Advanced Search

Search

Advanced Search

Jacket cover images copied to clipboard.

General Recommendations

Best Books of 2021

By:

ChiPubLib_Adults

Chicago Public Library

Staff-created list

Chicago Public Library recommends these titles as the best books published in 2021.

By:

ChiPubLib_Adults

Chicago Public Library

1-25 of 100 items

1-25 of 100 items

Act your Age, Eve Brown

Act your Age, Eve Brown

A Novel

by Hibbert, Talia

Paperback - 2021

In this final installment of her Brown Sisters trilogy, Hibbert turns the focus on youngest sister, Eve. Unlike her older sisters, Eve hasn't yet found he...Show more In this final installment of her Brown Sisters trilogy, Hibbert turns the focus on youngest sister, Eve. Unlike her older sisters, Eve hasn't yet found her path in life. But it's certainly not for lack of trying. She's tried a lot. Unfortunately, nothing ever seems to go the way she hopes, sometimes in really disastrous ways. After her frustrated parents decide to stop paying her bills in an effort to force her to grow up, Eve takes off and ends up at a bed and breakfast owned by Jacob Wayne, the most rigid, frustrating, and annoyingly handsome man she's ever encountered. So of course it makes absolute sense to take a job as head chef at his bed and breakfast. It really seems like the least she can do after accidentally hitting him with her car. As Jacob and Eve get to know each other, Eve also discovers some truths about herself, that might just go a long way towards explaining why she's always been such a hot mess. Maybe with Jacob on her side, she'll finally get things right. Hibbert concludes this wonderful series with a passionate story about two people who don't always fit into the world around them but find they fit together perfectly. Show less

In this final installment of her Brown Sisters trilogy, Hibbert turns the focus on youngest sister, Eve. Unlike her older sisters, Eve hasn't yet found he...Show more In this final installment of her Brown Sisters trilogy, Hibbert turns the focus on youngest sister, Eve. Unlike her older sisters, Eve hasn't yet found her path in life. But it's certainly not for lack of trying. She's tried a lot. Unfortunately, nothing ever seems to go the way she hopes, sometimes in really disastrous ways. After her frustrated parents decide to stop paying her bills in an effort to force her to grow up, Eve takes off and ends up at a bed and breakfast owned by Jacob Wayne, the most rigid, frustrating, and annoyingly handsome man she's ever encountered. So of course it makes absolute sense to take a job as head chef at his bed and breakfast. It really seems like the least she can do after accidentally hitting him with her car. As Jacob and Eve get to know each other, Eve also discovers some truths about herself, that might just go a long way towards explaining why she's always been such a hot mess. Maybe with Jacob on her side, she'll finally get things right. Hibbert concludes this wonderful series with a passionate story about two people who don't always fit into the world around them but find they fit together perfectly. Show less

Available in some locations

Place hold

Add to My For Later Shelf On my shelf

Acts of Desperation

Acts of Desperation

by Nolan, Megan

Book - 2021

A young Irish woman falls for a beautiful guy and gradually gives up most of her social life (and her considerable love of the drink) to be with him. Asid...Show more A young Irish woman falls for a beautiful guy and gradually gives up most of her social life (and her considerable love of the drink) to be with him. Aside from his occasional grumpiness, fussiness and tendency towards control, the main trouble is that he's still pining for another woman he seems pretty clearly to prefer. Can she hang on to him through self-abnegation and sheer force of will? If so, what effect will it have on her? And him? This dark narrative of a romantic obsession is imbued with a ferocious intensity and keen psychological insight that illuminates some of the darker sides of love and human behavior. Anyone who's pined for someone who wasn't readily available will relate. This short, blistering work of psychological fiction which has received heady praise in Ireland and the UK is recommended for fans of Elena Ferrante, Raven Leilani and Ottessa Moshfegh. Show less

A young Irish woman falls for a beautiful guy and gradually gives up most of her social life (and her considerable love of the drink) to be with him. Asid...Show more A young Irish woman falls for a beautiful guy and gradually gives up most of her social life (and her considerable love of the drink) to be with him. Aside from his occasional grumpiness, fussiness and tendency towards control, the main trouble is that he's still pining for another woman he seems pretty clearly to prefer. Can she hang on to him through self-abnegation and sheer force of will? If so, what effect will it have on her? And him? This dark narrative of a romantic obsession is imbued with a ferocious intensity and keen psychological insight that illuminates some of the darker sides of love and human behavior. Anyone who's pined for someone who wasn't readily available will relate. This short, blistering work of psychological fiction which has received heady praise in Ireland and the UK is recommended for fans of Elena Ferrante, Raven Leilani and Ottessa Moshfegh. Show less

Available in some locations

Place hold

Add to My For Later Shelf On my shelf

Afterparties

Afterparties

Stories

by So, Anthony Veasna

Book - 2021

Each story in this debut collection of short stories from Anthony Veasna So is like a song that effortlessly shifts from major to minor keys, expressing b...Show more Each story in this debut collection of short stories from Anthony Veasna So is like a song that effortlessly shifts from major to minor keys, expressing both the melancholy of generational trauma and immigrant life as well as richly comedic anecdotes highlighting life in the Cambodian diaspora communities of Central California. The acclaimed opening story, "Three Women of Chuck's Donuts," has all the vibes of a dark comedy and a character-driven family drama. Though the author unexpectedly passed away before the publication of this collection, he leaves behind glimpses of life drawn from his own experiences and those of his older family members who had survived the Khmer Rouge genocide. This brilliant collection that brings queer and immigrant experiences to the forefront is recommended for fans of collections like Filthy Animals by Brandon Taylor and Everything Inside by Edwidge Danticat. Show less

Each story in this debut collection of short stories from Anthony Veasna So is like a song that effortlessly shifts from major to minor keys, expressing b...Show more Each story in this debut collection of short stories from Anthony Veasna So is like a song that effortlessly shifts from major to minor keys, expressing both the melancholy of generational trauma and immigrant life as well as richly comedic anecdotes highlighting life in the Cambodian diaspora communities of Central California. The acclaimed opening story, "Three Women of Chuck's Donuts," has all the vibes of a dark comedy and a character-driven family drama. Though the author unexpectedly passed away before the publication of this collection, he leaves behind glimpses of life drawn from his own experiences and those of his older family members who had survived the Khmer Rouge genocide. This brilliant collection that brings queer and immigrant experiences to the forefront is recommended for fans of collections like Filthy Animals by Brandon Taylor and Everything Inside by Edwidge Danticat. Show less

