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Thomasville's Only Issue No.
Mar 3 - March 16 VOLUME 6
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It’s Due South Time Again!
This year's Due South is sure to be the biggest and best yet. With a brand new venue, exciting experiences and popular bands, Thomasville Center for the Arts and presenting partner Thomasville National Bank are ready to rock your fun-loving socks off. On April 22, 2017, Thomasville is going to be buzzing with art, food and music. headliners Turnpike Troubadours will take the stage at the OurMusical expertise City of Thomasville's brand new Creative District Amphitheater {located isTCA's in your behind Studio 209} on Saturday, April 22, with Nashville's Cordovas as the opening act. Best describedBritney by Glass country music syndicate best interest. Loanband Officer out of eastern CMT as "a gritty, country-leaning roots rock Oklahoma," Turnpike Troubadours "synthesize the populist, political folk
of Woody Guthrie and the outlaw-style honky tonk of Waylon Jennings with doses of bluegrass, Cajun and straight-out rock dynamics."
Quoted in the Ville
CHUMS
Also, stay tuned for a new addition to Due South weekend - Rhythm & Roots, a casual evening showcasing talented regional singer-songwriters in the round on Friday, April 21. Tickets are on sale now. Visit www.thomasvillearts.org to buy.
If your entire life was a movie, what title would best fit? Why?
Dara Creech
Want to Experience even more at Due South? Consider becoming a sponsor! Sponsorships begin at $300 and include access to a host of extras - a Happy Hour Sip & See exhibition, a Southern Supper, the TNB Sponsor Party and more. Learn more at http://www.thomasvillearts.org/ annual-events/duesouth.
The Metcalfe Spring Flea Market
—Kimberly A.— “Eat, Pray Love, because that’s all I ever do.” —Angel L.— “Life. A game, a cereal, and the hardest thing you’ll ever do.” —Kelcie A.— “To Live Until You Die Is to Live Long Enough. Because I’ve truly lived my life and if today was my last, I’d go with my head held high.”
Worth the Short Trip!
—Timothy D.— My favorite place to be on Saturday morning is smack dab in the middle of an outdoor antique show, a flea market or a really good yard sale. I am a picker, junker, dealer, buyer, seller. I’m addicted to the thrill of finding a good deal, and I love a good Market! Don’t we all?
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A good market, no, a great market, is just down the road in the historic little town of Metcalfe. On Saturday, March 11, from 9a until 2p, the community will buzz with activity as the Metcalfe Community Association holds its 5th Annual Spring Flea Market. What started as a big yard sale is now an event with over 75 vendors showcasing, among other things, antiques, furniture and vintage curiosities. There will be lots of furniture – antique, chalk-painted, shabby chic and hand crafted by woodworkers from centuries-old barn wood. There will be architectural salvage, up-cycled treasures, painted wooden signs and all sortsNatofHigdon handcrafted artwork. There will also be vendors bringing smaller Vice President, antiques – dishes, glassware and tchotchkes. And true to its roots, Metcalfe Commercial Lending will have a few yard sale booths as well.
www.tcfederal.com The Market will also feature a few vendors who sell ladies' and children’s clothing, accessories, jewelry, vintage linens, crocheted items, kitchen things, door wreaths, dog collars, honey, soaps, lotions, candles, nursery plants – the list is pretty much endless. You can check out all the dealers on our Facebook page, Metcalfe Spring Flea Market.
