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General Recommendations

Best Books of 2019

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ChiPubLib_Adults

Chicago Public Library

Staff-created list

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

By:

ChiPubLib_Adults

Chicago Public Library

26-50 of 100 items

26-50 of 100 items

Fleishman Is in Trouble

Fleishman Is in Trouble

A Novel

by Brodesser-Akner, Taffy

Book - 2019

In this page-turning, subversive debut, Brodesser-Akner introduces us to Toby Fleishman, a soon-to-be-divorced hepatologist living on Manhattan's upper-ea...Show more In this page-turning, subversive debut, Brodesser-Akner introduces us to Toby Fleishman, a soon-to-be-divorced hepatologist living on Manhattan's upper-east-side. When the novel opens, Toby is disgruntled that his future ex-wife Rachel, a high-powered talent agent, has dumped the kids on him unexpectedly on a Friday night. Toby has just learned of the wonders of the modern dating app, and this new obligation puts a crimp on the date he had planned. As Rachel’s expected return from her yoga retreat comes and goes, Toby becomes enraged, firing a trusted nanny in a fit of pique. Toby has always secretly enjoyed bearing the brunt of the parenting responsibilities, but this latest stunt of Rachel's is too much. Towards the beginning of the novel, we learn that Toby's story is narrated by Libby, a college friend he met during a year-abroad program in Israel, and as the novel progresses, Libby's voice becomes more and more prevalent, contextualizing Toby's point of view. Gradually, what began as a story with a flawed but ultimately lovable man at its center becomes a feminist take on the paltry choices available to women in modern society. Brodesser-Akner has a knack for detailing the ridiculous aspects of modern life, and she hilariously takes on extreme privilege in Manhattan, where parents worry that their children will want to be doctors when they grow up, and yoga is a constant. Recommended for fans of Lauren Groff's Fates and Furies. Show less

In this page-turning, subversive debut, Brodesser-Akner introduces us to Toby Fleishman, a soon-to-be-divorced hepatologist living on Manhattan's upper-ea...Show more In this page-turning, subversive debut, Brodesser-Akner introduces us to Toby Fleishman, a soon-to-be-divorced hepatologist living on Manhattan's upper-east-side. When the novel opens, Toby is disgruntled that his future ex-wife Rachel, a high-powered talent agent, has dumped the kids on him unexpectedly on a Friday night. Toby has just learned of the wonders of the modern dating app, and this new obligation puts a crimp on the date he had planned. As Rachel’s expected return from her yoga retreat comes and goes, Toby becomes enraged, firing a trusted nanny in a fit of pique. Toby has always secretly enjoyed bearing the brunt of the parenting responsibilities, but this latest stunt of Rachel's is too much. Towards the beginning of the novel, we learn that Toby's story is narrated by Libby, a college friend he met during a year-abroad program in Israel, and as the novel progresses, Libby's voice becomes more and more prevalent, contextualizing Toby's point of view. Gradually, what began as a story with a flawed but ultimately lovable man at its center becomes a feminist take on the paltry choices available to women in modern society. Brodesser-Akner has a knack for detailing the ridiculous aspects of modern life, and she hilariously takes on extreme privilege in Manhattan, where parents worry that their children will want to be doctors when they grow up, and yoga is a constant. Recommended for fans of Lauren Groff's Fates and Furies. Show less

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Full Throttle

Full Throttle

Stories

by Hill, Joe

Book - 2019

Full Throttle is a real gift to fans of classic horror. Joe Hill offers up 13 delicious stories, some with obvious nods to Richard Matheson, Ray Bradbury ...Show more Full Throttle is a real gift to fans of classic horror. Joe Hill offers up 13 delicious stories, some with obvious nods to Richard Matheson, Ray Bradbury and Stephen King who co-wrote two of these tales. Hill's knack for great characters fuels this twisty ride. Some stories are heartwarming and some are straight up scary. No matter what demons the leads are battling (supernatural, futuristic, or just the personal kind), the characters are sympathetic, making their horrors and their grief all the more powerful. Many of these shorts were first published elsewhere and are definitely worth a second read. If you are new to Hill's work, Full Throttle is a great place to start. Pair with Paul Tremblay's Growing Things or The Ones That Got Away by Stephen Graham Jones for more masterful short horror. Show less

Full Throttle is a real gift to fans of classic horror. Joe Hill offers up 13 delicious stories, some with obvious nods to Richard Matheson, Ray Bradbury ...Show more Full Throttle is a real gift to fans of classic horror. Joe Hill offers up 13 delicious stories, some with obvious nods to Richard Matheson, Ray Bradbury and Stephen King who co-wrote two of these tales. Hill's knack for great characters fuels this twisty ride. Some stories are heartwarming and some are straight up scary. No matter what demons the leads are battling (supernatural, futuristic, or just the personal kind), the characters are sympathetic, making their horrors and their grief all the more powerful. Many of these shorts were first published elsewhere and are definitely worth a second read. If you are new to Hill's work, Full Throttle is a great place to start. Pair with Paul Tremblay's Growing Things or The Ones That Got Away by Stephen Graham Jones for more masterful short horror. Show less

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Furious Hours

Furious Hours

Murder, Fraud, and the Last Trial of Harper Lee

by Cep, Casey N.

