Book Passage All-Star Staff Books Picks!
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Medusa's Pet Rock by Steph LauPoor Medusa has the worst luck with class pets! So finally, the teacher brings in a class pet that she can take care of...a pet rock. This story is both heartfelt AND hilarious, and perfect for anyone who has ever felt like they don't quite fit in. Greek Mythology done in a fresh and fun way! - Amy O'Hanlon BUY THE BOOK |
Our Noble Selves by Kate AtkinsonSet in London in the tumultuous peace of post-WWII, there is danger and intrigue abounding as an ex-journalist, ex-POW finds himself embroiled in a murder mystery. The protagonist is usually the person least in-the-know, and as the spies and the criminals run rings around him, the tension ramps up into an unputdownable climax. Fun, but with an introspective twist that I appreciated. - Amy O'Hanlon BUY THE BOOK |
Ghost Cities by Siang LuAn ambitious novel that accomplishes everything it sets out to do! I was completely engaged from the first page. One moment was hilarious, the next, harrowing. And each turn connected and delved deeper and deeper into the core of the story. Siang Lu does not shy away from big ideas - identity, language, power, truth, he tackles each concept with a deft hand that guided me to revelations that surprised and delighted me, and left me totally satisfied. This was fantastic. - Amy O'Hanlon BUY THE BOOK |
Pirate Queen by Ariel LawhonA compelling story about a fascinating woman that I knew nothing about before reading this. And I'm saying that as someone who has always enjoyed a seafaring adventure! Grace's life is enough of a story to hook anyone, but Ariel Lawhon's deft writing really gave it a sense of wonder that I appreciated. - Amy O'Hanlon BUY THE BOOK |
Taipei Story by R.F. KuangI love all of Rebecca's work, and the subjects that she focuses on are ones that are dear to my heart. Identity. Colonialism. Self-acceptance. I appreciate her ability to create flawed characters that grow and change through the story. This one was tonally very different from her other novels, but the spirit is the same. - Amy O'Hanlon BUY THE BOOK |
MAKE BELIEVE by MAC BARNETT Make Believe is a book for adults about reading to children. It contains essays about the necessity of giving children’s literature the critical attention it deserves, and most importantly, about the importance of acknowledging and respecting childrens’ intelligence and capacity for imagination. Maintaining a funny and casual tone, Barnett makes a compelling argument that not only do kids deserve quality art, but that they are more receptive to literary fiction, and to more experimental story structures, than adults, and the books they read ought to honor that capacity. This doesn’t mean (necessarily) moralizing, pandering or condescending. It doesn’t mean assuming kids are less intelligent, and therefore easier to write for. At a time when there are literally programs that will create kids books with AI, it’s more important than ever for us respect and appreciate the power of imagination, to find the joy in telling stories for the sake of telling stories, and to foster an appreciation of storytelling and its endless capacity for innovation, surprise and delight. - Brian Birmingham BUY THE BOOK |
THE IMAGINED LIFE by ANDREW PORTER The Imagined Life is the first novel I’ve read by Andrew Porter. He’s an exceptional writer whose short stories are among my favorites, and this novel lived up to the high expectations I had going into it. The story follows fifty-year-old Steven Mills searching for answers about his father, who disappeared when Steven was twelve. His father, an enigmatic and charismatic professor, suffered a mental breakdown and disappeared, leaving countless unanswered questions in his wake. The novel follows Steven in the present day, reaching out to family friends and his father’s former colleagues, reconciling the man he thought he knew with all that he uncovers. It’s a slowburn mystery, a subtle psychological thriller, and a prime example of the power of literary fiction. On Steven’s search, his memories are explored alongside his current estrangement from his wife and child, and Porter pulls the reader along with stylish prose and a quiet elegance that deftly explores the ways memory and identity intertwine, combine, and shape the way we view the world, ourselves, and those we think we know. - Brian Birmingham BUY THE BOOK |
PERFECTION by VINCENZO LATRONICO I loved this book. It deftly captures the difficulty of being authentically hip and cool and different in an increasingly homogenized world, all told with the central characters at arm's length, without dialogue. Latronico achieves so much with such economy. A fascinating and masterful work. - Brian Birmingham BUY THE BOOK |
