A Few of Our Favorite Things 2018

A Few of Our

Favorite

Things Reading Recommendations for Adults

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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Where We Belong

by Lynn Austin

Inspirational AUSTIN

Independent sisters Rebecca and Flora do not want to be limited by the expectations Victorian society has for them. Determined to get more out of life and find their own purpose, they take off on a grand adventure. Flora finds her calling in a school for orphans, but Rebecca is still looking, so together they brave the Sinai sandstorms in search of a biblical manuscript. Rebecca’s challenge and her ultimate purpose become clear when she finds herself determined to convince a headstrong professor the truth and value of Christianity.

Mary A. The Story of Arthur Truluv

by Elizabeth Berg

Fiction BERG

Arthur is a widower who talks to his cat and visits his beloved wife’s grave every afternoon. Maddie is eighteen, pregnant, and feels completely alone in the world. Their lives converge in the cemetery one day as they find in each other companionship, acceptance, and the truest kind of love—that which is freely given and requires nothing in return.

Lucille, Arthur’s lonely next door neighbor completes their family as the three learn that loss doesn’t mean giving up, and one can find happiness in the most unexpected of places.

Erin D. The Flight Attendant

by Chris Bohjalian

Fiction BOHJALIA

After meeting a passenger on an airplane that then leads to a one night stand, flight attendant Cassandra Bowden wakes to find the man murdered next to her in a hotel bed. Having no memory of what happened, Cassie flees the scene starting a web of lies that keep getting out of hand. Little does she know that there is in fact more to the situation than she realizes. Dangerous paths involving the FBI and Russian conspiracies lie ahead for Cassie at every turn and her series of misguided decisions may cost her life.

Thad M.

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Burn Bright

by Patricia Briggs

Sci Fi/Fantasy/Horror BRIGGS

The fifth installment of the Alpha & Omega series finds Anna and Charles Cornick, members of the North American ruling werewolf pack, the Marrock, embroiled in a decades long plot against an unknown foe. Dark spells, black witches, skin walkers and other werewolf factions combine in the toughest battle the pack has ever faced.

Briggs uses rich world building in familiar settings, frequently interweaving the Alpha and Omega and Mercy Thompson series, further enriching plots and enhancing much beloved characters from both storylines.

Morgan P. Nomadland

by Jessica Bruder

Nonfiction 331.3 BRUDE

What if when you retire, you can’t afford to live in a house and can’t afford to live without working, and you can’t get a normal job again? What if you are just starting out and can’t even get started on a normal life? It is happening now to a lot of people.

Nomadland explores the uptick in retirees and young people who are going mobile to survive in the world of vandwellers, workkamping and Amazon.

Tara B. The City of Brass

by S.A. Chakraborty

Sci Fi/Fantasy/Horror CHAKRABO

In 18th-century Cairo, Nahri works as a conwoman, using her natural talents for healing and for learning languages. When she accidentally summons an ancient daeva warrior, the two must team up to escape the evil beings pursuing them. He tells her of Daevabad, a legendary city made of brass, and they set out to find it, crossing treacherous landscapes and encountering dangerous creatures along the way. In Daevabad, Nahri finds herself at the center of a volatile magical society on the brink of revolution. This is a unique fantasy novel with a diverse cast of characters in a lush Middle Eastern setting.

Elizabeth D.

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Harry’s Trees

by Jon Cohen

Fiction COHEN

Trees have always been a safe haven for Harry Crane, so it is no surprise that when he suffers a great loss, he eventually finds his way to the forest.

There he finds Oriana, who also has lost someone important to her. Drawn together by loss and a need to find a way through it, they find purpose in helping each other. This atmospheric, uplifting, and funny story delivers magic in the form of Harry’s aptly named brother Wolf, a forest, treasure, and a wise woman. Prepare to be enchanted.

