this inventory once per day.)
Published: Bloomsbury Publishing - August 22nd, 2023

This series is pure perfection. I love nothing more than a story centering an underground society of "outlaws", the rich, powerful, political people as villains, an incredibly raw and true representation of trauma, a strong female lead with monumental character growth, and a love story that is so much more than a love story. This series has so many twists and surprises and LAYERS. So many layers. Dear readers, enjoy.


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The First Bright Thing By J.R. Dawson Cover Image
$27.99
ISBN: 9781250805546
Availability: On Our Shelves (Note - We update this inventory once per day.)
Published: Tor Books - June 13th, 2023

It’s been a long time since I’ve felt as understood from a book as I did from this. Dawson managed to create a world that dared to reach some of the scariest and loneliest parts of being human, while at the same time, offered so much light and hope and purpose and love. The nuances and emotional depth each character had made me feel like I was right there with them, and them with me. One of the top five books I’ve read of all time.


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A Darker Shade of Magic: A Novel (Shades of Magic #1) By V. E. Schwab Cover Image
$17.99
Email or call for availability and/or price.
ISBN: 9780765376466
Published: Tor Books - January 19th, 2016

This series is what made me fall in love with reading again. 10/10, will always and forever recommend.


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Six of Crows By Leigh Bardugo Cover Image
$11.99
ISBN: 9781250076960
Availability: On Our Shelves (Note - We update this inventory once per day.)
Published: Square Fish - February 6th, 2018

This book was perfect. I love a story with a heist where the band of thieves are the "good guys", and the rich fancy businessmen are very much not. Bardugo has an unmatched skill at bringing characters to life, adding depth and emotion to every layer. 12/10.


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