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Fiction A to Z October 2021 |
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| In Every Mirror She's Black by Lola Akinmade ÅkerströmWhat it's about: An influential white man in Stockholm involves himself in the lives of three Black women from wildly different backgrounds -- a Somali refugee, a business executive, and a former model (now a flight attendant). The results are toxic.
Why you should read it: It offers nuanced depictions of racism, feminism, and power dynamics from multiple (and international) perspectives. Booklist praises it as "a guaranteed favorite for fans of Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie's Americanah." |
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| Black Girls Must Die Exhausted by Jayne AllenWhat happens: Thirty-something Tabitha has reached a stage in life where she must choose between her ambitions and her desire for children; guided by her two closest friends, she confronts challenging components in her life -- and within herself.
Read it for: a sympathetic protagonist whose struggle between vulnerability and ambition poses insightful perspectives on femininity, race, and family ties. |
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The Women of Troy
by Pat Barker
What it is: a moving, gritty reimagining of the aftermath of the Trojan War, driven by complex female characters who tell first-person stories of grief, trauma, and vengeance.
Starring: resilient and revenge-minded Briseis, who was enslaved by Achilles; prophetic princess Cassandra, whose visions of the war to come were ignored thanks to a curse from Apollo; Hector's widow Andromache, whose pragmatism might just help her rebuild a life worth living.
Series alert: The Women of Troy is a sequel to Pat Barker's The Silence of the Girls, which focused on women on the other side of the war.
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Godspeed
by Nickolas Butler
What it's about: Although the Wyoming construction company started by childhood friends Cole, Bart, and Teddy has been getting by, boredom and financial trouble prompts them to accept a high-stakes mansion project for a mysterious, demanding client -- a job which might put their business, their friendships, and even their lives at stake.
Who it's for: readers who like socially aware, slow-burning suspense.
About the author: Nikolas Butler is best known for his novels, including the best-selling Shotgun Lovesongs, but has also published poetry, short fiction, essays, and criticism in Narrative Magazine, the journal Terrain, and The New York Times Book Review.
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Just One Look
by Lindsay Cameron
Starring: disgraced lawyer Cassandra Woodson, who is stuck in low-wage, dead-end clerking jobs after a very public workplace faux pas ruined her prospects.
What else could go wrong? After stumbling across a personal message from a partner at the firm to his wife, Cassandra's curiosity about the couple's seemingly perfect life grows into a darker, more frightening obsession.
Why you might like it: The compelling writing style makes even an unlikeable, unstable protagonist like Cassandra sympathetic.
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The Heron's Cry
by Ann Cleeves
What happens: North Devon police detective Matthew Venn and his team try to uncover who murdered the director of a local watchdog group, who'd been investigating health facilities after a spate of recent suicides. But as the victim was stabbed in his daughter's studio with a piece of her glass art, Venn wonders if the killer may be closer to home.
Series alert: Following The Long Call, this evocative 2nd novel in the Two Rivers/Matthew Venn series further explores the complex personal lives and relationships of both Venn and his fellow detectives.
Read this next: Firewatching by Russ Thomas; Louise Penny's Gamache mysteries.
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The Inheritance of Orquídea Divina
by Zoraida Córdova
The invitation: Montoya family matriarch Orquídea Divina summons her far-flung kin to their hometown of Four Rivers, writing, "I am dying. Come and collect your inheritance."
The fallout: Orquídea's dramatic exit from this world leaves cousins Rey, Marimar, and Tatinelly (along with Tatinelly's daughter, Rhiannon), in danger as they seek to uncover their grandmother's mysterious past.
Why you might like it: Infused with magical realism, this family saga is set in Ecuador and the United States, with parallel narratives that shift between past and present.
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Moon and the Mars
by Kia Corthron
What it's about: half-Irish half-Black Theo Brigid Brook's coming of age in New York's legendary Five Points neighborhood, set during a six-year period between the 1857 Metropolitan Police Riots and the first year of the Civil War.
Read it for: the way Theo's divided identity reflects the rising ethnic and political tensions in the country, the Five Points neighborhood, and even her own family; the engaging depictions of Theo's extended family, who make for a vibrant cast of secondary characters.