Even if you don’t want to shop {what?!} the music will be great. Southern rock band Jon Bellamy and the Rebels will entertain, as will Sighless Wolfhagen. The kids will also stay busy with a bounce house, the Community Park’s playground equipment and a Thomas County fire truck. Definitely plan to eat in Metcalfe. In addition to vendors offering homemade cakes and cookies, and those selling jams, jellies and other canned goods, and the boiled peanuts being sold by the Metcalfe Youth Group, breakfast in a cup will be provided by the Metcalfe ladies. So you can shop and eat all at the same time. Then there’s lunch and why not take something home for dinner too?! We’ve got the best chicken guy, the best barbecue guy, the best stir fry guy and the best hamburger/hotdog guy all cooking for us. But the pièce de résistance has to be the fresh funnel cakes. Yum. Metcalfe Spring Flea Market. March 11. Definitely worth the 10 mile trip. No admission charge and tons of good stuff. Be there! And if Metcalfe gets you hooked on flea markets, visit the Sweet South Cottage’s French Country Flea Market the next weekend, March 17 and 18 at the Car Museum on highway 90 near I-10 in Tallahassee. I’ll be there. — Kristin McGregor
You’re Maker Expands into New Space www.tcfederal.com
For Emily McKenna, being able to make things has served many purposes in her 32 years. It has been therapeutic, a source of income, a form of expression, a source of community. It has been a passion. In 2014, Emily founded You’re Maker with a desire to pass on that passion to others by teaching them the things she knew best: sewing and jewelry making. For over two years, You’re Maker has existed, by Emily’s own description, as a Broad Street spirit business. That is to say You’re Maker hasn’t had a home of its own, but has been fortunate to find a number of downtown merchants who believe in what You’re Maker does and offered their space for use. This March, You’re Maker will open its doors… its very own doors… on Smith Avenue with a refined vision that has been greatly informed by the spirit of collaboration experienced by the downtown merchants that housed You’re Maker classes over the years. You’re Maker will have two classrooms and offer classes ranging in subject from sewing and crafts to graphic design and programming. Immediately,
Trill in the 'ville
When I was driving to work on Friday, I started thinking about how hungry I was at that moment, and what I should grab to eat. When you don’t eat gluten, there aren’t many things that you can grab and go. I decided that if I could eat anything I wanted, it would be a Hardee’s ham biscuit with extra mustard with a side of country pork chop and gravy biscuit. Yeah, two biscuits. Don’t judge me. This isn’t a world of what-ifs or “hey, my stomach won’t explode” magic rainbows. So, that’s when I started thinking about my death-row last meal. What would I eat if I
Emily will offer after school sewing classes 5 afternoons a week for kids as young as four. There is a graphic design class and a Cosplay prop {shield} making class in the pipeline which will be taught by two talented young local women. Classes will not only teach skills but will also have projects connected to downtown businesses in order to expose kids to Thomasville’s strong sense of entrepreneurship. And don’t forget, fun will be had!
“The Generic Super Mommy. Because I’m like a good mom but I’m also a real hot mess.” — Alison N.— “Day by Day. Because I’m trying to learn to live life to its fullest potential. Not forgetting that there’s love, family and friends, and adventures.” —Victoria J.— “One with The Artistic World. I’ve always had a creative soul. Whether it was painting or photography, the arts have always called to me on a deeper level that I can’t explain within myself.” —Kimberly A.— “Lost in Translation. Because living here feels like I am stranded in a foreign country.” —Rich C.—
Save the Date: Fifth Annual Hands + Hearts for Horses Hoedown The Fifth Annual Hands + Hearts for Horses Hoedown will be held at the Sugar Hill Barn at Pebble Hill Plantation on March 24 from 6:30p-10:30p. Each ticket includes dinner from John Thomas Catering, drinks, a silent and live auction and live music from the Tanners Lane Band. Also, be sure to bring out your dancing shoes for a night of fun for a great cause. {Pssstttt...they’re giving out a prize for best cowboy boots!}
In addition to classes, You’re Maker will provide a new place for parents to go for a creative birthday party option. You can have a party where kids will have fun learning something new such as sewing or jewelry making and create their own take home gift. Emily can accommodate all skill levels and will work with you to figure out the perfect project for your son or daughter’s birthday party.
The Hands & Hearts for Horses Hoedown is HHH’s largest fundraiser of the year. You can help HHH by participating as a sponsor, attendee or silent auction donor. All contributions from this event go to benefit HHH’s mission to celebrate the unique gifts and challenges of each individual by encouraging growth through therapeutic horsemanship and human relationships.
Find You’re Maker at 127-D Smith Ave and a list of classes at www. youremaker.com. Sign up for the newsletter to stay informed about new, unique class offerings.