WILD HOUSES by COLIN BARRETT This is one of the most enjoyable reads I’ve encountered in ages. Every sentence works. The story moves swiftly. The characters, my god. It’s funny, it’s dark, it’s honest, and it all feels relatively innocuous until a thematic depth emerges, slowly and subtly, transforming the story into something both strange and wonderful, odd and completely relatable. A small town on the west coast of Ireland, and the characters who inhabit it, suddenly come to feel like people you’ve known all your life. - Brian Birmingham BUY THE BOOK |
London Falling by Patrick Radden Keefe
The pages fly by as the young man's fatal plunge into the Thames at the center of this seemingly straightforward tale is revealed to the reader layer by layer as much more than it seems on the surface. While the enigmatic 19-year-old Zac Brettler becomes more known to us through Patrick Radden Keefe's journalistic eye, we are drawn into the larger world of a great city hollowed out by excessive wealth, an obsession with glamour, and more than a dollop of willing delusion. An addictive read for those who harbor a fascination for history and social mores and how they impact personal, human stories. – Jonathan Spencer BUY THE BOOK |
Contrapposto by Dave Eggers
"A longtime champion of local bookstores, Dave Eggers presents his latest novel, Contrapposto. On the surface, it’s a boy-meets-girl story that follows its evolving characters across years as they collide, drift apart, reconnect, and love as they work through the art of their lives and adulthood. Eggers’ fans will enjoy this novel that spans decades and drops deep-cut, GenX references and accurate Chicagoland details throughout. Eggers captures the Midwestern rites of adolescent passage, incongruous family situations, the brooding art student anguish, and the sensational power of drawing from life. Initially, I thought this belonged in the YA novel genre, but ultimately it finishes as entertaining adult fiction." - Annie McGeady BUY THE BOOK |
Go Gentle by Maria Semple
Go Gentle by Maria Semple made me laugh out loud. Adora Hazzard is a former Hollywood comedy writer turned in-house philosopher who knows what she wants from life. She uses stoicism as her guidepost to achieve her goals while creating a coven of women to populate her floor in her Upper West Side building. If you liked Where’d You Go, Bernadette, this one is for you. – Melissa Silverstein BUY THE BOOK |
Homebound by Portia Elan
It is rare to find a novel with such range and scope; even rarer for all the pieces to fall together so beautifully. Homebound by Portia Elan is a swashbuckling, tender, thoughtful, bold debut. Becks, a burgeoning teenage programmer in the 1980s, follows in the footsteps of her recently deceased uncle by finishing a game whose worlds and stories will ripple across time and space, binding together a wonderful cast of characters. Fans of Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow will be hooked! - Caleb Dagenhart BUY THE BOOK |
A Private Man by Stephanie Sy-Quia
At a family gathering, Adrian is stunned to learn for the first time that his late grandfather, David, had been a Catholic priest. As he cares for his grandmother, Margaret, who is slipping into dementia, he tries to piece together the story of his grandparents' marriage. As a young priest, David is handsome, charismatic, and devout. Margaret is a brilliant and independent young woman with progressive ideas about the church and women's roles. In alternating narratives across decades and continents, we learn how their lives intersect, what drew them to each other, the impossible choice they faced, and the price they paid. A Private Man is inspired by the author's own family history. That the author is a poet is evident on every page of this gorgeously written, thought-provoking novel, which leaves us asking what one is prepared to give up for faith, and love. - Mary Benham BUY THE BOOK |
Pinky Swear by Danielle Girard
With both Mother's Day and the summer reading season approaching, please consider this well-crafted novel, Pinky Swear. This book has all the elements of a perfect story: strong friendship; the sadness of divorce; the heartache and sorrow of not having a baby; betrayal; and deep, dark secrets. Author Danielle Girard asks: How well do we really know our friends, and what lengths will we go to protect our children? Pinky Swear is a fast-paced thriller, a page-turner for sure, with a unique focus on motherhood and pregnancy. All the topics I love in a good book. - Cheryl Bronstein BUY THE BOOK |
Good People by Patmeena Sabit
Good People by Patmeena Sabit is a gripping debut novel about an Afghan family building a life in the United States. Told exclusively through interviews with friends, neighbors and reporters, the story follows the family as their lives begin to unravel. A fascinating exploration of the model immigrant experience, the fragility of success, and how a community can turn on its own. Highly recommend. (Good People was Book Passage's February 2026 Signed First Edition pick!) - Sarah Kennedy BUY THE BOOK |
