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"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."
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.
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."
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.
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.
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!
It's the last Tuesday of July. Let's wrap up the month with some good books. Here are the Boswellians' picks this week.
Oli Schmitz suggests a bit of space opera this week with Navigational Entanglements, a novel by Aliette de Bodard. Oli says: "Aliette de Bodard's latest packs action, political intrigue, and strong character work into a vibrant and enthralling space opera that you can devour in a day. I found the two main characters incredibly endearing and especially appreciated the inclusion of a point-of-view character that reads as neurodivergent, the dual-POV narrative providing a potent representation of how different minds approach and process the same world, events, and interactions. I picked up this book for the promise of sapphics and space drama, and Navigational Entanglements delivered!"
And now we head to the kids section for our next couple of picks. First, it's Jen Steele with The Night Librarian, a middle grade novel by Christopher Lincoln. Jen says: "Twins Page and Turner decide to bring in their dad’s prized edition of Dracula for appraisal at the New York Public Library, but they wind up losing it and discovering a whole other side to books. Characters are jumping out of their stories and wreaking havoc in the library. It’s up to the night librarian to wrangle these magical mishaps, but there’s a staffing shortage so the twins step up to volunteer duty to help her out. Along the way, they meet many heroes and villains from some of their favorite books. The Night Librarian is a fantastic graphic novel mystery about the power of books in our lives and finding your voice." Recommended for ages 8 and up.
Another middle grade novel coming out this week gets nods from Jen and Tim McCarthy. That's Fowl Play by Kristin O'Donnell Tubb. From Jen: "Fowl Play is a charming, heartfelt, and funny middle grade mystery. Chloe's larger than life uncle and best friend Will has died suddenly. Now Chloe's family must attend the reading of Will's last will and testament. Chloe expects the reading to be just like you see in the movies; what she doesn't expect is to inherit Uncle Will's African Grey Parrot named Charlie. Grieving the loss of her uncle and trying to make sense of it all, Charlie starts saying words like murder! And cyanide! So, Chloe decides to investigate and find the truth about Uncle Will’s death. With the help of her brother, grandma, and Uncle Frank, they will get to the bottom of what really happened to Will. I adored this book about family and grief and seizing the day!"
And from Tim: "Fowl Play opens with Chloe and her mom, grandma, Uncle Frank, and brother Jacob arriving at a shabby lawyer's office to hear the settlement of her beloved Uncle Will's estate. He was always full of surprises, including his rapid fall to illness and the way he disappeared from them at the end, but the family is not prepared for his final act. Uncle Will delivers his Last Will and Testament directly to them on video cassette! And Chloe is completely unprepared for the one thing she inherits from him. I’ll just say that her inheritance is alive, it seems to share her immense grief over Uncle Will, and it can talk. Chloe's inheritance is quite a character! And it’s starting to say things that reveal a life changing mystery surrounding Uncle Will. This is a wonderfully told, thoughtful, and highly entertaining story of a busy family whose priorities have just been radically altered, and the story of a girl whose middle school life seems to be coming undone. Chloe needs to figure out what it really means to achieve Uncle Will’s number one goal: “Seize the day!" (Just a final note: Chloe’s inheritance is an endangered species, in large part because they’ve been turned into pets. Uncle Will and Chloe weren’t at fault, but you can’t own one of these beautiful creatures today without a permit.)" This one is also recommended for ages 8 and up.
Late addition alert! Here's Jen's rec for The Black Bird Oracle, by Deborah Harkness, which came out last week, but is just as good this week! Jen says: "Deborah Harkness brings us back into the lives of Diana and Matthew. Diana never knew her father's side of the family; she was raised a Bishop, and that's all there was to it. All of that changes when Diana receives a summons from her great-aunt telling her it's time to come home. Family secrets are unearthed, powers are unleashed, and bonds are made when Diana and her family arrive at Ravenswood and meet the Proctor family. Another great edition to the Discovery of Witches series!"
