Adult Nonfiction

BEST OF 2014: Adult Fiction & Nonfiction

Once again, the entire BCPL staff was asked to submit their picks for the best books of the year for adults. From ambitious literary triumphs to crowd-pleasing bestsellers, here are our collective picks for 2014’s best:

Adult Fiction

All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr
This beautiful, sprawling story told from multiple viewpoints centers mostly on Mare-Laure, a 16-year-old blind girl, and Warner, a young German soldier, whose paths are destined to cross.

Big Little Lies by Liane Moriarty
Mystery, humor, and family drama collide in this brilliantly paced page-turner involving a suspicious death during a parent-night fundraiser at a small-town public school and the months leading up to the tragedy. Readers are left guessing until the very end who was was killed and why, but the authentic personalities and situations are what truly make this book shine.

Blood Magick by Nora Roberts
In this final installment of the Cousins O’Dwyer Trilogy, Roberts delivers another supernatural-spiced romance with a vivid Irish setting and likable characters.

The Bone Clocks by David Mitchell
As a fifteen-year-old runaway, Holly Sykes has no idea of the integral role she will play in a secret war between two groups of near-immortals. Spanning decades and continents, this novel tells the intricate story of that war, weaving in and out of Holly’s life even as she remains mostly oblivious—until the day that the pieces finally come together in time for a final epic battle.

Edge of Eternity by Ken Follett
The epic multigenerational saga of five families whose live intersect through the 20th century comes to a head in this final episode full of family drama, political intrigue, and societal upheaval.

Leaving Time by Jodi Picoult
A multi-layered story told through many voices, Leaving Time is at its heart a story about motherhood. The novel centers on a precocious 13-year-old girl determined to unravel the mystery of her mother’s disappearance ten years ago, with the help of a disgraced former police detective and an infamous psychic.

The Martian by Any Weir
Originally an underground self-published hit and now destined for the big screen, this novel is a quiet but captivating thriller about an astronaut stranded on Mars with limited supplies and no rescue on the horizon.

Shadow Spell by Nora Roberts
Full of Irish lore and compelling characters, this second installment of the Cousins O’Dwyer Trilogy features an impending battle against a magical sorcerer and a romance between childhood friends enmeshed in the struggle,

Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel
On the eve of a pandemic that will wipe out 99% of the global population, a celebrated actor dies on stage during a performance of King Lear. Twenty years later, a group of traveling musicians and actors and a few others struggle to keep art, culture, and history relevant in a world where the struggle for survival has wiped out hope for many. An elegiac and thought-provoking dystopian novel with substance.

The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry by Gabrielle Zevin
A cantankerous young widower finds new purpose when he finds an abandoned two-year-old in his bookstore.

The Wonder of All Things by Jason Mott
When a young teen lays hands on her injured friend, it is discovered that she has the power of healing. Unfortunately, with each attempt to heal someone else, Ava finds she herself grows weaker.

Adult Nonfiction

Can’t We Talk About Something More Pleasant? by Roz Chast
In this witty graphic memoir about the last years of her elderly parents’ lives, Chast honestly and often humorously depicts the mental and physical struggles of both the dying and their caregivers. 

Deep Down Dark by Héctor Tobar
Through an empathetic and vivid account, an award-winning journalist brings to life the unfathomable experience of the 33 men who were trapped 2,000 feet underground at a Chilean mine for 10 weeks in 2010. A riveting account of disaster, survival, and coming to terms with the experience in the midst of a media frenzy.

Everything I Need to Know I Learned from a Little Golden Book by Diane Muldrow
This funny, whimsical guide to like is sure to appeal to nostalgic bibliophiles.
The Mockingbird Next Door by Harper Lee
In this intimate biography of Harper Lee, a journalist offers insights into the reclusive author’s life and thoughts based on their conversations in the latter part of Lee’s life.
UnPHILtered by Phil Robertson
The Duck Dynasty star offers his opinions on life and faith as well as other controversial topics.

