Rachel Pollack
[isbn]
I’ve been looking to the late Rachel Pollack as a guide to the tarot for a long time, and this comprehensive book provides the “best of” what she has to say. It’s full of knowledge and wisdom, and the writing is honest and clear. She’s the tarot teacher we all need!
Recommended by Marianne T
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Phyllis Cole Dai, Ruby R. Wilson
[isbn]
This is a beautiful collection of poems. Think of it as a love story to oneself, intended for all of us who multi-task, engage in negative self-talk, forget to look around in wonder and awe. I’ve read it entirely and now open to a random page a day — always the perfect page. Give this gift to yourself or to someone you care about.
Recommended by Marianne T
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Skye Alexander
[isbn]
This is a “one and done” book on reading the tarot — a comprehensive guide for those new to the cards. But it also provides insight and suggestions that long-time readers will appreciate. I bought one for myself and one for a friend!
Recommended by Marianne T
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Tricia Hersey
[isbn]
A truly exceptional manifesto. Her wisdom and guidance cannot be overstated when it comes to resisting capitalist productivity. Listen to Black women! This is required reading.
Recommended by Charlotte S.
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Richard Tarnas
[isbn]
This book makes a clear and elegant argument for the correspondence between planetary alignments and patterns of human history. What do the French Revolution and the cultural revolution of the 1960s have in common? A Pluto-Uranus conjunction! This book is for historians, sociologists, et.al., and also for anyone interested in astrology’s big picture.
Recommended by Marianne T
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Samanta Schweblin
[isbn]
This novel contemplates our relationship to technology in a very Black Mirror-esque way, and also explores human connection. It's eerie because it hits so close to home, and it left me with a creeping sense of unease. I love Schweblin's dark, otherworldly storytelling.
Recommended by Carrie K.
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Mona Awad
[isbn]
Follow a theater professor as she struggles to prevent her chronic pain from consuming her. Miranda is presented with a way to inflict rather than receive pain, and is driven mad with her new power. Awad is an expert in creating an all-consuming narrative.
Recommended by Kyra R
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Alice Hoffman
[isbn]
The beginning of the most wonderful series. The matriarch of the Owens women finally gets her own story. I loved it.
Recommended by Sydney W.
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Karl Ove Knausgaard, Martin Aitken
[isbn]
A dazzling meditation on death in the 21st century, this novel is filled with characters that will enchant, horrify, and excite you. Knausgaard walks the fine line of belief with all the grace of a master. A book no one should miss.
Recommended by Mug
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Eric LaRocca
[isbn]
Eric LaRocca is a master of atmosphere and We Can Never Leave This Place is a study in how the true power of horror lies in the untold and nondescript. Gothic and morose, delicate and heartfelt, the fine line between grotesque and dazzling is where you’ll find LaRocca dancing like a Puritan girl liberated by witchcraft, naked and levitating. You’ll start this book willingly, hand-in-hand, but by the closing pages it’ll be dragging you... (read more)
Recommended by Stacy W.
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Sandra Lawrence, Royal Botanic Gardens Kew
[isbn]
All hail the glory of mushrooms! Quite possibly the most beautiful and important resource in the natural environment, mushrooms have been treasured since the dawn of humans. The Magic of Mushrooms walks us through the practice and lore of the mighty fungus, showing us how people have treasured, been fascinated by, and misused the mushroom throughout history. The illustrations are beautiful as they speak to the magical influence the... (read more)
Recommended by Corie K-B.
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Frankie Castanea
[isbn]
This book is in-depth and informative while also not being dense or hard to get through. The information on shadow work and grounding is beautifully explained and can be used by beginners or experienced witches. All in all, a beautiful and well-rounded book meant for anyone who wants to make change in themselves and in their community
Recommended by Aster A.
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Evelyn C Rysdyk
[isbn]
This is a book about wholeness, about tapping into the creative energy within and around us in very practical ways through easy and empowering journey exercises. Rysdyk is like a smart, older sibling who writes in a straightforward and encouraging style. From connecting with power animals and ancestors, to freeing up time to grow our creativity, there's so much wisdom and love in this book. I treasure it!
Recommended by Marianne T
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Leeza Robertson
[isbn]
This much-loved author and creator of tarot decks has designed a system in which the cards supplement energy healing in the chakras. It's brilliant. And it really works! If you love tarot and are seeking more balance and exuberance in your life, give it a try.
