Staff Recommendations, Week of March 10, 2026 (Plus A Bit of Previous)

 Did I promise upon the staff rec blog's return that it would be updated in a timely or regular manner? Well, I hope not! But here are some great new books to check out that have been released over the past couple of weeks along with this one. Yay, books!

Daniel recommends A Good Animal by Maurer: "It’s breeding season on Lindt family sheep farm in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, and the family is readying their flock for market. Oldest son Everett’s in his senior year of high school and thinking about the future. Everyone around him plans to leave for greener (or should I say, less green) pastures further south, but farming is in his blood. The only problem? His new crush, whose arrived with her Coast Guard father, doesn’t plan to stay either. Sara Maurer captures the emotional highs and lows not just of first love, but of friendship and family too. And she impressively ratchets up the tension - the story leads to a shocking climax. I just might not hand-sell this book to a vegan. But on the upside, you also learn a lot about sheep farming."

Maurer will be at Books & Company in Oconomowoc on Wednesday, April 1. More info at https://booksco.com/event/2026-04-01/sara-maurer-conversation-laura-anne-bird.

Greta recommends Westward Women, a debut novel by Alice Martin: "Westward Women is a marvelous speculative fiction novel. It has the freedom and restraints of its setting in the 1970s, but as men are drafted, women are leaving their homes and going westward in droves. Readers wonder, who is benefiting from this movement, and who will get lost in its current? The novel follows multiple narrators, each jaded yet still searching for someone or something to hold onto. At times the words are raw, pulsating like blood beneath one's veins. There is a call for agency that people can relate to, given life's uncertainties."

In YA, we've got Her Hidden Fire by Cliodhna O'Sullivan. McKenna says: "In this debut novel that takes place in an alternate version of Ireland, Éadha, a servant girl in love with a boy in a higher-ranking family, makes a decision that changes the fate of her and Ionáin's lives forever. Swept into an academy of magic, Éadha begins to see first-hand the societal norms that come with being a magic wielder as well as the cost of using the power she has. Will Éadha and Ionáin's love survive the secrets and pressures thrusted upon them? Or will Éadha find something much more powerful within herself? Dark, intense, and captivating from the very first page, Her Hidden Fire is full of high-stakes forbidden romance and an epic journey I cannot wait to continue on!"

And Jenny says: "In Cliodhna O'Sullivan’s YA romantasy debut, Éadha is a servant whose unexpected magical talent thrusts her into a patriarchal world of the wealthy and influential. Compelled to study at an academy of magic, she faces hostility and jealousy while keeping a secret that could alter her path and destroy the boy she loves. Dazzling, Irish-inspired world building and a meaningful look at what it means to be powerful make Her Hidden Fire an unforgettable read."

McKenna also has a great picture book rec - that's Bartleby by author/illustrator Matt Phelan. McKenna says: "Sometimes Bartleby "prefers not to" even when everyone else is having fun. But when he wants to participate, he contributes something special. An instant classic and charming picture book about being yourself and moving at your own pace. Bartleby has captured my heart!!!"

Over to Kay and back to the adult fiction section for Bloom, a novel by Robbie Couch. Kay says: "Sloan impulsively steps out of her comfort zone and stops at her recently dead father’s house, where her father’s second partner still lives. Morris was roundly rejected by her entire family from day one. Sloan’s visit sets in motion events ranging from serious to silly, heartbreaking to joyful, nearly deadly to life affirming; the resolution is perfect. Bonus: Morris's front room contains chatty, cranky houseplants bemoaning the loss of caretaker First Sapien, and an old oak tree outside evokes its last magic trick in First Sapien’s honor. Bloom is bewitching."

Then there's Judy Blume: A Life, the new biography of the living literary legend by Mark Oppenheimer, which both Daniel and Tim recommend. Daniel says: "For so many kids, reading as a child meant Judy Blume - in one 1979 B Dalton bestseller list, seven of the top ten books for kids were Blume novels, from Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing to Are You There, God? It’s Me Margaret. Her path to writing was not straightforward and filled with rejection. This biography is authorized but is not wart free. And the exhaustive research shows in the insightful details about Blume’s own life, the influences on her work, the regular attempts to pull her books from schools and libraries, and the history of children’s book publishing. And then there’s the footnote of her four adult novels, three of which were bestsellers, and one, the Fear-of-Flying-esque Wifey, outsold all her books for kids at the time, yet are now mostly forgotten. If you read Judy Blume in your own childhood, or as an educator, librarian, or parent, you’ll devour Judy Blume: A Life. And if you didn’t, you’ll be tempted to read some of her kids books to find out what you’ve been missing."

