A Few of Our Favorite Things 2019 Reading Recommendations for Adults
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Introduction Wake County Public Libraries wishes you a joyous holiday season and Happy New Year. Our Adult Services Librarians have created our annual gift to you—this booklet featuring some of our favorite recent books. From novels of all genres to nonfiction and biographies, you are sure to find some books to love among these librarian favorites!
Reading Tools, Services & Programs for Adults WCPL has great tools for finding books on our Reading page: www.wakegov.com/libraries/reading Our librarians offer individualized professional services, such as downloading eBooks/eAudio books, scheduling and selecting Book Club Kits, advice on cover letters, resumes, and job searches, and custom book lists just for you! For information and registration see www.wakegov.com/libraries/services/adults We offer a variety of adult programs and book discussions at our regional libraries. From live music to monthly crafts, from small business expertise to author visits – we have programs to suit your interests! For information and registration see www.wakegov.com/libraries/events
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With the Fire on High by Elizabeth Acevedo
YA ACEVEDO
Emoni Santiago is a high school senior focused on making the best decisions for her and her daughter’s future. She has a passion for cooking and is excited about the culinary arts course that her school is finally offering. Emoni takes her responsibility as a mother very seriously, and the kitchen is the only place she’s willing to let loose. The cooking scenes are so vivid you can you can almost see and smell the food she is preparing. As this story progresses, we see Emoni grow in so many ways, thanks to her culinary arts course. ~ Carla P. Children of Blood and Bone by Tomi Adeyemi
YA ADEYEMI
In this world based on West African mythology, the King of Orïsha has declared magic forbidden and wiped out most of those who could use it. The few remaining magi are cut off from their powers and have lived for years in fear and violent oppression. Now, one young woman has a rare chance to bring magic back to her people. Like all the best epic fantasy authors, Adeyemi builds a detailed and vibrant world and sweeps you up along with the characters in an adventure that is fast paced, gripping and emotional. ~ Melissa K. Iron and Magic by Ilona Andrews
Sci Fi/Fantasy/Horror ANDREWS
Hugh d’Ambray, warlord and leader of the Iron Dogs, served his master well until he was cast aside. Now a shadow of the warrior he was, he learns that his loyal soldiers are being hunted down. Hugh knows he must find shelter for his men, but they have no money or food, and the enemy is closing in. Elara Harper, powerful leader of her people, is trapped between opposing forces headed for a deadly collision. Both are infamous for betraying those that trust them, but can they form an alliance strong enough to meet the coming apocalypse? ~ Morgan P.
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The Travelling Cat Chronicles by Hiro Arikawa
Fiction ARIKAWA
When cat lover Satoru Miyawaki saves the life of a feline with a familiar face and distinctive tail, he adopts the cat and names him Nana. Life takes a turn however, and Satoru is forced to find someone to take care of his furry little friend. So Satoru hops into his silver van, places Nana on the passenger seat, and journeys across Japan, visiting and reminiscing with friends and family. The reason why Satoru cannot keep his kitty remains a secret to the reader; as the story progresses, it appears that their travels may come to a bittersweet end. ~ Mike C. Us Against You by Fredrik Backman
Fiction BACKMAN
In Beartown we witness a traumatic event that leaves the town with broken families and a broken hockey team. Us Against You picks up where it left off by telling the story of how the town struggles to rebuild a team that held them together. Revisiting most of the characters from the first book, Backman explores issues such as teenage delinquency, drug and alcohol addiction, violence, rivalry, and sexuality in small town life. With raw emotion, this book will leave you yearning for more stories from Beartown. ~ Cris E. The Silence of the Girls: A Novel by Pat Barker
Fiction BARKER
Homer’s Illiad is retold through the eyes of Briseis, a queen awarded to Achilles after the battle that resulted in the destruction of her city and the slaughter of her family. The Silence of the Girls subverts Briseis’ outward submission as portrayed in the Illiad, giving voice to her inner lament as she reacts to the humiliation of her enslavement and the futility of war. Moving women into the foreground of this tale allows us to see the multiple forms of violence that envelop the victorious and vanquished alike. For fans of Madeline Miller’s Circe and Margaret Atwood’s Penelopiad. ~ Deborah H.