Book - 2019

In some ways, Cep has written a story that Harper Lee may have set out to write but never finished. Furious Hours opens as a courtroom drama set in Alexan...Show more In some ways, Cep has written a story that Harper Lee may have set out to write but never finished. Furious Hours opens as a courtroom drama set in Alexander City, Alabama. Robert Lewis Burns, defended by Tom Radney, was standing trial for the murder of Willie Maxwell, a local preacher. Years prior, Radney had defended Maxwell for the alleged murder of his wife in 1970. Since his wife's death, a number of other people close to Maxwell had also died under suspicious circumstances, and the Reverend was the beneficiary on their life insurance policies. Harper Lee was there to research and write about Reverend Willie Maxwell for a true crime book, a genre that her friend Truman Capote had legitimized as a pursuit for serious writers with the publication of In Cold Blood. It had been more than a decade since her bestselling To Kill A Mockingbird had been published. In the first part of the book, Cep covers the murders and trials of both Willie Maxwell and Robert Lewis Burns in absorbing detail, as well as the sociopolitical landscape of the South during that time, while Lee remains in the margins, a minor figure in the dramatic true crime tale. But then the book shifts focus to Harper Lee, a reclusive figure who struggled with both writing and drinking but who seemed to have had found a promising subject for a book in Alexander City. Cep's substantial research into Lee's life and work is a compelling conclusion to this ambitious book. Rendered compassionately, Lee's life and her relationship to writing and to the South makes for compelling storytelling. Show less

In some ways, Cep has written a story that Harper Lee may have set out to write but never finished. Furious Hours opens as a courtroom drama set in Alexan...Show more In some ways, Cep has written a story that Harper Lee may have set out to write but never finished. Furious Hours opens as a courtroom drama set in Alexander City, Alabama. Robert Lewis Burns, defended by Tom Radney, was standing trial for the murder of Willie Maxwell, a local preacher. Years prior, Radney had defended Maxwell for the alleged murder of his wife in 1970. Since his wife's death, a number of other people close to Maxwell had also died under suspicious circumstances, and the Reverend was the beneficiary on their life insurance policies. Harper Lee was there to research and write about Reverend Willie Maxwell for a true crime book, a genre that her friend Truman Capote had legitimized as a pursuit for serious writers with the publication of In Cold Blood. It had been more than a decade since her bestselling To Kill A Mockingbird had been published. In the first part of the book, Cep covers the murders and trials of both Willie Maxwell and Robert Lewis Burns in absorbing detail, as well as the sociopolitical landscape of the South during that time, while Lee remains in the margins, a minor figure in the dramatic true crime tale. But then the book shifts focus to Harper Lee, a reclusive figure who struggled with both writing and drinking but who seemed to have had found a promising subject for a book in Alexander City. Cep's substantial research into Lee's life and work is a compelling conclusion to this ambitious book. Rendered compassionately, Lee's life and her relationship to writing and to the South makes for compelling storytelling. Show less

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Get A Life, Chloe Brown

Get A Life, Chloe Brown

A Novel

by Hibbert, Talia

Paperback - 2019

When her (very boring) life passes before her eyes, thanks to a near miss with a drunk driver, Chloe Brown is determined to finally get a life. Sure, her ...Show more When her (very boring) life passes before her eyes, thanks to a near miss with a drunk driver, Chloe Brown is determined to finally get a life. Sure, her chronic illness makes every day painful, but she's not going to let that stand in her way. Hence The List: 7 things to do to add excitement to her life. And who could better help her with The List than Red, her very attractive, motorcycle-riding building superintendent? Except it turns out that Red has got some things he needs to work on to get his life back on track as well, and maybe Chloe is just the woman to help him out. Together they have one very steamy journey to happily ever after. Show less

When her (very boring) life passes before her eyes, thanks to a near miss with a drunk driver, Chloe Brown is determined to finally get a life. Sure, her ...Show more When her (very boring) life passes before her eyes, thanks to a near miss with a drunk driver, Chloe Brown is determined to finally get a life. Sure, her chronic illness makes every day painful, but she's not going to let that stand in her way. Hence The List: 7 things to do to add excitement to her life. And who could better help her with The List than Red, her very attractive, motorcycle-riding building superintendent? Except it turns out that Red has got some things he needs to work on to get his life back on track as well, and maybe Chloe is just the woman to help him out. Together they have one very steamy journey to happily ever after. Show less

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Ghost Wall

Ghost Wall

by Moss, Sarah

Book - 2019

Teenager Silvie is camping in Northumberland in the 1980s with her parents and a college professor and a few students who are conducting an experiment, tr...Show more Teenager Silvie is camping in Northumberland in the 1980s with her parents and a college professor and a few students who are conducting an experiment, trying to learn about Iron Age people by living like them for a spell as a summer project. They go around in primitive clothes, hunt and gather, and sleep in huts and tents. Silvie's father works as a bus driver but archeology is his hobby and he (erroneously) fancies himself an expert and, worse, bristles at the slightest contradiction of his opinions. Silvie and her mother go to great lengths to accommodate his moodiness and it's clear he's abusive towards them. Now, seeing other adult role models (especially a female college student who has zero patience for sexist authority figures), the clever Silvie finds herself on the cusp of adult independence with her eyes opening to her reality. With a fresh situation and nuanced character shadings, this pitch-perfect novella subtly explores its themes with sophisticated insight. A great choice for book clubs looking for a shorter read. Show less

Teenager Silvie is camping in Northumberland in the 1980s with her parents and a college professor and a few students who are conducting an experiment, tr...Show more Teenager Silvie is camping in Northumberland in the 1980s with her parents and a college professor and a few students who are conducting an experiment, trying to learn about Iron Age people by living like them for a spell as a summer project. They go around in primitive clothes, hunt and gather, and sleep in huts and tents. Silvie's father works as a bus driver but archeology is his hobby and he (erroneously) fancies himself an expert and, worse, bristles at the slightest contradiction of his opinions. Silvie and her mother go to great lengths to accommodate his moodiness and it's clear he's abusive towards them. Now, seeing other adult role models (especially a female college student who has zero patience for sexist authority figures), the clever Silvie finds herself on the cusp of adult independence with her eyes opening to her reality. With a fresh situation and nuanced character shadings, this pitch-perfect novella subtly explores its themes with sophisticated insight. A great choice for book clubs looking for a shorter read. Show less

