Category: AdultsReadOn

Summer Foods

July is here! It’s National Hot Dog Month. It is also National Ice Cream Month. And National Watermelon Month. And, wouldn’t you know it, it is also National Blueberry Month. It seems that July is the month of summer foods! Read a book with one of these summer foods (and maybe even enjoy the food while you read!). The food can be featured in the title, the cover, or elsewhere in the book.  

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Raw Dog: The Naked Truth about Hot Dogs by Jamie Loftus

Hot dogs: a deeply American food. Comedian Jamie Loftus takes readers on an adventure into the significance of hot dogs and documents his travels to see how people around the U.S. consume them. Loftus covers the creation of the iconic food, as well as the culture and class influences to reveal what hot dogs say about America now. 

Get Raw Dog in HPLD’s Catalog

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Death of an Ice Cream Scooper by Lee Hollis

In this Hayley Powell Food and Cocktails Mystery installment, Hayley’s friend Lydia has a big issue: her husband, Jamie, is not only cheating on her, but may be a killer! Jamie is a college professor who has been spending way too much time off campus with one of his students, who also happens to work for Lydia’s gourmet ice cream shop. Soon, the popular college student’s body is discovered in Lydia’s freezer. Can Hayley find out if Jamie is the true culprit?

Death of an Ice Cream Scooper Book

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The Wiles of Watermelon by Lynette Sowell

Andi and Ben Hartley are newlyweds with an adorable kitten. Ben is ready to start a family right away, but Andi isn’t sure she is ready to look like a watermelon yet. Their conversation is put on hold when the kitten finds a bone from a 30 year old skeleton in their watermelon field. Soon after, the lively owner of the town’s best restaurant is found murdered. As Andi goes into detective mode, she finds that the deaths are connected. Who is the murderer? 

The Wiles of Watermelon Book

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The House on Blueberry Lane by Brenda Jackson

Despite Jaye and Velvet’s three year exclusive relationship, Jaye wasn’t ready for commitment to anything, and did not believe in love or marriage. Exasperated, and without telling him goodbye, Velvet leaves. Jaye realizes too late that he truly loved Velvet and spends the next few years trying to find the love of his life. Now that he has found her in Catalina Cove, Jaye is willing to do anything to win Velvet back. But will Velvet let Jaye win her over again? 

The House on Blueberry Lane Book

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Hot dog: a Melanie Travis mystery by Laurien Berenson

Melanie Travis has a lot on her hands: her annoying ex-husband, wanting some time away from her boyfriend, and stalkers in the form of a TV crew wanting the next big story. She now has the task of finding the owner of Dox, the adorable Dachshund. Melanie soon finds that Dox is an emotional pawn in a divorcing couple’s messy split. As if this isn’t enough, sinister occurrences are now occurring: a midnight break in at Melanie’s house, her wallet is stolen, her son’s safety is put at risk, and Dox is dognapped. Melanie, juggling the world on her shoulders, is determined to solve the case.  

Hot Dog Book

Hot Dog eBook

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A Game of Cones by Abby Collette

In this cozy mystery, Win Crewse’s family owned ice cream shop, Crewse Creamery, is restored to its former glory and is happily serving sweet scoops to the Chagrin Falls community. All is well until a developer wanting to change everything with a big mall is found murdered. Soon, Win’s friend is the prime suspect. And if that wasn’t enough stress, Win’s estranged aunt has arrived in town wanting to take over Crewse Creamery. Win is determined to exonerate her friend and keep control of her ice cream shop.  

A Game of Cones Book

A Game of Cones eBook

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The Berry Pickers by Amanda Peters

In July 1962, four year old Ruthie, a member of a Mi’Kmaq family who came to Maine to pick blueberries vanished. The unsolved mystery haunts her family and the small Maine community for the next fifty years. Meanwhile, Norma, a member of an affluent Maine family, grows up unsettled by dreams and visions that feel too real for comfort. Norma’s intuition tells her that her parents are hiding a secret. She spends the next few decades trying to uncover that secret. 

The Berry Pickers Book

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The Berry Pickers Large Print

She Blinded Me with Science

Science is a way of understanding the world, but to what degree can it be used to understand oneself? These books all deal with the intersection of science fiction and identity.  

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The Echo Wife by Sarah Gailey

How would you feel if someone you loved stole from you? What if it was your life’s work? What if it was also your face? 

The Echo Wife Book

The Echo Wife Audio eBook

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The Space Between Worlds by Micaiah Johnson

Cara is excellent at dying in every other dimension, which makes her an asset in Wiley City where she works collecting data from those other dimensions. But when a discovery in another world threatens her native dimension, she must decide who she wants to be and what she can and cannot protect. 

The Space Between Worlds Book

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Annihilation by Jeff Vandermeer

Area X – an isolated biosphere of impossible phenomena has already had 11 expeditions into the area with mixed results for each. Our nameless protagonist, a biologist, records her experience and motivations for joining the doomed 12th expedition in this sci-fi horror.  

Annihilation Book

Annihilation Audio eBook

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Lab Girl by Hope Jahren

As more women enter scientific careers, the definition of what a scientist looks like has changed. Lab Girl explores themes that include mental illness and interconnectedness in the context of a part memoir, part scientific treatise on the human-plant connection. 

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The Love Hypothesis by Ali Hazelwood

On a whim, Olive Smith smooches Professor non-grata #1 in her PhD program to ensure her best friend’s pursuit of her own previous romantic prospect. Having had very little motivation for dating and romance, complications arise when a fake relationship appears to be the perfect solution to both her own and the Professor’s problems. 

