FICTION
Crow Fair: Stories by Thomas McGuane: Montana is McGuane's terrain,
and this master of the short story form tackles the quirky bonds of friendship
and family with a wry, comic edge and a host of "surprise" endings.
Days of Awe by Lauren Fox: Fox's novel, infused with
wit, centers on a woman's sudden death and how it challenges her best friend to
reassess the meaning of her life, her marriage, motherhood and the possibility
of a second chance at love.
Girl Waits with Gun by Amy Stewart: This imaginative,
historical-based, true-crime novel takes place in Paterson, New Jersey in 1914
and is about three sisters (one of whom was a female sheriff) who took on the
Mob...and all that that entails!
Go Set a Watchman by Harper Lee: If this novel truly reveals
Lee's original intent--before it was rewritten for more commercial, mass appeal
as To Kill a
Mockingbird--then this pared-down story about a woman confronting racial
intolerance and discrimination in her Southern hometown and in her family
shines on its own merit.
Like Family by Paolo Giordano: This short, beautifully
written novel, translated from Italian and inspired by real events from
the author's life, is a gentle, moving story about an older woman who becomes a
nanny and confidante to a family of three and how her presence changes their
lives.
Our Souls at Night by Kent Haruf: It's never too late
to love...In this tender, understated, short novel, aging widowers--who
have known each other for decades, but who live alone and have "no one to
talk to"--form a deep bond of friendship and true intimacy that ultimately
sparks controversy in their small town and amid their families.
Valley Fever by Katherine
Taylor: Taylor delivers a bittersweet, entertaining story about
a heartbroken, disillusioned young woman who returns home to a vineyard in
Fresno, California in order to find herself—and untangle the vines of family
and fortune.
The Woman Who Stole My Life by Marian Keyes: Keyes' distinctive, clever brand of
humor is in top form as her novel traces the life of an Irish beautician who is
transformed by a mysterious illness and a charismatic neurologist who changes
her life.
NONFICTION
Boys in the Trees: A Memoir by Carly Simon: The Queen of Top Forty tells
all about her life from childhood to family secrets, romances and even the
creative inspiration behind her hit, "You're so Vain."
Drinking in America: Our Secret
History by Susan
Cheever:
Cheever presents a riveting, well-conceived and well-balanced portrait about
the history--good and bad--of one of America's favorite pastimes.
A History of Baseball in 100
Objects by Josh
Leventhal: It's like visiting a
well-conceived museum exhibit between the covers of a book...Leventhal
presents a wide-range of interesting artifacts relating to every era of the
game.
The Time of Our Lives: Collected Writings by Peggy
Noonan:
Noonan is a columnist for the Wall Street Journal,
and this collection offers her reflections and impressions of life in the
USA--and beyond--over several decades. Compelling food-for-thought for
Conservatives and Liberals, alike.
BOOK TO WATCH IN 2016
Happy Reading in 2016!