And now we go on to the week's paperback picks. We've got just one for you, and it's a legacy rec from former Boswellian Madi Hill. She's on to a new state and new adventures, but she leaves behind her recommendation for Unmask Alice: LSD, Satanic Panic, and the Imposter Behind the World's Most Notorious Diaries. From Madi: "Unmask Alice by Rick Emerson is a debunking of the infamous 'real life' diaries that began with Go Ask Alice and the woman that was responsible for their creation. While the title alludes to the more recognizable Alice journal, Emerson spends more attention on its successor, Jay's Journal, that was one of the largest powder kegs to set off the Satanic Panic. After a Utah teen commits suicide, his mother turned to Alice author Beatrice Sparks to spread awareness of teen suicide and the need to focus on mental health, but instead, she created a false diary which became a smear campaign that destroyed the teen's family. This is the true story behind a relentless fraudster who was desperate for recognition and used falsehoods and fear to get it. Unmask Alice is the perfect read for the casual true crime reader that prefers to avoid the gory details. Just remember to check your sources."
Those are the recs of the week. See you back here next time with more recommendations. Until then, read on.
Aaaand we're back again with a roundup of the Boswellian's favorite releases of the week. Check out what we've been reading, and you might just find another favorite for your own list.
Jason Kennedy kicks it off with Nicked, a new horror novel by M T Anderson. Jason says: "Okay, here's the opening: a priest, a thief, and a dog-man go on a job to steal the bones of a saint. Stop me, have you heard of this one? Why steal bones of a saint? The city of Bari feels like it is losing out to other cities with Christian relics that have boosted their tourism prospects. The crew finds out (from a monk’s dream, no less) that the bones of St. Nicholas (ho-ho-ho) are in the city of Myra. Obviously, they must go rescue them from abandonment and bring them to Bari. At times hilarious, shocking, thrilling, and insightful, M.T. Anderson delivers an amazing adventure like none I've read recently."
Next we go to Daniel Goldin for his take on Guilty Creatures: Sex, God, and Murder in Tallahassee, Florida by Mikita Brottman. Daniel says: "Mike, Denise, Brian, and Kathy grew up in the Southern Baptist tradition in Tallahassee – sports focused, no sex before marriage, and certainly no drugs. But their marriages and subsequent freedoms from their families’ restrictions led to a sort of delayed Rumspringa. When it came time for Mike and Kathy to settle down, their spouses Denise and Brian kept partying, a bond that led to an extramarital affair. And then Mike died in a tragic fishing accident. There were rumors, but no evidence. Guilty Creatures is a little more straightforward true crime than I normally read, but there is cultural context here too, with a culture that regards divorce as almost worse than murder (at least if you got caught) and an example of how with regained piety, you could explain away almost anything. I love the image of the earnest subdivisions set amidst the swampy alligator ponds, an image that matches not just the place, but the people living there."
And we've got recommendations from two Rachels for Gravity Lost, the second Ambit's Run space opera by LM Sagas. First, from Rachel Copeland: "Trouble once again finds the crew of the good ship Ambit in this rip-roaring second installment from LM Sagas. Sagas serves up a tasty soup of sci-fi adventure ingredients (heists, hot exits, haunting locales) that's spiced just right (tea, teasing, tears) that it's just what this found family trope lover could ask for. And how dare Sagas give us more to love this time around? I found myself instantly falling for brand-new characters with one line of dialogue, enthusiastically rooting for a morally questionable character, and cheering on my favorite crew of idiots as they rally to avert disaster. It's really rude when authors write books that make you feel things and then leave you wanting more - please, kind author, may I have another serving?"
And this book comes with one last legacy rec from former Boswellian Rachel Ross, who adds: "The crew of The Ambit is back with a bang in this follow-up to Sagas’ explosive debut, Cascade Failure. While everyone may still be in one piece following the tumultuous escapades of the first book, they’re all also dealing with the fallout. Bedrock beliefs have been cracked, trauma has been sustained, and systemic rot has been exposed. This entry is chock full of my favorite space western tropes: a bar fight! A haunted (?) derelict spaceship! Murphy’s Law in full effect! And most importantly, the greatest found family in the Spiral. Gravity Lost is brimming with humor, unabashed love, white knuckle peril, compulsively readable action, and repeated (borderline gleeful?) emotional gut punches. Through it all, Sagas shows us that true family isn’t just the people you’d die for, it’s also the people you would choose to live for."
