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General Recommendations

Best Books of 2019

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Chicago Public Library

Staff-created list

Chicago Public Library recommends these titles as the best books published in 2019.

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ChiPubLib_Adults

Chicago Public Library

1-25 of 100 items

1-25 of 100 items

1919

1919

by Ewing, Eve L.

Paperback - 2019

Sociologist, artist, writer and poet Ewing's latest book of poetry is a collection reflecting on the before, during and after of the 1919 race riots in Ch...Show more Sociologist, artist, writer and poet Ewing's latest book of poetry is a collection reflecting on the before, during and after of the 1919 race riots in Chicago. Ewing read about the riots while researching another book and was surprised that she wasn't more familiar with the history. On July 27th, a black teenager, Eugene Williams, drifted into the white section of a segregated beach when whites began throwing rocks at him. Eugene drowned. Riots ensued, resulting in deaths and hundreds of injured. In 1919, Ewing starts with poems about the Great Migration and the African-American experience previous to the riots. "What Happened" features poems about Eugene’s death and aftermath. In "After" there are poems threading the African-American past experience in Chicago to more recent history, including the 1995 heat wave and the murder of Laquan McDonald. Interwoven throughout the book are photographs and snippets of historical text providing context for the illuminating and affecting poems resulting in an artful rendering of Black Chicago history. Show less

Sociologist, artist, writer and poet Ewing's latest book of poetry is a collection reflecting on the before, during and after of the 1919 race riots in Ch...Show more Sociologist, artist, writer and poet Ewing's latest book of poetry is a collection reflecting on the before, during and after of the 1919 race riots in Chicago. Ewing read about the riots while researching another book and was surprised that she wasn't more familiar with the history. On July 27th, a black teenager, Eugene Williams, drifted into the white section of a segregated beach when whites began throwing rocks at him. Eugene drowned. Riots ensued, resulting in deaths and hundreds of injured. In 1919, Ewing starts with poems about the Great Migration and the African-American experience previous to the riots. "What Happened" features poems about Eugene’s death and aftermath. In "After" there are poems threading the African-American past experience in Chicago to more recent history, including the 1995 heat wave and the murder of Laquan McDonald. Interwoven throughout the book are photographs and snippets of historical text providing context for the illuminating and affecting poems resulting in an artful rendering of Black Chicago history. Show less

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All This Could Be Yours

All This Could Be Yours

by Attenberg, Jami

Book - 2019

In the opening paragraphs of this briskly introspective family saga, abusive patriarch Victor Tuchman, a domineering developer whose thoughtless cruelty h...Show more In the opening paragraphs of this briskly introspective family saga, abusive patriarch Victor Tuchman, a domineering developer whose thoughtless cruelty has severe repercussions on his extended family, has a heart attack and collapses at his New Orleans condo, his wife Barbra in the next room. The novel's action takes place throughout the course of one day, shifting perspectives, locales, and timeframes as the Tuchmans convene to say their final goodbyes, meditating on the choices that have brought them to this moment. The long-suffering Barbra broods on her inexplicable but genuine love for Victor, despite his physical and emotional abuse. Oldest child Alex, a Chicago lawyer, sees Victor's illness as an opportunity to pry long-buried family secrets about her father's criminal enterprises from her mother. Youngest Gary is in L.A. on business and in avoidance mode. His wife Twyla soothes her frazzled nerves with a shopping spree. Attenberg's latest is a brilliant exploration of the complicated emotions and actions of three generations of a Jewish American family. Show less

In the opening paragraphs of this briskly introspective family saga, abusive patriarch Victor Tuchman, a domineering developer whose thoughtless cruelty h...Show more In the opening paragraphs of this briskly introspective family saga, abusive patriarch Victor Tuchman, a domineering developer whose thoughtless cruelty has severe repercussions on his extended family, has a heart attack and collapses at his New Orleans condo, his wife Barbra in the next room. The novel's action takes place throughout the course of one day, shifting perspectives, locales, and timeframes as the Tuchmans convene to say their final goodbyes, meditating on the choices that have brought them to this moment. The long-suffering Barbra broods on her inexplicable but genuine love for Victor, despite his physical and emotional abuse. Oldest child Alex, a Chicago lawyer, sees Victor's illness as an opportunity to pry long-buried family secrets about her father's criminal enterprises from her mother. Youngest Gary is in L.A. on business and in avoidance mode. His wife Twyla soothes her frazzled nerves with a shopping spree. Attenberg's latest is a brilliant exploration of the complicated emotions and actions of three generations of a Jewish American family. Show less

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American Spy

American Spy

A Novel

by Wilkinson, Lauren

Book - 2018

Young FBI officer Marie Mitchell jumps at the chance to infiltrate the regime of Thomas Sankara, the communist president of Burkina Faso. But as she’s dra...Show more Young FBI officer Marie Mitchell jumps at the chance to infiltrate the regime of Thomas Sankara, the communist president of Burkina Faso. But as she’s drawn deeper into the president's inner circle, Marie realizes Sankara and his ideals are more nuanced than she first thought. This is a rare international spy thriller from the perspective of an African-American woman, operating in an African country. Fans of Daniel Silva and Chris Pavone, as well as female protagonists like Red Sparrow spy Dominika Egorova, will enjoy this engrossing novel. Show less

Young FBI officer Marie Mitchell jumps at the chance to infiltrate the regime of Thomas Sankara, the communist president of Burkina Faso. But as she’s dra...Show more Young FBI officer Marie Mitchell jumps at the chance to infiltrate the regime of Thomas Sankara, the communist president of Burkina Faso. But as she’s drawn deeper into the president's inner circle, Marie realizes Sankara and his ideals are more nuanced than she first thought. This is a rare international spy thriller from the perspective of an African-American woman, operating in an African country. Fans of Daniel Silva and Chris Pavone, as well as female protagonists like Red Sparrow spy Dominika Egorova, will enjoy this engrossing novel. Show less

