I love everything about Louise Erdrich's The Sentence. It is absolutely THE read for the moment we are in--Covid, the renewed fight for social justice, and wholesale healing. I love that the main characters are indigenous, that it is set in Louise's own Minneapolis bookstore and that the characters are mostly booksellers, that we get to walk through these past couple of years in the lovingly expressed workings of Louise's brain. I could rave and rave and rave. I laughed and cried. Hard. I felt so much better for reading this wondrous gem of a novel. Thank you Louise Erdrich! - Kris
Well-researched, eye-opening, excellent. I recommend "The Broken Heart of America" especially to St. Louisans, but really to anyone who wants to better understand the history of racism and colonialism in the United States. Johnson's deep-dive is essentially a "people's history" of the United States using St. Louis as a (very poignant) case study. - Amber
Absolutely fascinating book! as a fan of kurzgesagt I was excited to read more about the immune system. because 10 minute videos aren't enough! Philipp is always fantastic communicator and make incredibly complex things easy and enjoyable to read. I didn't think in a million years id read a book about the immune system but The frequent summaries and metaphors really help make sense of the concepts. - Princess
An ambitious journey through all of the peaks, valleys, and hidden passages of a complex, endlessly sprawling, fictional universe spanning 50+ years of twisty-turny continuity. Such a fun and interesting read. - Jim
An absolutely stunning book! James manages to mold beautiful verse into a modern folklore that will keep readers' eyes glued to the pages. - Kali
I am deeply in love with this series even though it hurts so much. I am definitely putting it on my “read over and over” shelf. There was intimacy that made me jump and scream, “yes! That’s what I’m talking about!” and yet also a bittersweet reminder that this ‘alternate history’ is not out of the norm and is happening even now without the excuse of “Aliens from Outer Space.” Like an anise cookie dipped in dark chocolate, Truth of the Divine delves deep into an exploration of humanity and what truly makes a monster. - Alicia
A new series of alternate history science fiction that asks, what is a monster? Is it anything other than homo sapiens or are sapiens the bigger monster? I laughed, cried, and screamed in frustration with these books. Try them for they are like anise cookies dipped in dark chocolate: bittersweet and tangy explorations into humanity and what truly makes a monster. Oh, and there is also some heavy subtext with aliens and humans that I am so here for! - Alicia
Set in Constantinople in the fifteenth century, in a small town in present-day Idaho, and on an interstellar ship decades from now, Anthony Doerr's gorgeous third novel is a triumph of imagination and compassion, a soaring story about children on the cusp of adulthood in worlds in peril, who find resilience, hope-and a book. - Shane
An Elderly Lady is back and things in her life show no signs of becoming dull.
In these six interlocking stories, memories of unfortunate incidents from Maud's past keep bubbling to the surface. Meanwhile, certain Problems in the present require immediate attention. Luckily, Maud is no stranger to taking matters into her own hands…even if it means she has to get a little blood on them in the process.
This little volume stands alone, but fans of An Elderly Lady Is Up to No Good will want this book! - Shane
These interconnected short stories begin innocently enough. Soon, however, they evolve into surreal fantasies filled with humor and wonderment. Like bite-sized candies, each one is delicious! - Jeff
It's a smallish novel, but incredibly well-done. It takes place in the weeks leading up til Christmas, and would pair perfectly with a rainy/snowy day at home and any good beverage. Think of it as the gift of a cozy day + a very good book (that they can finish in their limited time off!) for the busy person in your life. I'm giving one to my mom. - Bri
Spot on! We don't always remember why we love books and the importance they carry. Here's a reminder. And, it's a great story that's part coming of age and part fable. I loved it! - randy
This story is pure, undiluted sunshine. Just, SO life-giving. If you actively dislike feeling joy, this book is not for you. Please move along. - Lyndsey
Lemony Snicket is back with this short mystery full of his classic humor that many of us grew up on (the same stuff that shaped my dry and self-depreciating sense of humor). You can't miss out on this quick read! (Or do, no one's stopping you.) - Baeyle
Hometown boy Andy Cohen, who invented the Real Housewives series and other successes on the Bravo channel, offers us feel-good quotes, glitter-style, by the women he loves from his mother to Madonna. - Chris
Claire Saffitz is a dessert person. So am I. And with Claire's thoughtful yet easygoing style, you can be one too! I like Claire because she wants to get desserts right (read: delicious). This is the perfect gift for both the aspiring and well-practiced dessert people in your life -- even (and especially!) if that person is yourself. - Emiliana
This book is so much more than what meets the eye. Evelyn's story is one of being a woman in a man’s world, one of being a Cuban woman in a white woman’s world. She's played the Hollywood game, dated famous men to further her career, and used her body to get what she wanted. She has experienced the full force of the industry's sexism and, in some ways, capitalized on it. She is deeply flawed and aware of it. She has traded important aspects of her identity for more fame, more roles, more money, but now it is time to tell her whole story. She's ready to talk about the void, the unhappiness underneath the smile, her age, her divorces, and all the other unglamorous things that Hollywood likes to pretend never happens to its starlets. One of my favorite books of the year! - Amanda
This is an eerie, powerful novel, one where the ghosts of the dead intertwine with the voices of the living to tell a story of a family’s grief and how they fit into a larger picture of intergenerational trauma. The Removed is beautifully written and rich with Cherokee history and culture. Set in present day Oklahoma but with ancestral roots nearly two centuries in the past along the Trail of Tears, the narrative jumps between voices and timelines and sometimes seems to occur in a place beyond time and setting. Hobson braids surrealist and fantasy elements into the gritty reality of history repeating itself through generations. A thought-provoking meditation on the many ways we cope with loss, on survival in the face of injustice, and on the meaning of home. - Caasey
David Hockney is a living master. You can feel that in the way he speaks about his work. His insights into painting and photography are delivered in enigmatic riddles which take years to fully unpack. This set of drawings, a series of landscapes sketched on his iPad, showcases David Hockney's astonishing ability to continually reinvent himself in new mediums. Both sharply modern and timelessly classic, this collection has appeal for seasoned art lovers and more casual viewers alike. - Anthony