And there's one paperback pick to add to the mix this week. That's The English Experience by Julie Schumacher, which gets nods from Rachel C and Daniel. First, from Rachel: "When professionally tired English department chair Jason Fitger is pressganged into chaperoning the idiotically named Experience: Abroad winterim program, it's just another indignity in a long career of them. Resigned to revisiting a place he never liked in the first place (England, ironically), it's up to Fitger to keep eleven youths alive and academically engaged for three whole weeks, even if it kills him. The latest from Schumacher completes a trilogy focusing on Fitger and his foibles, but it holds up on its own as an exploration of a specific undergrad experience: the study abroad program. And let me tell you, it's painfully, hilariously accurate. The tours, the essays, the misuse of grammar and idioms, the students ranging from distracted to drunk to far too intense - if you were lucky (or unlucky) enough to experience a study abroad program, whether as a student or teacher, The English Experience will have you howling."
Daniel adds: "For those of you who loved Dear Committee Members, the classic epistolary novel told in letters of recommendation, beleaguered English Professor Fitger of the chronically underfunded Payne University is back, and this time, he’s been asked to lead a study abroad program in England. There’s a reason he was the director’s last choice! And while we don’t have the letters this time, we do get to read the students’ daily assignments, which tend towards the offbeat, perhaps due to one student’s offhand comment to classmates that Fitger likes his papers experimental. At equal turns poignant and hilarious, The English Experience shows that despite ridiculous odds, we will do whatever it takes for human connection."
Those are our picks of the week! We'll be back again with more books in 7ish days. Until then, read on.
Another week, another batch of books to recommend.
Kay Wosewick has a science pick from journalist Brandom Keim entitled Meet the Neighbors: Animal Minds and Life in a More-than-Human World. Kay says: "You will be dazzled, amused, and dumfounded by Keim’s stories of animals obviously displaying self-awareness and consciousness. After this fun, Keim digs into grim history. He describes more than two thousand years of philosophers’ and religions’ near-universal belief that animals were incapable of thinking or feeling. This belief went largely unchallenged until the 1970s when a few voices made news; still, little changed. The 1990s finally brought a small but growing segment of people who know animals are conscious and self-aware, and are advocating change. Keim is convinced the climate crisis can’t be adequately addressed until humanity recognizes the extraordinary value of consciousness that exists everywhere, such as in the forests that are burning right now. Please, educate yourself." (Note: this rec was updated at Kay's request on 7/16.)
Kay also wants us all to read Smothermoss, by Alisa Alering. Kay says: "Alering’s prose brings a poor Appalachian setting vibrantly alive. Sisters Angie and Sheila live with their mother and grandmother in a shack in the woods. The sisters are very different: older Sheila takes care of most household duties quietly and responsibly. Younger Angie bounces from drawing finely detailed cards of powerful, frightening creatures, to combing nearby mountains and valleys for Russian spies. The murder of two city girls just miles away on the Appalachian Trail gives Angie a new target to hunt, while Sheila turns inward as she tries to escape an eerie, growing burden. Vivid images will haunt you until - and well after - you finish the book."
Daniel Goldin hopes you'll dive into The Cliffs, the new novel by J Courtney Sullivan. It's the most recent Reese's Book Club pick, too! Do note, this book was published a couple weeks ago, but this rec slipped off the blogger's radar - we still wanted to make sure to share it with you. Daniel says: "Having possibly destroyed her marriage and her career at a Harvard history museum with her uncontrolled drinking, Jane Flanagan returns to Awadapquit, Maine, where she takes up residence in her late mother’s house, readying it for sale. On arrival, she discovers that the falling down mansion where she would escape in her teens has been, like so much of the town, fixed up beyond recognition by a new summer arrival; Jane, with her job in a holding pattern, is hired to research its story. Like so many folks in The Cliffs, as well as the town itself, that house is hiding a few secrets, which Jane slowly uncovers, spurred on by a local medium, no less. Sullivan takes on a lot here – alcoholism, indigenous history, family legacies, mysticism, historic preservation – and triumphantly puts them all together into an absorbing, philosophical, yet summer vacation-worthy package."