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An American Summer

An American Summer

Love and Death in Chicago

by Kotlowitz, Alex

Paperback - 2019

Award-winning reporter Alex Kotlowitz (There are No Children Here) examines Chicago's serious epidemic of violence in his latest book, but this is no rout...Show more Award-winning reporter Alex Kotlowitz (There are No Children Here) examines Chicago's serious epidemic of violence in his latest book, but this is no routine work of journalism. Reading almost like a collection of unforgettable short stories, this series of personal profiles focuses on people affected in various ways: people who live with the violence, people who contributed to it, people caught up in it like a high tide that bore them away, and, perhaps most disturbingly, children who grew up with violence surrounding their homes. While the book is focused on events of a typical recent summer (the peak season for gun violence in the Windy City), Kotlowitz has spent serious time with the individuals he writes about, digging into their past and following the developments in their lives long afterwards. The result is a collective portrait of human struggle that is haunting, moving and inspiring. Readers interested in social problems like the cycles and causes of crime and in gun violence, and students of human nature will find satisfaction and enlightenment in this superb, patient and humane look into the intractable problem of violence. Show less

Award-winning reporter Alex Kotlowitz (There are No Children Here) examines Chicago's serious epidemic of violence in his latest book, but this is no rout...Show more Award-winning reporter Alex Kotlowitz (There are No Children Here) examines Chicago's serious epidemic of violence in his latest book, but this is no routine work of journalism. Reading almost like a collection of unforgettable short stories, this series of personal profiles focuses on people affected in various ways: people who live with the violence, people who contributed to it, people caught up in it like a high tide that bore them away, and, perhaps most disturbingly, children who grew up with violence surrounding their homes. While the book is focused on events of a typical recent summer (the peak season for gun violence in the Windy City), Kotlowitz has spent serious time with the individuals he writes about, digging into their past and following the developments in their lives long afterwards. The result is a collective portrait of human struggle that is haunting, moving and inspiring. Readers interested in social problems like the cycles and causes of crime and in gun violence, and students of human nature will find satisfaction and enlightenment in this superb, patient and humane look into the intractable problem of violence. Show less

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Because Internet

Because Internet

Understanding the New Rules of Language

by McCulloch, Gretchen

Book - 2019

Internet linguist, Wired columnist and podcaster McCulloch’s charming and highly accessible book explores how internet culture has affected the way we exp...Show more Internet linguist, Wired columnist and podcaster McCulloch’s charming and highly accessible book explores how internet culture has affected the way we express ourselves, online and off. Among the fascinating topics she covers are: the rise of memes and emojis, the distinct ways that different age groups communicate on the internet and how previous technologies, such as telegraphs, shifted language norms in the past. In revealing the ever-evolving nature of language, she delivers a strong critique against linguistic purism. McCullough conveys what could be an overly academic subject with an enthusiasm and approachability that make this book a joy to read. Recommended for those interested in internet culture, linguistics and popular nonfiction. Show less

Internet linguist, Wired columnist and podcaster McCulloch’s charming and highly accessible book explores how internet culture has affected the way we exp...Show more Internet linguist, Wired columnist and podcaster McCulloch’s charming and highly accessible book explores how internet culture has affected the way we express ourselves, online and off. Among the fascinating topics she covers are: the rise of memes and emojis, the distinct ways that different age groups communicate on the internet and how previous technologies, such as telegraphs, shifted language norms in the past. In revealing the ever-evolving nature of language, she delivers a strong critique against linguistic purism. McCullough conveys what could be an overly academic subject with an enthusiasm and approachability that make this book a joy to read. Recommended for those interested in internet culture, linguistics and popular nonfiction. Show less

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The Body

The Body

A Guide for Occupants

by Bryson, Bill

Book - 2019

Many of us are familiar with the story that scientist Alexander Fleming discovered Penicillin quite by accident back in 1928. But did you know that the st...Show more Many of us are familiar with the story that scientist Alexander Fleming discovered Penicillin quite by accident back in 1928. But did you know that the strain of mold that turned out to be most suitable for mass production of Penicillin was found on a cantaloupe at a grocery store in Peoria, Illinois in 1943? Bryson's latest is full of fun little facts like this, which makes it a thoroughly enjoyable way to learn a lot about the human body. As in previous books, Bryson also specializes in ferreting out forgotten and unsung heroes (like Theobald Smith, discoverer of Salmonella) and debunking common misconceptions (MSG doesn't cause headaches and antioxidants won't help you live longer). Often funny, sometimes terrifying and occasionally kinda gross, this book is always entertaining. Show less

Many of us are familiar with the story that scientist Alexander Fleming discovered Penicillin quite by accident back in 1928. But did you know that the st...Show more Many of us are familiar with the story that scientist Alexander Fleming discovered Penicillin quite by accident back in 1928. But did you know that the strain of mold that turned out to be most suitable for mass production of Penicillin was found on a cantaloupe at a grocery store in Peoria, Illinois in 1943? Bryson's latest is full of fun little facts like this, which makes it a thoroughly enjoyable way to learn a lot about the human body. As in previous books, Bryson also specializes in ferreting out forgotten and unsung heroes (like Theobald Smith, discoverer of Salmonella) and debunking common misconceptions (MSG doesn't cause headaches and antioxidants won't help you live longer). Often funny, sometimes terrifying and occasionally kinda gross, this book is always entertaining. Show less

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Bringing Down the Duke

Bringing Down the Duke

by Dunmore, Evie

Paperback - 2019

Dunmore's debut, the first book in the League of Extraordinary Women series, is set in late nineteenth century England against the backdrop of the suffrag...Show more Dunmore's debut, the first book in the League of Extraordinary Women series, is set in late nineteenth century England against the backdrop of the suffrage movement. The book follows Annabelle Archer and Sebastian, the Duke of Montgomery. Annabelle is a smart, strong woman, with a poor country-girl background. Despite her circumstances, Annabelle gets into Oxford's first program for women through a scholarship from the local suffragette chapter. The only catch? She needs to work with the radical group to convince men with influence to support an amendment to the Married Women's Property Act of 1870. Enter her target, Sebastian, the imposing Duke of Montgomery and one of the most powerful men in England. The novel is a character-driven story with witty and intelligent dialogue. Writing in the same compelling vein as Julia Quinn, the author manages to weave a story that is full of likeable characters and passion. For fans of Victorian historical romances with a fresh, sexy twist. Show less