BEST OF 2013: Adult Fiction & Nonfiction

There are a lot of potentially great 2013 books that I haven’t gotten around to reading yet (Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s Americanah and  Charles Graeber’s The Good Nurse are next up in my towering to-read pile!), but
after surveying our entire library staff, here are our picks for 2013’s
Best Books for Adults:

Fiction

A Constellation of Vital Phenomena by Anthony Marra
Weaving back and forth through time and across characters, this compelling first novel begins with an eight-year-old girl who watched as her father was “disappeared” by Russian soldiers in the middle of the night.  Akhmed, the not-so-good physician of the local Chechen village and a family friend, is determined to rescue Haava from a similar fate and seeks the assistance of a cynical, tough-minded surgeon at a nearby hospital. The story centers on just five days of the lives of Haava, Akhmed, and Sonja, and yet it provides an almost magical look at the myriad connections—both discovered and never realized—that shape peoples lives, especially in a time of war.

The Cuckoo’s Calling by Robert Galbraith
Even before it was discovered that Robert Galbraith was a pseudonym for author J.K. Rowling, this compelling mystery  about a P.I. and his new office temp teaming up to investigate the suspicious death of a young model had the attention of critics. Describes by one reviewer for Library Journal as “a mash-up of Charles Dickens and Penny Vincenzi.”

The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt
In this mesmerizing story of love, loss, obsession, and the haunting power of art, a young man who lost his mother in an tragic accident grows to adulthood, only to become entangled in the art underworld of New York City

Life After Life by Kate Atkinson
In this stunning, thought-provoking novel, Ursula Todd goes through a series of  lives and deaths, experiencing wars and epidemics in ever-changing circumstances. Every time she hits a bad end—done in by Spanish flu, murdered by an abusive husband, killed in a bombing raid—it all begins again. Often, she has a nagging sense of déjà vu, but she can never put her finger on why. Reading Life After Life is like reading a sophisticated Choose Your Own novel for grown-ups, one that resets itself. Atkinson weaves an intricate web of parallel paths, detours, and intersections which is utterly fascinating, sometimes heartbreaking, and frequently startling with  unanticipated moments of sharp humor.

The Lowland by Jhumpa Lahiri

This emotionally powerful story of two brothers born in a quiet village outside Calcutta spans decades and continents. In an era of political turmoil, the brothers choose divergent paths—Subhash retreating to a quiet university in New England while Udayan becomes increasingly involved in a Mao-inspired rebellion against India’s social iniquities—and yet their lives remain almost fatalistically entwined despite their estrangement. Perceptive and universal in theme, the story explores the myriad nuances of guilt, marriage, parenthood, moral conviction, loyalty, and betrayal through day-to-day events against the more expansive backdrop of world affairs. The Lowland unfolds slowly, but Lahiri’s elegant prose and full characterizations make for a riveting tale.

 

From the Pulitzer Prize–winning author of Interpreter of Maladies.

The Obituary Writer by Ann Hood
A woman stuck in a loveless marriage and an obituary writer looking for her lost love discover a surprising connection. Part literary mystery and part love story, this novel is full of grief, shame, and hope.

The Returned by Jason Mott
The world is turned upside down in this emotional novel in which people inexplicably begin returning from the dead. At the heart of the story is an elderly couple whose 8-year-old son suddenly reappears nearly 50 years after his death.

Six Years by Harlan Coben
Six years after the love of his life left him to marry another man, Professor Jake Sanders learns that this rival is dead and that the woman of his dreams is not who she claimed to be. Betrayals and secrets are unearthed as Jake then races against the clock to track down the real woman he once loved and lost.

Sycamore Row by John Grisham
Reader favorite Jack Brigance, the attorney from A Time to Kill, makes a reappearance in Ford County, Mississippi, in this surprisingly suspenseful courtroom drama about wills, racial tension, and family secrets.

