Staff Recommendations, Week of July 11, 2023

It's a great week. Because there a lot (A LOT) of great new books hitting the shelves at Boswell. Here's our weekly guide to the new releases.

Let's begin with Daniel Goldin and his notes on the latest Sujata Massey novel, The Mistress of Bhatia House. Daniel says: "Perveen Mistry, the only female lawyer in 1920s Mumbai finds herself helping a servant who has been accused of a tea-induced abortion, though she claims it was taken to regulate her menstrual cycle. Why would the government even care about this? And what about the servant’s employers, who were spearheading the construction of a woman’s hospital, only to pull out at the last minute? Could the subsequent death of the family patriarch be somehow related? Perveen, a Parsi lawyer in a mostly non-Parsi world, is a strong and intelligent hero who has what it takes to prevail, despite being hobbled by cultural and political roadblocks. While this excellent series is always packed with fascinating historical details, The Mistress of Bhatia House is also timely, being that these fights over women’s health continue today."

Daniel also recommends Random Acts of Medicine: The Hidden Forces That Sway Doctors, Impact Patients, and Shape Our Health by  Anupam B Jena and Christopher Worsham. Daniel says: "If you’re stuck on what to read next and are choosing between a medical narrative, behavioral psychology, and economics, you're in luck because this book is all three subjects in one! Doctors Jena and Worsham (the former is also an economist!) look at the decisions that drive doctors and patients using natural experiments, culling existing data to duplicate conditions for comparison. Are you better off with an older doctor or younger one? Should you worry if you have a heart attack during a cardiology convention? You’ll also learn why it might not be so good to have a hospital on a marathon route or sing happy birthday to your surgeon. Whether the results reinforce your beliefs or confound them, I expect you’ll find Random Acts of Medicine as fascinating as I did."

A third recommendation from Daniel? Okay! He suggests Jews in the Garden: A Holocaust Survivor, the Fate of His Family, and the Secret History of Poland in World War II by Judy Rakowsky. Daniel says: "Reporter and editor Rakowsky teamed up with her older cousin Sam (a Holocaust survivor and Hero with a capital H) to find out what happened to the one survivor of a family massacre in rural Poland. Over thirty years, the two of them followed every lead as they tried to piece together a story that reveals the country’s centuries-long presence of Jews (almost 10% of the population by the 20th century), their almost complete decimation in the Holocaust, and their legacy in the country today. A powerful combination of memoir, history, and true crime."

Rakowsky appears at Boswell on Thursday, August 10, 6:30 pm. Cohosted by the Nathan and Esther Pelz Holocaust Education Resource Center. For more information and registration, click here.

Next is Jason Kennedy and his write up for Counterweight by Djuna, translated by Anton Hur. Jason writes: "This book was an outright trip to read. So many red herrings and mind swaps that I had to read several passages more than once. Great near-future imagery with space elevators and neuro-implants created by a Korean tech business and its single-minded CEO, who has perished before the story starts. The space elevator holds the keys to the future, but the dead CEO’s memories are needed to find them. Using a ‘worm,’ the CEO's memories are melded into a simpleton who loves studying butterflies. He quickly becomes the most sought-after individual. Yes, this is one crazy trip."

Jason also recommends The Heat Will Kill You First: Life and Death on a Scorched Planet by Jeff Goodell. Jason says: "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."

Jason's third recommendation is another nonfiction title, The Parrot and the Igloo: Climate and the Science of Denial by David Lipsky. Jason says: "David Lipsky chronicles climate change, from the beginning of our awareness of it all the way to the screeching of its deniers. With humor (I laugh because it hurts to cry after reading some of these sections) and exhaustive research, Lipsky does not hide the fact that he is a strong believer in human-caused climate change. He points out how climate change (and denialism) became very, very political. Deniers took their lead from the tobacco industry (they lost, right? but I still see people smoking) and repeated the phrase, 'We need more research on this.' Even though climate change has been talked about since the 1880s, we still need more research. Right? Our newspapers from earlier in the 20th century heralded climate change in our future - yet fast-forward a few decades to find them backtracking as special interest groups took control. As Lipsky points out more than once in this book, 19 of the 20 hottest years have happened since 2000. Sobering, but still not enough for the deniers."

Let's throw it over to Rachel Copeland now for her recommendation of Hello Stranger by Katherine Center. Rachel says: "After a seizure leads to brain surgery to repair the same congenital condition that killed her mother, portrait artist Sadie Montgomery can no longer see faces. The pieces are there, but they no longer make sense - she can't recognize her best friend, her evil stepsister, her probably handsome veterinarian, or even her probably cute and definitely helpful neighbor - and she has scant weeks to paint a portrait in time for a portrait competition worth ten thousand dollars. Katherine Center does it again! She takes a condition that a surprising number of people cope with every day and turns it into a meditation on how we truly relate to each other - how do you recognize somebody, how can you trust your own instincts, when one major sense is taken away? You'll cry, you'll laugh, you might do a ton of research on prosopagnosia, and it's worth every minute."

And now we go to Chris Lee for two recs. First, The Vegan, the sophomore novel from Andrew Lipstein. Chris says: "I love, love, loved Lipstein’s debut last year (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."

Chris also recommends Sleepless City, the new novel from Reed Farrel Coleman. Chris says: "In a nutshell: imagine Jason Bourne joined the cast of NYPD Blue. NYPD fixer / secret-agent-super-cop Nick Ryan’s first adventure beats him up, blows him up, and stabs him, too, but no matter how worse for wear he winds up, he’s still got plenty of street smarts and hard-nosed wisecracks to carry him. Crime fans who like fiction boiled as hard as granite will dig this one."