Tickets are available online at https://handsandheartsforhorses. networkforgood.com/events/1642-hands-and-hearts-for-horses-hoedown. Individual tickets are $65 and sponsorships are available from $150$1500. Sponsorship contributions fund programs that support HHH’s mission. Sponsors will also receive extensive pre-event and on-site exposure surrounding the Hands + Hearts Hoedown.
could eat anything, as my last meal? Gluten be damned. I’d eat anything and everything. Ted Bundy’s last meal was steak, eggs, hash browns and coffee. His meal is definitely the least depressing of the list that follows. Eggs, though? Aileen Wuornos’s last meal was a cup of coffee. No! Why do that to yourself? Timothy McVeigh had two pints of mint chocolate chip ice cream. Eh? Stacey Lamont Lawton had a jar of pickles. Word. Granted those are all terrible people, but why these items? One person got oatmeal. Ewwww. This is what I would go with: Cheese and charcuterie board: only cow’s milk cheese, nothing stinky. Cantaloupe and prosciutto from
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Babbo. Thanks, Mario Batali. A cheddar bay biscuit from Red Lobster. A roll from Marie Livingston’s. A porterhouse and three slices of bacon from Peter Luger’s. A thin layer chocolate cake from someone’s grandma. A bottle of nice red wine. A burger from Holman and Finch. Fried chicken breast from Weaver D’s {& a Hardee’s country ham biscuit with extra mustard and a side of a fried pork chop biscuit with gravy} I guess that about does it. You know because a steak, fried chicken and burger aren’t quite enough—I’d still need a thin layer chocolate cake from someone’s grandma.
F r e e
Each year hundreds of individuals from ages four to sixty are served by Hands and Hearts for Horses. These individuals receive physical, mental and financial support. HHH cares for 12 horses on a 14-acre facility with a professional staff who are leaders in the field of therapeutic riding.
Dara is a shining light in the school system. It takes a village, and it's wonderful to know she's part of that "village." Kids, parents and teachers all seem to unanimously agree she's a pretty spectacular person. Dara is a voice of reason, a shoulder for comfort and an ear to all who need it. This mother of three is the true definition of a Southern Sweetheart. How long have you lived in Thomasville? Almost my whole life. I moved to Thomasville when I was six years old and in kindergarten at Garrison-Pilcher, the school I work in now.
Where did you attend college? Valdosta State University. I got both my undergraduate and graduate degrees from there. When did you decide you wanted to be a guidance counselor? I had an awesome school counselor when I was in school at Cross Creek, Mrs. Kaki Harmon, who inspired me to go in that direction. At the time I was getting my undergraduate degree you had to have classroom experience to become a school counselor, so I got a degree in Early Childhood Education and started teaching. Seven years in the classroom, a husband and two kids later I decided to go back and get my graduate degree in school counseling. This is my third year as Garrison-Pilcher's school counselor, and I truly believe I have the greatest job on Earth! What's the story on how you met your husband? Todd would tell you he asked me out three times before I said yes. I don't remember it that way, exactly. I would see Todd from time to time when he came home from college and we would chit-chat. He might have asked me to come to a Christmas party at one point, but I would have assumed he was joking {because I thought he was joking and I also thought he was too old for me}. However, he definitely asked me out the summer before my senior year of high school and I said yes, and the rest is history. That was the summer of 2000, and we've been together ever since.
