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General Recommendations

Our Favorite Books of 2023

By:

ChiPubLib_Adults

Chicago Public Library

Staff-created list

The Chicago Public Library proudly presents our favorite books of the year.

By:

ChiPubLib_Adults

Chicago Public Library

1-25 of 88 items

1-25 of 88 items

Absolution

Absolution

by McDermott, Alice

Book - 2023

A young and newly-married Catholic American named Tricia arrives with her husband in Vietnam in 1963, filled with the hope and determination of her era, a...Show more A young and newly-married Catholic American named Tricia arrives with her husband in Vietnam in 1963, filled with the hope and determination of her era, and is quickly taken under the wing of Charlene, a sophisticate who spends much of her time organizing various relief efforts. (After meeting Tricia, she brainstorms a new fundraising scheme that involves selling Barbie dolls, which were still a novelty at the time.) Looking back on this era with the benefit of maturity decades later, Tricia reflects on her time in Vietnam but also her formative years, her friendships, her disappointments, her ideals, the changing times and much else. This reflective wonder of a book reveals its shape and purpose only gradually. It is not so much a "Vietnam novel" as it is a novel about losing one's innocence, learning from the example (negative and positive) of others and what it takes to really do good in the world. A former National Book Award-winner, McDermott explores the lives of women with unsurpassed acuity and moral intelligence. Show less

A young and newly-married Catholic American named Tricia arrives with her husband in Vietnam in 1963, filled with the hope and determination of her era, a...Show more A young and newly-married Catholic American named Tricia arrives with her husband in Vietnam in 1963, filled with the hope and determination of her era, and is quickly taken under the wing of Charlene, a sophisticate who spends much of her time organizing various relief efforts. (After meeting Tricia, she brainstorms a new fundraising scheme that involves selling Barbie dolls, which were still a novelty at the time.) Looking back on this era with the benefit of maturity decades later, Tricia reflects on her time in Vietnam but also her formative years, her friendships, her disappointments, her ideals, the changing times and much else. This reflective wonder of a book reveals its shape and purpose only gradually. It is not so much a "Vietnam novel" as it is a novel about losing one's innocence, learning from the example (negative and positive) of others and what it takes to really do good in the world. A former National Book Award-winner, McDermott explores the lives of women with unsurpassed acuity and moral intelligence. Show less

All copies in use Availability details Holds: 229 on 69 copies

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After the Forest

After the Forest

by Woods, Kell

Book - 2023

The Hansel and Gretel story we all know ends when they escape the witch's clutches by pushing her in the oven. Happily ever after right? Wrong. Set in Med...Show more The Hansel and Gretel story we all know ends when they escape the witch's clutches by pushing her in the oven. Happily ever after right? Wrong. Set in Medieval Germany, this version begins in the aftermath of Hans's and Greta's flight from their horrific ordeal. Back at home, but with their father now dead, they are orphaned and impoverished, scraping out a life at the edge of the very woods they were abandoned in. But Greta has a dangerous secret that's been helping her survive - an enchanted spell book that she took when they fled the gingerbread house. Every time she uses it, she risks being accused of being a witch. But poverty and persecution are not her only problems. Soon strange people and animals start appearing in town, forcing Greta to once again fight for the lives of her loved ones and herself, using everything she has - a little bit of magic and a whole lot of hope, bravery, and grit. Featuring elements of romance and horror, mythical creatures, immortal curses, and a strong female lead, this action-packed novel will appeal to fans of Arden's The Bear and the Nightingale, Albanese's Hester, and Gornichec's The Witch's heart. This enthralling debut novel by the appropriately named Kell Woods is a skillful combination of fantasy, historical fiction and fairytale retelling. Show less

The Hansel and Gretel story we all know ends when they escape the witch's clutches by pushing her in the oven. Happily ever after right? Wrong. Set in Med...Show more The Hansel and Gretel story we all know ends when they escape the witch's clutches by pushing her in the oven. Happily ever after right? Wrong. Set in Medieval Germany, this version begins in the aftermath of Hans's and Greta's flight from their horrific ordeal. Back at home, but with their father now dead, they are orphaned and impoverished, scraping out a life at the edge of the very woods they were abandoned in. But Greta has a dangerous secret that's been helping her survive - an enchanted spell book that she took when they fled the gingerbread house. Every time she uses it, she risks being accused of being a witch. But poverty and persecution are not her only problems. Soon strange people and animals start appearing in town, forcing Greta to once again fight for the lives of her loved ones and herself, using everything she has - a little bit of magic and a whole lot of hope, bravery, and grit. Featuring elements of romance and horror, mythical creatures, immortal curses, and a strong female lead, this action-packed novel will appeal to fans of Arden's The Bear and the Nightingale, Albanese's Hester, and Gornichec's The Witch's heart. This enthralling debut novel by the appropriately named Kell Woods is a skillful combination of fantasy, historical fiction and fairytale retelling. Show less

All copies in use Availability details Holds: 32 on 29 copies

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All the Sinners Bleed

All the Sinners Bleed

by Cosby, S. A.

Book - 2023

Titus Crown is the first black sheriff in his rural county in Virginia. He walks a murky path through racial tensions and local politics as he tries his h...Show more Titus Crown is the first black sheriff in his rural county in Virginia. He walks a murky path through racial tensions and local politics as he tries his hardest to bring justice to his hometown. When a school shooting ends with one of his white deputies shooting a young black man, he fears the backlash that will follow. But his investigation into the relationship between the person gunned down by his deputy and the teacher shot in seeming cold blood by one of his students unravels more than anyone suspected was going on in their small town. Brutal and unimaginable crimes are discovered and the hunt for a serial killer is now on. Titus must lean on the skills he learned during his decade in the FBI - a past he is trying very hard to forget - to bring down a dangerous killer. But this killer is as smart as he is savage, and Titus may have just met his match. Cosby creates a thrilling and brutally realistic story which is not for the faint of heart. This well-written and compelling book expertly navigates an all too real world filled with a tough set of racial and social issues and a mystery that will shock and thrill readers. Show less

Titus Crown is the first black sheriff in his rural county in Virginia. He walks a murky path through racial tensions and local politics as he tries his h...Show more Titus Crown is the first black sheriff in his rural county in Virginia. He walks a murky path through racial tensions and local politics as he tries his hardest to bring justice to his hometown. When a school shooting ends with one of his white deputies shooting a young black man, he fears the backlash that will follow. But his investigation into the relationship between the person gunned down by his deputy and the teacher shot in seeming cold blood by one of his students unravels more than anyone suspected was going on in their small town. Brutal and unimaginable crimes are discovered and the hunt for a serial killer is now on. Titus must lean on the skills he learned during his decade in the FBI - a past he is trying very hard to forget - to bring down a dangerous killer. But this killer is as smart as he is savage, and Titus may have just met his match. Cosby creates a thrilling and brutally realistic story which is not for the faint of heart. This well-written and compelling book expertly navigates an all too real world filled with a tough set of racial and social issues and a mystery that will shock and thrill readers. Show less