We Are All Completely Beside Ourselves by Karen Joy Fowler
The author of The Jane Austen Book Club creates another unforgettable work in this heartbreaking work about family dysfunction. This is a book best read “blind”; spoilers contained in some reviews and blurbs may ruin the experience otherwise.

Whiskey Beach by Nora Roberts
Eli Landon is suffering from the public and police scrutiny after being wrongly impli- cated in the murder of his soon-to-be wife. He then takes refuge in a old family home and falls in love with resident housekeeper Abra Walsh, with whom he is entangled in an old, life-threatening mystery.

Nonfiction

Empty Mansions by Bill Dedman and Paul Clark Newell, Jr.
A Pulitzer Prize–winning journalist and a distant family member reconstruct the life of a reclusive copper heiress in this fascinating tale of family scandal, privilege, and a surprising path to happiness.

Happy, Happy, Happy by Phil Robertson
The Duck Dynasty star chronicles his unusual life from childhood through the founding of the family business.

A House in the Sky by Amanda Lindhout & Sara Corbett
Through clear, gorgeous prose and raw honesty, Lindhout recounts the year she spent as a hostage in Somalia for over a year. The harrowing story is balanced by Lindhout’s descriptions of her childhood, her youthful interest in world travel inspired by National Geographic, and her almost-accidental introduction into the world of combat-zone reporting.

Lean In by Sheryl Sandberg
Facebook COO and and top-ranked
businesswoman Sheryl Sandberg shares though-provoking advice for women, urging them to seek professional challenges and take more risks to find work that they can feel passionate about.

Men We Reaped by Jesmyn Ward
Through the deaths of five young men in her Mississippi community over the course of four years, the National Book Award–winning author explores the realities of poverty and blackness in America. This candid, beautifully wrought account maintains a light, humanistic touch but does not gloss over the gritty details.

FLASH REVIEWS: Recent Audio Reads with an International Flavor

As I mentioned in my last post, my pleasure reading of late has been almost entirely limited to audiobooks. It’s been a while since I finished some of these, but here are some quick reviews of international-themed books I’ve been reading/listening to over the past few months:

Running the Rift by Naomi Benaron
Rating: 4/5 Stars
Audience: Adult/YA Crossover
Genre: Coming-of-Age Story/Political Fiction/War Story

This stunning coming of age novel tells the story of Jean Patrick Nkuba, a young Rwandan who dreams of running in the Olympics. He is a kindhearted and slightly naive boy, but as he grows older he becomes increasingly aware of the stark ethnic divide in his country and the challenges his Tutsi heritage will present to achieving his dream. Gripping and frequently distressing—this is one of the few novels that has made me cry—Running the Rift is nevertheless a story of hope, love, and perseverance. Benaron does not shy away from the escalating violence that eventually leads to the Rwandan genocide, but the story is not sensationalistic in any way. Instead, through the fictionalized account of Jean Patrick, it brings a relatable voice to an unimaginable tragedy and shows that there is much more to the country and its people than can be surmised from political reports and news stories. In contrast to the unflinching portrait of violence and moral complexities are Jean Patrick’s genuine love of his sport, his country, his family, and a young woman for whom he would do almost anything.

The Orphan Master’s Son by Adam Johnson
Rating: 3.5/5 Stars
Audience: Adult
Genre: Literary Fiction/Political Fiction/Dystopia

Set in the real-world dystopia of North Korea, this Pulitzer Prize–winning novel takes readers on a weird and wonderful journey along with its anti-hero protagonist. Jun Do begins life with the unlucky reputation of being an orphan—although in actuality he is not—and through a series of strange circumstances and fateful choices he finds himself filling unlikely roles, from professional kidnapper to national hero to romantic rival of the Great Leader himself. Set in a world where the “story” is so much more important than truth—where the story becomes truth—Jun Do seizes opportunities to reinvent himself over and over, and yet the nature and politics of North Korea can easily take him on a detour that will rewrite his story all over again. Perhaps because the world it explores is so very alien, I must admit that I initially found this book a bit difficult to connect with. I also wonder whether my occasional dissatisfaction might be related to the audio format. There are multiple voices and frequent interruptions from propagandist loudspeakers that perhaps did not translate well in this audio adaptation. But while it becomes a bit tedious at times (whether due to format or subject matter), The Orphan Master’s Son is also frequently brilliant, fascinating, and surprising.