Dunmore's debut, the first book in the League of Extraordinary Women series, is set in late nineteenth century England against the backdrop of the suffrag...Show more Dunmore's debut, the first book in the League of Extraordinary Women series, is set in late nineteenth century England against the backdrop of the suffrage movement. The book follows Annabelle Archer and Sebastian, the Duke of Montgomery. Annabelle is a smart, strong woman, with a poor country-girl background. Despite her circumstances, Annabelle gets into Oxford's first program for women through a scholarship from the local suffragette chapter. The only catch? She needs to work with the radical group to convince men with influence to support an amendment to the Married Women's Property Act of 1870. Enter her target, Sebastian, the imposing Duke of Montgomery and one of the most powerful men in England. The novel is a character-driven story with witty and intelligent dialogue. Writing in the same compelling vein as Julia Quinn, the author manages to weave a story that is full of likeable characters and passion. For fans of Victorian historical romances with a fresh, sexy twist. Show less

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Bttm Fdrs

Bttm Fdrs

by Daniels, Ezra Claytan

Book - 2019

Chicago's Bottomyards neighborhood is a struggling community where outsiders dare not go - that is until some trust-fund art school grads move in to an ee...Show more Chicago's Bottomyards neighborhood is a struggling community where outsiders dare not go - that is until some trust-fund art school grads move in to an eerie apartment building that houses more than just hipsters. Darla has roots in the hood, but her family moved out years ago. Does that make her "authentic" or a gentrifier? When her new friend Julio, an underground hip hop artist, takes her to an off-the-radar dive bar chock full of locals, is it really "undiscovered?" And just what is that weird smell coming from the Chicago's Bottomyards neighborhood is a struggling community where outsiders dare not go - that is until some trust-fund art school grads move in to an eerie apartment building that houses more than just hipsters. Darla has roots in the hood, but her family moved out years ago. Does that make her "authentic" or a gentrifier? When her new friend Julio, an underground hip hop artist, takes her to an off-the-radar dive bar chock full of locals, is it really "undiscovered?" And just what is that weird smell coming from the basement? Ezra Claytan Daniels and illustrator Ben Passmore have created a funny, creepy, acid-toned satire about the horrors of gentrification. And in this excellent graphic novel, the horror isn't just economic but something very much alive.basement? Ezra Claytan Daniels and illustrator Ben Passmore have created a funny, creepy, acid-toned satire about the horrors of gentrification. And in this excellent graphic novel, the horror isn't just economic but something very much alive. Show less

Chicago's Bottomyards neighborhood is a struggling community where outsiders dare not go - that is until some trust-fund art school grads move in to an ee...Show more Chicago's Bottomyards neighborhood is a struggling community where outsiders dare not go - that is until some trust-fund art school grads move in to an eerie apartment building that houses more than just hipsters. Darla has roots in the hood, but her family moved out years ago. Does that make her "authentic" or a gentrifier? When her new friend Julio, an underground hip hop artist, takes her to an off-the-radar dive bar chock full of locals, is it really "undiscovered?" And just what is that weird smell coming from the Chicago's Bottomyards neighborhood is a struggling community where outsiders dare not go - that is until some trust-fund art school grads move in to an eerie apartment building that houses more than just hipsters. Darla has roots in the hood, but her family moved out years ago. Does that make her "authentic" or a gentrifier? When her new friend Julio, an underground hip hop artist, takes her to an off-the-radar dive bar chock full of locals, is it really "undiscovered?" And just what is that weird smell coming from the basement? Ezra Claytan Daniels and illustrator Ben Passmore have created a funny, creepy, acid-toned satire about the horrors of gentrification. And in this excellent graphic novel, the horror isn't just economic but something very much alive.basement? Ezra Claytan Daniels and illustrator Ben Passmore have created a funny, creepy, acid-toned satire about the horrors of gentrification. And in this excellent graphic novel, the horror isn't just economic but something very much alive. Show less

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Calm Sea and Prosperous Voyage

Calm Sea and Prosperous Voyage

Selected Stories

by Howland, Bette

Book - 2019

A contemporary of Saul Bellow, Margaret Atwood, Toni Bambara, and Raymond Carver, Bette Howland wrote about class in America like no one else. She has bee...Show more A contemporary of Saul Bellow, Margaret Atwood, Toni Bambara, and Raymond Carver, Bette Howland wrote about class in America like no one else. She has been compared to Lucia Berlin, yet Nelson Algren also resonates in her writing. This collection of nearly forgotten short stories (or is it a novel? non-fiction? Howland did not like labels) gives the reader a bird's-eye view of the Jewish population that used to inhabit the West Side of Chicago. Some of the subjects taken up in this collection include: an unlikely version of the undead, a unique view of depression (Chicago style), and poverty and the worldview of an artist in a working-class family. Highly recommended. Show less

A contemporary of Saul Bellow, Margaret Atwood, Toni Bambara, and Raymond Carver, Bette Howland wrote about class in America like no one else. She has bee...Show more A contemporary of Saul Bellow, Margaret Atwood, Toni Bambara, and Raymond Carver, Bette Howland wrote about class in America like no one else. She has been compared to Lucia Berlin, yet Nelson Algren also resonates in her writing. This collection of nearly forgotten short stories (or is it a novel? non-fiction? Howland did not like labels) gives the reader a bird's-eye view of the Jewish population that used to inhabit the West Side of Chicago. Some of the subjects taken up in this collection include: an unlikely version of the undead, a unique view of depression (Chicago style), and poverty and the worldview of an artist in a working-class family. Highly recommended. Show less

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Cantoras

Cantoras

by De Robertis, Caro

Book - 2019

A life affirming, robust novel of five queer women, cantors, living under the Uruguayan dictatorship as they venture to live and love without fear. A life affirming, robust novel of five queer women, cantors, living under the Uruguayan dictatorship as they venture to live and love without fear. Show less