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The Story of Arthur Truluv by Elizabeth Berg
Fiction BERG
Arthur eats lunch with his wife every day, the only thing is, she’s buried in the cemetery in Mason, Missouri. One lunch time he meets teenager Maddie and a lifelong friendship is born; add octogenarian Lucille to the mix and this heartwarming story is complete. Maddie and Lucille move in with Arthur and the ladies clean and cook while Arthur offers up moral support and guidance. All three are strong-willed people set in their ways, but over the course of a few short months, they learn to live and love together. ~ Patricia M. The Night Tiger by Yangsze Choo Fiction CHOO In Colonial Malaysia people are murdered and fingers are missing. Locals believe a tiger is responsible. Ren is a house servant for an eccentric and dying doctor with a missing finger. He promises to find the finger and return it to be buried with the doctor within forty days so that his soul can rest. He meets Ja Lin, a dressmaker’s apprentice who is moonlighting as a dancehall girl and discovers that they have a mysterious connection. The Night Tiger is full of suspense and Asian folklore, real tigers and were-tigers (spirit animals), killers and hunters. ~ Lisa L. Second Sight by Aoife Clifford
Mystery CLIFFORD
Eliza Carmody is an attorney working on a case that brings her back to the hometown she would rather forget. While there she witnesses an episode of road rage that leaves the victim hospitalized with critical injuries. As she lends her legal skills to the search for the assailant, she begins to question the events she saw that day. Before long she also begins to question her memories of an incident from her teens that may reveal a long buried secret. A complex and twisty Australian mystery/thriller. ~ Lisa W.
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Dark Sacred Night by Michael Connelly
Mystery CONNELLY
LAPD graveyard shift detective, Renee Ballard, teams up for the first time with retired detective, Harry Bosch, to solve a cold case. Both are outsiders with complicated pasts, but they are passionate about solving the case. Ballard’s fearless vitality compliments Bosch’s quiet focus and experience. Most of all, their similar calibers in character and skill lead them to save each other’s life and form a perfect partnership. A page turner. ~ Celia G. Kill the Farm Boy by Delilah S. Dawson and Kevin Hearne Sci Fi/Fantasy/Horror DAWSON Once upon a time, a farm boy was born as the Chosen One. Destined to be a great ruler in some novel, it won’t be in this fairytale trope destroyer. Our farm boy embarks on a quest to wake a slumbering princess. His adversary is a Dark Lord whose specialty is making it rain bread. This adventure includes a snarky goat, a songless bard, and an assassin who is terrified of chickens. Enjoy the reinvention of fairytales spun in Monty Python and Terry Pratchett style. This satire provokes laughter with witty word play as it indeed kills the farm boy. ~ Pamela C. The Woman in the Window by A.J. Finn
Fiction FINN
The Woman in the Window is a psychological thriller along the lines of Alfred Hitchcock’s Rear Window. A homebound agoraphobic, Anna Fox, spends a great deal of time spying on her neighbors, until one day she thinks she witnesses a murder. Fighting her own demons with a mixture of alcohol and medication makes her an unreliable witness, but she knows what she saw – or does she? The plot has twists that will make you doubt what you thought was true as the story unfolds in unexpected ways. ~ Carol M.
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Magic For Liars by Sarah Gailey
Sci Fi/Fantasy/Horror GAILEY
Ivy Gamble is perfectly content leading a solitary life as a private investigator. She doesn’t miss her sister and she certainly isn’t bitter about being born without magic. Also, she’s a liar. She’ll be forced to confront the lies she tells herself when she’s asked to investigate a murder at the Osthorne Academy of Young Mages, the school where her estranged sister now teaches. At the academy, Ivy will have to contend with a distant sister, secretive teenagers, a potential love interest, and a first-hand look at the life she missed out on – a life of magic. ~ Erin L. All We Ever Wanted by Emily Giffin
Fiction GIFFIN
This novel is told in three voices: Nina, who married into old money and worries about her privileged son Finch’s morals; Lyla, a scholarship student at the prestigious private high school that her crush, Finch, attends; and Tom, Lyla’s father, who seeks to protect his daughter after a sexually and racially charged photo of her is sent from Finch’s phone. An engrossing page turner! ~ Susan L. The Wedding Date by Jasmine Guillory
Fiction GUILLORY
A groomsman in his best friend’s wedding, Drew, a pediatric surgeon, finds himself without a date. Alexa, a career-driven woman used to fast-paced politics, is in town celebrating her sister’s promotion. When these two get stuck in a hotel elevator together, a connection is made. Alexa decides to live a little and agrees to pose as Drew’s girlfriend for the wedding festivities. Will this romantic ruse become real or just another dating disaster? If you like this book, check out Guillory’s other novels including Royal Holiday, a seasonal romance out this Fall. ~ Amy W.
