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Fiction A to Z January 2021
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A woman finds her precarious marriage and career thrown into turmoil by a reckoning with an old friend and an enigmatic woman’s claim that she is the true creator of a famous work of art.
Read it for: Read this if you are thrilled by scandal, secrets, intrigue, obsession, and untrustworthy characters.
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Flowers of Darkness by Tatiana de RosnayWhat it's about: Moving into an ultra-modern artist residency in scenic Paris, a novelist seeking tranquility in the aftermath of a divorce begins experiencing ominous trepidation about the apartment building and the true agenda of those behind its creation. Read it for: The lyrical and inviting writing, as well as a haunting mystery and intrigue.
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Available in downloadable formatWhat it's about: Saving the life of a young boy, three siblings find their bond challenged by their parents' troubled marriage and their respective efforts to identify the boy's attacker, manage a new relationship and search for a birth parent. Read it for: Read this if you enjoy the emotional intensity of a compelling and intricately plotted coming of age story.
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Available in downloadable formatWhat it's about: When Massachusetts is overrun by a rabies-like virus that is incurable an hour after infection, a soft-spoken pediatrician navigates apocalyptic obstacles to get a vaccine to her eight-months pregnant friend. Read it for: Read this for thrilling, fast paced horror and well-developed characters.
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| Available in downloadable formatStarring: Adunni, a 14-year-old rural Nigerian girl who longs for an education in a place where girls are meant to marry young and serve their husbands.
What happens: When Adunni flees her marriage and escapes to Lagos, she finds more degradation and abuse, but is just as determined to find her way.
For fans of: compelling, hopeful stories about fearless young women, like Shobha Rao's Girls Burn Brighter. |
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| Available in downloadable formatWhat it is: the first collection of stories by Plimpton Prize-winning Cherokee writer Kelli Jo Ford that traces four generations of Cherokee women as they navigate cultural dynamics, disappointing men, and their relationships with each other.
Want a taste? "She’s survived a lifetime of these miracles, which trace back to Daddy emptying the bank account and leaving her with three girls and half an art education degree to pay the bills."
Reviewers say: "a stunner" (Publishers Weekly); "riveting" (Booklist). |
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| Available in downloadable formatFeaturing: Josie Bordelon, former model and now the head of admissions at a tony private school in San Francisco.
What happens: With pushy parents to contend with at work (it's admission season), Josie's also got tension at home stemming from her daughter's impending high school graduation and their clashing ideas for her future.
Why you might like it: Though there's a romantic sub-plot, the focus of this charming, humorous debut is on the family bond between Josie, her aunt, and her daughter. And don't miss the snarky commentary on competitive West Coast high achievers. |
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Available in downloadable formatStarring: Emira, a college-educated babysitter, who is black; her wealthy employer Alix, who is white.
What happens: An accusation of kidnapping shakes and terrifies Emira, shocks Alix, and leads to a complicated situation when well-meaning (but clueless) Alix proceeds to implement a "solution" for her own feelings of guilt -- regardless of what Emira wants.
Read it for: An upending of the white savior trope; a thought-provoking examination of contemporary race relations; nuanced characters; and even some humor.
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One to watch : a novel by Kate Stayman-LondonWhat it's about: Frustrated by a lack of body diversity on her favorite reality show, a plus-sized fashion blogger uses an unexpected invitation to star in the show to bolster her career, before unexpected romance complicates her prospects. Read it for: An amusing, relatable and compelling read.
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Available in downloadable formatWhat it's about: Asked to help defend an older high-school English teacher with whom she had an affair at age 15, Vanessa struggles to choose between her romantic teen illusions and harrowing adult perceptions. Read it for: An intense and compelling narrative.
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Contact your librarian for more great books!
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