Available in some locations

Place hold

Add to My For Later Shelf On my shelf

All That She Carried

All That She Carried

The Journey of Ashley's Sack, A Black Family Keepsake

by Miles, Tiya

Book - 2021

Tiya Miles's All That She Carried is a magical book. This National Book Award-winning family history concerns the survival of a sack that was used to carr...Show more Tiya Miles's All That She Carried is a magical book. This National Book Award-winning family history concerns the survival of a sack that was used to carry grains during slavery. The sack, though only an object, an artifact, was passed down from generation to generation, and its existence is thanks to preservation by descendants of the original owner, a slave named Rose. Ruth Middleton was Rose's great-granddaughter, and though there seems to be little known information about Rose, the author Tiya was able to craft this historically rich narrative by using physical objects, the contents that Ruth left her daughter in the sack, and a mother’s love, to help her expand on this genealogical journey. You don't have to be a historian to appreciate what Miles has done with the story of the sack Rose gave her daughter before she was taken from her and sold to another slave owner. It's a great book (a natural pick for book clubs) that embarks on public history, object history, and the study of Black women's lives, emotions, and environmental resources. Show less

Tiya Miles's All That She Carried is a magical book. This National Book Award-winning family history concerns the survival of a sack that was used to carr...Show more Tiya Miles's All That She Carried is a magical book. This National Book Award-winning family history concerns the survival of a sack that was used to carry grains during slavery. The sack, though only an object, an artifact, was passed down from generation to generation, and its existence is thanks to preservation by descendants of the original owner, a slave named Rose. Ruth Middleton was Rose's great-granddaughter, and though there seems to be little known information about Rose, the author Tiya was able to craft this historically rich narrative by using physical objects, the contents that Ruth left her daughter in the sack, and a mother’s love, to help her expand on this genealogical journey. You don't have to be a historian to appreciate what Miles has done with the story of the sack Rose gave her daughter before she was taken from her and sold to another slave owner. It's a great book (a natural pick for book clubs) that embarks on public history, object history, and the study of Black women's lives, emotions, and environmental resources. Show less

Available in some locations

Place hold

Add to My For Later Shelf On my shelf

American Made

American Made

What Happens to People When Work Disappears

by Stockman, Farah

Book - 2021

In this investigation which began as a series of long-form articles for the New York Times, Pulitzer winner Stockman follows three American steelworkers a...Show more In this investigation which began as a series of long-form articles for the New York Times, Pulitzer winner Stockman follows three American steelworkers after the Indianapolis ball bearing factory they worked at moved its operations to Mexico in 2017. The plant’s closing became national news when Donald Trump tweeted about it, criticizing the decision. The result is a nuanced portrait of the state of unskilled labor in the heartland and a reckoning with how globalization and policies such as NAFTA impact real people decades after their implementation. Stockman reported on Shannon, a single mother responsible for two children and a disabled granddaughter, whose work at the plant allowed her to free herself from an abusive boyfriend; John, a diehard union supporter who nevertheless voted for Donald Trump; and Wally, an unfailingly optimistic African American who rose to a high paying position with an office despite past brushes with the law. Readers will empathize with the protagonists, and like Stockman herself, those shocked by the 2016 election results will understand them a little better after reading Stockman’s book. Fans of Matthew Desmond's Evicted will eagerly turn the pages to find out how the stories of Shannon, Wally and John play out. Show less

In this investigation which began as a series of long-form articles for the New York Times, Pulitzer winner Stockman follows three American steelworkers a...Show more In this investigation which began as a series of long-form articles for the New York Times, Pulitzer winner Stockman follows three American steelworkers after the Indianapolis ball bearing factory they worked at moved its operations to Mexico in 2017. The plant’s closing became national news when Donald Trump tweeted about it, criticizing the decision. The result is a nuanced portrait of the state of unskilled labor in the heartland and a reckoning with how globalization and policies such as NAFTA impact real people decades after their implementation. Stockman reported on Shannon, a single mother responsible for two children and a disabled granddaughter, whose work at the plant allowed her to free herself from an abusive boyfriend; John, a diehard union supporter who nevertheless voted for Donald Trump; and Wally, an unfailingly optimistic African American who rose to a high paying position with an office despite past brushes with the law. Readers will empathize with the protagonists, and like Stockman herself, those shocked by the 2016 election results will understand them a little better after reading Stockman’s book. Fans of Matthew Desmond's Evicted will eagerly turn the pages to find out how the stories of Shannon, Wally and John play out. Show less

Available in some locations

Place hold

Add to My For Later Shelf On my shelf

The Anthropocene Reviewed

The Anthropocene Reviewed

Essays on A Human-centered Planet

by Green, John

Book - 2021

Living on our human-centered planet can be stressful, beautiful, devastating, and wonderful all at once, especially while you're living through a pandemic...Show more Living on our human-centered planet can be stressful, beautiful, devastating, and wonderful all at once, especially while you're living through a pandemic. John Green manages to capture all those complex, intertwined emotions in this collection of essays, or more specifically, reviews of aspects of our modern life on a five-star scale. His unusual path to celebrity and struggles with his OCD have given him a unique, insightful view of what it means to be human and what should matter in the end. His reviews for "googling strangers" and "the smallpox vaccine" in particular are emotionally raw and incredibly uplifting. Green's first foray into non-fiction is not to be missed. (If you're a fan of audiobooks, don't miss the author's highly recommended narration.) Show less

Living on our human-centered planet can be stressful, beautiful, devastating, and wonderful all at once, especially while you're living through a pandemic...Show more Living on our human-centered planet can be stressful, beautiful, devastating, and wonderful all at once, especially while you're living through a pandemic. John Green manages to capture all those complex, intertwined emotions in this collection of essays, or more specifically, reviews of aspects of our modern life on a five-star scale. His unusual path to celebrity and struggles with his OCD have given him a unique, insightful view of what it means to be human and what should matter in the end. His reviews for "googling strangers" and "the smallpox vaccine" in particular are emotionally raw and incredibly uplifting. Green's first foray into non-fiction is not to be missed. (If you're a fan of audiobooks, don't miss the author's highly recommended narration.) Show less

Available in some locations

Place hold

Add to My For Later Shelf On my shelf

Beautiful Country

Beautiful Country

A Memoir

by Wang, Qian Julie

Book - 2021

Qian, a Yale-graduated attorney, introduces herself as a young girl along with her family who lived in New York during the 1990s as undocumented immigrant...Show more Qian, a Yale-graduated attorney, introduces herself as a young girl along with her family who lived in New York during the 1990s as undocumented immigrants in her memoir. If you are unfamiliar with the lives of immigrants or the undocumented, here is the genuine voice of a nine-year-old from China who must be mature enough to protect her family, being the most literate in English yet feeling guilty for all the unfortunate events that her family experienced. A reader may resist the portrait of America they encounter in Qian's memoir and feel uncomfortable with the family's choice at the end of the book, but others will enjoy seeing, hearing, and inhabiting the shared Brooklyn apartment, Chinatown, and many other places evoked on young Qian's journey. It is a sad yet powerful memoir that generates empathy for the people in the book and encourages you to see the immigrants and the undocumented who suffer under poverty, fear, and isolation in their daily lives. By its end, you will understand why the author revisited these early, difficult years. Strongly recommended for individuals concerned about diversity, equity, and inclusion issues and book discussion groups. Show less