Recommended by Marianne T
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Louise L Hay
[isbn]
A best-selling classic, this book changes lives. I read it years ago and have used affirmations ever since. Especially these days, we could all use a little improvement in our lives, so why not utilize the power of daily affirmations, as millions do!
Recommended by Marianne T
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Amanda Kudo
[isbn]
“Ikigai” means “reason for being,” and it’s the Japanese secret to long life. This journal helps us discover our true purpose, increase life expectancy and live longer. The prompts are fun and creative, and they add up to a lot of self-knowledge and insight. Who wouldn't benefit from greater connection to purpose? This is an excellent daily reminder.
Recommended by Marianne T
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Constance Stellas
[isbn]
What works for the fire sign of Aries falls flat for the water sign of Pisces. Customize your care routines and learn about astrology too! This is a big and beautiful book that will become a dear friend who knows just what you (and your friends and family members) need.
Recommended by Marianne T
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Jenelle Kim
[isbn]
“Key 8" in this beautiful book tells us to "Be Like Bamboo.” Myung Sung living meditation is a centuries old Korean wellness tradition rooted in Tao teachings yet thoroughly relevant today. This lovely book brings us this tradition in a contemporary and practical way. It's a practice I'll definitely be keeping.
Recommended by Marianne T
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M Amos Clifford
[isbn]
John Muir once said, “Between every two pine trees there is a door leading to a new way of life.” This book explains the “why” and “how” of experiencing the healing power of the forest and thereby discovering that "new way of life." It's amazing!
Recommended by Marianne T
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Diane Stein
[isbn]
As a reiki master myself, I find this book to be a classic guide to this ancient healing art, one that makes the experience of reiki accessible to all in clear and straightforward terms. It's not a substitute for traditional classes and attunements, but it serves as both an introduction and a refresher to hands on healing. I have a copy and have just purchased one for a friend.
Recommended by Marianne T
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Daniel Foor
[isbn]
This is a special book that outlines exercises and rituals, stemming from ancient wisdom sources, that enable us to heal our ancestral lineage of trauma and abuse. It is possible and worthwhile to transform intergenerational pain into present-day healing.
Recommended by Marianne T
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Buzzfeed , Brianne Hogan
[isbn]
This fun book focuses on body, mind, and spirit wellness for all the sun signs. It’s a joy to read and the smaller format is easy to carry around! I really like being able to offer wellness advice to friends who haven't considered the role the stars actually play in our lives.
Recommended by Marianne T
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Jessica Dore
[isbn]
Whether you’re new to tarot or an experienced reader, this book provides rich psychological insight, stories, and ideas to enhance your practice. I have a lot of tarot books but added this to my collection because it gives me new ideas for work with clients during readings.
Recommended by Marianne T
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Paige Vanderbeck
[isbn]
This book was the first book I ever read on the subject of green witchcraft and I absolutely recommend it to anyone considering the green path. It is both insightful and fun and also doesn't read too much like a textbook. Overall very helpful, I still remember and use the information I read here even a few years later.
Recommended by Aster A.
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Taisia Kitaiskaia, Katy Horan
[isbn]
This beautiful deck is as helpful as it is pretty. It will speak to you honestly, but not too bluntly, and direct you where you need to be. This is a great deck and even better for literature and art enthusiasts.
Recommended by Aster A.
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Alice Hoffman
[isbn]
One of my all-time favorite books and series. Please note, this book is different than the movie but still has all the fun, love, magic, and family that made the film so wonderful. Hoffman’s book makes me want to believe in magic and “love that even time will lie down and be still for." Practical Magic is for fans of magic, love, the journey of finding your own path, and the power of sisterhood.
Recommended by Sydney W.
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Michaela Coel
[isbn]
Michaela Coel, British actress, screenwriter, director, producer, and singer, most known for groundbreaking work in the BBC series Chewing Gum and the phenomenal HBO comedy/drama I May Destroy You writes an honest, witty, and powerful personal manifesto that encourages readers to embrace differences and change the narrative, based on her 2018 MacTaggert lecture. A powerful voice from an outstanding artist!
Recommended by Kim T.
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Sadhguru
[isbn]
2016’s Inner Engineering was a breakout hit, due in part to Sadhguru’s popular YouTube channel, but more so because his living-in-the-world-not-in-a-cave methods of spiritual growth make so much practical sense. In Karma: A Yogi’s Guide to Crafting You Own Destiny, he takes on this over- and often misused term, showing that it’s not so simple as it’s portrayed, but not complicated, either — that karma in its essence is... (read more)
Recommended by Chip G.
