Bob Dylan
[isbn]
Bob Dylan reflects on the nature of popular music. That's all we know about this book. It's more than enough to get me to read it!
Recommended by Moses M.
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Matt Kracht
[isbn]
Believe it or not, there are dumb birds all over this whole stupid world. In this follow up to The Field Guide to Dumb Birds of North America, you’ll learn to identify dumb birds on every single idiotic continent. Split into helpful categories like show-offs, dork-legs, and murder birds, you’ll become a true expert on these little jerks.
Recommended by Moses M.
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Billy Porter
[isbn]
As satisfying as celebrity memoirs can get, Porter’s story of childhood trauma and struggle slowly evolving into a rewarding and much-decorated Broadway and TV career hits all the right notes.
Recommended by Moses M.
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Sharice Davids and Joshua Mangeshig Pawis Steckley and Nancy K. Mays
[isbn]
Using illustrations by Ojibwe Woodland artist Joshua Mangeshig Pawis-Steckley and Davids’s own energetic voice, this empowering story about Sharice Davids’s path to Congress is also about bigger things: embracing your heritage, learning to listen, finding your own voice, and using it to make change in the world.
Recommended by Moses M.
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Ben Clanton
[isbn]
What's more fun than bubbles? Narwhals, you say? What about narwhals with bubbles? Well nothing could be more fun than a brand-new Narwhal and Jelly book bursting with bubbles and their usual Narwhal and Jelly charm — and a sweet message about the power of, well, fun.
Recommended by Moses M.
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Sesame Workshop
[isbn]
Masking up and keeping safe are so important, and who better to help get kids and parents alike motivated than Elmo and the Sesame Street gang? Heroes Wear Masks is a sweet, friendly reminder of some very smart practices for kids of all ages.
Recommended by Moses M.
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Eoin McLaughlin and Polly Dunbar
[isbn]
Writer Eoin McLaughlin and illustrator Polly Dunbar cleverly use the figures of a porcupine and tortoise to teach how to make connections with each other during social distancing. While We Can't Hug is a sweet, charming, and uplifting book — and very needful right now.
Recommended by Moses M.
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Sandra Boynton
[isbn]
Sandra Boynton is back with a lovely tale of personal connection through one of the funnest parts of the body. Your Nose! is a friendly story with Boynton’s trademark whimsical cartoons, but it’s more than that — it’s also a song! Perfect to be read and sung by anyone with a nose. Recommended by Moses M.
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Meg-John Barker and Jules Scheele
[isbn]
To quote Inigo Montoya, when it comes to gender, you may have been told: “I do not think it means what you think it means.” Fortunately, we have this informative and whimsical book to clarify this complicated and important topic.
Recommended by Moses M.
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Mo Rocca
[isbn]
Mo Rocca’s concern for history’s underappreciated is palpable in this hilarious and (mostly) loving tribute to dead people (or sometimes, dead ideas). Thoroughly researched and delightfully idiosyncratic, Mobituaries will have you reconsidering Billy Carter and so much else.
Recommended by Moses M.
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Elton John
[isbn]
Admit it: You’ve spent at least a few deliriously happy moments belting “Tiny Dancer” while stuck in traffic or washing dishes. Elton John’s music is simply un-unlikable, no matter how highbrow you claim to be, and his candid memoir about fame, family, and recovery is equally beguiling.
Recommended by Moses M.
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Andrea Beaty and David Roberts
[isbn]
Sofia wants to turn the town landfill into a park! But what happens when she visits City Hall and is told, “You’re only a kid”? With rhyming text and friendly, cartoony art, the latest in the Questioneers series is a fun tale of perseverance and doing good in the world.
Recommended by Moses M.
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Margaret Atwood
[isbn]
In The Testaments, Atwood finally explores what happened after Offred was trundled into a van by... well, for 34 years it's been a mystery. Undoubtedly the literary event of 2019, The Testaments is a feminist masterpiece by speculative fiction’s grand dame.
Recommended by Moses M.
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Conn Iggulden
[isbn]
Not teaching children how to be naughty won’t prevent them from finding trouble on their own, and sometimes it’s better to have a few tricks up your sleeve anyhow, as you never know when it may come in handy! Such is the thinking behind this spectacular reference manual that celebrates craftiness and ingenuity, with enough projects to get a child less interested in their phone and more invested in exploring the natural world.