Now it's Jen Steele with two recommendations. First, her take on The Skull: A Tyrolean Folktale, the latest book by Jon Klassen. Jen says: "The Skull has a sinister feel in the best possible way! Inspired by a Tyrolean folktale, Klassen tells the tale of a runaway girl who happens to meet a talking skull in an abandoned castle in the woods. With Klassen’s signature illustrations and mischievous storytelling, The Skull is sure to be a favorite to read on a gloomy night by the fire."

Jen also recommends The Duck Never Blinks a picture book written and illustrated by Alex Latimer. Jen says: "The Duck Never Blinks is a playful and interactive picture book that will have young readers laughing out loud. Can you get the duck to blink? Read and find out."

And now, we have one paperback pick for you. Daniel recommends Crying in the Bathroom, the memoir by Erika L Sánchez. Daniel says: "Crying in the Bathroom explodes on the page in all its glory, writing about her working-class first-gen upbringing and her academic and personal journey. I love how bookish she is and how her inspirations range from Virginia Woolf and Sandra Cisneros to Lisa Simpson and George Carlin. She can call out racism and patriarchy and lookism and well, many other things, with humor and pull-no-punches frankness. Sex, sexual health, mental health – nothing is off the table. And through it all, comes her rich writing voice, which folks will recognize from her acclaimed novel, I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter. To be clear, this is not a YA collection, but I can still imagine many adult fans of that novel luxuriating in this wonderful collection, chanting yes, yes, yes, as they make their way through.

That should be enough books to keep you busy for the week! We'll be back next time with more books. Until then, read on.

Staff Recommendations, Week of July 4, 2023

 

What better way to spend this week's holiday than with a new book? Here are a few that we recommend.

First, from proprietor Daniel Goldin: Sunshine Nails, the debut novel from Mai Nguyen. Daniel says: "When Debbie and Phil Tran (who renamed themselves after their favorite music stars) find out that a chain nail salon is moving in across the street from their family-owned business, it’s just the latest in a series of family setbacks. Their daughter Jessica has just returned home to Toronto, laid off from her job and sans fiancé. Their son Dustin works for a tech company that promises stress relief, but not for their employees. And their niece Thuy, who works as a technician at the salon, is an enigma. Sunshine Nails works on lots of levels – as a family comedy, a classic David and Goliath story, an immigration and first gen narrative, an issue-centric tale of gentrification and neighborhood preservation, and a coming-of-age story for Jessica that’s romance adjacent enough to please genre fans. Delightful!"

Jen Steele is next with two recs. Her first is for Days at the Morisaki Bookshop, an international bestseller by Japanese author Satoshi Yagisawa, now translated into English by Eric Ozawa. Jen says: "After her boyfriend tells her he's getting married to someone else, Takako quits her job and takes up her uncle's offer to work at his secondhand bookstore. Set in Jimbocho, a famous bookstore district in Japan (it's a real place and I must go there!), Satoshi Yagisawa delivers a delightful love letter to books and bookstores. I was instantly transported to this delightful neighborhood and utterly charmed by this short and sweet novel."

One of our newest booksellers, Greta Borgealt, chimes in with her recommendation of Yagisawa's novel, too. Greta says: "A young woman starts working at her family’s book store after breaking up with her boyfriend and quitting her job. The author obviously loves books. The family relationships in this novel are so nuanced and interesting. I related a lot to the main character and it had made me feel like I was on the right path by becoming a bookseller."

Finally, in new books, Jen also recommends The Red Jacket, a new picture book by author/illustrator Bob Holt. Jen says: "One of my favorite picture books this summer! The Red Jacket is an engaging picture book about Bob, a lonely seagull who is given a red jacket. Bob's new red jacket instills a confidence in him that helps him speak up and make friends. A wonderful story that deserves a spot on your bookshelf!"

Over in paperback releases, we've got two recommendations for The Poet's House, the most recent novel from Jean Thomposon that begins its softcover life this week. Frist, from Daniel Goldin: "Here’s a quarter-life crisis for you: Carla is a landscaper in Northern California, and one day, she’s sent to do some planting for an almost-mythical poet named Viridian who lives in the woods with assorted hangers-on. Pulled into their orbit, the world of poetry is opened up for Carla, only with one problem – her ADHD makes it very difficult for her to read. As she untangles the stories of the poet’s lives, can she figure out what’s important about poetry and what is surface gloss? And while she’s at it, maybe she can find some legendary poems that have gone missing. Thompson is sometimes called a writer’s writer, which translates to great reviews but modest sales, and perhaps a bit of inaccessibility to the general reader. But in The Poet’s House, a book that’s literally about writing, Thompson has opened the door to all of us in a disarmingly entertaining novel that’s sure to be savored."

And Kathy Herbst adds to that: "An unforgettable coming-of-age story that manages to be serious and thoughtful as well as lighthearted and humorous.  21-year old Carla is insecure, searching for meaning and something to feel passionately about. A reading disability held her back in school and, in her mind, limited her choices, so when she meets a famous poet while working as a landscaper and is invited into the insular world of poets and poetry she is, to say the least, surprised to find herself drawn to this world and finding an unexpected path for her own life."

Kay Wosewick suggests The Displacements by Bruce Holsinger. Kay says: "The Displacements is fantastic climate disaster fiction because it intimately portrays how a very well-off family (minus dad) deals with numerous traumas, starting with a last-minute evacuation due to course change of the first-ever category 6 hurricane, Luna. The family drives north with hundreds of thousands other evacuees. They experience the second crisis when they stop for gas and discover mom's purse was left behind - the fault of the young daughter and teenage stepson. No money. No credit cards. No food, fuel, or caffeine. They end up at a FEMA camp, this one a tent city of 10,000 in rural OK. The story reflects the amazing tolerance, flexibility, and resilience of many people."

And those are the recs! Happy reading, everyone. May you read independently today. And other days, too. We'll be back next week with more books, and until then, read on.

Staff Recommendations, Week of June 27, 2023

 

Better late than never, right? A few days belated (though just in time for the weekend, so how about that, eh?) but nonetheless great, here are this week's recommendations from the Boswellians.

