Laura G Recommends
Karen Russell is, in my humble opinion the reigning queen of magic realism. Her short stories are each masterpieces in their own right : achingly familiar and yet highly peculiar. Altogether they are absolutely enchanting!
This is a stunning novel with quiet, powerful prose to take your breath away. Sopinka flawlessly inhabits the rich inner world of her protagonist. Powerful in a soft way.
This novel takes place in a town that can only be described as "curmudgeonly." Its host of characters ranges in both age and species. Over the course of an evening the sleepy town descends into chaos. Full of a distinctively Eastern European brand of magical realism, this is an enchanting fireside tale.
A postmodern fairytale, dark and enchanting in its simplicity. Set in a crumbling cultural period, this book shows a child’s perspective of an idyllic life during a tumultuous moment in history. Each vignette is an exploration of family, identity, and the loss of innocence.
This French bestseller translates beautifully into a double narrative: one voice young and disillusioned with her bourgeois world, the other old and radiant, yet masked by humble origins. A gently sardonic and bittersweet exploration of philosophy, love, and art. It will remain in your mind long after you’ve turned the last page.
“The circus arrives without warning,” and in a similar manner this book invites you into its world. Rarely are books such an absolute feast – for the senses and the imagination. And I envy you that you are about to read The Night Circus for the first time. Savor it!
Pond is a complete and utter escape on par with a certain other Irish writer’s masterpiece. Contemplative, rich, and an absolute delight – pure aesthetic pleasure.
In 1666 a blind astronomer makes a prediction that at the stroke of noon on June 30th of that year a solar eclipse will cast all of Europe into darkness for four seconds. Is he mad or a visionary? Sachs brings a unique comic and philosophical sense to his debut novel, an intricate fable about understanding ourselves and the world. Perfect for fans of Mark Haber!
A sly beast of a novel, this gothic tale will entrance you! Hypnotic prose, an unreliable narrator, and a spiraling story with no foreseeable end make this book truly haunting. Perfect for a crisp October night!
Reinhardt's Garden is such a small book, and yet, like a tropical jungle, filled with hidden jewels. Join the narcissistic, cocaine-addict Jacov Reinhardt and his poor, hapless scribe as they search halfway across the world for Reinhardt's lost hero. Haber spins a fascinating tale with writing that gives no quarter to gristle. Ultimately this is a darkly satirical, melancholic journey into Reinhardt's very own heart of darkness.
Never have I read a book that so eloquently captures what my own heart cannot put into words. Paper Houses is a spinning coin of vulnerability, showing the fear and desire for human connection one moment and flipping to create boundaries the next. Fortier's vision of Emily Dickinson is luminous and loving and her understanding of the poet's soul shines through each page. This is a fearless exploration of self, isolation, and the painful hope and hunger for love.
Creatures is an ocean tide, enticing the reader then begging them to give chase. Van Meter explores the depths of human pain; the sharp sting of grief and burning despair of loneliness. Inextricably tied to place, this book uncovers a darkly glittering world both above and beneath the waves. Winter Island is a fog coated land unto itself populated by humans who can't help but betray each others' love. Driven by emotion, Van Meter has written a stunning, tactile book. I half expected to taste the sea salt on the page.
Gala is a Cuban literary star, radically combining both fantasy and realism in her English-language debut. The Black Cathedral is a haunting, twisted tale driven by a chorus of dubious narrators. Each voice adds complexity to a story growing as quickly and haphazardly as the cathedral at the center of the plot. At its heart, The Black Cathedral is a tale of race, religion, and fate. The prose are darkly comedic, painting modern Cuban life with a gritty, no holds-barred brush.
Millwood has created a sinister, obsessive parable set in a harsh, arctic Norwegian town in 1617. The Mercies is utterly hypnotic, creating a humble and stark atmosphere strung through with tension and hidden rage. Beguiling and haunting, this is a tale of community, witches, and love in a punishing world.
Sharks in the Time of Saviors is a raw, glorious debut combining ancient gods and modern realities. Kawai Strong Washburn is a lyrical genius, weaving a strange story of family, heritage, and the bonds of grief. Washburn's Hawai'i seeps off the pages; warm, dangerous, and full of mystery.
Hilarious, fierce, and so satisfying, We Ride Upon Sticks is the story of a women's field hockey team that turns to witchcraft to win the state finals. Barry weaves an unforgettable tale rooted in the history of the New England witch trials and 80's nostalgia. This is the feminist/occult mashup you didn't know you needed.
Vadnais has created an intoxicating vision of the end times - luscious and lovingly rendered in sparkling prose. Fauna is a terrifying reminder of the power of Mother Nature. Nothing stays buried forever and, like an ouroboros, our world is a constant cycle of tender life and ferocious death.