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An Anonymous Girl by Greer Hendricks and Sarah Pekkanen Fiction HENDRICKS Jessica, a makeup artist, needs extra cash. To remedy this situation she partakes in Dr. Shields two-day morality study, where one must answer thought-provoking questions truthfully. The study is extended and soon Jessica is subjected to manipulated tasks where she does not know what is real or part of the study. She discovers that not everything is what it seems and questions whom she can trust. Told in alternating perspectives the reader gets insight into the thoughts of Jessica and Dr. Shields. A suspenseful and haunting novel that will make you think of your own stances on moral issues. ~ Christina N. Sounds Like Titanic by Jessica Chiccehitto Hindman
Biography HINDMAN
Jessica Chiccehitto Hindman had almost given up on her dreams of being a concert violinist when she found what seemed to be her dream job accompanying a famous composer on tour. At her first concert, she discovers that the microphones are not on and the speakers are blaring prerecorded music from a CD. The result of her experience is this book, part hilarious memoir and part thoughtful reflection on gender, coming of age and the nature of what is real and what is fake. ~ Robert C. Verity by Colleen Hoover
Fiction HOOVER
When famous author Verity Crawford suffers a traumatic brain injury, struggling writer Lowen Ashleigh takes a job as her ghostwriter. After moving into the author’s estate, Lowen develops feelings for her husband Jeremy. One night Lowen discovers Verity’s unfinished autobiography manuscript that detailed her deepest and darkest secrets. Knowing the damage the manuscript would cause the Crawford family, Lowen must decide if she should keep it a secret or show it to Jeremy in an attempt to break up his marriage. ~ Jen B.
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Underground: A Human History of the Worlds Beneath Our Feet by Will Hunt Nonfiction 624.1 HUNT In the summer of Will Hunt’s 16th year, he takes his first underground excursion into an abandoned train tunnel that lies underneath his Providence, Rhode Island neighborhood. This marks the beginning of a persistent quest for places, people, and organisms living below the earth’s surface. He explores the New York and Paris undergrounds and caves in Australia, France, and Mexico. There he meets those living in subway tunnels and witnesses relics of past lives in paintings, graffiti, and sculptures created deep within the earth. Experience this fascinating, spiritual, and sometimes harrowing journey into the diverse world of life beneath our feet. ~ Ashlyn B. Stone Mothers by Erin Kelly
Fiction KELLY
In this wickedly twisted psychological suspense title by Erin Kelly, a forbidding former asylum is the setting for chilling events of 30 years ago. Marianne was 17 when she fled her home, leaving behind her family, her boyfriend, and the body they buried. Forced to return in order to help her mother, Marianne is determined to do anything to protect the new life she built. Alternating voices share the secrets from the past which some desperately want to remain hidden. Great thriller and a good choice for fans of Lisa Unger and S.J.Watson. ~ Janet M. I Owe You One by Sophie Kinsella
Fiction KINSELLA
Fixie Farr just has to fix things. So when Seb, a handsome stranger, asks for a favor, Fixie agrees and saves the day. Seb scribbles her an IOU as thanks, but Fixie never intends to use it. That is until her teenage crush, Ryan, comes back into her life and needs her help. Fixie turns to Seb and now Fixie owes Seb. Soon the pair are caught up in a series of IOUs and Fixie is torn between the past she’s used to and the future she deserves. Does she have the courage to fix things for herself and fight for the life, and love, she really wants? ~ Holly H.
