Jon Krakauer
[isbn]
Alternating between historical accounts of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints and the more recent murders of fundamentalist LDS groups, Krakauer develops a jarring exposé of this American-born religion in Under the Banner of Heaven. Whether familiar with Mormonism or not, Under the Banner of Heaven will shock and inform readers, while asking how far some are willing to go to prove their religious devotion.
Recommended by Alex Y.
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Michael Chabon
[isbn]
Although a master of the quintessential American novel, Michael Chabon's Wonder Boys is perhaps one of his lesser-known works. Professor Grady Tripp and student-writer James Leer are tied together after a series of bizarre circumstances, including sexually promiscuous affairs, a dead dog, and a Marilyn Monroe artifact. Wonder Boys is a humorous tale that should appeal to those familiar with the process of writing, and anyone who... (read more)
Recommended by Alex Y.
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Dave Eggers
[isbn]
Back in 2013, when The Circle was first published, the idea of social media taking over the world was beginning to become less dystopian and increasingly realistic. I am convinced now, in 2020, that Dave Eggers has an uncanny ability to predict the future. Fans of 1984 and The Handmaid's Tale will recognize similar creepy, and near-apocalyptic themes of surveillance and late-stage capitalism. While The Circle... (read more)
Recommended by Alex Y.
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Jeff VanderMeer
[isbn]
In this, the second installment of the Southern Reach Trilogy by Jeff VanderMeer, we are introduced to Control, a character who has taken over the Southern Reach after the previous director failed. Paranoid, claustrophobic, and increasingly maddening, Authority dredges up more questions rather than answers, so be sure to have the third and final installment, Acceptance, readily available to complete your journey through Area X's mysteries.
Recommended by Alex Y.
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Lemony Snicket
[isbn]
Lemony Snicket's Series of Unfortunate Events is a deliciously wicked and painfully twisted story of the Baudelaire orphans. Forced into the grasp of Count Olaf after their parents perish in a fire, the Baudelaires must overcome the greatest of obstacles, only to face increasingly strange problems and riddles as the series continues. Ultimately a tale of ceaseless determination and written with the driest of humor, A Series of Unfortunate... (read more)
Recommended by Alex Y.
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Madeline Miller
[isbn]
Madeline Miller is quickly making herself the present-day star of rewriting ancient mythology, and in Circe she tackles the age-old conundrum of the gods' preoccupation with mortals. Focusing in on the lesser goddess Circe, Miller paints an epic portrait of a sorceress who tries to understand humankind. Written in engaging and approachable prose, readers aren't required to be fans of mythology to enjoy the book. Nevertheless, the story... (read more)
Recommended by Alex Y.
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Harriet Jacobs
[isbn]
A profoundly harrowing account, Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girlby Harriet Jacobs, is too often overlooked in the canon of American classics. Published 16 years after the narrative of Frederick Douglass, Harriet Jacobs presented the particular horrors of female slavery to a majority white male audience for the first time. A vital piece of history, Harriet Jacobs's autobiography deserves to be read and examined by modern audiences.
Recommended by Alex Y.
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Neil Gaiman
[isbn]
Appreciated as one of the greatest graphic novel series of all time, The Sandman is Neil Gaiman's first foray into the medium. Working with a wide array of characters, Gaiman breathes new life into biblical figures, American superheroes, Greek and Norse gods, Roman politicos, and so much more. This vast and layered series follows the seemingly innocuous Sandman and asserts his place in mythology, delighting readers for over two decades.
Recommended by Alex Y.
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Akira Himekawa
[isbn]
Zelda enthusiasts will be thrilled to know they can relive the adventure through a beautifully illustrated manga, now with both parts complete in one volume. Ocarina of Time is one of the best installments of the Zelda series, and with this translation to text, none of the Hyrulian magic is left behind. Perfect for die-hard Zelda fans, or the fantasy manga lover in your life.
Recommended by Alex Y.
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Michael Pollan
[isbn]
Credited with igniting the mainstream's consciousness surrounding food, Omnivore's Dilemma by Michael Pollan carefully examines the culture and processes of the food we eat. A catalyst for various food movements in the 21st century, Pollan successfully wrote a text that challenged and changed the way omnivores the world over think about what's on their dinner plate.
Recommended by Alex Y.
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J M Coetzee
[isbn]
Waiting for the Barbarians by J. M. Coetzee is a meaty allegory written during the time of apartheid in South Africa. Although quite short, ugly truths of oppression fill the novel and unfortunately reveal similarities between the oppression of apartheid in South Africa and the systemic racism in America. Perhaps the novel's brevity is why it is read 40 years after its initial publication, and I can think of no better time to... (read more)
Recommended by Alex Y.