Perfect for fans of Kieran Millwood Hargrave's THE MERCIES, this Norwegian bestseller is an atmospheric-lover's dream. Set in the secluded village of Butangen in 1880, THE BELL IN THE LAKE chronicles its residents' lives, all centered around a 700 year old church and its mystical bells. Mytting effortlessly captures the push and pull between history and modernity, stringing his story with tension and moments of rare beauty. This novel is achingly real, as if one could step into the pages and find themselves looking up at the towering wooden staves.
Disturbingly timely, The Animals In That Country chronicles the journey of one no-bullshit woman and her half-wild dingo as they race against a deadly pandemic. Jean is brilliantly crafted - unapologetically rough and yet filled with hidden vulnerability. McKay's tale pulled me in with its entertaining nature then dragged me under with its profound nuance.
Eartheater is a visceral and surreal tale of one woman's compulsion to eat dirt and the visions of death it brings. Reyes' characters are nuanced and emotionally resonant, their familial ties the beating heart of this story. Ultimately this is a magic realist tale of lost women and those that search to bring them home.
Striking and visceral, Rabbit Island is a surreal masterpiece. Each story surprises with its enticing balance of the grotesque and the mundane. Navarro's latest work is truly one to be savored.
Arnott's latest is mythical and intense. The story reads like a heavy storm rolling over the hills - all-encompassing and powerful. Ren and Zoe are diametrically opposed forces carrying the story to an epic conclusion. This is magic realism and dystopia at its best!
Hur's tale is brutal and haunting, bringing a feminist perspective to generational trauma and internalized racism. While the locales are stunning (Antarctica, Scandinavia, and a Korean Spa), Elsa Park is the beating heart of this story. Watching her come into her own is an achingly vulnerable affair that will resonate strongly with women everywhere.
Mohamed Kheir's English language debut is pure atmosphere, inhabited by characters caught in the web of fate, tragedy, and the Arab Spring. It's a stunning feat of craft, creating seemingly disjointed pocket universes tied together by human beings and the haunting remnants of their long-lost connections. Slipping is a book to be savored and continuously explored, much like the magical worlds described within.
This unique book comprises four novellas, all centered on the idea of purity. Each novella creates its own world and atmosphere, separate from its counterparts and yet perfectly balanced in a quartet. Disintegration in Four Parts is high concept and yet extremely accessible, boasting something for every reader to discover.
YA
A fierce and fiery tale of sisterhood and betrayal set in a world rich in magic and deception. In this story there is no one who is wholly good or entirely evil, each person and group is haunted by history and intention. This is an intricately written debut that is sure to amaze fans of Alwyn Hamilton and Sabaa Tahir! Fascinating characters, magic, and world-building, Pau Preto is a name to watch!
WICKED SAINTS has everything I look for in a book: dark monsters, powerful magic, and a stunning atmosphere that permeates every page. This book is lush and darkly romantic, filled with blood and bones. Perfect for fans of Maggie Stiefvater and Leigh Bardugo, Duncan's thrilling debut explores the ecstasy and heart-breaking tragedy of what it is to love a monster.
High School senior Emoni Santiago is a single mother who dreams of becoming a professional chef, but circumstance and culture stand against her. Told in short, vignette-like chapters, WITH THE FIRE ON HIGH takes difficult, often disenfranchised issues and makes them easy to empathize with. Printz and National Book Award winner Acevedo is a powerhouse of love, compassion, and raw talent.
Sometimes a book is just too good for words - this is one such book. WILDER GIRLS is a raw, speculative debut filled with stunning prose and a brutally fierce story. The atmosphere of Raxter is eerie, permeating every page. Powers is unflinching when looking into the hearts and minds of adolescent girls - their wants, fears, and will to survive. This is exactly the sort of story we need right now.
Power returns with a haunting thriller filled with raw power. Burn Our Bodies Down is brutal and (at times) gruesome, centered around the powerful bond forged between mother and daughter. Truly, Power's expertly crafted story sang to the deepest, most hidden part of my soul: the part that intrinsically understands every young girl's potential for fury - and wishes for them to be released!
The world of Sabor is fascinating and complex, the characters are nuanced and powerfully written. Ultimately, this is the enemies-to-allies road trip adventure you've been waiting for! Completely engrossing!
Alaine is now among my favorite heroines. She's whip-smart, humorous, and most powerfully, loving. Told through letters, texts, and journal entries, DEAR HAITI, LOVE ALAINE is an intimate look into the life of a young Haitian American girl. Written by Haitian Americans, the Moulite sisters give personal insight into the life of a second-gen American girl, filling their book with empathy, hilarity, and hope.
