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Hello again, welcome back to the staff rec blog and to another new month. We've got a handful of new books for you to begin August with, so let's dive right in.
We'll start with three recs from Boswell proprietor Daniel Goldin. First, he suggests Group Living and Other Recipes: A Memoir by Lola Milholland. Daniel says: "Lola Milholland’s warm and wise memoir of an unconventional upbringing centers on the home in Portland that she shares with family, friends, and life partners. Each chapter ponders a philosophy for living, from her mom’s anti-rule driven ethos to the more structured co-housing of her aunt and uncle to the cultural sharing of Matsutake mushroom hunters. At its heart, Group Living and Other Recipes ponders what makes a community and what we can do to make that experience better. And while we’re thinking about it, let’s share a delicious meal – recipes really are included."
Next up is Daniel's rec for Eagle Rock: An Ashe Cayne novel by Ian K Smith. Daniel says: "Ashe Cayne was an on-the-level police detective caught in a web of corruption. Pushed out of the force, he naturally started his own Chicago agency. In this fourth outing, billionaire Elliott Kantor has died, and his son wants answers. A kind-hearted widower whose great loves were family, sports, and making money, Kantor bounced back from grief with a new vitality, but how did that jibe with the death scene – Kantor tied to the posts of a bed, wearing women’s underwear? I should note something that’s unusual for contemporary male mystery writers; there are dead bodies for sure, but the gore happens offscreen. And for those who like their detective heroes on the troubled side, Cayne is not your guy – he’s a sophisticated, debonair gent who’s never too busy for a round of golf, some lighthearted flirting, or a detour into Black culture. I found the mystery engaging and Cayne charming, and I plan to read more."
Daniel also recommends non-event (though no less great) book Five-Star Stranger, the debut novel by Kat Tang. Daniel says: "Do you know how awards ceremonies have chair fillers, people who take up space when the more important people are doing whatever? Well, the Rental Stranger of Tang’s debut has a similar vocation, filling in at weddings, funerals, and other occasions where the actual needed person either can’t be there or doesn’t exist. You’ve got to please the customer – how else are you going to get a five-star rating? But you also can’t get too close to your clients, perfect for a man estranged from family and friends and still grieving the death of his mother. Two jobs threaten to upset his stasis – a long-term job pretending to be an often-traveling father for a single mom, and a new gig as an alcoholic brother to a struggling writer. Five-Star Stranger reminded me so much of the themes of Kazuo Ishiguro, the disconnect that comes with being in the act of service. I can’t believe he isn’t somewhere wondering why he didn’t think of this. Funny, perceptive, and emotionally resonant!"
Now it's over to Kay Wosewick and her notes on Hum, the new novel by Helen Phillips. Kay says: "In a near future, robots do many jobs, including customer service, hospitality, human resources, etc. A stressed family takes a three-day vacation at The Botanical Garden, a Disney-like nature resort. Something goes terribly wrong in this perfect setting, and the very cohesion of the family is in jeopardy. Hum is creepy-good because it’s almost too believable."
We hosted Phillips for a book club-esque conversation about her last novel, The Need, in which she talked about the books in a spoiler-friendly session. So, check out the video of that, but be warned, if you haven't read it yet, it will spoil the ending!
And now, over to Jen Steele for a new picture book - the latest from Oliver Jeffers. The book is The Dictionary Story, and Jen's rec is this: "The dictionary wants to tell a story just like the other books, but things don't go quite as planned, and chaos starts to ensue. Will dictionary be able to tell a story? Read and find out! Hilarious and delightful, The Dictionary Story is a new favorite of mine and soon to be yours! Don't forget to pay extra attention to the dictionary definitions as you read along."
(apologies for the weird formatting here. Blogger and I aren't getting along well today.)
And now, how about a couple of paperback picks, too? Okay! It really is Daniel's week for book recs - we've got two paperback releases to note that come with his recommendations. First, it's Pieces of Blue by Holly Goldberg Sloan. Daniel says: "When Lindsey’s husband dies in a skiing accident, she uses the insurance money to buy a rickety motel and moves her three kids from Portland to a small Hawaiian town. They’re not just running from father Paul’s death, but a bit of shame too – the family fortunes quickly veered from easy money to financial struggles when Dad’s tech startup collapsed. Overcoming grief, adapting to change, fitting in – these are classic themes of middle-grade fiction and that’s not surprise, coming from the author of the beloved Counting by 7s. To be clear, there is far more adult perspective and enough unnerving twists to keep this out of eight-year-old hands. And yet, there is a classic kids’ book at the heart of the story, and for someone like me who likes classic kids’ books, this hit the mark. A compelling, heartwarming treat!"
Tim McCarthy is a fan of this one, too! He says: "Lindsey Hill and her three children have just arrived at Honolulu’s Daniel K Inouye International Airport, the first step to a completely new life. The death of her husband, the kids' father Paul, led to a radical plan. Buy a six-acre oceanfront property and take over an old, fading motel business from the eighty-something Hawaiian owners. Lindsey had her reasons for the unlikely leap, but the world-class sunsets come with a large dose of culture shock. The Hills are also clueless about running and maintaining a motel. It’s eight cottages and an office full of figure-it-out. While I’m no expert on perfect summer reads, I think this endearing novel surely qualifies. The characters are lovely and nicely unpredictable. I hoped and cheered for them each and every uncertain step of the way. It’s also a convincing, heartwarming, smile-inducing look at their grief and their renewal, with a slowly dawning and very mysterious turn. It drew me in and never let me go."
Daniel also recommends Mrs. Porter Calling, the third Emmy Lake novel by AJ Pearce. Daniel says: "Dear Mrs. Bird was a phenomenon when it was released; we sold more than 150 copies of the book. How can you not love Emmy Lake, the wannabe journalist with the can-do spirit in the face of adversity? After Yours Cheerfully detoured to Lake trying to help some factory women working under unsavory conditions, Mrs. Porter Calling returns to the business of Woman’s Friend magazine, which gets a new owner (Cressida, call me Egg) after the death of Lord Overton, who wants to pivot this vital source of comfort to workday women into a trifle for the well-to-do. Can Emmy and her colleagues save the magazine before it spirals into insolvency? But there’s also action on the home front, when Emmy and Bunty take in their friend Thelma and her family – with the men away and Emmy’s second job as a dispatcher for the fire department, there’s plenty of room and they can combine their rations. But while there’s been a lull in the shelling, it’s still wartime. Great news, I’ve tested Mrs. Porter Calling with readers and you really don’t need to tackle the first two installments in order to enjoy number three, a compelling tale of friendship and comradery."
Those are the recs! We'll be back here next week with more great books, and hopefully, cleaner blog formatting. Until then, read on!
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