And we've got one legacy recommendation from former Boswellian Gao Her. Though Gao left Boswell earlier this year, she left behind her rec for The White Guy Dies First: 13 Scary Stories of Fear and Power, an anthology of YA horror stories edited by Terry J Benton-Walker. Gao writes: "A perfect entry level horror book for young adults who don't want their socks scared off but would rather have them soaked in wicked fun! Some stories will give you the taste of revenge that we all crave, and some will seep into your brain with their use of cerebral imagery. You'll have such a good time with this read!" Suggested for ages 13 and up.
And those are the recs! We'll be back next week with more books for you to check out. Until then, read on.
Lots of books with lots of recommendations. That's what we've got this week - multiple books with multiple reads from Boswellians, including a few event books.
Our first recommendation of the week is The Anthropologists by Ayşegül Savaş, and it gets raves from Daniel, Chris, and Alex. First, from Alex Jackson: "Small slices of life unfold like stories told by a close friend. The characters are at the age of freedom, the rest of their lives rapidly approaching. Reading closer to a book of poetry, Savaş's The Anthropologists collects vignettes of Asya and Manu as they search for friends, apartments, and the 'why' of life. I found this book extremely affecting, considering the complex beauty of us in both familiar and foreign habitats. This is one I'm certain I'll be thinking about for a long while."
From Daniel Goldin: "Asya and her husband Manu live in an unnamed city, both foreigners from another unnamed country. They hang out with friends, witnessing one’s love triangle and another’s struggle with dementia, get occasional visits from family, and gather stories about visitors to a local park. Their direct goal is simple – to find a better apartment. But to do this, they need to understand who they are as people individually and as a couple together. Despite the lack of specificity, there’s a spirit of the flaneur that runs through the pages. And for a book so spare, Savaş writes with beauty and insight."
And Chris Lee gets the final word on this one: "The Anthropologists is an airy yet thoughtful novel about a married couple living the rotting years of their youth as immigrants in an unnamed European city (that I’m like 97% sure is Paris). While her husband, Manu, and their friend Ravi strive to keep the drinking spirit alive through the nights, filmmaker Aysa records interviews by day in their neighborhood park. She’s trying to triangulate their lives; among cafes, apartments, and alleyways, among neighbors, friends, and strangers, she’s collecting and sifting for a list of sturdy moments upon which they might build. One foot in front of the other, forward motion, one day to the next, will they learn to sink into the aimlessness of ‘real life’? Will they get belligerent? Savaş’s latest is nice – a sort of dreamy, earthy story of a couple searching for their spot."
Next, it's The Heart in Winter, the latest from Irish novelist and short story writer Kevin Barry. This book also gets recs from Daniel and Chris. First, here's Daniel: "When the often-soused Tom Rourke lays eyes on the bewitching Polly Gillespie, you know that nothing good can come of it, especially when she is the new bride of a disturbingly reverent mining captain. But off they go, into the Montana wilderness with a price on their heads, following a storied history of doomed lovers in the Old West. This may be Kevin Barry’s first novel set in the United States, but it’s as if they jumped out of one of Barry’s other books and said, let’s cross the Atlantic on a lark and see what trouble we can get into. The result? Bawdy, debauched, and pure poetry."
Chris again with the last word on a book: "Tom and Polly are just a couple of folks living in the ass end of the world (Butte, Montana, 1891); each sees no better prospect than the other, and both have little enough to lose that a shot at adventure seems like reason enough. Or, hell, could it even be love? It’s America at the end of the Wild West era; the immigrant melting pot boiled over and spilled across wide open, desolate spaces. It’s drunk and doped, profane and perverse, a roughhewn love fable of two who awoke in the gutter and saw nothing but stars. What do they want? What does anyone? To turn their lives into stories. And so desperate, too, for those stories to be good ones, big and wild, with endings to snatch your – their – breath away."
We're so excited about Barry's visit that we couldn't wait until Friday to chat with him. Click the video image below for our short event-preview interview in which Chris asks Barry a few questions about the novel.
