The Wrong Heaven by Amy Bonnaffons

I first heard Amy Bonnaffons when her short story “Horse” was read as part of an episode of the National Public Radio show “This American Life.” I don’t remember what the theme of that particular episode was or any other segments, but “Horse” stood out. It is a short story about a woman deciding to … Continue reading →

The Dreamers by Karen Thompson-Walker

This fascinating and inventive novel is the second book by Karen Thompson Walker following her 2012 debut, The Age of Miracles. The Dreamers takes place in Southern California. The book follows several individuals who are living through an epidemic of a strange, new illness. The sickness starts in a college dorm when one freshman goes to … Continue reading →

Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens

Where the Crawdads Sing is the new “it” novel here at the Bartlett Library. Over 20 copies in one format or another and there are still holds. Wait one year and this will be on everyone’s book discussion list. So whether I wanted to or not, I knew I had to read it. And “what … Continue reading →

Circe by Madeline Miller

Circe by Madeline Miller tells the story of a minor god, Circe. She is the daughter of Helios, god of the sun and one of the most powerful of the Titans. However, Circe is not born powerful like her father, or attractive like her mother, and she does not care for the drama and flirtations … Continue reading →

Crazy Rich Asians by Kevin Kwan

Today Crazy Rich Asians is out in theaters! The movie is based on the book Crazy Rich Asians by Kevin Kwan, which was first published in 2013. Crazy Rich Asians is the first in the series, followed by China Rich Girlfriend and Rich People Problems. Starting off the series, Crazy Rich Asians highlights three super-rich … Continue reading →

Homesick for Another World by Ottessa Moshfegh

A middle-aged man obsesses over a woman who works at an arcade. An unemployed man with acne, a severe rash and bad teeth goes on at length about how much girls fancy him. A young girl’s brother tells her that she has to “kill the right person” to return to “the place.” For many, these … Continue reading →

A Gambler’s Anatomy by Jonathan Lethem

Alexander Bruno hasn’t followed a run-of-the-mill career path: He makes a living playing high-stakes backgammon. He plays and beats wealthy men in Europe and has been doing so for years, but he faces a new challenge when a large blot starts obstructing his vision. He has to look around this strange blot as he plays … Continue reading →

The Secret History by Donna Tartt

Bunny dies at the start of the book. We know how but not why. Who was invovled, why he seemingly had to die, and what were the consequences create the rest of the story. Narrated by Richard, an intelligent but not always smart California transplant to a small Vermont college, the story unfolds from his … Continue reading →

The Unquiet Dead by Ausma Zehanat Khan

The war in Bosnia and its aftermath have been largely overlooked by the West. The same is not true of those who experienced it. Set in Canada, The Unquiet Dead is both a mystery and a commentary on the aftermath of war and its effects on many survivors. Inspector Esa Khattak finds himself investigating the … Continue reading →

Orphan Train by Christina Baker Kline

Much of history can be learned through well-written and well-researched fiction. I sometimes prefer it if the subject is disturbing or painful because it lends the information some distance not available in non-fiction. Maybe this is avoidance initially, but it has often given me the opportunity to explore a topic before moving on to further … Continue reading →