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Saeed Jones
[isbn]
A compelling story that is part coming-of-age, part coming-out, How We Fight for Our Lives, written by Saeed Jones, tells of the author's first 20-some years living as a Black gay man in America. Jones's brilliance shines as he makes a case for writing about personal trauma, not only to understand but to move beyond it.
Recommended by Alex Y.
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Emily St. John Mandel
[isbn]
The Glass Hotel is a haunting tale of inner demons and personal catastrophe. Fans of Station Eleven will not be disappointed, for the characters in this story are just as richly flawed and gorgeously detailed. An ethereal and dreamlike quality seeps into the pages, guiding readers through a plot that rewards them with a deeply satisfying ending. This is a contemporary ghost story unlike any other I've read.
Recommended by Alex Y.
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Garth Greenwell
[isbn]
Exploratory and explicit, Cleanness by Garth Greenwell eagerly describes the intense feelings of simultaneous lust, shame, and romance — a precarious position familiar to queer readers. Sharply personal and yet universal, Greenwell's voice illuminates the difficulties of defining one's sexuality and navigating the murky waters of human desire.
Recommended by Alex Y.
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N. K. Jemisin
[isbn]
One of the most fascinating things about N. K. Jemisin is her impeccable talent to take old tropes and breathe fresh life into their form, and The City We Became is no different. Sure, The City We Became is at its core a familiar story — New York City faces impending doom and must rely on supernatural powers to defeat it. But, in true Jemisin fashion, this premise is only the beginning. Showcasing a diverse cast of unforgettable... (read more)
Recommended by Alex Y.
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Upile Chisala
[isbn]
A Fire Like You reads like a good therapy session, addressing personal trauma head-on with gentle reminders that you are more than your past experiences. Upile Chisala writes taut and loving personal poetry, but her underlying message is plucked from our collective conscious.
Recommended by Alex Y.
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Haruki Murakami and Philip Gabriel
[isbn]
Real? Imaginary? Somewhere in between? These questions are posed throughout Haruki Murakami's masterpiece Kafka on the Shore, which features a runaway kid shrouded in his father's mysterious omen, an old man who isn't bright but can talk to cats, and plenty of other surrealistic sequences which Murakami leaves his millions of reader's to decipher. Prepare to embark on a journey like no other, this book is like falling down a technicolor... (read more)
Recommended by Alex Y.
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Ross Mathews
[isbn]
If you've ever wondered what Lady Gaga thinks of while strutting the red carpet, or contemplated what happens behind the scenes on The View, you won't anymore after reading this raucous new book by Ross Mathews. Name Drop is a binge-read packed full with anecdotes featuring major celebs, and each cameo starts off with a cocktail and food "Rossipe" which adds flavor to the already delectable stories Ross shares. This is a super... (read more)
Recommended by Alex Y.
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Sophocles, Robert Bagg
[isbn]
Some people say nothing new happens under the sun. With this in mind, I find comfort in reading ancient texts that compose a sort of road-map for life. Enter Antigone by Sophocles, a play that has resurfaced time and again for its character's bravery (some call it infidelity) in standing up to the state when faced with personal injustice. Whether we face the same age-old troubles humankind has always faced, or we face troubles specific... (read more)
Recommended by Alex Y.
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Jeanette Winterson
[isbn]
Taking place at the time of Mary Shelley's Frankenstein while simultaneously set in the near future, Jeanette Winterson's Frankissstein is a delightfully bizarre philosophical story of what makes us human and how human beings confront the ubiquitous threat of death. Genre-bending and impossible to put or pin down, Frankissstein is a crash course in the intricacies and horrors of artificial intelligence.
Recommended by Alex Y.
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adrienne maree brown
[isbn]
This collection of black feminist thought describes the radical idea Adrienne Maree Brown and others call pleasure activism. Much more than "work," Brown asserts the revolution must hold space for pleasure and identify what activates and excites us. Bringing together the brilliant minds of black feminist thinkers both past and present, Pleasure Activism is a critical piece for today's revolutionary.
Recommended by Alex Y.
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Skottie Young
[isbn]
Already a rock star of the graphic novel scene, Skottie Young's I Hate Fairyland is a topsy-turvy of Wonderland proportions. The main character, the menacing but adorable Gertrude, is dragged into the world of Fairyland and trapped within its candy-colored setting for 27-years. Mad with a desire to escape and return home, Gertrude's sordid adventures are both deeply comical and intensely upsetting. The story is a romp of a good time, and... (read more)
Recommended by Alex Y.