Amy F. The Gray Ghost

by Clive Cussler

Fiction CUSSLER

A mystery involving the theft of a vintage 1906 Rolls Royce prototype has husband and wife team Sam and Remi Fargo battling international criminals to retrieve a treasure that may be contained in the missing car, which has passed through generations of car thieves. Filled with action and adventure in typical Clive Cussler fashion, The Gray Ghost will have readers on the edge of their seats in this fast paced thriller. The vibrant cast of characters and sharp dialog adds to this heart-stopping adventure.

Edward W. Warlock Holmes: My Grave Ritual

by G.S. Denning

Mystery DENNING

Imagine the world of Sherlock Holmes if Holmes were a famous (though foolish) Warlock capable of the most powerful magic known to man and Watson was actually the true detective, protecting Holmes from his inner (and outer) demons. This world is filled with vampires, monsters, hell-hounds and hilarious hijinks. In the latest of this series, Denning retells the classic stories of 221b Baker Street with a pinch of magic that has breathed new life into well-known characters.

Cris E.

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The Monk of Mokha

by Dave Eggers

Nonfiction 338.7 EGGER

Mokhtar is an aimless 18-year-old Muslim YemeniAmerican who has grown up in the Tenderloin district of San Francisco. He’s been a successful salesman for Banana Republic, Macy’s, and Honda, and a doorman at the upscale Infinity, yet remains unfulfilled. When his girlfriend, Miriam, texts asking if he’s seen the statue across the street from him, a “Yemeni dude drinking a big cup of coffee,” a spark’s ignited. His purpose comes into focus as he perilously strives to revive the Yemen coffee trade while navigating Houthis and civil war. Mokhtar’s story reads like a thriller, and his undaunted persistence is impressive.

Ashlyn B. Murder in an English Village

by Jessica Ellicott

Mystery ELLICOTT

Sleepy English village Walmsley Parva is the setting for this cozy mystery pairing financially strapped, proper Englishwoman Edwina Davenport and her American friend Beryl Helliwell. Beryl was hoping to hide out in the remote village and escape her notoriety for a while (and also avoid Prohibition in America) but the murder of Edwina’s maid sets them off on an investigation. The after effects of World War I on the town’s inhabitants are woven into the story. Small town gossip, rumors, and ridiculous situations abound.

Cathy P. Motor Crush Vol 1

by Brenden Fletcher

Graphic Novel MOTOR

Domino Swift is a professional motorcycle racer in the futuristic city of Nova Honda. By day she races in the pros, hoping to make a name for herself. By night she competes in illegal street races for an engine-boosting chemical called Crush. Motor Crush is intense and a lot of fun, whether you know anything about racing or not. Compelling characters and vibrant, dramatic art draw you in for an edge of your seat action and sci-fi adventure that sets up plenty of cliffhangers and mysteries for future issues.

Melissa K.

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How to Stop Time

by Matt Haig

Fiction HAIG

Tom looks like he’s about 40 years old; no one would think that he has lived for centuries, due to a rare condition. During his trek through history, he encountered the Albatross Society, a secretive group that assists people with his same predicament.

With their assistance, Tom is now a history teacher.

On his first day at school, he meets the intriguing French teacher. Falling in love is dangerous for someone like Tom. Unhappy recollections of the past and the unstable actions of the Society’s leader could hinder Tom’s new life.

Tess A. The Feather Thief: Beauty, Obsession and the Natural History Heist of the Century

by Kirk Wallace Johnson Nonfiction 364.16 JOHNS Hundreds of rare bird skins are stolen from the Ting Museum outside London in 2009 by an aspiring American flautist. While researching why someone would steal these birds, Journalist Kirk Wallace Johnson discovers an underground world of illegal feather trading for the art of fly-tying, learns about the man who risked his life to collect the bird specimens for the museum over a hundred years earlier, and becomes obsessed with recovering as many of the stolen bird skins as possible. Readers of nonfiction that reads like fiction will love this suspenseful, educational and bizarre story.

Lisa L. A Piece of the World

by Christina Baker Kline

Fiction KLINE

A struggling farm in a small Maine coastal town is the setting for this unforgettable historical fiction re-imagining of the woman who was Andrew Wyeth’s “muse” for his famous painting “Christina’s World”. The author balances both the story of why Wyeth chose to paint Christina and the complicated, proud character of Christina herself as she struggles with both a debilitating disease and her choices in life. This is a thoughtful choice for fans of art history, biographical fiction and book clubs!