Let's begin with Jenny Chou and her write-up for The Rachel Incident by Caroline O'Donoghue. Jenny says: "Rachel is a college student, uncertain about love and friendship, and with a desperate need to be taken seriously. Her best friend is her bookstore coworker. He’s gay, which everyone around him seems to know, even in closeted 2009 Ireland. When a married English professor turns both their lives upside down, the results are messy and surprising, and the repercussions span years. The Irish setting makes the book feel timely in 2023 America regarding the social justice chaos we’re currently facing. How is it that Ireland has moved forward on issues like abortion and LGBTQ rights while we’re backtracking? The Rachel Incident is the laugh-out-loud, clever, and sometimes cringe-inducing book we all needed in our early twenties to let us know that life would have its ups and downs during that long slog to becoming a grownup, but we’d end up mostly okay."

Now it's Chris Lee who recommends Dead Eleven, the debut horror novel by Jimmy Juliano set on a mysterious island in Lake Michigan. 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."

Speaking of summer fun, come to Boswell for a fun event featuring Juliano on Friday, July 28, 6:30 pm. Click here to register and find out more.

Custard and Milwaukee and Bears, oh my! Jen Steele recommends How to Catch a Polar Bear, a new middle grade novel by Stacy DeKeyser. Jen's recommendation: "Stacy DeKeyser’s latest middle grade novel is inspired by a true event - a polar bear escape at the Milwaukee Zoo! Nick and his friends Ace & Penny have a busy summer ahead of them. Not only are they trying to solve the mystery of how a polar bear escaped, but they also have to contend with bullies, a summer job, a feisty monkey, and all the frozen custard you can eat. Simply delightful, treat yourself to How to Catch a Polar Bear (and some frozen custard) this summer!"

Paperback picks? Okay!

First up is Less is Lost by Andrew Sean Greer, recommended thusly by Daniel Goldin: "If you think you heard the last of Arthur Less, last seen in his Pulitzer-Prize-winning, around-the-world journey, you’re wrong. This time the writer in a pretty much continuous midlife crisis must navigate the United States as he is shaken by the death of an old lover, and despite a seemingly perfect current beau, Arthur takes a whole bunch more gigs, most of which do not go as planned, as he searches for some variation on inner fulfillment and maybe some acceptance from his dad. But sometimes it seems not everybody wants more Less. Greer is tops in capturing types and bringing them to glowing life, from his late lover’s widowed ex to the impulsive science fiction writer who demands Less interview him (but why?!). On top of that, Greer can make any situation funny, even German translation, and yet, through all the guffaws, there's a chunk of heart too."

How about a triple-rec?! That'd be Upgrade by Blake Crouch, which has laudatory words from Jason Kennedy, Kay Wosewick, and Jenny Chou. First, from Jason: "Logan Ramsey is attempting to live a life that makes up for his Mom's ultimate failure, which caused a massive famine and killed millions. Twenty years later, he is part of a government organization that hunts down scientists and others modifying DNA. On a mission to recover an illegal package which they think contains altered DNA of some form, Logan is caught in a bomb blast. The blast introduces a virus into his system that begins changing his DNA. Logan's life is about to turn upside down as he must flee from family and friends for their safety. Blake Crouch uses this novel as a platform to express our collective anxiety of the future of homo sapiens and Earth. The science is fascinating as always with his books, and the dire warnings are completely well researched and accurate. Another blast of a book from Blake Crouch."

From Jenny: "Not only is Upgrade a fast-paced thriller, but author Blake Crouch takes a deep dive into the science of DNA. Since I find our genetic code fascinating, I couldn’t put this novel down. Main character Logan answered for the catastrophic destruction unleashed on our planet by his scientist mother, and he served time in prison following her death. After his release, several decades in our future, he’s a detective investigating labs suspected of modifying DNA, which has become illegal. When a mysterious virus targets him specifically, he recovers to find he’s now an upgraded version of homo sapien, with increased strength and speed and the ability to recall everything he’s ever read and process new information instantly. Who did this to him and why? The answer seems to lie with his sister, who also received an upgrade. They’ve seemingly been handed the task of saving humanity from a decimated planet, but along with these skills comes an ability to think critically without letting emotion guide them. So much of this book is food for thought. Perhaps the biggest question of all: if saving our species means giving up what makes us distinctly human, is it worth the price?"

And take it home, Kay: "Crouch has outdone himself. Upgrade is masterful story about a tiny group of people illegally testing massive genetic alterations on a few people - without their knowledge. You’ll fly through this book, gaining insight into faults in our thinking, sensing the elation of having a perfect body, and perhaps vicariously feeling the power of thinking deeply about multiple complex subjects at once. The scope and depth of Crouch’s research is the engine that makes Upgrade feel vividly real."

That's it for the recommendations this week. Hope you can cram them all in for a great weekend of reading, and we'll be back next week, maybe even sort of on time, with more great books. Until then, read on.

Staff Recommendations, Week of June 20, 2023

Five newly released books get the staff recommendation treatment this week, plus a few paperback picks for you as well. 

First up, Jen Steele recommends Lucky Red, the debut novel from Claudia Cravens. Jen says: "Set in Dodge City in the late 1800s, a young woman is caught up in other people's expectations and wants. But what does Bridget want, and how will she make it happen? Lucky Red is about carving your own way in a world that wants to keep you under its thumb. A thrilling western full of grit, passion, and whiskey!"

