reading smorgasbord

 

The next Genre Reading Group meeting will on Zoom on June 29th at 6:3pm and the topic is ancient Egypt!  Register here: https://emmetoneal.libnet.info/event/4597970

For suggestions, have a look at the GRG row on Shelf Care: https://oneallibrary.org/adults---reading-recommendations

Last night, GRG met for one of our biannual Salon Discussion, where there is no assigned topic.  We all read some interesting things!

On the House: A Washington Memoir by John Boehner

Former Speaker of the House John Boehner shares colorful tales from the halls of power, the smoke-filled rooms around the halls of power, and his fabled tour bus.

The Bone Witch by Rin Chupeco

A story of scorned witches, sinister curses, and resurrection, The Bone Witch is the start of a dark fantasy trilogy, perfect for fans of Serpent & Dove and The Cruel Prince.

The Darkest Evening by Ann Cleeves

On the first snowy night of winter, Detective Inspector Vera Stanhope sets off for her home in the hills. Though the road is familiar, she misses a turning and soon becomes lost and disorientated. A car has skidded off the narrow road in front of her, its door left open, and she stops to help. There is no driver to be seen, so Vera assumes that the owner has gone to find help. But a cry calls her back: a toddler is strapped in the back seat.

The Snakewoman of Little Egypt by Robert Hellenga

On the morning of his fortieth birthday, anthropology professor Jackson Jones contemplates his future: Should he return to Africa, where he did his fieldwork, and live with the Mbuti, or should he marry and settle down in the Midwestern university town where he now teaches? On the morning of her release from prison, Sunny, who grew up in a snake-handling church in the Little Egypt region of Southern Illinois, rents a garage apartment from Jackson. Sunny and Jackson are drawn to each other, but then push comes to shove in this page-turning novel brimming with wit, substance, emotional depth-a fascinating and original story that delivers Robert Hellenga at the top of his form.

A Thousand Ships by Natalie Haynes

Shortlisted for the Women’s Prize for Fiction, a gorgeous retelling of the Trojan War from the perspectives of the many women involved in its causes and consequences—for fans of Madeline Miller.

Anna K by Jenny Lee

As her friends struggle with the pitfalls of ordinary teenage life, Anna always seems to be able to sail gracefully above it all. That is…until the night she meets Alexia “Count” Vronsky at Grand Central. A notorious playboy who has bounced around boarding schools and who lives for his own pleasure, Alexia is everything Anna is not. But he has never been in love until he meets Anna, and maybe she hasn’t, either. As Alexia and Anna are pulled irresistibly together, she has to decide how much of her life she is willing to let go for the chance to be with him. And when a shocking revelation threatens to shatter their relationship, she is forced to question if she has ever known herself at all.

You’ll Never Believe What Happened to Lacey: Crazy Stories About Racism by Amber Ruffin

Now a writer and performer on Late Night with Seth Meyers and host of The Amber Ruffin Show, Amber Ruffin lives in New York, where she is no one's First Black Friend and everyone is, as she puts it, "stark raving normal." But Amber's sister Lacey? She's still living in their home state of Nebraska, and trust us, you'll never believe what happened to Lacey.

All the Devils Are Here by Louise Penny

The 16th novel by #1 bestselling author Louise Penny finds Chief Inspector Armand Gamache of the Sûreté du Quebec investigating a sinister plot in Paris, the City of Light.

The Powers That Be by David Halberstam

Recounts the growth in power and influence of the great media institutions and the changes that they have brought about on the American scene, focusing on the people who make up Time Incorporated, the Washington Post, the Los Angeles Times, and CBS.

A Feast Day of Fools by James Lee Burke

James Lee Burke returns to the Texas border town of his bestseller Rain Gods, where a serial killer presumed dead is very much alive…and where sheriff Hackberry Holland, now a widower, fights for survival—his own, and of the citizens he’s sworn to protect.

Painting Time by Maylis de Kerangal

An enchanted, atmospheric, and highly aesthetic coming-of-age novel, Painting Time is an intimate and unsparing exploration of craft, inspiration, and the contours of the contemporary art world. As she did in her acclaimed novels The Heart and The Cook, Maylis de Kerangal unravels a tightly wound professional world to reveal the beauty within.

