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Check out our reviews and recommendations:
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Astrid recommends: Magic Lessons: The Prequel to Practical Magic by Alice Hoffman What’s it about: The prequel to Practical Magic and Rules of Magic, this tells the story of Maria Owens who invokes the curse that will haunt her family for generations to come. The locations range from 17th century England to Dutch Curaçao to Salem, Massachusetts, and New York City. Want a taste? “Some people grow weak when they are victimized, others grow stronger, and still others combine those two attributes to become dangerous”; “No one knows where time goes, all the same it disappears.” Reviewers say: “Maria's page-turning adventure is thoroughly enjoyable. Hoffman's redemptive story of a fiercely independent woman adds an engrossing, worthwhile chapter to the series” (Publishers Weekly).
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Stacey recommends: Transcendent Kingdom by Yaa Gyasi What it’s about: This literary novel explores the interplay among family, science, and faith. In her lab, Gifty researches reward-seeking behavior, in an effort to learn about the depression and addiction that have affected her family. Meanwhile, she’s drawn back toward the religious faith of her younger years. Why you should read it: If you enjoy introspective and thoughtful novels, this story of a family who moved from Ghana to the United States will captivate you. The story of Gifty mourning her brother and caring for her mother is heartbreaking, yet hopeful. A perfect choice for book clubs, this own voices novel is character-driven, emotional, scientific, spiritual, somber, and heartening. You might also like: If you enjoy reading about the lives of scientists, pick up a copy of Lab Girl by Hope Jahren—a lyrical and moving nonfiction account of a scientist’s captivation with her work.
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Roseanne recommends: The Weight of a Piano by Chris Cander What it's about: A novel about a Blüthner piano, which for eight-year-old Katya becomes her love and passion until the family emigrates to America. Fifty years later, twenty-six-year old Clara inherits the same piano, but never learns to play and decides to sell it. In doing so she learns about its unique history. Reviewers say: “Strong characterization and attention to detail, whether in the manufacture of a piano or in the desolate beauty of Death Valley, elevate Cander's tale about learning to let go of the past” (Booklist). About the Author: Chris Cander graduated from the Honors College at the University of Houston, in the city where she was raised and still lives, with her husband, daughter, and son. Her first novel, 11 Stories, won the Independent Publisher Gold Medal for Popular Fiction, and her most recent, Whisper Hollow, was long-listed for the Great Santini Fiction Prize by the Southern Independent Booksellers Alliance.
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Aimee recommends: Every Body Looking by Candice Iloh What it’s about: This is a coming-of-age book about a girl named Ada. She’s had a troubling past and has messy relationships with both of her parents, the church, and her own body and sexuality. The main narrative focuses on the time after her high school graduation and her first semester of college, though we do get flashbacks into her primary years. It’s the first time she’s living on her own, miles away from her family, and she is struggling to find her rhythm in both her classes and the day-to-day lifestyle of a college freshman. One day she wanders into a dance studio and peeps on a young woman expressing herself through movement that captivates her. They become friends, and Ada finally starts to build confidence. Why you might like it: This novel is written in free-verse, making it a quick read despite its 400-page length. The way the words fall on the pages really fits Ada’s mood and tone. The reader falls in love with her and the relationships she builds. This is Candice Iloh’s debut novel, and I’m excited to read more from her!
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Laura recommends: The Resisters: A Novel by Gish Jen Read this if you: Like your dystopian fiction served up with a healthy dose of humor, think that a good game of baseball solves everything (can you say underground baseball league?), and believe anything can represent the Resistance, even knitting. What it’s about: Imagine a future America—AutoAmerica—flooded due to climate change and watched over by an artificial intelligence known as “Aunt Nettie.” Society is divided into the “Netted”—those who live on dry land, and have work and college opportunities and privileges, and the Surplus—mostly people of color, or who aren’t Christian, or who are “odd-bodied,” eking out a living on soggy ground or on water. The story focuses on a Surplus family—former teacher Grant, activist Eleanor, and their baby daughter Gwen, who displays amazing baseball pitching ability from her crib. What gifts or consequences will Gwen’s golden arm bring to her family in an unequal society? Sensitive and thought-provoking yet charming. What critics say: “The magic of Gish Jen’s latest novel, The Resisters, is that, amid a dark and cautionary tale, there’s a story also filled with electricity and humor.... Rippling with action, suspense and lovingly detailed baseball play-by-plays, there’s a sense throughout the book of both celebration and danger” (Diana Abu-Jaber, The Washington Post); “Jen has too much humor and heart as a writer to do a full-out futuristic nightmare. Instead, the feel of The Resisters is more like that noir sequence embedded within It's a Wonderful Life....” (Maureen Corrigan, NPR).
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Christine recommends: The Book on Pie: Everything You Need to Know to Bake Perfect Pies by Erin Jeanne McDowell What it’s about: McDowell is passionate about baking pies, and it shows in her baking videos as well as in her mouthwatering book. She breaks down the steps of making pies so that you can mix and match a variety of crusts, savory as well as sweet fillings, and toppings for many lovely pie-baking experiments. She can help you diagnose underdone and overdone pie crusts and help you avoid the dreaded soggy bottom. Why you might like it: Are you kidding? They had me at “pie.” This is a luscious compendium of pie with suggested crusts for certain fillings, as well as tips on how to crimp, lattice, and more. Start baking the pies of your dreams (and if you don’t dream about pie yet, you might after reading this). For fans of: PIE!
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Misty recommends: Unbroken: A World War II Story of Survival, Resilience, and Redemption by Laura Hillenbrand What it’s about: Louie Zamperini was an amazing track star, breaking record after record running in the 1936 Olympics. Once WWII broke out, he became a bombardier assigned to the Pacific theater. During one of his missions, his plane went down over the ocean. He and two other crewmembers survived. They were captured by the Japanese and spent the next 2+ years enduring brutal mistreatment before finally being freed at the end of the war--something that left Louie adrift and struggling to find his purpose in life. Why you might like it: A tragic yet redeeming story advocating the value of human life, and how its multitude of struggles help define each one of us, for better or worse.
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Kristin recommends: Joy at Work: Organizing Your Professional Life by Marie Kondō What it’s about: Kondo and Sonenshein help employees get a grip on their workspaces – tangible and virtual – in this uplifting book. They start with visualizing your ideal work life and end with maintaining work-life balance. Kondo even addresses the problem of “rebound”—when your tidying work comes undone. Why you should read it: Who hasn’t encountered frustration at work? From not being able to find important things when you need them to time-sucking meetings, Kondo and Sonenshein present actionable processes to improve things. Reviewers say: “The authors contend that tidying one’s workspace is ‘an epic voyage of self-discovery’ and ‘the first and most effective step toward realizing your vision of a joyful career” (Publishers Weekly).
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