Next it's Chris Lee and his write-up of Adult Drama: And Other Essays by Natalie Beach. Chris says: "The hook of the book is Beach’s viral essay about that Instascammer, though trying to explain Beach (or anyone, really) by their viral moment is something like painting a portrait from a pinhole projector’s shadow. Fortunately, (to strain a metaphor) Beach fleshes out her self-portrait with aplomb into a charming chronicle of a millennial writer’s becoming. First of all, she’s just plain good at writing – totally open yet never guileless or naïve. And I love how each essay is so much of its place in time, yet also dips into history and culture to understand how the world got to those moments. Plus, how great is it to read about someone who seems to actually enjoy work and writes about it in ways so much fresher and more interesting than just the old ‘oof, day jobs, amiright?’ With wit and perspective, Beach’s essays cram together the pleasures and horrors and tedious in-betweens of life as she figures out that she was the star writer all along."

Kay  Wosewick is up next, and she recommends a new graphic novel entitled Night Fever, written by Ed Brubaker and illustrated by Sean Phillips and Jacob Phillips. Kay keeps it short and sweet this time: "Dark, Kafkaesque, haunting. The illustrations perfectly capture the story’s shifting moods."

Oli Schmitz jumps into the fray with the latest installment of Juno Dawson's Her Royal Majesty's Coven trilogy. Book number two is titled The Shadow Cabinet, and of it, Oli says: "In this thrilling sequel to Her Majesty's Royal Coven, Dawson builds on the characters and events of book one, masterfully managing multiple perspectives and complicating some of the characters we thought we understood. As secrets are unraveled and elements of the Coven's history - and narrators' pasts - come to light, the story flows naturally between moments of fear, joy, confusion, and love. The sequel stands out for its emotional range, nuanced characters, and page-turning plot. I can't say more without spoiling book one, but if you're looking for a summer series to whisk you away, the release of The Shadow Cabinet is a great excuse to dive in!"

Guess what! Juno Dawson is visiting Milwaukee this week, so if you're reading this blog before 5:30 on Friday, June 23, 2023, there's still time for you to get down to the Milwaukee LGBT Community Center. More info and registration here.

And we wrap up the recommending with Daniel Goldin, who has a couple of kids books to suggest. The first is a new middle grade novel by Caroline Hickey called Ginny Off the Map. Daniel says: "When Ginny’s family is transferred by the military from North Carolina to Maryland, things are hard enough. But things do get worse – her father has been deployed to Afghanistan. It’s so hard for Ginny to make new friends – her obsession with geography is hardly infectious, and she just can’t be outgoing like her sister Allie. Will Ginny even survive the summer? I really liked how Ginny slowly learned to empathize with others while still being herself.  And yes, the story is also packed with fascinating facts."

Daniel also recommends Wombat by author / illustrator Philip Bunting. This book actually came out last week, but I wanted to be sure to include it on the blog, so here it is now. Daniel says: "Counting, shapes, colors, rhyme - no concept is out of reach for Philip Bunting’s simple but expressive wombats. You can only imagine the fun a kid would have reading this book out loud - every word or phrase sounds funnier when it ends in b-a-t. And while it’s true that wombats are an Australian thing, this could be just the book to help wombats overtake kangaroos and koalas as world’s favorite marsupial."

Now we move on to books getting their second life as softcovers this week. Oli Schmitz recommends Joan: A Novel of Joan of Arc by Katherine J Chen. Oli says: "Chen's take on the life of Joan of Arc richly imagines a complicated young woman behind the legendary historical figure; not the martyr or the saint, but the girl who lived. Reading this felt like being at Joan's side, let in on her perspective and motives as she makes her way from a childhood of survival-mode to the height of French military leadership, growing into the formidable warrior we remember. I especially appreciated Joan's voice and inner thoughts, delivered in such a way that she read like a real person. This may be my favorite retelling of Joan of Arc's story!"

Ottessa Moshfegh's Lapvona gets a recommendation from Chris Lee, who says: "Moshfegh is the modern bard of violence and delusion, and Lapvona lies somewhere in the territory between lost books of the Bible and Shakespearian tragedy. In a medieval fiefdom struck by drought and ruled by superstition, a demented power struggle plays out between a bitter shepherd, his deformed but pious son, an ignorant priest, a blind, witchy midwife, and a heretical, frail lord. Is there a wolf among them, or are they all sheep for slaughter? Captivating and brutal, this is a heady novel of ideas that will grab you hard and shake away any scraps of complacency you might have left."

This one is on Parker Jensen's rec shelf, too!

And those are the recs. Here's to another great week of reading for you and recommending for us. Until next time, read on.

Staff Recommendations, Week of June 13, 2023

 

We've got lots of great summer reads to recommend this week. Snag one or two (or five, whatever!) of these books, find a spot in the sun (or at least a spot out of today's drizzle), and enjoy.

Daniel Goldin kicks us off with Rocky Mountain High: A Tale of Boom and Bust in the New Wild West by Finn Murphy. Daniel says: "Anyone who has read Finn Murphy’s The Long Haul probably noticed that there are some missing years in his story, in between his two stints as a trucker. What exactly happened? The revelation: after moving to Boulder, Colorado, he jumped feet first into the hemp cultivation business. If you’re thinking this is a rags-to-riches story, think again – just about anything that can go wrong does. I was reminded of Tim Clissord’s classic business memoir, Mr. China, another tale of near delusional can-do spirit. So many setbacks, but along the way are some good stories and lots of fascinating insights and tips for entrepreneurs."

Remaining in the nonfiction lane, it's Tim McCarthy with his write-up for What an Owl Knows: The New Science of the World's Most Enigmatic Birds by Jennifer Ackerman. Tim says: "I’m not an active birder, but they fascinate me and comfort me and somehow make me believe that surviving our maddening times is possible. I've read several books about birds lately, especially owls, because seven-year-old Landon and I shared the experience of Great Horned Owls nesting and hunting in our neighborhood. The Merlin Bird ID app also has me identifying bird species by photos and sound recordings from my phone. Landon intuitively questions me about disrupting their lives while gathering information. Smart boy! Together we watched the Boswell virtual event with Miriam Darlington and Schlitz Audubon Raptor Director Lindsay Obermeier for Darlington's lovely owl memoir The Wise Hours. (Ed note: click here to watch that program.) Lindsay brought out all of the center’s owls, and the conversation was magical - check it out on our virtual event archive. Now Ackerman details the latest owl science and the stories behind the science. She explains our growing understanding of owl species diversity and the dedicated worldwide fight for their preservation. Her writing is energetic and thorough, a missing piece of my developing owl puzzle, and I kept hoping the book and the birds would continue forever."