Ruby writes with her signature genre-mixing style to create a tale that's part ghost story, part historical, and completely compelling! Watching Frankie grow from an abandoned young girl to a fierce woman is a pleasure, and witnessing the hidden lives of Depression-era Chicagoans through the eyes of a ghost is intimate and magical.
A gloriously epic debut, BLOOD HEIR is a lush, magical story that entrances the reader from the first sentence. Amélie Wen Zhao is a master of both prose and pacing, making me fall in love with writing all over again. Her characters are morally-complex and conflicted. Add in a slow-burn romance and I was completely intoxicated. Zhao is definitely a name to watch!
Fans of Wes Anderson rejoice! A CASTLE IN THE CLOUDS is charming, witty, and edged with danger! When Sophie interns at a grand hotel in the Swiss Alps, she doesn't expect their biggest event of the year to turn into a dastardly, daring adventure! Soon Sophie must navigate a long list of suspects and a convoluted string of clues if she wants to keep her job. Gier is a master of cozy romance as well as playful mystery. CASTLE is a book you will return to over and over again, like a well-loved sweater!
This is a darkly comedic tale of six best friends. Alexis is a memorable protagonist - unapologetic, powerful, and inextricably tied to her chosen family. When her coven accidentally kills a boy, they must all deal with the consequences, their guilt, and their fracturing family
There are books in this world that will haunt you. They will grab you by the throat and refuse to let go. AGNES AT THE END OF THE WORLD is one such book. McWilliams is a raw, stunning new voice. She fearlessly delves into the complexities and turmoil of family and religion - how they can simultaneously strengthen and destroy us. Agnes and Beth are two sides of the same coin, two different paths in a world that tries its best to bury young girls with heart and teeth.
This is an electric debut novel that stuns from the first sentence. Johnson's characters are stunning enigmas of fear, desire, and desperation. The world of Hell-mouth is wonderfully foreign with unsettling hints of familiarity. Ultimately this is a sci-fi adventure that shocks and delights.
Ghost Wood Song is as eerie and atmospheric as a haunted pine wood grove. Waters effortlessly delves into the Southern Gothic tradition while maintaining her own unique narration. Shady Grove's story is one of murder mystery, intricate family ties, and a nuanced queer love triangle. Her lyrical tale is as charming as a bluegrass lick and as haunting as a fiddle's last note.
Waters returns with a new Southern Gothic masterpiece centered around a girl fueled by rage and the witch she befriends. THE RIVER HAS TEETH explores the grief and horror of male violence - all set in the foothills of the Appalachians where magic and mysticism permeate the earth.
Girl, Serpent, Thorn is a complex, luscious fairytale populated with Persian demons and poisonous girls. Reading this book was like smelling a rose; rich and petal-soft one moment, then sharp and dangerous the next. Bashardoust is an expert weaver of tales, creating twists and turns that keep the reader enthralled with Soraya's journey.
Achingly raw and stunningly real, Printz Honor-Winning author Jessie Ann Foley returns with a tale of one girl's climb out of the wreckage of her life. Exploring themes of trauma, both personal and generational, Mia's story is fully dimensional and painfully realistic while also battling for hope and acceptance. You Know I Am No Good is a reclaiming for teenage girls everywhere: of their bodies, of their minds, and of their souls.
A wholly compelling and vibrant retelling of Romeo and Juliet, These Violent Delights is sharp as a dagger and thrilling as a sword fight. Gong's intimate grasp of 1920's Shanghai's nuance and energy imbues every page while her fast-paced plot and dimensional characters give life to the rich setting. This glittering tale burns with blood feuds and political revolution, monsters and monstrous men.
Saft weaves a tangled political plot through a wartorn continent, imbuing her frostbitten setting with a haunting sense of danger. Colwick Hall is eerie and forlorn, the perfect setting for the grotesque and mysterious - as well as a dark, gothic romance.
Part Wuthering Heights and part War and Peace, Down Comes the Night is entirely addictive!
Luminous and haunting, Rebecca Mahoney's shimmering debut examines PTSD and grief through a speculative lens that resonates powerfully. It is a sweet sort of ache to watch Rose battle and overcome her trauma. It is an addicting mystery to watch the residents of Lotus Valley learn to live amongst their own unnatural ghosts. You will be swept away by this tale.
Addictive and enthralling, this character-driven sci-fi will pull you under! Joan He has mastered the art of plot twists, creating a fascinating tale revolving around two sisters who will do anything to reunite. The atmosphere is tangible, the mysteries are riveting, and the sororal love is a haunting testament to the bonds between women.