Jim Henson: The Biography by Brian Jay Jones

An up-close look at the charmed life of a legend, Jim Henson gives the full measure to a man whose joyful genius transcended age, language, geography, and culture—and continues to beguile audiences worldwide.

House of Whispers by Laura Purcell

A gothic tale set in a rambling house by the sea in which a maid cares for a mute old woman with a mysterious past, alongside her superstitious staff--from the author of The Silent Companions. A perfect spooky read!

GENERAL DISCUSSION

Monstrous Regiment by Terry Pratchett

War has come to Discworld . . . again. And, to no one's great surprise, the conflict centers around the small, arrogantly fundamentalist duchy of Borogravia, which has long prided itself on its unrelenting aggressiveness. A year ago, Polly Perks's brother marched off to battle, and Polly is willing to resort to drastic measures to find him. So she cuts off her hair, dons masculine garb, and—aided by a well-placed pair of socks—sets out to join the army. Since a nation in such dire need of cannon fodder cannot afford to be too picky, Polly is eagerly welcomed into the fighting fold, along with a vampire, a troll, an Igor, a religious fanatic, and two uncommonly close "friends." It would appear that Polly "Ozzer" Perks isn't the only grunt with a secret. But duty calls, the battlefield beckons, and now is the time for all good, er . . . "men," to come to the aid of their country.

The Beast and the Bethany by Jack Meggitt-Phillips

Lemony Snicket meets Roald Dahl in this riotously funny, deliciously macabre, and highly illustrated tale of a hungry beast, a vain immortal man, and a not-so-charming little girl who doesn’t know she’s about to be eaten.

The World According to Star Wars by Cass Sunstein

There’s Santa Claus, Shakespeare, Mickey Mouse, the Bible, and then there’s Star Wars. Nothing quite compares to sitting down with a young child and hearing the sound of John Williams’s score as those beloved golden letters fill the screen. In this fun, erudite, and often moving book, Cass R. Sunstein explores the lessons of Star Wars as they relate to childhood, fathers, the Dark Side, rebellion, and redemption. As it turns out, Star Wars also has a lot to teach us about constitutional law, economics, and political uprisings.

Paperbacks from Hell: The Twisted History of ‘70s and ‘80s Horror Fiction by Grady Hendrix

A nostalgic and unflinchingly funny celebration of the horror fiction boom of the 1970s and ’80s

The Southern Book Club’s Guide to Slaying Vampires by Grady Hendrix

Steel Magnolias meets Dracula in this '90s-set horror novel about a women's book club that must do battle with a mysterious newcomer to their small Southern town, perfect for murderinos and fans of Stephen King.

The Silent Companions by Laura Purcell

When Elsie married handsome young heir Rupert Bainbridge, she believed she was destined for a life of luxury. But pregnant and widowed just weeks after their wedding, with her new servants resentful and the local villagers actively hostile, Elsie has only her late husband’s awkward cousin for company. Or so she thinks. Inside her new home lies a locked door, beyond which is a painted wooden figure—a silent companion—that bears a striking resemblance to Elsie herself. The residents of the estate are terrified of the figure, but Elsie tries to shrug this off as simple superstition—that is, until she notices the figure’s eyes following her. A Victorian ghost story that evokes a most unsettling kind of fear, The Silent Companions is a tale that creeps its way through the consciousness in ways you least expect—much like the companions themselves.

A Poison Thread by Laura Purcell

A thrilling Victorian gothic horror story about a young seamstress who claims her needle and thread have the power to kill.

Forthcoming June 1st: The Shape of Darkness by Laura Purcell

A struggling silhouette artist in Victorian Bath seeks out a renowned child spirit medium in order to speak to the dead - and to try and identify their killers - in this beguiling new tale from the queen of Gothic fiction, Laura Purcell

Savage Season by Joe R. Lansdale

Hap Collins and Leonard Pine are best friends, yet they couldn't be more different. Hap is an east Texas white-boy with a weakness for Texas women. Leonard is a gay, black Vietnam vet. Together, they steer up more commotion than a fire storm. But that's just the way they like it. So when an ex-flame of Hap's returns promising a huge score. Hap lets Leonard in on the scam, and that's when things get interesting. Chockfull of action and laughs, Savage Season is the masterpiece of dark suspense that introduced Hap and Leonard to the thriller scene. It hasn't been the same since.