Janet M.

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Love and Other Words

by Christina Lauren

Fiction LAUREN

Macy Sorensen has settled into a monotonous routine of work and planning her wedding, allowing her to live in an emotional void. Her carefully structured routine is shaken up after a chance encounter with the first and only love of her life, Elliot Petropoulos. As teenagers, Elliot was her best friend and boyfriend until one night ten years ago. Now as adults, Macy and Elliot must decide if it is worth dredging up the past and emotional pain to understand the events leading up to that one awful night if they want any chance at an all-consuming love.

Jen B. The Secret Token: Myth, Obsession, and the Search for the Lost Colony of Roanoke

by Andrew Lawler Nonfiction 975.6 LAWLE America’s oldest mystery: What happened to the 115 colonists who arrived on North Carolina’s Roanoke Island in 1587? This well-researched account is a terrific addition to the popular history on this subject, and looks at all angles of the puzzle – from assimilation to zombies. Carefully researched, Lawler is a riveting storyteller in the same vein as historian Nathaniel Philbrick; this is a must-read for armchair historians who also love a good mystery.

Heidi R. Tangerine

by Christine Mangan

Fiction MANGAN

Alice Shipley moves to Morocco with her new husband John hoping for a fresh start, but while John falls in love with Tangier, Alice is too anxious to leave their flat. That is, until Alice’s former college roommate and estranged friend, Lucy Mason, suddenly arrives unannounced. Alice is subsequently forced to confront her misgivings regarding their shared past, while also coping with the mysterious disappearance of John. The tense pacing and suspenseful plot make this book as compulsively readable as any good psychological thriller, while the quality of Mangan’s writing is on par with that found in more literary fiction.

Carrie L.

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Solar Bones

by Mike McCormack

Fiction MCCORMAC

On All Souls’ Day, just as the Angelus bell rings, Marcus Conway sits in his kitchen in County Mayo, Ireland, narrating his memories in one, long stream-of-consciousness sentence. He marvels at the miraculous construction of the world— from sandwiches to wind turbines to his family to concrete foundations of love—and yet still feels a sense of foreboding at the imminent collapse of all these things. From innermost desires to the outer cosmos, he stares down through the “vortex of his being,” considering all the connected circumstances that brought him into this single moment.

Gordon J. Circe

by Madeline Miller

Fiction MILLER

Circe, daughter of Helios, is exiled when caught practicing witchcraft. Although she is a minor player in the world of mythology, from her small island her quiet life intersects with many gods and goddesses—thus becoming an essential part of many well known adventures. Madeline Miller leads the reader on a fantastical journey of unforgettable love, heartbreaking loss, and enduring spirit in this enthralling tale.

Amy W. Spinning Silver

by Naomi Novik

Sci Fi/Fantasy/Horror NOVIK

Miryem, the clever daughter of a failed moneylender, must find a way to change a fairy king’s enchanted silver into gold before he returns to claim it. Irina, the plain daughter of an ambitious nobleman, attracts the attention of the young tsar when she wears fairy silver, but as his bride she must combat his cruelty. Wanda, the daughter of an abusive drunkard, works to find safety and security for herself and her brothers. The fate of all three characters is woven together in this rich fantasy based in Eastern European folklore.

Lisa W.

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Binti: The Night Masquerade

by Nnedi Okorafor

Sci Fi/Fantasy/Horror OKORAFOR

In this striking conclusion to Okorafor’s immersive series, Binti must use all her skills and power as a Master Harmonizer working with her new alien friend Mwinyi to end the war between Khoush and Meduse. Melding vivid imagery and inventive futuristic concepts, Okorafor constructs a narrative deeply rooted in ideas of home and selfhood; rife with space travel, innovative technology, hypnotic environments, and intriguing characters. A mathematical, political, magical space opera—Black Panther meets Octavia Butler, yet completely refreshing and unique. Ideal for fans of science fiction, aliens, or Okorafor’s Akata series.