Qian, a Yale-graduated attorney, introduces herself as a young girl along with her family who lived in New York during the 1990s as undocumented immigrant...Show more Qian, a Yale-graduated attorney, introduces herself as a young girl along with her family who lived in New York during the 1990s as undocumented immigrants in her memoir. If you are unfamiliar with the lives of immigrants or the undocumented, here is the genuine voice of a nine-year-old from China who must be mature enough to protect her family, being the most literate in English yet feeling guilty for all the unfortunate events that her family experienced. A reader may resist the portrait of America they encounter in Qian's memoir and feel uncomfortable with the family's choice at the end of the book, but others will enjoy seeing, hearing, and inhabiting the shared Brooklyn apartment, Chinatown, and many other places evoked on young Qian's journey. It is a sad yet powerful memoir that generates empathy for the people in the book and encourages you to see the immigrants and the undocumented who suffer under poverty, fear, and isolation in their daily lives. By its end, you will understand why the author revisited these early, difficult years. Strongly recommended for individuals concerned about diversity, equity, and inclusion issues and book discussion groups. Show less

Available in some locations

Place hold

Add to My For Later Shelf On my shelf

Beautiful World, Where Are You

Beautiful World, Where Are You

by Rooney, Sally

Book - 2021

After moving to the west of Ireland, Alice meets a warehouse worker named Simon on a dating app. They hit it off, but Simon's behavior becomes somewhat st...Show more After moving to the west of Ireland, Alice meets a warehouse worker named Simon on a dating app. They hit it off, but Simon's behavior becomes somewhat strange after he learns she's a highly successful novelist. In Dublin, Alice's friend Eileen, a literary office worker, is recovering from a recent breakup. For solace, she is drawn back to Simon, a friend since childhood who now works as an assistant in politics. In between chapters that deftly explore the complications of these two relationships, Rooney includes the alternating correspondence between friends Alice and Eileen, who use these letters to share updates on their personal lives but also to come to terms with the kinds of questions and issues that adults throughout the world have been debating since the mid-2010s, and they do so with intelligence, sincerity and wit. And yet as the novel progresses, cracks begin to show in the façade of their friendship. While these four characters tend to play it cool outwardly, they wrestle with intense anxieties, desires and inner conflicts as, together, they strive to overcome hurts and grapple towards loving relationships. Rooney has expanded on the familiar themes of her earlier fiction, wielding fresh techniques and strategies, resulting in an intense new novel that's almost symphonic in shape and scope. Show less

After moving to the west of Ireland, Alice meets a warehouse worker named Simon on a dating app. They hit it off, but Simon's behavior becomes somewhat st...Show more After moving to the west of Ireland, Alice meets a warehouse worker named Simon on a dating app. They hit it off, but Simon's behavior becomes somewhat strange after he learns she's a highly successful novelist. In Dublin, Alice's friend Eileen, a literary office worker, is recovering from a recent breakup. For solace, she is drawn back to Simon, a friend since childhood who now works as an assistant in politics. In between chapters that deftly explore the complications of these two relationships, Rooney includes the alternating correspondence between friends Alice and Eileen, who use these letters to share updates on their personal lives but also to come to terms with the kinds of questions and issues that adults throughout the world have been debating since the mid-2010s, and they do so with intelligence, sincerity and wit. And yet as the novel progresses, cracks begin to show in the façade of their friendship. While these four characters tend to play it cool outwardly, they wrestle with intense anxieties, desires and inner conflicts as, together, they strive to overcome hurts and grapple towards loving relationships. Rooney has expanded on the familiar themes of her earlier fiction, wielding fresh techniques and strategies, resulting in an intense new novel that's almost symphonic in shape and scope. Show less

Available in some locations

Place hold

Add to My For Later Shelf On my shelf

Bewilderment

Bewilderment

A Novel

by Powers, Richard

Book - 2021

In the latest novel from Powers (after the Pulitzer-winning The Overstory), an astrophysicist named Theo is grieving the loss of his wife Aly while strugg...Show more In the latest novel from Powers (after the Pulitzer-winning The Overstory), an astrophysicist named Theo is grieving the loss of his wife Aly while struggling as a single parent to raise his son Robin, who is also struggling with the loss. Robin has been diagnosed variously as having Asperger's, ADHD and other conditions, but Theo (wisely or not) rejects such categorizations and resists the medications that are recommended with them. The father and son bond over a love of nature, taking camping trips deep in the woods that they find restorative, at least temporarily. And one of Theo's colleagues suggests an alternative, cutting-edge neurological therapy for Robin that holds much promise. But Robin's growing awareness of the imperiled state of nature in the modern world threatens to disrupt his progress. With some dazzling bits of astrophysics-as-bedtime-stories woven in and strong literary allusions to a beloved speculative fiction classic, this is a big-hearted novel that embodies the primal war between hope and grief for the modern world in an unforgettable father-son relationship. Show less

In the latest novel from Powers (after the Pulitzer-winning The Overstory), an astrophysicist named Theo is grieving the loss of his wife Aly while strugg...Show more In the latest novel from Powers (after the Pulitzer-winning The Overstory), an astrophysicist named Theo is grieving the loss of his wife Aly while struggling as a single parent to raise his son Robin, who is also struggling with the loss. Robin has been diagnosed variously as having Asperger's, ADHD and other conditions, but Theo (wisely or not) rejects such categorizations and resists the medications that are recommended with them. The father and son bond over a love of nature, taking camping trips deep in the woods that they find restorative, at least temporarily. And one of Theo's colleagues suggests an alternative, cutting-edge neurological therapy for Robin that holds much promise. But Robin's growing awareness of the imperiled state of nature in the modern world threatens to disrupt his progress. With some dazzling bits of astrophysics-as-bedtime-stories woven in and strong literary allusions to a beloved speculative fiction classic, this is a big-hearted novel that embodies the primal war between hope and grief for the modern world in an unforgettable father-son relationship. Show less

Available in some locations

Place hold

Add to My For Later Shelf On my shelf

The Black Church

The Black Church

This Is Our Story, This Is Our Song

by Gates, Henry Louis, Jr

Book - 2021

Henry Louis Gates, the literary scholar, historian, filmmaker, and New York Times bestselling author of Stony the Road, provides a recollection of how the...Show more Henry Louis Gates, the literary scholar, historian, filmmaker, and New York Times bestselling author of Stony the Road, provides a recollection of how the Black church has molded and transformed the African American experience from slavery to the present. Gates explains how the Black Church has offered a reprieve from a racist society, providing African Americans a place to come together in a community to advance their aspirations and sing out, pray out and shout out their frustrations. Gates's story includes reflections from believers, nonbelievers, musical artists, pastoral leaders, and church scholars. He also provides a personal confession of how church and Christianity played a pivotal role in his life while growing up in a small, segregated West Virginia town. Readers will discover how the Black church has prepared African American people for leadership roles in American society, parented the civil rights movement and today's Black Lives Matter movement, and nurtured numerous talented individuals. Entertainers such as Dinah Washington, Aretha Franklin, Tina Turner, Whitney Houston, Patti LaBelle, James Brown, Sam Cooke and Marvin Gaye honed their talent while performing in church choirs. His story honestly observes how this institution has been the epicenter of action during every period of African American history. (Note also the PBS documentary tie-in on DVD.) Show less