Tim says: "Using perfectly placed anecdotes and quotes, many from Blume's own abandoned memoir, Oppenheimer delivers the beautifully paced and fascinating life story of an iconic American author. The teachers I worked with all understood the magnetism of her characters in Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing and Are You There God? It's me, Margaret. Our students found children just like themselves in Blume’s books. I'm only now learning that the dozens of books she’s written also include four adult novels, that she still runs a nonprofit bookstore with her third (and best!) husband, and that many thousands of children have written to her and often received a deeply concerned surrogate mom’s support. Her defense of other authors is equally tireless. Yet Oppenheimer isn’t shy about showing the difficulties involved with her full life, including when people remember their days with Blume differently than she does. The depth of his research reveals a woman of strong, unflinching, often book-banned ideas that match the 70s, when her writing career suddenly bloomed. She was an avid reader of sophisticated literature from an early age, and Oppenheimer’s infusion of the evolving American literary world (for children and adults) during Blume’s career is itself a reason to love this biography. If you’ve read Judy Blume at any point in your life or you just want to live in the times of a beloved woman, an American writer who has created some of our most beloved books, you’ll be thrilled by this story."

Boswell presents Mark Oppenheimer at the Milwaukee Public Library Centennial Hall for a conversation about this book on Wednesday, March 18. More info and registration at https://boswellbooks.com/event/2026-03-18/oppenheimer-judy-blume.

Over to Greta, who keeps us reading nonfiction with Delusions: Of Grandeur, of Romance, of Progress by Cazzie David. Greta says: "Everyone is getting older every day. Isn't it frightening when there are these patriarchal ideas and conventions present in the minds of most Americans? Cazzie David writes witty observations about the aging process and the experience of turning 30. Her voice will resonate with many. Although, she does approach the elephant in the room that she comes from a place of privilege, being that she is the daughter of legendary Seinfeld creator Larry David."

Now, Daniel brings us a mysterious novel - The Star from Calcutta by Sujata Massey: "This time out, Perveen and her father Jamshedji are courting a film studio head, who is concerned that his new star (and recent spouse) Rochana might have some legal obligation to her old studio back in Calcutta. Contract, what contract? Perveen invites her best buddy and film buff Alice to a studio party, but by the next morning, there’s a dead body to contend with, and being that he’s unliked and perhaps doing some blackmail, there’s plenty of intrigue and no end of suspects, including Alice. The nascent film industry is a great backdrop for this exciting mystery, with the burgeoning independence movement once again factoring into the exciting story, along with Anglo prejudices, religious differences, patriarchal norms, and suppressed and sometimes not suppressed desires." 

We had a great event with Massey for this novel last week. Signed copies available now!

You'd prefer a little romance? Ingrid suggests No Matter What by Cara Bastone: "In No Matter What, Cara Bastone somehow takes two of hardest tropes to execute, second chances and miscommunication, and creates a beautiful, sad, hopeful romance novel that explores the relationship between love and trauma. Main characters Roz and Vin have been happily married for years when, in one devastating instant, the rhythm of their relationship is irreparably altered. While the book is thoughtful and colorful, the real reason it shines is Bastone's ability to cast aside the traditional romance novel plot structure and writing style while still crafting a narrative filled with love. Bastone's latest is the story of Roz and Vin trying to find their way back to each other, but it is also a snapshot of how art, community, and friendship help people grow, heal, and come back together."

Finally, Kay offers a global creepfest with this multinational anthology of ghost stories - I Was Alive Here Once: Ghost Stories, edited by Sarah Coolidge. Kay writes: "The translated stories in this collection are written by authors from eight different countries. The stories eerily reflect how each writer’s culture intimately and uniquely inform the manifestation of ghosts. This is a fantastic, diverse collection of creepy-good ghost stories."

We'll be back (soon? I sure hope so!) with more recommendations. Until then, read on.