Kate B. The Merry Spinster

by Mallory Ortberg

Fiction ORTBERG

These 11 short stories present slightly twisted, emotionally demanding retellings of fairy tales and other childhood classics. Ortberg plays with notions of gender and feminism without being dogmatic, and the resulting stories are unsettlingly plausible and familiar. Ortberg’s updated version of The Little Mermaid, for example, highlights the mermaid’s unease and alienation in her human form rather than the romance of the Disney version. This is a spirited collection that challenges, surprises, and upends our assumptions despite its brevity. You will never read children’s fairy tales the same way.

Deborah H. The Old Man

by Thomas Perry

Fiction PERRY

Dan Chase is living a quiet life in Vermont after retiring from army intelligence in Libya. Now, bad guys have found him, and he must use of all his special skills to survive. Dan knows all the tricks of disappearing—how to get IDs in multiple names, how to set yourself up with a new life in a new town, and, above all, how to defend yourself if the people who want to kill you somehow manage to find you.

The fun is in watching the ever-resourceful Dan triumph over assassins who just keep underestimating the old man.

Sue S.

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How to Change Your Mind

by Michael Pollan

Nonfiction 615.7 POLLA

The history of psychedelics before the 1960s— before they were outlawed—is surprising and strange. Michael Pollan explores that history, the shift that has recently occurred as the medical and scientific communities have re-embraced serious research into the benefits of these substances, and his own psychedelic experiences undertaken while writing the book. He writes with his usual clarity, humor and curiosity, while deftly balancing skepticism and openness to possibility. On the cusp of a possible turning point in our society’s understanding of and relationship to psychedelics, this book illuminates how we got here and what may lie ahead.

Daniel S. The Tea Girl of Hummingbird Lane

by Lisa See

Fiction SEE

Li-Yan, a young woman from a remote mountain village in South China, endures hardships and strives to make refined Pu’er tea using her origin and values. She rejects the cruel ritual of the ancient Akha, an ethnic minority she belongs to and lives through nightmares of the drug trade of the Golden Triangle. Li-Yan gives up her newborn with only an heirloom tea cake as the identification. Subsequently, Li-Yan pursues education and perseveres as a tea connoisseur. In turn, it shapes Li-Yan, her family, and the village’s destiny of tea farming.

Celia G. Into the Raging Sea

by Rachel Slade

Nonfiction 910.916 SLADE

This 24 hour chronicle of events leading to the sinking of the El Faro on October 1, 2015 opens with a transcript of the distress call from ship Master Davidson to an emergency center. It was one of the last transmissions from the storm besieged ship before it sank near the Bahamas during hurricane Joaquin with the entire crew of 33 on board. Journalist Rachel Slade has received great reviews from literary and maritime publications on her non-fiction account based on a voice recorder transcript, extensive research on commercial shipping and interviews with mariners.

Melissa K.

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The Broken Girls

by Simone St. James

Fiction STJAMES

In 1994, Fiona Sheridan’s sister was found murdered in a field outside of Idlewild, a long-abandoned girls’ boarding school. Twenty years later and now a journalist, Fiona begins looking into the school’s past, uncovering a forgotten mystery involving four girls attending Idlewild in 1950 and an even older story of the ghost of Mary Hand. An intriguing dual narrative where multiple pasts converge with the present, featuring hauntings, murders, history, and just a tiny bit of romance.

Joy J. Everything is Horrible and Wonderful

by Stephanie Wittels Wachs

Biography WITTELS

Comedian Harris Wittels was the world’s most famous fan of the band Phish, the inventor of the humblebrag, and a longtime writer for the show Parks and Recreation. Then he died of a heroin overdose in 2015 just as his career seemed to be peaking. In this hilarious, heartbreaking memoir his sister Stephanie explores the last year of his life as he secretly battled with addiction, and describes the first year of her life without Harris as she struggled to cope with losing her little brother and close friend.

