Are you looking for an innovative, well-written, and totally engrossing fantasy series? Look no further. Explore three parallel but very different Londons with Kell, the last Antari, who has the almost extinct ability to travel between the Londons. You're in for some impressive and creative world building, characters you'll want more from (both heroes and villains,) and two more books after this one to keep you going.
Despite years of research, we still know very little about the brain. Brainstorm explores the inner workings of the brain through fascinating case studies of people showing a diverse array of symptoms, piecing together a diagnosis from the tiniest of clues. I am fascinated by the brain but not a scientist, and Brainstorm keeps the science while being enjoyably readable. Great for Oliver Sacks fans!
Don’t expect black and white lessons on morality in this page-turning novel that delves into toxic diet culture, gender inequality, the beauty industry, and female rage. This book made me cheer on the main character while simultaneously made me feel deeply conflicted. Read it with a friend (or your bookclub) because I guarantee you’ll want to talk this one through.
I have been looking for a cookbook of Native American recipes that stays true to the roots of the cuisine while being geared towards modern home cooks, and I’ve finally found it. But this cookbook is so much more — it is fascinating reading, illuminating the people and cultures behind the recipes as you learn about indigenous American ingredients. This is one I’ll be reaching for again and again!
I love color and art history so this book was a sure thing for me, but even if you don't know your ultramarine from your cobalt, this book is a fascinating read. Learn about the toxic history of lead white, the macabre source for "mummy brown," and the stories behind 73 more colors and pigments. Whether you skip around or read it straight through, I guarantee you'll learn something on every page.
Fans of the podcast will want to pick up this scary novelization, but I would give this book to any fan of a good horror tale. Keisha was certain her missing wife, Alice, was dead, until spotting her in the background in a TV news report. So begins Keisha's job as a truck driver with the mysterious Bay and Creek, and her cross-country journey to find Alice, uncovering a truth hidden in the abandoned places across America.
In four novellas with alternating authors all set in a shared city, Bacigalup and Buckell create a vivid world of outlawed magic, corrupt governments, environmental collapse, and stark class divisions that is both fantastically imaginative and eerily resonant. The four novellas allow us a window into many parts of Khaim, and introduce a rich spectrum of characters. I hope we get more stories set in this shared universe!
The Readymade Thief is one of those books you'll find yourself reading in stolen minutes — in checkout lines, before bed, late into the night. At the center of the story is Lee, lost in the underbelly of Philadelphia and mired in a mystery that touches on urban exploring, secret societies, and, strangely, artist Marcel Duchamp. If you loved The Goldfinch, check this debut novel out.
After a mysterious pocket watch seems to save him from an explosion at Scotland Yard, Thaniel tracks down its maker in search for answers. But the mysteries only deepen when he befriends the mysterious Keita Mori. Questions of fate and free will challenge your preconceptions in this genre-bending historical mystery that blends a complex and charming plot with just a little bit of magic.
No one really knows what caused the Spill, but the result is a supernatural Chernobyl-like isolation zone, complete with mysterious creatures; strange, dangerous landscapes; and a big ol' government blockade. Our main character, Addison, risks her safety and defies the law to photograph the Spill Zone for elite collectors. Get ready for some great mystery, an awesome female protagonist, and a truly spooky art style!
No One Cares About Crazy People is part memoir, part history, part exposé, and completely thought provoking and heartbreaking. Interwoven with the appalling history of mistreatment inflicted on the mentally ill in the name of "care" is Ron Powers' touching personal history with the crippling effects of schizophrenia. This book is for anyone whose life is touched by mental illness (which is all of us).
The word that comes to mind when thinking of this novel is “atmosphere.” Hunt captures the feeling and language of colonial New England so perfectly in this bewitching tale, you’ll feel like you’re reading text written in the 1600s. If you're looking for something to spook you this winter but you gravitate more towards literary fiction, this is for you. In the House in the Dark of the Woods will give you plenty to think about!
I am always on the prowl for my next book, even when I have a few books in my currently reading pile, so this book is like fuel for that fire. Each entry is accompanied by a short essay, photographs, and even suggestions for further reading, making this book alone is a worthy undertaking for any avid reader. This is a great book for inspiring the bibliophiles in your life!
Sugar Run is an atmospheric, refined debut. Mesha Maren's prose is taut and lyric, and I was completely captivated by this tale of redemption and second chances. This is a novel you'll really sink into and want to savor as it breaks your heart. Maren has captured a gorgeous sense of place and fleshed out truly dimensional characters that are sympathetic as they are tragic. A great book club read!
Hunger is honest, heartbreaking, enlightening, powerful, beautiful, and unforgettable. Roxane Gay says several times that this was the hardest thing she has ever written, and I am so grateful that she did. No one has written about being an overweight woman like this, and if you or someone you love has ever struggled with their weight, you owe it to yourself or to them to read this book.