Behind the Beautiful Forevers by Katherine Boo
Rating: 4/5 Stars
Audience: Adult
Genre: Nonfiction/Social Issues/Travel Writing

In this intimate and poignant book, a Pulitzer Prize–winning journalist creates a extraordinary portrait of India’s urban poor. By focusing on Annawadi, one of dozens of tiny slums that exist alongside the modern new airport and luxury hotels of Mumbai, Katherine Boo is able to bring to life the everyday realities faced by so many. While the story centers on the accusations of a woman who set herself on fire and the repercussions for the family accused of harming her, several key residents of the small undercity are examined. From petty squabbles that escalate into tragedy to a murdered garbage thief left ignored on the side of the road, death and survival in Annawadi is brought to vivid life by Boo’s compassionate yet clear-eyed reportage. There is Abdul, the quiet, diligent garbage collector; Asha, an ambitious kindergarten teacher determined to work the corrupt system for her own betterment; and Manju, Asha’s disapproving, intelligent daughter who hopes education will be her way out. Readers are left both frustrated by the actions of some residents and cautiously hopeful for the futures of others; but, in the end, the people of Annawadi are portrayed at complex individuals, not as collective objects of pity but as human beings fighting for survival and carving out a life in a flawed and corrupt system.  

GUEST REVIEWS: Flash Reviews from 2013 Cabin Fever Participants

Ever get sick of hearing what Lucinda and I think of our latest reads? Ready for a fresh opinion? How about some of your fellow BCPL patrons? Here are several guest reviews we received as part of our 2013 Cabin Fever program. Thanks to all of our guest reviewers for sharing!

Beautiful Disaster by Jamie McGuire
Reviewer: Anonymous Patron @ Ridgway Library
Anonymous Patron’s Rating: 5/5 Stars
Genre: Romance
Audience: New Adult/Adult
Series: Beautiful #1

Summary: Travis Maddox, Eastern University’s playboy, makes a bet with good girl Abby that if he loses, he will remain abstinent for a month, but if he wins, Abby must live in his apartment for the same amount of time.

Anonymous Patron’s Review: This story was amazing! I literally could not put it down! This was a wonderful love story about two people you would not think should be together until all the “pieces” unfold. I am looking forward to reading the author’s other books.

Deadly Pursuit by Irene Hannon
Reviewer: Heather Lawrence (Mt. Washington Library)
Heather’s Rating: 4/5 Stars
Genre: Christian Fiction/Romantic Suspense
Audience: Adult
Series: Guardians of Justice #2

Heather’s Summary & Review: The story of Allison Taylor and Mitch Morgan pursuing their admiration and affection for each other has enough love, adventure, and danger to keep the reader wanting to know “What happens next?” There was enough character development to understand the good guys from the bad guys but still leave a little suspicion and doubt of some of the characters’ overall intentions and roles in the story. The theme of faith and belief in God is dispersed throughout the story, helping the reader see connections to events and understand why things happen from a spiritual standpoint. The book is a great example of how when a person puts his/her trust in God, even the most dangerous of situations can become a moment of strength and courage.

A Golden Betrayal by Barbara Dunlop

Reviewer: Debbie Sanders (Ridgway Memorial Library)
Patron’s Rating: 3/5 Stars
Genre: Category Romance
Audience: Adult
Series: Silhouette Desire #2198 / The Highest Bidder #6

Summary: Convinced a headstrong American woman and her auction house are connected to the theft of a priceless statue, an Arabian prince kidnaps her.