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Anne Carson
[isbn]
Euripedes is known in the classics world for upending traditions of the play, and Bakkhai is no exception. Dionysos is the god of wine, fertility, and religious fervor, among other things, and at the start of the play has inspired a mad cult following, the Bakkhai — which has ensnared almost everyone in the ancient town of Thebes. Everyone, that is, except for King Pentheus, who is determined to undermine the cult, and in doing so draws... (read more)
Recommended by Alex Y.
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Joy Chant
[isbn]
Red Moon and Black Mountain has everything you might expect from a fantasy novel written in the 1970s — a trio of children who stumble down a 'rabbit hole,' towers of fierce warrior eagles, mythical and wise horses, and of course, plenty of magic. But what's unique about Joy Chant's take on the fantasy genre is how she tugs you along, expecting you to keep up with the world in which you and the young children are dumped. If at times it... (read more)
Recommended by Alex Y.
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Noelle Stevenson
[isbn]
A refreshing and swashbuckling adventure, Nimona by Noelle Stevenson illustrates the importance of self-control and following your instincts.
Recommended by Alex Y.
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Zadie Smith
[isbn]
Zadie Smith's impeccable voice and mastery of language shine in this wonder of a story collection, Grand Union. For years now, audiences have understood Smith's humor and empathy for the human condition, and in Grand Union Smith will treat readers to a form few authors ever truly master — the short story. As if the reader were able to crack open the histories of passersby in Grand Central station, the stories Smith imparts are... (read more)
Recommended by Alex Y.
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Jill Lepore
[isbn]
These Truths is an expansive and comprehensive history of the United States. With a painstaking attention to the voices rarely heard in the discourse of the nation's history, Jill Lepore focuses on the bloody bondage of African Americans, the silencing of women, and the struggles of the oppressed in the great American experiment. Exhaustive and engaging, Truths asks its readers to consider the consequences of democracy and... (read more)
Recommended by Alex Y.
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Abbi Jacobson
[isbn]
Abbi Jacobson is well known for her hit show Broad City, but in this wonderful collection of essays she proves to be a powerful and emotional force as an author. Written while navigating the trials of heartbreak, I Might Regret This will resonate with anyone who has experienced the messiness of love's disappointment. Honest and hilarious, this collection is sure to delight fans of Broad City and avid memoir readers.
Recommended by Alex Y.
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Diane Setterfield
[isbn]
Although technically a novel, Once Upon a River reads like a fantasy due to Diane Setterfield's magical style of writing. What begins as a tale of a missing girl soon gathers momentum as a period piece unique in its own right. Be prepared to spend a quiet afternoon enveloped in rich prose that'll make you feel like you are right there, on the banks of the Thames. I'm not quite finished with this one, but already know it will be a story... (read more)
Recommended by Alex Y.
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Lisa Taddeo
[isbn]
A work of engrossing literary excellence that will disturb and entrance readers, Lisa Taddeo's Three Women is at its core about women's desire but is a painstaking achievement in nonfiction. I wouldn't hesitate to compare it's influence to Truman Capote's In Cold Blood; this is a book others will fail to hold a candle to for years to come.
Recommended by Alex Y.
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Stephen Fry
[isbn]
Told as a seamless story, Stephen Fry's Mythos is a complete set of ancient myths presented in an easy and fun to read format. More than a mere retelling of bygone tales, Fry draws connections between ancient mythological characters and modern culture. A fascinating read for anyone interested in etymology, cultural references and, of course, mythological gods and monsters.
Recommended by Alex Y.
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Nona Fernández
[isbn]
Don't let the size of this novel fool you. Space Invaders by Nona Fernandez packs a powerful punch between it's pages. Fernandez presents a collective memory of the disappearance of a fellow classmate, which in turn depicts the Chilean dictatorship of the 1980s astonishingly well.
Recommended by Alex Y.
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Tom Spanbauer
[isbn]
"It's the responsibility of the survivor to tell the story."
The weight of this responsibility is taken seriously in Tom Spanbauer's tragic novel In the City of Shy Hunters. Following the central character Will as he navigates New York City at the height of the AIDS crisis in the late '80s and early '90s, readers will experience the devastation the disease wreaked on the gay population. It is a crushing tale of friendship, love, and... (read more)
Recommended by Alex Y.