Part Princess Diaries and part Crazy Rich Asians, Tokyo Ever After is a technicolored blend of family dynamics, romance, and culture! Izumi's story is a totally heartfelt and immensely fun comedy of manners about finding your people and your place in the world. Emiko Jean's Tokyo is a character all on its own - its vibrant atmosphere imbuing every page as Izumi's (mis)adventure unfolds. Readers will fall in love with this fresh, dynamic coming-of-age tale!
SCIENCE/NATURE
Ambitious and extensive, UNDERLAND plunges the reader into an epic journey below the earth; from sea caves to the catacombs of Paris to fungal networks and beyond. This haunting and lyrical treatise is an exploration of humanity's expansive ties to the subterranean, not only including Macfarlane's travels and observations but those of artists, murderers, and explorers. Macfarlane seeks out the darkness of our world, weaving his findings together in a narrative of mystery, strangeness, and ultimately, brilliance.
STRANGE HARVESTS follows the journey of several natural commodities from harvest to marketplace. It's a fascinating insight into humanity's connections with the natural world, a complex tapestry of first hand narratives, history, and science. Through the book Posnett shows us the subtle harmony of ecology and economy, posing the question: can humanity balance our desire to consume or will we inevitably destroy our harvests?
Perfect for amateur mycologists with questionable "morels," Entangled Life is a fascinating look into the world of fungi. Fungi are the mysterious connectors of our Earth, the synapses that connect trees, plants, and us. Sheldrake is unafraid to move in a philosophical direction, using his scientific expertise to consider fungi's implications on our own views of autonomy, community, and society. This is a masterfully written, highly fascinating addition to the compendium of fungal knowledge.
Desert Notebooks is rich, haunting, and profoundly unique in its exploration of the end times. Ehrenreich takes readers to the wilds of the Mojave to the neon glow of Las Vegas - amongst coyotes and Joshua trees, to labyrinthine canyons, to a phosphorescent city surrounded by it all. Each landscape is described with stunning beauty. Ehrenreich draws from stories of the Serrano, Mohave, and other desert peoples to inform our understanding of our rapidly changing world, reckoning with the environmental apocalypse that haunts all our futures.
Philosopher and scuba diver Peter Godfrey-Smith returns with a new meditation on oceanic life. While Other Minds dealt specifically with the octopus, Metazoa expands to the biology and evolution of all the creatures he's met beneath the sea. Filled with luminous, full color photos from the author himself, Metazoa is a meditation on life, consciousness, and our future.
HISTORY/BIOGRAPHY
Award-winning historian Charles King chronicles the life and legacy of Franz Boaz, the father of cultural anthropology. GODS OF THE UPPER AIR connects the views of culture yesterday to today, contextualizing and destroying arguments for racism, especially in our politics today. This is an intellectual adventure with a very real impact on the key moral issues of our times.
Miles Harvey illuminates the obscure, wild, and completely ludicrous story of James Strang, a charismatic con man who capitalized on Americans' fervent religiosity in the 1840's. The story itself is supremely unlikely - a confluence of events perfectly converged and perhaps the only man in history capable of turning them to his favor. Harvey's research into Stang's pirate colony utopia is superb, translating into a story-like biography that reads with effortless humor and style. Absolutely marvelous!
Armstrong's latest work is perhaps her most powerful to date, exploring the scriptures of the Bible, Quran, and Torah. Written with the intellect of a theologian and charged with compassion, Armstrong asserts that most people read scripture to confirm their own views, then shows how to read for transformation. This is a vitally important work for believers and non-believers alike.
While the Cold War raged and America and the USSR fought for global supremacy, two zoos in Berlin, one East and one West, battled not over warheads, but over polar bears and pandas. Mohnhaupt chronicles the epic, and often times hilarious rivalry between two head zookeepers and the fallout it caused. This is a charming and riveting history of one of the strangest proxy wars ever fought.
One of the foremost Egyptologists of our time, Toby Wilkinson chronicles the West's frantic race to claim Egypt's rediscovered ancient past. Beginning with the 1822 deciphering of hieroglyphics by Jean-François Champollion, Wilkinson follows Europe and America's obsession and subsequent plundering of Egypt's history as it led to the Nile Valley's own modern rebirth.
MEMOIR
Olstein writes with eloquence and power. While pain is highly individual, I found echoes of my own chronic pains within her words - all described with a fierce simplicity that I have never been able to achieve. To someone living with chronic pain, this book is pure catharsis, a warm voice in an endless tunnel of dark saying "I hear you. I understand you." To anyone else, this book is the first step toward empathy. PAIN STUDIES must be read by all.
A Ghost in the Throat is obsessive - a self-proclaimed female text that is both highly introspective and yet reverently fixated on one female poet's life in 18th century Ireland. Ní Ghríofa fills her book with such esoteric details that she somehow manage to capture the breadth of the female experience: the traumas, the joys, and the desperate need to give one's self to family and strangers alike.