All copies in use Availability details Holds: 62 on 55 copies

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The Bee Sting

The Bee Sting

by Murray, Paul

Book - 2023

Murray's grim, haunting saga follows the Barnes family: teenage daughter Cass, tween son PJ, mother Imelda and father Dickie. They live in the Irish count...Show more Murray's grim, haunting saga follows the Barnes family: teenage daughter Cass, tween son PJ, mother Imelda and father Dickie. They live in the Irish countryside in the wake of the financial crash of 2008. Perspective and narrative structure shifts between each family member, revealing that each of the four is uniquely isolated, with their own motivations, desires and secrets, which will eventually intertwine. Each Barnes is on a downward trajectory due to their own bad decisions as well as twists of fate that happened decades ago. Amid drenching floods that underline the precarious state of the planet due to climate change, the family is struggling with financial troubles resulting from Dickie's mismanagement of the family's Volkswagen dealership, since the intellectual Dickie is probably more suited for academic pursuits. Let go from the dealership, Dickie spends his days building a bunker in the woods with a local disaster prepper. Imelda is written in a stream-of-consciousness style with minimal punctuation that recalls Molly Bloom's soliloquy from Joyce's Ulysses. A striking beauty from a working class family, Imelda was engaged to marry the handsome soccer player Frank before his accidental death as a young adult, but to assuage their mutual grief, ends up marrying his older brother Dickie. The eternally disappointed and irritated Cass squanders her intelligence her senior year of high school, drinking in pubs with her best friend Elaine instead of studying for exams. PJ lives in a fantasy world of martial video games, blackmailing bullies, and fair weather friends, while his clueless parents are too mired in their own struggles to notice that he desperately needs a new pair of shoes. Murray's prose dazzles in this slice of life tragedy that captures the zeitgeist of the early 2000s. Show less

Murray's grim, haunting saga follows the Barnes family: teenage daughter Cass, tween son PJ, mother Imelda and father Dickie. They live in the Irish count...Show more Murray's grim, haunting saga follows the Barnes family: teenage daughter Cass, tween son PJ, mother Imelda and father Dickie. They live in the Irish countryside in the wake of the financial crash of 2008. Perspective and narrative structure shifts between each family member, revealing that each of the four is uniquely isolated, with their own motivations, desires and secrets, which will eventually intertwine. Each Barnes is on a downward trajectory due to their own bad decisions as well as twists of fate that happened decades ago. Amid drenching floods that underline the precarious state of the planet due to climate change, the family is struggling with financial troubles resulting from Dickie's mismanagement of the family's Volkswagen dealership, since the intellectual Dickie is probably more suited for academic pursuits. Let go from the dealership, Dickie spends his days building a bunker in the woods with a local disaster prepper. Imelda is written in a stream-of-consciousness style with minimal punctuation that recalls Molly Bloom's soliloquy from Joyce's Ulysses. A striking beauty from a working class family, Imelda was engaged to marry the handsome soccer player Frank before his accidental death as a young adult, but to assuage their mutual grief, ends up marrying his older brother Dickie. The eternally disappointed and irritated Cass squanders her intelligence her senior year of high school, drinking in pubs with her best friend Elaine instead of studying for exams. PJ lives in a fantasy world of martial video games, blackmailing bullies, and fair weather friends, while his clueless parents are too mired in their own struggles to notice that he desperately needs a new pair of shoes. Murray's prose dazzles in this slice of life tragedy that captures the zeitgeist of the early 2000s. Show less

All copies in use Availability details Holds: 314 on 34 copies

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Big Swiss

Big Swiss

A Novel

by Beagin, Jen

Book - 2023

Greta is a medical transcriptionist for a sex therapist in bougie, offbeat Hudson, New York, when she becomes intrigued by one of her boss's clients, Flav...Show more Greta is a medical transcriptionist for a sex therapist in bougie, offbeat Hudson, New York, when she becomes intrigued by one of her boss's clients, Flavia, an aloof and chilly Swiss woman whom Greta calls "Big Swiss." Flavia has never had an orgasm and is decidedly not a victim, though she suffered a violent, brutal attack from a stranger who is being released from prison. Using what she knows from her therapy sessions, Greta sets up an "accidental" meeting with Big Swiss at the dog park and the women are intensely drawn to one another. The encounter leads to an affair, but since Greta is using a fake name and leaves out pertinent information about herself, like the fact that she transcribes Flavia's therapy appointments, as well as the unfortunate detail that Flavia is married, it's clear that complications lie ahead for their relationship. Underneath this quirky romantic comedy – and there is laugh-out-loud writing on display – lies a sly examination of trauma and contemporary wellness culture. Fans of Nell Zink, Ottessa Moshfegh and Elif Batuman will be pleased. Show less

Greta is a medical transcriptionist for a sex therapist in bougie, offbeat Hudson, New York, when she becomes intrigued by one of her boss's clients, Flav...Show more Greta is a medical transcriptionist for a sex therapist in bougie, offbeat Hudson, New York, when she becomes intrigued by one of her boss's clients, Flavia, an aloof and chilly Swiss woman whom Greta calls "Big Swiss." Flavia has never had an orgasm and is decidedly not a victim, though she suffered a violent, brutal attack from a stranger who is being released from prison. Using what she knows from her therapy sessions, Greta sets up an "accidental" meeting with Big Swiss at the dog park and the women are intensely drawn to one another. The encounter leads to an affair, but since Greta is using a fake name and leaves out pertinent information about herself, like the fact that she transcribes Flavia's therapy appointments, as well as the unfortunate detail that Flavia is married, it's clear that complications lie ahead for their relationship. Underneath this quirky romantic comedy – and there is laugh-out-loud writing on display – lies a sly examination of trauma and contemporary wellness culture. Fans of Nell Zink, Ottessa Moshfegh and Elif Batuman will be pleased. Show less

All copies in use Availability details Holds: 87 on 41 copies

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Birnam Wood

Birnam Wood

by Catton, Eleanor

Book - 2023

Catton's literary thriller is as deftly plotted as a 19th-century novel, with an ending as cinematic and propulsive as a Hollywood studio action flick. Mi...Show more Catton's literary thriller is as deftly plotted as a 19th-century novel, with an ending as cinematic and propulsive as a Hollywood studio action flick. Mira Bunting, the founder and leader of the collective Birnam Wood, which cultivates plants on land both legally and illegally, is scoping out property near Korowai National Park, where an earthquake has taken place. The land belongs to Owen Darvish, a well-to-do Kiwi who is conveniently absent. But someone else appears unexpectedly: Robert Lemoine, an American billionaire, who has a relationship with Darvish, and purportedly looking to doomstead in unassuming New Zealand. The encounter leads to the American billionaire offering the edgy eco-activist $100,000 and an invitation to plant on the land. The stage is set; the guerilla gardeners can't resist getting into bed with Lemoine – though an old flame of Mira's is dead set against it – igniting an explosive chain of events. Catton, who was the youngest novelist ever to be awarded the Booker in 2013 for The Luminaries, has some formidable writing chops that are evident in her tight plotting and knack for writing absorbing and witty dialogue. Birnam Wood is a very smart and truly entertaining novel that will appeal to a broad range of readers. Show less