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Zadie Smith
[isbn]
A snapshot of the multitudes of experience in 1970s London. White Teeth won Zadie Smith the Guardian First Book Award, the Betty Trask Award, and others. This is also Smith's debut novel.
Recommended by Alex Y.
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Anne Carson
[isbn]
The obsession with the Trojan War and the events leading up to it have inspired countless works of art, but in Oresteia readers experience the brutal aftermath of it. Anne Carson's way with words, and her talent for translating Greek in an accessible manner, allow both knowledgeable and fresh readers to see how the epic war concluded.
Recommended by Alex Y.
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N. K. Jemisin
[isbn]
I had to put off this final story in the Broken Earth trilogy simply because I devoured the previous two with breakneck speed. As the story concludes, N. K. Jemisin's talent does not. Readers have reached the end of Nassun's journey, but I daresay that it won't be the last time you enter the Stillness.
Recommended by Alex Y.
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Nick Drnaso
[isbn]
Technically a mystery. Technically a graphic novel. But in my mind, Nick Drnaso's Sabrina occupies a category all its own, with its horrifyingly hyperrealistic story line juxtaposed with its drab and oversimplified art. Sabrina creeps up on you and will leave you with an urgent desire to get off the Internet.
Recommended by Alex Y.
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Tan France
[isbn]
Naturally Tan is a deep dive into this pop culture icon's life. Tan's unique experiences will inspire readers to accept themselves for who they are and find the courage to live their truths.
Recommended by Alex Y.
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Ocean Vuong
[isbn]
Every sentence of On Earth We Are Briefly Gorgeous is a gift crafted with care and obsessive attention to the little details that make up our brief existence. This debut novel from poet Ocean Vuong is heartbreaking and revelatory, writing from a place writers rarely dare to tread.
Recommended by Alex Y.
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Amos Barshad
[isbn]
Behind famous figures there is usually one person who manipulates their talents to create a fully formed star. This is Amos Barshad's central idea in No One Man Should Have All that Power, and while these controversial subjects are rarely seen or credited for their work, Barshad suggests that the "Rasputins" of the world are responsible for the fame their protégés earn. A fascinating read for anyone interested in a peek behind the... (read more)
Recommended by Alex Y.
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Tom Spanbauer
[isbn]
It's been a year since I first laid eyes on this book, and I'll tell you not one day has passed that I haven't thought about it. Tom Spanbauer's The Man Who Fell in Love With the Moon has been out since the early 1990s, but the story of Shed and his extraordinary life in Excellent, Idaho, is just as fresh and exciting today. Drawing upon tropes of the colonized Western genre and exploring the landscape of his own unique style, Spanbauer... (read more)
Recommended by Alex Y.
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Natasha Trethewey
[isbn]
Weaving together personal narrative and historical accounts, Natasha Trethewey exposes the trials of the South both in the past and near-present in her collection of poems titled Native Guard. Her concise style will astound and inspire readers, while her voice feels increasingly important in today's fractured world.
Recommended by Alex Y.
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Euripides
[isbn]
As someone who cannot get my hands on enough Greek and Roman mythology, I was so excited to see Anne Carson had a translation of the little-known poem written by Euripides. Differing from the traditional story where Iphigenia's sacrifice results in death, Euripides presents an alternative — Iphigenia saved by Artemis and transported to the barbaric Taurian land. Anne Carson's translation humanizes Iphigenia, and in this emotional tale we come to... (read more)
Recommended by Alex Y.
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Jill Lepore
[isbn]
Joe Gould's Teeth is an unexpected and macabre tale of historian Joe Gould, who captured the writing community's attention in the early 1920s. Claiming to be writing down the oral history of the world's unknown figures, Joe Gould wanted to do for history what Walt Whitman did for poetry. Jill Lepore digs through archives of Gould's letters and excerpts, searching for the presence of this gargantuan text, but what she uncovers is... (read more)
Recommended by Alex Y.
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Michael Chabon
[isbn]
Michael Chabon has proven time and again that he is a master of American prose and in this, his love letter to New York and superheroes, he has done it again. A modern classic, The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay is the story of two men whom readers watch grow together and form the standards of the American superhero. Taking place in New York, this epic will entertain anyone who admires the brawn of Superman, or feels like they... (read more)
Recommended by Alex Y.
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Sara Collins
[isbn]
This searing debut is packed tight with historical references, racial exploration, and mystery. The suspense of The Confessions of Frannie Langton is expertly built on Sara Collins's use of metaphors and similes, and although this topic has been explored before, Frannie Langton's story will be forever impressed on your soul. You won't be able to put this book down, nor will you be able to ignore the lessons Langton has to impart.