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Gideon the Ninth

Gideon the Ninth

by Muir, Tamsyn

Paperback - 2019

Is it horror? Is it science fiction? Is it a gothic fantasy? Yes! Pitched as "lesbian necromancers explore a haunted gothic palace in space," Mu...Show more Is it horror? Is it science fiction? Is it a gothic fantasy? Yes! Pitched as "lesbian necromancers explore a haunted gothic palace in space," Muir's wonderfully original genre mash-up is speculative fiction at its best. Meet Gideon, our cheeky heroine, sword-fighter, and servant to the Ninth House. Next, meet Harrowhark Nonagesimus, the powerful necromancer mistress of the house. In a universe ruled by an Emperor, necromancer heirs from each of the royal houses are invited to compete for the honor of becoming a Lyctor, an immortal. In order to participate, each necromancer must bring their house cavalier and, since the Ninth House cavalier went missing, Harrowhark has no choice but to take the best sword-fighter she has, even if it's Gideon. Once Gideon and Harrowhark arrive, they soon realize that the competition is going to be much more complicated than they expected. Gideon not only needs to help Harrowhark win the competition, but she also has to keep them both alive against increasingly difficult odds. Full of memorable characters, complex world-building, and dark humor, Gideon the Ninth is an incredibly unique journey. The writing is beautiful, intelligent, and very expressive. For fans of Frank Herbert, Alastair Reynolds, and Dan Simmons. Show less

Is it horror? Is it science fiction? Is it a gothic fantasy? Yes! Pitched as "lesbian necromancers explore a haunted gothic palace in space," Mu...Show more Is it horror? Is it science fiction? Is it a gothic fantasy? Yes! Pitched as "lesbian necromancers explore a haunted gothic palace in space," Muir's wonderfully original genre mash-up is speculative fiction at its best. Meet Gideon, our cheeky heroine, sword-fighter, and servant to the Ninth House. Next, meet Harrowhark Nonagesimus, the powerful necromancer mistress of the house. In a universe ruled by an Emperor, necromancer heirs from each of the royal houses are invited to compete for the honor of becoming a Lyctor, an immortal. In order to participate, each necromancer must bring their house cavalier and, since the Ninth House cavalier went missing, Harrowhark has no choice but to take the best sword-fighter she has, even if it's Gideon. Once Gideon and Harrowhark arrive, they soon realize that the competition is going to be much more complicated than they expected. Gideon not only needs to help Harrowhark win the competition, but she also has to keep them both alive against increasingly difficult odds. Full of memorable characters, complex world-building, and dark humor, Gideon the Ninth is an incredibly unique journey. The writing is beautiful, intelligent, and very expressive. For fans of Frank Herbert, Alastair Reynolds, and Dan Simmons. Show less

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Girl, Woman, Other

Girl, Woman, Other

by Evaristo, Bernardine

Paperback - 2019

In this wonderful Booker Prize-winning novel, Evaristo weaves together a series of portraits of (mostly) women of the African diaspora. Some of the charac...Show more In this wonderful Booker Prize-winning novel, Evaristo weaves together a series of portraits of (mostly) women of the African diaspora. Some of the characters are first- and second-generation immigrants from Africa and the British West Indies, and some have made new lives in America. All of them are vividly real, because Evaristo has an almost magical ability to bring characters instantly to life as if they'd opened their doors and invited you in for tea. The range of personalities here keeps the novel constantly fresh: young and old, traditional and avant-garde, sweet and prickly. Instead of an overarching plot, each chapter focuses on a different life story, but there are subtle connections between several characters that ties the material together as a novel. While it explores some social ills (including racism, sexism, homophobia and transphobia), overall this is a joyful and celebratory read structured loosely around a party. A great pick for book clubs, this tapestry of fictional life stories would also be of interest to fans of contemporary memoir, as well as, of course, fans of page-turning literary fiction. Show less

In this wonderful Booker Prize-winning novel, Evaristo weaves together a series of portraits of (mostly) women of the African diaspora. Some of the charac...Show more In this wonderful Booker Prize-winning novel, Evaristo weaves together a series of portraits of (mostly) women of the African diaspora. Some of the characters are first- and second-generation immigrants from Africa and the British West Indies, and some have made new lives in America. All of them are vividly real, because Evaristo has an almost magical ability to bring characters instantly to life as if they'd opened their doors and invited you in for tea. The range of personalities here keeps the novel constantly fresh: young and old, traditional and avant-garde, sweet and prickly. Instead of an overarching plot, each chapter focuses on a different life story, but there are subtle connections between several characters that ties the material together as a novel. While it explores some social ills (including racism, sexism, homophobia and transphobia), overall this is a joyful and celebratory read structured loosely around a party. A great pick for book clubs, this tapestry of fictional life stories would also be of interest to fans of contemporary memoir, as well as, of course, fans of page-turning literary fiction. Show less

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Go Ahead in the Rain

Go Ahead in the Rain

Notes to A Tribe Called Quest

by Abdurraqib, Hanif

Paperback - 2019

Abdurraqib's intimate book on Tribe Called Quest, a 90s hip-hop group ahead of their time, charts Tribe's initial rise and fall and surprising comeback in...Show more Abdurraqib's intimate book on Tribe Called Quest, a 90s hip-hop group ahead of their time, charts Tribe's initial rise and fall and surprising comeback in 2016. It's also interspersed with personal letters to the group's members and reflections on Adburraqib's own musical coming of age. Two kids who grew up together in Queens made some of the most low-key, inventive and influential hip-hop. Abdurraqib, a huge fan of group since his youth, presents a nuanced exploration of Tribe's music and the relationship between the meticulous and ambitious Q-Tip and the goofy and self-deprecating Phife Dog. But the book is also a deeply personal reflection on music's potential to move and connect us. Show less

Abdurraqib's intimate book on Tribe Called Quest, a 90s hip-hop group ahead of their time, charts Tribe's initial rise and fall and surprising comeback in...Show more Abdurraqib's intimate book on Tribe Called Quest, a 90s hip-hop group ahead of their time, charts Tribe's initial rise and fall and surprising comeback in 2016. It's also interspersed with personal letters to the group's members and reflections on Adburraqib's own musical coming of age. Two kids who grew up together in Queens made some of the most low-key, inventive and influential hip-hop. Abdurraqib, a huge fan of group since his youth, presents a nuanced exploration of Tribe's music and the relationship between the meticulous and ambitious Q-Tip and the goofy and self-deprecating Phife Dog. But the book is also a deeply personal reflection on music's potential to move and connect us. Show less