Debbie’s Review: A funny romance with a spunky couple that are attracted to each other as soon as they meet. Good read.

Let It Sew by Elizabeth Lynn Casey
Reviewer: S. Jeanine Hall  (Hillview Library)
Heather’s Rating: 4/5 Stars
Genre: Cozy Mystery, Humor
Audience: Adult
Series: Southern Sewing Circle #7

Jeanine’s Summary:
It’s Christmas in Sweet Briar, South Carolina. A grinch has taken over the towns Christmas Decorating Committee, and Tori, Dixie, and Rose have been drafted to help. Charlotte Devereaux, a founding member of the Sweet Briar Ladies Society Sewing Circle, has passed away. She left behind a sketchbook of clues indicating her husband was murdered. Will Tori and her sewing circle gals have time to solve a murder and de-throne a grinch before Christmas? After all, they have a hundred Christmas stockings to make!

 

 Liberator by Bryan Davis
Reviewer: Marie Webb  (Lebanon Junction Library)
Marie’s Rating: No star rating was given.
Genre: Christian Fantasy
Audience: Young Adult/Adult
Series: Dragons of Starlight #4

Summary: The resurrected Starlighter,
Cassabrie, may be the humans’ last hope on Starlight as Jason, Koren,
and Elyssa struggle to warn the soldiers of the dragon king’s plan to
wipe them out using a deadly disease that already threatens Koren’s
life.
 
Marie’s Review:
Liberator is the 4th book in a series “Dragons of Starlight.” I found the books to be interesting and captivating. Davis has created a world within a world with a lot of intriguing characters. This keeps you guessing as to the outcome and actually who the good guys are and who will prevail.

 

Sisterhood Everlasting by Ann Brashares
Reviewer: Anonymous Patron  (Mt. Washington Library)
Marie’s Rating: 4/5 Stars
Genre: Chick Lit
Audience: Adult
Series: Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants #5

Summary: In this final Sisterhood, published as an adult novel, the girls are now in their late twenties. The pants are long gone and each is missing the closeness they once shared, so Tibby organizes a reunion that could change their lives in unexpected ways.
 
Anonymous Patron’s Review:
It was good to revisit old friends from the previous Sisterhood books. The girls learned to be bold and embrace both the joys and sorrows of a well lived life.

Super Finishing Techniques for Crocheters by Betty Barden
Reviewer: Lisa Houchins (Mt. Washington Library)
Lisa’s Rating: No star rating was given.
Genre: Adult Nonfiction/Crafts
Audience: Adult

Lisa’s Review: Lots of information for the beginning crocheter. Laid out well and easy to follow. Lots of pictures. Even a few cute ideas and patterns.

REVIEW: Death’s Acre by Dr. Bill Blass and Jon Jefferson

Rating: 4/5 Stars
Genre: Nonfiction
Audience: Adult/Older Teen

Summary: Straight from an episode of CSI, this book details the life and times of Dr. Bill Blass, who established “The Body  Farm”.   The Anthropological Research Center, colloquially known as “The Body Farm” is a one-of-a-kind research facility that studies how the human body decomposes after death by studying actual human subjects (most are donated by well-meaning donors after their deaths) through the various stages of decomposition.  This research has and is  aiding forensic scientists all over the world in the quest to identify remains and identify murders, charlatans, and criminals.

Lucinda’s Views:   As a person with an interest in forensic anthropology, this book was right up my alley.  Dr. Bass brings a very technical and intense branch of science down to an approachable, layman’s level.  Through easily understood, but fascinating scientific tidbits, Dr. Bass relates some of his more memorable cases and even the mistake that lead to the establishment of “The Body Farm”.  Over his more than forty year career, Dr. Bass has been called upon to aid with many interesting, unique cases, from 3,000 year old Native American burials to a man who was shot, blown apart, and then had his house burned down around him in order try and conceal his murder.  If you are interested in forensic science and love CSI, then this book would definitely be of interest.

