Category Archives: Fiction

The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry by Gabrielle Zevin

06 Monday Apr 2015

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The calm and quiet life of A. J. Fikry, a curmudgeonly widower living on an island off the coast of New England, is dramatically transformed when an orphan child is left in his bookstore.

In addition to a sweet and charming story about the love of reading, the reader will come away with a new list of books to read.  Zevin uses an unusual device to introduce new characters in her novel. Rather than describing people by their physical characteristics, she describes characters in terms of what they read and their personal reading experiences.  Which three books would define your character?

“The Storied Life of A. J. Fikry reminds us what saves us all from a life of loneliness and isolation: our sense of empathy; our ability to love and be loved; our willingness to care and be cared for. Gabrielle Zevin has written a wonderful, moving, endearing story of redemption and transformation that will sing in your heart for a very, very long time.” —Garth Stein, author of The Art of Racing in the Rain

“In this sweet, uplifting homage to bookstores, Zevin perfectly captures the joy of connecting people and books . . . Filled with interesting characters, a deep knowledge of bookselling, wonderful critiques of classic titles, and very funny depictions of book clubs and author events, this will prove irresistible to book lovers everywhere.” —Booklist

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Dark Places by Gillian Flynn

30 Monday Mar 2015

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Born into a struggling Midwestern farming family, Libby Day is traumatized in childhood by horrendous acts of violence which she refers to as Darkplace. Decades later, alienated and adrift, she is contacted by a group of crime enthusiasts known as the Kill Club who offer money in exchange for information about her incarcerated brother Ben, from whom she is estranged. Cynical at first, Libby accepts out of financial need but soon her investigations become an urgent personal quest for truth as she uncovers misunderstandings and half-truths that challenge her long-held beliefs about Darkplace. This well-written psychological suspense story will keep you on edge to the explosive conclusion.  Author of the very popular book, Gone Girl.

“Flynn’s well-paced story deftly shows the fallibility of memory and the lies a child tells herself to get through a trauma.” The New Yorker

“Flynn’s second crime thriller tops her impressive debut, Sharp Objects…When the truth emerges, it’s so twisted that even the most astute readers won’t have predicted it.”—Publishers Weekly, starred review

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Heat and Dust by Ruth Prawer Jhabvala

25 Wednesday Mar 2015

Posted by in Fiction, Historical Fiction

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Heat and Dust was recently mentioned in a Boston Globe interview with Ha Jin, author of Waiting, which won the National Book Award in 1999 and his most recent novel, A Map of Betrayal.  Jin who teaches a course at Brandeis entitled “The Literature of the Migrant” describes Heat and Dust as “an exquisite novel, technically perfect.”  That was a challenge!  In less than two hundred pages, Jhabvala has created a penetrating and compassionate love story set in India in the 1920’s that leaves the reader wondering about the outcome.

“A superb book. A complex story line, handled with dazzling assurance … moving and profound. Ruth Prawer Jhabvala has not only written a love story, she has also exposed the soul and nerve ends of a fascinating and compelling country. This is a book of cool, controlled brilliance. It is a jewel to be treasured” — The Times

“A writer of genius … a writer of world class — a master storyteller’ — Sunday Times

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Glaciers by Alexis M. Smith

18 Wednesday Mar 2015

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A small book that fits in the palm of your hand but carries a big message. Jane Mendelsohn, author of  “I Was Amelia Earhart”, describes Glaciers as “a delicate and piercing first novel that is like a vintage dress with a few sequins: charming, understated and glinting with memories of loneliness and love.”  Do set aside a rainy afternoon to read this charming book!

“Glaciers, Alexis Smith’s brilliant debut novel, is filled with kaleidoscopic pleasures. Using prose as clear as pure, cold air, Smith moves the narrative vertically as well as horizontally, each ticking minute yielding more insights into a young woman’s life revealed over one single day. The past, present, and imaginary future stream into beautifully unstable geometries: Isabel’s childhood snows from her youth in Alaska are juxtaposed against her adult trip to a vintage thrift store; her hopes for an evening party push against the echoes of war that haunt a young soldier whom she loves. Line by line, in and out of time, this is a haunted, joyful, beautiful book–a true gift.”—Karen Russell, author of Swamplandia!

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Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell by Susanna Clarke

06 Friday Mar 2015

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A great book to read during this long, cold winter. Set in the early 1800s, the story follows two magicians and their quest to bring magic back to England. With its many supporting characters and witty tone, the book has been compared to Jane Austen and Charles Dickens. Though not a quick read, this one is worth the time. Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell was also recently made into a TV series that will air on BBC America later this year.

