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Fiction A to Z October 2020
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Monogamy
by Sue Miller
Summary: Derailed by the sudden passing of her husband of 30 years, an artist on the brink of a gallery opening struggles to pick up the pieces of her life before discovering harrowing evidence of her husband’s affair.
Bestselling Author of: The Senator's Wife, The Arsonist and The Good Mother.
Similar Authors: Elizabeth Strout, Anna Quindlen and Anita Shreve.
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The Lions of Fifth Avenue
by Fiona Davis
What happens: A New York Public Library superintendent’s wife reevaluates her priorities upon joining a woman’s suffrage group in 1913, decades before her granddaughter’s efforts to save an exhibit expose tragic family secrets.
"A page-turner for booklovers everywhere! . . . A story of family ties, their lost dreams, and the redemption that comes from discovering truth."--Adriana Trigiani, bestselling author of The Shoemaker's Wife.
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| Leonard and Hungry Paul by Rónán HessionStarring: Leonard and Hungry Paul, two kind, gentle, self-aware friends in their thirties who still live with their parents and who struggle to understand why others expect more from them.
What happens: The death of Leonard's mother and the impending marriage of Hungry Paul's sister force change upon the two, who take small steps to engage more with the world around them.
Read it if: you just want a little more kindness in the world. |
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| Crossings by Alex LandraginWhat it is: a nonlinear tale in three parts; you can read it in order, or follow instructions to jump around.
What you might find: a lost story by Baudelaire; Coco Chanel; remote Pacific islands; the transmigration of human consciousness into another body; a "seductive literary romp" (Publishers Weekly).
Read it if: you liked the literary puzzle of David Mitchell's Cloud Atlas, Martin Seay's The Mirror Thief, or even Stuart Turton's The 7 1/2 Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle. |
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The Vanishing Half
by Brit Bennett
Featuring: twin sisters Stella and Desiree, who last saw each other as teenagers when they fled the Louisiana hometown where their father had been lynched.
Over the years: Stella has built a life for herself in which everyone, including her husband, believes her to be white; Desiree is the mother of a daughter so dark-skinned the hometown gossips stare.
Why you should read it: Spanning decades (from the 1940s to the 1990s), this is a compassionately drawn tale of family, colorism, and identity.
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| Sweet Sorrow by David NichollsStarring: Charlie, approaching middle age and looking back on a memorable teenage summer spent exploring amateur theater (not an interest of his) in order to get closer to the captivating Fran.
Why you might like it: British bestseller David Nicholls is known for his humor and insight, which is very much on display in this coming-of-age story, which features personable characters and sparking dialogue.
Reviewers say: "a rewarding, romantic read" (Booklist). |
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| The Terranauts by T.C. BoyleWelcome to: a self-sustaining, totally enclosed space colony prototype in the Arizona desert, where eight people will live and work for two full years of physical hardships, emotional betrayals, and other complications.
For fans of: unusual workplaces, unique settings, and complex social settings. For a chillier locale, try Ashley Shelby's South Pole Station.
Based on real events: the prototype was real; if you're interested in learning more, try the documentary Spaceship Earth, which was released in May. |
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| If I Had Your Face by Frances ChaSet in: a Seoul apartment building that's home to four young women trying to navigate a society that holds them to unattainable standards of beauty.
Read it for: an enlightening if heartbreaking view of sexism at work in South Korea; an exploration of the way that women's roles are changing; an understanding of how beauty impacts status; a chatty, engaging writing style.
Want a taste? "About half of our school got their eyes done there that year because the teacher offered us a 50 percent discount." |
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| The Big Finish by Brooke FosseyHome is: an assisted living facility for curmudgeonly senior Duffy Sinclair and his best friend Carl. But their semi-independent lives are under threat by the profit-minded owner, who'd take any excuse to kick them out.
What happens: Carl's estranged granddaughter climbs through the window one night, bringing with her a host of troubles -- and maybe a reason for Duffy and Carl to fight for what matters.
For fans of: Fredrik Backman's A Man Called Ove. |
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| The Dutch House by Ann PatchettThe family home: a stately mansion known as the Dutch House, from which Danny and Maeve are banned by their stepmother after their father's early death.
What it is: a family saga spanning 50 years, narrated by Danny and full of astute observations on human nature.
For fans of: complex family relationships, such as those in CJ Hauser's Family of Origin or Ann Packer's The Children's Crusade. |
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Contact your librarian for more great books!
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