Yesteryear by Caro Claire Burke
Yesteryear by Caro Claire Burke is a brand new novel getting lots of buzz! It is a fiction thriller about 2 cultural phenomena- a woman who is a Trad Wife and an influencer. Natalie is living her dream life as a ”Traditional Wife” without having to give up the conveniences of the modern world, until she wakes up in the 1800’s. There are several twists, that will keep you engaged throughout! I wasn’t sure what to expect when I read the advanced reader copy given to me by one of our publisher reps, but she hasn’t steered me wrong yet! It is nuanced, compelling, cringey and a great escape read. - Allison Bainbridge BUY THE BOOK |
Brawler by Lauren Groff
Brawler by Lauren Groff is the author's 3rd collection of stunning short stories, and dare I say the best? The fierce stories are about people in crisis. Although the reader may not have experienced the same type of issues and conflict, you will find them relatable because the author has the uncanny ability to write stories that touch you to your core. My only disappointment was that the collection ended too soon. In these times of distraction, a short story may be what someone is looking for to hold their attention. If you do not usually read short stories, this collection will make you a fan of the genre. They leave you satisfied while simultaneously wanting more. – Allison Bainbridge BUY THE BOOK |
The Ferryman and His Wife by Frode Grytten
The Ferryman and His Wife by Frode Grytten is a gentle novel from Norway that celebrates our connections to each other—especially to those we love—even as we prepare to take our last breath. Accompanied by his long-dead dog, Luna, Nils Vik takes off across the fjord on what would be the last scheduled trip of the MB Marta ferry. As soon as he had opened his eyes upon awakening that wintry morning in November, Nils knew the last day of his life had begun. As he picks up one after another now dead neighbor whose life had touched his, he longs to find his wife, his most beloved passenger. - Laurel Kelly BUY THE BOOK |
I Am You by Victoria Redel is a fascinating historical fiction set in the 1600's, depicting the lives of Dutch painter Maria von Oosterwijck and her maid Gerta Peters. Women painters were shunned during this period, and the novel focuses on how these two women made Maria a world-class painter. You can feel the paint, the colors, and every stroke of the brush. The time period is depicted beautifully, and the novel moves at a fast pace. If you like historical fiction, this one is for you! – Deirdre Kidder BUY THE BOOK |
In The Abominable Snow Dancer by Steph Lau, Otto the yeti has a secret...all he wants to do is dance! When he stumbles (literally) upon a dance audition, he realizes that this may just be his chance to accomplish his dreams. But judgmental unicorns and Otto's big stinky feet may put a stop to his new career as a dancer before it can even get started. Featuring friendship! And celebrating our individualities! And really stinky yetis! This is a book that will get even the grumbliest of readers out of their seats and dancing this winter. - Amy O'Hanlon BUY THE BOOK |
Graceless Heart by Isabel Ibañez is a compelling blend of genres, mixing historical fiction with romance and fantasy elements. Set in Renaissance Italy, the story follows a sculptress named Ravenna who enters a competition held by the immortal Luni family. The prize is a boon of the winner's choosing, and Ravenna, desperate to save her brother, uses her secret magical power to win. Revealing her magic makes her an immediate target; she is held captive by the Luni family and forced to unearth magical stones desired by both her captors and the Pope. As the Pope wages war against Florence, the Medici, and magic itself, he views Ravenna as a weapon for his own advantage. Caught in the center of this power struggle, Ravenna must navigate a fine line between survival and certain death. – Vanessa Brennan BUY THE BOOK |
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This is an incredible firsthand account of a helicopter rescue mission after the eruption and destruction of Mt. St. Helens in 1980. Vietnam decorated pilot and soldier, Mike Cairns, flew his rescue helicopter into the darkness and ash to rescue people and animals. It was an extremely dangerous mission. The book contains many photographs never seen before of the devastation, damage, and, unfortunately, the ultimate recovery mission (remains of people who perished). This is an important piece of history, and a must-have for those who remember this volcanic eruption. Netflix is coming out with a film based on Mike's mission this summer. – Cheryl Bronstein AVAILABLE FOR PURCHASE IN-STORE OR OVER THE PHONE |