Recommended by Moses M.
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Rachel Maddow
[isbn]
Rachel Maddow is known for digging deep to find surprising connections between the forces that shape contemporary politics. In her new book, she reveals just how pervasive, and toxic, Big Oil’s influence has been across the globe.
Recommended by Moses M.
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Jocelyn Lange and Bill Robinson
[isbn]
The Dark Crystal in Little Golden Book form? Yes, please! Now young readers can revel in the enchanting tale of Jen the Gelfling and his quest to heal the Crystal and restore harmony to the world of Thra.
Recommended by Moses M.
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Naomi Klein
[isbn]
With signature moxie, Naomi Klein takes on climate reform through a series of essays that examine where we are, how we got to this point, and where to go from here. Her indefatigable efforts and journalistic integrity continue to blaze an enduring path of hope.
Recommended by Moses M.
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Ibram X. Kendi
[isbn]
In this fascinating and meticulous follow-up to his award-winning Stamped From the Beginning, Kendi identifies the many areas of American life informed by racism and explores what institutions and individuals can do to create antiracist solutions. This challenging book is buoyed by frequent autobiographical anecdotes, which illustrate key points and highlight Kendi’s candor and passion.
Recommended by Moses M.
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Ben Macintyre
[isbn]
It would be fair to call The Spy and the Traitor British espionage nonfiction that reads like Le Carré, but truthfully it reads like classic Macintyre: thrilling, carefully researched, a bit controversial, and stunningly plotted. Macintryre brings the Cold War to life, and reminds us that decades-old tensions between Russia and the West remain unresolved.
Recommended by Moses M.
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Shawn Levy
[isbn]
There's no better summer escape than a deep dive into the history of the infamous Chateau Marmont, which for 90 years has served as refuge and playground for the world's most famous (and ill-behaved) movie stars and musicians. Film critic Shawn Levy dishes on Jean Harlow, Natalie Wood, Jim Morrison, and more in this entertaining and surprisingly thoughtful peek inside Hollywood's notorious pleasure palace.
Recommended by Moses M.
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Sam Kean
[isbn]
Science writer Sam Kean captures the WWII race for the atom bomb with the stylistic aplomb of John le Carré. With colorful characters and so-strange-they-must-be-true anecdotes of missions both successful and disastrous, The Bastard Brigade is a tremendously fun way to learn your history.
Recommended by Moses M.
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Chelsea Clinton and Gianna Marino
[isbn]
Lovingly researched by Chelsea Clinton, beautifully illustrated by Gianna Marino, Don’t Let Them Disappear is packed full of not only heart, but loads of information on many wonderful, endangered animals — how they live, what makes them unique, and most important, how we can help keep them around a long, long time.
Recommended by Moses M.
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Steven Pinker
[isbn]
Offering hope through evidence, researcher and Harvard professor Pinker shows us that we are not only capable of overturning our base impulses and drive towards societal destruction, we are in fact already collectively striving towards better. His advice for how to consciously hold onto the progress we’ve made is bracing, fortifying, and refreshingly sound.
Recommended by Moses M.
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Brené Brown
[isbn]
Brené Brown is back with an exploration of what leadership means in turbulent, uncertain times. Drawing from the skills and traits she's explored in her earlier work, Dare to Lead is a human, engrossing look at how we can encourage bravery and strength in ourselves and in our larger world.
Recommended by Moses M.
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Grackle & Pigeon
[isbn]
Brimming with colorful photos and sketches to get your creative juices flowing, this whimsical book is all about creating cozy spaces anywhere you happen to be. You’ll find a treasure trove of imaginative ideas — there’s even a book cave!
Recommended by Moses M.
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Pete Souza
[isbn]
In Shade, Pete Souza’s arresting photos of President Obama’s administration are paired with Trump-era headlines, tweets, and quotes to reveal two very different presidencies. If you follow Souza on Instagram, his quiet protest will be familiar to you, but in book form the juxtapositions tell a particularly powerful (and chilling) story.
Recommended by Moses M.