Catton's literary thriller is as deftly plotted as a 19th-century novel, with an ending as cinematic and propulsive as a Hollywood studio action flick. Mi...Show more Catton's literary thriller is as deftly plotted as a 19th-century novel, with an ending as cinematic and propulsive as a Hollywood studio action flick. Mira Bunting, the founder and leader of the collective Birnam Wood, which cultivates plants on land both legally and illegally, is scoping out property near Korowai National Park, where an earthquake has taken place. The land belongs to Owen Darvish, a well-to-do Kiwi who is conveniently absent. But someone else appears unexpectedly: Robert Lemoine, an American billionaire, who has a relationship with Darvish, and purportedly looking to doomstead in unassuming New Zealand. The encounter leads to the American billionaire offering the edgy eco-activist $100,000 and an invitation to plant on the land. The stage is set; the guerilla gardeners can't resist getting into bed with Lemoine – though an old flame of Mira's is dead set against it – igniting an explosive chain of events. Catton, who was the youngest novelist ever to be awarded the Booker in 2013 for The Luminaries, has some formidable writing chops that are evident in her tight plotting and knack for writing absorbing and witty dialogue. Birnam Wood is a very smart and truly entertaining novel that will appeal to a broad range of readers. Show less

All copies in use Availability details Holds: 21 on 65 copies

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Black AF History

Black AF History

The Un-whitewashed Story of America

by Harriot, Michael

Book - 2023

This book is a fresh take on American history, told from a viewpoint that challenges everything we've ever learned about the United States. Writing in bot...Show more This book is a fresh take on American history, told from a viewpoint that challenges everything we've ever learned about the United States. Writing in both academic and African American Vernacular (AAV), the author wittily infuses humor and Black pop cultural references to break down key events and innovations in our country's past. Harriot's contention that Black history is American history is sure to inspire dialogue about our understanding of the political, social and economic choices that have formed America. Show less

This book is a fresh take on American history, told from a viewpoint that challenges everything we've ever learned about the United States. Writing in bot...Show more This book is a fresh take on American history, told from a viewpoint that challenges everything we've ever learned about the United States. Writing in both academic and African American Vernacular (AAV), the author wittily infuses humor and Black pop cultural references to break down key events and innovations in our country's past. Harriot's contention that Black history is American history is sure to inspire dialogue about our understanding of the political, social and economic choices that have formed America. Show less

All copies in use Availability details Holds: 53 on 36 copies

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Blood of the Virgin

Blood of the Virgin

by Harkham, Sammy

Book - 2023

Set in the early 70s Los Angeles B-movies film scene, Blood of the Virgin has little to do with its namesake title. Cartoonist Sammy Harkham’s 14-year-lo...Show more Set in the early 70s Los Angeles B-movies film scene, Blood of the Virgin has little to do with its namesake title. Cartoonist Sammy Harkham’s 14-year-long project graphic novel is more of a journey exploring the depths of storytelling and character building. Blood of the Virgin is mostly centered around the life of an early career film editor named Seymour, a Jewish Iraqi immigrant trying to make it in an industry that proves to be truly exploitative taking a huge toll on his relationship with his wife Ida and his overall wellbeing. After his studio buys the rights to one of his scripts, Seymour is tasked with the production of a low-budget horror film called, you guessed it, Blood of the Virgin. As the story unfurls, Seymour’s life becomes increasingly chaotic, he becomes less likable, and his career wholly uncertain. There are plenty of irresponsible decisions, destructive social situations, shady business deals and no one comes out on top. Harkham includes plenty of vignettes that divert focus from the main storyline in some interesting ways that add unexpected depth. Blood of the Virgin leaves readers without resolution and with a lot of lingering perspectives to think about. Somehow this feels fitting for such an intentionally messy graphic novel full of creative illustrations and snippets of specific moments of time and place and the stories that come out of it. Show less

Set in the early 70s Los Angeles B-movies film scene, Blood of the Virgin has little to do with its namesake title. Cartoonist Sammy Harkham’s 14-year-lo...Show more Set in the early 70s Los Angeles B-movies film scene, Blood of the Virgin has little to do with its namesake title. Cartoonist Sammy Harkham’s 14-year-long project graphic novel is more of a journey exploring the depths of storytelling and character building. Blood of the Virgin is mostly centered around the life of an early career film editor named Seymour, a Jewish Iraqi immigrant trying to make it in an industry that proves to be truly exploitative taking a huge toll on his relationship with his wife Ida and his overall wellbeing. After his studio buys the rights to one of his scripts, Seymour is tasked with the production of a low-budget horror film called, you guessed it, Blood of the Virgin. As the story unfurls, Seymour’s life becomes increasingly chaotic, he becomes less likable, and his career wholly uncertain. There are plenty of irresponsible decisions, destructive social situations, shady business deals and no one comes out on top. Harkham includes plenty of vignettes that divert focus from the main storyline in some interesting ways that add unexpected depth. Blood of the Virgin leaves readers without resolution and with a lot of lingering perspectives to think about. Somehow this feels fitting for such an intentionally messy graphic novel full of creative illustrations and snippets of specific moments of time and place and the stories that come out of it. Show less

All copies in use Availability details Holds: 6 on 14 copies

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Bright Young Women

Bright Young Women

by Knoll, Jessica

Book - 2023

Inspired by the survivors and victims from the 1978 Florida State University killings, Knoll's novel is a first-class rendition. An assailant breaks into ...Show more Inspired by the survivors and victims from the 1978 Florida State University killings, Knoll's novel is a first-class rendition. An assailant breaks into the Chi Omega sorority house and murders two girls and injures two others, leaving the remainder of the sorority sisters traumatized but alive. Pamela, the president of the sorority, is soon whisked away with the other survivors to a safe house. As the only witness who saw the killer's face that night, she finds herself in the precarious position of making sure her testimony is rightfully acknowledged and the authorities don't pursue the wrong man. A second timeline tells the story of Ruth, recently divorced and returned to living at home with her domineering mother. Joining a grief support group to deal with the unexpected loss of her father, Ruth slowly finds herself welcomed into a space where she's allowed at last to come to terms with the emotional legacy her father left behind and what it means to navigate womanhood and sexuality during second-wave feminism in the 70s. The novel seamlessly weaves together Pamela and Ruth's alternating between points of view, showcasing a devastating story of resilient women refusing to be solely defined by a man who cut short far too many lives. Masterfully told, Bright Young Women is a necessary reminder to society to remember the names and lives of the victims of serial killers, rather than romanticizing the killers themselves. Show less

Inspired by the survivors and victims from the 1978 Florida State University killings, Knoll's novel is a first-class rendition. An assailant breaks into ...Show more Inspired by the survivors and victims from the 1978 Florida State University killings, Knoll's novel is a first-class rendition. An assailant breaks into the Chi Omega sorority house and murders two girls and injures two others, leaving the remainder of the sorority sisters traumatized but alive. Pamela, the president of the sorority, is soon whisked away with the other survivors to a safe house. As the only witness who saw the killer's face that night, she finds herself in the precarious position of making sure her testimony is rightfully acknowledged and the authorities don't pursue the wrong man. A second timeline tells the story of Ruth, recently divorced and returned to living at home with her domineering mother. Joining a grief support group to deal with the unexpected loss of her father, Ruth slowly finds herself welcomed into a space where she's allowed at last to come to terms with the emotional legacy her father left behind and what it means to navigate womanhood and sexuality during second-wave feminism in the 70s. The novel seamlessly weaves together Pamela and Ruth's alternating between points of view, showcasing a devastating story of resilient women refusing to be solely defined by a man who cut short far too many lives. Masterfully told, Bright Young Women is a necessary reminder to society to remember the names and lives of the victims of serial killers, rather than romanticizing the killers themselves. Show less

All copies in use Availability details Holds: 421 on 98 copies

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The Burning of the World

The Burning of the World

The Great Chicago Fire and the War for A City's Soul

by Berg, Scott W.

