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The Left Bank Book Box Pick, December 2016
Americanah meets A Visit from the Goon Squad with a hint of Ferrante's Neopolitan novels--do you really need me to tell you how much you need Zadie Smith's Swing Time in your life? Literary giant's Smith new novel follows the story of an unnamed Londoner narrator, and the two women who have shaped who she is: her childhood best friend, Tracey, who was the only other biracial girl in their beginner ballet class, and the white international pop star/faux-philanthropist, Aimee, whose personal assistant she grows up to become. We're told from the beginning that both relationships have dissolved in spectacular fashions, but you'll have to read to find out why, and what the narrator is left with after they're gone. Smith explores the complexities of race, class, gender, and power with a musical grace that is no less provocative for its elegance and lightness. - Kea
The Left Bank Book Box Pick, October 2016
I devoured this book! I love Ann Patchett and think this book is phenomenal. The weave of the family's story is so magical and poetic. The depth of character is beautiful. The reader is thrown into this family like you are one of their own. - Shane
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The Left Bank Book Box Pick, September 2016
A stunning debut, We Eat Our Own will grab hold of you from the first page and refuse to let go. The story of a harrowing film shoot in the isolated depths of the Amazon rainforest during which even those who think they have total control learn that there is no such thing, this blend of mystery, horror, and literary fiction manages to feel both epic and claustrophobic, making for a uniquely atmospheric read. Pick it up at your own risk; you may not be able to easily put it back down. - Sarah
(This book cannot be returned.)
The Left Bank Book Box Pick, August 2016
These 13 stories take place in the fictional Cross River, MD. A largely black town formed in the early 19th century following a slave revolt. My favorite story is “Juba”. On his way to a job interview with an accounting firm, the narrator is mistaken for the infamous drug dealer, Juba, and is arrested. He is released and decides to track Juba down and finds that Juba doesn’t just deal drugs but plays an important role in conserving the culture of Cross River. What starts out with a frank, in your face scene becomes a very transforming story that I loved! - randy
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The Left Bank Book Box Pick, July 2016
Again, Ruth Ware writes the book of the summer! This is one that you will not be able to put down. Such a expertly crafted mystery with drunken journalists, an outrageously expensive and luxurious private cruise, beautiful surroundings, and an entire boat of suspects. It is perfectly British and perfectly wonderful. - Shane
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The Left Bank Book Box Pick, June 2016
On the surface, this is a novelization of the Manson murders, which is why I hesitated before reading it. I have enough murder and suffering in my Facebook feed. I don't need to be entertained by it. But this isn't really about that. It's really a story of a 14 year old girl lost in a disintegrating family and stormy adolescence who finds a connection with an older woman (and by older I mean, like 20) who is part of a free thinking, drug fueled group of young women led by a severely f'ed up male leader. Parts of this - the obligatory sex, the desperation for intimacy, the anger and shame- were so familiar to me as a teenager I was left wondering if I would have made some of the same decisions as the narrator. That's what works about this book (and any good book) - unfamiliar struggles of a character are drawn so that they are universal struggles recognizable to nearly every reader - in this case, every reader who grew up female. Excellent storytelling.- Jay
The Left Bank Book Box Pick, May 2016
Don DeLillo has stunned and intrigued millions of readers over his long career. In Zero K, the cerebral dialogue his characters engage in introduce us to philosophical quandaries that stay with you for days. In a world plagued by death and destruction, what makes life worth living? Is love enough? Is there the possibility of a life after this one? Does money clarify any of the mysteries surrounding death? DeLillo tackles these questions head on through the father-son relationship that is at the center of Zero K. - Wintaye
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The Left Bank Book Box Pick, April 2016
Set against the burgeoning art scene of New York, this is a story about boundless possibilities interrupted by great personal loss. James has synesthesia. His words are alive with color and taste and feeling, making him a gifted and respected art critic. Raul, an orphan from Argentina, refusing to deal with the emotional void opening between himself and his sister, flees to the city he was born in where he discovers his talent. With flowing, rhythmic prose, Prentiss tells a very real and moving story. Simply brilliant! - randy
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The Left Bank Book Box Pick, January 2016
Do not be fooled by the slight size of the Pulitzer Prize-winning author’s latest book. Spare in words, nearly each sentence carries enough to spark an entire conversation. We don’t like to know too much about a book we are about to read, so we won’t give you much on this except to say it is a pure delight: thought-provoking, and quietly profound in its treatment of the complexities of a mother daughter relationship. - Kris