I try to keep my readers here ahead of the curve on all the mainstream new fiction coming in, which is no mean feat in and of itself. But sometimes, there are some great titles that tend to get lost in the shuffle, whether they're put out by smaller publishers or they're debut novels. I hate to let them disappear into the library stacks unnoticed, so I thought I'd share a few of these "amazing and different" titles.
The House on Salt Hay Road, by Carol Clevidence. On a quiet summer's day in 1938, a Long Island fireworks factory explodes. Clay Poole is fascinated by the chaos that has replaced everyday life as a result. His sister, however, is more intrigued by the stranger who appears, dusted in ashes, in the aftermath. The Poole children, orphaned and now being raised by their mother's family, have no idea that this is just the beginning of upheaval to come, including a hurricane and the impending war. Vivid and amazing.
The Sisters brothers, by Patrick deWitt. Eli and Charlie Sisters, hired gunslingers working for a frontier baron, are on the hunt for a prospector. On the road between Oregon City and the prospector's claim just outside of Sacramento, they meet a witch, a bear, and murderous trappers...just to start. Charlie remains bloodthirsty as ever, but Sisters brother Eli begins to wonder about their line of work, and who they're working for. Odd, funny, and sad, this is one you should make a point to go back and read.
The Good Father, by Noah Hawley. Dr. Paul Allen's specialty is treating patients that other doctors have given up on. His personal life is content, with his second wife and their twin sons. And then one afternoon, the breaking news is that the Democratic candidate for president has been shot at a rally, and Dr. Allen's son Daniel, from his first marriage, is the shooter. The harrowing narrative alternates between Dr. Allen's guilt-ridden attempts to understand and save his son, and Daniel's own meandering thought processes. A deeply emotional page-turner.
Happy reading!
Showing posts with label hidden gems. Show all posts
Showing posts with label hidden gems. Show all posts
Thursday, April 12, 2012
Tuesday, March 27, 2012
New (to me): Linwood Barclay
I know, I know. You're probably rolling your eyes at me right now, either because I get this excited to share these things with my fellow reading enthusiasts, or because you think that after working in libraries for nearly twelve years that there would be nothing new to me anymore. The fact is no one, and I mean no one, ever feels as though they have enough time to read everything that they want to read, myself included. And I'm constantly keeping my ear to the ground for recommendations from patrons and staff alike.
So, when I started to hear lots of great buzz about Linwood Barclay's latest novel, The Accident, I put it on my list of things I want to read. If you have a list like this, then you know how long those get, and fast. Then, when I was perusing Overdrive to find something to download onto my Kindle Fire (I make no apologies!), I came across Barclay's previous novel, 2010's Never Look Away.
Wow. The novel's cover has a blurb from Stephen King saying the book was "the best thriller [he had] read in five years." Obviously, I had to grab it. And then? I could. Not. Stop. Reading. Early for an appointment? No problem! Way past my bedtime? Just one more chapter! Ten minutes before dinner's done? Read!
The premise is this: When David Harwood's wife, who has been acting strangely for the last few weeks, suddenly disappears during a family outing, suspicion immediately falls on David. David, worried Jan has harmed herself, uses his skills as a journalist to try and pin down leads as to what may have happened to her. In the process, he stumbles over an interesting tidbit--Jan's birth certificate belongs to a little girl who died more than two decades ago in a terrible accident. So who is Jan, really? What prompted her strange behavior? Can David get to the bottom of it before the police decide to arrest him? And does any of this have to do with the prison privatization story that David has been working on for the paper?
Nerve-wracking, sinister, with so many great plot twists that left me just giddy, this is suspense at its best. The style reminds me a bit of Harlan Coben's, so if you're a fan of Coben's work, definitely try Barclay. Now I get to go back and read more of his work, too!
What about you? Read anything amazing lately? I'd love to know!
So, when I started to hear lots of great buzz about Linwood Barclay's latest novel, The Accident, I put it on my list of things I want to read. If you have a list like this, then you know how long those get, and fast. Then, when I was perusing Overdrive to find something to download onto my Kindle Fire (I make no apologies!), I came across Barclay's previous novel, 2010's Never Look Away.
Wow. The novel's cover has a blurb from Stephen King saying the book was "the best thriller [he had] read in five years." Obviously, I had to grab it. And then? I could. Not. Stop. Reading. Early for an appointment? No problem! Way past my bedtime? Just one more chapter! Ten minutes before dinner's done? Read!