Staff Recommendation, Week of February 17, 2026

 Just when we get the blog back up and running, a recommendation drought hits. Just one of those weeks, I suppose. Here's our one recommendation for a brand new book, courtesy of Kay:

Where the Wildflowers Grow is a paperback original (in a fancy, sprayed-edges deluxe edition, no less!) by Terah Shelton Harris. Of it Kay says: "A freakish accident leads to Leigh’s unplanned “entry back into society.” She stumbles into a job on a flower farm, and it feels good. The owner and his two employees all suffered traumatic childhoods, and they see it in Leigh. Leigh isn’t ready to face her trauma, even as she’s surrounded by people who are eager to help her. Their attempts are described in some detail, giving the book a self-help twist. For fans of intense, emotional rollercoaster rides."

However, as this is just our second weekly blog in quite a while, here are a few catch-up recommendations we missed for books that hit our shelves in January.

We had an excellent event last month with Josiah Hesse, and Iowa native who's written a charged account of growing up amongst Christian fundamentalists in the 80s and 90s in a small Midwestern town. The book is On Fire for God: Fear, Shame, Poverty, and the Making of the Christian Right - a Personal History. Chris says: "Harrowing, important, and bold. Hesse’s chronicle of his life, one nearly destroyed by and then reclaimed from religious trauma, opens a window into the world of American fundamentalism and the myriad terrors it inflicts upon its denizens. From hiding in his family’s Iowan basement from storms he believed heralded the end of days, chugging coffee all night to put off nightmares of the rapture and being left behind, and the unsilenceable voice of a demon hissing of Josiah’s unforgivable lust, to the string of dead-end jobs his apocalyptic upbringing left him ill prepared for and the drugs that filled the void of lost faith and family - the fact that Hesse now lives a relatively normal existence is just about as miraculous as the story of the resurrection. As much a cultural history as a memoir, Hesse dissects his own story in order to understand lives all across the country that have been terrorized by Christian fundamentalism. Along the way, he connects the dots from travelling tent revival preachers (some true believers, just as many ruthless grifters) to the post-hippie ‘Jesus Freak’ communities and rural evangelical centers, to the insidious creep of fundamentalist ideology, the gospel of prosperity, and (again) grift into the highest levels of government. A Rosetta Stone for understanding America’s rural working class and the Christian right’s grip on the country." And we have a few signed copies left!

Alex has already found his favorite book of the year - that's Lost Lambs by Madeline Cash. Alex writes:"It's January 28th, 2026, and this is my Book of the Year. Without hesitation, without question. It's effortlessly funny; every other line is a joke that could easily be someone's favorite. The novel follows the highly dysfunctional Flynn family, an eclectic cast of characters, each with their own distinct quirks and questionable morals; the youngest daughter teeters the fine line of extreme intelligence and sociopathy. The middle daughter, unremarkable and invisible, struggles with identity and the Transportation Security Administration. The eldest girl, possessed of a beauty that Pornhub would categorize as ‘jailbait,’ finds love in the quiet stoicism of War Crime Wes. And the father, like all middle-aged men who used to be in an inappropriately named band in college, struggles with keeping his sanity after his wife has flung open their marriage to seek spiritual, emotional, and sexual gratification from their next-door neighbor. I haven't been able to have a conversation where I don't bring up this book at least once. It's one of those novels where I'm almost furious that I can't read it for the first time again. It invokes the same feelings of watching a Wes Anderson film; quirky and dry humor wrapped around a heartfelt story that just made me all sorts of fuzzy inside."

From Jason, notes on Five Bullets: The Story of Bernie Goetz, New York's Explosive '80s, and the Subway Vigilante Trial That Divided the Nation, by Elliot Williams: "Five Bullets is a riveting work of narrative nonfiction that revisits the December 22, 1984 shooting on a New York City subway train, when Bernie Goetz fired five shots at four Black teenagers and instantly became a national symbol of fear, vigilantism, and racialized “law and order.” Before reading this book, my own awareness of the case barely rose above pop-culture shorthand - something name-checked in “We Didn’t Start the Fire” - but Williams restores the event to its full, troubling complexity, showing how media frenzy, political rhetoric, and public anxiety transformed a violent encounter into a cultural flashpoint. What makes Five Bullets feel so urgent now is how closely its story echoes our own moment. Williams reveals how narratives about crime, race, and self-defense can be weaponized to justify brutality and harden public opinion, often at the expense of truth and human lives. In tracing how Goetz was turned into a folk hero by some and a monster by others, the book exposes the dangerous power of simplified stories in a polarized society. This is history that doesn’t sit quietly in the past - it keeps resurfacing, asking us what kind of justice we are really willing to accept."