“A smashing success…History and fantasy form a beautiful partnership in this detailed, authentic, and heartfelt novel.”—Booklist (starred review)
“An instant classic, one of the finest fantasies ever written.”—Kirkus Reviews (starred review)
“What kind of magic can make an 800-page novel seem too short? Whatever it is, debut author Susanna Clarke is possessed by it.”
—USA Today

The Homesman by Glendon Swarthout

13 Friday Feb 2015

Posted by in Fiction, Historical Fiction, western

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The Homesman was originally published in 1988 but has recently been released as a paperback in conjunction with a major motion picture starring Tommy Lee Jones and Hilary Swank. It’s always fun to read the book first and then see the movie! The main characters, George Briggs, a low-life claim jumper, and Mary Bee Cuddy, an indomitable and resourceful spinster, are forced into some sort of functioning relationship as they trek back to the East from the Midwest during the 1850’s, battling ice storms, Indian attacks, famine and loneliness.  The book highlights the plight of American frontier women and the hardships that they endured.  After reading this book, the reader will appreciate the comforts of 21st century living.

“I tell friends what The Homesman is about and their eyes open wide and they can’t wait to read it. And that’s just the plot. Swarthout puts you there, in time and place. I love the way he writes.” (Elmore Leonard)
“No reader should even attempt to guess what happens. Surprise piles upon surprise… Glendon Swarthout has honed writing excellence to a nearly unsurpassable level… A powerful novel… A classic of vivid realism and gripping storytelling.” (Associated Press)

“Totally involving from its very first words… a dangerous journey into the soul, an exploration of the relationships of men and women to each other, to their environments and—ultimately most devastatingly—to themselves.” (Los Angeles Times Book Review)

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In the Woods by Tana French

15 Thursday Jan 2015

Posted by in Fiction, mystery

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This is a gripping, beautifully written mystery set in Ireland. The narrator, a detective who was part of an unsolved case as a child, is confronted with his past when another crime takes place in his hometown decades later. I was intrigued to learn that this is the first in a series of loosely linked books, all part of the “Dublin Murder Squad,” and I look forward to reading the next one.

“Tana French’s In the Woods is tangled, dark, and impossible to put down. With a story like a freight train and characters so vivid that I found myself wondering what they were doing while I wasn’t reading it, it’s one of the best books I’ve read this year. In fact, it’s so good that I wish I’d written it – it’s absolutely brilliant.” — Kelly Braffet, author of LAST SEEN LEAVING and JOSIE AND JACK

“With her utterly beautiful and brilliantly evocative prose, Tana French invites us into a murky netherworld so seductive and engrossing that we can’t turn away, even when we try. Ms. French is an extraordinary writer and IN THE WOODS is a stellar debut. “– Lisa Unger, author of the New York Times bestseller BEAUTIFUL LIES and SLIVER OF TRUTH –This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Hunting and Gathering by Anna Gavalda; translated from the French by Alison Anderson

10 Wednesday Dec 2014

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I discovered this diamond in the rough.  Four people, having hit rock bottom in their varied lives, who don’t even really like each other but are forced to live in an apartment in Paris because there is nowhere else, somehow rise above their broken lives.   Through dialogue alone, one learns about their back stories.  From the dust cover:  “Apart, they may be homeless, but together, this curious, damaged quartet may be able to face the world”.  This is a hopeful, uplifting book.  Their journey-to-find joy will stick with you long after you have put the book down.  I have heard from some who make it a point to re-read this book every year.

“Enjoyable, well-paced and engaging” — Houston Times Literary Supplement

“Like Amelie, Hunting and Gathering stops at nothing to make the reader feel good. Reading it reminded me of tucking into one of those beautifully constructed little cakes that you see in the windows of elegant French patisseries” Sunday Telegraph

“An elegant, ironic tale. This will be a classic.” Cosmopolitan

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Care of Wooden Floors by Will Wiles

03 Wednesday Dec 2014

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Witty, dark, and hysterical are just a few of the adjectives that describe this novel. British humor at its best.

“If you are a fan of Kafka, you should enjoy this novel, which is reminiscent of The Metamorphosis.” —Kirkus Reviews

“One of the funniest and cleverest books of the year.….Care of Wooden Floors reads like a farce directed by Alfred Hitchcock, and the novel’s denouement will surprise even the most jaded readers.” —Washington Independent Review of Books

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The Vacationers by Emma Straub

17 Monday Nov 2014

Posted by in Fiction, Travel

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Fittingly, I read this while on vacation.  The story follows a family’s summer trip to the island of Majorca, Spain. Each character — parents, children, visiting family friends — is struggling with something painful, but the book is still really funny and a page-turner. And it will make you want to visit Majorca!

“For those unable to jet off to a Spanish island this summer, reading The Vacationers may be the next-best thing. . . . [A] gorgeously written novel  . . . When I turned the last page, I felt as I often do when a vacation is over: grateful for the trip and mourning its end.”—The New York Times Book Review

“Sharply observed and funny, Straub’s domestic-drama-goes-abroad is a delightful study of the complexities of family and love, and the many distractions from both.”—Booklist (starred review)

“A novel that is both a lot of fun to read and has plenty of insight into the marital bond and the human condition.”—Kirkus Reviews (starred review)