Stranger in the Kingdom by Howard Frank Mosher

21 Sunday Jun 2020

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“Set in northern Vermont in 1952, Mosher’s tale of racism and murder is powerful, viscerally affecting and totally contemporary in its exposure of deep-seated prejudice and intolerance . . . [A] big, old-fashioned novel.” —Publishers Weekly

“Reminiscent of both To Kill a Mockingbird and Anatomy of a Murder…absorbing!” – Christopher Lehmann-Haupt, New York Times

“A real mystery in the best and truest sense.”—Lee Smith, The New York Times Book Review

“Exciting and memorable…Howard Frank Mosher has made a small-town story into a universal one…and has carried it along with a rolling wave of suspense.” – Wallace Stegner

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The New Husband by D.J. Palmer

13 Saturday Jun 2020

Posted by in Fiction, suspense, thriller

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“What makes Simon Fitch so perfect?

-He knows all her favorite foods, music, and movies.
-Her son adores him. He was there when she needed him most.
-He anticipates her every need.
-He would never betray her like her first husband.

The perfect husband. He checks all the boxes. The question is, why?”  (Amazon)

“Mother doesn’t always know best in this thrill ride of a novel…gripping and twisted.” ―Karin Slaughter, bestselling author of The Good Daughter

“Plenty of twists…will keep you turning the pages as you guess…and guess again.” ―Lisa Scottoline, New York Times bestselling author of After Anna

“An acute, sensitive portrayal of family love under extreme stress…[with] a touch of Hitchcock.” ―William Landay, New York Times bestselling author of Defending Jacob

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The Splendid and the Vile by Erik Larson

07 Sunday Jun 2020

Posted by in Biography, England, Non-fiction

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This new nonfiction book explores the early days of World War II in England, specifically Winston Churchill’s leadership during the Blitz. Even though we know what happened, this is a suspenseful page-turner filled with interesting stories and anecdotes about the key players in England, the United States, and Germany. In our current times, you may also find inspiration in reading about ordinary citizens facing a scary and challenging situation with courage and creativity.

“Through the remarkably skillful use of intimate diaries as well as public documents, some newly released, Larson has transformed the well-known record of 12 turbulent months, stretching from May of 1940 through May of 1941, into a book that is fresh, fast and deeply moving.”—Candice Millard, The New York Times Book Review

“A propulsive, character-driven account of Winston Churchill’s first year as British prime minister . . . Readers will rejoice.”—Publishers Weekly (starred review)

“Larson’s skill at integrating vast research and talent for capturing compelling human dramas culminate in an inspirational portrait of one of history’s finest, most fearless leaders.”—Booklist (starred review)

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All Adults Here by Emma Straub

31 Sunday May 2020

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This novel follows several members of an extended family living in New York’s Hudson Valley. The widowed matriarch of the family is in a surprising new relationship, her single daughter is expecting a baby, and her teenage granddaughter is living with her to escape troubles at her old school. These are just a few of the characters explored in this warm, charming story full of flawed but lovable people. This book is a nice mix of comedy and drama, and I loved the descriptions of the small town where they all live.

 “The perfect book to read during quarantine if your family is driving you crazy . . . a layered love story that examines, and ultimately celebrates, the modern, multigenerational family dynamic.”—Parade

“‘Literary sunshine’ is a good way to think of Straub’s work. Her writing and tone are consistently bright and straightforward; her approach to character is warm and generous……..”—The New York Times

“Undeniably pleasing . . . a kind of thinking-person’s beach read that’s maybe all the better for arriving in these strange, landlocked times.”—Entertainment Weekly

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Meet Me at the Museum by Anne Youngson

25 Monday May 2020

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Mrs. Tina Hopgood is an English farmer’s wife, and Anders Larsen a widowed curator at a museum in Denmark. Though a common interest in one of the museum exhibits brings them together, Anders and Tina soon begin sharing increasingly personal stories and thoughts from their lives, including some never spoken of before. It is touching and uplifting to follow along as their relationship develops, solely through their letters.  Slow down and take your time with this contemplative read.

“A thoughtful meditation on buried passions, regrets, love, grief, and loneliness. But Youngson’s debut offers hope for change in its tender exploration of what it means to have experienced a life well-lived.”―The Guardian

 “A moving tribute to friendship and love, to the courage of the ordinary, and to starting again.”―Rachel Joyce, New York Times bestselling author of The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry

 “Precise, clear, funny, poignant, and truthful. This is a work of art, dear readers. Revel in its beauty.”―Adriana Trigiani, New York Times bestselling author of The Shoemaker’s Wife and Lucia, Lucia

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Dark Sacred Night by Michael Connelly

18 Monday May 2020

Posted by in Fiction, murder, murder and investigation, mystery

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Weston Public Library’s March 2020 choice for the Mystery Book Club.

Harry Bosch (retired detective) teams up with LAPD Detective Renée Ballard to face the unsolved murder of a runaway, and the fight to bring a killer to justice.