We'll once again partner with the Schlitz Audubon Nature Center for a virtual event - Jennifer Ackerman joins us in conversation with the aforementioned Lindsay Obermeier on Wednesday, September 6, 2 pm. Click here to register for this event.

Now let's go to Kay Wosewick, who has four (four!) recommendations to share. Yowza. The first Kay rec keeps us in the animal kingdom, specifically the science books about animals realm. It's Many Things Under a Rock: The Mysteries of Octopuses by David Scheel, illustrated by Laurel "Yoyo" Scheel, and Kay says: "This intimate portrayal of octopuses’ daily life is based on 25 years of diving in coastal Alaskan waters. Octopuses spend much of their time privately observing the neighborhood from a safe, hidden home, often under a rock. Hunting and eating habits, mating, predator avoidance, and interactions with other octopuses are described. While most books about octopuses focus on their intelligence, this is the first book I’ve found that paints a full picture of how octopuses live - and die - in the wild."

Kay also recommends The Book of Pet Love and Loss: Words of Comfort and Wisdom from Remarkable People by Sara Bader. Of this book, Kay says: "Tears rolled down my face as I read dozens of heartfelt, heartwarming, and heartbreaking quotes and short stories by people reckoning with the last stages of life with - and the first stage of life without - a precious animal friend. Bader has composed a perfect book for anyone facing the loss of a dear pet. Keep a copy handy for a friend in need."

Kay turns to fiction with her next recommendation, a paperback original short story collection entitled Beijing Sprawl, written by Zechen Xu and translated into English by Eric Abrahamsen and Jeremy Tiang. Kay says: "The young men in these related short stories leave their small village with plans to build exciting new lives in the big city of Beijing. Without college degrees, the jobs they find are meaningless, dead-end, and poorly paid. Zechen’s vibrant writing made me feel their boredom, stress, listless fun, and their shock when an occasional event or situation sends someone back home while the others double-down to stay. A couple stories feel unique to China, but most have universal themes that could take place nearly anywhere."

And Kay's final rec is for The Puzzle Master, the latest novel from horror and thriller author Danielle Trussoni. Kay says: "The Puzzle Master is a mashup of puzzle addicts - a man with extraordinary intellectual powers (the puzzle master), a young woman in a psychiatric ward who tracks all of the master’s output, and mysterious adversaries intent on disrupting the master's work. A couple other curious individuals add more depth and twists. The result is a first-rate thriller."

Parker Jensen jumps in with their rec of Wolfpack, a new YA novel by Amelia Brunskill. Parker writes: "The Wolfpack, a group of nine young girls, have all lived at Havenwood for most of their lives. They follow the rules, they give back to their community, they don't dare leave the property, and they don't question their leader. But when one of their group disappears without a trace, and with no acknowledgment from the elders, they must begin to finally question the way things are. Amelia Brunskill delivers an engaging and beautifully crafted novel about the lengths we will go to save ourselves and the ones we love."

And Jen Steele wraps up the new release recommendations with a picture book called The Best Flower Ever!, written and illustrated by Neesha Hudson. Jen says: "Neesha Hudson's latest picture book makes for a great family story time. It's a delightful picture book with a witty message about jealousy, told through dog gardeners. I was absolutely charmed by this one!"

Paperback picks - perfectly totable books for summertime (or any other time for that matter.  You want 'em, and we've got 'em. Here are our recommendations of books getting their paperback release this week.

Rachel Copeland brings a bit of delightful, funny romance to the blog with The Bodyguard by Katherine Center. Rachel says: "Hannah looks like an ordinary young woman, which is a great advantage in her profession as a bodyguard. Dumped by her boyfriend/coworker the day after her mother's funeral, she's determined stay professional and prove herself to her boss - but then she gets assigned to Jack Stapleton. You know him, of course - twice voted sexiest man alive, blockbuster movie actor, and recently the subject of a death threat or two. With his mother's health in question, Hannah has no choice but to pretend to be Jack's girlfriend in order both keep him safe and not worry his family. Now she just has to do her job... and guard her heart. What a thoroughly charming book this is! Hannah's matter-of-fact voice is so funny that I could listen to her talk about security and guns all day, and Jack is so wonderfully quirky (always misses when throwing away trash, does tricks on horseback) that I couldn't help but fall for him along with Hannah. Center's writing style is super charming and adorably weird (there's a character named Dog House!); I was laughing the whole time."

Daniel Goldin has a write-up for Jackie & Me, the latest from Louis Bayard. Daniel says: "The mythology of the Kennedys is baked into the brains of many an American. So it’s fascinating to me when a writer like Louis Bayard switches it up. His take on a single Jacqueline Bouvier being courted by the well-connect Congressman is told through a fictionalized version of Kirk LeMoyne Billings. Lem was a prep school friend of Jack’s and known as a walker to Kennedy women. Jack assigned Lem to occupy Jackie while he ran for the Senate and who knows what else? Could he stay true to both parties, especially when they were not exactly on the same page regarding what exactly this relationship was? Jackie & Me is at once wryly entertaining and wistfully somber. Prime historical fiction!"

Bayard visited Boswell with this book when it came out last year - click here to check out his conversation with Christina Clancy, author of Shoulder Season.