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Gods of Jade and Shadow

Gods of Jade and Shadow

A Novel

by Moreno-Garcia, Silvia

Paperback - 2019

Casiopea Tun is a poor relation treated as a servant by her wealthier family members, but she dreams of a time when she can escape to a big city and explo...Show more Casiopea Tun is a poor relation treated as a servant by her wealthier family members, but she dreams of a time when she can escape to a big city and explore all that 1920s Mexico has to offer. When she opens a mysterious locked chest in her grandfather's bedroom and frees an imprisoned god, she finally gets her chance to escape. But she might also have to save the world from a vengeful deity bent on world domination. Drawing from the rich mythology of the Mayan Popol Vuh, Casapoeia's journey across Mexico is told with brilliant imagery, and introduces readers to a fascinating new world of gods, demons and dangerous magic. Show less

Casiopea Tun is a poor relation treated as a servant by her wealthier family members, but she dreams of a time when she can escape to a big city and explo...Show more Casiopea Tun is a poor relation treated as a servant by her wealthier family members, but she dreams of a time when she can escape to a big city and explore all that 1920s Mexico has to offer. When she opens a mysterious locked chest in her grandfather's bedroom and frees an imprisoned god, she finally gets her chance to escape. But she might also have to save the world from a vengeful deity bent on world domination. Drawing from the rich mythology of the Mayan Popol Vuh, Casapoeia's journey across Mexico is told with brilliant imagery, and introduces readers to a fascinating new world of gods, demons and dangerous magic. Show less

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Gods of the Upper Air

Gods of the Upper Air

How A Circle of Renegade Anthropologists Reinvented Race, Sex, and Gender in the Twentieth Century

by King, Charles

Book - 2019

This group biography of pioneering anthropologists including Franz Boas, Margaret Mead and Zora Neale Hurston sheds light on the roots of the field and ex...Show more This group biography of pioneering anthropologists including Franz Boas, Margaret Mead and Zora Neale Hurston sheds light on the roots of the field and examines how it began to challenge American assumptions about race, gender and sexuality in the 1920s and 30s. Aside from carrying substantial weight as a historical document on the discipline of anthropology, this is also a great read for anyone interested in history and science who wants to read something entertaining and smart that sheds light on women who have mostly been overshadowed in the field. Show less

This group biography of pioneering anthropologists including Franz Boas, Margaret Mead and Zora Neale Hurston sheds light on the roots of the field and ex...Show more This group biography of pioneering anthropologists including Franz Boas, Margaret Mead and Zora Neale Hurston sheds light on the roots of the field and examines how it began to challenge American assumptions about race, gender and sexuality in the 1920s and 30s. Aside from carrying substantial weight as a historical document on the discipline of anthropology, this is also a great read for anyone interested in history and science who wants to read something entertaining and smart that sheds light on women who have mostly been overshadowed in the field. Show less

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The Great Pretender

The Great Pretender

The Undercover Mission That Changed Our Understanding of Madness

by Cahalan, Susannah

Book - 2019

Fans of Cahalan's 2012 memoir Brain on Fire, about her terrifying experience with psychosis induced by a rare autoimmune disorder, will be riveted by this...Show more Fans of Cahalan's 2012 memoir Brain on Fire, about her terrifying experience with psychosis induced by a rare autoimmune disorder, will be riveted by this ambitious investigation of a scientist whose groundbreaking study shaped America's mental health system. In 1973, Stanford University psychologist David Rosenhan published a paper in Science titled "On Being Sane in Insane Places." For this study he recruited eight healthy volunteers to attempt to have themselves admitted to various psychiatric hospitals in the United States, and then, once admitted, to act no differently than they normally would in order to see how many of them would end up with a psychiatric diagnosis. The results were striking: the average length of hospitalization was nineteen days, and every single volunteer left with a diagnosis, mainly of schizophrenia. Rosenhan's study was instrumental in the closing of most of America's public psychiatric hospitals. The story of Cahalan's brush with medical misdiagnosis and serious mental health consequences, combined with Rosenhan's study, would be riveting enough on their own, but the deeper Cahalan digs into Rosenhan's work, the more twists and turns she finds. Compulsively readable, this book delivers no easy answers about the state of psychiatry in America, but it will leave you wondering what you really know about it, what you think you know, and what may still be unknowable. Show less

Fans of Cahalan's 2012 memoir Brain on Fire, about her terrifying experience with psychosis induced by a rare autoimmune disorder, will be riveted by this...Show more Fans of Cahalan's 2012 memoir Brain on Fire, about her terrifying experience with psychosis induced by a rare autoimmune disorder, will be riveted by this ambitious investigation of a scientist whose groundbreaking study shaped America's mental health system. In 1973, Stanford University psychologist David Rosenhan published a paper in Science titled "On Being Sane in Insane Places." For this study he recruited eight healthy volunteers to attempt to have themselves admitted to various psychiatric hospitals in the United States, and then, once admitted, to act no differently than they normally would in order to see how many of them would end up with a psychiatric diagnosis. The results were striking: the average length of hospitalization was nineteen days, and every single volunteer left with a diagnosis, mainly of schizophrenia. Rosenhan's study was instrumental in the closing of most of America's public psychiatric hospitals. The story of Cahalan's brush with medical misdiagnosis and serious mental health consequences, combined with Rosenhan's study, would be riveting enough on their own, but the deeper Cahalan digs into Rosenhan's work, the more twists and turns she finds. Compulsively readable, this book delivers no easy answers about the state of psychiatry in America, but it will leave you wondering what you really know about it, what you think you know, and what may still be unknowable. Show less

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The Heartbeat of Wounded Knee

The Heartbeat of Wounded Knee

Native America From 1890 to the Present

by Treuer, David

Paperback - 2019

Some standard works of Native American history end with the Wounded Knee Massacre, but Treuer's history takes that battle as his starting point. In this w...Show more Some standard works of Native American history end with the Wounded Knee Massacre, but Treuer's history takes that battle as his starting point. In this wide-ranging survey that spans 1890 to the present, Treuer shows that Native American culture is thriving and determined. With a look at heroism during World War I, the effects of the 1934 Indian Reorganization Act, the post-WWII trend of urban migration, and the impact of legalized gambling on reservations and its economic effects, this is a Native American history for the modern age. Show less