Paperback - 2023

Much has written about the Great Chicago Fire, but Berg's enthralling account of the calamity that transpired in October 1871 in the fastest-growing U.S. ...Show more Much has written about the Great Chicago Fire, but Berg's enthralling account of the calamity that transpired in October 1871 in the fastest-growing U.S. city at the time and its ensuing indelible mark on the city Chicago would become, is a worthy and enjoyable addition to that history. While Mrs. O'Leary and her cow have become legends, Berg discards the myth in favor of a more accurate history in his portrayal of a city primed for a large-scale fire disaster. The city was growing quickly with many structures built of cheap pine, the weather was warm and windy on October 8th, 1871 after a dry summer, and though Chicago did have a professional fire department, the city council wouldn't spend the necessary money to expand and modernize it. The week before had been busy for firefighting in the city, so when the fire ignited in the Leary's barn (the family went by Leary, not O'Leary) while Mrs. Leary was asleep, possibly by a neighbor who liked to smoke there, the conditions were almost perfect for a disaster to unfold. And unfold it did as vividly told by Berg. While he ratchets up the tension in his cinematic account of the fire, which burned down three-and-a-half square miles of the city and left an estimated hundred thousand Chicagoans homeless, the history of Chicago in the aftermath of the disaster is at least as compelling. Featuring some well-drawn prominent Chicagoans, including Joseph Medill, Palmer Potter and Marshall Field, Berg's book demonstrates their impact as well as the social, political, commercial and cultural winds that made Chicago a sort of phoenix rising from the dust and a powerhouse of urban America in this incredible and engaging history. Show less

Much has written about the Great Chicago Fire, but Berg's enthralling account of the calamity that transpired in October 1871 in the fastest-growing U.S. ...Show more Much has written about the Great Chicago Fire, but Berg's enthralling account of the calamity that transpired in October 1871 in the fastest-growing U.S. city at the time and its ensuing indelible mark on the city Chicago would become, is a worthy and enjoyable addition to that history. While Mrs. O'Leary and her cow have become legends, Berg discards the myth in favor of a more accurate history in his portrayal of a city primed for a large-scale fire disaster. The city was growing quickly with many structures built of cheap pine, the weather was warm and windy on October 8th, 1871 after a dry summer, and though Chicago did have a professional fire department, the city council wouldn't spend the necessary money to expand and modernize it. The week before had been busy for firefighting in the city, so when the fire ignited in the Leary's barn (the family went by Leary, not O'Leary) while Mrs. Leary was asleep, possibly by a neighbor who liked to smoke there, the conditions were almost perfect for a disaster to unfold. And unfold it did as vividly told by Berg. While he ratchets up the tension in his cinematic account of the fire, which burned down three-and-a-half square miles of the city and left an estimated hundred thousand Chicagoans homeless, the history of Chicago in the aftermath of the disaster is at least as compelling. Featuring some well-drawn prominent Chicagoans, including Joseph Medill, Palmer Potter and Marshall Field, Berg's book demonstrates their impact as well as the social, political, commercial and cultural winds that made Chicago a sort of phoenix rising from the dust and a powerhouse of urban America in this incredible and engaging history. Show less

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Business or Pleasure

Business or Pleasure

by Solomon, Rachel Lynn

Paperback - 2023

After a recent job disappointment and a not-so-hot one night stand, ghostwriter Chandler is ready for the next step in life. Only the next step turns out ...Show more After a recent job disappointment and a not-so-hot one night stand, ghostwriter Chandler is ready for the next step in life. Only the next step turns out to be writing a memoir with the guy she just snuck out on, the guy who turns out be an actor with a completely different name than the one he gave her. An actor who just so happens to play a favorite character on a beloved TV show. After Chandler admits to Finn that their night together was less than stellar, they strike up an arrangement. When they're not working on the official project, they'll work on Finn's progress in the bedroom. Solomon's humorous novel of a not-yet-a-real-couple learning to intimately know each other is a delightful, delicious treat. Sexy yet sensitive, the chemistry between Chandler and Finn as they fall for each other is a real page-turner. Show less

After a recent job disappointment and a not-so-hot one night stand, ghostwriter Chandler is ready for the next step in life. Only the next step turns out ...Show more After a recent job disappointment and a not-so-hot one night stand, ghostwriter Chandler is ready for the next step in life. Only the next step turns out to be writing a memoir with the guy she just snuck out on, the guy who turns out be an actor with a completely different name than the one he gave her. An actor who just so happens to play a favorite character on a beloved TV show. After Chandler admits to Finn that their night together was less than stellar, they strike up an arrangement. When they're not working on the official project, they'll work on Finn's progress in the bedroom. Solomon's humorous novel of a not-yet-a-real-couple learning to intimately know each other is a delightful, delicious treat. Sexy yet sensitive, the chemistry between Chandler and Finn as they fall for each other is a real page-turner. Show less

All copies in use Availability details Holds: 11 on 25 copies

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Camp Damascus

Camp Damascus

by Tingle, Chuck

Book - 2023

Camp Damascus, the world's "most effective" gay conversion camp run by an incredibly strict Christian church, Kingdom of the Pine, is nestled in...Show more Camp Damascus, the world's "most effective" gay conversion camp run by an incredibly strict Christian church, Kingdom of the Pine, is nestled in the small and deeply religious town of Neverton, Nevada. As a devout follower of the Kingdom of the Pine, the last thing Rose wants to deal with in her senior year of high school is puking up flies and seeing visions of a girl she doesn't know. Rose's life quickly goes further south as she begins to be tormented by a vision of a woman in a red polo shirt who follows her wherever she goes. No longer able to accept the placating explanations her family and other churchgoers give her, she fights against her strict family and faith in order to find the truth of her afflictions. Rose finds that maybe the visions and ghostly woman she is tormented with are realer than she would like, and she'll have to reckon with them if she hopes to gain any peace. Camp Damascus is a fast-paced supernatural horror reckoning with what it's like being queer in an unaccepting, small, religious town. A great start for anyone looking to get ready for the Halloween season. Show less

Camp Damascus, the world's "most effective" gay conversion camp run by an incredibly strict Christian church, Kingdom of the Pine, is nestled in...Show more Camp Damascus, the world's "most effective" gay conversion camp run by an incredibly strict Christian church, Kingdom of the Pine, is nestled in the small and deeply religious town of Neverton, Nevada. As a devout follower of the Kingdom of the Pine, the last thing Rose wants to deal with in her senior year of high school is puking up flies and seeing visions of a girl she doesn't know. Rose's life quickly goes further south as she begins to be tormented by a vision of a woman in a red polo shirt who follows her wherever she goes. No longer able to accept the placating explanations her family and other churchgoers give her, she fights against her strict family and faith in order to find the truth of her afflictions. Rose finds that maybe the visions and ghostly woman she is tormented with are realer than she would like, and she'll have to reckon with them if she hopes to gain any peace. Camp Damascus is a fast-paced supernatural horror reckoning with what it's like being queer in an unaccepting, small, religious town. A great start for anyone looking to get ready for the Halloween season. Show less