REVIEW: Sex on the Moon by Ben Mezrich

Rating: 3/5 Stars
Genre: Adult Nonfiction, True Crime, Popular Science
 
Audience: Older Teen/Adult
Format: Audiobook

Summary: Banished by his family at the age of nineteen, Thad Roberts was headed for a dead-end life when he suddenly grasped onto the unlikley dream of becoming an astronaut. By that time he was well into his twenties, but with the combination of hard work, natural intelligence, and a hefty dose of charm he eventually made his way into an elite NASA co-op program. But Thad’s need for constant challenge, paired with a desire to impress his new girlfriend, led him to risk everything by orchestrating the theft of priceless lunar sample, aka moon rocks.

First Line: “It had to be the strangest getaway in history.”

Tracy’s Thoughts:
Despite a few quibbles, I thoroughly enjoyed listening to the audiobook of this “amazing story behind the most audacious heist in history,” read by Casey Affleck. The story of Thad Robert’s background and his improbable rise to such a coveted position is fascinating. I also enjoyed the “space geek” aspect of the book; I loved the descriptions of the Johnson Space Center, its work culture, and its accomplishments. In fact, the lead up to the robbery itself was so compelling that the actual theft and its aftermath were a bit of a letdown. The first half of this book is definitely the highlight, though caper fans may still find something to enjoy in the heist itself. Personally, I felt crucial details were glossed over and Thad’s motives were somewhat underdeveloped. (Although, in Mezrich’s defense this is based on a true story, and sometimes criminals’ motives aren’t exactly rational.) It is interesting to note that this book is written by the author of The Accidental Billionaires, and the team at Sony behind its film adaptation (The Social Network) have optioned the film rights to Sex on the Moon as well.

REVIEW: Becoming Sister Wives by Kody, Meri, Janelle, Christine, and Robyn Brown

Rating: 3/5 stars
Genre: Nonfiction
Audience: Adult

Summary: Ever wonder what it would be like to be part of a polygamist family? How would it feel to share your husband with three other women?  This book can perhaps provide some insight into these questions.  Becoming Sister Wives tells the story of the polygamist Brown family and how they came to be the family that can be seen on TLC’s reality show Sister Wives.  Cody, the husband, is married to not only Meri, but also Janelle, Christine, and Robyn and they have some 17 children among them.  This story tells of their tribulations, not only as they struggle to become a unified family unit, but also the struggles that they face/are facing as polygamists in prevalently monogamist America.  You will learn how each couple came to be married and how each wife has come to grips with “sharing” her husband with four other women.

Lucinda’s Views: I picked up this book because I was curious as to what the Brown family would say concerning their unconventional lifestyle.  I found it to be an easy, quick read that in some ways touched my heart.  The views expressed by all of the Brown in this book is that this lifestyle is a sincere calling from God, not a salacious attempt by Cody to have as many women in his life as possible using the excuse of religion.  Each voice in the book was expressed in a sincere, clear manner that left no doubt about who was speaking and that each voice was sincerely expressing their beliefs as they see them.  I found this book to be an interesting, even informative read.  Even if you do not agree with the Browns’ choice of livestyle, this book is worth giving a read.

REVIEW: Terror by Night by Terry Caffey

Star Rating: 4/5 (Playaway audiobook)
Genre: True Crime
Audience: Adult/Upper Level Young Adult

Summary: When his young family is murdered by his own daughter’s ex-boyfriend, Terry Caffey must learn to live as the only survivor of the attack and come to grips with this tragedy.  As he strives to take up his life again, he comes to a great understanding of the grace, mercy, and purpose of God. 