CHUMS
What is your favorite thing about being a parent? Oh my gosh, this is hard to answer because being a parent is pretty awesome most of the time! However, I would have to say that my favorite thing is our conversations. The verdict is still out on Baby Cannon {he's only one}, but our big boys {Carson, 10 and Cooper, almost 7} are hilarious! They have a great sense of humor and literally make us laugh every day! Do you have any funny parenting stories? With three boys, life is pretty much laugh or cry {laughing}! At our house, we choose to laugh, so every day is pretty funny! Our oldest can't decide if he's too cool or still a toddler. One minute he's "leave me alone, I got this." The next he's, "Can you tie my shoes please?" He's got big love for others and a heart that blows us away, though! Our middle guy is always too cool! He has a special hairstyle that he works to perfection every morning, outfits he styles himself depending on what "look" he's going for, and one liners like, "I'm a hottie because you're a hottie, Mama" for days. The baby is well... a baby. He's crawling and into everything! They're all so dadgum cute, I can't take it, though! What is your favorite thing about Thomasville? The people, for sure. We have the most friendly people in our little town. If you could give one piece of advice to the youth today, what would it be? Be empathetic. People deserve your understanding. Live in the present and keep your eyes open to the world around you. There are wonderful and terrible things everywhere that deserve your attention. It's hard to grasp the fact that not everyone lives the same way you do, but it is imperative to acknowledge that, for better or worse, that is the case. You have to meet people where they are. What is your favorite place take a family vacation? We are total beach bums, so the beach is our home away from home! Thomasville is in such a good location for us to get here in a hurry! What is your favorite flavor of ice cream? So, I'm not a big ice cream fan, but my favorite cold treat is a Reese's Cup Blizzard! What is something interesting about you that isn't common knowledge? I try to be an open book, so I feel like everything about me is common knowledge, but maybe that I'm not a huge fan of pets {gasp!}. I think they're cute and I like for other people to have them, but I'm not desperate to have any of my own. It might have something to do with those 3 cute {wild} boys I have. They sometimes make me feel like I already have pets. {smiling}
Hands + Hearts relies heavily on volunteer manpower and in-kind donations to keep the costs low. They must subsidize 73% of the cost of every rider’s participation and this cost is met through contributed income. To find out more about HHH, visit http://www.handsandheartsforhorses.com/. — Denise P.
—Denise P.
t o
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t h a n k s
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t h e s e :
Our Clients Are Our Friends
March 1-25
Thomasville Center for the Arts
Phone 229-226-3911 www.keysouth.com
SCHEDULE OF EVENTS www.thomasvillearts.org
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— Cherie L.
Mar 3 - March 16 VOLUME 6
Mar 3 - March 16 VOLUME 6
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March 3 + 4 The Crazy Daysies LIVE at Cream of the Crop Cafe and Wine Bar Cream of the Crop Cafe and Wine Bar, South Eden Plantation, 301 Showboat Lane 6-10p; Family friendly; free Live Music Nights at Cream of the Crop Cafe and Wine Bar, featuring the beautiful Crazy Daysies! The Southern-hearted duo will be performing live, for two nights, kicking off at 6p.
Our Staff
March 4 Spring Sweep Yard Sale
Publisher
Thomasville Garden Center 8a - noon All four garden club members are bringing their "treasures." They will have rugs, furniture, art, knick-knacks, etc.
Editor in Chief
Finding History in Our Stories with Storyteller Saundra Kelley
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Thomas County History Museum, 725 N. Dawson St. - 10a - noon Join storyteller Saundra Kelley to seek out, record and tell Thomasville’s lesser-known historic past for today. Students will reach back into their own memories and family memories. After the stories are vetted, students will begin the process of learning to tell stories by diagramming them onto the “storyteller’s arc,” and learning to tell them in an oral tradition format. $150 for four, two hour classes. Class dates: Saturday, February 4, 25, March 4 & 11, 2017. For more info or to register call 229-226-0588 or visit www.thomasvillearts.org.
Jennifer Westfield
Social Media Dara Barwick Denise Purvis
Columnists
J. David Bray, Jr. Sarah Esra Denise Purvis Kelly Samek
TCCHS Band Booster Fundraiser Country Oaks Golf Course 8:30a-12:30p TCCHS {Thomas County Central High School} Band Booster Fundraiser. {4} person scramble with an 8:30am shot-gun start.