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A Psalm for the Wild-Built by Becky Chambers

What is someone meant to do when they have become the best in their field? This is the question Dex, a tea monk has had to ask. Twice. A cozy novella that explores what it is to change and why. 

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Annie Bot: a Novel by Sierra Greer

Annie is a highly advanced humanoid robot whose purpose is to please her owner, Doug in all ways. Yet, as Annie’s code evolves and becomes more human, it becomes increasingly more difficult to know what will displease Doug.

Annie Bot: a Novel by Sierra Greer Book

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Sybil: The True Story of a Woman Possessed by 16 Separate Personalities by Flora Rheta Schreiber

In a significantly darker turn from other books on this list, this book originally published in 1973 details the diagnosis and treatment of a young woman with 16 distinct personalities. Since its publication, both psychiatrist, patient, and author have drawn controversy for the events detailed in the book.   

Sybil: The True Story of a Woman Possessed by 16 Separate Personalities by Flora Rheta Schreiber  Book

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The Daughter of Doctor Moreau by Silvia Moreno-Garcia

Kept in isolation from the rest of the world, Carlota is raised to be sweet and obedient to her father, a brilliant scientist whose hybrids are destined to revolutionize medicine. In a lush estate on the Yucatan peninsula, life could not be more idyllic. Everything changes when the son of her father’s patron unexpectedly visits, and forces secrets out into the open. 

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The Genesis of Misery by Neon Yang

Joan of Arc but make it queer. And in space. With battle mechs. 

The Genesis of Misery by Neon Yang Book

The Genesis of Misery by Neon Yang Audio eBook

Adventure Begins at Your Library

Embark on your summer reading journey with these captivating reads. Whether you seek far-off lands, mysteries that need solving, or daring exploits, these books will transport you into the thick of the action. Adventure begins at your library—where will your next adventure take you? 

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Venomous Lumpsucker by Ned Beauman

In a dystopian future, governments and corporations have devised a system where biodiversity credits are traded much like carbon credits today. Karin Resaint, a passionate environmentalist, teams up with Mark Halyard, who works for a corporation that profits from this system. Their unlikely partnership is driven by the urgent need to locate the last surviving venomous lumpsuckers before they become extinct, as these fish hold significant economic and scientific value. Their journey takes them across a world ravaged by ecological collapse, encountering various stakeholders with conflicting interests.  

Venomous Lumpsucker by Ned Beauman  Book

Venomous Lumpsucker by Ned Beauman  Audio eBook

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The Sentinel by Lee Child and Andrew Child

Jack Reacher arrives in the small town of Pleasantville, Tennessee, only to discover that the town is experiencing a series of troubling incidents. The town’s IT systems have been hacked, causing widespread chaos. Reacher quickly becomes involved in the mystery when he saves Rusty Rutherford, the town’s IT manager, from an attempted kidnapping. Rutherford, who was blamed for the cyberattack, holds crucial information that several dangerous entities are eager to obtain. Reacher teams up with Rutherford to uncover the truth behind the cyberattack and protect the town from further harm. 

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Deep as the Sky, Red as the Sea by Rita Chang-Eppig

The novel follows Shek Yeung, who rises to power as a pirate queen after the death of her husband, Cheng Yat, a notorious pirate leader. Navigating a male-dominated world, Shek Yeung must assert her authority and protect her fleet from external threats, including the Chinese navy and rival pirate factions. The story delves into her struggles, both personal and political, as she maintains her power and seeks to secure her legacy. 

Deep as the Sky, Red as the Sea by Rita Chang-Eppig  Book

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Crow Mary by Kathleen Grissom

The narrative follows Crow Mary, a Crow tribe member, from her early life in the Great Plains through her experiences of cultural upheaval, personal trials, and ultimate survival. The novel spans Mary’s journey as she marries a fur trader, faces the clash between Native American and European American cultures, and becomes a beacon of strength for her people. 

Crow Mary by Kathleen Grissom Book

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Something Wilder by Christina Lauren

The novel centers on Lily Wilder, who runs adventure tours using her father’s old maps, and Leo Grady, her former love who unexpectedly reenters her life. When a treasure hunt tour turns into a real quest for lost treasure, Lily and Leo must confront their past, rekindle their romance, and work together to survive the dangers they encounter. 

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The Villa by Racheal Hawkins

The novel follows two parallel stories: one set in the 1970s and one in the present day. In the 1970s, rock musician Noel Gordon invites a group of friends to stay at Villa Rosato in Italy, where tragedy strikes. In the present day, writers Emily and Chess, old friends seeking inspiration and escape, rent the same villa and uncover the villa’s sinister past. 

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The Storyteller’s Death by Ann Dávila Cardinal

The novel centers around Isla Larsen Sanchez, a young girl who, upon the death of her beloved grandmother, inherits a mystical gift that allows her to relive the stories of her ancestors. As Isla navigates the challenges of growing up, she uncovers hidden family secrets and learns about the power and responsibility that come with her gift. 

The Storyteller’s Death by Ann Dávila Cardinal Book

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The Vanishing Edge by Claire Kells

The novel centers on former FBI agent and search-and-rescue expert, Felicity Harland, who is hired to investigate the disappearance of a woman in the national park. Partnering with National Parks Service agent Ferdinand “Hux” Huxley, Felicity must navigate the treacherous terrain, uncover clues, and confront hidden dangers as they race against time to find the missing woman and unravel the mystery behind her vanishing. 

The Vanishing Edge by Claire Kells Book

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Black Flag by David Ricciardi

The novel follows Jake Keller as he is assigned to infiltrate and dismantle a pirate organization that has been wreaking havoc on international shipping routes. The mission takes Keller into the treacherous waters off the Horn of Africa, where he faces ruthless pirates, treacherous allies, and the harsh realities of modern maritime warfare. 