Some standard works of Native American history end with the Wounded Knee Massacre, but Treuer's history takes that battle as his starting point. In this w...Show more Some standard works of Native American history end with the Wounded Knee Massacre, but Treuer's history takes that battle as his starting point. In this wide-ranging survey that spans 1890 to the present, Treuer shows that Native American culture is thriving and determined. With a look at heroism during World War I, the effects of the 1934 Indian Reorganization Act, the post-WWII trend of urban migration, and the impact of legalized gambling on reservations and its economic effects, this is a Native American history for the modern age. Show less

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How Rory Thorne Destroyed the Multiverse

How Rory Thorne Destroyed the Multiverse

by Eason, K.

Book - 2019

Rory Thorne is a princess who was given thirteen fairy blessings, the most important of which is to see the truth. Soon she finds herself betrothed to the...Show more Rory Thorne is a princess who was given thirteen fairy blessings, the most important of which is to see the truth. Soon she finds herself betrothed to the prince of a distant world to cement a political alliance. The regent of that world insists that Rory come to live there to acclimate to her new home before the wedding. Once she reaches the Free Worlds of Tadesh, she finds an unscrupulous regent trying to take the crown from the prince, and she finds herself isolated and separated from the people she can trust. Rory fearlessly stands up for what she believes is right, regardless of the consequences. This is a fun space adventure/fairy tale that anyone who appreciates a spunky princess will enjoy. Show less

Rory Thorne is a princess who was given thirteen fairy blessings, the most important of which is to see the truth. Soon she finds herself betrothed to the...Show more Rory Thorne is a princess who was given thirteen fairy blessings, the most important of which is to see the truth. Soon she finds herself betrothed to the prince of a distant world to cement a political alliance. The regent of that world insists that Rory come to live there to acclimate to her new home before the wedding. Once she reaches the Free Worlds of Tadesh, she finds an unscrupulous regent trying to take the crown from the prince, and she finds herself isolated and separated from the people she can trust. Rory fearlessly stands up for what she believes is right, regardless of the consequences. This is a fun space adventure/fairy tale that anyone who appreciates a spunky princess will enjoy. Show less

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How to Be An Antiracist

How to Be An Antiracist

by Kendi, Ibram X.

Book - 2019

From the National Book Award-winning author of Stamped from the Beginning: The Definitive History of Racist Ideas in America comes this combination memoir...Show more From the National Book Award-winning author of Stamped from the Beginning: The Definitive History of Racist Ideas in America comes this combination memoir, social commentary, and history of racism in America. Dr. Kendi's work guides the reader step by step through the process of identifying, understanding, and dismantling the structure of racist ideas and ideologies that have infected us all. He begins with his own history and journey towards antiracism by claiming that "we all know how to be racist. We know how to pretend to be not racist. Now let's know how to be antiracist." According to Dr. Kendi, being an antiracist requires persistent self-awareness, constant self-criticism, and regular self-examination. Dr. Kendi defines racist ideas as any idea which claims there is something inherently better or worse about any racial group. There is no such thing as "not racist" ideas, policies or people, he argues, only racist and antiracist ones. By giving the reader new ways of thinking about ourselves and each other, Dr. Kendi has written an important and accessible contribution towards reshaping the racial justice conversation in America. Show less

From the National Book Award-winning author of Stamped from the Beginning: The Definitive History of Racist Ideas in America comes this combination memoir...Show more From the National Book Award-winning author of Stamped from the Beginning: The Definitive History of Racist Ideas in America comes this combination memoir, social commentary, and history of racism in America. Dr. Kendi's work guides the reader step by step through the process of identifying, understanding, and dismantling the structure of racist ideas and ideologies that have infected us all. He begins with his own history and journey towards antiracism by claiming that "we all know how to be racist. We know how to pretend to be not racist. Now let's know how to be antiracist." According to Dr. Kendi, being an antiracist requires persistent self-awareness, constant self-criticism, and regular self-examination. Dr. Kendi defines racist ideas as any idea which claims there is something inherently better or worse about any racial group. There is no such thing as "not racist" ideas, policies or people, he argues, only racist and antiracist ones. By giving the reader new ways of thinking about ourselves and each other, Dr. Kendi has written an important and accessible contribution towards reshaping the racial justice conversation in America. Show less

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How to Do Nothing

How to Do Nothing

Resisting the Attention Economy

by Odell, Jenny (Multimedia artist)

Book - 2019

In one way or another, today's society asks us to brand our individual selves. In How to Do Nothing, author Odell reaches towards something more authentic...Show more In one way or another, today's society asks us to brand our individual selves. In How to Do Nothing, author Odell reaches towards something more authentic by urging us to create our experiences in a more organic way: not through an aesthetic or a purely ideological framework, but by learning to sit still and think through our immediate surroundings. Without using the catchphrase mindfulness, she elaborates her theory by deconstructing the hippie communes of the 1960s, using history as a premise for why these utopian communities failed. Through extensive research, she also remarks on the strikes of the longshoremen in California and the way they solved the bad conditions of manual labor and unreliable monetary issues through their own system, which first required them to stop working completely. Those are just two examples that Odell delves into, all the while pointing out the complexity of the present moment through her own acts of simple resistance, such as going to the rose garden by her house and simply sitting with her surroundings. Full of insight, advice and resources, this book offers a much-needed remedy for a community addicted to competition. Show less