Contributing Writers Clay Byars June Dollar Catharine Fennell Benjamin Gardner William Hamil Annie Jones Cherie Lee Denise Purvis Jennifer Westfield
March 7 2017 Spring Program Series: “Mosquito-Borne Illnesses in South Georgia,” presented by Dr. Mark Blackmore, Professor of Biology, Valdosta State University Thomas County Museum of History, 725 N. Dawson St., 6p The Thomas County Historical Society is proud to present a redesigned 2017 Spring Program series exploring the history, culture, ecology, and landscape of the Red Hills region. Dr. Mark Blackmore, Professor of Biology at Valdosta State University, will deliver “Mosquito-Borne Disease in Georgia: Connecting Our Past to the Present,” a lecture on the Yellow Fever epidemic of the early nineteenth century and discuss the mosquito-borne illness’ impact on South Georgia settlements. An expert on mosquito biology, Dr. Blackmore has published more than twenty scholarly peer-reviewed papers on the subject and has been on the faculty of Valdosta State University since 1996. For more info, call 229-2267664 or visit www.thomascountyhistory.org.
Advertising Design Katie Reeves
Layout
Clay Byars
Distribution Trent Tucker
March 10 + 11 Ballast Point Tap Takeover at Sweet Grass Dairy Cheese Shop Sweet Grass Dairy Cheese Shop, 123 S. Broad St. 11a-10p SGD will relinquish its 8 beer taps and let the creative crew from Ballast Point take them over! Join in at the Cheese Shop for this non-hostile takeover.
Georgia Press Association
March 11 Mallory Lewis and Lamb Chop
The Thomasville Townie publishes the first and third Friday of every month. To advertise, suggest article ideas or contact staff members, please email yourtownie@gmail.com.
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Thomasville Center for the Arts, 600 E. Washington St. 10a Generations have grown up with Lamb Chop — the sassy sock puppet who debuted on “Captain Kangaroo” in 1957, coming to life on the hand of ventriloquist Shari Lewis. Lewis died in 1998, and after a brief career hiatus, Lamb Chop went back to work, this time sharing the spotlight with Shari’s daughter, Mallory Lewis. The high-energy show, filled with music, comedy and audience participation, resonates with audiences from toddlers to seniors who grew up watching Lamb Chop on television. In a workshop following the performance, children may make their own sock puppets to take home. For more information call 229-226-7404 or visit www.tefconcerts.com.
Fifth Annual Metcalfe Spring Flea Market 2009 Magnolia Rd., Metcalfe, Ga., 9a-2p Join in for a full day of family fun! This year there are more vendors! You can expect 75 food and craft booths selling antiques, hand- made crafts, plants, garden decor, jewelry, cosmetics and much more. There will also be live music, and space to dance and play.
March 16 Cocktails + Commerce at Ashley Furniture HomeStore 2018 E. Pinetree Blvd., 5-7p Join on the third Thursday of every month for networking, hors d'oeuvres, beer & wine and door prizes! Each month will be sponsored by a Chamber member business and held at their location.
When it comes to your business or event, the right creative choices can help you stand out from the crowd. Be brave.
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Farmer’s Daughter Vineyards to Release New Wine Attention all wine fans! A new red has come to town. Farmer’s Daughter Vineyards has a cider, some refreshing whites and a Pinot Noir-style red, the Knockout, but they do not have a big, bold and dry red. For all of you Townies who have been requesting one, it will come out on April 21 at 7p. The new wine has been named “The Heartbreaker,” which will fill that hole in their repertoire. Just like the winery and all of the wines, they are named after their daughter. Renee Moss, owner, said that they jokingly say, "If we don’t release a Cab-style red, people are going to riot.” The release party has been dubbed the “Red Riot” as a part of their inside joke. “To date, we’ve released one red variety, the incredibly popular Knockout, which is Pinot Noir-style… delicate, jammy and spicy. Knockout has garnered many awards and led our sales since opening. But a Cab-style red is a much-needed part of our fleet,” said Moss. Moss described the wine as a “lovely, dark, full-bodied wine” which was produced from French-American hybrid grapes {LeNoir and Lomanto} grown at the vineyards in Pelham, Ga. Nashville singer/songwriter, Aubrey Wollett, will perform in the Tasting Room for the big event, where they will open the first bottles of the new wine and feature limited edition Heartbreaker ultra-soft tees. In May, FDV will release another new red variety, whose name is also a secret. This second release of 2017 will be a Shiraz-style red, a vibrant, South-African-style wine. Farmer’s Daughter Vineyards {FDV} is a farm winery located adjacent to Hawthorne Farms {HF}, a third-generation family farm focused on traditional row crops, including cotton and peanuts. FDV and HF share the same operations team and workforce, led by Clayton Moss and his wife Renee, who oversees sales and marketing. For more information, check out their Facebook page or visit them online at http://farmersdaughtervineyards.com/. — Denise P.
