The Weird Sisters by Eleanor Brown
Three Sisters, each with secrets, return home when their mom falls ill and rediscover themselves and their relationships with each other. The novel captures the “I love you but I don’t like you” dynamic of siblings. Full of quotes about books and reading, there’s also an eccentric father who quotes Shakespeare for most of life’s situations.
Left Neglected by Lisa Genova
A highly driven, multi-tasking mom/business woman is living “the life” with her hubby and three kids, until an accident forces her to start over. Though a work of fiction, Left Neglected is a fascinating peek at how the brain works. Occasionally the narrative is a bit repetitive, but never “schmaltzy.”
Prospero Lost by L. Jagi Lamplighter
What if characters in The Tempest were real and practicing magic today? In this mash-up of urban fantasy and legend, Lamplighter runs with this idea and creates a noirish, mind-boggling tale. The story builds slowly (Miranda finds a cryptic note after father Prospero disappears and must find and warn her estranged siblings of impending danger) and is not resolved in this first of what appears to be a trilogy (the next is Prospero in Hell). Anyone looking for something well written and “different” should enjoy!
The Nobodies Album by Carolyn Parkhurst
Part murder mystery, part family drama, Parkhurst’s latest examines the devastating and potentially, healing power of grief through the story of prolific author Octavia Frost and her rock-star son, who has been accused of murdering his girlfriend. An unusual technique of inserting excerpts from Frost’s own fiction into the story of this estranged mother and son provides a unique way of learning about each character and the defining moments of their lives.
An Object of Beauty by Steve Martin
A recognized and discernible collector of art himself, Martin takes readers on an insider’s tour of the rarified world of art galleries and museums through the machinations of an ambitious young woman who will do practically anything to get what she wants.
The Unnamed by Joshua Ferris
Successful attorney Tim Farnsworth suffers from a strange condition—medical? psychological? — that compels him to walk to the point of exhaustion. Eventually, the disorder spirals out of control, and Farnsworth abandons his family, career, and life of privilege to give himself completely over to his condition. The book is a remarkable exploration of themes of identity, family, commitment, and redemption. It is not as easy a read as Ferris’s earlier work, Then We Came to the End, but an unforgettable and original commentary.
The Monuments Men: Allied Heroes, Nazi Thieves, and the Greatest Treasure Hunt in History
Edsel’s books narrate the untold story of the WWII Allied division whose mission was to find European art and treasures stolen by the Nazis. These men and women, curators and archivists, artists and art historians from 13 nations saved and preserved what they could of Europe’s treasures. Rescuing da Vinci contains photos while The Monuments Men is primarily a scholarly text. (Hundreds of thousands of artifacts are still missing !) Both books are thought-provoking and inspiring and should not be missed by those interested in this facet of World War II.
Rescuing da Vinci: Hitler and the Nazis Stole Europe’s Great Art: America and Her Allies Recovered It both by Robert Edsel
Mockingbird: Mok’ing-bûrd by Kathryn Erskine (JH ERSKINE)
Ten-year-old Caitlin Smith’s has Asperger’s syndrome and experiences life’s events differently from others. When a school shooting in her small Virginia town causes the death of her beloved brother, Devon, and two others, Caitlin faces these tragedies matter-of-factly. She is a brilliant child, yet her lack of empathy and social skills cause her father great sorrow. Moments of needed humor are provided when Caitlin does not understand the nuances of language. (Her self-consciousness is poignant).Erskine truly captures the voice of a child in this emotionally charged novel. Don’t miss it! Suitable for JH and up.
Mary