The premise is this: When David Harwood's wife, who has been acting strangely for the last few weeks, suddenly disappears during a family outing, suspicion immediately falls on David. David, worried Jan has harmed herself, uses his skills as a journalist to try and pin down leads as to what may have happened to her. In the process, he stumbles over an interesting tidbit--Jan's birth certificate belongs to a little girl who died more than two decades ago in a terrible accident. So who is Jan, really? What prompted her strange behavior? Can David get to the bottom of it before the police decide to arrest him? And does any of this have to do with the prison privatization story that David has been working on for the paper?
Nerve-wracking, sinister, with so many great plot twists that left me just giddy, this is suspense at its best. The style reminds me a bit of Harlan Coben's, so if you're a fan of Coben's work, definitely try Barclay. Now I get to go back and read more of his work, too!
What about you? Read anything amazing lately? I'd love to know!
Thursday, February 23, 2012
Great reads you might have missed
I was thinking, after posting on Tuesday about a new (to me) author, Carol O'Connell, about how many titles and authors we might miss out on. Titles you never saw, or forgot to go back and read, series you were saving for someday...I'm guilty of all of these. The good thing about books (one of many) is that it's never too late to go back and read something you might have missed! Here are a few you might want to go back and read if you missed them the first time around.
The Dive from Clausen's Pier, by Anne Packer. Twenty-three year old Carrie Bell has spent her whole life in the same small town in Wisconsin. Same best friend, same home, same high-school sweetheart. All that was once comforting and familiar to Carrie are now suffocating, and leaving seems to be her only option. When boyfriend Mike is in a terrible accident, leaving becomes that much more necessary for Carrie, and that much more unforgivable. A book of finding oneself despite the odds, told in detailed, rich prose. If you like this title, consider trying another of Packer's novel's, Songs Without Words.
Abide With Me, by Elizabeth Strout. Sometimes, everything in life can be changed by a single incident. For minister Tyler Caskey, family tragedy has shaken him to the core. His beloved Maine seems foreign, his faith is fundamentally shaken, his child is a stranger. His congregation and community, once patient and supportive in the early days of Tyler's grief, now have become gossipy and frustrated, questioning Tyler's place among them. In his darkest hour, Tyler makes a startling discovery that will be the ultimate test for him, and his community. Told in Strout's quiet, luminous style, this is really one to go back and read. If you like Strout's style (and I do), I'd also recommend Olive Kitteridge and Amy and Isabelle.
Do you have any favorites that you think other readers might like? Leave a suggestion in the comments! I'll be back next Tuesday with a wrap-up of my February reads, and a check-in on my reading challenges. See you then!
The Dive from Clausen's Pier, by Anne Packer. Twenty-three year old Carrie Bell has spent her whole life in the same small town in Wisconsin. Same best friend, same home, same high-school sweetheart. All that was once comforting and familiar to Carrie are now suffocating, and leaving seems to be her only option. When boyfriend Mike is in a terrible accident, leaving becomes that much more necessary for Carrie, and that much more unforgivable. A book of finding oneself despite the odds, told in detailed, rich prose. If you like this title, consider trying another of Packer's novel's, Songs Without Words.
Abide With Me, by Elizabeth Strout. Sometimes, everything in life can be changed by a single incident. For minister Tyler Caskey, family tragedy has shaken him to the core. His beloved Maine seems foreign, his faith is fundamentally shaken, his child is a stranger. His congregation and community, once patient and supportive in the early days of Tyler's grief, now have become gossipy and frustrated, questioning Tyler's place among them. In his darkest hour, Tyler makes a startling discovery that will be the ultimate test for him, and his community. Told in Strout's quiet, luminous style, this is really one to go back and read. If you like Strout's style (and I do), I'd also recommend Olive Kitteridge and Amy and Isabelle.
Do you have any favorites that you think other readers might like? Leave a suggestion in the comments! I'll be back next Tuesday with a wrap-up of my February reads, and a check-in on my reading challenges. See you then!
Tuesday, January 24, 2012
More hidden gems at the library
Do you have a list of books you want to read "someday"? A reading bucket list, if you will? Have you ever come across a book that you meant to read, or always wanted to pick up, but didn't have the time or weren't in the mood, then forgot about? If you're not keeping a reading wish list, now might be a good time to start one, and if you already keep one? I've got some great ones you should add to it. (As an added bonus, these are all great picks for book clubs to read and discuss!)