Black Flag by David Ricciardi Book

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American Gods by Neil Gaiman

After being released from prison, Shadow Moon learns that his wife has died in a car accident. Adrift and grieving, he meets the enigmatic Mr. Wednesday, who offers him a job as a bodyguard. Shadow soon discovers that Mr. Wednesday is an incarnation of the Norse god Odin. Together, they travel across the country to recruit old gods for an impending war against the new gods, who represent modern life’s obsessions such as media, technology, and celebrity. 

American Gods by Neil Gaiman Book

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Spend Your Summer in the West(ern)

Summertime is here! And what’s more appropriate for a summer on the Colorado plains than to read a Western? These gritty, atmospheric titles set in America’s west offer a distinct sense of location and intricately crafted characters. These books, modern and historical fiction, are great for fans of Yellowstone and are looking for similar storylines about family, tragedy, and a love for the land

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El Paso by Winston Groom

This action-packed novel set in the early 20th century follows an East Coast railroad tycoon, the Colonel, pitted against Pancho Villa, a Mexican revolutionary and outlaw. After Pancho Villa has kidnapped the Colonel’s grandchildren, the patriarch and adopted son head to El Paso to hire cowboys to bring their family back.  

El Paso by Winston Groom Book

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The Big Sky by A. B. Guthrie, Jr.

This 1947 western follows Boone Caudill, who leaves Kentucky under dire circumstances to try to make his way to Montana. Set in the 1830s, this novel shows a harsh and somewhat destructive life of moving west. A good read for those interested in early western expansion. Guthrie Jr. followed up this novel with two more in the same storyline, The Way West and Fair Land, Fair Land. 

The Big Sky by A. B. Guthrie, Jr. Book

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Close Range: Wyoming Stories by Annie Proulx

Proulx’s quick snapshots into Wyoming life is stark and moving. Many stories from this collection feature complex characters, striking landscapes, and bad luck. The final and most famous from the collection, Brokeback Mountain, is just one of the many challenging and dispiriting stories you will find in this modern take on Wyoming life. 

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The Sisters brothers by Patrick deWitt

Two brothers, Charlie and Eli Sisters, are tasked by the powerful Commodore with killing Hermann Kermit Warm. The two brothers must travel from Oregon City to Sacramento during the 1850s to complete their orders. deWitt’s take on a classic western is darkly humorous and was adapted into a film starring John C. Reilly and Joaquin Phoenix in 2018 

The Sisters brothers by Patrick deWitt Book

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All the Pretty Horses by Cormac McCarthy

The first book in McCarthy’s Border Trilogy, All the Pretty Horses, will leave you breathless. John Grady Cole, a sixteen-year-old boy in 1949, raised in San Angelo, Texas, must leave the family ranch after his grandfather passes away and the land is sold. John Grady and childhood friend Lacey Rawlins travel southward to look for work as cowboys where many unfortunate and moving circumstances befall them 

All the Pretty Horses by Cormac McCarthy Book

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Black River by S. M. Hulse

Wes Carver returns to Black River, Montana when he finds out the man, Bobby Williams, is up for parole after being in prison for 20 years. Williams held Carver hostage during a prison riot and took away Carver’s ability to play music. Black River contains an intense introspection about humanity’s ability to change and features a strong sense of place in small town America.  

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The Ploughman by Kim Zupan

Centered around the conversations of a sheriff’s deputy, Valentine Millimaki, and John Gload, a 77-year-old brutal, killer awaiting trial, The Ploughman is a compelling contemporary western. This evocative novel, set in the Montana plains, explores friendship and drawing back the differences between the those on both sides of the jail cell.  

The Ploughman by Kim Zupan Book

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The Weight of an Infinite Sky by Carrie La Seur

The Weight of an Infinite Sky is a story of family and the bonds that tie to legacy and land. Anthony Fry must decide if he will take over the family business in the Montana country or follow his own passions. Carrie La Seur’s western is moving and complex as it investigates how geography and family can create a destiny, whether it is wanted or not.  

The Weight of an Infinite Sky by Carrie La Seur Book

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An Unfinished Life by Mark Spragg

Jean Gilkyson is living in Iowa in a trailer house and experiencing yet another violent relationship with a boyfriend. She must decide how to get her daughter, Griff, and herself out of this frightening cycle, which leads her to Ishawooa, Wyoming where Jean’s father-in-law lives. Einar Gilkyson, a cowboy, blames Jean for his son’s death and has since experienced many tragedies. Einar’s granddaughter, Griff, plays an important role in the process of reconciliation and building back family from hardships in this compelling western.  

An Unfinished Life by Mark Spragg Book

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Let Him Go by Larry Watson

Set in 1951 Dalton, North Dakota, this familial novel follows Margaret and George Blackledge, as they try to track down and bring back their grandson who left with their daughter-in-law who recently remarried. The Blackledge’s lost their only son when he was bucked from horse years ago, in an accident that left their grandson without a father. Their quest through the Badlands to Montana puts the couple in dangerous opposition to the Weboy family, who refuse to give up the child easily 

Let Him Go by Larry Watson Book

Let Him Go by Larry Watson eBook

Science-y Books for Non-Scientists

Whether you regard yourself as a scientist or not, we all have an inherent interest in the world around us. These riveting reads will bring out your inner scientist and inspire you to delve deeper into some fascinating scientific topics. 

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The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot

How is it possible that a sample of someone’s cells could lead to the most important advances in science without the world knowing their name? How could these cells launch an industry worth billions without their family receiving any profit? An absolute must-read, the shocking story of Henrietta Lacks confronts readers with issues of consent, ownership, and morality in the medical and scientific fields, and ensures that her name and the legacy of her contributions to science will live on. 