Our next book also comes with two recommendations. It's the latest novel from Peng Shepherd, author of The Book of M, entitled All This & More. From Jason Kennedy first: "Marsh's life is not where she thought it would end up. Her marriage has completely collapsed after years and years of erosion, and her career as a lawyer never actually got off the ground. Thankfully, there is a show, All This and More, which takes the latest in quantum theory to let contestants sample many realities and pick the best one. A real-life makeover! Marsh is surprised that she is selected to be a third season contestant. She has the chance to improve her life and have all her dreams become reality. Can and will she find her perfect life? Well, you the reader have a bit to say. Peng Shepherd designs her book so the reader can choose which direction Marsh takes at key moments in the story. It's fun and enlightening to see the different ways that Peng Shepherd saw the book progressing. I loved it and ran through every possibility I could!"
And from Daniel: "Marsh has just been chosen to be the contestant on the third season of All This and More, a game show where you can actually change your life by redoing decisions in your past. Imagine a makeover show powered by the multiverse. What could possibly go wrong? The story is structured as a choose your own adventure, so for folks who are of the age to remember these, there’s an extra kick. For the rest of us, All This & More is an entertaining, fantasy-adjacent, romance-adjacent adventure thriller."
Daniel also recommends Summers End, the latest Shady Hollow mystery from writing team Juneau Black. Daniel says: "When Vera Vixen the fox reporter and Lenore Lee the raven bookseller offer to chaperone a high school group on a trip to see Summers End, a sacred, Stonehenge-like burial ground, they hardly think they will be drawn into investigating a murder. But when the body of one of the academics is found, not only is the field trip thrown into turmoil, but it looks like Lenore’s sister Ligeia is the prime suspect! It’s going to take a village to solve this one, and that’s a good thing, as Summers End is packed with fascinating characters of the fur and feather variety. It may be a cozy, but Juneau Black’s latest is positively pulse pounding, though not so much so that one can’t chuckle too. And I did!"
Tim McCarthy is also a fan. He writes: "The fifth entry in the world of Shady Hollow, a place where the animal community operates in its own perfectly mysterious ways, begins with foxy reporter Vera Vixen being coaxed by her raven bookseller friend Lenore into chaperoning a group of high school creatures on a weeklong trip. It's the lure of their destination that draws Vera into the drama, an ancient archaeological monument called Summers End, where the precise final moment of summer is illuminated on a monument stone. It’s also an important burial site where professors study the ways their unique woodland culture has advanced. It doesn't take long for the trip to go awry. The professors are at odds, and students will be students, after all. Since mystery books always involve the tragic end of more than summers, death is at the monument's door. Happily, Vera's taste for intrigue seems everlasting, and her tenacious sleuthing skills remain undefeated. A few close friends, an energetic intern reporter vole named Thena, and a somewhat shady raccoon cohort named Lefty will uncover more than murder at Summers End!"
We had such a great event last night for this book! Here's a photo of what you may have missed - but be sure to snag a copy of Summers End so you don't miss reading it.
Greta's from last week to drop into this week! A late addition but no less great! Pink Slime by Fernanda Trias gets this rec from Greta: "In this newly translated Uruguayan horror story, the author verbalizes people's fears about the future of the world. A plague has struck, leaving people awaiting death in hospital beds. Meat is no longer a readily available resource. Instead, people have to stomach a highly processed meat substitute. This draws comparison to a material currently sold at a prolific fast-food chain. It follows the main character as she maintains relationships with people who are dependent on her during this turbulent time. There is so much complexity within the world and the relationships between the characters. The relations are almost parasitic in nature but contain an element of tenderness. Trias writes a flawed protagonist who is compassionate to a fault. It begs the question what will be your priority when things fall apart. The prose is titillating and immersive, describing an apocalyptic hellscape that hopefully will never come into being. This book will leave an unsavory taste in your mouth in the best way imaginable."