All copies in use Availability details Holds: 7 on 17 copies

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Chain-gang All-stars

Chain-gang All-stars

by Adjei-Brenyah, Nana Kwame

Book - 2023

Adjei-Brenyah expands on themes explored in his best-selling short story collection in this electric debut novel. In a not-so-far-off dystopian future, th...Show more Adjei-Brenyah expands on themes explored in his best-selling short story collection in this electric debut novel. In a not-so-far-off dystopian future, the United States prison system has been transformed into CAPE (Criminal Penal Entertainment Program) with for-profit entertainment featuring gladiators, who are inmates, in fight-to-the-death matches. Two superstars in the "hard actions sports" circuit are Loretta Thurwar and "Hurricane Staxxx," two "Links" in the same chain gang who are also romantically involved, but there's also a dark plot twist that puts their relationship in jeopardy. While CAPE is incredibly popular in this alternate world, it is not without detractors, including protestors who show up to the death matches. While Adjei-Brenyah's action-packed novel is thought-provoking entertainment, his alarming footnotes, relating the story to real-life incidents and people impacted by America's brutal incarceration system and law enforcement tactics, don't allow readers to get too comfortable with his fiction. Adjei-Brenyah brilliantly skewers American capitalism, the incarceration system, the exploitation of Black bodies for profit and our penchant for violence in this potent debut. Show less

Adjei-Brenyah expands on themes explored in his best-selling short story collection in this electric debut novel. In a not-so-far-off dystopian future, th...Show more Adjei-Brenyah expands on themes explored in his best-selling short story collection in this electric debut novel. In a not-so-far-off dystopian future, the United States prison system has been transformed into CAPE (Criminal Penal Entertainment Program) with for-profit entertainment featuring gladiators, who are inmates, in fight-to-the-death matches. Two superstars in the "hard actions sports" circuit are Loretta Thurwar and "Hurricane Staxxx," two "Links" in the same chain gang who are also romantically involved, but there's also a dark plot twist that puts their relationship in jeopardy. While CAPE is incredibly popular in this alternate world, it is not without detractors, including protestors who show up to the death matches. While Adjei-Brenyah's action-packed novel is thought-provoking entertainment, his alarming footnotes, relating the story to real-life incidents and people impacted by America's brutal incarceration system and law enforcement tactics, don't allow readers to get too comfortable with his fiction. Adjei-Brenyah brilliantly skewers American capitalism, the incarceration system, the exploitation of Black bodies for profit and our penchant for violence in this potent debut. Show less

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Chlorine

Chlorine

A Novel

by Song, Jade

Book - 2023

Competitive swimming and mermaid tales combine in Song's surreal story of obsession, abuse, and a girl's desire for transformation. Ren Yu's childhood fas...Show more Competitive swimming and mermaid tales combine in Song's surreal story of obsession, abuse, and a girl's desire for transformation. Ren Yu's childhood fascination with mermaids leads her to try out for the swim team. Through swimming, she finds a tenuous sense of community, strives to fulfill the expectations of her immigrant parents to attend an Ivy League university, and she aims to bring glory to her coach, a man who has questionable ways of motivating young athletes. Ren stumbles through teenage lust and self-discovery, senses how she is fetishized by older men, but also how her sexuality holds power. Ren learns she can "seize [her] body back from those who sought to destroy it," by becoming the mermaid she was born to be. Through transformation, Ren can set herself free. Song's debut novel is an unsettling blend of coming-of-age fiction and body horror. Song vividly describes an athlete's body being pushed to its limits; the descriptions are visceral and at times cruel. Ren's obsession takes her body's limits to fascinating extremes. Reminiscent of Han Kang's The Vegetarian or Megan Abbott's dark explorations of female adolescence (Dare Me, You Will Know Me). Show less

Competitive swimming and mermaid tales combine in Song's surreal story of obsession, abuse, and a girl's desire for transformation. Ren Yu's childhood fas...Show more Competitive swimming and mermaid tales combine in Song's surreal story of obsession, abuse, and a girl's desire for transformation. Ren Yu's childhood fascination with mermaids leads her to try out for the swim team. Through swimming, she finds a tenuous sense of community, strives to fulfill the expectations of her immigrant parents to attend an Ivy League university, and she aims to bring glory to her coach, a man who has questionable ways of motivating young athletes. Ren stumbles through teenage lust and self-discovery, senses how she is fetishized by older men, but also how her sexuality holds power. Ren learns she can "seize [her] body back from those who sought to destroy it," by becoming the mermaid she was born to be. Through transformation, Ren can set herself free. Song's debut novel is an unsettling blend of coming-of-age fiction and body horror. Song vividly describes an athlete's body being pushed to its limits; the descriptions are visceral and at times cruel. Ren's obsession takes her body's limits to fascinating extremes. Reminiscent of Han Kang's The Vegetarian or Megan Abbott's dark explorations of female adolescence (Dare Me, You Will Know Me). Show less

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Clytemnestra

Clytemnestra

A Novel

by Casati, Costanza

Book - 2023

The life of a Spartan princess can be harsh and uncompromising, but Clytemnestra enjoys it until those sons of Atreus come to call. If you're not familiar...Show more The life of a Spartan princess can be harsh and uncompromising, but Clytemnestra enjoys it until those sons of Atreus come to call. If you're not familiar with the myths, Casati will fill you in, and if you are, you are still in for a treat. Casati immerses readers in the world of classical Greece in this retelling of the causes and home front of the Trojan War. Clytemnestra hates her husband (Agamemnon), loves her children (Iphigenia, Elektra, Orestes), spoils her sister (Helen), and lives her life with no quarter given or asked for. Very much a story of the bonds between women, this is highly recommended. Show less

The life of a Spartan princess can be harsh and uncompromising, but Clytemnestra enjoys it until those sons of Atreus come to call. If you're not familiar...Show more The life of a Spartan princess can be harsh and uncompromising, but Clytemnestra enjoys it until those sons of Atreus come to call. If you're not familiar with the myths, Casati will fill you in, and if you are, you are still in for a treat. Casati immerses readers in the world of classical Greece in this retelling of the causes and home front of the Trojan War. Clytemnestra hates her husband (Agamemnon), loves her children (Iphigenia, Elektra, Orestes), spoils her sister (Helen), and lives her life with no quarter given or asked for. Very much a story of the bonds between women, this is highly recommended. Show less

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The Covenant of Water

The Covenant of Water

A Novel

by Verghese, Abraham

Book - 2023

Verghese's sophomore novel is a sweeping, multigenerational family epic centered on a mysterious "condition" that results in the drowning of one...Show more Verghese's sophomore novel is a sweeping, multigenerational family epic centered on a mysterious "condition" that results in the drowning of one member of every generation of a Southern Indian Christian family. This richly layered story covers nearly the entire twentieth century, opening in 1900 with the arranged marriage of a 12-year-old girl to a 40-year-old widower, which makes her the mistress of a large estate, Parambil, where she eventually becomes known as Big Ammachi. The story ends in 1977 with her granddaughter, Mariamma, a doctor, solving the mystery of her family's propensity for drowning. Big Ammachi's family dominates the narrative, including her journalist son, Philipose, and his wife, Elsie, a talented artist. There is also Big Ammachi's eldest child, Baby Mol, born with a congenital thyroid disorder as well as the gift of prophecy. Another thread that wanders in and out of the narrative is the story of Digby Kilgour, a Scottish doctor working in India and the subject of a surprising plot twist. Political unrest, disease, natural disaster and tragedy all play out in the lives of the characters – characters with whom readers will be deeply invested - in this ambitious, poignant tale that feels very much, at times, like a Victorian novel. Verghese, a medical doctor by profession, came to fiction writing later in life and is a gifted storyteller. Fans of his previous work, as well as new readers, will likely be dazzled. Show less