A life affirming, robust novel of five queer women, cantors, living under the Uruguayan dictatorship as they venture to live and love without fear. A life affirming, robust novel of five queer women, cantors, living under the Uruguayan dictatorship as they venture to live and love without fear. Show less

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Catch and Kill

Catch and Kill

Lies, Spies, and A Conspiracy to Protect Predators

by Farrow, Ronan

Book - 2019

Ronan Farrow’s gripping account of his work uncovering and reporting on years of Harvey Weinstein’s sexual harassment and assault, a bit of an open secret...Show more Ronan Farrow’s gripping account of his work uncovering and reporting on years of Harvey Weinstein’s sexual harassment and assault, a bit of an open secret among Hollywood insiders, moves at the pace of a thriller. As Farrow investigates numerous credible claims, secures interviews, sees nondisclosure agreements, and obtains audio recordings all related to Weinstein, executives at NBC, Ronan’s employer, start to stonewall his investigation before shutting it down and letting him go. In addition to pulling strings at NBC, Weinstein hired BlackCube, an Israeli spy agency, to gather information on Ronan and other reporters. Feeling paranoid with good reason, Farrow secures a safety deposit box for materials related to the investigation in the event that anything were to happen to him. Farrow eventually takes his story to the New Yorker, where it was published in October of 2017. Days earlier, Jodi Kantor and Megan Twohey wrote about Weinstein’s decades of cover-ups for the New York Times and also penned a book, She Said, about their own reporting on Weinstein. All three journalist won a Pulitzer for their stories, which essentially took down the Hollywood mogul. It’s not just a story about Weinstein but a network of powerful and corrupt men who engage in cover-ups and bury news stories. Farrow has secured his spot as one of the most exciting journalists working today with this riveting and important work. Show less

Ronan Farrow’s gripping account of his work uncovering and reporting on years of Harvey Weinstein’s sexual harassment and assault, a bit of an open secret...Show more Ronan Farrow’s gripping account of his work uncovering and reporting on years of Harvey Weinstein’s sexual harassment and assault, a bit of an open secret among Hollywood insiders, moves at the pace of a thriller. As Farrow investigates numerous credible claims, secures interviews, sees nondisclosure agreements, and obtains audio recordings all related to Weinstein, executives at NBC, Ronan’s employer, start to stonewall his investigation before shutting it down and letting him go. In addition to pulling strings at NBC, Weinstein hired BlackCube, an Israeli spy agency, to gather information on Ronan and other reporters. Feeling paranoid with good reason, Farrow secures a safety deposit box for materials related to the investigation in the event that anything were to happen to him. Farrow eventually takes his story to the New Yorker, where it was published in October of 2017. Days earlier, Jodi Kantor and Megan Twohey wrote about Weinstein’s decades of cover-ups for the New York Times and also penned a book, She Said, about their own reporting on Weinstein. All three journalist won a Pulitzer for their stories, which essentially took down the Hollywood mogul. It’s not just a story about Weinstein but a network of powerful and corrupt men who engage in cover-ups and bury news stories. Farrow has secured his spot as one of the most exciting journalists working today with this riveting and important work. Show less

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Charged

Charged

The New Movement to Transform American Prosecution and End Mass Incarceration

by Bazelon, Emily

Book - 2019

Bazelon's powerful book investigates the lopsided power balance between prosecutors and defense lawyers and the impact of prosecutorial overreach on those...Show more Bazelon's powerful book investigates the lopsided power balance between prosecutors and defense lawyers and the impact of prosecutorial overreach on those mired in the American criminal justice system, wherein prosecutors hold the crucial power to choose the charge, set bail, and offer plea bargains in criminal defense cases. Bazelon intersperses chapters on the history of criminal justice in the U.S with the engrossing stories of two young people spending years in the system for being victims of circumstance. She also investigates a new movement to recruit reform-minded, progressive district attorneys to run for office. This movement has spawned a holistic way of thinking about crime, where justice and mercy take precedence over punishment and retribution. Diversion programs where minor offenders participate in community programs to avoid court and jail time, and the allocation of resources to non-profits devoted to creating healthy neighborhoods where people look out for each other have already resulted in lower crime rates in large U.S. cities. Recommended for fans of Bryan Stevenson's Just Mercy. Show less

Bazelon's powerful book investigates the lopsided power balance between prosecutors and defense lawyers and the impact of prosecutorial overreach on those...Show more Bazelon's powerful book investigates the lopsided power balance between prosecutors and defense lawyers and the impact of prosecutorial overreach on those mired in the American criminal justice system, wherein prosecutors hold the crucial power to choose the charge, set bail, and offer plea bargains in criminal defense cases. Bazelon intersperses chapters on the history of criminal justice in the U.S with the engrossing stories of two young people spending years in the system for being victims of circumstance. She also investigates a new movement to recruit reform-minded, progressive district attorneys to run for office. This movement has spawned a holistic way of thinking about crime, where justice and mercy take precedence over punishment and retribution. Diversion programs where minor offenders participate in community programs to avoid court and jail time, and the allocation of resources to non-profits devoted to creating healthy neighborhoods where people look out for each other have already resulted in lower crime rates in large U.S. cities. Recommended for fans of Bryan Stevenson's Just Mercy. Show less

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Curious Toys

Curious Toys

A Novel

by Hand, Elizabeth

Book - 2019

Hand sets her well-researched historical murder mystery at Riverview amusement park in 1915 Chicago, where fourteen-year-old Pin lives with her fortune-te...Show more Hand sets her well-researched historical murder mystery at Riverview amusement park in 1915 Chicago, where fourteen-year-old Pin lives with her fortune-teller mother in a small shack. Because of her younger sister's disappearance when they lived in the Sicilian neighborhood Little Hell, controlled by the Black Hand gang, Pin's mother deems it safest for her to disguise herself as a boy in public. Pin spends her days doing odd jobs for ten-in-one sideshow workers, visiting carney friends, and avoiding law enforcement. Money is tight and her mother dulls her sorrow with laudanum, but the scrappy Pin relishes the freedom of living on the margins, free of the restrictions she would experience as a girl. When a young girl disappears from the Hell-Gate horror ride as Pin observes, she enlists outsider artist Henry Darger to help her find the culprit. Hand successfully weaves historical details from Chicago of 1915 into her story, at the same time exploring current themes including gender fluidity, toxic masculinity, and cyclical urban poverty. Fans of Devil in the White City and The Lake on Fire will enjoy the expert pacing and structure of this dark, immersive whodunit. Show less

