"And so it was on familiar roads, in her family's other home, with the blessings of those closest to her, that she veered off course, into the woods."
~ from Michelle Huneven's Off Course |
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New and Recently Released!
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| Be Safe I Love You by Cara HoffmanEver since her mother left years earlier, Lauren Clay's been responsible for her bedridden father and young brother, Danny, choosing the Army over college to support them. She has recently returned from a tour of duty in Iraq, troubled and on edge, and fearful that the Internet has too strong a hold on Danny. As she distances herself from others, she takes him on a road trip, intending to teach him survival skills and also meet up with an Army friend. Told by both Lauren, who shares her wartime experiences with Danny, and by those who love Lauren and fear the changes they see in her, this novel quickly turns ominous. For another atmospheric, character-driven tale of the effects of war, try Roxana Robinson's Sparta. |
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| Off Course by Michelle HunevenIt's 1981, and Ph. D. candidate Cressida Hartley is struggling with her dissertation, so she's moved to the relative isolation of her parents' cabin in the Sierras to finish up. Instead, free for maybe the first time in her life, she allows herself to be drawn into the small dramas of the local mountain community. This includes going from a fling with one man to a serious relationship with another -- who happens to be married. And it is that relationship that will come to define Cress' life, for better or worse, for the next several years. A heartbreaking story, Off Course will appeal to fans of reflective novels featuring sympathetic characters. |
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| Thunderstruck and Other Stories by Elizabeth McCrackenIn these nine stories (most of which have been published in some form elsewhere), author Elizabeth McCracken deals in tragedy and in strange and unusual characters, most of whom are dealing with loss and grief. Many of the characters are parents forced to deal with the consequences of their actions -- whether after parenting efforts fail, as in "Thunderstruck," or when the lack of any parenting at all becomes obvious, as in "The House of Two Three-Legged Dogs." Precise, distinctive writing anchors McCracken's insightful observations, but readers shouldn't look for happy endings. |
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| The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry by Gabrielle ZevinBook lovers, is this ever the book for you. It's set in a slowly failing independent bookstore run by the cantankerous A.J. Fikry, who desperately misses his wife, killed in a car accident. His outlook is not improved when he meets a clumsy, forthright new publisher's rep, nor when his most beloved book, a rare collection of Poe poems, is stolen...nor when a two-year-old is abandoned in his store. But it's the arrival of the toddler that brings prickly A.J. back into his community and the community back into his store. Filled with bookish asides, literary critiques, and knowledgeable observations of the selling, buying, and reading of books, this charming novel "perfectly captures the joy of connecting people and books" (Booklist). |
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Focus on: Parallel Narratives
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| The Sandcastle Girls: A Novel by Chris BohjalianAs in Jodi Picoult's The Storyteller, war and genocide form the backdrop of this thought-provoking novel from an author known for examining hot-button issues in small town settings. But The Sandcastle Girls is nevertheless a bit of a departure for Chris Bohjalian, combining as it does a present-day setting with a historical love story (inspired by Bohjalian's Armenian heritage) set in 1915 Syria, during the Armenian genocide. Focusing on Laura Petrosian as she learns more about her great-grandparents' history, this moving, complex, and haunting novel explores the consequences of the genocide many years later, and "will leave you reeling" (Booklist). Try Nancy Kricorian's Zabelle for a similar read. |
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| The 19th Wife: A Novel by David EbershoffTwo distinct eras in the history of polygamy share time in this compelling novel, which is narrated by two very different people. First, there's Ann Eliza Young, the 19th wife of Mormon patriarch Brigham Young, who in 1875 left her husband (and therefore her church) and embarked on a crusade to end polygamy. Then there's Jordan, a 20-year-old in the present day who at 14 was cast out of the fundamentalist Mormon sect in which he'd been raised. His mother, also a 19th wife, has been accused of murdering her husband, and so he's returned to his hometown to help. If you have an interest in sexual or religious politics, or enjoy historical fiction, you'll find The 19th Wife "great fun to read" (Booklist). You can also pick up Peggy Riley's Amity & Sorrow for a more harrowing take on religious fundamentalism and polygamy. |
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| Juliet: A Novel by Anne FortierJulie Jacobs' great-aunt has just died, leaving her a key to a safe-deposit box in Siena, Italy (and everything else to Julie's twin). Once safely there, she finds old letters and a copy of Romeo and Juliet in the box -- and learns that she's descended from an old Italian family whose rivalry with another may very well have inspired the Shakespearean play. As Julie gets caught up in the mystery of her ancestry, she also follows clues left by her mother -- who'd died decades earlier -- to find gemstones known as "Juliet's Eyes." Julie's story alternates with one set in 1340, between the original Romeo and Juliet; together these parallel narratives create an intricately plotted tale that "reads like a Da Vinci Code for the smart modern woman" (Publishers Weekly). |
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| The Firebird by Susanna KearsleyAlong with its parallel storylines, The Firebird incorporates a bit of the paranormal: when Nicola touches an object, she receives strong visions of its past, though she prefers to keep this ability a secret. But when she comes across a small carved bird and "sees" Empress Catherine, she feels compelled to help its owner by authenticating the item. With the help of attractive Rob McMorran, whose abilities are stronger than hers, Nicola travels to Russia, where she uncovers the story of the bird -- and the aftermath of the Jacobite Rising of 1715. |
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| The Distant Hours: A Novel by Kate MortonAs in the recently published and equally atmospheric Sea House by Elizabeth Gifford, this character-driven tale features parallel narratives -- one historical, and one contemporary. Like other Gothic novels (Daphne Du Maurier's Rebecca, Diane Setterfield's The Thirteenth Tale, or Poppy Adams' The Sisters), it also features a crumbling castle nestled in the English countryside, slowly uncovered family secrets, and compelling, mysterious characters. As a child, Meredith Baker was sent to Milderhurst to avoid the Blitz; years later, her grown daughter Edie's curiosity is piqued by Meredith's tears over a letter lost for 50 years. Soon, Edie becomes acquainted with the castle's inhabitants and begins uncovering the mysterious, haunting past they share with her mother. "Enthralling," says Publishers Weekly. |
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| Three Weeks in December by Audrey SchulmanSeparated by a century, the two protagonists in Three Weeks in December have never felt at home -- until they arrive in East Africa. Jeremy's a Victorian engineer who will never be good enough for his family; Max is a female botanist with Asperger's, which makes personal interactions difficult for her. In 1899 and 2000, they each grapple with cultural, emotional, and environmental challenges; having arrived in Africa to help corporations benefit from its bounty, they each find a sort of kinship with their new home. With two well-developed, sympathetic characters and a vividly described setting, this novel also incorporates life-threatening drama. |
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Contact your librarian for more great books!
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