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Embassy Wife
by Katie Crouch
What it is: an intricately plotted fish-out-of-water thriller wrapped in witty and engaging social satire.
The setup: Amanda Evans leaves her successful career in Silicon Valley to join her Fulbright scholar husband in Namibia. There, she's forced to adapt to a disorienting expat social scene full of frivolous, bored "trailing spouses" who are much more complex (and dangerous) than they seem.
For fans of: Maria Semple and Meg Wolitzer who are looking to spice things up.
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All Our Shimmering Skies
by Trent Dalton
What it is: the moving and lyrical story of 12-year-old Molly Hook, an Australian orphan who sets out on a magical realism-filled journey into the Outback to undo a family curse in 1942, while Japanese bombs rain down from the sky.
Why you might like it: Along the way Molly picks up an unlikely crew of traveling companions, including Greta, a sharp-tongued German actress, and Yukio, a disillusioned Japanese fighter pilot gone AWOL.
Reviewers say: Shimmering Skies is "achingly beautiful" and "majestic in its melancholy" (Booklist).
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| L.A. Weather by María Amparo EscandónWhat happens: Amidst the burning heat of a drought, the Alvardo family is drawn together under one roof. Close quarters soon reveal layers of betrayal and deception that bring their relationships to a boil.
Read it for: telenovela-levels of high drama, a strong sense of place, and a surprisingly heartwarming tone overall.
Try this next: What a Happy Family by Saumya Dave, the story of a tightly knit East Indian family living in Atlanta, Georgia, and plagued by its own secrets. Family tensions run similarly high. |
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A Fiancée's Guide to First Wives and Murder
by Dianne Freeman
1899 London: Frances Wynn, the widowed Countess of Harleigh, is shocked to meet a young woman claiming that she's Russian aristocracy, has been kidnapped several times...and is married to Frances' fiancé. When the woman is killed, Frances and her beloved are suspected, so they try to stifle a scandal, find a murderer, and clear their names.
For fans of: lighthearted historical mysteries set in England and featuring a bit of romance, like Rhys Bowen's Royal Spyness mysteries, Deanna Raybourn's Lady Julia Grey novels, and Ashley Weaver's Amory Ames books.
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Matrix
by Lauren Groff
Inspired by: the life and works of Marie de France, the pseudonym of a 12th-century French poet, prioress, and literary pioneer known for her works of hagiography, translation, and chivalric romance.
The real Marie? The level of education reflected in her writing has led some historians to conclude that Marie de France was likely related to royalty, with the top candidates being a daughter of King Stephen of England or an illegitimate half-sister of King Henry II of England.
You might also like: Mary Sharratt's Illuminations, about St. Hildegard of Bingen, a German abbess known for her works of theology, medical treatises, musical compositions, and her correspondence with popes, emperors, and other important 12th-century figures.
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These Toxic Things
by Rachel Howzell Hall
Starring: Mickie Lambert, a young Black woman who curates complex augmented reality digital scrapbooks at tech startup Memory Bank and lives with her parents, whom she's very close to, in Los Angeles.
Project gone wrong: After starting a new project for an elderly curio shop owner, Mickie suspects murder when the woman unexpectedly dies. As Mickie snoops around, she discovers that the memory objects the lady gave her have connections to violent crimes. Meanwhile, Mickie's parents are definitely hiding something from her.
Reviewers say: "A mystery/thriller/coming-of-age story you won't be able to put down till the final revelation" (Kirkus Reviews).
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The Guide
by Peter Heller
What it's about: Wilderness guide Jack, who is still mourning the loss of a friend on a previous excursion, takes a job at the Kingfisher Lodge, a rustic retreat for high-end clients. During a seemingly normal river outing, Jack and his celebrity client accidentally uncover a horrifying crime scene, the first thread in a tangled web of small-town secrets.
Read it for: the intricate plotting and lush depiction of nature, which take on an increasingly sinister air as the story progresses.
You might also like: Murder at Sunrise Lake by Christine Feehan; Sleep by C.L. Taylor.