Speaking of late additions, here's a book from June that Daniel just read and likes, too! Catland: Louis Wain and the Great Cat Mania by Kathryn Hughes is the book, and the recommendation is this: "Louis Wain’s paintings of cats are very recognizable – anthropomorphic, playful, and apparently, weirdly conservative. Hughes chronicles his life, from a troubled home life to an ill-conceived and short-lived early marriage to a peaceful end in an asylum. And yet, despite the success of his artwork, his financial situation was almost always precarious due to bad financial deals and a lot of, dare I say it? Copycatting. Hughes does a great job of connecting Wain’s work to the public’s changing attitude towards domestic felines, detouring to developments like cat breeding and shows. Black-and-white illustrations and color plates bring the tale (tail?) to life, and the book’s extra touches, like printed endpapers, are a treat."
And now for a couple of paperback picks.
Chris Lee recommends The Vegan, the sophomore outing by Andrew Lipstein. Chris says: "I love, love, loved Lipstein’s debut (Last Resort), and all the hallmarks that make his writing as mesmerizing as train wreck videos are back. Hypnotic sentences? Check. The moneyed, millennial milieu of Brooklyn? Check. And a man of his time unravelling in warped, manic behavior impelled by a moral quandary of guilt and deceit? Check, check, and check. The book’s allusions to Dostoyevsky have been noted, though I’d venture that there are glimmers of Poe in there, too; in the sweeping passages of emotional torment and the body-horror, churning-guts depictions of what it is to consume another living creature’s flesh. Can a hedge fund manager really discover moral clarity in the melancholy eyes of his neighbor’s beagle? I have my doubts. But I’m sure of this: The Vegan has secured Andrew Lipstein a spot on my absolute must-read authors list."
And we wrap up with a rec from Jason Kennedy for The Heat Will Kill You First: Life and Death on a Scorched Planet by Jeff Goodall: "Looking at Texas at this point, I think we can all agree that heat is going to be a real problem for the rest of our lives. Jeff Goodell does a good job of weaving personal stories with digestible explanations of complex systems and topics. This is a warning call for us to prepare now, as the temperature isn’t going down anytime soon. There are ways for us to mitigate dying from the heat without contributing to overall carbon output. I’m naturally pessimistic, and I hate the heat, so this book completely depressed me on the outlook of this world. Goodell highlights the fact that heat will not affect us all equally – it’s the poor, impoverished countries will suffer the most. A sobering, necessary read."
Welcome to July! Here are our recommendations to keep you reading your way through summer.
Our first pick is a book that's picked up two Boswellian recommendations: The Lion Women of Tehran, a new novel by Marjan Kamali, author of The Stationary Shop. First, from Daniel Goldin: "The sudden death of her father sends Elaheh and her mother from a comfortable 1950s middle-class life to the poor neighborhoods near downtown Tehran. But for Ellie, there is an upside. Not only does she get to go to school, but she meets Homa, a neighbor and classmate who is not just friendly but passionate, idealistic, and fearless. It’s a bond that will be tested in so many ways, both personal and political, but can it withstand the ultimate betrayal? Class, religion, and politics collide in this captivating story about a special friendship that I think would appeal to fans of Elena Ferrante’s Neapolitan novels."
Tim McCarthy also recommends Kamali's book. Tim says: "Through the political turmoil and cultural strain of a shifting 20th century Iran, two very young girls begin as friends with a singular attachment and later grow as young women rediscovering their airtight bond. Her father’s death takes Ellie from an elite neighborhood to the bottom of Tehran’s city life and back again, linking her with her first real friend Homa and then tearing her away. Homa's noble battle to reunite them and force change for Iran's women returns her to Ellie's heart, but can they endure? With Tehran redefined by the Shah's coup toppling an elected Prime Minister and then a harsh Islamic revolution deposing the Shah, traditional power confronts the demand for equity and free thought in a society becoming more westernized. The beauty and struggle of a loving friendship drives the story and reveals a vibrant world where our senses are filled with visions of landscapes, flavors of foods, and the emotional floods of fear, rage, love, hope, and ferocious determination in Tehran’s Shir Zan, the lion women."