 

 

 

 

Summer Spice Club

Get creative in the kitchen this summer with our Summer Spice Club!  These online chef chats will be on select Thursday nights, June through August.  All registrants will receive a free spice kit to take home. Register today to reserve your spot and a spice kit!

Thursday, June 10 @ 6:30pm with Camille Henry Autry, chef/owner of Crestwood Coffee Co & Café  (Register here)

Camille recommends The Flavor Bible: The Essential Guide to Culinary Creativity, Based on the Wisdom of America's Most Imaginative Chefs by Karen Page.  Reserve it for check out here!

 

Thursday, July 15 @ 6:30pm with Josh Haynes, chef/owner of Alloy Thai Restaurant (Register here)

Josh recommends Thai Food (Arharn Thai) by David Thompson.  Reserve it for check out here!

 

Thursday, August 12 @ 6:30pm with Julie Grimes, chef/owner of Black Sheep Kitchen (Register here)

Julie Grimes has her own cookbook, $10 Dinners: Delicious Meals for a Family of Four that Don't Break the Bank!  Reserve it for check out here!

For more information, contact Holley at 205.445.1117 or hwesley@oneallibrary.org.  

Save the date

 

The Best 25 Books To Look For This Summer 

The Plot by Jean Hanff Korelitz:
If you liked HBO’s The Undoing (Hanff Korelitz’s previous novel, You Should Have Known, became the basis for the hit series), then you’ll be happy to know she’s returned with a literary thriller filled with deceit and betrayal set in the publishing world, where a fame-hungry writer steals a book and a vindictive reader uncovers the truth. May 11

The Summer Job by Lizzy Dent:
For a hilarious, chaotic rom-com bursting with Scottish charm, The Summer Job follows Birdy Finch to a sleepy resort on a Scottish loch. She’s there for the summer job her best friend gave up. The only problem? She’s not exactly the star sommelier she’s posing as, and the resort isn’t as sleepy as she imagined. May 18

Malibu Rising by Taylor Jenkins Reid:
Author of TV-bound Daisy Jones & the Six, Reid welcomes you to 1980s California, during which four siblings—the offspring of notorious singer/playboy Mick Riva—throw their annual end-of-summer party (even Rob Lowe has attended). But before the ill-fated night goes up in flames (literally), generations of secrets, loves and yearnings will come bubbling to the surface. June 1

The Other Black Girl by Zakiya Dalila Harris:
In this edgy, satirical thriller, Nella encounters microaggressions and racism daily as her publishing company’s sole Black employee. But when another young Black woman is hired, hostility and menacing events begin. June 1

The One Hundred Years of Lenni and Margot by Marianne Cronin:
After meeting in the terminal ward’s art class, two women (one 17 and one 83) bond through life, love and friendship in this uplifting and heartstring-tugging story. June 1

Somebody’s Daughter by Ashley C. Ford:
One of the most talked about memoirs of the year, Ford’s Somebody’s Daughter reflects on her complex childhood with an incarcerated father, her feelings of isolation, an abusive relationship, her search for unconditional love and her journey to “find the threads between who you are and what you were born into.” June 1

One Last Stop by Casey McQuiston:
Fans of McQuiston’s bestselling Red, White & Royal Blue will want to grab this much-anticipated, time-bending queer romance about a 23-year-old and her subway crush who’s literally displaced from the 1970s. Grab it for the impossible (or is it?) escapism and stay for the big-hearted rom-com. June 1

An Unlikely Spy by Rebecca Starford:
Set within WWII London, Evelyn is a young Englishwoman tasked with stopping a network of Nazi sympathizers and their plot to invade Britain. Part espionage thriller part, part historical novel that brings wartime England alive, An Unlikely Spy also looks at the effects secrecy and social hierarchy have on personal relationships. June 1

