Ta-Nehisi Coates
[isbn]
The best nonfiction writer of our generation makes his fiction debut with this intricately constructed novel about slavery in America. Ta-Nehisi Coates’s voice is distinctive and powerful, and this book is one to cherish. For fans of Colson Whitehead’s The Underground Railroad and Esi Edugyan’s Washington Black.
Recommended by Mary S.
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Omar El Akkad
[isbn]
This prophetic debut novel from Omar El Akkad has haunted me since I read it in April. American War paints a bleak future in which the North and South are warring for a second time in US history, this time over fossil fuel use in the year 2074. In this sharply written book, El Akkad explores asymmetric warfare, climate change, rebellion, extrajudicial torture, refugees, and the ethics of unmanned drones raining death and destruction on... (read more)
Recommended by Mary S.
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Valeria Luiselli
[isbn]
An exceptionally timely book about child migration and the life-or-death decisions made at the U.S.-Mexican border, while also a poignant story about a blended family trying to figure out how they fit into each others' lives. A haunting, beautiful, important work.
Recommended by Mary S.
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Haruki Murakami
[isbn]
Killing Commendatore is a Gatsby-esque novel that meditates on art, death, the spirit world, fate, and free will. I loved the experience of slowly losing myself to the surreal, magical world of Murakami’s imagination. This novel may have finally pushed me into the camp of devoted Harukists.
Recommended by Mary S.
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Amaryllis Fox
[isbn]
Amaryllis Fox’s absolutely fascinating memoir about working in the CIA is as electric and heart-stopping as the best spy movies. Seriously, one of the most captivating books I have ever read, period.
Recommended by Mary S.
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Margaret Atwood
[isbn]
Margaret Atwood has returned at last to the world of Gilead to answer our most burning questions from The Handmaid’s Tale: What fate awaits June; will Baby Nicole remain free; and can the cruel reign of patriarchal theocracy be toppled for good? Atwood’s prophetic vision is a gift — and a warning. We are all called to heed it.
Recommended by Mary S.
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Olga Tokarczuk
[isbn]
Crackling with energy and wholly original, Olga Tokarczuk dazzles with this literary thriller that is both ecofeminist manifesto and page-turning whodunit. Tokarczuk transports the reader to a snowy, isolated plateau in Poland where villagers are mysteriously turning up dead. This book is fierce and essential, fundamentally challenging how we perceive the world.
Recommended by Mary S.
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Margaret Renkl
[isbn]
What a gorgeous meditation on life — all of it, from delicate moments of peace in a backyard garden to the life-altering landmarks of birth, death, love, and loss. Two intertwined narratives weave a loving portrait of nature, family, and the beauty of every small moment.
Recommended by Mary S.
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Ani Difranco
[isbn]
Ani DiFranco’s memoir is an intimate window into her childhood and the early years of her fame, detailing how she navigated the cutthroat music industry while staying true to her indie folk feminist roots. Just like her music, Ani’s written words are candid and full of passion. A great read for her fans and for those looking for insight into how to navigate the music business while staying true to themselves.
Recommended by Mary S.
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Julia Phillips
[isbn]
Disappearing Earth is a finely constructed novel set in the remote Kamchatka Peninsula, an arresting landscape of active volcanoes and unspoiled wilderness in the far eastern edge of Russia. Julia Phillips masterfully unfurls the story of two sisters who vanish and the tensions between socioeconomic communities that come to light during the desperate search to find the girls. A stunning book so well written, it’s hard to believe this is... (read more)
Recommended by Mary S.
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Colson Whitehead
[isbn]
This sharply written, gut-punch of a novel is the epitome of the saying that fiction is a lie that tells the truth. Whitehead unflinchingly portrays the horrors of Jim Crow-era Florida, an uncomfortable period of American history that many would rather forget. Whitehead shows us that unearthing the truth of injustices buried in the past is a powerful and necessary act. A brilliant book written by a master of the literary arts, Nickel... (read more)
Recommended by Mary S.
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David K. Randall
[isbn]
This captivating book paints a vivid portrait of San Francisco at the dawn of the 20th century: the heart of the West Coast, where gleaming opportunity and virulent racism play out as a wave of bubonic plague sweeps through the city. Groundbreaking bacteriologists must contend with corrupt politicians as they fight to save lives during the outbreak. A thrilling read, good for fans of The Devil in the White City.
Recommended by Mary S.
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Laini Taylor
[isbn]
Sarai, the Muse of Nightmares, is now a ghost. Lazlo has just discovered he is a blue-skinned son of the gods. Together, they must face impossible choices as chaos spreads through the city of Weep and renewed war between gods and mortals threatens to break out. A monumental sequel to Strange the Dreamer, Laini Taylor's Muse of Nightmares reminded me of Philip Pullman's world-hopping His Dark Materials trilogy. Epic in scale,... (read more)
Recommended by Mary S.
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Marie Lu
[isbn]
Marie Lu's world-building is just phenomenal. This action-packed sequel to Warcross sees cyberpunk antihero Emika Chen navigating virtual worlds that, in their intricacy, are reminiscent of Christopher Nolan's Inception. A fast-paced, techno-futuristic thriller that lives up to the original.
Recommended by Mary S.
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John Darnielle
[isbn]
This simple, small book is heartbreaking and beautiful. If you love all the twisted songs that John Darnielle sings about a complicated childhood in Southern California, then this is the book for you. It’s a dark tale, about a guy named Sean who has a disfigured face (the causes of which are unveiled like a mystery as the novel unfolds) and withdraws into an inner fantasy world to make his life meaningful. There’s family drama, teenage angst, and... (read more)
Recommended by Mary S.
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Robin Sloan
[isbn]
Everything Robin Sloan writes is a delight, and this book lives up to the charm of Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore. I was so entranced by protagonist Lois Clary's adventures with her bubbling sourdough starter that, after finishing this book, I immediately bought a copy of Chad Robertson's Tartine Bread and have been experimenting with baking bread in my own kitchen. Sloan's writing is just that magical.
Recommended by Mary S.
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Jarett Kobek
[isbn]
With knife-sharp wit, author Jarett Kobek systematically shines a light on the devastating consequences of the Bay Area tech scene's actions. He dives deeper than the usual grievances to explore less obvious impacts, like how slacktivism on social media financially benefits the patriarchy, and how the idea of freedom of speech is used to justify a horror of online hate against anybody not straight, white and male. The novel follows Adeline, a... (read more)
Recommended by Mary S.
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Karin Tidbeck
[isbn]
If George Orwell's 1984 and Jeff Vandermeer's Southern Reach trilogy had a book baby, it would look a lot like Amatka. Karin Tidbeck's first full-length novel, finally translated into English, tells the story of the introverted and rebellious Vanja Essre Two, as she navigates an authoritarian colony that requires citizens to constantly name the objects around them. Her subversion of this practice fundamentally alters the nature... (read more)
Recommended by Mary S.
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