Kim Christenson is up next with The God of the Woods, a novel by Liz Moore. Kim says: "It's the summer of 1975 and Camp Emerson is in session. Girls and boys from the country's elite families settle in for the summer's activities. The camp's specialty is wilderness survival; campers are taught then tested. When counselor Louise awakens and finds one of her campers missing, she feels a vacuum-like suck that portends big trouble. Barbara, the missing girl, is the daughter of the area's rich and powerful Van Laar family. A missing child is a knife-sharp terror, but for the Van Laars the event means reliving the loss of their never-found son Bear, 14 years ago. The Van Laar men are bankers by trade, opportunistic and cold. Their wives are ornamental, mindless beings, to be envied and entertaining. Their children understand they exist only to fill future roles, but until then they are an irrelevant bother at best. When law enforcement arrives on the scene and the search begins in earnest, each character's story links to the next like puzzle pieces clicked into place to form pictures. Survival - physical, mental, and emotional - is at the crux of this riveting and ingeniously told story that held me in its grasp for hours at a time."
Over in the world of paperback releases, Kay Wosewick recommends The Last Ranger, the latest novel by Peter Heller, now in paperback. Kay says: "Immerse yourself in Yellowstone’s dramatic landscape. where lovers and protectors of wildlife (especially wolves reintroduced in 2006) are newly pitted against locals who skirt laws to hunt prized park denizens. Action, adventure, and mystery keep the plot in high gear. A tender, soulful ranger - unmoored by loss and now rocked by turf battles - is the story’s beating heart."
And those are the recs for the week! Have a great holiday this week - perhaps you can spend some of it in the sun with a book. That's what we'd recommend, anyway, while you're here and taking our advice. We'll be back on July 7th with more recommendations. Until then, read on.
It's the first official recommendation blog of summer. Let's dive into some books.
First up, it's A Taste for More, a Milwaukee-set novel paperback original by Phyllis R Dixon that's recommended by Daniel Goldin, who says: "Margo left behind her Mississippi country past (and her daughter Lana, at least temporarily) for Milwaukee to find a better life. But with the big city comes big problems, and just about anything that could happen to Margo does – family feuds, racism, the riots, crime, double crossing, schemes gone awry, best friend fallouts, fires, and just about every kind of bad relationship you can have. She’s going to do anything she can to overcome the odds and make the Fourth Street Café a success, all for her daughter. But is it worth it? A Taste for More has some enjoyable if over-the-top plotting (everything but the evil twin), but at its heart, A Taste for More is a Black woman’s survival story. And it’s hard not to root for Margo!"
Here's Jason Kennedy with a rec for The Daughters' War, the latest from Christopher Buehlman (aka Christophe the Insultor). Jason says: "The story of Galva is one of loss. And of horrific brutality. Galva lands in a war-torn country that has been ravaged by Goblins and is on the brink of collapse. Since the Goblins have poisoned and rid the world of horses, Galva joins an experimental group that directs magically designed birds called Covids. They are crazy strong and frightening and are the brightest hope to stop a Goblin victory. As they trample and fight their way to breaking the sieges, Galva finds love, heartache, sorrow, and betrayal that bites right down to her core. Christopher Buehlman has added another amazing chapter in this brutal world. I am eagerly anticipating more to follow."
Now here's Kay Wosewick with Fire Escape: How Animals and Plants Survive Wildfires, a book written by Jessica Stremer, with illustrations by Michael Garland. Kay says: "This is a wonderful, comprehensive, brightly illustrated middle-grade dive into all aspects of wildfires, including types of wildfires, their impact on plants, animals and land, descriptions of firefighter jobs and firefighting techniques, prescribed burns, animal helpers (very fun), evolving theories about fire management, and more. There is a helpful glossary, extensive bibliography, and source notes. This is an impressive book. It’s the 9th in the series, with 4 more planned soon."
And it's Jen Steele now with Children of Anguish and Anarchy, the latest novel from Tomi Adeyemi, and the final book in the Legacy of Orïsha series. Jen says: "Zelie is up against a terrifying villain, a king obsessed with becoming a god. And he needs Zelie’s power to become one. With her brother and friends, along with new allies, can she defeat the king and save their homeland? Heart-pounding action, awesome world building, and emotional throughout, Adeyemi's finale in the Legend of Orisha trilogy was well worth the wait!"