Henry Louis Gates, the literary scholar, historian, filmmaker, and New York Times bestselling author of Stony the Road, provides a recollection of how the...Show more Henry Louis Gates, the literary scholar, historian, filmmaker, and New York Times bestselling author of Stony the Road, provides a recollection of how the Black church has molded and transformed the African American experience from slavery to the present. Gates explains how the Black Church has offered a reprieve from a racist society, providing African Americans a place to come together in a community to advance their aspirations and sing out, pray out and shout out their frustrations. Gates's story includes reflections from believers, nonbelievers, musical artists, pastoral leaders, and church scholars. He also provides a personal confession of how church and Christianity played a pivotal role in his life while growing up in a small, segregated West Virginia town. Readers will discover how the Black church has prepared African American people for leadership roles in American society, parented the civil rights movement and today's Black Lives Matter movement, and nurtured numerous talented individuals. Entertainers such as Dinah Washington, Aretha Franklin, Tina Turner, Whitney Houston, Patti LaBelle, James Brown, Sam Cooke and Marvin Gaye honed their talent while performing in church choirs. His story honestly observes how this institution has been the epicenter of action during every period of African American history. (Note also the PBS documentary tie-in on DVD.) Show less

Available in some locations

Place hold

Add to My For Later Shelf On my shelf

Bombshell

Bombshell

by MacLean, Sarah

Book - 2021

Lady Sesily Talbot has always been the most scandalous of her sisters. And while they've all settled down with husbands and children, Sesily knows that is...Show more Lady Sesily Talbot has always been the most scandalous of her sisters. And while they've all settled down with husbands and children, Sesily knows that is not the path for her. So, when given the opportunity to join a group of fellow misfits who have a mission to protect other women from dangerous men, Sesily leaps at the chance. Especially because it will distract her from thoughts of Caleb Calhoun, the only man who has ever dared to reject her. Alas, Caleb can't seem to stay away, and he keeps poking his nose in where it doesn't belong, even when it risks revealing his own dangerous secrets. This first book in Sarah MacLean's new Hell's Belles series is a steamy, exciting and unapologetically feminist tale of a woman who is willing to risk everything to forge her own path to love and happiness. Show less

Lady Sesily Talbot has always been the most scandalous of her sisters. And while they've all settled down with husbands and children, Sesily knows that is...Show more Lady Sesily Talbot has always been the most scandalous of her sisters. And while they've all settled down with husbands and children, Sesily knows that is not the path for her. So, when given the opportunity to join a group of fellow misfits who have a mission to protect other women from dangerous men, Sesily leaps at the chance. Especially because it will distract her from thoughts of Caleb Calhoun, the only man who has ever dared to reject her. Alas, Caleb can't seem to stay away, and he keeps poking his nose in where it doesn't belong, even when it risks revealing his own dangerous secrets. This first book in Sarah MacLean's new Hell's Belles series is a steamy, exciting and unapologetically feminist tale of a woman who is willing to risk everything to forge her own path to love and happiness. Show less

Available in some locations

Place hold

Add to My For Later Shelf On my shelf

Chasing Me to My Grave

Chasing Me to My Grave

An Artist's Memoir of the Jim Crow South

by Rembert, Winfred

Book - 2021

American painter Winfred Rembert (who passed away in 2021) relates his life story in this stunningly beautiful book. Told in short chapters and written in...Show more American painter Winfred Rembert (who passed away in 2021) relates his life story in this stunningly beautiful book. Told in short chapters and written in relatable prose, the book relates the experience of growing up in the segregated South, where his mother worked in cotton fields. Growing up, he was subject to powerful forces of racism. After participating at a civil rights protest he was jailed without being charged, barely escaped a lynching, and was then sent to prison. He spent time on a chain gang and was exposed to atrocities designed to break the spirit, but nonetheless he kept a sense of hope alive. In prison he learned to work with leather and eventually felt compelled to create art that bears witness to the things he'd seen. In his sixties, he had his first solo art show in New York in 2010. The powerful artworks featured in full color reproductions in this book will make a lasting impression. With a forward by Bryan Stevenson, this is a classic blend of art and biography that is highly recommended. Show less

American painter Winfred Rembert (who passed away in 2021) relates his life story in this stunningly beautiful book. Told in short chapters and written in...Show more American painter Winfred Rembert (who passed away in 2021) relates his life story in this stunningly beautiful book. Told in short chapters and written in relatable prose, the book relates the experience of growing up in the segregated South, where his mother worked in cotton fields. Growing up, he was subject to powerful forces of racism. After participating at a civil rights protest he was jailed without being charged, barely escaped a lynching, and was then sent to prison. He spent time on a chain gang and was exposed to atrocities designed to break the spirit, but nonetheless he kept a sense of hope alive. In prison he learned to work with leather and eventually felt compelled to create art that bears witness to the things he'd seen. In his sixties, he had his first solo art show in New York in 2010. The powerful artworks featured in full color reproductions in this book will make a lasting impression. With a forward by Bryan Stevenson, this is a classic blend of art and biography that is highly recommended. Show less

Available in some locations

Place hold

Add to My For Later Shelf On my shelf

Chasing the Boogeyman

Chasing the Boogeyman

A Novel

by Chizmar, Richard

Book - 2021

Author Richard Chizmar (co-author with Stephen King of Gwendy's Button Box) plays with the boundaries between fiction and true crime in his new novel. In ...Show more Author Richard Chizmar (co-author with Stephen King of Gwendy's Button Box) plays with the boundaries between fiction and true crime in his new novel. In this seemingly nonfiction account complete with black and white photos throughout, Rich Chizmar (the character) is a recent college graduate living at his parents' house while his small hometown is reeling after a serial killer (nicknamed The Boogeyman) killed teenagers with seemingly no motive. Rich and his friend Carly, an early-career journalist, meticulously follow the case to see if they can figure out something that the cops seem to miss. Recommended for fans of nostalgic 80s horror, atmospheric small towns, and true crime memoirs like Ann Rule's The Stranger Beside Me or Michelle McNamara's I'll Be Gone in the Dark. Show less

Author Richard Chizmar (co-author with Stephen King of Gwendy's Button Box) plays with the boundaries between fiction and true crime in his new novel. In ...Show more Author Richard Chizmar (co-author with Stephen King of Gwendy's Button Box) plays with the boundaries between fiction and true crime in his new novel. In this seemingly nonfiction account complete with black and white photos throughout, Rich Chizmar (the character) is a recent college graduate living at his parents' house while his small hometown is reeling after a serial killer (nicknamed The Boogeyman) killed teenagers with seemingly no motive. Rich and his friend Carly, an early-career journalist, meticulously follow the case to see if they can figure out something that the cops seem to miss. Recommended for fans of nostalgic 80s horror, atmospheric small towns, and true crime memoirs like Ann Rule's The Stranger Beside Me or Michelle McNamara's I'll Be Gone in the Dark. Show less