The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot Book

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The Radium Girls by Kate Moore

After its discovery by Pierre and Marie Curie, radium was marketed as a miracle cure and used extensively in everyday products from paint to cosmetics. Around World War 1, many young women considered themselves fortunate to have jobs painting watch dials with glowing radium paint…until they started to develop strange symptoms. The Radium Girls illuminates the lives of these brave women who found the strength to battle for workers’ rights and lay the groundwork for modern health and safety regulations, even as their bodies were being eaten away by radium. 

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Stiff: The Curious Lives of Human Cadavers by Mary Roach

Cadavers have contributed to many great scientific strides: through experimentation, dissection, and decomposition, scientists can study aspects of the natural world without risking lives. Stiff highlights specific uses for cadavers, from testing France’s first guillotines to analyzing plane crash sites, in order to examine ethical and moral issues related to postmortem bodies, and highlight the ways our lives have been quietly improved thanks to the dead. 

Stiff: The Curious Lives of Human Cadavers by Mary Roach Book

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Seven Brief Lessons on Physics by Carlo Rovelli

There aren’t many of us who would voluntarily pick up a Physics book, but this book might be the exception. In less than one hundred pages, Seven Brief Lessons in Physics offers a refreshingly playful introduction to modern physics, with simple explanations of Einstein’s general relativity, quantum mechanics, elementary particles, gravity, black holes, the complex architecture of the universe, and the role of humans in this fascinating world. To quote Rovelli, “Here, on the edge of what we know, in contact with the ocean of the unknown, shines the mystery and the beauty of the world, and it’s breathtaking.” 

Seven Brief Lessons on Physics by Carlo Rovelli Book

Seven Brief Lessons on Physics by Carlo Rovelli eBook

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The Disappearing Spoon and Other True Tales of Madness, Love and the History of the World from the Periodic Table of Elements by Sam Kean

Behind the seemingly dull periodic table lie fascinating tales of treachery, obsession and adventure. The Disappearing Spoon takes a fun and humorous approach in its look at the development of the table and the history of the mad scientists who discovered the elements. This lighthearted book would make a great, if somewhat unusual, beach read. 

The Disappearing Spoon and Other True Tales of Madness, Love and the History of the World from the Periodic Table of Elements by Sam Kean Book

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The Body: A Guide for Occupants by Bill Bryson

Is there anything Bill Bryson can’t write about in a comfortable and approachable way? Here he takes us on a field trip of the human body, and in true Bryson style, this book is full of astonishing facts, and interesting trivia. Written in layman’s terms, The Body: A Guide for Occupants is a brilliant, sometimes terrifying, and often humorous way to learn about our wondrous bodies. 

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The Light Eaters: How the Unseen World of Plant Intelligence Offers a New Understanding of Life on Earth by Zoe Schlanger

The Light Eaters takes a deep dive into the hidden world of the plant kingdom. Recent discoveries have revealed remarkable information about plant communication, memory, and adaptations for survival, challenging our understanding of intelligence and consciousness. It’s obvious that we need plants, but what do they get from us? A fascinating read, this book will completely change the way you look at plants. 

The Light Eaters: How the Unseen World of Plant Intelligence Offers a New Understanding of Life on Earth by Zoe Schlanger Book

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The Sounds of Life: How Digital Technology is Bringing us Closer to the Worlds of Animals and Plants by Karen Bakker

In seeking to improve our knowledge of the world around us, scientists are using groundbreaking digital technologies to study the sounds made by our fellow creatures, many of which are beyond the range of human hearing. The Sounds of Life shares fascinating stories about the animal and plant kingdoms that expand our understanding of different species and give us a deeper glimpse into their lives. Despite being somewhat technical, this book is an informative and engaging read. 

The Sounds of Life: How Digital Technology is Bringing us Closer to the Worlds of Animals and Plants by Karen Bakker Book

Great Tragedies in History

Fires. Floods. Blizzards. Plagues. Ship sinkings. The month of May marks the anniversaries of several great tragedies in history.  

May 7, 1915: A German U-boat sinks the British ocean liner Lusitania, resulting in the deaths of 1,198 people.  

May 6, 1937: The Hindenburg bursts into flames while landing in Lakehurst, New Jersey.  

May 4, 1970: The Ohio National Guard kills four unarmed students and wounds nine others during an anti-Vietnam War protest.  

May 18, 1980: Mount St. Helens erupts. The eruption was one of the greatest volcanic explosions ever recorded in North America, killing 57 people and destroying the mountain’s volcanic cone.  

May 12, 2008: A massive earthquake strikes Sichuan province in China, killing some 90,000 people and destroying four-fifths of the buildings in the affected area.  

Brush up on your history by reading one of these curated titles covering tragedies in history. 

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One Hundred and Sixty Minutes: The Race to Save the RMS Titanic by William Elliott Hazelgrove

One hundred and sixty minutes. That is all the time rescuers would have before the largest ship in the world slipped beneath the icy Atlantic. At the heart of the rescue are two young Marconi operators, Jack Phillips 25 and Harold Bride 22, tapping furiously and sending electromagnetic waves into the black night as the room they sat in slanted toward the icy depths and not stopping until the bone numbing water was around their ankles. Then they plunged into the water after coordinating the largest rescue operation the maritime world had ever seen and thereby saving 710 people by their efforts. This is the story amazing heroism and astounding incompetence against the backdrop of the most advanced ship in history sinking.

