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Check out our reviews and recommendations:
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Rachel recommends:Someone by Alice McDermott What it’s about: Someone is like a shorter, more adult A Tree Grows in Brooklyn, following the life of Marie, an Irish girl growing up in Brooklyn in the 1930s. Marie starts off as a fiery, diffident young girl who enters adulthood reluctantly and takes to old age less than gracefully. Surrounding her are characters—family, friends, and neighbors—who have struggles of their own, both timely and timeless in nature. Who it's for: This story will satisfy readers who enjoy slice-of-life tales with a historical flair. The novel does not follow a linear timeline; we are given vignettes of the different stages of Marie’s life, from young child to elder, that interplay with each other, but McDermott manages to do this in a style that is not jarring or confusing. This calm, contemplative read will engage you with its strong sense of time and place, and keep you invested with its emotional pull.
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Misty recommends:For My Daughters by Barbara Delinsky What it’s about: This is a story of three sisters and their thoughts, expectations, joys and disappointments about themselves, each other, and their mother. Key Insight: Barbara Delinsky knows women. She is one of the greatest writers for bringing to light the emotions encompassed in relationships. The women in this story could be YOUR mother or YOUR sisters. They expose the less favorable aspects of sibling rivalry and the misunderstanding of mothers.
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Astrid recommends:The Outsider: A Novel by Stephen King Starring: Ralph Anderson, Flint City detective, and Holly Gibney, former assistant to Bill Hodges of Mr. Mercedes fame. What it’s about: It looks like an open and shut case when Terry Maitland, local coach and all-around great guy, is arrested for the brutal murder of an 11-yr old boy. There were reliable witnesses who saw Maitland, and his DNA and fingerprints are all over the evidence. Ralph Anderson is sure he has the right guy and arrests him at a public event; but then Maitland produces an iron-clad alibi that has credible witnesses and DNA evidence putting him in a different place when the murder was committed. The contradictory evidence is grounds to bring in investigator Holly Gibney, who played a crucial part in King’s Bill Hodges trilogy. This being Stephen King, the supernatural eventually finds its way into the plot and if you have a phobia about worms you may want to let someone else recap the last part for you. Audio alert: This is a great experience on audio; Will Patton does an excellent job voicing all the characters, with much emotion and expertise, as he did for King’s Bill Hodges trilogy. It's almost like watching a movie.
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Stacey recommends:Montana 1948: A Novel by Larry Watson What it’s about: In this quietly dramatic coming of age story, a boy watches as his father, a Montana sheriff, arrests his physician brother for the abuse of Native American women. Why it’s significant: Narrated by an adult reflecting on a traumatic event in his youth that ended the life of a loved one and broke his family apart, this story is sadly timeless and highly discussible. Why you should read it: This short novel—only 175 pages in length—is a riveting page turner told in a spare, haunting style that packs an emotional punch.
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Meagan recommends: The Indigo Girl: A Novel by Natasha Boyd What it’s About: Eliza, a sixteen-year-old woman with a mind for business, must prove she has the competence to keep the family plantations profitable while her father pursues financially draining political aspirations. The Indigo Girl is based on historical documents and the letters of an astonishing woman who made indigo dye flourish in South Carolina. The romance in this novel is not heavy; instead, it focuses on her struggle to defend her abilities as mistress of her family’s business and on the relationships with the plantation slaves as she teaches them to read. Perhaps a bit romanticized, this novel is perfect for those who enjoy little-known historical figures and material based on true stories.
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What it’s about: Daily Show host Trevor Noah shares stories of his South African childhood and young adult life under apartheid and after. He starts with the story of why his mother pushed him out of a moving car (she had a good reason) and covers his failed romantic exploits, the time he burned a house down, his unfaithful dog, and his life as a DJ, a shoplifter, a music pirate and a hustler.
Why you should listen to it: Noah narrates this audiobook and includes South African dialects and languages. His anecdotes are very funny, but they also touch on the horrors of oppression, racism and poverty.
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Roseanne recommends: I See Life Through Rosé-Colored Glasses: True Stories and Confessions by Lisa Scottoline About the authors: Mother / daughter team who also write the column “Chick Wit” for the Philadelphia Inquirer. Lisa Scottoline lives in Pennsylvania and writes three books a year. Series Alert: This is the 9th book in “The Amazing Adventures of an Ordinary Woman” series. Mother and daughter narrate all nine titles in the series on audiobook. Reviewers say: “True tales of how we live now from a mother and daughter who are best pals―and a very funny writing team” (People - Best Beach Book).
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Laura recommends: Superiority Burger Cookbook: The Vegetarian Hamburger Is Now Delicious by Brooks Headley What sets it apart: Inventive and interesting take on vegetarian and vegan food. Brooks calls his restaurant "an Italian restaurant disguised as a tiny veggie burger joint," but it goes way beyond the veggie burger it is named after. The namesake burger is a veggie and grain croquette that makes no attempt to be meat—enjoy it for what it is. Recipes included: Appealing salads are somewhat complicated but if your meal stars Tahini Ranch Romaine Salad with Bread and Butter Pickled Cauliflower, or Corn and Tomatoes with Bruised Basil and Olive Oil Croutons, you might not mind the extra effort. Other temptations include White Sweet Potato and Leek Soup with Italian Green Onion Pancakes, Carrot Soup with Mint and Peanuts, and Crunchy Potatoes with Green Cream and Griddled Onions. Even simple dishes like Bean Toast or Braised Collard Greens are livened up by careful cooking and thoughtful seasoning. Desserts include banana bread and a selection of sorbets.
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Lee recommends: Book of Ages: The Life and Opinions of Jane Franklin by Jill Lepore Who it’s about: Benjamin Franklin’s youngest sister What sets it apart: The Revolutionary War from the viewpoint of an intelligent if uneducated woman with an inside look at the forming of these United States. Through Benjamin’s letters she was much better informed than most civilians about the great events taking place in Philadelphia. Through the dislocations the war forced upon her—Benjamin Franklin’s sister could not allow herself to be captured by the British, and they kept invading cities she lived in—she learned firsthand the pain the war caused ordinary citizens, as she tried to protect her family and herself. Who it’s for: Anyone interested in a unique take on the Revolutionary War period.
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