Available in some locations

Place hold

Add to My For Later Shelf On my shelf

Children of Chicago

Children of Chicago

by Pelayo, Cynthia

Book - 2021

Something is lurking in Chicago, something primal and evil. It stalks children by night, sowing confusion and fear wherever it goes. Chicago Police Detect...Show more Something is lurking in Chicago, something primal and evil. It stalks children by night, sowing confusion and fear wherever it goes. Chicago Police Detective Lauren Medina has seen many terrible things in her life, both on the force and in her past. And these recent killings feel so familiar. Can she put a stop to the spreading darkness in Chicago and save the children of the city, or will she be the one who needs to be saved? Cynthia Pelayo's novel blends the police procedural with creepy legends, Chicago history, and supernatural horror. Pelayo is from Chicago, and her love for its history and culture is clear as the story unfolds. Lauren is a nervy, determined protagonist with a traumatic past who is easy to root for, even as the suspense builds and the stakes get higher. Recommended for fans of hard-boiled detective novels with a fantastical flair, like Seanan Mcguire's October Daye series. Show less

Something is lurking in Chicago, something primal and evil. It stalks children by night, sowing confusion and fear wherever it goes. Chicago Police Detect...Show more Something is lurking in Chicago, something primal and evil. It stalks children by night, sowing confusion and fear wherever it goes. Chicago Police Detective Lauren Medina has seen many terrible things in her life, both on the force and in her past. And these recent killings feel so familiar. Can she put a stop to the spreading darkness in Chicago and save the children of the city, or will she be the one who needs to be saved? Cynthia Pelayo's novel blends the police procedural with creepy legends, Chicago history, and supernatural horror. Pelayo is from Chicago, and her love for its history and culture is clear as the story unfolds. Lauren is a nervy, determined protagonist with a traumatic past who is easy to root for, even as the suspense builds and the stakes get higher. Recommended for fans of hard-boiled detective novels with a fantastical flair, like Seanan Mcguire's October Daye series. Show less

Available in some locations

Place hold

Add to My For Later Shelf On my shelf

The Chosen and the Beautiful

The Chosen and the Beautiful

by Vo, Nghi

Book - 2021

The Chosen and the Beautiful by Nghi Vo (The Empress of Salt and Fortune) finds all the little crevices in The Great Gatsby where imagination can run wild...Show more The Chosen and the Beautiful by Nghi Vo (The Empress of Salt and Fortune) finds all the little crevices in The Great Gatsby where imagination can run wild and fills them with lore, mysteriousness, and enchantment through the perspective of socialite Jordan Baker. No longer just a sassy companion to Daisy (though she is very much still sassy in the best of ways), Vo's Jordan Baker has a strong voice and is enticed but not consumed by the excess she surrounds herself with. Jordan moves through the same gorgeous and gilded Jazz Age backdrop with the all-familiar cast of characters from Fitzgerald’s classic, though this time she is navigating life openly queer and learning to harness an innate transformative magic tied to her Vietnamese ancestry. In this contemporary rendition Jordan is not the only one who is flush with the power to manipulate her surroundings, which adds to the salacious undercurrent that Fitzgerald alludes to in his classic. It's nothing new to reinvent a classic like The Great Gatsby, which has been re-told before, but the space that Vo gives to its more secretive moments and Jordan's fierceness expand the story into something more alluring and unrestrained with a touch of magic. Show less

The Chosen and the Beautiful by Nghi Vo (The Empress of Salt and Fortune) finds all the little crevices in The Great Gatsby where imagination can run wild...Show more The Chosen and the Beautiful by Nghi Vo (The Empress of Salt and Fortune) finds all the little crevices in The Great Gatsby where imagination can run wild and fills them with lore, mysteriousness, and enchantment through the perspective of socialite Jordan Baker. No longer just a sassy companion to Daisy (though she is very much still sassy in the best of ways), Vo's Jordan Baker has a strong voice and is enticed but not consumed by the excess she surrounds herself with. Jordan moves through the same gorgeous and gilded Jazz Age backdrop with the all-familiar cast of characters from Fitzgerald’s classic, though this time she is navigating life openly queer and learning to harness an innate transformative magic tied to her Vietnamese ancestry. In this contemporary rendition Jordan is not the only one who is flush with the power to manipulate her surroundings, which adds to the salacious undercurrent that Fitzgerald alludes to in his classic. It's nothing new to reinvent a classic like The Great Gatsby, which has been re-told before, but the space that Vo gives to its more secretive moments and Jordan's fierceness expand the story into something more alluring and unrestrained with a touch of magic. Show less

Available in some locations

Place hold

Add to My For Later Shelf On my shelf

Clark and Division

Clark and Division

by Hirahara, Naomi

Book - 2021

Rose and Aki are daughters of Japanese immigrant parents who settled in Los Angeles County and lead a mostly happy, fortunate life until they are forced i...Show more Rose and Aki are daughters of Japanese immigrant parents who settled in Los Angeles County and lead a mostly happy, fortunate life until they are forced into the Manzanar internment camp after the bombing of Pearl Harbor. Rose is first to be released and resettles in Chicago, with her parents and Aki expected to join her within a few months. When they do arrive, they are shocked to learn that Rose died by suicide the day before, jumping in front of a subway train at Clark and Division. Aki is certain that her beautiful, confident sister would have never killed herself and investigates the last few months of Rose's new life in Chicago. Along the way, the family forges a tenuous existence as they adjust to their new surroundings and circumstances. This novel is a thrilling mix of Chicago-based historical fiction and intricate crime saga that will keep readers captivated until the end. Show less

Rose and Aki are daughters of Japanese immigrant parents who settled in Los Angeles County and lead a mostly happy, fortunate life until they are forced i...Show more Rose and Aki are daughters of Japanese immigrant parents who settled in Los Angeles County and lead a mostly happy, fortunate life until they are forced into the Manzanar internment camp after the bombing of Pearl Harbor. Rose is first to be released and resettles in Chicago, with her parents and Aki expected to join her within a few months. When they do arrive, they are shocked to learn that Rose died by suicide the day before, jumping in front of a subway train at Clark and Division. Aki is certain that her beautiful, confident sister would have never killed herself and investigates the last few months of Rose's new life in Chicago. Along the way, the family forges a tenuous existence as they adjust to their new surroundings and circumstances. This novel is a thrilling mix of Chicago-based historical fiction and intricate crime saga that will keep readers captivated until the end. Show less