Instructions for Dancing by Nicola Yoon:
Is having this big, swoon-worthy love all it’s cracked up to be? And more importantly, is it worth the heartbreak that might come with it? National Book Award finalist Yoon answers those questions and more when we meet Evie and X, two people learning to waltz, foxtrot and fall in love at a local dance studio. June 1

The President’s Daughter by James Patterson and Bill Clinton:
In their second collaboration, Patterson and Clinton blend matters of national security with every parent’s nightmare when former Navy SEAL and commander in chief Matthew Keating sets out on a one-man special-ops mission to save his abducted teenage daughter. June 7

Animal by Lisa Taddeo:
Taddeo’s first novel (a byproduct of reporting on her nonfiction bestseller Three Women), Animal captures female rage that’s so often suppressed when main character Joan transforms from prey to predator. June 8

The Maidens by Alex Michaelides:
Michaelides (The Silent Patient) is back with a thriller set among the ancient halls of Cambridge University, where a psychotherapist is certain that charismatic Greek tragedy professor Edward Fosca (beloved by the all-female secret society the Maidens) is a murderer. June 15

Lady Sunshine by Amy Mason Doan:
In the summer of 1979, two cousins find an unmistakable bond and infinite freedom at a sprawling bohemian estate—until one disappears. Twenty years later, a piece of the past resurfaces. June 29

The Forest of Vanishing Stars by Kristin Harmel:
Yona was kidnapped from her wealthy German parents as a child, kept in isolation and raised off the land in eastern Europe. After her kidnapper dies in 1941, she finds a group of Jewish refugees fleeing Nazi persecution and teaches them to forage, make shelters and hide their tracks. But when she’s betrayed and escapes into a German-occupied village, her past, present and search for an identity all collide. July 6

Embassy Wife by Katie Crouch:
It’s a dusty state of affairs in Embassy Wife, in which two American women in Namibia—one the wife of a diplomat and the other a trailing spouse—learn the truth about their husbands, corruption, international conflict and their own country. July 13

While We Were Dating by Jasmine Guillory:
Another rom-com addition to the Guillory-verse follows ad-man Ben and movie star Anna, who script a Hollywood romance for the sake of the spotlight. But when will they realize it’s no longer an act? July 13

Billy Summers by Stephen King:
The king of horror and suspense is back. This time, he’s introducing us to Billy Summers, a top sniper, decorated Iraq war vet and a hired killer who will only target the bad guys. Now he wants out though. With one more job to get done, what could go wrong? August 3

The following titles have not yet been ordered, but keep watch for them!

Linda McCartney’s Family Kitchen by Paul McCartney, Linda McCartney, Mary McCartney and Stella McCartney:
Paul and his daughters Mary and Stella are honoring their late wife and mother’s passion for meat-free meals in a new cookbook with intimate photos, memories and more than 90 plant-based recipes, including Linda’s “American-Style” Pancakes and Chili Non-Carne. “Years ago, before anyone had woken up to the idea of environmental, health and animal welfare issues,” Paul says, “Linda was blazing the trail with vegetarianism.” June 29

The Guilt Trip by Sandie Jones:
What happens when a destination wedding goes all wrong? Welcome to the sunny coast of Portugal, where six friends, including the bride and groom, learn that everyone’s keeping secrets—and a few hidden agendas. August 3

Something New Under the Sun by Alexandra Kleeman:
Drought, wildfire and corruption are here to stay in this dark, near-future tale of an East Coast author overseeing the film adaptation of his novel in Hollywood, the troubled marriage he intends to save and the catastrophe looming in this sun-scorched city. August 3

In My Dreams I Hold a Knife by Ashley Winstead:
Looking for an eerie campus setting? This chilling suspense novel has murder, friendship and defiance when six people return to their college reunion a decade after one of their close friends was murdered. Long-buried secrets are bound to come up. August 3