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Haruki Murakami
[isbn]
Haruki Murakami's first novel in four years is a triumph. Describing too much of the plot would spoil some of the trademark Murakami mystery, but it involves a lonely artist, a brilliant teenager, and an underworld that is surreal even for this author. Fascinating, puzzling, and ultimately utterly satisfying.
Recommended by Moses M.
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Sarah Smarsh
[isbn]
Sarah Smarsh's Heartland is a poetic, unusual memoir; her story, and the story of her family and her town, provide an illuminating lens through which to view some of the challenges of making a living in rural America, and the near-impossibility of moving up into the middle class for those born into poverty. Heartland is a powerful, lyrical book.
Recommended by Moses M.
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Ruth Bader Ginsburg
[isbn]
A trailblazing figure in the fight for gender equality, Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg (aka the Notorious RBG) shares a best-hits compilation of her writings (beginning with an editorial she wrote in eighth grade!). To say this is essential reading would be an understatement.
Recommended by Moses M.
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W. Kamau Bell
[isbn]
Political comedian W. Kamau Bell brings to his book the same wonderfully awkward mix of humor and social commentary that launched him into the spotlight with such acclaimed shows as Totally Biased With W. Kamau Bell and United Shades of America. Reading about how he came to embrace that unique blend is particularly rewarding.
Recommended by Moses M.
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John Hodgman
[isbn]
If you don't happen to have two vacation homes, it's okay. John Hodgman does, and he'll tell you funny stories about them, which feels almost as good as having two vacation homes. This book exceeded my expectations. Vacationland is Hodgman at his wittiest and most endearing.
Recommended by Moses M.
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Daniel J. Sharfstein
[isbn]
A bracing, deeply researched account of Oliver Howard, a champion of Reconstruction who nevertheless ruthlessly pursued the destruction of the Nez Perce tribe, Sharfstein’s Thunder in the Mountains is a fascinating yet devastating look at the historic and ongoing subjugation and destruction of Native American peoples.
Recommended by Moses M.
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Chelsey Johnson
[isbn]
I absolutely flew through this unique debut. The writing is quick and sharp, and it was fun to read something set in a Portland that I actually recognize. I'll definitely be waiting for more from Chelsey Johnson.
Recommended by Moses M.
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Sarah Pinborough
[isbn]
Behind Her Eyes is the rare thriller that lives up to the hype — the ending is both genuinely shocking and fits in perfectly with the rest of the book. Sarah Pinborough is an expert at writing believable, just-under-the-surface tension, and Behind Her Eyes is an eerie, escapist prize.
Recommended by Moses M.
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Amy Cuddy
[isbn]
In her TED talk, Amy Cuddy showed us how effective altering your body posture can be on your mindset. In Presence, she explains the "why" behind the "what" in our behaviors, reminding us of just how dynamic, responsive, and regenerative humans really are.
Recommended by Moses M.
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Sara Blaedel
[isbn]
Ilka’s father walked out on their family when she was young; now, she’s flying from Denmark to Wisconsin to sift through his estate and sell his funeral home... and straight into a murder mystery. A story of greed and deception rendered even creepier by its setting, Blædel’s latest thriller is a ton of fun.
Recommended by Moses M.
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David Giffels
[isbn]
Giffels’s stellar memoir caught my eye due to its rather morbid subject matter (constructing one’s own coffin), but it was the author’s hearty style and spirited drive to create in the face of destruction that won me over. I won’t soon forget this lighthearted book about the heaviest of subjects.
Recommended by Moses M.
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Stephen Colbert, The Staff of the Late Show with Stephen Colbert
[isbn]
When my wife asked me to walk the dog, I walked the dog to the pizza parlor down the street and read Stephen Colbert's hilarious new book while the dog snacked on breadsticks. #midnightconfessions
One night I read Stephen Colbert's Midnight Confessions to my son for his bedtime story, and now he won't stop talking about that crazy guy with the glasses. My wife thinks he's talking about Where's Waldo.... (read more)
Recommended by Moses M.
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Theodore Gray, Nick Mann
[isbn]
Theodore Gray's books are just plain cool, and Reactions (the climactic conclusion to his crazy-popular Elements trilogy) is no exception. Gray captures the magic that occurs in everything from bread to fireworks in stunning photographs and fun, easy-to-follow explanations. He even shows how watching paint dry can be fascinating.