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Basketball: A Love Story by Jackie MacMullan
Nonfiction 796.323 MACMU
This book is essential reading for any NBA fan with stories dating back to the 1960s Celtics and chronicling up through the ABA, Bird versus Magic, the Dream Team, and to the present day. The stories are told in an oral history format and consist almost entirely of quotes from dozens of key players from each era. Of particular interest to North Carolinians are the two chapters that highlight two of the most extraordinary college programs in basketball history: Coach K’s Duke and Dean Smith’s UNC. ~ Robert D. I Am Still Alive by Kate Alice Marshall
YA MARSHALL
Jess Cooper survives a horrible car accident, rendering her disabled and motherless. After enduring rehabilitation and foster care she finally joins her estranged father in Northern Canada. It turns out he isn’t what he seems when he leaves her vulnerable in the wilderness. Jess deals with constant pain and struggles with normal daily activities, but what if the experience of becoming disabled actually prepares you to survive in the wilderness? Perseverance and strength of will are the themes of this book. ~ Tara B. The Widows of Malabar Hill by Sujata Massey
Fiction MASSEY
Inspired by the first Indian female lawyer to graduate from Oxford, Perveen goes back to school to study law after her battered marriage. She joins her father’s law firm to fight for women without voices in the legal system. Farid, their rich client, died leaving four purdah widows an inheritance. Perveen is assigned to assist the widows, but discovers they have signed off the inheritance to a charity. She pours her energy into investigating why, but there is a twist. She must bring the killer of the estate overseer to justice. Set in early 1900s India, this piece will fascinate fans of legal thriller and historical fiction. ~ Mary A.
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The Invited by Jennifer McMahon
Fiction MCMAHON
After building a suburban life together, Helen and Nate decide to leave their teaching jobs and move to the country so they can build their dream home. They find some beautiful land in Vermont for a steal and begin pouring foundation, building frames, and searching for local salvage. Before the walls even go up, it becomes clear to Helen that the home they’re building comes with a little more than historical ties — it comes with spirits as well. Helen follows a ghostly trail and uncovers the secrets of their land and an old and infamous local legend. ~ Joy J. The Bookshop of Yesterdays by Amy Meyerson
Fiction MEYERSON
The first clue arrived the day after Uncle Billy died. Miranda hadn’t seen her favorite uncle in 16 years. What follows is a book lover’s scavenger hunt from the grave. She finds herself in possession of the bookstore he owned along with a host of colorful characters. She becomes determined to save Prospero Books while searching for clues in the shelves. Miranda uncovers family secrets long buried in her quest to find what Uncle Billy will reveal. ~ Dayna S. The Burning Chambers by Kate Mosse
Fiction MOSSE
Catholic Minou receives a mysterious message slipped under the door of her father’s bookshop; “SHE KNOWS THAT YOU LIVE.” Protestant Piet is deeply involved in the Huguenot cause. The two meet by happenstance and their star-crossed romance unfolds amidst the violence of religious warfare between Catholic and Protestant in 1500s France. Add stolen religious relics and a disputed inheritance to the mix and readers receive a history lesson as well as an engrossing story in this first novel of a planned trilogy. For fans of Ken Follett’s historical fiction and trilogies. ~ Erin D.
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Henry, Himself by Stewart O’Nan
Fiction ONAN
Set in Pittsburgh in 1998, this charming book tells the story of Henry Maxwell, a retired engineer, and his family. O’Nan conveys gentle wisdom through his description of ordinary events. Henry’s days are filled with time spent in his workshop and with his wife, Emily, and his dog, Rufus. Every summer the family gathers at their lake house. This is a character-driven book for those who like stories about family relationships. Henry, Himself is a prequel to two other books about the Maxwell family, Wish You Were Here and Emily, Alone. ~ Ellen G. The Overstory by Richard Powers
Fiction POWERS
Richard Powers’ novel of multiple characters linked by their unusual and deep relationships to trees will shift your frame of reference. Trees are our seniors on the Earth, alien beings all around us that we rarely regard with requisite wonder and reverence. Our lifespans and dramas are dwarfed by theirs. Yet even when registering briefly against this grander backdrop, each turn of fate Powers’ human characters experience is deeply felt and eloquently rendered. Winner of the 2019 Pulitzer Prize for Fiction. ~ Daniel S. The Toll by Cherie Priest
Sci Fi/Fantasy/Horror PRIEST
Newlyweds Titus and Melanie plan a trip to canoe through Georgia’s Okefenokee Swamp. After crossing an old, one lane bridge on State Road 177, Titus wakes up in the middle of a field having no memory of what has happened and Melanie has vanished. When Titus visits the nearby town, Staywater, he learns of an interesting secret- there is no bridge and Melanie is not the first to disappear. In the tradition of Southern Gothic Horror, there are town secrets and mysteries that can lie within the murky depths of the swamp. ~ Thad M.
