August 2014 Staff PicksLike this list

13 items

• Bedrock Faith

  May, Eric Charles

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  In this debut novel by a Columbia College Chicago associate professor, Gerald "Stew Pot" Reeves returns after 14 years in jail to his mom's home in Parkland, a middle-class neighborhood on Chicago's south side. Claiming that's he's seen the light…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• Bellweather Rhapsody

  Racculia, Kate

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  The story opens in the Catskills in 1982 with a murder-suicide in Room 712 of the Bellweather Hotel, witnessed by young bridesmaid Minnie Graves. Fifteen years later, a group of high school musicians, including twins Alice and Rabbit Hatmaker,…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• Family Life

  a Novel

  Sharma, Akhil, 1971-

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  The Mishras emigrate from India during the late 70s in this marvelous twist on the American immigrant experience. Adjusting to a new culture is, of course, challenging enough, but all the more so when a tragedy turns a family upside down. Told from…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• The Girls From Corona Del Mar

  Thorpe, Rufi

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  Told from the perspective of the strong, if not always likeable Mia, this tale of childhood friends who grow up, grow apart and come together over the years is an immersive experience. As anyone who has had such a deep connection can attest, things…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• I'll Be Right There

  a Novel

  Sin, Kyŏng-suk

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  Korean novelist Shin returns with another beautifully written novel, this time set during the tumultuous 80s of South Korea. Her lead character Jung Yoon thoughtfully unfolds the story of her youth and the relationships that were most dear to her in…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• The Matchmaker

  a Novel

  Hilderbrand, Elin,

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  Hilderbrand once again delivers a captivating read set in the summer days and nights of Nantucket life. Dabney Beech expertly handles all things she encounters: her family as the wife of a prominent economist, her job at the town's Chamber of…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• The Secret History of Las Vegas

  a Novel

  Abani, Chris

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  Chris Abani's latest is as strange and mysterious as Las Vegas itself. This twisted ride reads like Elmore Leonard in a mash up with Katherine Dunn's Geek Love. Serial killers, secret military experiments, buckets of blood and genetically conjoined…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• Give the People What They Want

  Jones, Sharon, 1956-2016

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  Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings do classic soul as well as anyone playing today, and their fifth album does not disappoint. Despite Jones's recent treatment for cancer, her vocals are as powerful as ever. With nods to Motown and Stax, the album is…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• Piñata

  Gibbs, Freddie, 1982-

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  Attention rap fans! You won't want to miss this debut collaboration between Gary, Indiana-born rapper Freddie Gibbs and the exuberantly talented producer Madlib. It's one of the most acclaimed albums of the year so far (by both critics and…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• St. Vincent

  St. Vincent, 1982-

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  Formerly of the Polyphonic Spree, Annie Clark started performing under the stage name St. Vincent in 2006. Since then she's collaborated with the likes of David Byrne (whoa) and Sufjan Stevens. Her self-titled latest has garnered rave reviews with…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• Finding Vivian Maier

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  Street photographer Vivian Maier was an unknown quantity until, her photographs were posthumously found and shared online. She has since grown into a worldwide sensation, but how could this Chicago nanny have kept such artistry a secret for so long,…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• Fruitvale Station

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  This powerful film is based on the death of Oscar Grant, a 22 year-old unarmed black man who was detained and shot by a Bay Area Transit officer after a fight broke out on a train in the early morning hours of New Year's Day in 2009. The film opens…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• Philomena

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  Adapted from the book The Lost Child of Philomena Lee, Philomena depicts the true story of an Irish woman who as a girl was forced to give her child up for adoption. Philomena, played flawlessly by Judi Dench, lives with this secret for decades…Read moreRead more of this annotation