Recommended by Moses M.
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Joseph Heller
[isbn]
The book that coined the term, Catch 22 parses the paradoxes of war and bureaucracy with laugh-out-loud satire and gallows humor on an American air base in Italy during WWII.
Recommended by Moses M.
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Mona Awad
[isbn]
I loved this spare novel with its dark, engaging account of living in a female teenager's body — growing up, having sex, and negotiating female friendships. I've rarely read such a seething indictment of dieting!
Recommended by Moses M.
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David Lagercrantz
[isbn]
The much-awaited fifth installment in the Millennium series (begun by Stieg Larsson, carried on deftly by David Lagercrantz) proves once again that nothing will get in Lisbeth Salander’s way as she pieces together the puzzle of her past. It’s a fast-paced read full of twists, turns, and revelations that will keep you turning the page.
Recommended by Moses M.
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Salman Rushdie
[isbn]
Nero Golden is a bombastic real estate tycoon with a mysterious past living in a fortress-like Manhattan mega-mansion. Sound familiar? It turns out there's nothing predictable about Rushdie's epic new novel brimming with references to film, mythology, literature, and, yes, contemporary politics. Rushdie absolutely dazzles in this witty, timely tale of America at its tipping point.
Recommended by Moses M.
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Nathan Englander
[isbn]
Acclaimed author Nathan Englander has given us a twisty, mesmerizing new novel tracing the events that lead Prisoner Z, a Jewish American spy, to his years-long confinement in a secret location in Israel. Other compelling characters, including the guard, add nuance to this intriguing look at physical and moral boundaries.
Recommended by Moses M.
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Louise Penny
[isbn]
Louise Penny’s back with another thoroughly gripping Chief Inspector Gamache novel. With beautifully complex characters and elegant prose, and utilizing the image of a mysterious hooded figure, Penny explores conscience and atonement in this engaging read that, as with all of Penny’s books, is so much more than a whodunit.
Recommended by Moses M.
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Eowyn Ivey
[isbn]
The year is 1885. Colonel Allen Forrester sets out on a major expedition, "the Alaskan equivalent of Lewis and Clark’s," while his wife, Sophie, embarks on a more cerebral journey. Through journal entries, letters, photos, and clippings, Eowyn Ivey dispenses their fascinating stories in this bold, hypnotic, page-turning novel.
Recommended by Moses M.
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Daniel H Wilson
[isbn]
This sci-fi thriller is a quick, action-packed read full of steampunk references and an engaging alternate history. The Clockwork Dynasty is the perfect genre mashup to take on your next vacation!
Recommended by Moses M.
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Julia Glass
[isbn]
Mort Lear dies suddenly and accidentally, leaving his estate to his longtime assistant, Tomasina. She must now navigate his past and present, while also dealing with her own. Warm and surprising, this complex tale raises the question: What do we really know about the people we hold close?
Recommended by Moses M.
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Haruki Murakami, Jay Rubin, Philip Gabriel
[isbn]
There are two kinds of people in this world: those who have never read Haruki Murakami and those who love his books with feverish devotion. Blind Willow, Sleeping Woman is a career-spanning collection of short stories guaranteed to amuse, disturb, beguile, and delight both devotees and novices alike.
Recommended by Moses M.
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Haruki Murakami, Jay Rubin, Philip Gabriel
[isbn]
Part of the thrill was the anticipation. After waiting for over a year for its publication, I grabbed 1Q84 and swallowed it whole. While it read simply and progressed slowly, it filled like a three-course meal. Being a long-term Murakami fan, I have seen the same themes and images reworked and woven into a variety of dreamlike states. This novel revisits the innocence of Norwegian Wood, but its mild-manneredness tricks the... (read more)
Recommended by Moses M.
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Alain De Botton
[isbn]
The Course of Love follows a couple, Rabih and Kirsten, from the beginning of their relationship to its more troubled middle. As de Botton says, "What we typically call love is only the start of love." This book is full of wisdom that anyone, from a looking-for-love type, to a many-years-married type, can learn from. It’s a novel and a therapy session in one.
Recommended by Moses M.