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Kim Krans
[isbn]
An incredibly vulnerable graphic memoir by the beloved Wild Unknown artist and tarot creator Kim Krans, this book recounts her "rock-bottom"-type personal crisis, and the intuitive, honest art that helped move her through it. It doesn't shy away from the most difficult, dark feelings associated with her eating disorder, multiple miscarriages, and divorce, but confronts them with humility and grace, transforming them into an original and... (read more)
Recommended by Ariel K.
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Megan Lynn Kott, Justin DeVine
[isbn]
This book is pure fun. A perfectly light and humorous read for animal lovers, young and old, this book will help you to figure out which animal is best suited to be your familiar spirit.
Recommended by Ariel K.
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Laura Tempest Zakroff
[isbn]
This is one of the most grounded and eloquent introductory witchcraft books I've read. Full of practical witchery for practitioners of all levels, this is truly an empowering and inspiring guide to creating an eclectic personal practice that works just for you. Zakroff's unique style of magic, which she calls "Modern Traditional Witchcraft," provides guidance for witches who want to draw inspiration from both the past and present while ultimately... (read more)
Recommended by Ariel K.
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Kazuo Ishiguro
[isbn]
To state the obvious, Kazuo Ishiguro is an absolute master. His highly anticipated new novel, the tale of an Artificial Friend and the child she hopes will choose her as a companion, is equal parts compelling and subtle. As with any fairy tale, the deep questions about humanity are just out of direct view, resting below the horizon.
Recommended by Keith M.
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Ariel Kusby and Olga Baumert
[isbn]
The Little Witch's Book of Spells is fun, meditative, and encouraging. A wonderful activity book for all ages and genders, it will inspire you to slow down, play, and find/create/appreciate various forms of magic in your surroundings.
A perfect grimoire for anyone interested in finding magic within and without.
Recommended by Anna A.
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Lisa Marie Basile
[isbn]
This book is essential reading for witches, poets, journalers, and anyone interested in the transformative power of language. Through trauma-informed exercises and spells, Basile provides a template for shadow work and healing. These adaptable and accessible rituals are ideal both for casual diary keepers and professional writers.
Recommended by Ariel K.
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Sage Liskey and Barbara Counsil
[isbn]
Enchanting! An accessible mental health guide told through lens of magic and wizardry, this book is an empowering handbook for anyone who is looking for self-possession amidst a toxic culture. A unique overview of life that covers everything from depression, activism, dream analysis, and intentional eating under an overarching umbrella of magical wellness, this book is for anyone who could use more magic and happiness in their life!
Recommended by Ariel K.
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Matt Ralphs, Nuria Tamarit
[isbn]
A comprehensive survey of witches across history, this YA nonfiction book explores real witches, fictional sorceresses, and magical women in folklore and myth. Its large format and cute illustrations make it appealing to a wide age range. This would make a great gift for any magically curious child!
Recommended by Ariel K.
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Elsa Whyte, Julie Legere, Laura Perez
[isbn]
Oh my goddess, the pure gorgeousness of this book! From the elegant and detailed writing to the luminous illustrations, to the red ribbon that ties the physical book shut. A wonderful introduction to witchcraft for children and young adults, it's jam-packed with information. The perfect gift for a young feminist witch!
Recommended by Ariel K.
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Trungles
[isbn]
This has become my new favorite deck. I love the ethereal, magical illustrations. Tarot decks are becoming more inclusive in their representation and this deck does it beautifully. I love that the creator included 4 different versions of the Lovers card so you can choose the one that resonates with you. Gorgeous art, an easy to read guidebook, and a cute storage box.
Recommended by Rose H.
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Karen Russell
[isbn]
This is a deeply unsettling novella that makes for particularly foreboding reading during our current pandemic. Sleep Donation was first published in 2014, but from the view point of 2020, it reads less like an imagined dystopia and more like a thinly veiled rebuke of late-stage capitalism, corruption, exploitation, and the federal pandemic response.
Recommended by Emily B.
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Silvina Ocampo
[isbn]
Thanks to City Lights, the only novel written by the author that Borges called "one of our best" is finally available in English translation. Ocampo shows us the self as a spiraling cavern lined with the mirrors of other people. It's a terrifyingly beautiful and perfectly confounding sight.
