Top 10
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“This is one of the few books I've read that I couldn't put down. The story is brilliant and powerful. The two main characters are Little Bee, a Nigerian refugee, and Sarah, an British magazine editor whose life is thrown into turmoil by Little Bee's arrival. With some incredible ruminations on immigration, grief, and the human spirit, Chris Cleave weaves a story you will never forget.”
— Stephanie Walker, The Boulder Book Store, Boulder, CO
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“Eilis Lacey has no apparent future in rural Ireland, and with the help of a priest makes her way to a Catholic enclave in Brooklyn. Uncanny in its evocation of a young woman coming of age, and of a city coming of age, Brooklyn is at once interior and ironic, distanced and involving. Toibin, who is masterful here in his depiction of Brooklyn and Ireland circa 1950, and of such issues as self determination, love of country, love of family, and, of course, sexual love. Perfect for book groups!”
— Betsy Burton, The King's English, Salt Lake City, UT
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“Henry Oades' decision to move his family to New Zealand for a job proves crucial when his wife and children are kidnapped and presumed dead at the hands of native tribesmen. He moves to America and marries a young widow, only to find his first wife and children on his doorstep one day. They move in with his new family and Henry eventually face charges of bigamy. Based on a true story, this book goes right to the top of the list for book clubs.”
— Beth Carpenter, The Country Bookshop, Southern Pines, NC
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“This debut novel, set in the early 1900s, is a beautifully written psychological mystery, almost gothic at times. Advertising for 'a reliable wife,' Ralph Truitt, wealthy businessman, gets more than he realizes when Catherine Land steps off the train. Secrets on top of secrets, all revealed in Goolrick's lyrical prose in this a beautiful examination of love and regret.”
— Leslie Reiner, Inkwood Books, Tampa, FL
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“Velva Jean Learns to Drive by Jennifer Niven is lovely, coming-of-age story set in the mountains of North Carolina before World War II. Velva Jean dreams of becoming a singing star at the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville. The only way to get there is to leave the her small world and her own people in the bright yellow truck, yet she doesn't know how. Through loss and adversity, Velva Jean's spirit and belief in herself gives her the courage to drive that yellow pick up 'over holler and hill and through the valleys and streams, to the tops of mountains and then through the clouds on a road forged from dreams.'”
— Annie Philbrick, Bank Square Books, Mystic, CT
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“The absolutely best book club discussion book is last year's National Book Award Winner, Let the Great World Spin. Eleven characters are each fleetingly touched by the tightrope walker who walked between the twin towers in August 1974. McCann perfectly captures each voice and creates, not only memorable characterers and their stories, but also writes a powerful novel about love, loss and redemption.”
— Patti McCall, Queen Anne Books, Seattle, WA
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“This sumptuous tale is one of lives, fates, and destinies, how things separate are connected and how those connected are separate. Birth and death are at the outset - and then, pulsingly, heartfully, carry on companionably all the way through. Lifelong wonderings and longings bridge the geography and time spanned. This is like one of the great life-and-death, myth-and-legend sagas with war, famine, exile, love, betrayal, great tenderness and compassion, a cast
of characters, and the work of some larger powers all going on.”
— Rick Simonson, The Elliott Bay Book Company, Seattle, WA
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“Pearl, the narrator of Shanghai Girls, says that parents
die, husbands and children can leave, but sisters are for
life. Her life takes her from being an indulged daughter to being sold as a wife to satisfy her father's gambling debts; from a comfortable life in Shanghai to a deperate escape from the invading Japanese, and on to San Francisco and a difficult life as an unwelcome immigrant. Through all these experiences and despite jealousies, rivalries, and a closely kept secret, Pearl and May are best friends. See tells a great story, and one that will prompt stimulating discussion.”
— Sally Wizik Wills, Sister Wolf Books, Park Rapids, MN
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“After a 30-year hiatus following a motorcycle accident, David Rhodes has returned with a beautiful masterpiece. July Montgomery, the hero of Rhodes' Rock Island Line, first published in 1975, returns in a story filled with family secrets and more than one miracle. A great choice for your next book group!”