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Jen Sincero
[isbn]
Jen Sincero is back with another no-nonsense guide to getting out of your own way. This time she’s taken on the topic of money and how to get more of it. Sincero herself was perpetually broke, and so she’s speaking from personal experience as she details the steps toward earning the paycheck you deserve.
Recommended by Moses M.
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J K Rowling
[isbn]
Harry is back! But something has transpired in Rowling’s magical world we’ve come to know and love. I won’t spoil things for you, but the familiar faces, and a second generation of new students return in this familiar and surprising story. For every Potter fan who didn’t want things to end, it hasn’t, and it’s every bit as exciting as you’d hoped! Recommended by Moses M.
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Kim Stanley Robinson
[isbn]
The cover of Kim Stanley Robinson's newest science fiction novel offers a great deal of insight about the story he tells. Sea level has risen 50 feet and New York City is submerged. The book, set in the not-so-distant future, shares a very realistic view of how humans will cope with, and adapt to, the impact of climate change and many other societal issues that are on our minds today. Recommended by Moses M.
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Florence Williams
[isbn]
In The Nature Fix, journalist Florence Williams explores our relationship with nature and its ability to relieve stress, increase satisfaction, stimulate creativity, even boost immunity. Maybe you don’t need an excuse to get outdoors, but you’ll gain an even deeper appreciation for it.
Recommended by Moses M.
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Jo Nesbo
[isbn]
Ulf, a former fixer, is now trying to hide out in a remote part of Norway and dealing with emotions that had been long dormant. In Midnight Sun, Jo Nesbø's trademark tight plotting and complex characters continue to make him a master of the genre.
Recommended by Moses M.
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Kevin Wilson
[isbn]
Kevin Wilson, author of the fantastic The Family Fang, returns with a second novel about the concept of family. In Perfect Little World, Izzy Poole is approached by an unusual psychologist to raise her child in a collective called the Infinite Family Project (the children don't know who their true parents are). Moving, sharp, and insightful.
Recommended by Moses M.
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Ashlee Vance
[isbn]
This fascinating and broad-ranging biography of Elon Musk examines one of the most interesting minds in Silicon Valley. Focusing both on his personal story and the stories of Tesla and SpaceX, Ashlee Vance poses necessary and urgent questions about our technology industry and the nature of innovation.
Recommended by Moses M.
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Jon Raymond
[isbn]
Freebird is a tightly packed and expertly written novel, both highly contemporary and wisely historical. It follows three generations of the Singer family as they navigate their increasingly chaotic lives. You will laugh with them, cry with them, and miss them when they're gone.
Recommended by Moses M.
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Douglas Preston
[isbn]
This incredible true story reads like a no-holds-barred adventure novel. Douglas Preston joins a crew as they venture into the treacherous Honduran wilderness to uncover a sacred lost city. His account of the expedition is mesmerizing.
Recommended by Moses M.
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Jo Witek and Christine Roussey
[isbn]
Happiness, anger, sadness, shyness, hope — no feeling is left feeling left out! In my Heart is an elegant picture book, with its fanciful narrative, whimsical art, and best of all, the die-cut heart that runs in a rainbow through its pages.
Recommended by Moses M.
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Tim Palmer
[isbn]
Rivers of Oregon is a book of photography that reads like a love letter to the many rivers that flow through Oregon, from our lush coastal waterways to our eastern mountain streams. It’s gorgeous and peaceful, and reading it is almost as good as being there in person.
Recommended by Moses M.
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Brooke Barker
[isbn]
In Sad Animal Facts, 150 animals react to facts about themselves. A mayfly, who lives only a day, is curious about sunsets. A jellyfish is “sorry not sorry” about not having a heart. It’s super funny and super cute.
Recommended by Moses M.
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DK
[isbn]
LEGO Star Wars: Build Your Own Adventure comes with instructions for 50 different LEGO combinations to build awesome models like a Y-wing, a podracer, an imperial command post, even a Jawa junk shop! Or make up your own! A cool new Star Wars story is included.
Recommended by Moses M.
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Billy Collins
[isbn]
Billy Collins is back with another irresistible poetry collection that showcases his ingenuity, charisma, and spirit. The Rain in Portugal both elevates the everyday and cuts unwieldy topics down to size. An exemplary collection from a beloved poet.