Farm to Table
Baklava with a Southern Accent Given its popularity, why more home bakers don't attempt making baklava is a bit of a mystery. It may be that the deterrent is phyllo dough's overblown reputation as being difficult to work with. As long as you keep the dough cool and work expeditiously, using phyllo is actually an easy way to achieve impressive results. Remember, too, that baklava's wrinkly layers are quite forgiving of imperfect technique. With this rendition, the traditional flavors of baklava usually brought by honey and walnuts give way to flavors more commonly associated with pecan pie or pralines, owing to the cane syrup, brown sugar and pecans within its flaky strata.
Baklava with a Southern Accent 3 cups pecans, toasted Zest of half a large orange 1 1/4 cup brown sugar, divided 1 teaspoon salt 1 pound phyllo dough, thawed but cold 1 cup butter, melted 1 cup cane syrup 1 cup water Fresh orange peel from half a large orange, in large strips Heat the oven to 350 degrees F. Place the pecans, orange zest, 1/2 cup of the brown sugar and salt into the bowl of a food processor. Chop finely using about 15 quick pulses. Set aside. Trim the phyllo sheets to fit a 13" by 9" pan. Brush the bottom and sides of the pan with butter. Place a sheet of phyllo flat in the pan and brush with butter. Repeat this step 9 times. Spread about one third of the pecan mixture evenly over the phyllo. Layer 6 more sheets of phyllo with butter as before, followed by another third of the pecans. Repeat with another 6 sheets of buttered phyllo, and top with remaining pecans. Top with 8 sheets of phyllo, again brushing with butter in between each sheet and generously on top. Bake for 30 minutes. Remove pan from the oven and cut into squares or triangles. Return to oven and bake for another 30 minutes. Set aside to cool. In a saucepan over medium high heat, combine the cane syrup, water, remaining 3/4 cup brown sugar and orange peel. Stir until the sugar has dissolved. Bring to a boil. Stir occasionally as syrup boils for 10 minutes to reduce. Remove from heat and discard the orange peel. After the baklava has cooled for at least an hour, re-cut the squares or triangles along the same lines as before. Pour warm syrup over the entire top of the baklava, making sure to get some in all of the cut lines and edges. Cool completely. Cover and allow to sit at room temperature from 8 hours to overnight before serving.
Where Living is Easy
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— Kelly S.
Let the record show: This is the month I began listening to audiobooks. For me, listening to words will never replace actually reading them; I’m a visual learner, and I doubt just any old audiobook would capture my attention. This month, though, I discovered two audiobooks I adored, and it’s fun to know listening to books is now an option for me to cover more reading territory. On that note, if you, too, are a listener of audiobooks, come talk to me about ways you can buy digital audiobooks through The Bookshelf. We’ve begun a new program with Libro.fm, a digital audiobook provider {think Audible, but for indie bookstores like ours}. And now, without further ado, the books I read in February:
Special Topics in Calamity Physics by Marisha Pessl. While in New York for vacation, I picked up my own “blind date with a book,” a Valentine’sthemed promotion a lot of independent bookstores try. I snagged this brown paper-covered book based solely on the store’s description, without knowing what was wrapped inside, and hooray: I had never read Special Topics in Calamity Physics, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. The novel is written from the perspective of a collegeaged young woman devastated by a mentor’s suicide, but as she guides the reader back through her senior year of high school at a Southern prep school, we learn there’s more to the tragedy than meets the eye. Special Topics is a time commitment, and I think it drags on a hundred or so pages too long, but I really liked this one. For fans of The Secret History and Prep. The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas. I started my Black History Month reading with this new YA novel based on the Black Lives Matter movement. The book was dialogue-heavy, which while not always my favorite often seems to be a prominent element of YA literature. The dialogue aside, Angie Thomas made me care deeply for 16-year-old Starr Carter and her family. The subject matter is handled deftly and with nuance, and I finished The Hate U Give very glad to have read it. For fans of Ghettoside and All the Bright Places. This Is How It Always Is by Laurie Frankel. This was my first
audiobook of the month, chosen solely to experiment with Libro.fm; I wasn’t event sure I’d be able to finish! Because of those circumstances, I went into the novel cold, without knowing a thing about it, and I’m so glad I did. I’d like for fellow readers to be able to do the same, so I’m hesitant to describe this one too much, but if you like stories about dysfunctional, quirky families trying to do their best with unusual, difficult circumstances, this one might be for you. Stop by the shop, and I’ll tell you more about it, but know this: This Is How It Always Is is one of my favorite books of the year thus far. The writing is incredible, and the story swallows you up. For fans of The Children and Everything I Never Told You.