Recommended by Alex Y.
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N. K. Jemisin
[isbn]
Listen, whether you are an old sci-fi aficionado or skeptical of what the genre has to offer, I daresay you can do no better than N. K. Jemisin and her awesome Broken Earth series. The Obelisk Gate continues where The Fifth Season left off, but to call this a mere sequel would be an injustice. Packed tight with intriguing characters who face immeasurable difficulties, a palpable environment which — can you believe it? — is... (read more)
Recommended by Alex Y.
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N. K. Jemisin
[isbn]
This genre bender is the first in the Broken Earth trilogy by N. K. Jemisin. Completely original and unexpected, Jemisin's power for storytelling is effective because while the world in Fifth Season is fictional, the setting and characters closely resemble our own world. A page-turner in every sense, readers will be hungry for more upon finishing the last page. Luckily for us, Jemisin has gifted her fans with two other novels to devour.
Recommended by Alex Y.
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Padma Venkatraman
[isbn]
This emotional tale of family and loyalty will interest readers both familiar and unfamiliar with the Indian way of life. Padma Venkatraman ignites the senses with her description of India in personal, moving ways which will engage young readers and introduce them to ways of life outside their own.
Recommended by Alex Y.
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Marie Kondo
[isbn]
An international sensation, Marie Kondo's technique of "sparking joy" has helped millions declutter and recenter their homes, and consequently their lives. The simplicity of Kondo's process makes it easy to understand and adopt her approach in your own life. Read and discover for yourself why The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up is, well, life-changing!
Recommended by Alex Y.
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Lars Kepler
[isbn]
With international acclaim comes Kepler's latest thriller, Stalker, a horrific and heart-pumping crime novel which follows a terrifying path of murders in Sweden. Prior to each murder, a tape is released to the Swedish National Crime Unit which begins the countdown to the killer's latest victim. Kepler's style is well-researched, describing the psychology behind stalkers in gruesome and uncomfortable detail, and following police... (read more)
Recommended by Alex Y.
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Michael Chabon
[isbn]
When Michael Chabon's daughter says intros, prefaces, and forewords are rarely ever digested by leisurely readers, Chabon is baffled. In Bookends, Chabon argues that these often overlooked parts of a book are crucial in its development and placement in our society. Rather than a collection of short stories, this anthology is curated with the idea that the often skipped portion of a work can be a place of connection and conversation. You... (read more)
Recommended by Alex Y.
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Phoebe Robinson
[isbn]
Influencer to the stars, comedy queen, podcast co-host, actor, and writer Phoebe Robinson has done it again in Everything's Trash, but It's Okay. In this sharp and contemporary collection of essays, Robinson explores everything from the current political climate to our celebrity-obsessed society (relayed through her humorous and perhaps unhealthy obsession with Bono). Fans of Robinson will delight in her consistent and unique point of... (read more)
Recommended by Alex Y.
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Zadie Smith
[isbn]
What begins as a simple story of friendship between two young girls becomes more complex as they grow up and the differences in their upbringing become increasingly clear. Zadie Smith's Swing Time is an utterly amazing novel, introducing to readers some of the more likable and relatable characters of her auspicious career and dazzling us with her understated and intelligent narration.
Recommended by Alex Y.
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Emily St. John Mandel
[isbn]
An unusual take on the evolving genre of postapocalyptic fiction, Station Eleven describes the end of the world through the eyes of thespians. The power of storytelling is explored through Shakespeare's plays and St. John Mandel brilliantly describes the power of the stage even when the world is crumbling around us.
Recommended by Alex Y.
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Colson Whitehead
[isbn]
A novel which stands unique from anything I've read, The Intuitionist is at face value about the workers who inspect and correct elevators. Anything but simple or humdrum, Colson Whitehead explores class politics, race, and the effect of public outcry through the simple premise of a mysterious occupation. Newcomers to Whitehead will get a proper taste for his wit and intelligence as a writer who concerns himself with powerful allegories.
Recommended by Alex Y.
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Brené Brown
[isbn]
Brené Brown has been researching the effects of shame and imperfection for years. A master of knowing what causes us to shrink from self-love, Brown encourages us to discover ourselves and move past the shame we have internalized through the pressures of our perfection-obsessed society. A great read for anyone who needs a reminder that each of us deserves love.
Recommended by Alex Y.