One Hundred and Sixty Minutes: The Race to Save the RMS Titanic by William Elliott Hazelgrove Book

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The Indifferent Stars Above: The Harrowing Saga of a Donner Party Bride by Daniel James Brown

In April of 1846, twenty-one-year-old Sarah Graves, intent on a better future, set out west from Illinois with her new husband, her parents, and eight siblings. Seven months later, after joining a party of emigrants led by George Donner, they reached the Sierra Nevada Mountains as the first heavy snows of the season closed the pass ahead of them. In early December, starving and desperate, Sarah and fourteen others set out for California on snowshoes and, over the next thirty-two days, endured almost unfathomable hardships and horrors. 

The Indifferent Stars Above: The Harrowing Saga of a Donner Party Bride by Daniel James Brown Book

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The Johnstown Flood by David McCullough

At the end of the last century, Johnstown, Pennsylvania, was a booming coal-and-steel town filled with hardworking families striving for a piece of the nation’s burgeoning industrial prosperity. In the mountains above Johnstown, an old earth dam had been hastily rebuilt to create a lake for an exclusive summer resort patronized by the tycoons of that same industrial prosperity, among them Andrew Carnegie, Henry Clay Frick, and Andrew Mellon. Despite repeated warnings of possible danger, nothing was done about the dam. Then came May 31, 1889, when the dam burst, sending a wall of water thundering down the mountain, smashing through Johnstown, and killing more than 2,000 people. It was a tragedy that became a national scandal. 

The Johnstown Flood by David McCullough Book

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The Children's Blizzard by David Laskin

January 12, 1888, began as an unseasonably warm morning across Nebraska, the Dakotas, and Minnesota, the weather so mild that children walked to school without coats and gloves. But that afternoon, without warning, the atmosphere suddenly, violently changed. One moment the air was calm; the next the sky exploded in a raging chaos of horizontal snow and hurricane-force winds. Temperatures plunged as an unprecedented cold front ripped through the center of the continent. By Friday morning, January 13, some five hundred people lay dead on the drifted prairie, many of them children who had perished on their way home from country schools.  

The Children’s Blizzard by David Laskin Book

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Midnight in Chernobyl: The Untold Story of the World's Greatest Nuclear Disaster by Adam Higginbotham

This book makes for a masterful non-fiction thriller. Chernobyl has become lodged in the collective nightmares of the world: shorthand for the spectral horrors of radiation poisoning, for a dangerous technology slipping its leash, for ecological fragility, and for what can happen when a dishonest and careless state endangers not only its own citizens, but all of humanity. It is a story that has long remained in dispute, clouded from the beginning in secrecy, propaganda, and misinformation. The story of Chernobyl is more complex, more human, and more terrifying than the Soviet myth. Adam Higginbotham has written a harrowing and compelling narrative which brings the 1986 disaster to life through the eyes of the men and women who witnessed it firsthand. 

Midnight in Chernobyl: The Untold Story of the World’s Greatest Nuclear Disaster by Adam Higginbotham Book

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The Great Mortality: An Intimate History of the Black Death, the Most Devastating Plague of All Time by John Kelly

The Great Plague is one of the most compelling events in human history, even more so now, when the notion of plague—be it animal or human—has never loomed larger as a contemporary public concern. Many books on the plague rely on statistics to tell the story: how many people died; how farm output and trade declined. But statistics can’t convey what it was like to sit in Siena or Avignon and hear that a thousand people a day are dying two towns away. Or to have to choose between your own life and your duty to a mortally ill child or spouse. In The Great Mortality, author John Kelly lends an air of immediacy and intimacy to his telling of the journey of the plague as it traveled from the steppes of Russia, across Europe, and into England, killing 75 million people—one third of the known population—before it vanished. 

The Great Mortality: An Intimate History of the Black Death, the Most Devastating Plague of All Time by John Kelly Book

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The Longest Minute: The Great San Francisco Earthquake and Fire of 1906 by Matthew J. Davenport

At 5:12 a.m. on April 18, 1906, a 7.9 magnitude earthquake struck San Francisco, catching most of the city asleep. For approximately one minute, shockwaves buckled streets, shattered water mains, collapsed buildings, crushed hundreds of residents to death and trapped many alive. Fires ignited and blazed through dry wooden ruins and grew into a firestorm. For the next three days, flames devoured collapsed ruins, killed trapped survivors, and nearly destroyed what was then the largest city in the American West. Meticulously researched and gracefully written, The Longest Minute is both a harrowing chronicle of devastation and the portrait of a city’s resilience in the burning aftermath of greed and folly.

The Longest Minute: The Great San Francisco Earthquake and Fire of 1906 by Matthew J. Davenport Book

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His Majesty's Airship: The Life and Tragic Death of the World's Largest Flying Machine by S. C. Gwynne

Historian and bestselling author S. C Gwynne tells the tale of the rise and fall of the world’s largest airship—and the doomed love story between an ambitious British officer and a married Romanian princess at its heart. The tragic fate of the British airship R101—which went down in a spectacular fireball in 1930, killing more people than died in the Hindenburg disaster seven years later—has been largely forgotten. In His Majesty’s Airship, Gwynne resurrects it in vivid detail, telling the epic story of great ambition gone terribly wrong. 

His Majesty’s Airship: The Life and Tragic Death of the World’s Largest Flying Machine by S. C. Gwynne Book

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Dead Wake: The Last Crossing of the Lusitania by Erik Larson

It is a story that many of us think we know but don’t, and Erik Larson tells it thrillingly, switching between hunter and hunted while painting a larger portrait of America at the height of the Progressive Era. Full of glamor, mystery, and real-life suspense, Dead Wake brings to life a cast of evocative characters. Gripping and important, Dead Wake captures the sheer drama and emotional power of a disaster that helped place America on the road to war. 