Daniel also recommends Tracy Flick Can't Win by Tom Perrotta. Of this one, he says: "Thirty-something years after Tracy Flick’s run at student council president, Tracy is assistant principal at her high school, once again in the running to move up with the pending retirement of Principal Jack Weede. In her court is Kyle Dorfman, a graduate who’s returned to town after making a bundle in tech, with a modernist mansion-ette squeezed in among the suburban houses to show for it. What’s up with that? Tracy just has to do Kyle one little favor – serve in the committee for the new Green Meadow High School Hall of Fame and throw her weight behind former football star (and reminder of Green Meadow’s glory days) Vito Falcone, Kyle’s preferred candidate. But between all the secrets and scandals, it’s hard to imagine everything’s going to turn out alright for anybody. Told from multiple perspectives, including two students on the committee with drama of their own, it isn’t the heebie jeebie-est of Perrotta’s reads (if you read him, you’ll know what I mean), but it’s funny, smart, and provocative, and fitting of Tracy’s Election legacy."

And finally, from Jen Steele, a book that came out last week and is currently still on display on our paperback tables up front. Alas, I somehow missed including this one in last week's blog as I compiled it. So let's squeeze it in now. The book is Carrie Soto Is Back, and the author is Taylor Jenkins Reid. Jen says: "A riveting, fast-paced, and enthusiastic look at the world of tennis through the eyes of Carrie Soto, the world's finest athlete. It's been five years since Carrie Soto retired as the reigning champion of women's tennis, and it's all about to be taken away by powerhouse Nicki Chan. Not one to shy away from a challenge, Carrie decides to step back onto the court to remind everyone who the world's greatest player is. Taylor Jenkins Reid delivers a gripping comeback novel with a fierce character you will be rooting for until the very last page. A must read!"

Staff Recommendations, Week of June 6, 2023

 

The first week of the month always means many new books. There are several we'd like to recommend.

Daniel Goldin has five (FIVE!)recommendations to start out this June. His first is a book that three of us love - All the Sinners Bleed, the latest novel from rising crime fiction star SA Cosby. Daniel says: "For once, Cosby’s hero is neither a current nor reformed outlaw, but a sheriff. Not just a sheriff, but the first Black sheriff of Charon County, an area where the troubled past is still simmering. Concerned that his biggest problem is a march by Christian Nationalists, Sheriff Titus Crown is blindsided by a school shooting, where the victim is a beloved teacher, and in addition, the shooter, killed by a trigger-fingered officer. This does nothing to ingratiate Crown with the formerly supportive Black community, led by an activist minister. But that’s just the tip of the iceberg; before this story is fully told, there will be plenty of secrets revealed and, as promised in the title, shed blood. Edge of your seat thrills, masterful storytelling, and what a voice – another winner from SA Cosby!"

Rachel Copeland offers rec #2 for Cosby's book. She says "The South is haunted, and so is Titus Crown. A former FBI agent turned first Black sheriff of his hometown of Charon County, Titus's days are filled with white supremacists, holier-than-thou church leaders, and bureaucratic blowhards, but it's the memories that keep him up at night. And then a school shooting uncovers a serial killer in their midst, and nobody in Charon County will be the same. For most people, the prospect of a tightly-plotted narrative with a truly horrifying killer is enough. But the real staying power comes from SA Cosby's voice and the undeniable truth of life in a small Southern town. If you assumed everyone in a small town knows each other, All the Sinners Bleed is here to disabuse you of that notion."

And Chris Lee has the final word (on this book, anyway). He adds: "Phew! Crime fiction kingpin SA Cosby grabs the police procedural by the throat and dunks it into the murkiest depths of the Chesapeake Bay. This book is very seriously not playing around and gets about as dark as a moonshine blackout. Cosby and his hero (the first black sheriff in a rural, Eastern Virginia county) stare straight into the heart of the South’s (let’s be honest, America’s) worst bugaboos - race, religion, good ol’ boy politics, fanaticism, and violence - the blackest parts of broken men’s hearts. Yet what makes this one special are the sparks of kindness between characters that Cosby clings too – both calloused-hand country tough love and the tender care that passes between father and son – it’s a reminder of what grace can be. Oh, and that voice! Cosby bends language to his will and coins more than a couple delightful new Southernisms along the way. As long as the creek don’t rise and the good Lord’s willing, I’ll keep reading Cosby’s excellent books."

Want to meet the author of this marvelous mystery? Great! SA Cosby appears at Boswell on Thursday, June 15, 6:30 pm for a conversation with the above recommender Chris Lee. Click here to get more information and register right now!

Next up, Daniel recommends Relentless Melt, a paperback original novel by Jeremy P Bushnell. Daniel says: "It is 1909 Boston and Artie Quick is working the counter at Filene’s Basement Store. To foster her interest in solving crimes, she disguises herself for the men-only criminal investigation class at the YMCA. When the class is cancelled, Artie suspects it might be connected to a couple of other suspicious events that are on her radar, and with the help of her wealthy and somewhat eccentric acquaintance Theodore, she decides to investigate. The clues lead to a crime more unexpected than first imagined; suffice it to say that her friend’s interest in magic will come in handy. Disturbing yes, but also a nice combination of thrills and philosophical pondering, like a period X-Files."

Next Daniel recommends Hedge by Jane Delury. He says: "Maud is a garden historian who has taken a job helping renovate a Hudson Valley estate, a continent away from her husband. She’s leaving him; he just doesn’t know that yet. A friendship with an archeologist on the property soon turns into something more, only when her daughters arrive for the summer, it makes things initially more complicated, and soon enough, impossible. Can a novel be both serene and turbulent at the same time? In the case of Hedge, yes, as it counterpoints a woman and family in crisis with the serene tranquility of nature. Can Maud come out of this without destroying herself? That is the question in this provocative, passionate, and philosophical novel."