Recommended by Adie B.
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Pola Oloixarac and Roy Kesey
[isbn]
Spanning three centuries, Dark Constellations by Pola Oloixarac is a logophile's dream book. Drawing connections between such varied topics like botany, hackers, colonialism, and misogyny, Dark Constellations successfully paints an unforgettable and highly unusual tale — unique to Oloixarac's voice and experience.
Recommended by Alex Y.
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Luis Sagasti, Fionn Petch
[isbn]
A veritable primer for the poetry of the world, this Argentinian critic's curious novel is a bits-and-bobs potpourri of anecdotes featuring an ever-changing cast — artists, poets, soldiers, priests, and at least one space dog among them — interspersed with fanciful and figurative musings. Fireflies reads like a sacred scroll on the celestial and the earthbound, a floating reference text charting the unnameable interconnectedness of the... (read more)
Recommended by Justin W.
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Amanda Yates Garcia
[isbn]
This is a gorgeously written memoir about initiations of all kinds. It follows Garcia's moving and personal journey through "the underworld": her sexual trauma, poverty, mental illness, and struggle to find magic and power within patriarchy and other systems of oppression. As a hereditary witch, Garcia's magic was passed down to her, but she teaches us how the real initiations can happen for all of us when we are able to confront and travel... (read more)
Recommended by Ariel K.
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Chani Nicholas
[isbn]
Chani Nicholas is beloved by many Powell's employees (myself included), and for very good reason! Nicholas approaches astrology as a path to self-knowledge, empowerment, and social justice, using humor and straight talk to help you learn more about yourself and the world around you. Great for newbies and experts alike!
Recommended by Leah C.
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adrienne maree brown
[isbn]
This collection of black feminist thought describes the radical idea Adrienne Maree Brown and others call pleasure activism. Much more than "work," Brown asserts the revolution must hold space for pleasure and identify what activates and excites us. Bringing together the brilliant minds of black feminist thinkers both past and present, Pleasure Activism is a critical piece for today's revolutionary.
Recommended by Alex Y.
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Robert Michael Pyle
[isbn]
Along with salmon, rain, and huge trees, Bigfoot is one of the Northwest's enduring icons, yet the blurry beast seldom gets taken seriously. Where Bigfoot Walks is an open-minded and wide-ranging look at the phenomenon of Bigfoot, and the cultural significance of Sasquatch in regional history, place names, and collective consciousness. It takes us deep into the natural beauty of our remaining wilderness, investigates the cool weirdness... (read more)
Recommended by Jason W.
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Ottessa Moshfegh
[isbn]
Ottessa Moshfegh spins out an intricate, layered character study in Death in Her Hand. Vesta is far from a reliable narrator, so her inner monologue about finding a clue to what she believes may be a murder is fraught with conflict, obsfucation, both vague and crystal clear interpretations of data, and the kind of scattered thinking that might indicate dementia. Determined to figure out the murder, Vesta doggedly pursues the cold trail,... (read more)
Recommended by Dianah H.
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Robin Wall Kimmerer
[isbn]
In this luminous and wise book, botanist Robin Wall Kimmerer (Potawatomi Nation) makes a lyrical and convincing case for reimagining our relationship to nature as mutually beneficial. Taking the reader from her classroom to her lab to her (enviably abundant) garden to a rainforest in Oregon, Kimmerer demonstrates time and again how working with the land, as opposed to shaping it to one’s purpose, is a method rooted in Indigenous tradition and... (read more)
Recommended by Lucinda G.
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Sarah Perry
[isbn]
Sarah Perry’s beautiful novels richly reward the patient reader. Her world building is lavish and precise; though her prose often tilts into poetry, her characters are crystalline, giving the writing a paradoxical quality that is both ornate and bare. This confusion between what is exposed and what only imagined drives the wonderfully creepy Melmoth, in which a fabled wanderer combs the world for human wickedness, doling out consolation... (read more)
Recommended by Rhianna W.
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Leigh Bardugo
[isbn]
Leigh Bardugo’s adult debut is an immersive, heart-pounding, brain-twisting read set in an alternate New Haven. Alex Stern’s connection to Yale’s secret societies may be more dangerous than she bargained for. Drenched in magic and darkness, this world will clench you between its bony fingers until the end.
Recommended by Mary Jo S.