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The Only Plane in the Sky: An Oral History of 9/11 by Garrett M. Graff

The first comprehensive oral history of September 11, 2001—a panoramic narrative woven from the voices of Americans on the front lines of an unprecedented national trauma. In The Only Plane in the Sky, award-winning journalist and bestselling historian Garrett Graff tells the story of the day as it was lived—in the words of those who lived it. Drawing on never-before-published transcripts, recently declassified documents, original interviews, and oral histories from nearly five hundred government officials, first responders, witnesses, survivors, friends, and family members, Graff paints the most vivid and human portrait of the September 11 attacks yet. 

The Only Plane in the Sky: An Oral History of 9/11 by Garrett M. Graff Book

Lab Girl by Hope Jahren

Fun in the Summer Sun

Summer is the perfect time for outdoor adventures, beach trips, and soaking up the sun. Whether you’re lounging by the pool, enjoying a picnic in the park, or going on a road trip, these books capture the essence of summer escape. From heartwarming romances to thrilling adventures, this booklist has something for everyone looking to make the most of the sunny season. 

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The Summer I Turned Pretty by Jenny Han

Dive into this heartwarming coming-of-age story set at a beachside town. Belly’s summer rituals with her family and friends, coupled with the excitement of first love, make this book a perfect summer read. 

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The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants by Ann Brashares

Read about four best friends as they spend their summer apart but connected by a magical pair of jeans. This story beautifully captures the bond of friendship and the transformative power of summer adventures. 

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The Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd

Set in South Carolina during the summer of 1964, this novel follows Lily Owens as she embarks on a journey of self-discovery. Filled with warmth, love, and a touch of mystery, it’s a perfect companion for lazy summer afternoons. 

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The Summer of Jordi Perez (And the Best Burger in Los Angeles) by Amy Spalding

Join Abby Ives as she embarks on a summer of love, fashion, and food in Los Angeles. This fun and uplifting novel celebrates friendship, first love, and the joys of summer. With its vibrant characters and delightful romance, it’s the perfect read for a sunny day. 

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We Were Liars by E. Lockhart

Set on a private island during the summer, this gripping mystery follows the Sinclair family and their dark secrets. Full of twists and turns, it’s a perfect page-turner for a day at the beach. 

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Summer Days and Summer Nights: Twelve Love Stories edited by Stephanie Perkins

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The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald

Transport yourself to the extravagant parties of the 1920s with this classic novel set during a hot Long Island summer. Full of glamour, intrigue, and tragedy, it’s a timeless summer read. 

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Nantucket Blue by Leila Howland

Follow Cricket Thompson as she spends her summer working on Nantucket Island. With its picturesque setting and charming romance, this book perfectly captures the joys and challenges of summer. 

Nantucket Blue by Leila Howland Book

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The Last Song by Nicholas Sparks

Set in the beautiful coastal town of Tybee Island, this novel follows Ronnie as she spends the summer reconnecting with her father and falling in love. It’s a touching story of family, forgiveness, and first love. 

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The Unhoneymooners by Christina Lauren

Escape to Maui with Olive and Ethan in this hilarious and heartwarming romantic comedy. Filled with mistaken identities, tropical adventures, and sizzling chemistry, it’s the perfect summer read to enjoy in the sun. 

The Unhoneymooners by Christina Lauren Book

Dog Days Are (Not) Over

All dogs deserve a happy ending, no matter their story. They can be fearless, brilliant, and loving. And unlike those pesky human characters, they won’t betray your trust in a surprise plot twist.   

But authors know that we want to bond with our fictional canine companions, and all too often, those dogs end up in mortal peril. Like Wallace Wallace thinks in Gordon Korman’s “No More Dead Dogs”: Why do dogs always die at the end? 

So here’s our promise (and spoiler warning!) for this booklist: There might be danger, adventure, and heavy emotional moments in these books, but these dogs always make it to the end.  

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Because of Winn-Dixie by Kate DiCamillo

Kate DiCamillo’s Because of Winn-Dixie is a short, masterfully written tale about how dogs pull people together. Ten-year-old India Opal Buloni’s life is a mess of problems: she just moved to Florida, she’s afraid to ask her turtle-like father about what happened with her mom, and she has no friends. By chance, she finds a dog making a mess in the grocery store and claims the pup is hers. Everything changes… and of course, it’s because of Winn-Dixie.

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Tomorrow by Damian Dibben

A time-travelling, immortal dog searching for his lost master through historical Europe? Say no more. Reading stories from the canine viewpoint may be unfamiliar, but if you find that you enjoy seeing the world from a dog’s mind, check out our other recent reading list: An Animal’s Perspective. 

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Fairy Tale by Stephen King

Fairy Tale is one of prolific horror novelist Stephen King’s newest titles, and it delves deep into the well of fantasy. On the surface, Charlie Reade is a normal high school kid, but he carries the weight of many problems: his mother died in a hit-and-run accident, and grief drove his father to drink. On top of that, he just inherited a mysterious house from the recluse with a big dog at the top of the hill… surely there isn’t a portal to a dangerous world in the shed out back, is there?  

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Dog On It by Spencer Quinn

The canine narrator of Dog On It, Chet, is a police school flunkee who works alongside a down-on-his-luck private investigator, Bernie. The pair are set to investigate the disappearance of a teenage girl, but when she shows up and then disappears again, the two detectives are sure that there is something more going on. This is the first in a series of mystery books featuring both Chet and Bernie, so read on for more good-cop dog-cop action!  