— Russell Villars, Bookworks, Albuquerque, NM
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“Cornelia Nixon's novel begins in 1869 as Martha Jane Cairnes murders Nicholas McComas in front of many witnesses in Jarrettsville, Maryland, a town just below the Mason-Dixon Line and a microcosm of America in the years following the Civil War. This tale of two lovers and why it ends so badly for them is the story of neighbor fighting neighbor, old customs and quarrels dying hard, passion, friendship, and the complicated relationships between whites and blacks, all told exquisitely.”
— Cathy Langer, Tattered Cover Bookstore, Denver, CO
Brave Worlds, New and Old
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“Andrea Levy's extraordinary novel won every prize in England except the Booker. While the tone is often hilariously funny, Levy manages to convey the pain experienced by Jamaican immigrants to Britain in the decades following World War II. Small Island is told through four voices, the Jamaicans Hortense and Gilbert Joseph who marry in order to escape their small island and live in a rooming house run by Queenie, a peaches and cream Englishwoman, who also married Bernard for her own reasons and just as disastrously. Levy spares nobody from her sharp wit -- Hortense is haughty; Gilbert, a tease; Queenie is a cheater, and Bernard is feckless -- but she also endows each of them with a certain dignity. A truly enjoyable book.”
— carla cohen, Politics & Prose Books &, Washington, DC
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“If you are a fan of Lin's work, then you will be pleased by this dry, humorous, and autobiographical novella. If you are not, or have never heard of him, please read this anyway. I read this straight through in one sitting. The story moves without focus or plan--it moves simply because it wants to, and there is beauty in that. Whether you enjoy this style or not, it is something to experience, and to discuss.”
— Jade Shames, Skylight Books, Los Angeles, CA
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“Loosely based on a true story, My Abandonment reveals the secret world of 13-year-old Caroline and her father as they make their life in a nature reserve in Oregon. Full of details of a life created in the wild as well as the captivating view of Caroline, the novel pulls you along to its heart-wrenching end. The book raises many questions about our society and parenting, and would be an excellent book group choice.”
— Leslie, Inkwood Books, Tampa, FL
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“Marina and her partner learn that Japan is a land of rules, and following rules is difficult for two American women used to the freedom of New York and San Francisco. Gomi, the Japanese word for garbage law, symbolizes the challenges of teaching in this small town on the Noto Peninsula, where the garbage is never put out in the right format or on the right day. Since the two women can't live their lives in a traditional Japanese way, they find themselves at odds with villagers and students,and they struggle to conform while at the same time retaining their individuality. This is a love story of two people and a country and culture--one in which the protagonists must learn to accept not only Japan's past but their own.”
— Betsy Burton, The King's English, Salt Lake City, UT
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“What happens when union manufacturing jobs are shipped overseas? What happens to workers who lose their well-paying jobs with benefits? What is life like in cities and towns when work disappears and a slow decay sets in to once-vibrant communities? Philipp Meyer's debut novel is an absorbing portrait of ordinary people and communities that face the extraordinary and heart-breaking de-industrialization of America. There were times I couldn't put this book down and there were also times I didn't want to turn the page for fear of finding out what will happen to these people I have come to care so much about, such is the power of Meyer's writing.”
— Joan Grenier, Odyssey Bookshop, South Hadley, MA
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“I loved this book so much that I wanted to keep holding it and reliving the pleasure of reading it! Grace has obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and needs to count everything, including how many bristles are on her toothbrush (1,768). When she meets a man in a grocery store and steals the banana from his basket, her reclusive life begins to turn upside down as she decides to combat her disorder. Sharp wit is abundant and you will cheer for these wonderful characters. This is as compelling to read as Grace's need is to count, and I highly recommend it to all. Reading groups will have a heyday with this one!”
— Susan Wasson, Bookworks, Albuquerque, NM
Great New Voices
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“Set in Paris during the German occupation of France in World War II, this beautiful first novel is centered around Max, the son of a prestigious art dealer whose entire collection is looted at the beginning of the war. As the novel unfolds, we follow Max through war-torn Paris as he searches for his father's lost collection amongst thieves, fake art-dealers, and destitute Parisians simply trying to get by. Pictures at an Exhibition is both a powerful story about human nature and the risks one takes to survive, and also a wonderfully rendered, touching story about a father and son who, no matter how hard they try, continue to misunderstand and misinterpret each other.”