Hand sets her well-researched historical murder mystery at Riverview amusement park in 1915 Chicago, where fourteen-year-old Pin lives with her fortune-te...Show more Hand sets her well-researched historical murder mystery at Riverview amusement park in 1915 Chicago, where fourteen-year-old Pin lives with her fortune-teller mother in a small shack. Because of her younger sister's disappearance when they lived in the Sicilian neighborhood Little Hell, controlled by the Black Hand gang, Pin's mother deems it safest for her to disguise herself as a boy in public. Pin spends her days doing odd jobs for ten-in-one sideshow workers, visiting carney friends, and avoiding law enforcement. Money is tight and her mother dulls her sorrow with laudanum, but the scrappy Pin relishes the freedom of living on the margins, free of the restrictions she would experience as a girl. When a young girl disappears from the Hell-Gate horror ride as Pin observes, she enlists outsider artist Henry Darger to help her find the culprit. Hand successfully weaves historical details from Chicago of 1915 into her story, at the same time exploring current themes including gender fluidity, toxic masculinity, and cyclical urban poverty. Fans of Devil in the White City and The Lake on Fire will enjoy the expert pacing and structure of this dark, immersive whodunit. Show less

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Daisy Jones & the Six

Daisy Jones & the Six

A Novel

by Reid, Taylor Jenkins

Paperback - 2019

This is the story of the rise of a 1970s rock band and their spectacular fall at the peak of their fame. Every girl wants to be Daisy Jones and every guy ...Show more This is the story of the rise of a 1970s rock band and their spectacular fall at the peak of their fame. Every girl wants to be Daisy Jones and every guy wants to be with her, but Daisy Jones wants to write music. When she teams up with the rock band The Six, the music they create is magic, but magic always has a dark side. Full of sex, drugs, and rock-n-roll, Daisy Jones & the Six is a fascinating behind-the-scenes look at the music industry, as well the story of seven people trying to live their lives and work together. Written as a fictional oral history through a series of interviews, you may find yourself wondering if this is really a documentary and Daisy Jones & the Six were an actual 70s band that you somehow missed. Show less

This is the story of the rise of a 1970s rock band and their spectacular fall at the peak of their fame. Every girl wants to be Daisy Jones and every guy ...Show more This is the story of the rise of a 1970s rock band and their spectacular fall at the peak of their fame. Every girl wants to be Daisy Jones and every guy wants to be with her, but Daisy Jones wants to write music. When she teams up with the rock band The Six, the music they create is magic, but magic always has a dark side. Full of sex, drugs, and rock-n-roll, Daisy Jones & the Six is a fascinating behind-the-scenes look at the music industry, as well the story of seven people trying to live their lives and work together. Written as a fictional oral history through a series of interviews, you may find yourself wondering if this is really a documentary and Daisy Jones & the Six were an actual 70s band that you somehow missed. Show less

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The Deep

The Deep

by Solomon, Rivers

Book - 2019

The Deep is inspired by a song based on a myth of pregnant African women falling overboard during the Middle Passage and giving birth to hybrid creatures,...Show more The Deep is inspired by a song based on a myth of pregnant African women falling overboard during the Middle Passage and giving birth to hybrid creatures, neither of the land nor of the sea. One of these creatures is tasked with holding their collective memories and teaching their lessons to the rest of the tribe. But when the current historian, Yetu, gives up her duty and for a time leaves her family and friends to fend for themselves, there are terrible consequences. This Afrofuturist book has a dreamy, fairy tale quality that fans of Octavia Butler's Kindred, Ta-Nehisi Coates's The Water Dancer or Helen Oyeyemi's Boy, Snow, Bird will enjoy. Show less

The Deep is inspired by a song based on a myth of pregnant African women falling overboard during the Middle Passage and giving birth to hybrid creatures,...Show more The Deep is inspired by a song based on a myth of pregnant African women falling overboard during the Middle Passage and giving birth to hybrid creatures, neither of the land nor of the sea. One of these creatures is tasked with holding their collective memories and teaching their lessons to the rest of the tribe. But when the current historian, Yetu, gives up her duty and for a time leaves her family and friends to fend for themselves, there are terrible consequences. This Afrofuturist book has a dreamy, fairy tale quality that fans of Octavia Butler's Kindred, Ta-Nehisi Coates's The Water Dancer or Helen Oyeyemi's Boy, Snow, Bird will enjoy. Show less

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Disappearing Earth

Disappearing Earth

by Phillips, Julia

Book - 2019

This innovative blend of literary and thriller fiction reads like a collection of linked short stories set in the fascinating far eastern Russian peninsul...Show more This innovative blend of literary and thriller fiction reads like a collection of linked short stories set in the fascinating far eastern Russian peninsula of Kamchatka. In the first chapter, two young sisters are abducted. Subsequently, rather than follow the usual structure of having a hero or detective hunt for them, each chapter explores the lives of various characters in the community. Some are closely connected to the girls but most have only subtle ties to them at most. And so Phillips builds up a rich portrait of a fascinating place with intelligence and finesse, including issues of native identity and the impact of the transition to a capitalist economy, but the novel also tackles universal character struggles around family, friendship, love, health and the search for persona fulfillment. It's only at the end that the story returns to the crime of the opening chapter, by which point many readers will already be so satisfied with the rich character development and storytelling on offer that any resolution would seem to be a bonus. Readers more interested in people than in depictions of violence will enjoy this unique novel. Show less