Bel Canto, by Ann Patchett. You remember me going on and on about Patchett's latest novel, State of Wonder, over the summer? Well, I originally fell in love with her gifts of storytelling and memorable characters with Bel Canto a number of years ago. Somewhere in South America, an opera singer performs at the birthday party of a powerful businessman, with a number of international guests in attendance. The soiree quickly takes a turn when armed terrorists take the party hostage. And yet, as time unfolds and negotiations drag, what started as a life-threatening struggle changes, as hostages and terrorists form unexpected bonds. Beautifully written and sure to stay with you long past the last page.
Everyone remembers the huge sleeper hit that was The Red Tent by Anita Diamant. But you may not be so familiar with one of her more recent novels, Day After Night. Based on the extraordinary true story of the October 1945 rescue of more than two hundred Jewish prisoners from the Atlit internment camp outside Haifa, this novel follows the experiences of four young women haunted by memories and loss as they find the strength to rebuild in the bonds of friendship. Such a complicated story, told with perfect attention and grace. This is not, by any means, a light read, but deeply satisfying. And if you enjoyed The Red Tent, you absolutely owe it to yourself to pick this up.
Also on everyone's radar in the past was The Kite Runner, by Khaled Hosseini. But you might have missed his follow-up novel, A Thousand Splendid Suns. And while I enjoyed The Kite Runner, I adored A Thousand Splendid Suns. This novel covers thirty years of civil war, Taliban regime and Anti-Soviet jihad through the lives of two women: Mariam, the scorned illegitimate daughter of a businessman, forced to marry a much older man, Rasheed, at the age of 15; and Laila, the 14-year-old girl Rasheed takes as a second wife after Mariam fails to provide him with children after many years. Using these two women as a lens, Hosseini gives readers an unflinching view of a society dominated by its men, and the sharp contrast of the resilience of its women. Very, very highly recommended.
I'm back on Thursday with recommended historical fiction titles!
Bel Canto, by Ann Patchett. You remember me going on and on about Patchett's latest novel, State of Wonder, over the summer? Well, I originally fell in love with her gifts of storytelling and memorable characters with Bel Canto a number of years ago. Somewhere in South America, an opera singer performs at the birthday party of a powerful businessman, with a number of international guests in attendance. The soiree quickly takes a turn when armed terrorists take the party hostage. And yet, as time unfolds and negotiations drag, what started as a life-threatening struggle changes, as hostages and terrorists form unexpected bonds. Beautifully written and sure to stay with you long past the last page.
Everyone remembers the huge sleeper hit that was The Red Tent by Anita Diamant. But you may not be so familiar with one of her more recent novels, Day After Night. Based on the extraordinary true story of the October 1945 rescue of more than two hundred Jewish prisoners from the Atlit internment camp outside Haifa, this novel follows the experiences of four young women haunted by memories and loss as they find the strength to rebuild in the bonds of friendship. Such a complicated story, told with perfect attention and grace. This is not, by any means, a light read, but deeply satisfying. And if you enjoyed The Red Tent, you absolutely owe it to yourself to pick this up.
Also on everyone's radar in the past was The Kite Runner, by Khaled Hosseini. But you might have missed his follow-up novel, A Thousand Splendid Suns. And while I enjoyed The Kite Runner, I adored A Thousand Splendid Suns. This novel covers thirty years of civil war, Taliban regime and Anti-Soviet jihad through the lives of two women: Mariam, the scorned illegitimate daughter of a businessman, forced to marry a much older man, Rasheed, at the age of 15; and Laila, the 14-year-old girl Rasheed takes as a second wife after Mariam fails to provide him with children after many years. Using these two women as a lens, Hosseini gives readers an unflinching view of a society dominated by its men, and the sharp contrast of the resilience of its women. Very, very highly recommended.
I'm back on Thursday with recommended historical fiction titles!
Thursday, November 17, 2011
A bit of history
It's no secret that I love historical fiction. I'm not even terribly picky about when or where it's set, as long as the story is good. Here are a few of the hidden gems I want to share with you...
