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Some of our staff's current favorite picks. Give us a call at (925) 837-7337 for more recommendations!
In celebration of International Women's Day in March 2021, we offered some great suggestions. That list is HERE.
Michael Recommends
Michael Recommends
Michael Recommends
In Transcription, Kate Atkinson brings the past of mid-20th-century Britian so thoroughly to life that she almost seems to be reporting rather than inventing. Her details are so rich and her hand so certain that, as readers, we are there — we are walking those streets, sitting in those smoky rooms. And, most of all, we are completely caught up in the emotional power of the tensions and fears of that past. With Juliet Armstrong, Atkinson has given us a remarkable addition to the canon of British spies. -- Michael
No me extrañes corazón, que regreso en el camión
“Do not miss me, sweetheart, I’ll be back by bus” (p. 112)
Silvia Moreno-Garcia’s novel Mexican Gothic embraces classic gothic-horror. Noemí travels to visit her cousin Catalina, who has become ill after moving into her husband’s family estate. We are introduced to the Doyle family, English natives, who occupy High Place. There is Catalina’s husband Virgil and his father Howard who run the estate. Also living in the old home is Virgil’s sister Florence and her son Francis, who has a passion for mycology and befriends Noemí. Noemí struggles to understand the family’s mysterious dark past and even more mysterious home, which seems to be sentient. Moreno-Garcia has a mastery of imagery in this novel. It is romantic, suspenseful, and creepy. It kept me engaged until the very end. -- Anastasia
Mira Jacob gives answers to questions her 6 year old asks her about family, race, class, and culture. These questions launched Jacobs into remembering her own past- her experiences of being a first generation Indian-American, her sexulaity, and the aftermath of being a person of color living in NYC after 9/11. This memoir is an honest discussion and examples of the experiences BIPOCs face. -- Anastasia
A collection of unique short stories by a debut author, taking place in Denver, Colorado each with a strong female voice. Each story is thought provoking, exploring the themes of abandonment, family, culture, and growing up. You will become invested in the characters and their stories. -- Anastasia
A new kind of romance series taken from the male’s point of view. Forming a super secret book club, a group of guys read romance novels to become better boyfriends and husbands. Funny, charming, and tackling real relationship issues. -- Anastasia
Anastasia Recommends
Crazy Stupid Bromance is the third instalment in the Bromance Book Club series. Alexis’s life has been a bit crazy lately. She owns her own cat café, which has become a meeting ground for woman who have experienced sexual harassment, and uncovers a family secret. She also is in love with her best friend, Noah. Noah is also in love with Alexis and reluctantly receives help from the Bromance Book Club. Adams delivers a funny romantic novel that also touches on major issues- the after effect of speaking out about sexual harassment, forgiveness, compassion, and trust. -- Anastasia
Georgie wants to be taken seriously by her family as an independent business owner. Travis is an early retired MLB player who needs a wholesome image in order to start a new career. Can these childhood friends help each other, without actually falling for one another? -- Anastasia
Rosie and Dominic are high school sweethearts, who have hit a rough patch. Dominic expresses himself through actions and feels like he is failing his wife. Rosie wants to grow more as a couple and as an individual. As a last resort they decide to give marriage boot camp a shot. -- Anastasia
Bethany Castle is ready to make some big changes in her life. Working for her family’s real estate business as a designer, she wants to branch off and do the heavy lifting in her own home renovation flip. She finds unlikely help from Wes Daniels, a friend of her brother and someone who pushes all her buttons. This book is all about taking risks and opening up to the possibilities that life throws at you. -- Anastasia
Even if you know your Civil Rights history, READ THIS BOOK! In a highly readable and extremely coherent way, Wilkerson lays out the roots of oppression in our country. The comparison to India’s more blatant caste system and Nazi Germany felt like a paradigm shift. -- Susan
Deeply moving, beautifully written story of a Ghanaian family in Alabama. Gifty, a neuroscience student at Stanford, is trying to help her suicidal mother move past family tragedies. -- Susan
Gorgeous, haunting writing. A Nigerian - Indian couple learns more about their young adult son after his unexpected death, upending their sense of tradition and laying bare their family secrets. -- Susan
Highly entertaining comedy with heart about a crime that never happened. Backman at his best. -- Susan
My favorite Ferrante yet! Her trademark deep dive into female friendships, dysfunctional families, set in Naples. Immersive and fast paced. -- Susan
You’ll never forget 14 year old Lacey May as she searches for her missing mom and questions everything in her inequitable, insular world. Set outside Fresno in a community led by a charismatic pastor and suffering from an extended drought. -- Susan
Completely fresh, totally engaging, wildly original, I’ve never read anything like this. Twelve black British women’s lives are interconnected, over the course of one night and 100 years. So many juicy nuggets to discuss and mull over make it perfect for book groups. -- Susan
Winner of 2020 Pulitzer Prize for fiction. Based on the true story of a reform school for boys in the Jim Crow South. Intense and grim and un-put-downable. -- Susan
Complete page turner! The power of money, and art, and TV talking heads, and conspiracy theories. -- Susan
Ellen Recommends
Ellen Recommends
Ellen Recommends