— Emily Russo Murtagh, Odyssey Bookshop, South Hadley, MA
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“T.S. Spivet, 12-year-old boy genius and cartographer, is a fresh character who will share the wonders of seeing the world through adolescent eyes like no other, making sense of the world by mapping, charting and illustrating everywhere he goes. When the Smithsonian Institution, unaware of his age, offers T.S. a prestigious award, he decides to hop on a train which takes him on a journey from his ranch in Montana to the capital. Reif Larsen has a remarkably original and touching achievement in this first novel. Beautiful maps and illustrations will delight and amaze readers. Truly a must-read!”
— Jeanne Costello, Maria's Bookshop, Durango, CO
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“Alan Bradley has created greatness with 11-year-old Flavia de Luce, a sort of 'Harriet the Cyanide Expert.' Imagine Ramona Quimby in a quaint English town, as told by Shirley Jackson. Whip-smart and sweet as an arsenic popsicle, Flavia sets out to solve the mystery of the dead body in her garden, while trying to deal with fearsome librarians, bothersome older sisters, priceless missing stamps, and detestable custard pie along the way. Viva la Flavia!”
— Liberty Hardy, RiverRun Bookstore, Portsmouth, NH
Compelling Memoirs
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“Dave Eggers has performed a great service for Americans by introducing us to Syrian immigrant, New Orleans painting contractor, and family man Abdulrahman Zeitoun. We get to know Zeitoun and his family intimately, and his nightmare treatment by our government in the wake of Hurricane Katrina is a cautionary tale of a justice system run amok. Zeitoun reads like a novel, and Eggers' empathetic storytelling elicits admiration, outrage, and shame, but in the end, a glimmer of hope for us all. I dare you not to be moved.”
— Molly Young, Orinda Books, Orinda, CA
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“Subtitled Chronicles of the Worst Buddhist in the World, this enjoyable book is a cross between a memoir and a spiritual journey. Best known for her insightful studies of adolescent girls (Reviving Ophelia) and of aging (Another Country), Pipher turns her discerning eye from the outer world to the inner. Using her own life experiences as a vehicle, she carries the reader into, around and through the spiritual labyrinth in which we all find ourselves. Pipher's insights and experiences will strike a resonating chord with many readers, and may help others in their own quest of seeking peace.”
— Sherry Stegner, Snowbound Books, Marquette, MI
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“If I'd been told I'd be waxing nostalgic over William F. Buckley and Henry Kissinger, I'd have scoffed, to say the least. Then I read Christopher Buckley's poignant, witty, hilarious, historically engrossing, honest memoir of losing both of his parents within a year. Anyone who appreciates brilliant writing, or the vagaries of family ties, or both, will want to read his story.”
— Cheryl McKeon, Third Place Books, Lake Forest Park, WA
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“Norman Ollstad's memoir of surviving a plane crash, in a howling winter storm high on the side of Ontario Peak in Southern California, is not merely a gripping story of an 11-year old boy's survival, but the bitter tale of a son's struggling to comprehend his father's death, the heroic story of his efforts, ultimately futile, to save his father's injured girl friend, and the saga of his wildly improbably descent of the mountain under horrendous conditions through astonishing presence of mind and perseverance. Greatly enriching this fascinating and well written account of survival are alternating chapters describing young Norman's complicated and confusing life growing up with his divorced mother and her live-in boyfriend on Topanga Beach, and his love-hate relationship with his proud and demanding father who, on skiing and surfing adventures in California and Mexico, constantly pushes him to--and sometimes beyond--the limits of his young physical and mental abilities. Struggling with post-survival guilt and the confusion of early adolescence, Norman comes to realize that it was the adversity his father made him confront that gave him the skills with which he survive his ordeal. The story's final challenge comes on a skiing trip to Mammoth Mountain, where his own father often took him as a boy, when the now grown Norman must confront the hopes he has for his own son, and decide how close to push him towards that thin line between safety and danger where lessons are learned. IN SUMMARY: Written in simple, almost matter-of-fact, but elegant prose, Crazy for the Storm is a coming-of-age story like you've never read, full of tragedy, beauty, struggle, adventure, and life-lessons--highly recommended for both adults and young adults, especially fathers and sons.”