Lucinda’s Views: This book was recommended to me by a fellow librarian and at first I was sceptical as to whether or not I would enjoy reading it.  However, I found myself glued to my headphones and caught up in the tragedy of Terry’s life.  I found myself close to tears many times in this book as Terry recounted anecdotes from his family life prior to the horrific murders. 

This book does have a Christian bent, but it comes across as an integral part of the story as opposed to being didactic.  Terry’s faith is the impetuous that allows him to rebuild his life and truly forgive his family’s murderers including his own daughter Erin.

If you find that you like books that tell a tale of triumph over adversity and the strength of the human spirit this is a must read for you.

REVIEW: Wild by Cheryl Strayed

Rating: 3.5/5 Stars
Genre:  Biography
Audience: Older Teen/Adult

Summary: Four years after the sudden death of her mother from a highly aggressive cancer, Cheryl Strayed made a decision that would change her crumbling life. She decided to hike the Pacific Crest Trail, the Western equivalent of the Appalachian Trail. Her rigorous 1,000 plus mile hike would change her life in ways that she little expected.  This book is the story of her hike and its ultimate alteration of her very being.

Lucinda’s Views: I admit that I picked this up after having read about it in a fashion magazine. (Gasp)
But I was intrigued nevertheless.  This account of hiking the PCT and all its many dangers, hazards, and beauties almost had me convinced to go out and buy a backpack to start training for the Appalachian Trail.  (Anyone who knows me knows that that is so not my idea of fun.)  With well written, descriptive prose that draws you in and allows you a vision of a woman whose life is just beyond her control, Cheryl’s hike is truly a test of courage, strength, and true grit that makes an enjoyable and motivating read…..(I was looking at hiking boots today….)

BEST of 2011: Adult Fiction/Nonfiction

There were a lot of potentially great 2011 books that I haven’t gotten around to reading yet (Joan Didion’s Blue Nights has been languishing unread on my bedside table for weeks now!), but after surveying our entire library staff, here are our picks for 2011’s Best Books for Adults:

Fiction Picks

Agent X by Noah Boyd
Rogue former FBI agent Steve Vail races against time to track down a Russian intelligence officer who may have been caught trying to identify treasonous Americans. in this sequel to 2010’s The Bricklayer.

The Art of Fielding by Chad Harbach
A baseball star at a small college near Lake Michigan launches a routine throw that goes disastrously off course and inadvertently changes the lives of five people, including the college president, a gay teammate, and the president’s daughter.
Tracy’s Review

Chasing Fire by Nora Roberts
Montana wildfire fighter Rowan has a strict rule: never get romantically involved with anyone she works with. But the moment she meets new recruit Gull Curry that rule is severely tested. And when it becomes clear that someone blames Rowan for her jump partner’s death, and is determined to get revenge, Rowan finds that she needs Gull’s help and support more than ever.

The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern
The Cirque des Rêves arrives in the night, without warning, and captivates its audience from dusk till dawn. What the audience—and most of the performers—do not know is that the circus is merely the arena for a much grander scheme. Two magicians have set their protégés on a collision course, a deadly game where not even the participants themselves are sure of the rules—or the consequences.
Tracy’s Review
Lucinda’s Review

Now You See Me by S.J. Bolton
Stumbling onto a murder scene that a reporter likens to the crimes of Jack the Ripper, young detective constable Lacey Flint races against time to prevent additional deaths and realizes that the killer is taunting her with secrets from her past.

Night Road by Kristin Hannah
Former foster child Lexi has become Mia’s best friend, and Mia’s twin brother, Zach, has fallen in love with her. The twins’ mom, Jude, couldn’t be happier that her children are happy-until one dark night when Lexi is implicated in a terrible accident and the family is torn apart. Years later, Jude must consider reconciling with Lexi.