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The Heart Principle
by Helen Hoang
When it rains, it pours: Violinist Anna Sun, struggling with the sudden loss of her musical ability, is further shaken when her boyfriend suggests opening their relationship. Boldly, she takes him up on the offer.
The silver lining: Sexy, tattooed Quan Diep, Anna's intended one-night stand, might just be the supportive partner to help her find her footing again.
Series alert: This moving and thoughtful romance is the 3rd in The Kiss Quotient series.
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| Several People Are Typing by Calvin KasulkeThe setup: PR firm employee Gerald boosts his productivity after his consciousness is uploaded into his company's internal Slack channels. As his reality becomes more absurd, Gerald enlists a co-worker's help to escape -- and to find out what exactly has happened to his body.
Reviewers say: "In this gloriously inventive debut, Kasulke has constructed a funny, tender, and compelling novel that consists entirely of messages on the workplace app Slack" (Booklist).
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The All-Consuming World
by Cassandra Khaw
One last job: The Dirty Dozen, a group of cloned cyborg mercenaries, reunite after a heist gone awry to rescue their missing comrade while evading the AIs that control much of the galaxy.
Read it for: flawed characters, their dysfunctional relationships, and a high-octane plot full of twists and turns, all rendered in visceral prose.
Reviewers say: This "gloriously punk, queer heist story" (NPR) is a "gore-drenched, sci-fi take on Ocean’s Eleven set in a Gibsonesque cyberverse" (Publishers Weekly).
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Under the Whispering Door
by TJ Klune
What it is: a cozy and uplifting contemporary fantasy novel by the author of The House in the Cerulean Sea.
Starring: corporate lawyer Wallace Price, whose death prompts the realization that he hasn't really lived, and ferryman Hugo, who runs Charon's Crossing, a tea shop where departed souls wait to cross over.
For fans of: The Midnight Library by Matt Haig or Daisy Cooper's Rules for Living by Tamsin Keily.
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Shallow Waters
by Anita Kopacz
What it is: a "riveting and heartbreaking" (Publishers Weekly) coming-of-age story that incorporates Yoruba folklore and the history of the African diaspora.
Starring: orisha Yemaya, who falls in love with fisherman Obatala, and -- after he is captured and enslaved -- embarks on a journey across the Atlantic to find him.
For fans of: Rivers Solomon's The Deep or Octavia Butler's Wild Seed.
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Bombshell
by Sarah MacLean
Meet: Lady Sesily Talbot, covertly delivering vigilante justice to Victorian London. But you might already know her as "Sexily," the brazen, unwed 30-year-old constantly courting scandal.
Ballrooms to bar rooms: American Caleb Calhoun knows Sesily's up to something, and he's determined to fight by her side, even if his presence could endanger her.
Did you know? All of author Sarah MacLean's romances take place in a shared universe, where readers can reconnect with favorite characters in familiar locations.
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Friends Like These
by Kimberly McCreight
The premise: Four Vassar alums gather in a Catskills vacation home to stage an intervention for Keith, the fifth member of their friend group, who might lose the art gallery he owns if he doesn't go to rehab.
The problem: An uninvited sixth guest crashes the party, threatening the success of Keith's intervention and dredging up a dark secret that Keith's friends have tried to keep buried for the last ten years.
Read it for: the steadily intensifying pace, beautiful yet claustrophobic setting, and shocking twists you won't see coming.
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Battle Royal: A Novel
by Lucy Parker
Sprinkles on top: When ousted Operation Cake contestant Sylvie Fairchild is invited back to the show as a judge, she hopes the exposure will aid her whimsical bakery's chances to bake for the upcoming royal wedding.
Enter: icy Dominic De Vere, who originally voted Sylvie off the show. Planning his bid for a classic royal wedding cake would be simple, if only he could stop thinking about Sylvie.
Reviewers say: "An utterly delicious romance that's meant to be devoured" (Kirkus Reviews).
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The Dating Playbook
by Farrah Rochon
Trick Play: When reporters spy former NFL star Jamar “Diesel” Dixon with fitness consultant Taylor Powell, the two agree to fake a relationship to keep Jamal's plans for an NFL comeback secret. But can they play by their own rules?