Robert C. The Summer Wives

by Beatriz Williams

Fiction WILLIAMS

Miranda Schuyler arrives on Long Island Sound, excited to meet her new stepfather. New to the rich and glamorous life of the family she is joining, Miranda quickly gets used to days of lounging, playing tennis, and dining at the club. Until she meets Joseph. Joseph is an island native and Miranda falls deeply in love with him. Island rules forbid their relationship, but they pursue one anyway. After a terrible accident, Miranda is forced to leave the island, only to return years later to face what she left behind. Both love story and mystery, this book keeps you in suspense to the end.

Rita B.

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The Nature Fix: Why Nature Makes Us Happier, Healthier, and More Creative

by Florence Williams Nonfiction 155.9 WILLI Ever wonder why taking a walk in the woods feels so restorative? Author Florence Williams explores how nature affects human beings through the five senses to create a myriad of beneficial results. Based on a thorough investigation of scientific research, expert interviews and personal field studies, Williams compiles how the physical and psychological benefits of nature are being applied around the world. This well written book, full of examples from art, literature, and music, will inspire readers to make a New Year’s resolution to spend more time in the great outdoors and try The Nature Fix for themselves.

Melanie S. The English Wife

by Lauren Willig

Fiction WILLIG

Annabelle and Bayard live a charmed life. After a whirlwind romance, they married and recreated her family home on the banks of the Hudson. But after rumors swirl that she’s having an affair with the architect, Bay is found dead with a knife in his chest and Annabelle goes missing. Bay’s sister, Janie, forms an unlikely alliance with a reporter to uncover the truth. But the more she learns about her brother and his wife, the more everything she thought she knew about them starts to unravel. Who were her brother and his wife, really? And why did her brother die with the name George on his lips?

Holly H. Tin Man

by Sarah Winman

Fiction WINMAN

This is the unconventional love story of Ellis, Michael, and Annie. Ellis and Michael are the best of friends from a young age and are inseparable even once Ellis falls in love with Annie. The three of them live one adventure after another together until Michael disappears. What happens during those years of separation? The author takes us through each character’s experiences during this lost time and the lessons they each learn. A thought provoking journey of love and friendship with well written characters you will instantly fall for.

Dayna S.

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Young Jane Young

by Gabrielle Zevin

Fiction ZEVIN

Congressional intern Aviva Grossman has an affair with her well-liked boss, but when the affair comes to light in the media, her reputation is ruined, not his. She decides her only recourse is to reinvent herself by changing her name and moving to a different part of the country. All goes well until she decides to run for political office in her new hometown. As a result, her daughter, Ruby, discovers that her mother has been keeping secrets. Zevin deals with sensitive public and private matters in a direct, but heartwarming and witty, way.

Carol M. American Street

by Ibi Zoboi

Young Adult Fiction ZOBOI

American Street paints Fabiola Toussaint’s story of her journey in America. Fabiola and her mother leave Haiti with hopes of finding a better life in Detroit. Unfortunately, U.S. immigration detains Fabiola’s mother. In Detroit, Fabiola lives with her aunt and cousins, and must find her rhythm in an unfamiliar place without her mother. Fabiola is adjusting to her new normal, and even finds love, but she is quickly pulled into the grittiness of her new surroundings.

Fabiola has to deal with drama, and is presented with an opportunity to get her mother released, which puts her in a dangerous situation.

Carla P.

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Reading Resolutions What will you resolve to read in 2019?

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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.

Explore A Universe of Stories by participating in our Summer Reading Program in June and July.

Request an Express Book Bag.

Create a few reading resolutions of your own:

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Notes

Happy Holidays & Happy Reading!

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Looking for more good books?

We can help.

book advisor

Book Advisor

Meet with your own personal book advisor and learn insider tricks and tips for finding your next great read.

Custom Book List

Enhance your reading experience, discover new authors or series. Fill out a quick survey and a librarian will curate a reading list tailored to you.

Device Advice

Learn to download eBooks and audiobooks and how to navigating your device.

Express Book Bag

Read more of what you want when you want it. Books handpicked just for you.

For more information ask staff or visit us online wakegov.com/libraries/services/adults

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