Ocean State: A Novel, by Stewart 'Nan
With beautiful Westerly, RI as its setting, a present-day tragedy of teens without direction or moral compass.
Read MoreThe Book of Cold Cases, by Simone St. James
No spoilers here! Your first recommendation for a great vacation read, if a crime-horror mashup is your thing.
Read MoreUnlikely Animals, by Annie Hartnett
This could be my favorite book this summer, maybe this year. A gentle, humorous story of kindness and love for family, friends, and neighbors.
Read MoreJoan Is Okay, by Weike Wang
Is Joan okay? If her family could back off with their demands, she could maybe think about what she wants in life. The demands of being a woman, a Chinese American, are all getting a bit much for Joan. Expect gentle, ironic humor from this charming novel.
Read MoreCrossroads, by Jonathan Franzen
Crossroads, a study of a family during the Vietnam era of 1971, is the first of a trilogy by Jonathan Franzen. Check it out!
Read MoreAnthem, by Noah Hawley
A cautionary tale told in the tone of Vonnegut, this novel describes how our current circumstances create unbearable anxiety in our future, our young people.
Read MoreHow High We Go in the Dark, by Sequoia Nagamatsu
A pandemic novel, but far, far more. Nagamatsu tries to explore all of human history in this speculative novel.
Read MoreThe Lincoln Highway, by Amor Towles
Two brothers set off on the legendary Lincoln Highway to seek their futures in 1950s California, only to be conned, threatened, and delayed by an unscrupulous character.
Read MoreThe Christie Affair, by Nina de Gramont
What happened to Agatha Christie when she disappeared for eleven days in 1926? Gramont spins an entire back story for this event, in true Christie fashion.
Read MoreTermination Shock, by Neal Stephenson
Stephenson takes us a few steps into the future, when climate change threats are addressed by independent geoengineering efforts, sparking a new climate cold war.
Read MoreRock Paper Scissors, by Alice Feeney
Set in a remote renovated chapel in the wild Scottish Highlands, the romantic setting is perfect for long suppressed secrets to emerge, with violent consequences, as a couple trying to rekindle their relationship resolve more than they anticipated. A fun weekend thriller, surely soon to be a movie.
Read MoreMissionaries, by Phil Klay
Stories of war told by four voices, uncovering the true trauma, violence, and desperation experienced by many in our world. A timely and important novel, given the conflicts in the world today.
Read MoreVerity, by Colleen Hoover
Enjoy this titilating, suspenseful novel. Don’t expect literature— but expect to be entertained.
Read MoreGoing There, by Katie Couric
Enjoy Katie Couric’s story, both the dishy insider’s view of television journalism, and the serious evolution of news coverage, and the role of women as part of those changes.
Read MoreThe Anthropocene Reviewed, by John Green
John Green is personal and self-revelatory in this series of essays on cultural touchstones of this current epoch on earth, the human-dominated period.
Read MoreState of Terror, by Hillary Rodham Clinton and Louise Penny
My favorite mystery writer provides a decent suspenseful story, that Clinton mucks up with her political views.
Read MoreAnd Now I Spill the Family Secrets: An Illustrated Memoir, by Margaret Kimball
A graphic memoir that shows the impact of a parent’s mental illness on a child, and the power of love to nuture and heal. Highly recommended.
Read MoreMurder Book: A Graphic Memoir of a True Crime Obsession, by Hilary Fitzgerald Campbell
Excellent graphic memoir about the true crime obsession shared by many women, fellow murderinos.
Read MoreCraig & Fred: A Marine, A Stray Dog, and How They Rescued Each Other, by Craig Grossi
A genuine story of love and survival, Craig Grossi speaks to the importance of these bonds for our humanity, and finding perspective and meaning in the good and the bad experiences of life.
Read MoreFuzz: When Nature Breaks the Law, by Mary Roach
Mary Roach is back, with stories of unfortunate human-animal failed relationships, how humans try to fix the conflicts, and animals succeed in evading those efforts. Highly recommend.
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