Recommended by Moses M.
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Nina George
[isbn]
A powerfully romantic, vivid tale, The Little Paris Bookshop is the story of a floating bookstore, unlikely shipmates, and an unforgettable love.
In this delightful novel, the right book can treat most any ailment. Read The Little Paris Bookshop, and I guarantee you'll feel revived.
Recommended by Moses M.
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Kenneth Oppel
[isbn]
In this enjoyable adventure, two teenagers, Samuel and Rachel, and their rivaling fathers are on a quest, determined to be the first to find the king dinosaur — the largest fossil ever found. The sparring fathers and their laughable antics, the great characters, the adventure and dangers, and even the romance make this a fun read for young adults even if they are not dinosaur obsessed.
Recommended by Moses M.
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Sara Blaedel
[isbn]
This remarkable Danish crime fiction writer is back at it again with a new book in her addictive series, and with another story that will keep you up at night. Blædel’s plotlines are creepy and complex, this one involving the disappearance of a teenage boy and a religion based on ancient Nordic mythology. Wholly gripping, dark, and deadly, you’ll be hard-pressed to find a better crime writer out there.
Recommended by Moses M.
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Adam Johnson
[isbn]
Adam Johnson is, in a word, brilliant, and the six stories in his National Book Award-winning collection are startling little revelations. They’re darkly absurd, captivating tales that open up and take hold in the most unexpected of ways.
Recommended by Moses M.
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Peter Wohlleben
[isbn]
Have you ever imagined trees as having thoughts and feelings? The Hidden Life of Trees suggests you may not have been so far off. This book became a surprise sensation in Germany, and it completely surprised me too. I read it while camping and it made the experience so much richer.
Recommended by Moses M.
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Tom Wolfe
[isbn]
In distinctive Wolfe fashion, both learned and amusing, this fascinating new work lays out the argument that the capacity for speech, and not evolution, has enabled human achievement. Witty and insightful, be prepared to have your perception of speech forever changed. Recommended by Moses M.
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Ottessa Moshfegh
[isbn]
An alcoholic dad, a prison for delinquent boys, a narrator who is both repulsive and endearing. Eileen is dark stuff, but it’s also really fun to read. Give this strange, surprising novel a try, and you’ll understand why some have suggested Ottessa Moshfegh could be the next literary sensation.
Recommended by Moses M.
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Louise Penny
[isbn]
With each new release, Penny's intricately plotted, wonderfully nuanced Chief Inspector Gamache novels just get better and better. In this 11th installment, the now-retired detective must confront the dark side of human nature once again as he grapples with a murder weighing heavily on his conscience.
Recommended by Moses M.
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Siddhartha Mukherjee
[isbn]
The Pulitzer Prize-winning author of The Emperor of All Maladies brings us another rich, sweeping medical exploration, this time unfurling all we know about the human genome. Mukherjee gracefully addresses the answers lurking in our very genes, and the philosophical and ethical questions arising from this growing body of knowledge.
Recommended by Moses M.
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John Corey Whaley
[isbn]
Highly Illogical Behavior is the story of Solomon, an agoraphobic teen, and Lisa, an aspiring psychiatrist who tries to “fix” him. Of course, nothing goes as planned. A heartfelt and hilarious read!
Recommended by Moses M.
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Curtis Sittenfeld
[isbn]
If you love Elizabeth Bennet and Mr. Darcy (or even if you don’t), you will adore the new Liz Bennet, a Manhattan-dwelling magazine writer, and the new Fitzwilliam Darcy, a grouchy neurosurgeon. It is a thoroughly modern retelling of one of literature’s most compelling duos.
Recommended by Moses M.
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Jessica Knoll
[isbn]
Are all your friends already talking about this one? They will be. It’s a powerful thriller — dark, funny, and surprising. It will captivate you.
Recommended by Moses M.
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Charles Bock
[isbn]
Alice and Oliver is a heartbreaking portrayal of a family fighting for survival. Thriving in the ’90s as a fashion designer and new mother, Alice’s world suddenly narrows to a single point when she is diagnosed with cancer. What comes next is a powerful and revelatory tribute to love, life, and companionship.
Recommended by Moses M.
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