This innovative blend of literary and thriller fiction reads like a collection of linked short stories set in the fascinating far eastern Russian peninsul...Show more This innovative blend of literary and thriller fiction reads like a collection of linked short stories set in the fascinating far eastern Russian peninsula of Kamchatka. In the first chapter, two young sisters are abducted. Subsequently, rather than follow the usual structure of having a hero or detective hunt for them, each chapter explores the lives of various characters in the community. Some are closely connected to the girls but most have only subtle ties to them at most. And so Phillips builds up a rich portrait of a fascinating place with intelligence and finesse, including issues of native identity and the impact of the transition to a capitalist economy, but the novel also tackles universal character struggles around family, friendship, love, health and the search for persona fulfillment. It's only at the end that the story returns to the crime of the opening chapter, by which point many readers will already be so satisfied with the rich character development and storytelling on offer that any resolution would seem to be a bonus. Readers more interested in people than in depictions of violence will enjoy this unique novel. Show less

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Drive your Plow Over the Bones of the Dead

Drive your Plow Over the Bones of the Dead

by Tokarczuk, Olga

Book - 2019

Tokarczuk, winner of the coveted Man Booker International Prize for Flights, returns with this wonderfully bizarre existential murder mystery. Janina, the...Show more Tokarczuk, winner of the coveted Man Booker International Prize for Flights, returns with this wonderfully bizarre existential murder mystery. Janina, the protagonist, uses astrology and philosophical ruminations to drive her unlikely stint as an amateur sleuth. Janina's ecological concern and political beliefs come to the surface as she searches for the killer. Tokarczuk drops another brainy novel for lovers of detective fiction. Fans of Auster's New York Trilogy and Highsmith's Ripley will love this new one from a literary master. Show less

Tokarczuk, winner of the coveted Man Booker International Prize for Flights, returns with this wonderfully bizarre existential murder mystery. Janina, the...Show more Tokarczuk, winner of the coveted Man Booker International Prize for Flights, returns with this wonderfully bizarre existential murder mystery. Janina, the protagonist, uses astrology and philosophical ruminations to drive her unlikely stint as an amateur sleuth. Janina's ecological concern and political beliefs come to the surface as she searches for the killer. Tokarczuk drops another brainy novel for lovers of detective fiction. Fans of Auster's New York Trilogy and Highsmith's Ripley will love this new one from a literary master. Show less

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Ducks, Newburyport

Ducks, Newburyport

by Ellmann, Lucy

Paperback - 2019

Two narratives intersect in this complex stream-of-consciousness novel that was shortlisted for the Booker Prize. One centers on a pie maker who ponders t...Show more Two narratives intersect in this complex stream-of-consciousness novel that was shortlisted for the Booker Prize. One centers on a pie maker who ponders the absurdity of life in one 1000-page sentence. She ruminates on the nature of being, cancer, Little House on the Prairie, classic films, Internet porn, gun violence, Joyce Carol Oates's pear orchard, what a Poo-Poo plate is, and the slaughter of billions of chickens every year. The other narrative concerns a mountain lion and her intent on survival. These two narratives eventually collide in this wholly original novel. We guarantee you have never read a book quite like this one. Show less

Two narratives intersect in this complex stream-of-consciousness novel that was shortlisted for the Booker Prize. One centers on a pie maker who ponders t...Show more Two narratives intersect in this complex stream-of-consciousness novel that was shortlisted for the Booker Prize. One centers on a pie maker who ponders the absurdity of life in one 1000-page sentence. She ruminates on the nature of being, cancer, Little House on the Prairie, classic films, Internet porn, gun violence, Joyce Carol Oates's pear orchard, what a Poo-Poo plate is, and the slaughter of billions of chickens every year. The other narrative concerns a mountain lion and her intent on survival. These two narratives eventually collide in this wholly original novel. We guarantee you have never read a book quite like this one. Show less

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The Dutch House

The Dutch House

A Novel

by Patchett, Ann

Paperback - 2019

Patchett's latest novel is perhaps her most powerful to date. The Dutch House centers on the bond between two siblings, Danny and Maeve, and what happens ...Show more Patchett's latest novel is perhaps her most powerful to date. The Dutch House centers on the bond between two siblings, Danny and Maeve, and what happens after their lives are turned upside down. At the center of the story is the house itself, a sprawling mansion located in the suburbs of Philadelphia which their savvy real estate-investor father bought for a song, complete with all the contents from the previous owners. After their mother runs off and their father remarries, Danny and Maeve are left to fend for themselves. A modern-day Hansel and Gretel, this novel gleams with fairy tale-like elements and gothic suspense. As Danny and Maeve are forced to create their own futures out of the wreckage of their past, history has a way of repeating itself. With themes of love and forgiveness, the impenetrable bond between siblings, and inheritance rights, Patchett’s latest masterpiece gives the reader much to contemplate and book groups much to discuss. Show less

Patchett's latest novel is perhaps her most powerful to date. The Dutch House centers on the bond between two siblings, Danny and Maeve, and what happens ...Show more Patchett's latest novel is perhaps her most powerful to date. The Dutch House centers on the bond between two siblings, Danny and Maeve, and what happens after their lives are turned upside down. At the center of the story is the house itself, a sprawling mansion located in the suburbs of Philadelphia which their savvy real estate-investor father bought for a song, complete with all the contents from the previous owners. After their mother runs off and their father remarries, Danny and Maeve are left to fend for themselves. A modern-day Hansel and Gretel, this novel gleams with fairy tale-like elements and gothic suspense. As Danny and Maeve are forced to create their own futures out of the wreckage of their past, history has a way of repeating itself. With themes of love and forgiveness, the impenetrable bond between siblings, and inheritance rights, Patchett’s latest masterpiece gives the reader much to contemplate and book groups much to discuss. Show less