In one way or another, today's society asks us to brand our individual selves. In How to Do Nothing, author Odell reaches towards something more authentic...Show more In one way or another, today's society asks us to brand our individual selves. In How to Do Nothing, author Odell reaches towards something more authentic by urging us to create our experiences in a more organic way: not through an aesthetic or a purely ideological framework, but by learning to sit still and think through our immediate surroundings. Without using the catchphrase mindfulness, she elaborates her theory by deconstructing the hippie communes of the 1960s, using history as a premise for why these utopian communities failed. Through extensive research, she also remarks on the strikes of the longshoremen in California and the way they solved the bad conditions of manual labor and unreliable monetary issues through their own system, which first required them to stop working completely. Those are just two examples that Odell delves into, all the while pointing out the complexity of the present moment through her own acts of simple resistance, such as going to the rose garden by her house and simply sitting with her surroundings. Full of insight, advice and resources, this book offers a much-needed remedy for a community addicted to competition. Show less

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How We Fight for Our Lives

How We Fight for Our Lives

A Memoir

by Jones, Saeed

Paperback - 2019

At once a memoir of coming of age and coming out, this compact book by poet Jones is a quick and compelling read. Raised in Texas by a single mother, Saee...Show more At once a memoir of coming of age and coming out, this compact book by poet Jones is a quick and compelling read. Raised in Texas by a single mother, Saeed struggles to find and assert his identity in a rural and religious home environment in which any discussion of being gay was taboo. He writes compellingly of his troubled sexual history beginning in his college years, including self-destructive behavior and patterns of racist abuse. But his relationship with his mother is the most moving thread of the story. Despite her reluctance to openly discuss his identity, she was a strong source of love and support for him, but her health problems placed a heavy burden of responsibility on him at a young age. The ending will haunt you long after you finish this book, which is recommended for fans of James Baldwin, Garrard Conley's Boy Erased and Kiese Laymon's Heavy. Show less

At once a memoir of coming of age and coming out, this compact book by poet Jones is a quick and compelling read. Raised in Texas by a single mother, Saee...Show more At once a memoir of coming of age and coming out, this compact book by poet Jones is a quick and compelling read. Raised in Texas by a single mother, Saeed struggles to find and assert his identity in a rural and religious home environment in which any discussion of being gay was taboo. He writes compellingly of his troubled sexual history beginning in his college years, including self-destructive behavior and patterns of racist abuse. But his relationship with his mother is the most moving thread of the story. Despite her reluctance to openly discuss his identity, she was a strong source of love and support for him, but her health problems placed a heavy burden of responsibility on him at a young age. The ending will haunt you long after you finish this book, which is recommended for fans of James Baldwin, Garrard Conley's Boy Erased and Kiese Laymon's Heavy. Show less

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I Like to Watch

I Like to Watch

Arguing My Way Through the TV Revolution

by Nussbaum, Emily

Book - 2019

New Yorker television critic Nussbaum has gathered together many of her essays on various TV shows in this book, and has written an introduction describin...Show more New Yorker television critic Nussbaum has gathered together many of her essays on various TV shows in this book, and has written an introduction describing how "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" started her down the path of writing about TV. Most of these essays appeared in magazines from the early 2000s on, and they feature shows as different from each other as "The Sopranos," "Black-ish," "Jane the Virgin," and "True Detective." She approaches TV as a real fan of the medium, loving it when shows dare to be honest, or outrageous, or creative in their storytelling, without resorting to clichés and easy laughs. Nussbaum also covers how to think about actors or directors who have been exposed as abusive in the last few years: can we still appreciate their work, now that we know? Is it possible to separate the artist from the art? One thing is for sure: reading Nussbaum will help you watch TV with a new eye, and will free you from any embarrassment you may feel for loving your favorite shows. Show less

New Yorker television critic Nussbaum has gathered together many of her essays on various TV shows in this book, and has written an introduction describin...Show more New Yorker television critic Nussbaum has gathered together many of her essays on various TV shows in this book, and has written an introduction describing how "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" started her down the path of writing about TV. Most of these essays appeared in magazines from the early 2000s on, and they feature shows as different from each other as "The Sopranos," "Black-ish," "Jane the Virgin," and "True Detective." She approaches TV as a real fan of the medium, loving it when shows dare to be honest, or outrageous, or creative in their storytelling, without resorting to clichés and easy laughs. Nussbaum also covers how to think about actors or directors who have been exposed as abusive in the last few years: can we still appreciate their work, now that we know? Is it possible to separate the artist from the art? One thing is for sure: reading Nussbaum will help you watch TV with a new eye, and will free you from any embarrassment you may feel for loving your favorite shows. Show less

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In the Dream House

In the Dream House

A Memoir

by Machado, Carmen Maria

Book - 2019

Machado’s memoir of domestic abuse in a lesbian relationship is written in her signature innovative style, fracturing the experience into dozens of facets...Show more Machado’s memoir of domestic abuse in a lesbian relationship is written in her signature innovative style, fracturing the experience into dozens of facets which she explores in mini-essays related to what she calls “the dream house,” her metaphor for the time she spent in a relationship that undermined her psychological well-being. It’s a fierce, witty, playfully intellectual approach that draws on myriad surprising sources including the scholarship of folklore as well as her talent for writing dark modern fairy tales. She also reviews and unpacks the relatively slim and fraught literature of abuse in relationships between women. It’s a bold, moving work, all the more inspiring because, as a work of dazzling creativity, it’s a testament to human resilience and artistry. Show less

Machado’s memoir of domestic abuse in a lesbian relationship is written in her signature innovative style, fracturing the experience into dozens of facets...Show more Machado’s memoir of domestic abuse in a lesbian relationship is written in her signature innovative style, fracturing the experience into dozens of facets which she explores in mini-essays related to what she calls “the dream house,” her metaphor for the time she spent in a relationship that undermined her psychological well-being. It’s a fierce, witty, playfully intellectual approach that draws on myriad surprising sources including the scholarship of folklore as well as her talent for writing dark modern fairy tales. She also reviews and unpacks the relatively slim and fraught literature of abuse in relationships between women. It’s a bold, moving work, all the more inspiring because, as a work of dazzling creativity, it’s a testament to human resilience and artistry. Show less