Adi is an educator and musician who's inadvertently become a hitman, tasked with killing a malignant growth that’s been erasing some of the most vulnerable on remote Santa Flora Island. Following his personal grief and tumult, he’s now a goat killer. “That’s the job”, he recalls when ruminating on the mission given to him by an anonymous Foundation. The troubled yet likable protagonist struggles to complete the task, much less operate the issued gun, and the final scene may surprise readers. This is a perfect choice for those seeking a short but meaty read mixed with survivalist irony. – Annie McGeady BUY THE BOOK |
It amazes me that we all aren’t talking more about Alex Karp. The contradictory, idiosyncratic, controversial, and outspoken CEO of Palantir may very well be central to whatever America is becoming in this 21st century. Thankfully, his hunger for acknowledgement has provided us with this testament to the power of long-form journalism. With intimate access, Michael Steinberger has composed a vivid, deeply observed portrait of a truly unique figure at the center of AI, business, the military industrial complex, and a future based on surveillance. With clear-eyed candor and insight, he probes the psychology and origin of this troubling wunderkind, from his bizarre cadre of Norwegian special forces bodyguards to his high-level dealings with the mechanisms of state. There isn’t another CEO like him in the valley, and it is a gift to have a journalist like Steinberger record the motivations, contradictions, and worldview of someone actively influencing our lived reality for better or worse. – Avram Kosasky BUY THE BOOK |
Many of our customers have remarked, “This is exactly the book that I needed to read right now,” often purchasing multiple copies to share with friends. Theo of Golden by Allen Levi is a feel-good novel and a true phenomenon. Although originally published in 2023, the book has seen a significant resurgence in popularity. Since we began stocking it a few months ago, we have struggled to keep it on the shelves! Theo, an older gentleman, arrives in the town of Golden. He decides to gift 92 pencil-drawn portraits that he discovered in a coffee shop to their “rightful owners". The story demonstrates the power of creative generosity, the importance of wonder to a purposeful life, and the invisible threads of kindness that bind us to one another. – Allison Bainbridge BUY THE BOOK |
I had the honor of meeting Amy Bowers Cordalis earlier this month when she visited Book Passage in Corte Madera to speak about her book The Water Remembers. Her diminutive stature is deceiving—Bowers Cordalis is a formidable powerhouse whose intelligence, resolve, and clarity of purpose come through in both her presence and her prose. In this compelling book, she tells the story of her family’s—and the Yurok Nation’s—long fight to protect their fishing rights and revive the dammed, dying Klamath River in Northern California. Part memoir, part history, and part legal chronicle, The Water Remembers is a deeply thoughtful and inspiring account of what it means to fight for social justice, cultural survival, and environmental restoration. This book gave me genuine hope for the future. Five stars. – Nicole McClung BUY THE BOOK |
The latest Gothic thriller by Rachel Hawkins is set in St. Menard’s Bay, a town known for its hurricanes, the Rosalie Inn, and Lo Bailey. Lo Bailey is infamously known for being accused in 1984 of the murder of her lover, the political golden boy Landon Fitzroy. Decades later, Lo has returned to St. Menard’s Bay with a true crime writer in tow, determined to set the record straight. The Storm is a one-sitting-kind-of-book. Told in multiple POVs, recovered documents, and dual timelines, this book will have you on your toes as you try to piece together what is going on in St. Menard’s Bay. -- Vanessa Brennan BUY THE BOOK |
This gorgeous book is considered to be a Style book, but it is so much more. It is a photographic coffee table book, it is a book on fashion, it is a historic record of a time when many of us saw ourselves reflected in the family that occupied the White House. I respected the Obamas for their political and personal values. They raised their family in a place of great privilege and seemed to insist that their daughters understand exactly how that privilege affected them. The book is a testament to a First Lady who took her place as a role model with utter commitment. Her fashion always reflected what she wanted her look to symbolize for a specific occasion, event, or moment in time. Whether it was wearing jeans in the garden with school children, donning a gown for an inaugural ball, patronizing J Crew, or selecting one of the many American designers who represent the diversity in fashion. Michelle Obama did everything with focused attention, and THE LOOK commemorates her choices. –Allison Bainbridge BUY THE BOOK |
