 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
The following books are recommended by our staff as great choices for book groups.
The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood
Set in the near future, in a totalitarian theocracy which has overthrown the United States government, The Handmaid's Tale explores themes of women in subjugation. The character is one of a class of individuals kept as ‘handmaids’ for reproductive purposes in an era of declining births. The images of emptiness are one of the most striking aspects of this novel-the effect is chilling.
Reviewed by:
Tracy 
The Handmaid's Tale (Paperback)
$15.00
ISBN-13: 9780385490818Availability: On Our Shelves Now
Published: Anchor, 3/1998
Kafka on the Shore by Haruki Murakami
Focusing on a 15 year old runaway, Kafka, and the old man Nakata, whose childhood trauma deprived him of his memory, Murakami weaves these characters towards each other in a magical world where cats talk and fish fall from the sky. None of the characters in Kafka on the Shore is as powerful as the forces of fate that drive them, and none even try to resist.
Reviewed by:
Tracy Check out the Google eBook edition of Kafka on the Shore
Kafka on the Shore (Paperback)
$15.95
ISBN-13: 9781400079278Availability: On Our Shelves Now
Published: Vintage, 1/2006
Lady of the Rivers by Philippa Gregory
Let me admit that this was my first Philippa Gregory read. I was very impressed by her writing style, by the level of detail she provided, and by her ability to create suspense despite the general outcome being a forgone conclusion. I love the women she writes--they are complex characters, neither good nor altogether bad, who arouse your sympathies while making choices you disagree with.
Reviewed by:
Nici Check out the Google eBook edition of The Lady of the Rivers
The Lady of the Rivers (Paperback)
$16.00
ISBN-13: 9781416563716Availability: On Our Shelves Now
Published: Touchstone, 4/2012
Forgotten Country by Catherine Chung
This is a beautifully written novel about death, culture shock, and enduring xenophobia. It's about sisterhood, favoritism, and duty. It's about resenting your culture and being unable to escape it. It's about the secrets that families keep from the world and from each other. The story is honest and difficult and emotional, and I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.
Reviewed by:
Andrea Check out the Google eBook edition of Forgotten Country
Forgotten Country (Hardcover)
$26.95
ISBN-13: 9781594488085Availability: On Our Shelves Now
Published: Riverhead Hardcover, 3/2012
Snow Child by Eowyn Ivey
The Russian snow maiden fairy tale was never one of my favorites as a kid, but Ivey makes it lush and irresistible. Set against the harrowing backdrop of the Alaskan wilderness, the story unfolds with a touch of magical realism. There's an emphasis on the real, meaning that the characters behave as believably as one would expect when a girl made of snow comes to life in their backyard.
Reviewed by:
Andrea Check out the Google eBook edition of The Snow Child
The Snow Child (Hardcover)
$24.99
ISBN-13: 9780316175678Availability: On Our Shelves Now
Published: Reagan Arthur Books, 2/2012
Edge of Dark Water by Joe Lansdale
Reminiscent of Huckleberry Finn, Lansdale's character Sue Ellen leads a diverse crew on an exhilarating adventure down river trying to stay one step ahead of pursuit. Her narrative voice is authentic, precocious and honest. Lansdale sets a tone that is beautiful and suspenseful, building up his story and fleshing out his characters into a profound masterpiece.
Reviewed by:
Nici Check out the Google eBook edition of Edge of Dark Water
Edge of Dark Water (Hardcover)
$25.99
ISBN-13: 9780316188432Availability: On Our Shelves Now
Published: Mulholland Books, 3/2012
The Lola Quartet by Emily St. John Mandel
This is The Great Gatsby for the disillusioned, overworked, economically desperate late-20s readership. Idealistic reporter Gavin loses his job when he includes false quotes to embellish a series of newspaper articles. He reluctantly returns to Florida, where he finds that his friends and girlfriend are involved in a scheme too crazy to be believed, one that cannot possibly end well.
Reviewed by:
Andrea 
The Lola Quartet (Hardcover)
$24.95
ISBN-13: 9781609530792Availability: On Our Shelves Now
Published: Unbridled Books, 5/2012
The Newlyweds by Nell Freudenberger
This book reminds me of The Marriage Plot by Eugenides - both novels are concerned with marriage, obviously, but there's something about the slow unfolding of these characters and their relationships that brings Eugenides' fiction to mind. Don’t miss this quiet gem of a novel.