Verghese's sophomore novel is a sweeping, multigenerational family epic centered on a mysterious "condition" that results in the drowning of one...Show more Verghese's sophomore novel is a sweeping, multigenerational family epic centered on a mysterious "condition" that results in the drowning of one member of every generation of a Southern Indian Christian family. This richly layered story covers nearly the entire twentieth century, opening in 1900 with the arranged marriage of a 12-year-old girl to a 40-year-old widower, which makes her the mistress of a large estate, Parambil, where she eventually becomes known as Big Ammachi. The story ends in 1977 with her granddaughter, Mariamma, a doctor, solving the mystery of her family's propensity for drowning. Big Ammachi's family dominates the narrative, including her journalist son, Philipose, and his wife, Elsie, a talented artist. There is also Big Ammachi's eldest child, Baby Mol, born with a congenital thyroid disorder as well as the gift of prophecy. Another thread that wanders in and out of the narrative is the story of Digby Kilgour, a Scottish doctor working in India and the subject of a surprising plot twist. Political unrest, disease, natural disaster and tragedy all play out in the lives of the characters – characters with whom readers will be deeply invested - in this ambitious, poignant tale that feels very much, at times, like a Victorian novel. Verghese, a medical doctor by profession, came to fiction writing later in life and is a gifted storyteller. Fans of his previous work, as well as new readers, will likely be dazzled. Show less

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Crook Manifesto

Crook Manifesto

A Novel

by Whitehead, Colson

Book - 2023

Ray Carney has put an end to his crooked ways - or so he thought. After a successful enterprise selling stolen goods he now sees himself as an upstanding ...Show more Ray Carney has put an end to his crooked ways - or so he thought. After a successful enterprise selling stolen goods he now sees himself as an upstanding businessman and property owner in Harlem. But when his daughter needs tickets to see the Jackson Five, trading favors quickly leads him back into the criminal life. Whitehead revisits his beloved character Carney on a journey through the changing culture of the 70s. Amidst the social unrest in the streets, Carney quickly finds himself in a tricky spot, getting caught between corrupt police officers and the Black Liberation Army while Carney's right-hand man Pepper is landed with a missing person case. His search for a disappeared actress starring in a blaxploitation film takes him to the exploding world of Black comedy and film, rich with interesting and amusing characters. This series of stories culminates in America's 1976 bicentenary celebration where Carney struggles to find anything to be truly patriotic about. While celebrations are being planned, the streets of Harlem are literally burning. An arsonist is setting fire to buildings and putting Carney's tenants in danger, which turns out to be a far bigger problem than the insurance scam he thought was going on, and pits him against a powerful foe. Whitehead expertly uses the crime genre as a canvas on which he vividly paints a series of colorful and complex characters as they each try to navigate the inequalities of a changing New York City in different ways. Show less

Ray Carney has put an end to his crooked ways - or so he thought. After a successful enterprise selling stolen goods he now sees himself as an upstanding ...Show more Ray Carney has put an end to his crooked ways - or so he thought. After a successful enterprise selling stolen goods he now sees himself as an upstanding businessman and property owner in Harlem. But when his daughter needs tickets to see the Jackson Five, trading favors quickly leads him back into the criminal life. Whitehead revisits his beloved character Carney on a journey through the changing culture of the 70s. Amidst the social unrest in the streets, Carney quickly finds himself in a tricky spot, getting caught between corrupt police officers and the Black Liberation Army while Carney's right-hand man Pepper is landed with a missing person case. His search for a disappeared actress starring in a blaxploitation film takes him to the exploding world of Black comedy and film, rich with interesting and amusing characters. This series of stories culminates in America's 1976 bicentenary celebration where Carney struggles to find anything to be truly patriotic about. While celebrations are being planned, the streets of Harlem are literally burning. An arsonist is setting fire to buildings and putting Carney's tenants in danger, which turns out to be a far bigger problem than the insurance scam he thought was going on, and pits him against a powerful foe. Whitehead expertly uses the crime genre as a canvas on which he vividly paints a series of colorful and complex characters as they each try to navigate the inequalities of a changing New York City in different ways. Show less

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Dearborn

Dearborn

Stories

by Zeineddine, Ghassan

Paperback - 2023

Zeineddine's notable short story collection set in Dearborn, Michigan (home to the largest Muslim population in the United States) joins the rich traditio...Show more Zeineddine's notable short story collection set in Dearborn, Michigan (home to the largest Muslim population in the United States) joins the rich tradition of American literature about immigrant experience. His characters are mostly Lebanese-American, with roots that trace back several decades to the Lebanese Civil War which began in the 70s, but his stories also reflect more recent waves of immigration to the Dearborn area from Syria, Iraq, and Yemen. In ten lively stories of great variety, Zeineddine paints a rich tapestry. In "Money Chickens," a boy watches his father hide his savings in chickens he stores in a freezer. "Marseille" tells the story of a survivor of the Titanic. The funny (and Cheever-esque) "Speedoman" is about the impact that a hot newcomer who shows up at a community swimming pool in Speedos sporting images of Lebanese pride has upon a group of husbands and wives there. "Rabbit Stew" is about a teen boy who bonds with his visiting uncle who has war stories from Beirut but may not be all he seems at first. "Yusra" tells the story of a sixty-something butcher named Yasser who finds freedom by dressing in heels and makeup under a hijab and becoming Yusra in a nearby community. Even in the one or two stories with somewhat frustratingly unhappy or abrupt endings, it's still a testament to the author's skill in hooking the reader with good stories and great characters. This is a standout collection with strong book club appeal that will have readers eagerly awaiting Zeineddine's follow-up. Show less

Zeineddine's notable short story collection set in Dearborn, Michigan (home to the largest Muslim population in the United States) joins the rich traditio...Show more Zeineddine's notable short story collection set in Dearborn, Michigan (home to the largest Muslim population in the United States) joins the rich tradition of American literature about immigrant experience. His characters are mostly Lebanese-American, with roots that trace back several decades to the Lebanese Civil War which began in the 70s, but his stories also reflect more recent waves of immigration to the Dearborn area from Syria, Iraq, and Yemen. In ten lively stories of great variety, Zeineddine paints a rich tapestry. In "Money Chickens," a boy watches his father hide his savings in chickens he stores in a freezer. "Marseille" tells the story of a survivor of the Titanic. The funny (and Cheever-esque) "Speedoman" is about the impact that a hot newcomer who shows up at a community swimming pool in Speedos sporting images of Lebanese pride has upon a group of husbands and wives there. "Rabbit Stew" is about a teen boy who bonds with his visiting uncle who has war stories from Beirut but may not be all he seems at first. "Yusra" tells the story of a sixty-something butcher named Yasser who finds freedom by dressing in heels and makeup under a hijab and becoming Yusra in a nearby community. Even in the one or two stories with somewhat frustratingly unhappy or abrupt endings, it's still a testament to the author's skill in hooking the reader with good stories and great characters. This is a standout collection with strong book club appeal that will have readers eagerly awaiting Zeineddine's follow-up. Show less