What happens when you mix a tense family drama, AI, and economic power and destruction? You get a great read. A well-crafted story for your reading or book group is Culpability by Bruce Holsinger in which a family of five suffers a horrific car accident. As the story unfolds, the family confronts the excruciating moral dilemmas triggered by the crash. Each family member seems to think they are responsible for the accident—but who is really to blame? This is a suspenseful family drama about moral responsibility in the age of artificial intelligence and was selected as Oprah's Book Club pick back in July! Limited signed copies available. —Cheryl Bronstein BUY THE BOOK |
All the Tomorrows After by Joanne Yi really and truly stole my breath away. Korean teen Winter Moon is almost done with school, and she's counting down the days till she has earned enough money to leave her life behind forever. Living in a tiny apartment with her abusive mom and her sick grandmother, she feels stuck. Stuck and alone. This book covers tough topics including terminal illness and financial insecurity, and it doesn't pull its punches. But from all the hardships that our protagonist faces comes some of the most beautifully written words of hope and of enduring that I have read this year. Perfect for teen readers looking for contemporary fiction that will pull at their heartstrings. —Amy O'Hanlon BUY THE BOOK |
One Yellow Eye by Leigh Radford is a horror story on several fronts. On one face, a zombie apocalypse. On the other hand, a romance that is horrible in its obsession and in its sacrifice of everything else for it. And finally, it is a thriller, with a corrupt government and a mysterious medical team doing ethically dubious experiments in search of a cure... or maybe a weapon. This book was beautifully written, and the grief that the characters feel is palpable and relatable. Kesta is a scientist whose speciality is cancer research, but when she is offered a position at a secret facility to help find a cure for the zombie-like virus that has swept through London, she jumps at the opportunity. Not only is she anxious to save her dying city, she also needs this to work because, unbeknownst to anyone, she's been keeping her zombified husband tied up at home. —Amy O'Hanlon BUY THE BOOK |
At the center of this rich, multilayered novel is an Indian couple forced into an arranged marriage neither of them wants. Janavi is an independent young woman with a job that she loves as a social worker, helping her city's many street children. Sagar, an engineer desperate to escape an unhappy family situation, accepts a job offer to oversee the removal of a dam on the fictional Cotton River in Montana. The couple arrive in America, strangers to each other and to the inhospitable land in which they find themselves. They are met with hostility and prejudice from the locals, but after the suspicious death of a Native American woman at the dam site, they find common cause with the nearby tribal community in seeking the truth about what happened to her. Woven throughout the narrative are haunting tales from Native American and Indian myth. Indian Country explores both the beauty and the dark side of the American West, and what it means to be "the other" in America. —Mary Benham BUY THE BOOK |
In Replaceable You, bestselling science author Mary Roach dives gleefully into the weird and wild world of medical implants and human spare parts, proving once again that science is best served with a side of laughter. From testicle transplants to lab-grown bladders, she explores humanity’s attempts to outwit biology with innovation — and occasionally, pure desperation. One particularly unforgettable highlight? A case where a man’s missing penis was temporarily replaced with his finger. Yes, you heard that right: digital intimacy redefined. If you've ever wondered how close we are to becoming cyborgs — or just want to hear about the latest developments in prosthetic limbs, this is your ticket to the most hilarious and awkward dinner conversation material imaginable. Signed copies available. — Cheryl Bronstein BUY THE BOOK |
Imagine the opioid crisis framed not just by Big Pharma’s recklessness, but by a broken "rehab‑industrial complex" that profits off desperation. In Rehab: An American Scandal, investigative journalist Shoshana Walter shines a light on this neglected side of America’s addiction epidemic. Through multiple gripping true stories that have unexpected endings, Walter exposes how for-profit rehabs and under-regulated sober homes fail the most vulnerable. This book is a call to dismantle a system that preys on addiction. Some signed copies available. — Cheryl Bronstein BUY THE BOOK |