“Of the myriad things Connelly does superbly as a crime writer, perhaps one of the least heralded is his ability to bring characters together from different series…A guaranteed chart-topper.”— Bill Ott, Booklist (starred review)

 “LAPD Det. Renée Ballard, first seen in 2017’s The Late Show, makes a welcome return in this outstanding, complex police procedural…Bosch and Ballard, both outsiders with complicated pasts, form a perfect partnership in this high spot of Edgar-winner Connelly’s long and distinguished career.”— Publishers Weekly (starred review)

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Working: Research, Interviewing, Writing by Robert A. Caro

11 Monday May 2020

Posted by in 20th century, Biography

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From the two-time Pulitzer Prize-winning author of The Power Broker and the Years of Lyndon Johnson series: an unprecedented gathering of vivid, candid, deeply revealing recollections about his experiences researching and writing his acclaimed books.  Inside this short book and, with his self deprecating humor, the reader gains insight into Caro’s work habits, career research highlights, and his passion and integrity for superior storytelling.

 A short book that packs a big wallop . . . Stunningly incisive . . .  James Boswell’s Life of Samuel Johnson is generally considered to be the finest biography in the English language . . . Robert Caro’s monumental works . . . are every bit as impressive as what Boswell achieved. Even more so, actually. . . Caro’s unrelenting pursuit of facts and his insights will leave you in awe . . . After reading this brief, brilliant book, one can only say, ‘Wow!’” —Steve Forbes, Forbes Magazine

 “America’s most honored biographer . . . has paused in the work of the final volume [of The Years of Lyndon Johnson] to publish a conversational, behind-the-scenes compendium addressing the questions he hears most often, starting with, Why do your books take so long to write?” —Karl Vick, Time

 “Robert Caro is one of the most respected historians of our time. His memoir is a masterclass in how great books are built, and is peppered with great anecdotes about people of power.”  —Town & Country

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The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek by Kim Michele Richardson

04 Monday May 2020

Posted by in 20th century, Fiction, Historical Fiction

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Inspired by the true “blue-skinned people of Kentucky” and the brave and dedicated Kentucky Pack Horse library service of the 1930s, here is a story of raw courage, fierce strength, and one woman’s belief that books can carry us anywhere—even back home.

“…a hauntingly atmospheric love letter to the first mobile library in Kentucky and the fierce, brave packhorse librarians who wove their way from shack to shack dispensing literacy, hope, and — just as importantly — a compassionate human connection.”—Sara Gruen, author of Water for Elephants

“A unique story about Appalachia and the healing power of the written word.”—Kirkus

“A timeless and significant tale about poverty, intolerance and how books can bring hope and light to even the darkest pocket of history.”—Karen Abbott, New York Times bestselling author of Liar Temptress Soldier Spy

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In Five Years by Rebecca Serle

28 Tuesday Apr 2020

Posted by in Comedy, Fiction, romance

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The same night that Dannie gets engaged, she has a dream that it’s five years in the future and she’s living with a different man. She tries to forget about it, until a few years later when she meets that same man from her dream. While this is partly a romance, it is also about Dannie’s life and career in New York City, and her relationship with her childhood best friend. Once you start, this is hard to put down.

“When smart, thoughtful writing pairs with a compelling, ingenious plot I am hooked and so very happy. It’s been a long time since I read a novel in two sittings, but as soon as I started In Five Years, I was a goner. Loved it! Brava, Rebecca Serle.” —ELINOR LIPMAN, author of Good Riddance

 “A heartwarming portrait of a broken heart finding a little healing magic.” —Kirkus Reviews

 “Heartbreaking, redemptive, and authentic in all the ways that make a book impossible to put down, I fell in love with this story. In five years, I will still be thinking about this beautiful novel.” —JAMIE FORD, New York Times bestselling author of Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet

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The Radium Girls: The Dark Story of America’s Shining Women by Kate Moore

20 Monday Apr 2020

Posted by in 20th century, Biography, Historical Fiction, Non-fiction

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Written from the perspective of the enthusiastic teenage girls who stepped up in the early WWI war effort to work in the factories painting illuminated dials for the military, their sacrifice outweighed their courage.  Mysteriously, they became ill.  But in an age before our technology, each seemed like a random case. Take part in one of the biggest scandals of corporate denial in the 20th century.  Page turning non-fiction that includes remarkable photos of the women you will never forget plus a reading guide.

“This timely book celebrates the strength of a group of women, whose determination to fight improved both labor laws and scientific knowledge of radium poisoning. Written in a highly readable, narrative style, Moore’s chronicle of these inspirational women’s lives is sure to provoke discussion-and outrage-in book groups.” – Booklist-STARRED review

“Moore’s well-researched narrative is written with clarity and a sympathetic voice that brings these figures and their struggles to life…a must-read for anyone interested in American and women’s history, as well as topics of law, health, and industrial safety.” – STARRED Library Journal

“We sometimes need reminding of where health and safety came from, and why it is so very important for progress. The Radium Girls compels us to remember.” – Chemistry World

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