I read The Beekeeper of Aleppo, by Christy Lefteri in the spring and still think about this book. It tells the story of a Syrian beekeeper and his wife who leave their city of Aleppo to travel as refugees to England. Husband and wife, Afra and Nuri, flee from family tragedy and loss, but such trauma can’t be easily escaped. Painful memories unfurl as their journey progresses. Despite the damage inflicted, the love between husband and wife shine through and the strength of the human spirit prevails. From the tender descriptions of beekeeping to the horrific scenes detailed in the refugee camps, Lefteri captivated me with her rich, beautiful writing.
Recommended by Liza
I love her writing style which feels to me completely immersive. This story is set in Bois Sauvage, Mississippi and tells the story of one family’s experience of hurricane Katrina. Ward brings to life fully formed characters who have limited resources and few choices in the preparation for the storm. These characters share love, loyalty, and history that creates family. For me, the beauty of Ward’s writing, the development of her characters, and their relationships carried this story of love and the strength of family.
Recommended by Liza
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This book by my AUNT(!) just came out this week. This book is narrated by two different women separated by years, but linked by their obsession with the same crime in a small town in Texas. Super fun and page-turning. She is my aunt, but she is the real deal: several of her books have been optioned for movies and television series, and her books have been bestsellers in the US and the UK.
Recommended by Laura
The quietest post-apocalyptic novel I’ve encountered. A girl and her father are the last humans on earth, and nature has reclaimed the planet. With touches of magical realism, and an allegorical feel, this survival story revels in nature’s beauty.
Recommended by Laura
A poignant and intelligent novel about a struggling young writer, Casey, and the harsh realities that come with a creative career. King's wry humor and astute observations of the misgivings of youth make this story of love and loss a must-read this summer. Perfect for your next virtual book club or socially distanced afternoon at the lake.
Recommended by Danielle
It is rare that my husband and I both thoroughly enjoy the same book; our tastes are so different. However, we both found this novel utterly entertaining. It is a true page turner, the perfect escape. The fact that you might be getting a peek into the workings of the White House is a bonus.
Recommended by Sandy
I can't believe it took me so long to read this fabulous page-turner of a novel from 2018 (National Book Award finalist, Pulitzer Prize finalist, etc etc etc). Makkai braids two moving and beautifully-drawn stories together — the beginning of the AIDS epidemic outbreak in Chicago among a group of young friends, and the harrowing family reconciliation of one of those characters some 30 years later. This is an exquisitely observed interpersonal drama, and Makkai's examination of heroism in all its forms makes it easy to recommend this one wholeheartedly. Just beautiful.
Recommended by Emily
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American Gods is a mythological epic that ranges across North America. Shadow, the protagonist, finds himself drawn into a conflict between the old gods, those who accompanied early immigrants across the ocean as well as deities who were here already, and the new gods such as The Media, Commercialism, and the Invisible Hand of the Market as they compete for the attention and worship of the people. Don't worry! You won't see the end coming! This book won top awards in five different genres. Once you pick it up, you won't put it down.
Recommended by Robin
This is a truly beautiful book. Set during WWII it follows the lives of Marie-Laure LeBlanc a young blind French girl who loves the ocean and Private Werner Pfenning a brilliant and talented German soldier charged with tracking down unsanctioned radio broadcasts.
Recommended by PJ
This book is about story telling. It is a beautifully written conversation over several nights between a chemist and a rigger working on a large industrial project. Over the course of the book, Faussone, the rigger, fills the pages with his stories of adventure and travel as he follows his work around the world. It is a parable about finding work you love and genuine connection between strangers even if they are but fleeting friendships.
Recommended by Robin
I read this after being amazed by its 2017 film adaptation. If you have not seen the movie, give this wonderful love story a read! If you have seen the movie, the book brings a new form and an additional ending excluded from the film. This is a tour de force on the nature of love and its effect on who we are.
Recommended by Mac
The eminent Woodson has won nearly every award in children's literature that exists. She proves in this beautifully crafted novel that she is equally masterful in weaving an adult tale. After the death of her father, August recalls her life. She has grown from a frightened young girl into a well-educated, successful woman. Woodson's lyrical prose allows us to vividly envisage and be deeply moved by August's world.
Recommended by Sandy
A wonderful novel set in 1970's California about a man, confined to a wheelchair, who embarks on the journey of his ancestors one hundred yeras before. A story about the landscapes that bind our familial history; one of my favorites!
Recommended by Mac
My personal favorite novel from the acclaimed McCarthy. All the Pretty Horses tells us a story of a journey to Mexico on horseback. A novel that is extremely sensory and brings life to the borderland aesthetic of the country. A story that is not as intense as The Road but just as compelling.
Recommended by Mac
Beautiful and disturbing, humane and horrifying, smart and sensitive....and so close to perfect that 700 pages wasn't enough. I really did want to spend more time with these characters. Four guys meet in college and pursue their career dreams in The Big Apple, while maintaining, enriching, risking, and saving those friendships for decades.
Recommended by Darrilyn
The Burgess brothers long ago fled tiny Shirley Falls, Maine for NYC. Jim is an overachiever in a prominent law firm while Bob, a legal aid attorney, is riddled with insecurities. The boys are called back home by their hysterical sister when her son is charged with a hate crime against Somali refugees. Strout's dialogue is pitch perfect; and she takes the time to reveal her characters (and small town politics) layer by later with surpriseing turns. First rate fiction,
Recommended by Darrilyn
This is a fantastic, fast paced novel. Arden beautifully brings the reader to a remote Russian village where a conflict between Christianity and "the old ways" is in full force. The book is full of Russian folklore including characters such as the Domovoi, protector of the house and the Vazila, protector of the stable and horses. I will be starting the second book in the series tomorrow!
Recommended by Robin
This book left me absolutely breathless. The prose (almost verse really) is surreal and Hunter's portrayal of new motherhood coinciding with the beginning of the end of the world (by floods) was SO beautiful, haunting and unforgetteble. Two thumbs up.
Recommended by Emily
When I started this book I couldn't relate to the characters, but despite that, I was immediately drawn into the story. You will probably devour this book in a couple of sittings. If you're lookig for a slightly disturbing, page-turning mystery, look no further.
Although portions of this book make you live through the characters' anxiety, this book is amazing. By the time you finish, you will miss the characters. Equal parts darkness and depth, with persuasive reverence for beautiful and "immortal" material objects.
This novel is excellent. In a similar style to the novels of Liane Moriarty, Ghosted tells a tale filled with gripping twists and startling events. Sarah is elated after spending a romantic weekend with a man she just met, Eddie. Hence the title, Eddie doesn't call Sarah back. As his absence lengthens, Sarah becomes paranoid. The captivating novel that follows will certainly keep you interested.
Recommended by Greta
Kidd has based this moving novel on the life of one of America's first female abolitionists. On her eleventh birthday, Sarah is given the "gift" of Handful, a ten year old slave girl. Horrified, she attempts to set the young slave free. She is severely reprimanded by her prominent Charleston family for her impertinence. Over the next 35 years she and Handful continue to chafe against the indignities of slavery, each finding her own voice to defy its dominion.
Recommended by Sandy
Simultaneously devistating and hopeful. There is a powerful sort of beauty in Wagamese's storytelling that grips your heart.
Recommended by Heather