For the past two years, reporter Scott Alan Lucas has dedicated many of his waking hours to deciphering the tragic death of renowned software engineer Bob Lee. His new book — Last Night in San Francisco — is a carefully considered examination of three central subjects: victim Bob Lee, alleged perpetrator Nima Momeni and the wildly inaccurate perceptions about San Francisco their case inspired. Some signed copies available. — Zack Ruskin BUY THE BOOK |
Writing with sober clarity and appropriately cynical humor, acclaimed LitHub columnist Maris Kreizman's latest collection of essays offers a dead-on critique of late capitalism with a personal touch. I Want To Burn This Place Down proves its worth as a topical text for troubling times by drawing on the author's own experiences (read: struggles) as a diabetic and veteran of the publishing industry. Signed copies available. —Zack Ruskin BUY THE BOOK |
Bawdy and fun, The Pretender by Jo Harkin is told with a somewhat satirical voice that is truly unique. The titular Pretender is a young boy raised on a farm who is told one day that he is in truth a secret prince and the heir to the throne of England. As he is swept away into a world of secrets and subterfuge, he is educated and trained in a way befitting a prince, though every step along the way is dogged with betrayal and selfishness. John, as we know him for a time, is a delightful narrator who is in turns hilariously oblivious and surprisingly insightful. This is the War of the Roses from a totally new perspective, perfect for fans of historical fiction, but also anyone who likes novels that are just a little off the beaten path. —Amy O'Hanlon BUY THE BOOK |
Looking for a cozy romantasy set in the afterlife? Try For Whom the Belle Tolls by Jaysea Lynn. Unfortunately, Lily has just died. Now a soul in the Afterlife she is trying to find her place. She has her own personal paradise, but feels that she needs to contribute to the denizens of this new realm. She decides she is going to put her customer service skills to use and opens a Hellp Desk to assist the demons at the gates of Hell. Her Hellp desks gains the attention of the higher ups in Hell, including Lucifer, granting her quite the reputation. This is the perfect read for fans of Assistant to the Villain and for those who love banter, found family, and love! —Jesse Long BUY THE BOOK |
Disappoint Me by Nicola Dinan is a thoroughly engrossing novel that follows two different perspectives in two different timelines. In the present, we follow Max, a trans woman and struggling poet who is finding herself dissatisfied with the queer art scene that defined her twenties and is now trying a monogamous relationship with Vincent, a cis straight Chinese man that is exactly the kind of person her mom has always wanted for her. Conversely, Vincent's chapters are set ten years in the past, when on a trip to Thailand with his best friend, he finds himself in a situation that will cause ripples in his life for years to come. Dinan's characters are rich and vibrant, and as we see this relationship develop in tandem with Vincent's story, the anticipation and foreboding feeling grow into a slow rolling boil that kept me riveted. And throughout, the story asks questions of its audience that have kept me thinking far beyond the end of the book. Who is forgiveness for? Can we ever truly know another person? —Amy O'Hanlon BUY THE BOOK |
From the very first page, this book immerses you in the richly developed lives of its characters. I felt a strong connection to them, almost like they were family, as the narrative spans over 50 years of their experiences. Even as it delves into complex themes such as mental illness and global warming, the story maintains a wonderful thread of humor throughout. Puchner also beautifully portrays the state of Montana, clearly conveying a deep appreciation for its natural beauty. If you enjoy books by Jonathan Franzen, I believe you will find yourself equally captivated by Eric Puchner's Dream State. —Kara Taub BUY THE BOOK |
In Tilt, novelist Emma Pattee delivers with a harrowing tale concerning a young, nine-month pregnant woman who gets trapped in an IKEA store when a devastating earthquake strikes Portland, Oregon. She is able to get out of the rubble but then must face the herculean task of getting home. The book goes back and forth between the present (earthquake devastation) and her past (her love story with her husband, which isn't so happy or stable these days). As she struggles to navigate herself home, she reflects on her disappointing marriage, her frustrating career, and her anxiety about having a baby. Tilt is a page-turner with tons of heart. —Cheryl Bronstein BUY THE BOOK |