Available in some locations

Place hold

Add to My For Later Shelf On my shelf

Cloud Cuckoo Land

Cloud Cuckoo Land

A Novel

by Doerr, Anthony

Book - 2021

Doerr's first novel since 2014's beloved All the Light We Cannot See is an epic, page-turning suite of stories that span from ancient history into the fut...Show more Doerr's first novel since 2014's beloved All the Light We Cannot See is an epic, page-turning suite of stories that span from ancient history into the future. Where Doerr's previous novel had a child protagonist, his latest offers several. Anna is an orphan toiling away with her sister as an apprentice in late medieval Constantinople while a local village boy named Omeir is swept up into the Ottoman army. Konstance lives on a generation ship hurtling towards a habitable planet in the future. And Seymour is a troubled teenager in modern day Idaho inching towards an eco-terrorist assault near a public library. So what's with the strange title? All of the stories are connected to a fictional lost classic of ancient Greece, the surviving fragments of which have been lovingly translated by Zeno, an elderly gentleman who is organizing a children's theater production of the story in the library during Seymour's attack. Some storylines ultimately work better than others (the medieval storyline is especially fresh material and the spaceship story is genuinely suspenseful) but every storyline has its strengths and the book as a whole flies by, a real page-turner. Looking to get absolutely lost in a story the way you did as a child? This will likely do the trick. Doerr's love of books, libraries and pure storytelling shines through on every page of this novel that will appeal to fans of David Mitchell and Donna Tartt's The Goldfinch. Show less

Doerr's first novel since 2014's beloved All the Light We Cannot See is an epic, page-turning suite of stories that span from ancient history into the fut...Show more Doerr's first novel since 2014's beloved All the Light We Cannot See is an epic, page-turning suite of stories that span from ancient history into the future. Where Doerr's previous novel had a child protagonist, his latest offers several. Anna is an orphan toiling away with her sister as an apprentice in late medieval Constantinople while a local village boy named Omeir is swept up into the Ottoman army. Konstance lives on a generation ship hurtling towards a habitable planet in the future. And Seymour is a troubled teenager in modern day Idaho inching towards an eco-terrorist assault near a public library. So what's with the strange title? All of the stories are connected to a fictional lost classic of ancient Greece, the surviving fragments of which have been lovingly translated by Zeno, an elderly gentleman who is organizing a children's theater production of the story in the library during Seymour's attack. Some storylines ultimately work better than others (the medieval storyline is especially fresh material and the spaceship story is genuinely suspenseful) but every storyline has its strengths and the book as a whole flies by, a real page-turner. Looking to get absolutely lost in a story the way you did as a child? This will likely do the trick. Doerr's love of books, libraries and pure storytelling shines through on every page of this novel that will appeal to fans of David Mitchell and Donna Tartt's The Goldfinch. Show less

Available in some locations

Place hold

Add to My For Later Shelf On my shelf

Crying in H Mart

Crying in H Mart

A Memoir

by Zauner, Michelle

Book - 2021

Musician, director, and author Michelle Zauner has taken the literary year by storm and rightfully so. Crying in Hmart opens up with Zauner doing just th...Show more Musician, director, and author Michelle Zauner has taken the literary year by storm and rightfully so. Crying in Hmart opens up with Zauner doing just that- crying in an Hmart food court as she connects with the memories of her mother through the comfort of food. Zauner's mother, who died of cancer in 2014, expressed her love through food leaving Zauner with lasting memories. Indie music fans may also be familiar with Zauner as the leader of the band Japanese Breakfast, whose debut album Psychopomp also explores Zauner's grief. As part of her grieving process Zauner embraces her Korean heritage by learning more about familiar dishes and ingredients. One source Zauner takes great comfort in when learning to prepare her mother’s favorite dishes is the work of author and food blogger Maangchi. Maangchi's recipes are a great pairing with this book for those less familiar with Korean cooking and ingredients. At times heavy, at times light, and everything in between, this captivatingly layered memoir tackles pain and grief along with the comforts of cooking, music, and family. Show less

Musician, director, and author Michelle Zauner has taken the literary year by storm and rightfully so. Crying in Hmart opens up with Zauner doing just th...Show more Musician, director, and author Michelle Zauner has taken the literary year by storm and rightfully so. Crying in Hmart opens up with Zauner doing just that- crying in an Hmart food court as she connects with the memories of her mother through the comfort of food. Zauner's mother, who died of cancer in 2014, expressed her love through food leaving Zauner with lasting memories. Indie music fans may also be familiar with Zauner as the leader of the band Japanese Breakfast, whose debut album Psychopomp also explores Zauner's grief. As part of her grieving process Zauner embraces her Korean heritage by learning more about familiar dishes and ingredients. One source Zauner takes great comfort in when learning to prepare her mother’s favorite dishes is the work of author and food blogger Maangchi. Maangchi's recipes are a great pairing with this book for those less familiar with Korean cooking and ingredients. At times heavy, at times light, and everything in between, this captivatingly layered memoir tackles pain and grief along with the comforts of cooking, music, and family. Show less

All copies in use Availability details Holds: 24 on 127 copies

Place hold

Add to My For Later Shelf On my shelf

Damnation Spring

Damnation Spring

A Novel

by Davidson, Ash

Book - 2021

In this richly detailed historical fiction debut, Davidson tells the story of the Gundersen family, living in the redwood-abundant Pacific Northwest of th...Show more In this richly detailed historical fiction debut, Davidson tells the story of the Gundersen family, living in the redwood-abundant Pacific Northwest of the 1970s. Rich and Colleen and their son Chub are deeply embedded in logging culture, going back generations. Middle-aged Rich is proud to be a logger, but always aware of the dangers inherent in the job that killed his father. The younger Colleen is a midwife grieving several recent miscarriages. When Colleen starts to notice widespread miscarriages and birth defects among local newborns, wildlife, and livestock, she wonders if there’s a connection with the herbicide regularly sprayed by the owners of the logging concern Rich works for. Conflict grows between the two, as Colleen begins to side with environmental activists and Rich reckons with the threat to his livelihood. Davidson immerses the reader in a fully realized vision of small town working-class life and the larger forces impacting her characters. Show less

In this richly detailed historical fiction debut, Davidson tells the story of the Gundersen family, living in the redwood-abundant Pacific Northwest of th...Show more In this richly detailed historical fiction debut, Davidson tells the story of the Gundersen family, living in the redwood-abundant Pacific Northwest of the 1970s. Rich and Colleen and their son Chub are deeply embedded in logging culture, going back generations. Middle-aged Rich is proud to be a logger, but always aware of the dangers inherent in the job that killed his father. The younger Colleen is a midwife grieving several recent miscarriages. When Colleen starts to notice widespread miscarriages and birth defects among local newborns, wildlife, and livestock, she wonders if there’s a connection with the herbicide regularly sprayed by the owners of the logging concern Rich works for. Conflict grows between the two, as Colleen begins to side with environmental activists and Rich reckons with the threat to his livelihood. Davidson immerses the reader in a fully realized vision of small town working-class life and the larger forces impacting her characters. Show less