Thirdly, Daniel suggests Farrell Covington and the Limits of Style by Paul Rudnick. Of this, Daniel says: "When uber-rich Yalie Farrell Covington spots middle-class New Jersey freshman Nate Reminger across a crowded theater club, it’s the beginning of a crazy relationship that spans decades and continents. No one can keep them apart, only many try, from Covington’s villainous Wichita family, to Hollywood, and AIDS. I really enjoyed how Rudnick included elements of his own life into the story, reflected through a funhouse mirror. Sister Act becomes Habit Forming; see if you can spot them all! Farrell Covington and the Limits of Style veers into madcap and perhaps far-fetchedness, but it is always entertaining, ultimately moving, and much like Rudnick’s play Jeffrey (translates to I Dare You in this novel), uncompromising."

Daniel turns to nonfiction for his final choice: Game of Edges: The Analytics Revolution and the Future of Professional Sports by Bruce Schoenfeld. Daniels says: "If you read Moneyball and were wondering what happened afterward, Game of Edges has the answer – the data revolution is here. It has overtaken baseball, where home runs, walks, and strikeouts now dominate the game. It’s hit the NBA, where the three-pointer is the shot of choice. And as Schoenfeld shows, it’s making inroads in other sports too, where data analysists are stats obsessed. Much of his book chronicles the American takeover of undervalued English soccer teams It’s not just the rise of technology that is driving this but also the greater valuation of sports teams and the rise of venture capitalists and tech billionaires as owners. And there’s no question that these changes have also led to the explosion of sports gambling too. And there are downside too – these teams may win more, but alternate leadership styles are marginalized, even if they are successful. And more than that, it's made the games more boring. In just one example, the stats suggest pulling pitchers after two times through the lineup. Who’s going to pitch a no-hitter with that philosophy? So, teams may win more, but fans are watching less. The thing is, trends turn on a dime – I’ve been told that the NBA is moving away from safe stat-based shots back to superstar ball at the net. The story isn’t over yet! Hey, nobody’s going to take sports advice from me, but I do know a good story, and take my word, Schoenfeld knows how to tell one. 

Daniel's not the only one with four recommendations this week. Kay Wosewick matches him with her four! Her first is for At the Edge of the Woods by Kathryn Bromwich. Kay writes: "Bromwich has crafted a lovely, quiet, and haunting tale of a woman who escapes a luxurious but miserable life to live alone in a tiny cottage outside a small village. Laura becomes a creature of the forest but still depends on the village for small jobs to buy necessities. The villagers’ trust is necessary to get and retain work and be safe in her isolation. Can Laura throw off her once-lofty status to become a member of a tiny, rough-edged community? Gritty and very satisfying."

Kay's next pick is The Endless Vessel by Charles Soule. Kay says: "A dramatically beautiful object - clearly not of this world - is given to the owner of a small company. Employee Lily sees signs of her long-dead father in the innards of the object, setting her on a mission to find where it came from. The story that unfolds is beautiful, magical, hopeful, occasionally frightening, and often inspiring. This story will grip you tightly until it releases you, finger by finger, in the end."

Thirdly, Kay suggests Thing: Inside the Struggle for Animal Personhood, by Samuel Machado, Cynthia Sousa, and Steven M Wise. Kay writes: "Happy the Asian elephant made news in 2022 when an appeals court denied her habeas corpus (personhood). This book presents scientific and philosophical reasons why elephants, great apes, and many whales qualify for personhood. Not a diatribe, this book calmly explains why humanity must finally dismantle its false sense of superiority over animals."

Kay's fourth recommendation is Open Throat by Henry Hoke. Kay says: "There’s not an extraneous word in this one-of-a-kind, remarkable story narrated by a lonely lion living beneath LA’s HOLLYWOOD sign. I LOVE THIS BOOK!!"

Jason Kennedy brings us the next recommendation, for The Memory of Animals by Claire Fuller, author of novels such as Bitter Orange and Swimming Lessons. Of this latest novel, Jason writes: "Claire Fuller gave me PTSD at the very outset of this book as Neffy went into a vaccine trial to combat a pandemic. When virus mutates rapidly (cue more PTSD), and Neffy wakes up from fighting off the virus with the experimental vaccine, the world is gone. But there are other people trapped with her in the medical building, and this is the heart of the story: how they relate to and end up relying on one and other. It's a novel about the human condition during a crisis, but Claire Fuller also looks at the trip Neffy took to get to this point. The future is a frightening place, but we can't live in the past."

And how about a new picture book recommendation from our kids buyer Jen Steele?! She suggests We Are Going to Be Pals! by author and illustrator Mark Teague. Jen says: "We Are Going to Be Pals! is a delightful novel about friendship between a talkative egret and a silent rhinoceros.  Teague’s bright and fun illustrations bring to life a day between the seemingly unlikely duo. A clever read that’s sure to be a hit!"

And how about some paperback picks? We've got two write-ups for Slenderman: Online Obsession, Mental Illness, and the Violent Crime of Two Midwestern Girls by Kathleen Hale. First, from Chris Lee: "Slenderman is a perfect example of true crime writing at its best – throughout a detailed account of Waukesha’s Slenderman stabbing and years of legal fallout, Hale searches for the places where the legal system fails us and where we, as people, fail each other. What is justice, really, and how can it be better served? The facts of the case are not in dispute, though widely misreported. Case in point: the single crime’s only victim survived, yet the incident is still often known as the ‘Slenderman murders.’ And key elements were all but ignored by a tough-on-crime judge hellbent on trying the girls as adults according to an outdated, illogical Wisconsin law enacted out fear of the superpredator myth. The facts are: two 12-year-old girls, one suffering from severe early-onset schizophrenia and one with pathological attachment issues, misunderstood online YA horror fiction as reality and then plotted and attempted to murder their classmate. A native Wisconsinite with a sensitive and fact-oriented eye, Hale cuts through the slogans attached to the case (Internet Evil! Adult Crime, Adult Time!) to understand the ties between mental illness, Midwestern stoicism, violence, and reactionary impulses. It’s a horrible incident, yes, but Hale well makes the case for the necessity of talking honestly about hard things to shine some light into the dark."

