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The Last of Earth
by Deepa Anappara
From the award-winning author of Djinn Patrol on the Purple Line comes a stunning historical novel set in nineteenth-century Tibet that follows two outsiders--an Indian schoolteacher spying for the British Empire and an English lady explorer--as they venture into a forbidden kingdom. A riveting novel that takes on the hubris of exploration, the pursuit of immortality, and the abiding nature of love and friendship.--Laila Lalami, author of The Dream Hotel 1869. Tibet is closed to Europeans, an infuriating obstruction for the rapidly expanding British Empire. In response, Britain begins training Indians--permitted to cross borders that white men may not--to undertake illicit, dangerous surveying expeditions into Tibet. Balram is one such surveyor-spy, an Indian schoolteacher who, for several years, has worked for the British, often alongside his dearest friend, Gyan. But Gyan went missing on his last expedition and is rumored to be imprisoned within Tibet. Desperate to rescue his friend, Balram agrees to guide an English captain on a foolhardy mission: After years of paying others to do the exploring, the captain, disguised as a monk, wants to personally chart a river that runs through southern Tibet. Their path will cross fatefully with that of another Westerner in disguise, fifty-year-old Katherine. Denied a fellowship in the all-male Royal Geographical Society in London, she intends to be the first European woman to reach Lhasa. As Balram and Katherine make their way into Tibet, they will face storms and bandits, snow leopards and soldiers, fevers and frostbite. What's more, they will have to battle their own doubts, ambitions, grief, and pasts in order to survive the treacherous landscape. A polyphonic novel about the various ways humans try to leave a mark on the world--from the enduring nature of family and friendship to the egomania and obsessions of the colonial enterprise--The Last of Earth confirms Deepa Anappara as one of our greatest and most ambitious storytellers.
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| The Bookbinder's Secret by A.D. BellLily is in limbo. She loves books and her binding trade, but her father is distant and her employer seems not to value her. Her life is turned upside down when she is given a burned book and the secrets it holds. This is truly a wonderful read full of mystery, love, and intrigue.
Susan Willis, Chanute Public Library, KS
NoveList read-alike: The Binding by Bridget Collins |
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| All the Little Houses by May CobbCobb’s latest gasp-out-loud read doesn’t disappoint, bringing readers back to the East Texas town of Longview, where wealth, booze, secrets, sex, and very bad -- some might even say murderous -- behavior abounds. Readers will not be able to take their eyes off this propulsive thriller.
Carol Ann Tack, Merrick Library, NY
NoveList read-alike: The Empress of Cooke County by Elizabeth Bass Parman |
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| Anatomy of an Alibi by Ashley ElstonFROM THE #1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLING AUTHOR OF FIRST LIE WINS Two women. One dead husband. And only one alibi. Elston expertly unravels a web of secrets and lies. You won't be able to put this excellent thriller down until the final shocking page. --Megan Miranda Everyone at Chantilly's Bar noticed out-of-towner Camille Bayliss. Red lips, designer heels, sipping a Negroni. But that woman wasn't Camille Bayliss. It was Aubrey Price. Camille Bayliss appears to have the picture-perfect life; she's married to hotshot lawyer Ben and is the daughter of a wealthy Louisiana family. Only nothing is as it seems: Camille believes Ben has been hiding dirty secrets for years, but she can't find proof because he tracks her every move. Aubrey Price has been haunted by the terrible night that changed her life a decade ago, and she's convinced Benjamin Bayliss knows something about it. Living in a house full of criminals, Aubrey understands there's more than one way to get to the truth--and she may have found the best way in. Aubrey and Camille hatch a plan. It sounds simple: For twelve hours, Aubrey will take Camille's place. Camille will spy on Ben, and the two women will get the answers they desperately seek. Except the next morning, Ben is found murdered. Both women need an airtight alibi, but only one of them has it. And one false step is all it takes for everything to come undone. |
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| Women of a Promiscuous Nature by Donna EverhartIn this stunning character-driven novel set in the 1940s, Everhart introduces the inmates and staff of the Industrial Farm Colony for Women. As readers are drawn into the life of the Colony, the lofty goals as well as the terrible cruelty and injustice of the place are slowly revealed. Highly recommended.
Vicki Nesting, St. Charles Parish Library, LA
NoveList read-alike: The Last Carolina Girl by Meagan Church |
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| No One Would Do What the Lamberts Have Done by Sophie HannahIn this satirical book-within-a-book, the Lamberts’ dog, Champ, is accused of biting the neighbor’s daughter. The eccentric pet-obsessed matriarch Sally refuses to believe this, so the family goes on the run with Champ in tow. Twisty and puzzling.
Magan Szwarek, LibraryReads Ambassador, IL
NoveList read-alike: Cat Fight by Kit Conway |
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| It Should Have Been You by Andrea MaraWhen a woman accidentally sends a private message meant for her sisters to the entire neighborhood group chat, the ensuing chain of events exposes secrets and causes deadly anguish. This book was a wild ride that will captivate readers from the first page.
Debbie Frizzell, Johnson County Library, KS
NoveList read-alike: You Deserve to Know by Aggie Blum Thompson |
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| How to Commit a Postcolonial Murder by Nina McConigleyWhen their uncle arrives from India, two sisters' adjustment to a dual culture life in small-town Wyoming in the mid-1980s becomes complicated. This debut hits on touchy subjects with grace, as the sisters choose to fight instead of being silent victims. Those of us who spent many hours at teen sleepovers will delight in the nostalgia scattered amidst the actual crime and justice served.
Kimberly McGee, Lake Travis Community Library, Austin, TX
NoveList read-alike: My Sister, the Serial Killer by Oyinkan Braithewaite |
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| Vigil by George SaundersSaunders knows how to capture the essence of life in a story all about death. This message is wrapped in A Christmas Carol package about a ghost ushering a greedy, selfish man into the afterlife.This climate story effectively hammers home that climate change affects everyone and everything irreparably, but we must also carry on.
Sabrina Unrein, Mahwah Public Library, NJ
NoveList read-alike: The Apology by Jimin Han |
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| The Elsewhere Express by Samantha Sotto YambaoThis enchanting, whimsical fantasy is a warm hug for the soul. A magical train that appears to those who are lost is absolutely charming, and creativity shines in the descriptions of the train's wondrous cars, from lily-pad picnics to jellyfish swimming through clouds. A journey not just through a magical world, but also of self-discovery, hope, and finding one's sense of purpose.
Lee V. New York Public Library, NY
NoveList read-alike: The Rainfall Market by Yeong Gwang You |
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Avon Lake Public Library
32649 Electric Blvd.
Avon Lake, Ohio 44012
440-933-8128alpl.org |
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