Greta now with her praise for A Beast Slinks Towards Beijing by Alice Evelyn Yang: "A historical epic, a magical realist dream, a family saga: A Beast Slinks Towards Beijing is a bold debut. Qianze is shocked when her father reappears at her childhood home years after deserting his family. She tries to care for a man she barely recognizes despite the resentment that has been holding her back. Unflinchingly, characters from multiple generations confront their pasts in order to move forward. Whether you believe in curses or prophecies, we all have demons.  

And those are just some of the books we loved this week! We'll have more suggestions next Tuesday-ish. Stay tuned! Read on!

Staff Recommendations, Week of February 10, 2026

 Welcome back to the dearly missed and now revived (for how long? who knows!) Boswellian recommendation blog. Here are some new books we love, coming out on Tuesday, February 10th.

The first rec of the week is Eradication: A Fable, by Jonathan Miles, and it comes with write-ups from Kay and Jason. Kay says: "Adi, a jazz musician turned teacher who is running from his past, takes a job that ships him to a remote island that’s overrun with goats. His task: eradicate the invasive species. Should being where you’re not supposed to really decide life and death? This island will not let him escape himself. An amazing story that sits with you for a long time after you finish."

And from Jason: "After recent family tragedies, Adi craves meaningful employment. A misleading ad takes him to a small Pacific island where his five-week job is to eradicate an invasive species that’s decimated rare and endemic plants and animals. Within days, Adi forms blossoming connections with island wildlife, reexamines his family tragedies with clear eyes, figures out the real cause of the island’s decline, and watches fishermen illegally and brutally harvest shark fins. Understandably, these experiences and revelations throw Adi into untenable mental anguish. Miles poignantly imparts multiple egregious modern follies in this brief novel, making Eradication an exceptional achievement."

Keeper of Lost Children by Sadeqa Johnson also has two recs. First, from Tim: "The brutal effects of WWII were felt long after the last battles, including inside Germany, where massive destruction left average people destitute. The children born there of American soldiers were often left behind with German mothers who couldn't care for them after the soldiers left, and the mixed-race children of Black American soldiers and German women were often rejected by society. The resulting trauma echoed across the ocean to America for decades and beyond. This is the fictionalized account of a real-life woman who could not watch these children remain in orphanages or on the streets without loving families. Her Brown Baby Plan became an elaborate rescue operation. Told in the voices of the heroic woman who was in Germany with her army officer husband, a young Black American soldier, and a mixed-race girl in America years after the war, we see the universal search for love and validation by everyone involved. I'm a child myself of a father who was part of the American occupation forces in Germany just after the war. He saw the devastation and search for love from both sides of the conflict, and I'm grateful to Sadeqa Johnson for opening my eyes to his life in ways that I’ve never known."

And from Daniel: "It’s just after World War II. Ethel Gathers is stationed in German with her military officer husband, searching for fulfillment after several thwarted attempts at motherhood. Ozzie Phillips has just enlisted in the army, hoping to get a position in intelligence. And some years later, Sophia Clark has just received the opportunity of a lifetime, admittance to a prestigious prep school on full scholarship. They all face challenges on the way to their goals, often, but not always linked to the color of their skin. Sometimes tense, often exciting, and ultimately inspiring, Keeper of Lost Children is not just a great read but an excellent introduction to the real-life history of the Brown Baby Plan, when hundreds of mixed-race children were placed with Black American families."

Now back to Jason for his notes on Operation Bounce House, the latest Dungeon Crawler Carl novel by Matt Dinniman. Jason says: "Oliver is a member of the first generation of colonists on the planet Sonora, and his homestead has inadvertently become ground zero in Earth's nefarious plans. You see, anyone from Earth can purchase a mech to go destroy 'the enemy' who has supposedly killed all the colonists. Only, there are no enemies, there are only colonists, fleeing as fast as they can from the destruction. Unfortunately for Oliver and his sister, a good number of them have fled to the farm. This is Matt Dinniman at his best, writing a funny, fast paced story that points out all the inequalities that we are subjected to in our society."