And from Parker Jensen: "The Waukesha Slenderman stabbing, often mistakenly referred to as the ‘Slenderman Murders’, left many shocked and morbidly intrigued. Because the true facts of the case were blurred, fumbled, and outright ignored, the idea of two 12-year-old girls committing such a violent crime all in the name of an internet boogeyman is confusing and downright disconcerting. But that was never the full story. Kathleen Hale's telling of the tale is extremely comprehensive, well researched, and compellingly written. Told with facts and not sensationalism in mind, Slenderman is the best true crime book I've read in years. I was glued to the pages as Hale pulled back the layers of this complicated story, exploring the ways in which a young girl's ignored mental health crisis, backward judicial and mental health services systems, and Midwestern attitudes came together to create a truly tragic scenario. It's a hard story in which no one wins, but you'll have to decide for yourself if justice was served. Thankfully, Hale is willing to have that conversation. I haven't stopped thinking about this case or the three girls since I closed the book, leaving me to wonder, what does justice look like, and how we as a society can do better?"

Jenny Chou recommends Latecomer by Jean Hanff Korelitz. Jenny says: "Phoebe Oppenheimer arrived in the world seventeen years after her triplet siblings, but as she likes to point out, she’s exactly the same age. Sally, Harrison, Lewyn, and Phoebe started as four embryos in a petri dish, three implanted, and one sent off to be frozen and just about forgotten. The triplets don’t exactly create the loving, close family their mother Johanna envisioned, and it wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say that they can’t stand each other by the time they leave for college. In addition, their dad has checked out of their lives, supposedly (but only partially) due to his obsession with his art collection. Johanna, still hoping to create the blissful, loving family of her dreams, makes what feels like an impulsive decision, but actually did take quite a bit of planning. She hires a surrogate to carry the embryo that becomes Phoebe, the child nobody really wanted (including Johanna), but perhaps the one they all needed. Her wise and slightly cynical voice carries the novel from beginning to end, catching the reader up on all the many things she missed out on through her arrival seventeen years too late. She’s one of the few people you won’t want to strangle by the end of the book, but if you like messy family dynamics, then this one is a winner!"

It wouldn't be a staff rec blog without a Tim McCarthy rec. And he sneaks into the paperback releases this week with his words on Path Lit by Lightning: The Life of Jim Thorpe by David Maraniss. Tim writes: "Swedish King Gustav V apparently told Jim Thorpe, as he handed him a gold medal at the 1912 Stockholm Olympics, that he was “the most wonderful athlete in the world.” Thorpe was certainly admired and sought after worldwide for his unmatched athleticism and talent. Everyone wanted to see him, wherever he went. He was on World Series teams, he was there at the inception of the NFL, and later he had many small Hollywood film roles, befriending the biggest stars of the day. Thorpe was often used as a novelty as well, a drawing card constantly subject to racial stereotypes, and as time passed he became more actively involved with indigenous people’s rights. As a man, Jim Thorpe had serious human flaws and struggled constantly to succeed, but he was personally kind and generous, offering a huge smile to all. He never seemed inclined to pity himself or stop chasing his dreams. The extraordinary details of his life, including many connections to Wisconsin and Milwaukee, are endlessly fascinating, and Maraniss makes them exceptionally smooth reading. He wraps Thorpe's life into the story of America, and he’s blunt about our cruel contradictions in such an intelligent way that my progressive anger feels completely validated. This is a top-flight history lesson that separates the truth from the myth of a legendary and iconic American!"

Now it's back to Daniel Goldin for Rogues: True Stories of Grifters, Killers, Rebels and Crooks from Patrick Radden Keefe. Daniel says: "While I have a subscription to The New Yorker, I don’t read every long-form article. In fact, I consider it a triumph if I can get through the cartoons, Talk of the Town, at least one review, and at least one article.  But even when I did read some of the pieces collected in Rogues, I found it fascinating to revisit them as part of a collection. Rogues, particularly if you exclude the closing profile of Anthony Bourdain, reads as a collection of true crime short stories, being that they have the vibrancy of the best fiction. I love the way traditional crime subjects like drug cartels and arms dealers are mixed with the corporate misdeeds of unscrupulous hedge fund managers, look-the-other-way bankers, and unrepentant television producers, leading me to wonder if we should reshelve some of those corporate narrative books that are currently in our business section. Whether you want to read more Patrick Radden Keefe or are just hungering for juicy narrative nonfiction, this should satisfy you 12-fold."

Let's stick with Daniel for The Two Lives of Sara by Catherine Adel West. Daniel says: "It’s early 1960s Memphis, and Sara King, on the run from trouble in Chicago, has taken a job at a boarding house run by Mama Sugar, the aunt of her close friend. There she finds a new community of friends, found family, and even a possible beau, but there’s trouble too, in the form of Mama Sugar’s errant son and the even shadier type after him to repay a loan. Steeped in Memphis’s Civil Rights struggles and packed with a treasure trove of references great Black writers, musicians, and artists, West’s second novel is a powerful and emotional story of a woman trying to find her place in a world. And while the book works completely on its own, readers of Saving Ruby King will savor West bringing one of the secondary characters of that novel to vivid life."

Kathy Herbst also recommends this novel! She says: "An intensely moving and brilliantly written story of pain and loss and the search for love and forgiveness. Sara moves from Chicago to Memphis to escape a troubled past. There, in Mama Sugar's boarding house, her son is born, and she begins to find her way to the promise of a better life. But dealing with past trauma on a personal level as well as the larger issues of racism and segregation makes her journey difficult. There are no easy answers and no fairy tale endings in this story, but following Sara on her journey is worth every minute spent reading this heartfelt book."