Availability: On Our Shelves Now
Published: Knopf, 5/2012
Reviewed by:
Kat Check out the Google eBook edition of The Newlyweds
The Newlyweds (Hardcover)
$18.17
ISBN-13: 9780307268846Availability: On Our Shelves Now
Published: Knopf, 5/2012
Heft by Liz Moore
I was swept up by this novel. It is one of the finest pieces of character work I've encountered, the kind of book that nests in the back of your mind and ruffles its feathers from time to time. It's the story of Arthur Opp, a professor who has exiled himself from the world for ten years, and the sudden intrusion into his life that brings him back. Hopeful but never sacchrine.
Reviewed by:
Kat Check out the Google eBook edition of Heft
Heft (Hardcover)
$24.95
ISBN-13: 9780393081503Availability: On Our Shelves Now
Published: W. W. Norton & Company, 1/2012
Say Her Name by Francisco Goldman
Say Her Name is an autobiographical novel about the loss of Francisco Goldman's wife, Aura. I don't think anyone has ever loved anyone as much as Goldman loves his late wife - his devotion radiates from every sentence. I felt haunted by this book for weeks, and found myself thinking about Aura as if I had met her. It's a sad book, but trust me, it is well worth any tears.
Reviewed by:
Kat Check out the Google eBook edition of Say Her Name
Say Her Name (Paperback)
$15.00
ISBN-13: 9780802145802Availability: On Our Shelves Now
Published: Grove Press, 4/2012
Where Men Win Glory by Jon Krakauer
Pat Tillman was a true American hero. An All Star football player, he gave up his career to join the Army, only to be killed by friendly fire in Afghanistan, a fact which the government covered up. Krakauer delves into the story, following Tillman's life as well as the actions that lead to his death, and cutting through the web of lies woven around it.
Reviewed by:
Flannery Check out the Google eBook edition of Where Men Win Glory
Where Men Win Glory: The Odyssey of Pat Tillman (Paperback)
$15.95
ISBN-13: 9780307386045Availability: On Our Shelves Now
Published: Anchor, 7/2010
The Devil's Teeth by Susan Casey
Every year, Great White Sharks migrate to a jagged group of rocks of the coast of San Francisco called the Farallone Islands. The islands are largely inhabited by birds and seal, but a small group of intrepid people stay on the habitable island to study the sharks. This is a fascinating look into a little known local phenomenon, as well as an engrossing insight into a mysterious local creature.
Reviewed by:
Flannery Check out the Google eBook edition of The Devil's Teeth
The Devil's Teeth: A True Story of Obsession and Survival Among America's Great White Sharks (Paperback)
$15.00
ISBN-13: 9780805080117Availability: On Our Shelves Now
Published: Holt Paperbacks, 5/2006
All Creatures Great and Small by James Herriot
I love James Herriot. As a child, I aspired to be a country vet because of him. This collection recounts his first years as a small town vet, and is full of stories that are by turns heartwarming, sad, and comforting, and reveal the best, deepest nature of our animal friends. His love of life and all creatures is infectious, making this a sweet, funny, and uplifting book.
Reviewed by:
Flannery 
All Creatures Great and Small (Mass Market Paperback)
$7.99
ISBN-13: 9780312965785Availability: On Our Shelves Now
Published: St. Martin's Paperbacks, 4/1998
Big Sex, Little Death by Susie Bright
Susie Bright has the kind of life that memoirs were invented for—and finally she has written one! Chock full of “did-that-really-happen” moments and the fiercely intelligent and empathetic insight that she is known for, Big Sex Little Death is not to be skipped. Perfect for book group or class discussions
Reviewed by:
Kat 
Big Sex Little Death (Paperback)
$17.00
ISBN-13: 9781580053938Availability: On Our Shelves Now
Published: Seal Press (CA), 4/2012
Drinking: A Love Story by Caroline Knapp
As someone who shares the same love, I fell easily into this all too common tale of the high-functioning alcoholic. The honesty with which Knapp writes is refreshingly undramatic. There are a lot of gritty rock-bottom memoirs out there, but Drinking manages to have the soul baring quality of a best friend’s confidence without the gut wrenching cringe factor.
Reviewed by:
Kimberly Check out the Google eBook edition of Drinking: A Love Story
Drinking: A Love Story (Paperback)
$16.00
ISBN-13: 9780385315548Availability: On Our Shelves Now
Published: Dial Press Trade Paperback, 1/1996