Available in some locations

Place hold

Add to My For Later Shelf On my shelf

The Dangers of Smoking in Bed

The Dangers of Smoking in Bed

Stories

by Enriquez, Mariana

Book - 2021

Set in modern-day Argentina, Mariana Enriquez's horror-driven short story collection is not for the faint of heart and may even be triggering for some rea...Show more Set in modern-day Argentina, Mariana Enriquez's horror-driven short story collection is not for the faint of heart and may even be triggering for some readers. In this newly translated collection (but written prior to Things We Lost in the Fire) Enriquez has crafted twelve stories that grip tightly and lead the reader through dark, grisly expressions of the human condition that are disturbing yet mesmerizing. Blending surreal elements (like superstition, curses, ghosts, and witchcraft) with visceral themes (like trauma, mental illness, political turmoil, and sexual tension) these stories are intense, twisted, and have no resolve, stranding the reader in a way that feels hauntingly intentional. Enriquez sets the tone of the collection with the opening story "Angelita Unearthed," about a rotting apparition of an infant too young to be named haunting generation after generation of their family. Decomposition is commonplace in almost every story such as the streets of Barcelona tainted with the scent of years of missing children and crazed teens bonding over the exhumed corpse of their deceased music idol in the most cringey of ways. Readers of gut-wrenching horror will likely enjoy this collection that does not shy away from the shock value of depravity. Show less

Set in modern-day Argentina, Mariana Enriquez's horror-driven short story collection is not for the faint of heart and may even be triggering for some rea...Show more Set in modern-day Argentina, Mariana Enriquez's horror-driven short story collection is not for the faint of heart and may even be triggering for some readers. In this newly translated collection (but written prior to Things We Lost in the Fire) Enriquez has crafted twelve stories that grip tightly and lead the reader through dark, grisly expressions of the human condition that are disturbing yet mesmerizing. Blending surreal elements (like superstition, curses, ghosts, and witchcraft) with visceral themes (like trauma, mental illness, political turmoil, and sexual tension) these stories are intense, twisted, and have no resolve, stranding the reader in a way that feels hauntingly intentional. Enriquez sets the tone of the collection with the opening story "Angelita Unearthed," about a rotting apparition of an infant too young to be named haunting generation after generation of their family. Decomposition is commonplace in almost every story such as the streets of Barcelona tainted with the scent of years of missing children and crazed teens bonding over the exhumed corpse of their deceased music idol in the most cringey of ways. Readers of gut-wrenching horror will likely enjoy this collection that does not shy away from the shock value of depravity. Show less

Available in some locations

Place hold

Add to My For Later Shelf On my shelf

Detransition, Baby

Detransition, Baby

A Novel

by Peters, Torrey

Book - 2020

Peters's spirited comedy of manners, featuring two nuanced trans characters, is brimming with keen insight and compassion. It is a deeply satisfying book ...Show more Peters's spirited comedy of manners, featuring two nuanced trans characters, is brimming with keen insight and compassion. It is a deeply satisfying book that manages to be both extremely ambitious and very entertaining. Reese, a trans woman in her 30s, is contacted by her ex, Ames, formerly Amy, who lived as a trans woman while involved with Reese but detransItioned and is now living as a man. Ames identifies as trans but found the experience of living as a trans woman difficult. Ames has impregnated girlfriend Katrina, a cis woman, but feels uneasy parenting as a father. Ames suggests the situation might be more comfortable if Reese were in the parenting mix. Reese, unsurprisingly, finds the proposal ridiculous. While the reader waits for this all to unfold, and it does in amusing, beautiful and profound ways, the novel delves into the past lives of Ames and Reese, offering full and complex portraits of trans womanhood. Peters's novel is also a real pleasure: a gossipy, witty and well-plotted page-turner. Show less

Peters's spirited comedy of manners, featuring two nuanced trans characters, is brimming with keen insight and compassion. It is a deeply satisfying book ...Show more Peters's spirited comedy of manners, featuring two nuanced trans characters, is brimming with keen insight and compassion. It is a deeply satisfying book that manages to be both extremely ambitious and very entertaining. Reese, a trans woman in her 30s, is contacted by her ex, Ames, formerly Amy, who lived as a trans woman while involved with Reese but detransItioned and is now living as a man. Ames identifies as trans but found the experience of living as a trans woman difficult. Ames has impregnated girlfriend Katrina, a cis woman, but feels uneasy parenting as a father. Ames suggests the situation might be more comfortable if Reese were in the parenting mix. Reese, unsurprisingly, finds the proposal ridiculous. While the reader waits for this all to unfold, and it does in amusing, beautiful and profound ways, the novel delves into the past lives of Ames and Reese, offering full and complex portraits of trans womanhood. Peters's novel is also a real pleasure: a gossipy, witty and well-plotted page-turner. Show less

Available in some locations

Place hold

Add to My For Later Shelf On my shelf

The Echo Wife

The Echo Wife

by Gailey, Sarah

Book - 2021

Hugo Award-winning author Gailey's latest is a dark sci-fi thriller that is as entertaining as it is thought-provoking. Evelyn, a brilliant and ambitious...Show more Hugo Award-winning author Gailey's latest is a dark sci-fi thriller that is as entertaining as it is thought-provoking. Evelyn, a brilliant and ambitious scientist, is at the top of her game professionally, but her personal life is falling apart. She's just found out that her husband Nathan has used her own research to create a genetically-identical clone of her with the intention to create the pliant, obedient wife he's always wanted. Disturbing secrets inevitably come to light with unforeseen consequences that each one of them must grapple with. This clever, chilling novel explores gender roles, trust, human nature and the ethics of creating and ending a life. With stark, bold writing, and chock full of twists and turns, the book will hold readers riveted through to its satisfying conclusion. Recommended for fans of Frankenstein, WestWorld, the Stepford Wives and Blake Crouch's fiction. Show less

Hugo Award-winning author Gailey's latest is a dark sci-fi thriller that is as entertaining as it is thought-provoking. Evelyn, a brilliant and ambitious...Show more Hugo Award-winning author Gailey's latest is a dark sci-fi thriller that is as entertaining as it is thought-provoking. Evelyn, a brilliant and ambitious scientist, is at the top of her game professionally, but her personal life is falling apart. She's just found out that her husband Nathan has used her own research to create a genetically-identical clone of her with the intention to create the pliant, obedient wife he's always wanted. Disturbing secrets inevitably come to light with unforeseen consequences that each one of them must grapple with. This clever, chilling novel explores gender roles, trust, human nature and the ethics of creating and ending a life. With stark, bold writing, and chock full of twists and turns, the book will hold readers riveted through to its satisfying conclusion. Recommended for fans of Frankenstein, WestWorld, the Stepford Wives and Blake Crouch's fiction. Show less