At the age of 24, a young David Sheff reached out to everyone he knew in the music industry to try and secure an interview with John Lennon. His tenacity paid off, as his request landed in the lap of Yoko Ono. Author David Sheff spent three weeks interviewing Lennon and Ono and this professional relationship turned into a lifelong friendship. Decades later, Sheff has written a poignant and compelling biography of Yoko Ono. And there is no one better than David Sheff (author of Beautiful Boy) to masterfully uncover her profound pain, trauma, and resilience. This biography dispels many of the preconceived notions and confusion about Yoko Ono as it reveals the great love story between John and Yoko. Yoko: A Biography is one of the best books for spring and Book Passage has signed copies! —Cheryl Bronstein BUY THE BOOK |
Wild Dark Shore by Charlotte McConaghy is a riveting family story set against menacing climate change in the Southern Ocean. Characters display depth and complexity as they struggle with their emotional and physical survival while the plot twists and turns within a fascinating botanical and zoological ecosystem. —Barb Biancalana BUY THE BOOK |
Richard Powers fans will appreciate some of his signature traits on display in Playground: interwoven, multilayered plots and characters that span time and locations, the focus on nature and environmental destruction (this time, the ocean), and how humans struggle to connect. Don’t be deterred by the first half of the book, which can feel heavy-handed and has characters that sometimes read like caricatures. That all pays off in the end, when the themes of play, games, competition, technology, creation, power, mortality, friendship, and art all come together in an unexpected ending and leave the reader feeling like they were key pieces in this novel/puzzle. Even though the reader gets played, I didn’t feel manipulated. It was wild and simultaneously troubling to participate in some of the same themes and struggles of the book, and it leaves you with much to consider. —Simone Scott BUY THE BOOK |
In O Sinners! by Nicole Cuffy, a movement has sprung up in the California Redwoods. A young journalist named Faruq, fresh off personal loss and casting about for a new story, leaves his East Coast home to investigate. Promoting messages of freedom and love, the cult has drawn in many beautiful people from wealthy backgrounds. Interweaving narratives which explore the cult leader's past in the Vietnam War and an ugly incident in Texas add mystery and richness to the philosophical yet propulsive writing. —Caleb Dagenhart BUY THE BOOK |
Edited by John Brehm, The Poetry of Impermanence, Mindfulness, and Joy is the perfect collection for wintery, wind-blown nights, with featured poems such as "Shoveling Snow with Buddha" by Billy Collins and Wallace Stevens' "The Snow Man." I'm still making my way through all the poems, but hey: it's not a race. I'll do it all over again and again for these treasures. — Annie McGeady BUY THE BOOK |
Isola by Allegra Goodman is a novel of adventure and redemption and a story of a woman coming into her own. Though it is based on a true account of a woman in France in the 16th century, the themes resonate today. It is filled with paradoxes as Marguerite is born into wealth, but is left orphaned and does not control any of her assets. Essentially, she is marooned on an island for loving the wrong man, and has to learn how to survive. For readers who liked The Frozen River as I did, you will enjoy Isola. —Allison Bainbridge BUY THE BOOK |
Good Dirt by Charmaine Wilkerson deftly combines a compelling contemporary story with the rich history of a Black family living in a posh Connecticut community. The focus is on 20-something Ebby, who, at the age of 10, witnessed her big brother being shot and killed by intruders looking for a valuable family heirloom. The crime, which garnered national attention, was never solved, and Ebby and her parents still feel and are individually dealing with the impact nearly 20 years later — Paula Farmer BUY THE BOOK |
In A House for Miss Pauline, Diana McCaulay explores the complex legacy of colonialism and slavery in Jamaica through the life of 99-year-old Pauline Sinclair. Miss Pauline has lived her entire life in a small rural village, surrounded by a close and caring community. She has survived hurricanes, floods, and earthquakes. As she approaches her 100th birthday, she must confront her own tangled family tree and put to rest a dark secret that has haunted her for decades. I loved Miss Pauline: her strength, her compassion, her fierce intelligence and native wisdom. Infused with the sights, sounds, and patois of Jamaica, this is a moving and lyrical portrait of an island, its people, and an unforgettable heroine. — Mary Benham BUY THE BOOK |