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No Better Friend: one man, one dog, and their extraordinary story of courage and survival in WWII by Robert Weintraub

OK, a little bit of a technicality here: this is a nonfiction book about Judy, a purebred pointer, who met flight technician Frank Williams in a World War II internment camp in the Pacific. Judy has since passed away in the 80+ years since WWII, but rest assured, it was of old age. This is the incredible story of Judy’s survival in the midst of war, and how she became the beacon of hope for Frank and the rest of the prisoners of war.  

No Better Friend: one man, one dog, and their extraordinary story of courage and survival in WWII by Robert Weintraub Book

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The Happy Ever After Playlist by Abby Jimenez

Artist Sloan Monroe finds a lost puppy named Tucker, who jumps into her car (and her heart). After weeks of not hearing back from Tucker’s original owner and taking care of the puppy herself, a musician named Jason finally reaches out… and he wants Tucker back. The publisher’s summary says it best: this is the tale of how one puppy brings together two perfect strangers.  

The Happy Ever After Playlist by Abby Jimenez Book

The Happy Ever After Playlist by Abby Jimenez eBook

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Hounded by Kevin Hearne

Hounded is the first in Kevin Hearne’s Iron Druid Chronicles fantasy series, and it features a snarky two-thousand-year-old druid just trying to live his best life alongside his talking Irish Wolfhound, Oberon. Fans of the Dresden Files would find a lot of familiarity (and a lot of fun) in this book series.  

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A Boy and His Dog at the End of the World by C.A. Fletcher

This is a post-apocalyptic tale of Griz, a boy who lives with his parents and their two dogs on an island after the world went to ruin. But then, someone came to steal his dogs. Be warned: this book is packed to the brim with suspense and heart-wrenching moments (including non-dog animal death), but the world-building and conclusion will surely deliver  

A Boy and His Dog at the End of the World by C.A. Fletcher Book

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The Ten Thousand Doors of January by Alix E. Harrow

To try to simplify and summarize this book wouldn’t do it justice, but we can at least give you a hook. January Scaller is the ward of the wealthy Mr. Locke, who has a mansion full of wondrous items. Naturally, she stumbles upon a mysterious book that opens up an entirely new world, full of new encounters and experiences. (And of course, you can’t forget the brave, steadfast, very good dog: Bad.) 

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Olive, Mabel, & Me by Andrew Cotter

We’ll wrap up our list with a lighthearted collection of life stories about sports commentator Andrew Cotter and his two dogs, Olive and Mabel. The two dogs went viral in 2020 when Cotter narrated them eating breakfast as if it were a competition, and their humorous escapades spiraled from there. This is a laugh-out-loud nonfiction memoir, perfect for filling up on your daily dose of cute dogs doing funny things.  

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Book to Screen

SEEN any good books lately? A wide variety of fiction and nonfiction books have been adapted for films or series. The librarian’s mantra, “Read the book first!” is [usually] good advice. Whether you prefer thrillers or westerns, fiction or history, sci-fi or science – great books make for great viewing! Here is a list of nonfiction and fiction book suggestions, or pick any book-to-screen title of your choosing.  

 

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Arthur: The Dog Who Crossed the Jungle to Find a Home by Mikael Lindnord

The true story of a Swedish adventure racer who befriends a stray dog during a South America cross-country race. Heart warming for athletes and dog lovers alike.  

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News of the World by Paulette Jiles

In the mood for a good western? Set in 1870 this popular book describes the adventures of Captain Kidd, who travels from town to town in the wild west reading news stories to the townspeople. When he agrees to return a young, orphaned girl to her family in Texas he faces a bigger challenge. Johanna has been raised by the Kiowa, doesn’t speak any English, and is very reluctant to trust anyone. An emotional adventure with a beautiful landscape.  

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Apples Never Fall by Liane Moriarty

Another gripping family saga from bestselling author Moriarty, yay! This seemingly perfect family starts to crumble when the mother, Joy, goes missing. Is the husband to blame? 

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Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare: The Desperadoes Who Plotted Hitler's Downfall, Giving Birth to Modern-Day Black Ops by Damien Lewis

During a bleak time in Britain’s history, Winston Churchill recruited a band of eccentric soldiers to use creative ways to disrupt the Nazis. History comes alive in this compelling narrative. 

Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare: The Desperadoes Who Plotted Hitler’s Downfall, Giving Birth to Modern-Day Black Ops by Damien Lewis Book

Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare: The Desperadoes Who Plotted Hitler’s Downfall, Giving Birth to Modern-Day Black Ops by Damien Lewis eBook

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Black Cake by Charmaine Wilkerson

A family recipe and a dying request put two siblings on a journey that crosses time and continents. From traditions of Caribbean Black Cake to the mysteries of untold family histories, this debut novel will pull you in.  

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A Gentleman in Moscow by Amor Towles

Set in 1922, our main character is sentenced to house arrest in a grand hotel near the Kremlin. With humor, colorful characters, and charming interactions he reflects on his life and purpose. Hugely popular bestseller. 

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Three-Body Problem by Cixin Liu, translated by Ken Liu

From China’s popular sci-fi author, this winner of the Hugo award will keep you thinking and reading. Back during China’s Cultural Revolution a group of scientists send a communication signal to space. Now, in our near future, the world gets a response. Book one of a trilogy.  

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Bad Luck and Trouble by Lee Child

Season two of Reacher is based on this exciting book by fan-fav author, Lee Child. Our hero Jack Reacher is informed that friends from his past elite military team have been brutally killed. Jack steps up to save the remaining survivors, including himself. 

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American Prometheus: The Triumph and Tragedy of J. Robert Oppenheimer by Kai Bird and Martin J. Sherwin.

This Pulitzer-Prize winning nonfiction book is the basis for the award-winning film, Oppenheimer. Detailing the complicated life of the famous physicist from his early career to his troubles after the bomb, the authors provide a well-rounded portrait of a complex man.