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The Huntress by Kate Quinn
Fiction QUINN
Gripping, suspenseful historical fiction set during and after World War II, told from a different perspective. Siberian Nina Markov scrabbles her way into an elite squad of Russian female pilots known as the ‘Night Witches.’ Along the way she meets and survives an encounter with a Nazi murderess known as ‘The Huntress.’ After the war, a relative of one of the Huntress’s victims, now a Nazi hunter, is on her trail. The story moves to the US, where the suspense builds and you are never sure if justice will finally prevail. ~ Cathy P. Save Me the Plums: My Gourmet Memoir by Ruth Reichl Biography REICHL From Berkeley hippie to food writer to somewhatreluctant editor of Gourmet magazine, Reichl turned the food publication world on its head by changing the way we think about what we eat. Reichl was an avid reader of the magazine since age eight, and under her 10-year leadership at Gourmet we learn of the beginning of the revolutionary farmto-table culinary movement...and the eventual death of the print publication. Funny, touching, and honest, this yummy biography is replete with recipes. A must-read for true foodies, or gourmands on your gift list this season! ~ Heidi R. Daisy Jones & The Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid
Fiction REID
It’s not exactly the most original plot: Rock band experiences meteoric rise to fame only for their internal relationships to deteriorate, culminating in a spectacular and inevitable break up — though fortunately for the fans, not until after the recording of a seminal classic rock album. But author Taylor Jenkins Reid somehow manages to make this familiar story seem fresh. If you enjoy any of the following things: the film Almost Famous, breakup albums (especially the archetypal Fleetwood Mac classic Rumours) or any of the really juicy episodes of VH1’s Behind the Music, then this is the book for you. ~ Carrie L.
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Trail of Lightning by Rebecca Roanhorse
Sci Fi/Fantasy/Horror ROANHORS
In a future where most of the world has been swallowed by water, the Navajo people find the gods and beings of their legends walking among them. Maggie Hoskie, a young woman tormented by a painful past, is a monster slayer with supernatural abilities. In searching for the source of a new kind of vicious monster, Maggie reluctantly teams up with an unconventional medicine man and a trickster god. On this dangerous journey, who can Maggie trust? Gritty post-apocalyptic fantasy with excellent worldbuilding and lots of action. ~ Elizabeth D. Fruit of the Drunken Tree by Ingrid Rojas Contreras
Fiction ROJAS
Seven year old Chula is accustomed to the finer things in life. Petrona, at thirteen, is hard and despondent much like the invasión she calls home. These two girls form an unlikely friendship during Pablo Escobar’s reign of bombings, kidnappings, and assassinations in the streets and hills of Columbia. This storm engulfs those within and those without and sends lives spiraling into despair. Futures hang in the balance while secrets are kept and dangers are forestalled. Rojas Contreras has written an authentic tale inspired by her life events. For fans of In the Shadow of the Banyan by Vaddey Ratner. ~ Angela B. A Woman Is No Man by Etaf Rum
Fiction RUM
Compelling, heart-breaking, and full of strength, this novel shares the stories of two generations of women, beginning with Isra in 1990 Palestine and her 18 year old daughter Deya in 2008 Brooklyn. Their tenacity of spirit, hope, and body is tested through the expectations of culture, motherhood, and tradition. Now at 18 and orphaned for 10 years, Deya struggles to fulfill her dream of a future that includes college and her love of books, a passion once shared by her mother, against the pressure of marriage and confronting the truth about her parents. ~ Astrid H.