If you like novels set in Russia, or are a fan of espionage thrillers, try Child 44, by Tom Rob Smith. This is part homage to Mother Russia in the early part of last century, and part spine-tingling suspense novel. In Stalin-era Russia, the workers are provided for in a society meant to be free of crime and fear. Yet there is fear of the State, and MGB agent Leo Demidov is among the best and brightest in the State Security Force, protecting the system from the citizens. When he is arrested, interrogated, and renounced by the State, he loses everything he has ever known, but must work under the radar in order to solve a string of murders occurring in the "crime-free" State. I could not put this one down.
If you're an Anglophile, love English Tudor history, or are looking for something to match The Other Boleyn Girl, try Mademoiselle Boleyn by Robin Maxwell. What was the infamous Anne Boleyn like as a child? When her father is assigned a position spying at the French Court, the Boleyn family, including young Anne, accompanies him. Coming of age in a powerful court rife with intrigue, deception, power and dangerous liaisons, Anne learns feminine wiles she will use to her own downfall later in life. A beautifully researched, riveting piece of historical fiction.
What are some of your favorite historical novels? I'd love to know!
If you like novels set in Russia, or are a fan of espionage thrillers, try Child 44, by Tom Rob Smith. This is part homage to Mother Russia in the early part of last century, and part spine-tingling suspense novel. In Stalin-era Russia, the workers are provided for in a society meant to be free of crime and fear. Yet there is fear of the State, and MGB agent Leo Demidov is among the best and brightest in the State Security Force, protecting the system from the citizens. When he is arrested, interrogated, and renounced by the State, he loses everything he has ever known, but must work under the radar in order to solve a string of murders occurring in the "crime-free" State. I could not put this one down.
If you're an Anglophile, love English Tudor history, or are looking for something to match The Other Boleyn Girl, try Mademoiselle Boleyn by Robin Maxwell. What was the infamous Anne Boleyn like as a child? When her father is assigned a position spying at the French Court, the Boleyn family, including young Anne, accompanies him. Coming of age in a powerful court rife with intrigue, deception, power and dangerous liaisons, Anne learns feminine wiles she will use to her own downfall later in life. A beautifully researched, riveting piece of historical fiction.
What are some of your favorite historical novels? I'd love to know!
Tuesday, August 16, 2011
Summer Reading Series 12: Hidden Gems
I don’t really want to brag here, but librarians often have an inside scoop on authors and titles before they become household names. Dan Brown? We were there before The DaVinci Code. The Help? That was an in-house favorite among our staff before Hollywood got hold of it. And Room? Yup, we were recommending it to everyone who came through the doors as soon as we had read it.
So what do we want you to know about that you might not have heard of?
A Discovery of Witches, by Deborah Harkness. Our staff has been on pins and needles waiting for the sequel to come out next year since this debut novel hit shelves back in February. The best description we can come up with is “a cross between Harry Potter, True Blood and The Time Traveler’s Wife”. When witch and Yale historian Diana Bishop discovers a mysterious ancient manuscript (which supposedly never existed) in Oxford’s Bodleian Library, she attracts the attention of 1,500 year-old vampire Matthew Clairmont. Unfortunately, the event has attracted the attention of less-savory characters, and Diana finds herself in danger, even as she works to discover why the manuscript has resurfaced now, after all these centuries, and what the others want with it. We can’t recommend this highly enough!
The Maggie O’Dell series, by Alex Kava. Start with A Perfect Evil, and they just keep getting better. Follow FBI profiler Maggie O’Dell through murder investigations, tangles with local law enforcement, and her own personal demons through a thriller series that, while a bit on the gory side, will keep you turning pages. If you’re looking for a new thriller author to try, Alex Kava’s definitely a hidden gem.
The 37th Hour, by Jodi Compton. Her debut novel, a police procedural, is one that has resonated with me since I read it. Her other work is definitely worth a read, but this is where I’d start. Set in Minneapolis, The 37th Hour features Sheriff's Det. Sarah Pribek, who specializes in missing-person cases. When Sarah suffers the withdrawal of her mentor, the evasion of a suspect, and the disappearance of her husband of two months, she’s left with a narrow window in which to resolve her issues. In missing-person cases, the first 36 hours are the most crucial, but what happens once that window closes? Serious crime fiction, seriously amazing.
Our summer reading series has a few weeks left, and I’ve saved some of the best for last. But don’t worry—the blog will continue regardless of season, so keep checking back on Tuesdays and Thursdays for new posts! Up next: reading ahead—what to look forward to reading this fall.
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