— Gary Colliver, Windows on the World-Books & Art, Mariposa, CA
New Works From Favorite Writers
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“I highly recommend Lark & Termite, Jayne Anne Phillips's imaginative, powerfully moving, and beautifully written new novel. A young girl takes care of her half-brother, abandoned by their mother and living with a loving aunt in West Virginia. The boy can't walk or talk, but is 'full of radiance.' In alternate chapters, the boy's father fights in Korea to keep a Korean family safe from 'friendly fire.' This is Phillips' first novel in nine years, and it is well worth the wait.”
— Nancy Olson, Quail Ridge Books, Raleigh, NC
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“Alice Hoffman delivers a powerful coming-of-age story that drifts to the reader through a haze of dark events that shapes the lives of three beautiful sisters. A traumatic event becomes the source of the girls' secret language, which at first binds them together, but eventually drives them apart. As women they wonder, if you lose love, can you ever get it back?”
— jessilynn norcross, McLean & Eakin Booksellers, Petoskey, MI
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“This was such a surprise coming from this wonderful author! At first glance That Old Cape Magic appears to be simply a story about a 55-year-old man in a mid-life crisis. However, it is so much more than that. It is a study of love, marriage, the importance of family, and the inescapable influence of parents on their children. A remarkable tale with the trademark humor that is vintage Russo.”
— Carol Katsoulis, Anderson's Bookshop, Naperville, IL
Mysterious Doings
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“The classic spy novel is back! Only this time undercover agents are called 'Tourists,' and Milo Weaver has been called back into the game and asked to track a dangerous killer. This is espionage at its best with all the twists and turns you'd expect, a 'can't put it down' pace, and an ending that knocks your socks off. Steinhauer has crafted an enticing modern-day spy novel with such a surprising plot we find ourselves wondering at the end just who the proverbial 'good guys' really are!”
— Barbara Drake, White Birch Books, North Conway, NH
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“This is a haunting, beautifully written book about a teenage boy's quest to find his sister, who's been missing for a year. His own quest is mirrored by a police Detective who has let things in his own life slip as he becomes as obsessed with the case as the missing girl's brother. Using a small town as his canvas, Hart beautifully interweaves character and plot to give a completely compelling and original narrative, one that stays with you long after finishing the book.”
— Robin Agnew, Aunt Agatha's Ltd., Ann Arbor, MI
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“This book sets the standard for contemporary literary fiction. Gorgeous writing infuses the increasingly fraught and suspenseful narrative with an otherworldly, ageless quality; in some ways, this story could only happen now, yet its characters and their struggle for a sense of identity are also timeless. The three intertwining narratives each hold their own delights, and are peopled with characters you can care about deeply, and others you wouldn't touch with a ten-foot pole. In the end, though, even the unappealing tug at your heart.”
— Beth Simpson, Cornerstone Books, Englewood, CO
History Speaks
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“This is a tale written by a madman, about madmen and common folk in a time of terror, in a place of fear--and about those who resist their oppressors because in such situations someone must. Based on a true story, this bestseller from the '40s has, to our good fortune, resurfaced to take its rightful place beside The Reader and All Quiet on the Western Front as yet another great anti-war novel by a brilliant German author.”
— Bob Sommer, Changing Hands Bookstore, Tempe, AZ
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“Filled with historical accuracy, intriguing characters and an engaging plot, The Whiskey Rebels is set in the Federalist period, following the Revolutionary War. The book is uniquely arranged around two characters: Ethan Sanders, a disgraced Revolutionary War spy who has hit rock bottom in his life, and Joan Maycott, a Pennslyvanian immigrant who has lost everything she cared about and seeks revenge. Toggling back and forth between their stories, Liss masterfully weaves a story that eventually connects these two characters with Alexander Hamilton and his whiskey tax, an effort that eventually ends in the Whiskey Rebellion. It's a history lesson that's not dry or wrought with names and dates to remember, but one that will keep you turning the pages right up until the end.”