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Invisible Women

Invisible Women

Data Bias in A World Designed for Men

by Criado-Perez, Caroline

Paperback - 2019

Meticulously researched and masterfully written, this book about the lack of representation of women in everything from medical trials, economic policies,...Show more Meticulously researched and masterfully written, this book about the lack of representation of women in everything from medical trials, economic policies, technology, government, product design, and beyond is devastatingly eye-opening and fascinating. Criado-Perez skillfully exposes how gender-blind thinking has led to men being regarded as default humans and women as atypical, and methodically reveals the often fatal repercussions of excluding half of humanity from the table. This is the kind of book that makes it impossible to look at the world the same way again. For those who like to read about big data, gender studies, and anyone that enjoys superbly written non-fiction. Show less

Meticulously researched and masterfully written, this book about the lack of representation of women in everything from medical trials, economic policies,...Show more Meticulously researched and masterfully written, this book about the lack of representation of women in everything from medical trials, economic policies, technology, government, product design, and beyond is devastatingly eye-opening and fascinating. Criado-Perez skillfully exposes how gender-blind thinking has led to men being regarded as default humans and women as atypical, and methodically reveals the often fatal repercussions of excluding half of humanity from the table. This is the kind of book that makes it impossible to look at the world the same way again. For those who like to read about big data, gender studies, and anyone that enjoys superbly written non-fiction. Show less

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Kid Gloves

Kid Gloves

Nine Months of Careful Chaos

by Knisley, Lucy

Paperback - 2019

Chicago comic artist Lucy Knisley shares the next step on her journey in her latest book. Knisley and her husband, John (who fans will recognize from Some...Show more Chicago comic artist Lucy Knisley shares the next step on her journey in her latest book. Knisley and her husband, John (who fans will recognize from Something New: Tales from a Makeshift Bride), are ready to conceive but encounter heartache along the way. Knisley chronicles it all in her clean, colorful illustrations and direct text, interspersing it with information about the history of women's health. Anyone who has a child or longs for one will see at least a piece of themselves in the couple's path to parenthood — miscarriage, a fertility issue, envying another's pregnancy, the joy and challenges of expecting (finally!), a harrowing delivery and a postpartum emergency. With a number of graphic memoirs behind her, Knisley is no stranger to sharing her life, but bringing readers along on this intimate story is especially generous. Her openness adds much to a conversation that's often still held in whispers. Show less

Chicago comic artist Lucy Knisley shares the next step on her journey in her latest book. Knisley and her husband, John (who fans will recognize from Some...Show more Chicago comic artist Lucy Knisley shares the next step on her journey in her latest book. Knisley and her husband, John (who fans will recognize from Something New: Tales from a Makeshift Bride), are ready to conceive but encounter heartache along the way. Knisley chronicles it all in her clean, colorful illustrations and direct text, interspersing it with information about the history of women's health. Anyone who has a child or longs for one will see at least a piece of themselves in the couple's path to parenthood — miscarriage, a fertility issue, envying another's pregnancy, the joy and challenges of expecting (finally!), a harrowing delivery and a postpartum emergency. With a number of graphic memoirs behind her, Knisley is no stranger to sharing her life, but bringing readers along on this intimate story is especially generous. Her openness adds much to a conversation that's often still held in whispers. Show less

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Know My Name

Know My Name

A Memoir

by Miller, Chanel

Book - 2019

Miller's memoir about the Stanford sexual assault that led to a high-profile court case is a powerful work of literature that gives voice to countless sur...Show more Miller's memoir about the Stanford sexual assault that led to a high-profile court case is a powerful work of literature that gives voice to countless survivors. Stepping out into the open from her formerly anonymous legal persona of Emily Doe, the author of a letter that received widespread attention has stepped bravely forward to share her story including the crime itself, the legal process and the support she received afterwards. The result is inspiring, moving and beautiful. Show less

Miller's memoir about the Stanford sexual assault that led to a high-profile court case is a powerful work of literature that gives voice to countless sur...Show more Miller's memoir about the Stanford sexual assault that led to a high-profile court case is a powerful work of literature that gives voice to countless survivors. Stepping out into the open from her formerly anonymous legal persona of Emily Doe, the author of a letter that received widespread attention has stepped bravely forward to share her story including the crime itself, the legal process and the support she received afterwards. The result is inspiring, moving and beautiful. Show less

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Lady in the Lake

Lady in the Lake

A Novel

by Lippman, Laura

Book - 2019

Lippman's latest historical thriller, set in 1966 Baltimore, takes its name from the media blitz surrounding the real-life unsolved drowning of an African...Show more Lippman's latest historical thriller, set in 1966 Baltimore, takes its name from the media blitz surrounding the real-life unsolved drowning of an African-American woman found in a city park fountain in 1969. Point of view shifts between Cleo Sherwood, Lippman's fictional take on the dead woman from the fountain, a series of Baltimore citizens, and 37-year-old Jewish housewife Maddie Schwartz. Maddie is a typical Lippman heroine: a briskly intelligent woman who uses society's low estimation of her competence to her advantage. When we first meet Maddie, she seems satisfied with her upper-middle-class life. Then a chance dinner party reminds her of the youthful ambitions she had before marriage, motivating her to disentangle herself from her husband and move into her own apartment in a poor neighborhood across town. She begins an affair with an African-American patrolman she meets while committing insurance fraud. Spurred by her interest in another unsolved death, Maddie maneuvers her way into a low-level job at a local newspaper, where she learns about Cleo Sherwood and begins asking questions. (The descriptions of a 1960s-era Baltimore newsroom are richly detailed, including its attendant casual sexism and racism.) Examining female tenacity, the moral quandaries inherent in journalism, and how the experience of city life differs depending on one's race, class or gender, this smart, suspenseful novel is a great choice for a book club. Show less

