"The Lucious Lyon I knew would tell those idiots the streets ain't made for everybody -- that's why they made sidewalks." ~ Cookie Lyon, Empire (Season One) |
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| Eleanor: A Novel by Jason GurleyOriginally self-published in 2014, this novel casts a spell from the very beginning. When Eleanor was six, her twin sister was killed, shattering her family. At 14, Eleanor starts being pulled out of time, thrust into other worlds she doesn't recognize. In one, she's considered a threat, in another she provokes powerful curiosity. Years pass, and slowly the connections between these worlds and her family's history are uncovered. Though Eleanor has survived more tragedy than anyone should have to endure, she remains a likeable character; resonant language and surprising turns of plot make this a good choice for readers of literary fiction and fantasy alike. |
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| The Past by Tessa HadleyIt's during a hot English summer that four adult siblings come together in their family's country house for what is possibly the last time. Their parents (and the grandparents who raised them) are gone, and though the dilapidated estate is full of memories, it may be time to sell it. Like many novels in which family reunions in close quarters bring uncomfortable memories and resentments to the surface, The Past is not particularly plot-oriented; instead, it's the characters that captivate, whether it's the adult siblings or the children (and teenagers) they've brought along. |
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| The Illegal: A Novel by Lawrence HillKeita Ali is a gifted runner who is forced to flee his home country when his father is killed for criticizing their repressive government. In his new home, he is an undocumented immigrant, subject to both racism and exploitation. To earn money to ransom his sister, kidnapped by the authorities, Keita races for prize money under an assumed name. Written with compassion and clearly depicting the desperation of refugees, this novel (which is set in fictional countries) offers an "intricate, propulsive" story (Publishers Weekly), and will likely appeal to Naomi Benaron's more traditional tale of politics and top-level athleticism, Running the Rift. |
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| Mr. Splitfoot by Samantha HuntIn alternating chapters, this Gothic-tinged novel offers two separate narratives occurring at different points in time. Decades ago in a cult-like religious orphanage, teens Ruth and Nat speak to the dead; a con man convinces them to use these skills to make money. In the present, Ruth's pregnant niece, Cora, follows a mute, enigmatic Ruth (whom she hasn't seen in 14 years) on foot across New York State. Religious fanaticism, spiritualism, and fraud all tumble around in this fantastical novel, which defies genre boundaries and trades in wry, sometimes absurdist humor. |
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| Goldberg Variations: A Novel by Susan IsaacsAs in Empire, this novel centers around a successful family business...and who will control it in the absence of its creator. In this case, however, no one wants anything to do with imperious Gloria Goldberg or her multi-million dollar beauty makeover empire. She's permanently alienated her business partner, and has moved on to demanding that the three grandchildren she has long ignored compete to inherit Glory, Inc. Unsurprisingly, they reject her...at least at first. Though narcissistic Gloria is totally unlikable, the references to King Lear and sharp observations of familial relationships may appeal to fans of Empire. |
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| I'd Rather Be with You by Mary B. MorrisonDo you love Empire for the guns-blazing, take-no-prisoners style of Cookie Lyon? Check out I'd Rather Be with You, the 2nd in Mary B. Morrison's If I Can't Have You series. Like Cookie, the women in this novel take what they want, make difficult decisions when necessary, and don't always play by the rules. Told by two women vying for the same man, this novel also features unpredictable male characters...and lots of drama. (Be warned that foul language abounds). |
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| The Godfather by Mario PuzoWhen the creators of Empire were first pitching their show, they referred to it as King Lear meets The Godfather, set in the world of hip-hop. It's easy to see why: in all three stories a larger-than-life father is handing down his business and his legacy to his adult children. Of course, in The Godfather, the family business happens to be organized crime, not music. If the backbiting and manipulation, family squabbles, treachery, and outrageous demands of Empire appeal to you, give this book (or its film version) and its sequels a try.
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| The Family Business by Carl Weber and Eric PeteL.C. Duncan runs a thriving car dealership chain, but he's thinking about retirement. When he selects his hard-working son Orlando to take over, not only does that rile up Orlando's siblings, it has repercussions farther afield. Because not only does L.C. sell cars, he and other members of his family are mixed up in other, less savory pursuits. The Family Business, which is the 1st in a trilogy by Carl Weber and his coauthor Eric Pete, offers plenty of drama, lots of sex, and enough power struggles and betrayals to keep Empire fans entertained.
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Contact your librarian for more great books!
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