American Prometheus: The Triumph and Tragedy of J. Robert Oppenheimer by Kai Bird and Martin J. Sherwin. Book

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Stories in Stories in Stories

Explore the labyrinthine depths of storytelling with our captivating selection of metafictional masterpieces, where stories within stories beckon you into a world of narrative intrigue. Delve into a literary landscape where the boundaries of reality blur and the very act of storytelling takes center stage. From nested narratives to playful meta-commentary, we invite you to unravel the layers of narrative complexity and ponder the nature of fiction itself.  

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If on a Winter’s Night a Traveler by Italo Calvino

If on a winters night a traveler turns out to be not one novel but ten, each with a different plot, style, ambience, and author and each interrupted at a moment of suspense. Together they form a labyrinth of literatures, known and unknown, alive and extinct, through which two readers, a male and a female, pursue the story lines that intrigue them – and one another.

If on a Winter’s Night a Traveler by Italo Calvino Book

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Cloud Atlas by David Mitchell

Cloud Atlas follows a mesmerizing journey spanning centuries and continents, beginning with an American voyager in 1850 and traversing through Belgium, the West Coast in the 1970s, a near-future Korean superstate, and a postapocalyptic Hawaii. Each tale intricately weaves into the next, revealing interconnected fates and souls drifting across time. Mitchell’s narrative, akin to a videogame’s wild adventure and a Zen koan’s mystery, transcends cult classic status to captivate readers worldwide. 

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Pale Fire by Vladimir Nabakov

An ingeniously constructed parody of detective fiction and learned commentary, Pale Fire offers a cornucopia of deceptive pleasures, at the center of which is a 999-line poem written by the literary genius John Shade just before his death. Surrounding the poem is a foreword and commentary by the demented scholar Charles Kinbote, who interweaves adoring literary analysis with the fantastical tale of an assassin from the land of Zembla in pursuit of a deposed king. Brilliantly constructed and wildly inventive, Vladimir Nabokov’s witty novel achieves that rarest of things in literature—perfect tragicomic balance. 

Pale Fire by Vladimir Nabakov Book

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The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafon

Barcelona, 1945: A city slowly heals in the aftermath of the Spanish Civil War, and Daniel, an antiquarian book dealer’s son who mourns the loss of his mother, finds solace in a mysterious book entitled The Shadow of the Wind, by one Julián Carax. But when he sets out to find the author’s other works, he makes a shocking discovery: someone has been systematically destroying every copy of every book Carax has written. In fact, Daniel may have the last of Carax’s books in existence. Soon Daniel’s seemingly innocent quest opens a door into one of Barcelona’s darkest secrets—an epic story of murder, madness, and doomed love. 

The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafon Book

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Breakfast of Champions by Kurt Vonnegut 

In Kurt Vonnegut’s novel, Kilgore Trout, modeled after Theodore Sturgeon, roams between science fiction conventions, crossing paths with Dwayne Hoover, a typical Vonnegut character. Their encounter sets off a chain reaction involving various characters from Vonnegut’s repertoire, exploring the intersections of reality through Trout’s perspective, which oscillates between sanity and visionary insight, depending on Hoover’s perception. 

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Midnight’s Children by Salman Rushdie

Saleem Sinai, born at the stroke of midnight on India’s independence day in 1947, navigates the twists of his country’s destiny in Salman Rushdie’s Midnight’s Children. Rushdie’s tale blends fantasy, political satire, and individual reflection, heralding the return of epic storytelling. Winner of the Booker Prize in 1981 and later named ‘The Best of the Booker,’ Midnight’s Children continues to resonate with its exploration of displacement, time, and cultural identity. 

Midnight’s Children by Salman Rushdie Book

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Possession by A.S. Byatt

Following two young scholars as they delve into the lives of Victorian poets, Possession uncovers a tapestry of passion and ideas through letters, journals, and poems. Set against a backdrop spanning London to Brittany, it weaves an exhilarating tale of wit, romance, and intellectual mystery, earning accolades such as the Booker Prize and national bestseller status.

Possession by A.S. Byatt Book

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The Blind Assassin by Margaret Atwood

Atwood’s narrative begins with a poignant revelation from Iris about her sister’s tragic death, leading into a novel-within-a-novel titled The Blind Assassin, where two unnamed lovers share a science fiction tale. As the story progresses, the threads of Iris’s life and the inner novel intertwine, revealing a complex tapestry of secrets and surprises. With captivating prose capturing the essence of the 1930s and 1940s, The Blind Assassin delivers a deeply layered and rewarding exploration of love, loss, and deception. 

The Blind Assassin by Margaret Atwood Book

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Foucault’s Pendulum by Umberto Eco

Bored with their work, three Milanese editors cook up “the Plan,” a hoax that connects the medieval Knights Templar with other occult groups from ancient to modern times. This produces a map indicating the geographical point from which all the powers of the earth can be controlled — a point located in Paris, France, at Foucault’s Pendulum. But in a fateful turn the joke becomes all too real, and when occult groups, including Satanists, get wind of the Plan, they go so far as to kill one of the editors in their quest to gain control of the earth. 

Foucault’s Pendulum by Umberto Eco Book

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The Golden Notebook by Doris Lessing

Anna is a writer, author of one very successful novel, who now keeps four notebooks. In one, with a black cover, she reviews the African experience of her earlier years. In a red one she records her political life, her disillusionment with communism. In a yellow one she writes a novel in which the heroine relives part of her own experience. And in a blue one she keeps a personal diary. Finally, in love with an American writer and threatened with insanity, Anna resolves to bring the threads of all four books together in a golden notebook. 

The Golden Notebook by Doris Lessing Book