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| The Removed by Brandon HobsonWhat it's about: a Cherokee family haunted by past and present traumas -- forced relocation, police violence, and grief, addiction, and dementia.
Narrated by: three members of the Echota family, as well as their ancestor Tsala, who died before the Trail of Tears.
About the author: Brandon Hobson is an enrolled citizen of the Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma; his previous novel, Where the Dead Sit Talking, was a finalist for the 2018 National Book Award. |
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The push : a novel
by Ashley Audrain
What it's about: A devoted mother with a painful past gradually realizes that something is very wrong with her daughter, a fear that is complicated by her husband’s dismissive views and the birth of a healthy son.
For fans of: Tense psychological drama.
Reviews call it: "A finely wrought psychological study of motherhood and inherited trauma....A novel written for and about mothers but not for the faint of heart; it offers no easy answers." (Kirkus)
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My name is Anton : a novel
by Catherine Ryan Hyde
What it's about: Realizing that a neighbor is trapped in an abusive marriage, a smitten 18-year-old youth, haunted by his brother’s accidental death, offers the woman shelter and a means to escape.
Author alert: Catherine Ryan Hyde wrote the bestselling Pay It Forward.
Is it for you? "Readers who want tales of love, family, and emotional strength in the face of hardship will cheer on Anton, Edith, and their efforts to create a family in the midst of pain." (Library Journal)
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The Awkward Black Man: Stories
by Walter Mosley
What it is: a collection of 17 short stories that portray the wide variety of American life, all starring Black men, many of them over 50, narrating their own stories.
Don't miss: "The Good News Is," in which a man's insecurity about his weight gives way to a serious illness. It's the first in the book and once you've read it, you'll be hooked on award-winning author Walter Mosley's insight and slice-of life perspective.
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What could be saved : a novel
by Liese O'Halloran Schwarz
What it's about: A reclusive artist ignores her sister’s warnings against reconnecting with a long-lost sibling before learning the story of her family’s stationing in 1972 Bangkok and her mother’s passionate affair against a backdrop of dynamic world changes.
Reviews say: "Schwarz is a remarkable storyteller, juggling many characters, and the seamless alternating chapters narrated by Laura and a servant from the Preston’s house in Bangkok gradually deepen the reader’s understanding of the past and present. Schwarz’s stellar work is riveting from its start all the way to the final horrifying twist." (Publishers Weekly)
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The prophets : a novel
by Robert Jones
What it is: A singular and stunning debut novel about the forbidden union between two enslaved young men on a Deep South plantation, the refuge they find in each other, and a betrayal that threatens their existence.
Reviews say: "Though this is his first book, Jones is already a master stylist, writing gorgeous, lyrical and readable prose about some of the ugliest things that human beings feel and do to one another. Sometimes the prose reads like scripture. At other times, it’s poetry. This is a beautifully wrought, exceptionally accomplished queer love story about two men finding extraordinary connection in the most hostile and difficult of circumstances." (BookPage)
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| Professor Chandra Follows His Bliss by Rajeev BalasubramanyamStarring: ambitious, internationally known economics professor Chandrasekhar (known to all as Chandra), who -- in a move that is wholly out of character -- decides to attend a meditation retreat.
What happens: An accumulation of tiny epiphanies ultimately challenges Chandra's perspective on his long-time prioritization of career over family.
Why you might like it: This is a complex book about an analytical man rethinking his choices, told with dry (and sometimes acerbic) humor. |
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| Everywhere You Don't Belong by Gabriel BumpWhat it's about: the coming of age of young Claude McKay Love, raised by his civil rights activist grandmother and her gay best friend on Chicago's South Side.
Why you might like it: Told in short vignettes and focused on themes of racial injustice, this debut offers sharp humor, clever dialogue, and a relatable protagonist in awkward, uncomfortable Claude.
Reviewers say: Debut author Gabriel Bump "delivers a singular sense of growing up black that will resonate with readers" (Library Journal). |
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| A Star Is Bored by Byron LaneWhat happens: Charlie Besson, struggling with depression, finds a job as assistant to his childhood idol, actress Kathi Kannon, who has issues of her own.
Why you might like it: Gossipy, salacious, and often hilarious, this debut features two hurting people who nevertheless provide what the other needs -- some stability for Kathi, and a mentor and mother for Charlie.
About the author: Byron Lane was the late Carrie Fisher's personal assistant; he may have some personal experience to draw from here... |
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| Nothing to See Here by Kevin WilsonWhat it's about: Lillian has agreed to watch her friend Madison's stepchildren for the summer. Twist: they burst into flames when upset.
What happens: Lillian, whose life has stalled ever since she was kicked out of school, has no experience with children. And yet she starts to love these two unloved kids.
Why you might like it: Flawed, quirky characters and offbeat humor make this a wry, engaging read. |
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Contact your librarian for more great books!
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Winfield, IL 60190
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