Last Things by Marissa Moss. Last Things is a graphic memoir by Marissa Moss, an artist and illustrator I immediately recognized from my years as a devoted reader of Amerian Girl magazine and Amelia’s Notebook. In Last Things, Marissa recounts her husband’s final months with ALS and the toll those days took on her family. The book is raw and heartbreaking and real, an honest portrayal of illness and how it affects both the patient and the patient’s caregivers. Somehow, the book remains hopeful, too, and I walked away not only with gratitude for a healthy body, but with gratitude for writers and illustrators like Marissa, who can put our most intimate stories into words and pictures. For fans of When Breath Becomes Air.
Difficult Women by Roxane Gay. I read this short story collection for an
episode of The Bookshelf podcast, and although many of the stories were filled with subject matter that often left me heartbroken and overwhelmed, I’m so glad I decided to finish. Much like A Little Life, Difficult Women isn’t a book for every reader, but Roxane Gay is at her best, I think, in these short stories about women from all walks of life, in all types of circumstances. The writing is visceral, often explicit, but never gratuitous. Many of the middle stories dealt with sexual assault and rape, and those stories, in particular, were tough for me to endure. The last three stories were my favorites of the collection, dealing with post-apocalyptic themes without ever veering into Hunger Games territory. For fans of Miranda July, Adam Johnson, and A Little Life.
Into the Water by Paula Hawkins. You know I love a good thriller,
but the best ones are often hard to find, and I wasn’t sure Paula Hawkins’ upcoming new novel would fit the bill. {Remember, Hawkins had huge success with her debut novel, The Girl on the Train.} I braced myself for a sophomore slump, but never fear: Into the Water was fun and suspenseful, though the six {!} alternating narrators were sometimes a little tough to track. The most outspoken women in the book’s little town often find themselves at the bottom of the sweeping river that weaves in and out of their community; sometimes they’ve jumped in on their own, and other times, there’s something more sinister at play. I flew through this one, which is always the mark of a good suspense book. For fans of The Woman in Cabin 10 and {dare I say it?} Tana French.
Lincoln in the Bardo by George Saunders. Bookseller confession: I’ve never read George Saunders’ short stories, but when readers — including our very own Chris Jensen — began raving about Saunders’ first novel, Lincoln in the Bardo, I knew I had to try it. Since I was in the middle of some other books, and since the audiobook itself has been getting plenty of attention, I decided to listen to this one. The language is sweeping and brilliant, and even with an overwhelming number of voices and characters, I was never confused by the story itself. The novel begins — sort of — with the death of President Lincoln’s young son, Willie, but instead of following Lincoln and his life after Willie’s death, we follow Willie into the afterlife. Lincoln in the Bardo is unlike anything I’ve ever read, in the best possible way. For fans of The Underground Railroad and Doris Kearns Goodwin. — Annie Butterworth Jones Co-Owner + Managing Partner, T he Bookshelf