Lippman's latest historical thriller, set in 1966 Baltimore, takes its name from the media blitz surrounding the real-life unsolved drowning of an African...Show more Lippman's latest historical thriller, set in 1966 Baltimore, takes its name from the media blitz surrounding the real-life unsolved drowning of an African-American woman found in a city park fountain in 1969. Point of view shifts between Cleo Sherwood, Lippman's fictional take on the dead woman from the fountain, a series of Baltimore citizens, and 37-year-old Jewish housewife Maddie Schwartz. Maddie is a typical Lippman heroine: a briskly intelligent woman who uses society's low estimation of her competence to her advantage. When we first meet Maddie, she seems satisfied with her upper-middle-class life. Then a chance dinner party reminds her of the youthful ambitions she had before marriage, motivating her to disentangle herself from her husband and move into her own apartment in a poor neighborhood across town. She begins an affair with an African-American patrolman she meets while committing insurance fraud. Spurred by her interest in another unsolved death, Maddie maneuvers her way into a low-level job at a local newspaper, where she learns about Cleo Sherwood and begins asking questions. (The descriptions of a 1960s-era Baltimore newsroom are richly detailed, including its attendant casual sexism and racism.) Examining female tenacity, the moral quandaries inherent in journalism, and how the experience of city life differs depending on one's race, class or gender, this smart, suspenseful novel is a great choice for a book club. Show less

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The Lager Queen of Minnesota

The Lager Queen of Minnesota

by Stradal, J. Ryan

Book - 2019

Readers who appreciated Stradal's debut, the lovely and award-winning Kitchens of the Great Midwest, will find in this second novel more of the elements ...Show more Readers who appreciated Stradal's debut, the lovely and award-winning Kitchens of the Great Midwest, will find in this second novel more of the elements that made that book so engaging and readable: authentic characters, a strong sense of place, and an emphasis on the joys of food and drink. Set in Minnesota, the story revolves around sisters Edith and Helen, and all the ways that their opposite personalities lead to a decades-long silence between them, starting with Helen getting the entire family farm (to sell!) after their father's death. Even more satisfying than the realistic setting is the use of work to illustrate something essential about each character through situation, whether it's adding up part-time shifts at Arby's and Kohl's, learning a new craft, or running a successful family business in a male-dominated industry. Stradal has written a very well-balanced book. It's honest about life's bitterness but still hopeful and sweet without being sentimental or syrupy. Recommended for fans of character-driven and atmospheric family tales and those who enjoy stories with lots of Midwestern flavor. Probably best to read while enjoying a hunk of pie or an intense IPA. Show less

Readers who appreciated Stradal's debut, the lovely and award-winning Kitchens of the Great Midwest, will find in this second novel more of the elements ...Show more Readers who appreciated Stradal's debut, the lovely and award-winning Kitchens of the Great Midwest, will find in this second novel more of the elements that made that book so engaging and readable: authentic characters, a strong sense of place, and an emphasis on the joys of food and drink. Set in Minnesota, the story revolves around sisters Edith and Helen, and all the ways that their opposite personalities lead to a decades-long silence between them, starting with Helen getting the entire family farm (to sell!) after their father's death. Even more satisfying than the realistic setting is the use of work to illustrate something essential about each character through situation, whether it's adding up part-time shifts at Arby's and Kohl's, learning a new craft, or running a successful family business in a male-dominated industry. Stradal has written a very well-balanced book. It's honest about life's bitterness but still hopeful and sweet without being sentimental or syrupy. Recommended for fans of character-driven and atmospheric family tales and those who enjoy stories with lots of Midwestern flavor. Probably best to read while enjoying a hunk of pie or an intense IPA. Show less

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Lanny

Lanny

A Novel

by Porter, Max

Book - 2019

In an English village, a family of three and their artist friend are tested by a malevolent ancient pagan spirit who haunts the countryside. The mother's ...Show more In an English village, a family of three and their artist friend are tested by a malevolent ancient pagan spirit who haunts the countryside. The mother's a writer, the father a businessman who commutes to London, and they arrange for a famed local artist to provide lessons to their precocious, eccentric son. When the son goes missing, their relationships to each other and, as newcomers, to the village are strained to the breaking point. This short fable of a novel is a darkly charming tale that underlines the magic lurking underneath everyday reality and is sure to appeal to fans of Sarah Perry and Max Porter's previous book, Grief Is the Thing with Feathers. Show less

In an English village, a family of three and their artist friend are tested by a malevolent ancient pagan spirit who haunts the countryside. The mother's ...Show more In an English village, a family of three and their artist friend are tested by a malevolent ancient pagan spirit who haunts the countryside. The mother's a writer, the father a businessman who commutes to London, and they arrange for a famed local artist to provide lessons to their precocious, eccentric son. When the son goes missing, their relationships to each other and, as newcomers, to the village are strained to the breaking point. This short fable of a novel is a darkly charming tale that underlines the magic lurking underneath everyday reality and is sure to appeal to fans of Sarah Perry and Max Porter's previous book, Grief Is the Thing with Feathers. Show less

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Late Migrations

Late Migrations

A Natural History of Love and Loss

by Renkl, Margaret

Book - 2019

You could call Late Migrations a nature memoir, but more accurately it's a memoir of care-giving: of children, of parents and of backyard nature. Structur...Show more You could call Late Migrations a nature memoir, but more accurately it's a memoir of care-giving: of children, of parents and of backyard nature. Structured in vignettes, with occasional artwork from the author's brother, this lovely independent press gem weaves back and forth between topics of natural observation (mostly migrating birds, but other animals and plants as well) and family memories of growing up and living in the South. The book has a light touch but accrues in power. What could have become a precious account of pretty birds deepens in thoughtfulness to become a meditation on life and death. Compact, delicate like a work of poetry, and often gorgeous in detail, this is a refreshing read for readers interested in family as well as nature. Show less

You could call Late Migrations a nature memoir, but more accurately it's a memoir of care-giving: of children, of parents and of backyard nature. Structur...Show more You could call Late Migrations a nature memoir, but more accurately it's a memoir of care-giving: of children, of parents and of backyard nature. Structured in vignettes, with occasional artwork from the author's brother, this lovely independent press gem weaves back and forth between topics of natural observation (mostly migrating birds, but other animals and plants as well) and family memories of growing up and living in the South. The book has a light touch but accrues in power. What could have become a precious account of pretty birds deepens in thoughtfulness to become a meditation on life and death. Compact, delicate like a work of poetry, and often gorgeous in detail, this is a refreshing read for readers interested in family as well as nature. Show less

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