In the Country of Others by Leila Slimani:
By the author of The Perfect Nanny, In the Country of Others is the first volume in a planned trilogy about a spirited young Frenchwoman named Mathilde and her interracial marriage with a Moroccan man around the Second World War. As their cultures clash, Mathilde begins to defy her new country’s repressive gender norms in a fight for independence. August 10

Velvet Was the Night by Sylvia Moreno-Garcia:
The new noir thriller from the author of Mexican Gothic, Velvet Was the Night is set among political unrest in 1970s Mexico City as a daydreaming secretary and a lonesome enforcer follow the suspicious disappearance of a neighbor. August 17

A Slow Fire Burning by Paula Hawkins:
From the bestselling author of Girl on the Train, more deceit, revenge, murder, thrills, chills, twists and turns. Do we have your attention yet? Three women—Laura, Miriam and Carla—seek to right the wrongs that have been done to them. Each is damaged in her own way, but are any of them damaged enough to kill? August 31

The Heart Principle by Helen Hoang:
If you loved The Kiss Quotient, Hoang is back with a new story of unexpected love. Quan Diep is the motorcycle-riding CEO of an up-and-coming retail business. Anna Sun is a violinist who’s gone viral. As Anna peels away Quan’s dangerous exterior (and her own closed-off shell), will the two open themselves up for love? August 31

(from https://parade.com)

 

Celebrating Asian Voices

 

May is Asian Pacific American Heritage!

Generations of Asian and Pacific Islanders have enriched America’s history and these authors’ new books are enriching American literature:

Things We Lost to the Water by Eric Nguyen

Named one of the “Fifteen Books to Watch for in May” by The New York Time, Nguyen’s narrative strikes a very elusive balance: vast in scale and ambition, while luscious and inviting. 

Dial A for Aunties by Jesse Q. Sutanto

"Sutanto brilliantly infuses comedy and culture into the unpredictable rom-com/murder mystery mashup as Meddy navigates familial duty, possible arrest and a groomzilla. I laughed out loud and you will too.”—USA Today

Crying in H Mart by Michelle Zauner

From the indie rockstar of Japanese Breakfast fame, and author of the viral 2018 New Yorker essay that shares the title of this book, an unflinching, powerful memoir about growing up Korean American, losing her mother, and forging her own identity.

First Person Singular by Haruki Murakami

“Some novelists hold a mirror up to the world and some, like Haruki Murakami, use the mirror as a portal to a universe hidden beyond it.” —The Wall Street Journal

Klara and the Sun by Kazuo Ishiguro

A magnificent new novel from the Nobel laureate Kazuo Ishiguro—author of Never Let Me Go and the Booker Prize-winning The Remains of the Day.

Speak, Okinawa by Elizabeth Miki Brina

A searing, deeply candid memoir about a young woman's journey to understanding her complicated parents—her mother an Okinawan war bride, her father a Vietnam veteran—and her own, fraught cultural heritage.

My Year Abroad by Chang-rae Lee

“A manifesto to happiness—the one found when you stop running from who you are.” –New York Times Book Review

Inheritors by Asako Serizawa

From the O. Henry Prize-winning author comes a heartbreakingly beautiful and brutal exploration of lives fragmented by the Pacific side of World War II.

How Much of These Hills Is Gold by C. Pam Zhang

An electric debut novel set against the twilight of the American gold rush, two siblings are on the run in an unforgiving landscape—trying not just to survive but to find a home.

Minor Feelings: An Asian American Reckoning by Cathy Park Hong

A ruthlessly honest, emotionally charged, and utterly original exploration of Asian American consciousness

On Earth We’re Briefly Gorgeous by Ocean Vuong

Poet Ocean Vuong’s debut novel is a shattering portrait of a family, a first love, and the redemptive power of storytelling

award winning mysteries

 

Last week, the Mystery Writers of America announced the winners of the 2021 Edgar Awards, one of the mystery world’s premier honors. This year marks the 75th annual presentation of the awards.

