Nick McDonell and Steven Tabbutt
[isbn]
After a human-caused a cataclysmic event, a group of animals representing their species meet to decide whether or not to kill and eat the small remainder of humanity. This book has something for everyone: postapocalyptic doom; a charming fable with talking animals (though it's definitely not for children); dark humor; and adventure. For me, the book really shines in the small details about the animals we meet. Each character has a unique voice to... (read more)
Recommended by Amy W.
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Adeline Dieudonne, Roland Glasser
[isbn]
A young girl grows up surrounded by violence and terror. Her only solace is figuring out how to help her beloved younger brother after a terrible accident upends their lives. Our unnamed heroine is intelligent, resourceful, and fiercely independent, and the first half of the book reminded me of Swamplandia! But the second half is like nothing I've ever read before. This dark, feminist thrill ride has stayed with me for months, and is... (read more)
Recommended by Amy W.
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Hiroko Oyamada and David Boyd
[isbn]
Three workers get jobs in a sprawling Japanese factory that is a society unto itself. A paper shredder, a proofreader, and a biologist — their jobs so mundane and pointless as to be suspicious. Oyamada's world of the factory is a unique blend of painfully ordinary and fantastical. What could so easily have become Kafkaesque or literary horror remains a subtle, yet surreal commentary on capitalist Japanese culture. I found its understated... (read more)
Recommended by Amy W.
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Carin Oliver
[isbn]
I have minimal crafting skills, and no glue gun or box cutter, but I made my cats a house (page 60). The instructions were clear, assembly was easy (even with substandard tools), and the house looks great. Most importantly, my cats love it!
Recommended by Amy W.
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Juan Jose Millas, Thomas Bunstead, Daniel Hahn
[isbn]
What would you do if the antique wardrobe you were hiding in was being delivered to a house in the suburbs? While explaining his actions to an imaginary talk show host, Damien Lobo decides to secretly live in the wardrobe and help his new family with the cleaning while they're out. At turns absurdly funny, awkwardly uncomfortable, and mundane yet surreal, you'll never see where this book is headed.
Recommended by Amy W.
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Mark Lewisohn
[isbn]
This is an epic biography of the Beatles from their childhoods through 1962 when they were (spoiler alert) on the cusp of world domination. The author has mined the countless interviews with the lads' friends, families, fans, and contemporaries. He also writes about the rock and R&B the Beatles played and used as inspiration — painting a vivid picture of the early days of rock. Fan reactions to hearing the Beatles play was particularly delightful... (read more)
Recommended by Amy W.
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Abi Andrews
[isbn]
Erin, a young British woman, is inspired by Into The Wild to make her own journey to the Alaskan wilderness while filming a feminist documentary. This isn't your usual travelogue or wilderness survival story. It's fresh and funny, yet deeply philosophical, while drawing inspiration from Ted Kaczynski, Rachel Carson, and the history of the space race. I was personally inspired by the story to be more adventurous.
Recommended by Amy W.
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Rita Indiana, Achy Obejas
[isbn]
Sea anemones! Francisco Goya! Buccaneers! Rita Indiana blends magical realism, time travel, eco-feminism, and art history into an unforgettable, zany romp. I never knew where the story was headed, but each element blended seamlessly, and not a word was wasted. I loved everything about this strange, wonderful book!
Recommended by Amy W.
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Gabriela Aleman, Dick Cluster
[isbn]
A town built on mud and garbage; a nefarious partnership between corrupt politicians, thugs, and business men; and a reporter investigating the disappearance of hundreds of women. Poso Wells is part satire and part detective story. It's unlike any book I've read in a long time, and I'll be recommending it to everyone I know.
Recommended by Amy W.
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Kristen Gudsnuk
[isbn]
Mary Posa wants a normal life and a regular job (so she can pay taxes). Unfortunately, she's a henchgirl in the notorious Butterfly Gang; and her morals are getting in the way. Henchgirl is utterly delightful! It's witty and snarky, with comic gems on every page.
Recommended by Amy W.
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David Sedaris
[isbn]
As a die-hard Sedaris fan, I'm in love with reading his diary. It's so interesting observing how he changed over 30 years and reading about the events that shaped his essays. The way he sees the world around him is fascinating, and he is so funny.
Recommended by Amy W.
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Jessa Crispin
[isbn]
Crispin wants to remind us that the true goal of feminism is not to create space for women in the current system but to burn down the system and start anew. She wants us to return to feminism's roots, where we see beyond the structures that we know and imagine better ones.
At times this feels too confrontational and that her expectations are too high. But I personally want to be challenged in my thinking and what I need to be doing... (read more)
Recommended by Amy W
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Vonnegut, Kurt
[isbn]
"We are what we pretend to be, so we must be careful about what we pretend to be."
Howard W. Campbell Jr. is an American-born German writer who is awaiting trial in Israel for Nazi war crimes. The problem is, he was acting as a double agent for the U.S. Did he do too good of a job pretending to be a Nazi? Vonnegut explores guilt while ruthlessly satirizing racism, antisemitism, Nazis, and communism. I wish this Vonnegut gem were better known.... (read more)
Recommended by Amy W.
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Philippe Margotin, Jean-Michel Guesdon
[isbn]
Learn everything you could ever want to know about The Beatles. This book has the inspiration behind each studio release (even the cover songs); production notes, including who sang and played which instruments and how many takes there were; fun facts; and, of course, drama. This is the best and most exhaustive Beatles book I've ever read.
Recommended by Amy W.
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Yevgeny Zamyatin
[isbn]
Mathematician D-503 is writing a journal about his love of serving the One State and the great Benefactor. Absolute reason and logic with no free will has made humanity much happier. But D-503's world is thrown upside down when he meets the beautiful and dangerous I-330 and he develops an incurable soul. I loved this book's subtle, wry humor, like D-503's descriptions of people and his feelings about imaginary numbers. We inspired... (read more)
Recommended by Amy W.
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