Swamplandia! by Karen Russell
This book is a bit bizarre and probably not for everybody, but fans of the off-kilter worlds created by Katherine Dunn and Kelly Link will inhale this wildly fantastical tale. It features a 13-year-old alligator wrestler, a 16-year-old who channels ghosts, and a 17-year-old boy who studies Latin and runs away from home to work at a hell-inspired amusement park called The World of Darkness. Home is Swamplandia!, a family-run tourist attraction deep in the Everglades presided over by their father, “Chief” Bigtree.

Unveiled by Courtney Milan
At the urging of her brothers, Margaret agrees to pose as her own father’s nurse in order to spy on the man who has exposed their family secrets and plans to inherit her father’s dukedom. But when Ash comes to the manor to inspect his expected inheritance, she quickly discovers that he is not the villainous interloper she anticipates. Quietly compelling and emotionally complex, this Victorian tale of revenge and redemption, family loyalty and secrets is easily a cut above the standard historical romance fare.

When She Woke by Hillary Jordan
In this dsytopic thriller based loosely on Hawthorne’s The Scarlet Letter, a young woman awakens to a nightmarish, hostile new life where her skin has been genetically altered—turned bright red as punishment for the crime of having an abortion.

You Know When the Men Are Gone by Siobhan Fallon
Eight gripping stories make up this debut story collection set primarily around the military base in Fort Hood, TX. The characters are real and haunting, and their stories are full of complexity and humanity. With simple yet elegant prose, Fallon makes the domestic lives of soldiers and their loved ones real and important.

Nonfiction Picks

The Big Short: Inside the Doomsday Machine by Michael Lewis
Insights into the economic crisis, from the author of The Blind Side.

Bossypants by Tina Fey
Tina Fey’s uncensored account of her life, stitching together the serious and the comic.

Confidence Men by Ron Suskind
Drawing on extensive research and interviews, the Pulitzer Prize winner examines Wall Street, Washington, and the education of a President.

The Memory Palace by Mira Bartók
This richly textured personal narrative chronicles the author’s childhood with her brilliant but schizophrenic mother as well as the perpetual shadow cast over her adult years by her mother’s illness.

Moonwalking with Einstein by Joshua Foer
U.S. Memory Champion Joshua Foer shares the “Art and Science of Remembering Everything.”

Tiger, Tiger by Margaux Fragoso
This memoir is an absolutely gut-wrenching and a fearlessly honest account of family dysfunction and sexual abuse by an unrelated pedophile.
Tracy’s Review.

REVIEW: Tiger, Tiger by Margaux Fragoso

Rating: 4/5 Stars
Audience: Adult
Genre: Memoir/Adult Nonfiction

Summary: Margaux Fragoso was seven when she met pedophile Peter Curran at a neighborhood swimming pool. Peter was 51. Quickly, Peter’s world—a wonderland of exotic pets and play—became the center of Margaux’s life. Her mentally ill mother thought Peter was practically “Jesus in another life” and for Marguax, Peter became the all-consuming person: friend, playmate, father… lover. Their relationship lasted 15 years. This memoir is absolutely gut-wrenching, and a fearlessly honest account of sexual abuse and family dysfunction.

Tracy’s Thoughts: 
This is a difficult book to read. Descriptions of the physical relationship are graphic at times, but not nearly as sensationalistic as one might fear. No, the real horror here is the way Fragoso manages to humanize a child molester, showing his perspective while laying bare the destruction of her childhood without self-pity or judgement. It is this last point—the lack of outright condemnation—that is astonishing. I was awed by Fragoso’s storytelling, which skillfully allows readers to experience Curran as the object of a young Margaux’s adoration even as we recognize the calculating manipulations of a predator. It is an uncomfortable balance at times—Fragoso is too candid to deny her love for her molester—but it provides important and fascinating insight into the mind of a victim. The erosion of Margaux’s sense of reality is devastating, and at times I was horrified to catch myself almost sympathizing with Peter. Peter insidiously worked his way into Margaux’s world, and as a writer Fragoso is equally skilled at pulling the reader into the world that they shared. This is an intensely disturbing book, but also a beautiful one.