You might also like: sporty romances like Alexa Martin’s Playbook series and Lyssa Kay Adams' Bromance Book Club series.
Series alert: This witty book is the 2nd in The Boyfriend Project series, though it can be read on its own.
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The Magician
by Colm Tóibín
The Mann, the myth...This sweeping, richly detailed biographical novel follows the tumultuous life of German author and Nobel laureate Thomas Mann, chronicling his career, family ups and downs, defiance of the Nazis, and closeted sexuality.
About the author: Colm Tóibín is an Irish novelist, poet, journalist, playwright, and literary critic whose works include the Greek myth retelling House of Names and the Booker Prize-shortlisted Henry James fictional biography The Master.
Reviewers say: The Magician "vibrates with the strength of Mann’s visions and the sublimity of Tóibín’s mellifluous prose" (Publishers Weekly).
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No Gods, No Monsters
by Cadwell Turnbull
Here be monsters: In an event dubbed "the Fracture," supernatural beings come out of the shadows and reveal society to itself.
Read it for: a diverse ensemble cast, a kaleidoscopic narrative that unfolds in linked vignettes, and a powerful meditation on marginalization.
Series alert: This "beautifully fantastical and wondrously mundane" (NPR) work of speculative fiction by the author of The Lesson kicks off the Convergence Saga.
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Dark, Creepy, or Ghostly Reads
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| Universal Harvester by John DarnielleWhat it's about: Jeremy, an employee at a 1990s video rental store, discovers chilling footage that has been captured on one of the store's VHS tapes. Soon he's in over his head with the knowledge of what it contains.
Why you might like it: Film becomes the launching point for a journey into creepy, unconventional horror with a rural noir vibe. |
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| Tuesday Mooney Talks to Ghosts by Kate RacculiaStarring: an eclectic cast of characters, all sent on an inventive treasure hunt across Boston by an unconventional billionaire's final request.
For fans of: literary and pop culture references; ghost stories; inheritance drama; loners; bankers who used to be theater kids; Edgar Allan Poe; cape-wearing gentlemen; scavenger hunts; camp, whimsy, and eccentricity. And, of course, Ellen Raskin's classic kids' book The Westing Game.
Read this next: Ernest Cline's nostalgic sci-fi scavenger hunt Ready Player One. |
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| Moon of the Crusted Snow by Waubgeshig RiceThe situation: Power outages aren't uncommon in this close-knit northern Ontario Anishinaabe community, but this one goes on far too long...and then a food shipment fails to arrive, and a newcomer brings news of chaos in the south.
What happens next: Community relations splinter as the food supply dwindles, the winter gets harsher, and the newcomer fosters discord.
Read it for: the escalating tension, the own voices depiction of Anishinaabe culture, and the realization that the end of the "civilized" world doesn't necessarily mean the end of the world for everyone. |
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| Sorrowland by Rivers SolomonWhat it's about: Fifteen-year-old Vern, a young Black woman fleeing the confines of a religious compound where she has grown up, takes refuge in the nearby forest. There she gives birth to twins -- and her fierce desire to protect them knows no bounds, earthly or otherwise.
Who it's for: fans of speculative fiction with diverse characters and touches of magical realism that turn the sinister dial all the way up.
Try this next: Megan Giddings' Lakewood, another own voices mash-up of speculative fiction, horror, and magical realism.
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| Creatures of Passage by Morowa YejideWhat happens: Taxi driver Nephthys Kinwell ferries passengers around a city resembling 1970s Washington, D.C. in her 1967 Plymouth Belvedere -- which, by the way, has a ghost in the trunk.
Is it for you? Fans of magical realism will enjoy this haunting, bleak story of the Kinwell family, who must unite to save the youngest of their clan. The writing is lyrical and stylistically complex, and a well-developed cast of secondary characters make this an immersive, intense read. |
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Contact your librarian for more great books!
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Morton Grove Public Library
6140 Lincoln Ave
Morton Grove, Illinois 60053
(847) 965-4220www.mgpl.org/ |
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