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Elderhood

Elderhood

Redefining Aging, Transforming Medicine, Reimagining Life

by Aronson, Louise

Book - 2019

Aronson's beautifully written book is about aging, but also so much more. It is a collection of sensitively-told, heartbreaking and heartwarming stories o...Show more Aronson's beautifully written book is about aging, but also so much more. It is a collection of sensitively-told, heartbreaking and heartwarming stories of older adults and doctor-patient relationships, and a memoir of a doctor and her successes and failures throughout her twenty-five year career. This book is a critique of our health care system which Aronson describes as "often incompatible with both health and care." She draws on science, literature, philosophy, and sociology to describe a fascinating and complex history of medicine and our culture's fraught relationship with aging. Although Aronson is straightforward about some of the harsh realities that elderly patients face both physically and mentally, she leaves us feeling optimistic about the beauty that comes with reaching this stage of life. Anyone working in medicine or even considering a career in medicine would benefit from reading this great book which could fundamentally change the way we view aging. Show less

Aronson's beautifully written book is about aging, but also so much more. It is a collection of sensitively-told, heartbreaking and heartwarming stories o...Show more Aronson's beautifully written book is about aging, but also so much more. It is a collection of sensitively-told, heartbreaking and heartwarming stories of older adults and doctor-patient relationships, and a memoir of a doctor and her successes and failures throughout her twenty-five year career. This book is a critique of our health care system which Aronson describes as "often incompatible with both health and care." She draws on science, literature, philosophy, and sociology to describe a fascinating and complex history of medicine and our culture's fraught relationship with aging. Although Aronson is straightforward about some of the harsh realities that elderly patients face both physically and mentally, she leaves us feeling optimistic about the beauty that comes with reaching this stage of life. Anyone working in medicine or even considering a career in medicine would benefit from reading this great book which could fundamentally change the way we view aging. Show less

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Everything Inside

Everything Inside

Stories

by Danticat, Edwidge

Book - 2019

Written by internationally acclaimed author Edwidge Danticat (Claire of the Sea of Light, The Dew Breaker, and Brother, I’m Dying), Everything Inside is a...Show more Written by internationally acclaimed author Edwidge Danticat (Claire of the Sea of Light, The Dew Breaker, and Brother, I’m Dying), Everything Inside is a visceral collection of eight slice-of-life fiction short stories. Each story has a different character perspective, though the stories share common themes surrounding family connections, displacement, loss and the tragedies and triumphs of life. Rooted in the experiences of Haitians and the Haitian diaspora, Danticat's stories are so intimate they can almost make you feel as though you are the narrator and at the same time they conjure the isolation that comes with introspection and one's relationship with loss. Because each story is self-contained, you can read one or all of the stories and in any preferred order. If you had to read just one, the very last story "Without Inspection" is extremely powerful. Fans of short story collections like What it Means When A Man Falls from the Sky by Lesley Nneka Arimah will appreciate Danticat's immersive stories with their poignantly relatable characters. Show less

Written by internationally acclaimed author Edwidge Danticat (Claire of the Sea of Light, The Dew Breaker, and Brother, I’m Dying), Everything Inside is a...Show more Written by internationally acclaimed author Edwidge Danticat (Claire of the Sea of Light, The Dew Breaker, and Brother, I’m Dying), Everything Inside is a visceral collection of eight slice-of-life fiction short stories. Each story has a different character perspective, though the stories share common themes surrounding family connections, displacement, loss and the tragedies and triumphs of life. Rooted in the experiences of Haitians and the Haitian diaspora, Danticat's stories are so intimate they can almost make you feel as though you are the narrator and at the same time they conjure the isolation that comes with introspection and one's relationship with loss. Because each story is self-contained, you can read one or all of the stories and in any preferred order. If you had to read just one, the very last story "Without Inspection" is extremely powerful. Fans of short story collections like What it Means When A Man Falls from the Sky by Lesley Nneka Arimah will appreciate Danticat's immersive stories with their poignantly relatable characters. Show less

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Exhalation

Exhalation

by Chiang, Ted

Book - 2019

This latest collection from celebrated science fiction writer Ted Chiang (perhaps best known for the story that was adapted into the movie Arrival) brings...Show more This latest collection from celebrated science fiction writer Ted Chiang (perhaps best known for the story that was adapted into the movie Arrival) brings together several award-winning stories along with some top-notch new work. The result is a dazzling new collection of speculative fiction that may impress even those who normally resist science fiction. "The Merchant and the Alchemist's Gate" combines time travel with a classic Arabian Nights-like setting and style. In "Anxiety Is the Dizziness of Freedom," characters can interact with other versions of themselves in alternate worlds, and various businesses - and unscrupulous sorts - look to cash in on the potential. And in the longest piece, the novella "The Lifecycle of Software Objects," a software tester grows attached to her digital A.I. in something of the manner of a pet or young child that she seeks to nurture and protect even as its software platform becomes outdated. These stories and all the other excellent pieces here share a characteristic sense of curiosity, a bit like a scientist running experiments, and just when you think you've spotted a familiar formula about to play out, Chiang's stories surprise by holding true to their own terms rather than going for something cheap or familiar. Chiang is one of a kind, and hopefully this publication will at last bring him the wider attention he deserves. Show less

This latest collection from celebrated science fiction writer Ted Chiang (perhaps best known for the story that was adapted into the movie Arrival) brings...Show more This latest collection from celebrated science fiction writer Ted Chiang (perhaps best known for the story that was adapted into the movie Arrival) brings together several award-winning stories along with some top-notch new work. The result is a dazzling new collection of speculative fiction that may impress even those who normally resist science fiction. "The Merchant and the Alchemist's Gate" combines time travel with a classic Arabian Nights-like setting and style. In "Anxiety Is the Dizziness of Freedom," characters can interact with other versions of themselves in alternate worlds, and various businesses - and unscrupulous sorts - look to cash in on the potential. And in the longest piece, the novella "The Lifecycle of Software Objects," a software tester grows attached to her digital A.I. in something of the manner of a pet or young child that she seeks to nurture and protect even as its software platform becomes outdated. These stories and all the other excellent pieces here share a characteristic sense of curiosity, a bit like a scientist running experiments, and just when you think you've spotted a familiar formula about to play out, Chiang's stories surprise by holding true to their own terms rather than going for something cheap or familiar. Chiang is one of a kind, and hopefully this publication will at last bring him the wider attention he deserves. Show less