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Ursula K Le Guin
[isbn]
Le Guin is undoubtedly one of the greatest sci-fi and fantasy authors of our time. In this, her first volume in the Earthsea series, readers are introduced to Ged, a young wizard. Flawed by his pride, Ged unwittingly draws a shadow from the world beyond and must journey across Earthsea's archipelago to save himself from utter destruction. Read the series that has inspired thousands and discover for yourself the magic of Earthsea.
Recommended by Alex Y.
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Anissa Gray
[isbn]
The struggles of Anissa Gray's characters in her debut novel, The Care and Feeding of Ravenously Hungry Girls, are recognizable to readers who navigate their own past mistakes and tenuous relationships with family. Gray hits close to home with her exploration of the American justice system, the immediacy and penetrating gaze of media, and the rapacious appetites which can ensnare and define us. Fast-paced and engaging, Gray's story of an... (read more)
Recommended by Alex Y.
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Jon Krakauer
[isbn]
Jon Krakauer's Into the Wild sparked controversy with its first publication. Readers were of two minds, either admonishing Christopher McCandless for his ignorance in traipsing off into the Alaskan wilderness with little firsthand knowledge of the harsh reality of it, or living vicariously through his journey and the middle finger he gave to our modern society. With a careful eye for bias, stemming from journalistic experience,... (read more)
Recommended by Alex Y.
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Philip Pullman
[isbn]
Don't let the failure of the box office fool you, the His Dark Materials series written by renowned author Philip Pullman remains a fantasy favorite of old and young alike. Written in contrast to the undertones of Christianity in Tolkien and C. S. Lewis, Pullman wrote for the nondenominational audience. Join Lyra and her daemon Pan on their quest to solve the great mystery of dust, and discover the magic that has captivated readers for decades.
Recommended by Alex Y.
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Margaret Atwood
[isbn]
This retelling of Shakespeare's The Tempest has been carefully wrought for modern audiences. With the same strangeness of Shakespeare's play, the reimagined Prospero deals with his exile from the stage by directing his own version of The Tempest within prison walls. Humorous and fantastical, Hag Seed will delight those familiar with and new to the capstone of Shakespeare's career.
Recommended by Alex Y.
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Cormac McCarthy
[isbn]
Haunting and intensely descriptive, Cormac McCarthy's The Road lingers with you like the smell of a strong cigar. A prize winner and arguably McCarthy's most renowned title, The Road obsessively describes the apocalypse after an environmental disaster. You won't put it down, or forget about the experience traveling along with this father-son duo.
Recommended by Alex Y.
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Anne Carson
[isbn]
If the goal of poetry is to reflect life, then Anne Carson's desolate and descriptive The Autobiography of Red is great poetry. This novella, written in verse, reveals many ways a heart can break. The tale of Geryon and Herakles is well worn, a tattered page in the book of mythology. But Carson sparks the tale anew, turning Geryon into a likable if unknowable monster who falls in love with Herakles, resulting in heartache and ruin.... (read more)
Recommended by Alex Y.
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Marisha Pessl
[isbn]
Ever have the feeling that you've discovered a great, unknown author? Do yourself a favor and discover Pessl, who writes in a distinctly enjoyable style. This, her debut novel, has intrigue, young love, and literature references galore. When you're through, Pessl has the equally enjoyable Night Film and Neverworld Wake to devour next.
Recommended by Alex Y.
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Jeff Vandermeer
[isbn]
Published within the span of a year, the Southern Reach trilogy begins with Annihilation. A stunning first part, the story is a strange mix of bio-horror and sci-fi. A little bit Alice in Wonderland, a little bit At the Mountains of Madness, VanderMeer's Southern Reach trilogy has earned him a place as one of the best contemporary sci-fi authors. Area X has an infectious hold on me, and restored my tumultuous... (read more)
Recommended by Alex Y.
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Marisha Pessl
[isbn]
Marisha Pessl's newest novel explores familiar themes with a new twist. Can a group of friends collectively decide who will escape their new, perpetual reality? Or are they doomed to live the same day forever? At times mysterious and thrilling, Neverworld Wake explores the relationships we have with our loved ones — revealing that even those closest to us can be strangers.
Recommended by Alex Y.
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Marisha Pessl
[isbn]
Fans of classic horror directors, like Hitchcock and Kubrick, will love the uncanny resemblance of Pessl's fictional director Sanislas Cordova. Follow an investigative journalist into the cultish underground of Cordova and the mysterious details surrounding the death of his daughter. Don't read this one late into the night, or you'll find yourself trapped on the set of one of Cordova's films.
Recommended by Alex Y.
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