Available in some locations

Place hold

Add to My For Later Shelf On my shelf

Empire of Pain

Empire of Pain

The Secret History of the Sackler Dynasty

by Keefe, Patrick Radden

Paperback - 2021

In his latest, journalist O'Keefe (Say Nothing) sets out to reveal how much the Sackler family, who owned Purdue Pharma, the company that made OxyContin a...Show more In his latest, journalist O'Keefe (Say Nothing) sets out to reveal how much the Sackler family, who owned Purdue Pharma, the company that made OxyContin and aggressively marketed the drug as a safe, nonaddictive pain medication, knew about its potential for abuse and addiction. A sweeping and damaging portrait of a family, O'Keefe's book opens with the story of Arthur Sackler, the patriarch of the Sackler dynasty, and his brothers Raymond and Mortimer. Arthur, a doctor who found his way into the marketing industry, went on to lead a successful marketing campaign for Valium. The family bought a pharmaceutical company which would become Purdue Pharma, which produced the blockbuster pain medication OxyContin. The Sacklers would also become famous for their philanthropy, including Sackler-named wings in the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the Louvre and university buildings, including Harvard and Oxford. The Sacklers' stunning wealth came from the sale of OxyContin, which generated $35 billion in profits, all while the family dodged and denied responsibility for the unfolding opioid crisis devastating families and communities across the country. O'Keefe presents compelling evidence that the family members involved in the company were very aware of the drug's role in the crisis but cared more about profits. Empire of Pain is a page-turning exposé that's well-researched, absorbing and so thoroughly incriminating it will leave readers stunned. Show less

In his latest, journalist O'Keefe (Say Nothing) sets out to reveal how much the Sackler family, who owned Purdue Pharma, the company that made OxyContin a...Show more In his latest, journalist O'Keefe (Say Nothing) sets out to reveal how much the Sackler family, who owned Purdue Pharma, the company that made OxyContin and aggressively marketed the drug as a safe, nonaddictive pain medication, knew about its potential for abuse and addiction. A sweeping and damaging portrait of a family, O'Keefe's book opens with the story of Arthur Sackler, the patriarch of the Sackler dynasty, and his brothers Raymond and Mortimer. Arthur, a doctor who found his way into the marketing industry, went on to lead a successful marketing campaign for Valium. The family bought a pharmaceutical company which would become Purdue Pharma, which produced the blockbuster pain medication OxyContin. The Sacklers would also become famous for their philanthropy, including Sackler-named wings in the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the Louvre and university buildings, including Harvard and Oxford. The Sacklers' stunning wealth came from the sale of OxyContin, which generated $35 billion in profits, all while the family dodged and denied responsibility for the unfolding opioid crisis devastating families and communities across the country. O'Keefe presents compelling evidence that the family members involved in the company were very aware of the drug's role in the crisis but cared more about profits. Empire of Pain is a page-turning exposé that's well-researched, absorbing and so thoroughly incriminating it will leave readers stunned. Show less

Available in some locations

Place hold

Add to My For Later Shelf On my shelf

Fake Accounts

Fake Accounts

A Novel

by Oyler, Lauren

Book - 2021

The perniciousness and pervasiveness of social media is not an unexamined topic, but Oyler's treatment of it yields an urgent, timely comment on private l...Show more The perniciousness and pervasiveness of social media is not an unexamined topic, but Oyler's treatment of it yields an urgent, timely comment on private life in the current moment. This biting, witty debut is narrated by an unnamed, aspiring young writer who blogs for a magazine in New York City. The story opens in early 2017, with the recent election looming in the background. When she looks through her boyfriend's phone, the narrator discovers that he is secretly maintaining several accounts promoting right-wing conspiracy theories to a rabid audience of followers. Vowing to end the relationship, she eventually moves to Berlin, where she engages with the world around her using her own fabricated online personae. The reader is treated to an inside look at the narrator's jaded thought processes as she navigates contemporary life, and fans of Otessa Moshfegh will enjoy this searing meditation on what our disaffected, passive culture has wrought. Show less

The perniciousness and pervasiveness of social media is not an unexamined topic, but Oyler's treatment of it yields an urgent, timely comment on private l...Show more The perniciousness and pervasiveness of social media is not an unexamined topic, but Oyler's treatment of it yields an urgent, timely comment on private life in the current moment. This biting, witty debut is narrated by an unnamed, aspiring young writer who blogs for a magazine in New York City. The story opens in early 2017, with the recent election looming in the background. When she looks through her boyfriend's phone, the narrator discovers that he is secretly maintaining several accounts promoting right-wing conspiracy theories to a rabid audience of followers. Vowing to end the relationship, she eventually moves to Berlin, where she engages with the world around her using her own fabricated online personae. The reader is treated to an inside look at the narrator's jaded thought processes as she navigates contemporary life, and fans of Otessa Moshfegh will enjoy this searing meditation on what our disaffected, passive culture has wrought. Show less

Available in some locations

Place hold

Add to My For Later Shelf On my shelf

Filthy Animals

Filthy Animals

by Taylor, Brandon

Book - 2021

Booker Prize Finalist and CPL Best of the Best author Brandon Taylor (Real Life) revisits scenes of midwestern life in Filthy Animals. With a strong focus...Show more Booker Prize Finalist and CPL Best of the Best author Brandon Taylor (Real Life) revisits scenes of midwestern life in Filthy Animals. With a strong focus on sexuality and intimacy, this character-driven collection of short stories pushes the boundaries of relationships, rummaging through the lives of its characters as they connect with themselves and the world around them. Some of the stories are interconnected with recurring characters navigating an open relationship while others are contained in their own messy yet strangely beautiful interpretations of living, as in the story of a growing relationship between two women in "Anne of Cleves." Taylor's writing is uninhibited and portrays life in a very real way, excavating distressing, unruly, and melancholic bits in a mosaic of uncomfortable tension and desire. This is by no means a light-hearted collection, and the ways in which the characters are exposed can be unnerving at times, but this is just a small part of what makes this collection so great. This is a recommended read for fans of provocative short story collections like Salt Slow by Julia Armfield and Verge by Lidia Yuknavitch. Show less

Booker Prize Finalist and CPL Best of the Best author Brandon Taylor (Real Life) revisits scenes of midwestern life in Filthy Animals. With a strong focus...Show more Booker Prize Finalist and CPL Best of the Best author Brandon Taylor (Real Life) revisits scenes of midwestern life in Filthy Animals. With a strong focus on sexuality and intimacy, this character-driven collection of short stories pushes the boundaries of relationships, rummaging through the lives of its characters as they connect with themselves and the world around them. Some of the stories are interconnected with recurring characters navigating an open relationship while others are contained in their own messy yet strangely beautiful interpretations of living, as in the story of a growing relationship between two women in "Anne of Cleves." Taylor's writing is uninhibited and portrays life in a very real way, excavating distressing, unruly, and melancholic bits in a mosaic of uncomfortable tension and desire. This is by no means a light-hearted collection, and the ways in which the characters are exposed can be unnerving at times, but this is just a small part of what makes this collection so great. This is a recommended read for fans of provocative short story collections like Salt Slow by Julia Armfield and Verge by Lidia Yuknavitch. Show less

Available in some locations

Place hold

Add to My For Later Shelf On my shelf

1-25 of 100 items

1
2
3
4

Powered by BiblioCommons.

BiblioCore: app05 Version 9.16.1 Last updated 2023/07/21 13:19

[]

[]

To Top