Trad Wife by Saratoga Schaefer gets these notes of praise from Kathryn: "Camille has everything she could ever want: doting husband, spotless home, and unwavering faith in God. At least, that's how she's made her life seem on her perfectly curated #tradwife social media profile. The only thing missing, of course, is a baby. That all changes when she makes a wish in the mysterious bottomless wishing well just on the edge of the woods in their backyard. Schaefer's imagery is stunning, pulling the reader into Camille's beige and white world and flipping it on its head into a disgusting bloodbath every chance possible. Camille's spiral into madness is impeccably written. It's not easy to write an empathetic unlikeable character. Schaefer makes it look easy, and I found myself rooting for Camille until the very end. As gory and gross as this horror novel was, I can't help but also notice how hilarious Schaefer is, with pristine comedic beats tucked between horrific moments. This novel is so intelligent and perfectly paced, I could not stop thinking about it every time I was forced to put it down."

And finally, Kathy recommends Waiting for the Long Night Moon, a short story collection by Amanda Peters that gets its paperback release this week. Kathy says: "Captivating short stories of the Indigenous experience across time and place. Peters writes from the initial contact with European settlers, to the forced removal of Indigenous children, to the fight to ensure clean water. At times sad and often disturbing, Peters also shows us the resilience of Indigenous people and the power of tradition and belonging."

And those are the recs of the week! Will we be back next week with more? I sure hope so!

Why Read Kafka? Boswellian Keith Rutowski Considers a Century-Old Question

From Keith: 

"One hundred years have passed since the death of Franz Kafka, and published to mark this centennial is Selected Stories, a new collection of Kafka's shorter work, edited and translated by Mark Harman, published by Belknap Press. This collection includes brand-new English translations of some of his best stories, plus a 65-page biographical introduction, photographs of Kafka and his world, and nearly 40 pages of scholarly notes that provide insightful context and commentary. There’s more than enough here to satisfy both Kafka admirers and those new to his work. But why should any of us read Kafka a century after his death?

"The exceptional Gabriel García Márquez said that it was his discovery of Kafka’s work that granted him permission to bend reality and invent new worlds of his own in the service of delivering a deeper truth (As in, 'I didn’t know anyone was allowed to write things like that.') I’ve found that many readers tend to form personal attachments to Kafka’s work. For those who revere it, we tend to love it fiercely; we tend to read him as if he was writing only for us, corresponding in confidence with each one of us. However, I was still somehow unprepared for how emotionally overwhelmed I would feel rereading his masterpieces 'The Transformation' and 'A Hunger Artist.'

"The stories in this collection are fables that lack tidy resolutions or singular and easily definable lessons. They’re disquieting, oneiric fairytales, characterized by an unparalleled capturing of the feelings of inadequacy, frustration, and alienation. They’re oblique, open-ended meditations on themes such as the nature of crime and punishment, our conception of performance and authenticity, and the power dynamics inherent in personal relationships and social structures—all shot through with moments of wry, grim humor.

"Kafka is an author who intimately understood our existential pain, and he possessed the imagination, audacity, and skill to express it in inimitable prose. His art serves as a testament of solidarity with those who suffer and endure life’s absurdities and indignities. For all these reasons, Kafka’s work is essential and eternal."

Staff Recommendations, Week of August 27, 2024

 

It's the last week of August, and folks, it is a scorcher. Our first recommendation this week is to find a shady spot to stay cool with a book. Or, hey, for the sun worshippers out there, find a place to catch some rays as you flip pages - just stay hydrated as you do. And what books should you pick for this mission? Glad you asked.

Our first staff rec this weeks comes from Kathy Herbst. She recommends The Dark Wives, the latest Vera Stanhope mystery by Ann Cleeves. Kathy says: "She's back! Vera Stanhope, difficult and contentious, is also a brilliant and tenacious detective. The 11th book in the series dives deep into the reality of residential homes for troubled teenagers, focusing on the murder of a care worker and the disappearance of Chloe, who goes missing from the home the night of the murder. Are the two linked and, if so, how? This is the mystery that Vera and her team must solve by chipping away bit by bit to get at the truth. Excellent addition to this series."