It’s 1933 in Berlin, and Hitler has just been appointed German Chancellor. Many people are on edge, and none more so than the main character of this book: Eva Schmidt. Eva is an attractive young entertainer who has drawn the attention of Magda Goebbels and others in the circle of Joseph Goebbels, the propaganda minister for the new Third Reich. She is absorbed into their circle, fearful of resisting and guilt-ridden by the benefits it seems to offer. Her concern? Eva is an orphan, and her Jewish parentage is unknown to anyone. She fears for her safety if those in the Goebbels-circle find out, while at the same time feeling guilty about the other Jews she knows who don’t have the benefit of her thin veil of protection. This riveting tale is written in masterful style. — Bill Petrocelli BUY THE BOOK |
Good Girl by Aria Aber is a touching and poignant novel about a 19-year-old trying to navigate the complexities of life and the guilt of leaving her immigrant family and their hard set traditions behind. There is the tug and pull of family expectations, and the desire to be independent and fit in with her peers. She pursues risky behavior out of trying to be accepted and the shame she feels for her unsophisticated family. Can she make peace with her identity and find solidarity and pride, so she can move forward? A very universal story and one written with grace and honesty. Great recommendation for book groups! — Cheryl Bronstein BUY THE BOOK |
I may not be smart enough to "really" get Rachel Kushner, but what I do understand goes straight to the heart. Creation Lake is irreverent, witty, and serious like a wooden roller coaster. —Annie McGeady BUY THE BOOK |
Martyr by Kaveh Akbar is a funny and complex novel written by a poet. The protagonist, Cyrus, is an adult orphan searching for existential meaning, exploring notions of life and death, and learning his truth and personal identity. This was a Book Passage First Edition Pick in 2024. —Annie McGeady BUY THE BOOK |
I read this beautifully crafted epic novel last month, and I have been recommending it ever since! There Are Rivers in the Sky by Elif Shafak is written poetically and lyrically. It addresses the topics of ecology, persecution, and memory by taking you through the lives of the three main characters (four if you count the same drop of water which appears throughout the novel). It spans from the Tigris to the Thames, from antiquity to the 19th century to today. Recommended for anyone who enjoys Abraham Verghese, Barbara Kingsolver and Amor Towles. —Allison Bainbridge BUY THE BOOK |
In I Heard There Was A Secret Chord, author Daniel Levitin explores the power of music to cure and heal such devastating illnesses as Parkinson's disease and other neurodegenerative diseases. Levitin is not just a scientist, and this book is not just research. He is also an award-winning musician and composer. The book is filled with interviews with popular musicians, from Sting to Kent Nagano and Mari Kodama. There is also a touching interview with his good friend Joni Mitchell, who suffered a brain aneurysm. The book makes a strong case for why music has been and remains a powerful medicine for all of us. —Cheryl Bronstein BUY THE BOOK |
The Message by Ta-Nehisi Coates is a work that invites readers to dig deeper, look longer, and hold multiple perspectives that otherwise may not have been considered. That is the profound power of a great writer and book. —Annie McGeady BUY THE BOOK |
The first installment in Neal Stephenson’s Bomb Light cycle, Polostan, follows the early life of the enigmatic Dawn Rae Bjornberg, affiliate of cowboy anarchists, Russian Leninists, and dreamy physicists at the dawn of the Atomic Age in the early 20th century. There are hot air balloons. There are Tommy guns. There's international espionage. There's the patented range of characters, stories, and all of the wonderful Neal Stephenson details that enlighten and entertain us across all of his works. What's not to love? A limited number of copies hand signed by the author are available! — Caleb Dagenhart BUY THE BOOK |
I have been a fan of Nicholas Meyer’s turns as “editor” of the lost manuscripts of Dr. John H. Watson since 1974 when my parents had the good sense to gift me “The Seven-Percent Solution,” which took my young admiration for Sherlock Holmes to a new level. Fifty years later, Meyer has treated us with a new piece of Watsoniana: Sherlock Holmes and the Telegram from Hell. This heretofore untold tale of a turning point in the Great War as experienced by the Great Detective and his constant companion is a delight for fans of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and the classic Holmes canon. It's a page-turning story of international intrigue, stirring action, and vivid portraits of the historical luminaries these aging old friends encounter in their adventures. Thrilling, witty, and at times poignant, you’ll revel in this globe-hopping mystery … and maybe learn a bit about a certain telegram that almost changed the world in 1916. — Jonathan Spencer BUY THE BOOK |