BEST NOVEL

Nominees:

Djinn Patrol on the Purple Line by Deepa Anappara WINNER
Before She Was Helen by Caroline B. Cooney
Thursday Murder Club by Richard Osman
These Women by Ivy Pochoda
The Missing American by Kwei Quartey
The Distant Dead by Heather Young

BEST FIRST NOVEL BY AN AMERICAN AUTHOR

Nominees:

Murder in Old Bombay by Nev March
Please See Us by Caitlin Mullen WINNER
Catherine House by Elisabeth Thomas
Winter Counts by David Heska Wanbli Weiden
Darling Rose Gold by Stephanie Wrobel

BEST PAPERBACK ORIGINAL

Nominees:

When No One is Watching by Alyssa Cole WINNER
The Deep, Deep Snow by Brian Freeman
Unspeakable Things by Jess Lourey
The Keeper by Jessica Moor
East of Hounslow by Khurrum Rahman

BEST TRUE CRIME

Nominees:

Blood Runs Coal: The Yablonski Murders and the Battle for the United Mine Workers of America by Mark A. Bradley

The Third Rainbow Girl: The Long Life of a Double Murder in Appalachia by Emma Copley Eisenberg

 Death in Mud Lick: A Coal Country Fight Against the Drug Companies that Delivered the Opioid Epidemic by Eric Eyre WINNER

Yellow Bird: Oil, Murder, and a Woman’s Search for Justice in Indian Country by Sierra Crane Murdoch

Veritas: A Harvard Professor, a Con Man, and the Gospel of Jesus’s Wife by Ariel Sabar

BEST CRITICAL/BIOGRAPHICAL

Nominees:

Howdunit: A Masterclass in Crime Writing by Members of the Detection Club edited by Martin Edwards

Phantom Lady: Hollywood Producer Joan Harrison, the Forgotten Woman Behind Hitchcock by Christina Lane WINNER

Ian Rankin: A Companion to the Mystery & Fiction by Erin E. MacDonald

Guilt Rules All:  Irish Mystery, Detective, and Crime Fiction by Elizabeth Mannion & Brian Cliff

This Time Next Year We’ll be Laughing by Jacqueline Winspear

BEST JUVENILE

Nominees:

Premeditated Myrtle by Elizabeth C. Bunce WINNER
Me and Banksy by Tanya Lloyd Kyi
From the Desk of Zoe Washington by Janae Marks
Ikenga by Nnedi Okorafor
Nessie Quest by Melissa Savage
Coop Knows the Scoop by Taryn Souders

BEST YOUNG ADULT

Nominees:

The Companion by Katie Alender WINNER
The Inheritance Games by Jennifer Lynn Barnes
They Went Left by Monica Hesse
Silence of Bones by June Hur
The Cousins by Karen M. McManus

BEST TELEVISION EPISODE TELEPLAY

Nominees:

“Episode 1, The Stranger” – Harlan Coben’s The Stranger, Written by Danny Brocklehurst (Netflix)
“Episode 1, Open Water” – The Sounds, Written by Sarah-Kate Lynch (Acorn TV)
“Episode 1, Photochemistry” – Dead Still, Written by John Morton (Acorn TV) WINNER
“Episode 1” – Des, Written by Luke Neal (Sundance Now)
“What I Know” – The Boys, Written by Rebecca Sonnenshine, based on the comic by Garth Ennis and Darick Robertson (Amazon)

ROBERT L. FISH MEMORIAL AWARD

“The Bite,” Tampa Bay Noir by Colette Bancroft

THE SIMON & SCHUSTER MARY HIGGINS CLARK AWARD

Nominees:

Death of an American Beauty by Mariah Fredericks
The Cabinets of Barnaby Mayne by Elsa Hart WINNER
The Lucky One by Lori Rader-Day
The First to Lie by Hank Phillippi Ryan
Cold Wind by Paige Shelton

THE G.P. PUTNAM’S SONS SUE GRAFTON MEMORIAL AWARD

Nominees:

The Burn by Kathleen Kent
Riviera Gold by Laurie R. King
Vera Kelly Is Not a Mystery by Rosalie Knecht WINNER
Dead Land by Sara Paretsky
The Sleeping Nymph by Ilaria Tuti
Turn to Stone by James W. Ziskin

GRAND MASTER

Jeffery Deaver

Charlaine Harris