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"Someone once said give a dog food and shelter and treats and they think you are a god, but give a cat the same and they think they are the god." ~ from Steven Rowley's Lily and the Octopus
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| The One That Got Away by Leigh HimesTransported to an alternate reality when she takes a tumble down a Nordstrom escalator and hits her head, Abbey Lahey finds she's no longer a frazzled mother of two living in a blue-collar part of Philadelphia. Instead, she's Abigail van Holt, married to a wealthy blueblood she'd met years ago, living a high life of fancy clothes and fancier parties. But the more she engages with her new life, the more problems she notices -- in her relationships with her husband and her kids, and with her own choices. Ever wondered "what if"? This debut, a charming thought exercise along the lines of Sophie Kinsella's Remember Me? or Liane Moriarty's What Alice Forgot, is for you. |
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| Anatomy of a Soldier by Harry ParkerIn this unusual and compelling war story, each chapter is narrated by a different object, allowing readers to piece together the stories of a British Army officer in an unnamed war zone and two local childhood friends separated by insurgency. Because the objects -- a bullet, part of an IED, the soldier's boots -- are parts of the conflict itself, this debut offers an extraordinary depiction of both the sensory and the symbolic experiences of war. It's an unexpected storytelling technique, and one that may not work for all readers, but if you're looking for a frank, complex depiction of the consequences of war, Anatomy of a Soldier (which is based on the author's own experiences) will be an intriguing read. |
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| Lily and the Octopus by Steven RowleyLily is a short, happy 12-year-old who loves mint chocolate-chip ice cream. Ted is a fortyish writer who's been in therapy since he split with his last boyfriend. He also loves Lily -- his dachshund -- with all his heart, and is unable to bear the brain tumor that is stealing Lily's sight and will eventually take her life. By turns heartbreaking and hilarious (Lily's contributions to the conversation are priceless), this debut is a "funny, ardent, and staunchly kooky" (Kirkus Reviews) account of the love between humans and their pets. Have tissues handy. |
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| Untethered by Julie Lawson TimmerChar Hawthorn has been married for six years when her husband dies unexpectedly, which leaves her relationship to his 15-year-old daughter from a previous marriage up in the air. No longer Allie's stepmother, Char is unsure about her right to a relationship with her, even though they live in the same house (for now, at least). And it sure looks like Allie's mother is likely to gain custody. Fans of Jodi Picoult's emotional, timely novels will likely appreciate this thoughtful second novel from Julie Lawson Timmer, which examines what it takes to truly make a family. |
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The girls : a novel by Emma ClineMesmerized by a band of girls in the park she perceives as enjoying a life of free and careless abandon, 1960s teen Evie Boyd becomes obsessed with gaining acceptance into their circle, only to find herself drawn into a cult and seduced by its charismatic leader.
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| A Brief History of Seven Killings by Marlon JamesInspired by the attempted assassination of musician Bob Marley on December 3, 1976, this Man Booker Prize-winning novel explores Jamaica's turbulent history through multiple intersecting narratives that introduce more than a dozen characters. Framed as an oral history, A Brief History of Seven Killings features a diverse cast, an evocative and richly detailed setting, and a sprawling story told by a chorus of distinct voices in pitch-perfect dialogue. |
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| The Flamethrowers: A Novel by Rachel KushnerThis complex tale, which weaves together themes of art, oppression, politics, and creativity, follows Reno, a young woman who loves making art and racing her motorcycle -- usually at the same time. More naive than she at first appears, Reno moves from Nevada to New York in 1975 to join the thriving avant garde art scene, where she gets involved with a successful older artist, Sandro Valera. The Valera family is responsible for the Moto Valera, a popular motorcycle, and Reno wins the chance to race with the company in Italy. It is there, with a reluctant Sandro, that Reno falls in with the radical movement. For a realistic depiction of the turbulent '70s, you won't go wrong with The Flamethrowers. |
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| Everything I Never Told You by Celeste NgIt is easy enough to identify the biggest problem the Chinese-American Lee family has in this moving tale of tragedies big and small -- their lack of communication is evident even in the title. Though there is more than enough love, their expectations for each other and for themselves stifle their relationships. And the fallout -- especially after the death of favorite daughter Lydia -- is shattering. Their complex dynamic (incorporating an interracial marriage, which sticks out in their 1970s Ohio town, and dreams long deferred) is told in a devastating, and mesmerizing, manner. |
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| Man at the Helm: A Novel by Nina StibbeHer charmed life thrown into chaos when her father abandons their family, Lizzie takes it upon herself to find a new man for her mother when their new home -- a tiny, gossipy English village -- shuns them for not having a "man at the helm." Charismatic nine-year-old Lizzie makes this a good read for fans of the admittedly all-American, modern-day Where'd You Go, Bernadette?, while the dry English wit and eccentric characters (along with Lizzie herself) will engage fans of Alan Bradley's Flavia de Luce mysteries. (Also, look for Lizzie's on-going adventures in Paradise Lodge, newly published this month!) |
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| The Silver Star: A Novel by Jeannette WallsIn 1970, when their mother abandons them (and not for the first time), 12-year-old Bean and her older sister, Liz, flee the threat of California's foster system and make their way across the country to relatives they've never met. In Virginia they find a home with a reluctant uncle, as well as a community struggling with desegregation and the effects of the Vietnam War. Their haphazard childhood has made them both resilient and remarkably naive, and while Bean assimilates relatively easily, it's not quite the same for smart, quirky Liz. Their story, narrated by Bean, is a "captivating, read-in-one-sitting, coming-of-age adventure" (Booklist). |
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