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The Dictionary People

The Dictionary People

The Unsung Heroes Who Created the Oxford English Dictionary

by Ogilvie, Sarah

Book - 2023

The Oxford English dictionary was perhaps the original Wikipedia. Thousands of people sent in citations of various words to be included in response to adv...Show more The Oxford English dictionary was perhaps the original Wikipedia. Thousands of people sent in citations of various words to be included in response to advertisements in local publications. Some only sent a few words, some sent thousands. Thanks to the meticulous recordkeeping of Murray and other editors, some of these contributors can be traced, and Oglivie's book focuses on some of the more colorful characters who contributed citations. With chapters like "L for Lunatics" and "A for Anthropologists," she divides contributors into broad categories and provides a sketch of their lives. An interesting read for anyone interested in history or language. Show less

The Oxford English dictionary was perhaps the original Wikipedia. Thousands of people sent in citations of various words to be included in response to adv...Show more The Oxford English dictionary was perhaps the original Wikipedia. Thousands of people sent in citations of various words to be included in response to advertisements in local publications. Some only sent a few words, some sent thousands. Thanks to the meticulous recordkeeping of Murray and other editors, some of these contributors can be traced, and Oglivie's book focuses on some of the more colorful characters who contributed citations. With chapters like "L for Lunatics" and "A for Anthropologists," she divides contributors into broad categories and provides a sketch of their lives. An interesting read for anyone interested in history or language. Show less

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Did You Hear About Kitty Karr?

Did You Hear About Kitty Karr?

A Novel

by Paul, Crystal Smith

Book - 2023

Kitty Karr, Hollywood icon has passed away. She left her entire estate to the three St. John sisters, girls who grew up next door to Kitty. Now everyone w...Show more Kitty Karr, Hollywood icon has passed away. She left her entire estate to the three St. John sisters, girls who grew up next door to Kitty. Now everyone wants to know why. The narrative jumps back to tell Kitty's story from the beginning, with occasional cuts to the St. John girls in the present. Kitty moves to LA as a young (and light-skinned Black) woman and passes for white for the rest of her life. She becomes a big name in Hollywood and gets involved with a group that tries to help improve Black people's lives. Her story makes for an interesting look at the Jim Crow South. Show less

Kitty Karr, Hollywood icon has passed away. She left her entire estate to the three St. John sisters, girls who grew up next door to Kitty. Now everyone w...Show more Kitty Karr, Hollywood icon has passed away. She left her entire estate to the three St. John sisters, girls who grew up next door to Kitty. Now everyone wants to know why. The narrative jumps back to tell Kitty's story from the beginning, with occasional cuts to the St. John girls in the present. Kitty moves to LA as a young (and light-skinned Black) woman and passes for white for the rest of her life. She becomes a big name in Hollywood and gets involved with a group that tries to help improve Black people's lives. Her story makes for an interesting look at the Jim Crow South. Show less

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Don't Think, Dear

Don't Think, Dear

On Loving & Leaving Ballet

by Robb, Alice

Book - 2023

Freelance journalist Robb tells the story of her childhood dream of becoming a professional dancer. That dream did not come true for her, but she came clo...Show more Freelance journalist Robb tells the story of her childhood dream of becoming a professional dancer. That dream did not come true for her, but she came closer than many when she attended the School of American Ballet, the prestigious associate academy for New York City Ballet. SAB and City Ballet were founded by George Balanchine and Lincoln Kirstein. Robb's title comes from Balanchine's famous dictum to his dancers: "Don't think dear, just do." In this insider's look at the competitive ballet world, Robb describes the students' experiences in classes where Balanchine's legacy as the patriarch of American ballet still held strong nearly two decades after his death. Along with his brilliant choreography and his training of the genius dancers (such as Maria Tallchief, Gelsey Kirkland and Suzanne Farrell) who brought that choreography to life, Balanchine created an environment of white male dominance over the female body. He demanded that his dancers maintain waif-like figures, monitoring their personal lives and even assigning them specific perfumes to wear. Robb explains how ballet continues to influence her life. She reconciles this legacy with the love she still has for the world she once inhabited with its emphasis on whiteness, thinness, and submission. She delivers funny anecdotes about bunheads and describes unsettling scenes, such as walking into the dressing room and watching two girls dividing a single M & M for a forbidden treat. Robb views ballet through a feminist lens in this #metoo moment. Balanchine died forty years ago, and his uncompromising hold has just started to change as more women become artistic directors and choreographers, and dancers such as Misty Copeland and Olivia Boisson are embraced by their audiences. Don't Think, Dear is for readers who love ballet, books about artists, readers who had childhood dreams, and for anyone who is interested in examining the patriarchy, racism, and sexism in the most beautiful of art forms, the ballet. Show less

Freelance journalist Robb tells the story of her childhood dream of becoming a professional dancer. That dream did not come true for her, but she came clo...Show more Freelance journalist Robb tells the story of her childhood dream of becoming a professional dancer. That dream did not come true for her, but she came closer than many when she attended the School of American Ballet, the prestigious associate academy for New York City Ballet. SAB and City Ballet were founded by George Balanchine and Lincoln Kirstein. Robb's title comes from Balanchine's famous dictum to his dancers: "Don't think dear, just do." In this insider's look at the competitive ballet world, Robb describes the students' experiences in classes where Balanchine's legacy as the patriarch of American ballet still held strong nearly two decades after his death. Along with his brilliant choreography and his training of the genius dancers (such as Maria Tallchief, Gelsey Kirkland and Suzanne Farrell) who brought that choreography to life, Balanchine created an environment of white male dominance over the female body. He demanded that his dancers maintain waif-like figures, monitoring their personal lives and even assigning them specific perfumes to wear. Robb explains how ballet continues to influence her life. She reconciles this legacy with the love she still has for the world she once inhabited with its emphasis on whiteness, thinness, and submission. She delivers funny anecdotes about bunheads and describes unsettling scenes, such as walking into the dressing room and watching two girls dividing a single M & M for a forbidden treat. Robb views ballet through a feminist lens in this #metoo moment. Balanchine died forty years ago, and his uncompromising hold has just started to change as more women become artistic directors and choreographers, and dancers such as Misty Copeland and Olivia Boisson are embraced by their audiences. Don't Think, Dear is for readers who love ballet, books about artists, readers who had childhood dreams, and for anyone who is interested in examining the patriarchy, racism, and sexism in the most beautiful of art forms, the ballet. Show less

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Empty Theatre

Empty Theatre

Or, the Lives of King Ludwig II of Bavaria and Empress Sisi of Austria (Queen of Hungary), Cousins, in Their Pursuit of Connection and Beauty Despite the Expectations Placed on Them Because of the Exceptional Good Fortune of Their Status as Beloved National Figures. With Speculation Into the Mysterious Nature of Their Deaths

by Jemc, Jac

Book - 2023

Empress Elisabeth of Austria, Queen of Hungary (better known as Sisi) and her younger cousin, Ludwig II, King of Bavaria, are the anti-heroes of Jac Jemc'...Show more Empress Elisabeth of Austria, Queen of Hungary (better known as Sisi) and her younger cousin, Ludwig II, King of Bavaria, are the anti-heroes of Jac Jemc's satirical work of historical fiction, a very modern retelling of a 19th century story. Students of history will know that both Sisi and Ludwig met untimely ends under somewhat shadowy circumstances. Jemc explores their parallel lives in a lengthy series of tragicomic vignettes including Sisi's bout with syphilis and Ludwig's ongoing obsession with the opera composer Richard Wagner. Sisi, so powerless in her domestic life, finds ways to use her beauty for political gain. Ludwig, on the other hand, avoids politics at all costs, spending all his time and money on artistic pursuits. Both Sisi and Ludwig live lives of unearned luxury yet feel suffocated by the forces that seek to control them. These royals are mostly unlikeable yet often sympathetic. We meet two people who are trapped at a young age by the circumstances of their birth but strive for some individual sense of freedom and beauty no matter the price. Jemc explores what it means to have everything one could possibly desire and remain unhappy, unfulfilled, never able to freely be oneself. A uniquely told story such as this is hard to compare to other novels, but fans of Maggie O'Farrell and Hilary Mantel, as well as anyone fascinated by the recent drama amongst the British monarchy, will appreciate Jemc's literary exploration of court life and political intrigue that brings humanity to some of history's most interesting figures. Show less