And Jen wraps up our month of recommending (the new books, anyway) with The Yellow Bus, a new picture book written and illustrated by Loren Long. Jen says: "The Yellow Bus is a heartfelt picture book about, you guessed it, a yellow bus! I've never felt such emotion for a vehicle the way I do for this forgotten yellow bus. Loren Long delivers an absolutely heartwarming picture book with stunning artwork. At the back of the book, he explains how he got the idea for this book as well as how he created the artwork. A real treat!"
Last Minute Addition! From Jason Kennedy: Hey, Zoe, by Sarah Crossan. Jason says: "When Delores discovers a sex doll in her garage, it begins the decimation of her marriage. Why does he want it and not her? Zoe is the top-of-the-line sex doll crossed with ChapGPT. Zoe doesn't really factor into the ultimate ending of the story, except as a shoulder for Delores to rest her weary head and figure out what happened to her life. A very contemplative novel about relationships and how they are ciphered in a way that even the couples can't always see where they are and where they are going."
We've got a few paperback picks for you this week, too. The first comes from Jane Callanan, who recommends The Art Thief: A True Story of Love, Crime, and a Dangerous Obsession by Michael Finkel. Jane says: "The Art Thief is definitely one of my favorite nonfictions I've ever read! Finkel's descriptions were so immersive and captivating that I genuinely could not put the book down. The story is complex and unique, and it ensures an informative read for all. Filled with some of the art world's most interesting stories, fascinating fun facts, and a high-risk heist, this book will keep you entertained and in awe!"
Jenny Chou recommends Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, the hit novel by Gabrielle Zevin. Jenny says: "Sadie Green lost her best friend, Sam, at age twelve. Did she betray him unforgivably, or was she just a kid caught up in a situation she didn’t know how to escape from? That question, and the concept of betrayal, haunt Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow. Seven years later, Sadie and Sam crash into each other's lives again as college students while standing on a train platform in Boston, and they seamlessly pick up a conversation as if it had never broken off. These are two people who finish each other's sentences. Roommates and partners drift along on the periphery of their lives while Sadie and Sam obsess over the thing that brought them together in the first place: video games. Both are creative geniuses, and the first game they design together propels them from obscurity to fame in the gaming community. The result is messy, at times hilarious, often heartbreaking, and never without emotions that feel so raw they almost bleed off the page. Ultimately, this is a book about connections, the ones we find, the ones we lose, and the ones that nearly do us in. I’m not a gamer (though they’d probably love this book), but it doesn’t matter. Gabrielle Zevin drew me into her world with her flair for telling a powerful story and her mesmerizing take on what it means to love."
Chris Lee recommends Dead Eleven, a Wisconsin-set horror novel by Jimmy Juliano that's perfect summer reading. Chris says: "Clifford Island is a fictional (or is it?) speck of land in Lake Michigan off the edge of Door County. And this place is very weird. When I moved to Milwaukee, I thought it was a little weird – just why were all these strangers being so, so very nice? And sure, Wisconsin lags a little behind the times now and then, but it’s nothing compared to Dead Eleven’s stuck-in-'94, technology-hostile inhabitants, living on an island that may or may not have some major demon problems. Visitors wish these people were just Wisconsin nice. Instead, when a man arrives looking for his missing sister, he gets threatened, run around, and finds himself smack in the middle of a plot to keep an ancient, world-disappearing evil at bay. Super weird stuff. In small-screen, high drama, lots-of-jump-cuts style, the book goes a bit all over the place as it tracks several stories – the brothers, the sisters, the lives of several islanders – all the way through to a die or save the world trying conclusion. Quirky, nostalgic summer fun."
Finally, here's Daniel Goldin for Wellness, the latest novel from Nathan Hill. Daniel says: "Jack Baker and Elizabeth Augustine are two people who meet in college in 1990s Wicker Park and fall in love. Thirty years later they are hoping to move with their son to a condo in a wealthy Chicago suburb. That’s a good story in and of itself. But Hill’s second novel, following The Nix, is also about parenting, religion, sex, real estate, Minecraft, placebos, art, controlled Prairie burns, bats, psychology, cleanses, coyotes, conspiracies, and class. Wellness asks the question: do our stories reflect our reality, or do they create said reality? And with all that to cover, 600 pages actually seems a little too short. I loved this novel."
Those are our recommendations of the week! Check back next week for more great books, and until then, read on.