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Orange World and Other Stories by Karen Russell
Fiction RUSSELL
Imagine that a talented, inventive writer could write convincingly about a young woman being possessed by a cactus while on a trip to Joshua Tree State Park with her fiance. Dream no more. Russell has done that plus eight more atmospheric short stories, including a 19th century Portland lodge populated by ghost lumberjacks, as well as a romance between an awkward young high schooler and a 1000 year old girl embalmed by a peat bog. Too silly? That’s where Russell’s magic shines. Her writing is believable and beautiful. ~ Melissa K. Once Upon a River by Diane Setterfield
Fiction SETTERFI
A wounded stranger shows up at the local inn, carrying a lifeless child in his arms. Her pale, still beauty and the tragedy of her death captures the imagination of all present, but her mysterious story is just beginning. In the wee hours, the girl stirs. Is it a miracle? Can science explain it? Magic? Mute, the girl provides no clues, leaving all involved to speculate, wonder, and hope. The author weaves all possibilities into a beautiful story of loss, longing, families, and the stories we tell ourselves and each other to make sense of the inexplicable. ~ Amy F. The Price You Pay by Aiden Truhen
Fiction TRUHEN
“I’m ordering a latte macchiato because Didi is dead and that is sad.” Thus spake Jack Price: breakneck entrepreneur with a slick, corporatized cocaine distribution system outsourced in “zero-hour gigeconomy microjobs.” It’s all golden, complete with trademarks, until a team of maniacal assassins arrive to kill him: the ultimate industry disruption. Then it’s a screwball stream-of-consciousness revenge spree, laced with movie references and pop culture allusions — plus a street-fighter, a doctor, a sniper, and a homeless man in a suit of knives. Take a thriller and turn it sideways; now you’ve got it. ~ Gordon J.
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The Nickel Boys by Colson Whitehead
Fiction WHITEHEA
In 1960s Florida, Elwood was sentenced to the Nickel Academy, a reform school for boys. This heartbreaking and harrowing story follows Elwood from the early ‘60s until 2014, describing what his life was like in the school and beyond. Colson Whitehead was inspired by the Dozier School, a real reform school in Florida that operated for over 100 years. Includes notes for readers who want to know more. ~ Kate J. The Golden Hour by Beatriz Williams
Fiction WILLIAMS
Leonora “Lulu” Randolph travels to Nassau, Bahamas, in a once in a lifetime opportunity to follow the Duke and Duchess of Windsor, who are stationed there by the King of England. As Lulu becomes more involved with the inner circle of the Duke and Duchess, she finds intrigue and danger as well as love. When the murder of a prominent and wealthy citizen occurs, Lulu begins to realize all is not what it seems. Williams provides an interesting fictional look into a time when the world was in chaos. ~ Rita B. Before We Were Yours by Lisa Wingate
Fiction WINGATE
Memphis, 1939. Wrenched from all that is familiar and thrown into a Tennessee Children’s Home Society orphanage, the Foss children are assured that they will soon be returned to their parents—but they quickly realize the dark truth. At the mercy of the facility’s cruel director, Rill fights to keep her sisters and brother together in a world of danger and uncertainty. Based on one of America’s most notorious reallife scandals, Lisa Wingate’s riveting, wrenching, and ultimately uplifting tale reminds us how, even though the paths we take can lead to many places, the heart never forgets where we belong. ~ Rachel J.
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The Rage of Dragons by Evan Winter
Sci Fi/Fantasy/Horror WINTER
Fans of Martin’s Song of Ice and Fire series will love this epic military fantasy that combines excellent world-building, furious action, and complex characters into a revenge-laden epic. Tau, a commoner whose father was murdered, has risen high in the ranks of the elite Chosen and will not only battle the nobility who caused his fathers death, but also dragons and overworldly demons. Tau engages in a ferocious quest to both avenge this father and become the greatest warrior of the realm. Magic and intrigue add to this intense and multilayered tale. ~ Edward W.
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Reading Resolutions What will you resolve to read in 2020?
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9.
Read ____ books. Ask a librarian about requesting a Custom Book List. Try a book from a different genre. Learn how to download an e-book or e-audio with Device Advice. Read a book by a North Carolina author or set in North Carolina. Attend an author program at one of our regional libraries. Read a book then see the movie. Check out a compelling biography or memoir. Imagine Your Story by participating in our Summer @ the Library in June, July and August.
10. Request an Express Book Bag. Create a few reading resolutions of your own:
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Notes
Happy Holidays & Happy Reading! 20
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