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Fiction A to Z February 2021
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| Black Buck by Mateo AskaripourWhat it is: a debut novel with a biting take on racism in corporate America and the story of a man who may have found success at the expense of his sense of self.
Starring: Darren, a college graduate who takes a job at a cult-like NYC startup. The longer he stays and the greater his success, the more the corporate excesses push him toward helping other young Black people succeed in America's sales force.
Why you might like it: styled like a self-help manual, this provocative satire exposes a lot of hypocrisy and prejudice and speaks to the current moment in American history. |
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| Before the Ruins by Victoria GoslingThe set up: Four best friends become five with the arrival of a mysterious stranger in their tiny English town. But their group fractures and, decades later, one member has disappeared.
What happens: Ringleader Andy sets out to find her oldest pal, with whom things have long been strained. In so doing, she uncovers long-hidden secrets.
For fans of: atmospheric, menacing tales like Donna Tartt's The Secret History or Elisabeth Thomas' Catherine House. |
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| The Center of Everything by Jamie HarrisonStarring: Montana restaurant owner Polly, who is beset by migraines and memory problems (including painful flashbacks from her childhood) after a head injury. The troubling disappearance of her children's babysitter adds an additional stressor.
What it is: Set in the present (the 4th of July weekend in 2002) and the past (a family reunion in 1968), this family drama of mental illness and loss is told by an unwittingly unreliable narrator.
For fans of: slow-burning, character-driven novels. |
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| Detransition, Baby by Torrey PetersWhat happens: Trans woman Reese, her detransitioned ex Ames and his cisgender lover (and boss) Katrina build an unconventional family in response to an unplanned pregnancy.
Read it for: loving, engaging, and relatably complicated characters; abundant wit; and the understanding that there are many ways to build a family.
About the author: Torrey Peters is herself a trans woman; this "smart, funny, and bighearted" novel (Kirkus Reviews) is her full-length debut after three novellas. |
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| The Liar's Dictionary by Eley WilliamsWhat it is: a tale of two parallel stories, both set in the offices of a dictionary publisher. In the 19th century, a lexicographer adds made-up words to the New Encyclopaedic Dictionary; in the modern day, an intern is tasked with finding them.
Why you might like it: Puns and wordplay make this a linguistic delight, while the romantic adventures in both eras humanize it.
Reviewers say: "A sweet and diverting story, witty and sincere" (Kirkus Reviews). |
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The Office of Historical Corrections: A Novella and Stories
by Danielle Evans
What it is: a collection of seven stories that examine race, grief, relationships, and womanhood in the U.S., after 2010's Before You Suffocate Your Own Fool Self.
Why you might like it: Infused with a deep understanding of U.S. history, these character-driven stories employ sharp, compelling writing and incisive and sometimes witty commentary.
Reviewers say: "delectably readable, propulsive accounts of loss and fear and redemption that twist with O. Henry-level glee" (Entertainment Weekly).
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| The Secret Lives of Church Ladies by Deesha PhilyawWhat it is: nine stories exploring the secret lives of the Black women and girls who can't get everything they need from attending church.
Don't miss: "Peach Cobbler," in which a daughter comes to terms with her mother's long-ago affair with their pastor.
Reviewers say: "cheeky, insightful, and irresistible" (Ms. Magazine); "full of lived-in humanity, warmth, and compassion" (Pittsburgh Current).
For fans of: Danielle Evans' The Office of Historical Corrections; anything by Toni Morrison. |
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To Be a Man: Stories
by Nicole Krauss
What it is: a short story collection about the relationships between men and women at all stages of life, and how the characters' Jewish identities informs those relationships.
Don't miss: "Future Emergencies," which is alarmingly of-the-moment; "I Am Asleep But My Heart Is Awake," in which a daughter inherits her father's apartment, only to find it inhabited.
Why you might like it: Nicole Krauss' straightforward writing style is highly detailed and addresses weighty topics.
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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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Contact your librarian for more great books!
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