Next up, it's the extraordinarily titled new YA novel from Ransom Riggs, Sunderworld, Vol. I: The Extraordinary Disappointments of Leopold Berry. It comes with Jen Steele's recommendation. Jen says: "Did you ever daydream of being transported to your favorite fantasy world, to maybe even be the chosen one to save the day? For Leopold Berry, that’s all he’s thought about since his mother’s death. Sunderworld is more than just some old 90s fantasy TV show to Leopold, it’s a connection to his mother. And now, five years later, the very characters from Sunderworld are showing up in Leopold’s world. Is this real or is it fantasy?  This was such a fun read! Hidden portals, magic, humor, and an average teenager you will root for along every disappointment that befalls him."

And now we've got a picture book for the kids and kids at heart. The title is The Boy and the Elephant, the author/illustrator is Freya Blackwood, and the rec is from Jen: "The Boy and the Elephant is a touching wordless picture book about a boy saving his friend, the tree next door, before it's cut down. Imaginative and wonderful, this would make for an engaging story time with your child."

And those are the recs. Stay cool, readers, and until next week (and the beginning of the classic fall onslaught of many, many, MANY new releases), read on.

Staff Recommendations, Week of August 20, 2024

 

Another lighter week of recommendations, with just a couple of new suggestions from the Boswellians. One book for grown folks, one picture book for the kids.

First, from Tim McCarthy, Spirit Crossing, the latest novel from William Kent Krueger. Tim says: "Maybe you've read some of Krueger's many books. The stand-alone novel This Tender Land is a favorite of mine. Spirit Crossing is the 20th Cork O'Connor mystery, a milestone in the series about a rural Minnesota private investigator. He's a former sheriff with both Irish and Ojibwe blood. Cork is loved by all but never quite fits any mold. Volume 20 involves the devastating truth that so many indigenous women disappear or die violently, and Cork’s seven-year-old grandson has communicated with a lost spirit at a woman’s newly discovered grave. Somebody out there may see the child’s connection as a threat. The novel's loving family of characters and rugged Northwoods landscape give it warmth through the tragic conflict and keep me coming back to the series. I especially needed to see how the Anishinaabe character Henry Meloux was faring at more than 100 years old. The Cork novels are full of indigenous issues. Krueger cares about them deeply, and he tells us that he knows his work is "intruding on a culture" that's not his own. That clarity freed me to enjoy his summer reading journey. The book’s love for everyone is so strong that I cried. I'm grateful. It doesn’t happen often enough."

Event alert! William Kent Krueger will be in conversation with Nick Petrie at Boswell on Saturday, September 7, 11 am for this book. Click here for more info and to register at williamkentkruegermke.eventbrite.com.

And from Jen Steele, The Ship in the Window, a picture book written by librarian Travis Jonker and illustrated by Caldecott Medalist Matthew Cordell. Jen says: "The Ship in the Window is about a small mouse with big dreams. Travis Jonker delivers a charming picture book with Cordell's timeless illustrations." 

And those are our recommendations! Check back next week for more book picks, and until then, read on.

Staff Recommendations, Week of August 13, 2024

 

Hello again, and welcome back to the weekly roundup of the reads we recommend. Just a couple new books coming your way this week, but they're good ones!

The first pick is Burn, the new novel from Peter Heller, as recommended by Kay Wosewick. Kay says: "Peter Heller’s portrayal of thoughtful, sensitive, and intelligent men grows richer with each new novel, and Burn is exceptional. Two longtime friends are on a hunting trip in Maine when they find themselves in a freshly erupted war zone. US troops are fighting local secessionists. The friends try to escape the battle, but they are forced to engage in it. Past traumas are reawakened. Un-put-downable and unforgettable."

And the second pick is Medusa, a debut novel from Nataly Gruender that's great for fans of Madeline Miller's Circe. Jen Steele recommends this one, and she says: "Nataly Gruender delivers a refreshing retelling of the Greek monster, Medusa. Told from Medusa's point of view, from daughter of a sea god to monster, there is much to know in between. Gruender doesn't shy away from Poseidon's assault and Athena's vengeance, but at its heart, Medusa is the story of a survivor and so much more than a tale to frighten men."

And those are the recs! Stop back here next week for more book picks from the Boswellians, and until then, read on.