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Brian Doyle
[isbn]
I came across a question in a book group on social media the other day: If you were stranded on a desert island, which author's work would you wish you had? The answer bubbled up immediately for me, but I wasn't surprised: Brian Doyle. Has ever a human written such a glorious body of work? His ability to capture the human condition, with the enormous spectrum of emotions we all feel, is almost otherworldly. While you sit in awe of that talent,... (read more)
Recommended by Dianah H.
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Paulina Fae
[isbn]
The Spiritsong deck is based off of the traditional Rider-Waite-Smith system, however, Paulina Cassidy has switched up the suits for a nature theme that pairs well with the animals on her cards. Wands are acorns, swords are feathers, cups are shells, and pentacles/coins are crystals. The artwork is gorgeous: ethereal and soft but still powerful. The deck comes with a little guidebook with inspiring messages for both the upright and reversal... (read more)
Recommended by Rose H.
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John Zada
[isbn]
John Zada's lifelong interest in the legend of Sasquatch leads him to British Columbia in this well-written travelogue. I loved this exploration of the land and people that have kept these legends alive, especially when he delves into what it says about our society that these legends still hold such interest. Fascinating stuff!
Recommended by Leah C.
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Cai Emmons
[isbn]
When Bronwyn realizes she has the ability to change the atmosphere around her, she feels woefully unqualified for the job. How much can she do, and how far can she go, and what is the purpose of this gift? Following her intuition, she boldly takes on catastrophes, but like a doctor, she understands that she must first do no harm. With an unusual storey, Emmons writes a tale full of science, faith, exploration, and maybe even love.
Recommended by Dianah H.
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Pam Grossman
[isbn]
I am so smitten with this book! It is so many things — an exploration of witches throughout history, the representation of witches in popular culture, the meaning behind the concept of “witch," and some personal stories about witchcraft thrown in for good measure — and I loved every minute of it. Pam Grossman, author and host of the podcast The Witch Wave, does a great job discussing a subject she considers very meaningful and personal... (read more)
Recommended by Leah C.
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Erica Feldmann
[isbn]
When I heard the founder of the amazing store HausWitch was writing a book, I was on board before I even knew what the book was about. Luckily, after it arrived I discovered it's as inspirational, fun, and flat-out wonderful as I had hoped! In this small but jam-packed volume, Erica Feldmann walks you through how to make your house into a home — not just with decorating tips, but with energy and intention that you can use to create a true refuge.... (read more)
Recommended by Leah C.
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Erling Kagge and Becky L. Crook
[isbn]
In modern American culture, speed and convenience rule supreme. Explorer Erling Kagge provides a dissenting voice in this slim volume, arguing that slowing down and unplugging are vital for remaining, well, human. He should know: he has walked to both the North and the South Poles on foot. He writes poetically and convincingly that humanity must protect the slowness and stillness of the idle walk in an increasingly frenetic world.
Recommended by Mary S.
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Amy Tangerine
[isbn]
If you love paper crafts, you might already be familiar with Amy Tangerine. She creates beautiful and colorful collections for American Crafts. In her book, she shows you how to take your creativity and make it a priority in your life. I love that she shares her own struggles with finding what her passion is. And the exercises helped me understand my own creative struggles as well. Super colorful and inspiring.
Recommended by Rose H.
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Ross Gay
[isbn]
Never was a book so aptly titled. Ross Gay brings small wonders and beautiful memories to life, while also meditating on race, class, and gender. In these times of nearly constant bad news, reading this book was, well, a delight!
Recommended by Leah B.
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Penney Peirce
[isbn]
Tune into the subtleties and increase your potential with this read. Its wisdom and simplicity will reverberate and add inspiration to your step.
Recommended by Hillary B.
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Sera Beak
[isbn]
Redvelations is truly a revelation. Building on her bestselling memoir, Red Hot and Holy, Sera Beak digs even deeper into the workings of her own soul and brings us a book that is both incredibly personal and highly relevant. Her book is full of heart and soul and fire and poetry. I recommend it to anyone and everyone, and I hope it brings you as much joy and clarity as it brought me.
Recommended by Azalea M.
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M R Carey
[isbn]
M. R. Carey's newest novel is one of the most gripping books I've read all year. Like The Girl With All the Gifts and Fellside, Someone Like Me wrapped me tightly in the world of its characters. Fran, Liz, and Zac stole my heart, and I cared what happened to each of them as they fought for their lives in more ways than one.
Recommended by Emily F.