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Feast your Eyes

Feast your Eyes

by Goldberg, Myla

Book - 2019

Thirteen years after photographer Lillian Preston’s death, her daughter, Samantha, is asked to write the catalog for a retrospective show of her mother’s ...Show more Thirteen years after photographer Lillian Preston’s death, her daughter, Samantha, is asked to write the catalog for a retrospective show of her mother’s work. Samantha’s notes about the 118 photographs in the show tell the story of her mother’s life and their strained relationship. Lillian was a free spirit who chose not to follow the road laid out for her in the 1950s: college, marriage, motherhood. She escaped to New York City, where she began to photograph scenes and people on the city streets, never seeking fame or attention but wanting to tell a story. Photography took precedence over everything for Lillian, and her work was often controversial, especially a series of photographs that earned her the title of “Worst Mother in the World.” Written in the form of a museum catalog, the novel is filled with history, social commentary and passion, as well as vivid descriptions of the photographs in the show, making this a real feast for fans of literary fiction. Show less

Thirteen years after photographer Lillian Preston’s death, her daughter, Samantha, is asked to write the catalog for a retrospective show of her mother’s ...Show more Thirteen years after photographer Lillian Preston’s death, her daughter, Samantha, is asked to write the catalog for a retrospective show of her mother’s work. Samantha’s notes about the 118 photographs in the show tell the story of her mother’s life and their strained relationship. Lillian was a free spirit who chose not to follow the road laid out for her in the 1950s: college, marriage, motherhood. She escaped to New York City, where she began to photograph scenes and people on the city streets, never seeking fame or attention but wanting to tell a story. Photography took precedence over everything for Lillian, and her work was often controversial, especially a series of photographs that earned her the title of “Worst Mother in the World.” Written in the form of a museum catalog, the novel is filled with history, social commentary and passion, as well as vivid descriptions of the photographs in the show, making this a real feast for fans of literary fiction. Show less

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Figuring

Figuring

by Popova, Maria

Book - 2019

Beginning with planetary motion and ending with ecology, Figuring is an impressive historical treatise on the scientific mind. Connections are made betwee...Show more Beginning with planetary motion and ending with ecology, Figuring is an impressive historical treatise on the scientific mind. Connections are made between moments in history, science, philosophy, art and social circumstance, all the while bringing great women of science and culture to the forefront of a new understanding of history. The erudite prose within these pages makes heady and otherwise academic language graspable for an audience inclined to the intellectual. Its aim is to share and teach more than entertain, but fascinating anecdotes about figure both well-known (such as William Faulkner) and lesser-known (such as Maria Mitchell) are bound to enthrall and touch. Give yourself time with this book: it's best taken in slowly and savored. Author Maria Popova is the mind behind the popular literary website Brain Pickings. Show less

Beginning with planetary motion and ending with ecology, Figuring is an impressive historical treatise on the scientific mind. Connections are made betwee...Show more Beginning with planetary motion and ending with ecology, Figuring is an impressive historical treatise on the scientific mind. Connections are made between moments in history, science, philosophy, art and social circumstance, all the while bringing great women of science and culture to the forefront of a new understanding of history. The erudite prose within these pages makes heady and otherwise academic language graspable for an audience inclined to the intellectual. Its aim is to share and teach more than entertain, but fascinating anecdotes about figure both well-known (such as William Faulkner) and lesser-known (such as Maria Mitchell) are bound to enthrall and touch. Give yourself time with this book: it's best taken in slowly and savored. Author Maria Popova is the mind behind the popular literary website Brain Pickings. Show less

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The Five

The Five

The Untold Lives of the Women Killed by Jack the Ripper

by Rubenhold, Hallie

Book - 2019

Much has been written about Jack the Ripper, but nearly nothing about the serials killer's victims. Rubenhold, a British historian, sets out to rectify th...Show more Much has been written about Jack the Ripper, but nearly nothing about the serials killer's victims. Rubenhold, a British historian, sets out to rectify that in her fascinating account of the lives of five "canonical" victims: Polly Nichols, Annie Chapman, Elizabeth Stride, Catherine Eddows and Mary Jane Kelly. Sparing us the sensationalist, grisly details of the murders, Rubenhold instead paints portraits of women in Victorian England who found themselves thrust into poverty and likely "sleeping rough" at the time of their deaths. The lives of Victorian women (in particular working class and poor women) were particularly horrendous, and these women suffered from a variety of issues including alcoholism, domestic abuse and disease. Rubenhold also questions the veracity of the claim that Ripper's victims were prostitutes and makes a compelling argument that three of the victims, in fact, were not. The book, traversing women's history and true crime, is a well-researched, absorbing narrative that humanizes and gives voice to Jack the Ripper's victims who have been a minor footnote in history. Show less

Much has been written about Jack the Ripper, but nearly nothing about the serials killer's victims. Rubenhold, a British historian, sets out to rectify th...Show more Much has been written about Jack the Ripper, but nearly nothing about the serials killer's victims. Rubenhold, a British historian, sets out to rectify that in her fascinating account of the lives of five "canonical" victims: Polly Nichols, Annie Chapman, Elizabeth Stride, Catherine Eddows and Mary Jane Kelly. Sparing us the sensationalist, grisly details of the murders, Rubenhold instead paints portraits of women in Victorian England who found themselves thrust into poverty and likely "sleeping rough" at the time of their deaths. The lives of Victorian women (in particular working class and poor women) were particularly horrendous, and these women suffered from a variety of issues including alcoholism, domestic abuse and disease. Rubenhold also questions the veracity of the claim that Ripper's victims were prostitutes and makes a compelling argument that three of the victims, in fact, were not. The book, traversing women's history and true crime, is a well-researched, absorbing narrative that humanizes and gives voice to Jack the Ripper's victims who have been a minor footnote in history. Show less

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