— Bunny Thompson, Paulina Springs Books, Sisters, OR
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“New York Review Books' newest release is from the Hungarian author, Dezso Kostolanyi. Written in 1910, it explores family relationships with sparkling humor that is surprisingly relevant to modern times. Skylark is a middle-aged spinster residing with her doting parents in a small village, a microcosm of the universe. She leaves her parents for a week's vacation in the country, and, after an anguished parting, the parents engage with old compatriots and discover a zest long absent from their lives. With their newfound vigor Skylark's parents await the impending reunion with their daughter in this delightful romp of a novel. A keen wit and flair for the absurdities of human nature capture the complexities of family and village life in Europe at the turn of the century. Linda Gurrister”
— Betsy Burton, The King's English, Salt Lake City, UT
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“This fascinating novel follows the creation of a series of Italian frescoes while telling a fast-paced story about a real-life Renaissance painter-monk and the nun he seduced. Book groups will find plenty to discuss as The Miracles of Prato looks at the role of women, painting, patronage, and the church in 15th-century Tuscany in a way that makes them accessible, intriguing, and engrossing. I felt like I'd been been to Italy and seen Fra Lippi's masterpiece in Prato for myself!”
— Cindy DeTommoso, Clinton Book Shop, Clinton, NJ
Love and Marriage
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“Elinor Lipman's latest comedy of manners, while a quintessential New York story, translates into any reader's experience. An estranged father meets his adult daughter who's seeking her place in the world, but the controlling mother...and the boyfriend...and...well, it's classic Elinor Lipman! A much-needed, laugh-out-loud, but discussable book club pick!”
— Cheryl McKeon, Third Place Books, Lake Forest Park, WA
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“The Love Ceiling fills a unique niche in contemporary fiction -- it's a coming-of-age novel for women over 50, 60, 70 and on up! This is a character-driven novel that tackles the challenges women face as they balance love for family and the need to create a separate identity. Set in Seattle and on an island in Puget Sound, The Love Ceiling follows the courageous journey of Annie Kuroda Duppstadt. Raised by her Japanese mother to value restraint and self-sacrifice, intimidated by her father, a famous narcissistic artist, and pulled between her roles as daughter, wife, mother, grandmother, Annie begins, at the ripe age of 64, to travel the bumpy but compelling road to reclaim her long-denied self-expression as an artist. There is a glass ceiling for women ... and it's made out of the people we love. Excellent book club book!”
— Juli Goetz Morser, Books By The Way, Vashon, WA
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“Elizabeth Flock has written a novel with engrossing and compelling characters: a mother who seems to have it all, but who finds only emptiness; a daughter who cries for help from the depths of her depression and isolation -- both part of a family spinning out of control. Sleepwalking in Daylight explores both disturbing human truths that lead to tragedy as well as the will to survive.”
— Peter Marsh, Briggs Carriage Bookstore, Brandon, VT
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“The Pomeroys are your normal American family, heavily in debt, lacking communication skills, and tempted by your garden variety of carnal sins, with a side order of pride. They're also Sabbath Day Adventists, a Christian sect that shuns movies, meat, and the military (clever of Zevin to construct a band of Evangelicals just different enough so that nobody feels picked upon). Patriarch Roger has left his school job to get a doctorate in education, leaving his wife Georgia to cover up his debt. Zevin plays around with structure, juggling perspective at first and then honing in on one character. She packs the story with a full platter of issues, from abortion to race to veteran's issues, and, of course, religious intolerance. The sins of the father (and mother) play out over two generations, in a manner that had me alternately sad and hopeful.”
— Daniel Goldin, Boswell Book Company, Milwaukee, WI
By Ayelet Waldman
Anchor
“In her funny, brutally honest, and brave prose, Waldman tackles the many challenges of motherhood in the modern era, offering encouragement to all bad mommies out there who recognize the impossibility of having and doing it all gracefully and without error. How is a self-aware, thoughtful, intelligent feminist to raise children well in a culture that villifies nearly every choice available (or unavailable) to her? A provocative, entertaining read for moms with moxie.”
— Libby Cowles, Maria's Bookshop, Durango, CO
By Michael Chabon
Harper
“Demonstrating his range, depth, intelligence, and tenderness, Pulitzer Prize-winning novelist Chabon takes us on a tour of contemporary maleness via his own life. It's a fascinating complement and counterpoint to the recent and wonderful Bad Mother, a tour of femaleness by his wife, Ayelet Waldman. Both books are terrific reading group choices, and they'll leave you feeling that Chabon and Waldman are your new -- and smartest -- best friends.”
— Banna Rubinow, The River's End Bookstore, Oswego, NY
More Indie Next Lists
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- Winter 2024 Reading Group Indie Next List
- January/February 2024 Kids Indie Next List
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- November/December 2023 Kids Indie Next List
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