Staff Suggestions New in Hardcover

If you want to read astonishing writing about off-beat folks, John Irving is your man. Presented here is 50 years in the life of Billy, who struggles and eventually settles in with his sexual identity. A marvelous cast of characters and some of Irving's typical themes (boarding school, wrestling, sex, death, cross-dressing, etc.) make this an engrossing coming of age story and beyond. ~ Julie

Once upon a time in the 1980s and '90s, before there was ESPN, HBO, Mad Men, Snooki, and the Kardashians, there were three main TV networks. Imagine! Even if you don't remember this era, chances are someone you know spent a lot of hours watching "must see TV" on NBC. How else could they quote every line from Seinfeld, want to hang out, "where everybody knows your name," think Friends were their real friends, or prefer George Clooney as an ER doc? This is a must read for any fan if television and pop culture, whether then or now. ~ Peggy

The setting, 1945 Istanbul, is like a character of the novel itself with its decaying waterfront, bustling marketplaces, and opulent residences. It lends itself beautifully to this complex and very exotic spy novel. The author is masterful at keeping you guessing at every turn, as he provides twist and thrills that will have you at the edge of your seat until the very last page. Truly excellent. ~ Mary

Next to the airport in Mumbai is a slum - a gathering of the poor in makeshift shelter that has become permanent, with a hierarchy all its own. There are few happy endings here, but a lot of truth. Huge food for thought about humanity and what that means. ~ Nancy

Sometimes as we seek to learn and be enlightened, we must trust the author enough to take us on a journey where very bad things happen, often to innocent beings. A first-time novelist would be brave enough to take us there, as they would have nothing to lose. Such is the case here, where we meet Rory Dawn Hendrik, the third generation product of women defined by the "Calle," the trailer park in Nevada where they live. In the span of time you come to know Rory, from six to sixteen, you will realize that she is very special and the "Calle," despite its awful efforts, cannot and will not hold her back. If you want to "feel something" when you're reading a novel, read this. ~ Peggy

This book made me ponder, why does war, like love, inspire such breath taking prose? Probably because the deepest emotions rise to the surface and the exposure of feelings is so raw you want to turn away, but you can't. If you love authors like Cormac McCarthy, you will appreciate the beautiful violence and the full spectrum of mankind depicted in this electrifying novel. ~ Mary

Cheryl grew up a wild child with hippie parents; free love and plenty of drugs at her disposal. But her mother's death causes her to turn inward and seek answers and redemption on the Pacific Crest Trail. Here is the female answer to Bill Bryson's A Walk in The Woods, and Cheryl, with all her inexperience, is more than up to the task. ~ Mary

100 years later, the sinking of the Titanic still fascinates. In The Dressmaker, we meet Tess, sailing to maker her way to America. While we are treated to on-board flirtation à la Downton Abbey, the story focuses on the aftermath of the disaster; the survivors and choices they make that haunt them.

The story seemed unlikely to me--a young English lecturer diagnosed with Huntington's disease, and a Russian chess prodigy now running against Putin, with each trying to save the other. Set in St Petersburg and in Cambridge, with a dose of Russian bureaucrats, and a speckling of Russian revolutionaries, DuBois delivers prose that manages to be both brainy and beautiful, which captured me from the very start. I unexpectedly adored this wonderful book. ~ Roxanne

Without question, this is one of the BEST books I've ever read! You needn't have read The Iliad, or Homer, or any classics for that matter to devour this beautifully written, historical novel. The author skillfully embraces you and takes you back to ancient times. So successful is she that you will feel the dust on your feet, saltwater in your hair, and taste the figs and olives in your mouth. You will experience the joy of love and the heartbreak of war. ~ Peggy

I was deeply moved by the journeys over 25 years of the characters in this remarkable novel. A tragic accident after a wedding reception influences those involved for many years to come. Everyone will be able to recognize themselves and others in the varying ways and degrees in which they survive. ~ Julie

When 20 seconds of trading can net you several million dollars, the pace is set for this outstanding action thriller set on Wall Street. Silas Cade needs every skill he learned in the military plus a great array of helpful characters. Bourne Identity and Lee Child fans, check this out! ~ Jamie

Ron Rash is the master of dark, complicated, and emotionally charged stories (see, e.g., Serena--one of my all-time favorites), and The Cove is no exception. Laurel's life as an outcast in the Cove changes dramatically when she discovers a stranger playing a flute in the woods, and for the first time, she can imagine a future full of possibility, far from the shadows of her birthplace. It's beautiful and haunting, and ultimately, uplifting. ~ Kathryn

This is not a novel that will leave you untouched. It starts softly, almost innocently, but boy does it carry a big stick. It's about family and religion and evil and hope. And it is worth every second of the time you spend reading it. ~ Kathryn

A devoted mom rescues her teenage daughter from a fire that destroys a private school in England, but both end up in the hospital with devastating injuries. In a fascinating twist on convention, they prowl the hospital and investigate the arson suspects, while experiencing out-of-body consciousness. They are only able to communicate with one another. They narrate their triumphs and frustrations as police and family members collect clues, reach dead-ends, and draw ever closer to the taut and heart-wrenching climax. Intelligent and fast-paced. Just right for fans of The Lovely Bones. ~ Mary