Empress Elisabeth of Austria, Queen of Hungary (better known as Sisi) and her younger cousin, Ludwig II, King of Bavaria, are the anti-heroes of Jac Jemc'...Show more Empress Elisabeth of Austria, Queen of Hungary (better known as Sisi) and her younger cousin, Ludwig II, King of Bavaria, are the anti-heroes of Jac Jemc's satirical work of historical fiction, a very modern retelling of a 19th century story. Students of history will know that both Sisi and Ludwig met untimely ends under somewhat shadowy circumstances. Jemc explores their parallel lives in a lengthy series of tragicomic vignettes including Sisi's bout with syphilis and Ludwig's ongoing obsession with the opera composer Richard Wagner. Sisi, so powerless in her domestic life, finds ways to use her beauty for political gain. Ludwig, on the other hand, avoids politics at all costs, spending all his time and money on artistic pursuits. Both Sisi and Ludwig live lives of unearned luxury yet feel suffocated by the forces that seek to control them. These royals are mostly unlikeable yet often sympathetic. We meet two people who are trapped at a young age by the circumstances of their birth but strive for some individual sense of freedom and beauty no matter the price. Jemc explores what it means to have everything one could possibly desire and remain unhappy, unfulfilled, never able to freely be oneself. A uniquely told story such as this is hard to compare to other novels, but fans of Maggie O'Farrell and Hilary Mantel, as well as anyone fascinated by the recent drama amongst the British monarchy, will appreciate Jemc's literary exploration of court life and political intrigue that brings humanity to some of history's most interesting figures. Show less

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Enter Ghost

Enter Ghost

A Novel

by Hammad, Isabella

Book - 2023

Sonia Nasir grew up in London, visiting her Palestinian family in Haifa on holidays. When her acting career grows complicated due to an affair with a dire...Show more Sonia Nasir grew up in London, visiting her Palestinian family in Haifa on holidays. When her acting career grows complicated due to an affair with a director, she takes an opportunity to visit her sister in Israel. There she meets a childhood acquaintance, Mariam, who is directing a production of Hamlet in the West Bank. Could she fill in until they find actresses to play Gertrude and Ophelia? Reluctantly, Sonia agrees to help out temporarily. But the longer she stays, the more she is drawn back into the Palestinian life, culture and politics from which she was long estranged, learning more about her family's history. Although the plot of the novel is somewhat low-key, Sonia's perspective, as a British-Palestinian outsider to a culture that is already marginalized, helps illuminate a cultural experience that gets too little time in the spotlight. Recommended for fans of politically conscious fiction and novels such as Hala Alyan's Salt Houses, Colum McCann's Apeirogon and Etaf Rum's A Woman is No Man. Show less

Sonia Nasir grew up in London, visiting her Palestinian family in Haifa on holidays. When her acting career grows complicated due to an affair with a dire...Show more Sonia Nasir grew up in London, visiting her Palestinian family in Haifa on holidays. When her acting career grows complicated due to an affair with a director, she takes an opportunity to visit her sister in Israel. There she meets a childhood acquaintance, Mariam, who is directing a production of Hamlet in the West Bank. Could she fill in until they find actresses to play Gertrude and Ophelia? Reluctantly, Sonia agrees to help out temporarily. But the longer she stays, the more she is drawn back into the Palestinian life, culture and politics from which she was long estranged, learning more about her family's history. Although the plot of the novel is somewhat low-key, Sonia's perspective, as a British-Palestinian outsider to a culture that is already marginalized, helps illuminate a cultural experience that gets too little time in the spotlight. Recommended for fans of politically conscious fiction and novels such as Hala Alyan's Salt Houses, Colum McCann's Apeirogon and Etaf Rum's A Woman is No Man. Show less

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Eve

Eve

How the Female Body Drove 200 Million Years of Human Evolution

by Bohannon, Cat

Book - 2023

"In Eve, Cat Bohannon answers questions scientists should have been addressing for decades. With boundless curiosity and sharp wit, Bohannon covers t...Show more "In Eve, Cat Bohannon answers questions scientists should have been addressing for decades. With boundless curiosity and sharp wit, Bohannon covers the past 200 million years to explain the specific science behind the development of the female sex." - publisher marketing [Chicago Public Library staff annotation coming soon] Show less

"In Eve, Cat Bohannon answers questions scientists should have been addressing for decades. With boundless curiosity and sharp wit, Bohannon covers t...Show more "In Eve, Cat Bohannon answers questions scientists should have been addressing for decades. With boundless curiosity and sharp wit, Bohannon covers the past 200 million years to explain the specific science behind the development of the female sex." - publisher marketing [Chicago Public Library staff annotation coming soon] Show less

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The Faraway World

The Faraway World

Stories

by Engel, Patricia

Paperback - 2023

Set in the US, Colombia and Cuba, these ten gems of short fiction take on some juicy subjects, including kidnapping, grave robbing, drug-running, and the ...Show more Set in the US, Colombia and Cuba, these ten gems of short fiction take on some juicy subjects, including kidnapping, grave robbing, drug-running, and the story of a mail-order bride. You expect rich characterization from literary fiction, and you certainly get it here, but Engel's story lines are also snappy and the writing is crisp. The stories also encompass a pleasing variety. Some are crime stories: "Fausto" is a modern variation on the theme of Faustian bargains, and "Aida" is a suspenseful tale of a teen girl's twin going missing. Other stories deal with love and relationships: "Campoamor" concerns a young Havana man juggling two girlfriends, and "The Book of Saints" tells the story of a working class American man and his bride from Colombia. These are excellent, compelling stories for fans of realistic fiction and authors such as Edwidge Danticat, Tiphanie Yanique, Alejandro Varela, Gabriela Garcia, and Angie Cruz. Show less

Set in the US, Colombia and Cuba, these ten gems of short fiction take on some juicy subjects, including kidnapping, grave robbing, drug-running, and the ...Show more Set in the US, Colombia and Cuba, these ten gems of short fiction take on some juicy subjects, including kidnapping, grave robbing, drug-running, and the story of a mail-order bride. You expect rich characterization from literary fiction, and you certainly get it here, but Engel's story lines are also snappy and the writing is crisp. The stories also encompass a pleasing variety. Some are crime stories: "Fausto" is a modern variation on the theme of Faustian bargains, and "Aida" is a suspenseful tale of a teen girl's twin going missing. Other stories deal with love and relationships: "Campoamor" concerns a young Havana man juggling two girlfriends, and "The Book of Saints" tells the story of a working class American man and his bride from Colombia. These are excellent, compelling stories for fans of realistic fiction and authors such as Edwidge Danticat, Tiphanie Yanique, Alejandro Varela, Gabriela Garcia, and Angie Cruz. Show less

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