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Amber Dawn
[isbn]
Sodom Road Exit is a rollicking and genuinely spooky lesbian ghost story, helmed by a swaggering queer protagonist who would rather jump horror's bones than scream. Haunted roller coaster and floating care bears aside, this is a narrative that brims with existential dread for college debt and economic decline as much as for the things that go bump in the night.
Recommended by Cosima C.
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Alma Katsu
[isbn]
The story of the Donner Party is one we all think we know. This book twists and tilts the story away from the strictly real, but the characters and setting feel authentic. The thrills are not cheap, the characters are multidimensional, and all in all, the scariest parts of The Hunger are the parts that are true.
Recommended by Emily F.
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Elizabeth Strout
[isbn]
Set on the coast of Maine, this fantastic 2009 Pulitzer Prize winner is a terrific character study. Olive is an irascible, crabby old lady who is difficult to like. Yet, as her life, marriage, and story play out, her character changes in ways that are wholly believable. This novel runs the gamut of human emotion and delicately exposes the secret inner workings of the human condition. Beautifully written, Olive Kitteridge is a book I... (read more)
Recommended by Dianah H.
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Leslie Jamison
[isbn]
Leslie Jamison, author of the extraordinary essay collection (and surprise bestseller), The Empathy Exams, returns with a very different but equally captivating book. The Recovering intertwines Jamison's story of her journey to sobriety with her thoughts about other addicted writers, their work, and their struggles with dependency; it's an incredibly self-aware, unusual, and engrossing memoir. At the beginning of the book,... (read more)
Recommended by Jill O.
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Niki Brantmark
[isbn]
A delightful companion to the Danish Little Book of Hygge, Lagom elaborates on the Swedish philosophy of nurturing a balanced lifestyle. It’s the perfect book to take in on a quiet day when you want to slow down and reflect on how you’re spending your time and energy.
Recommended by Lucinda G.
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Thomas Bernhard
[isbn]
A twisted, spiraling tale about the demise of a man and his wife. The man, pursuing his masterwork at any cost, manipulates his home, friends, relatives, and his very conceptions of time, space and what does or does not constitute his dominion, all in order to produce the greatest work ever written about ...hearing. Will he succeed?
Recommended by Bobby E.
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Angela Carter
[isbn]
A collection of the best adaptations of classic fairy tales, with a feminist flare, modern twists, and carnal delights. Carter's writing is everything that is great about the perfect short story. Every word synergizes with the others to create layers of meaning that resonate with the soul, heart, and mind. Reading it is an intense experience.Carter uses visceral prose to exhilarate and titillate. Each tale offers suspense and satisfaction on a... (read more)
Recommended by Alex K.
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Karin Tidbeck
[isbn]
If George Orwell's 1984 and Jeff Vandermeer's Southern Reach trilogy had a book baby, it would look a lot like Amatka. Karin Tidbeck's first full-length novel, finally translated into English, tells the story of the introverted and rebellious Vanja Essre Two, as she navigates an authoritarian colony that requires citizens to constantly name the objects around them. Her subversion of this practice fundamentally alters the nature... (read more)
Recommended by Mary S.
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Anne Lamott
[isbn]
Anne Lamott returns with a lively and funny exploration of mercy, which she defines as radical kindness to both yourself and others. Always wise and laugh-out-loud funny, Anne Lamott reminds us that "kindness towards others, beginning with myself, buys us a shot at a warm and generous heart, the greatest prize of all.”
Recommended by Mary Jo S.
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Martin Seay
[isbn]
I enjoyed this so much. It worked on every level, and as different as the three Venices were, Seay wove the stories together seamlessly into an engaging, thought-provoking whole.
Recommended by Kathi K.
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Michael Talbot
[isbn]
The Holographic Universe by Michael Talbot is one of my favorite books. Fascinating. Amazing! Physics, swamis, waves, and particles. Extremely readable.
Recommended by Adrienne C.
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Georges Perec, David Bellos
[isbn]
Life: A User's Manual is the magnum opus of one of the most startlingly inventive and original novelists who ever lived. The French polymath Georges Perec, an associate of the Oulipo collective, once wrote a full-length novel without ever using the letter "e", then he wrote one in which "e" is the only vowel employed at all. In Life: A User's Manual, he deconstructs the lives in a fictional apartment block in Paris at one single... (read more)
Recommended by Jason C.
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Brian Doyle
[isbn]
Brian Doyle's memoir tells the harrowing story of his young son being diagnosed with a serious heart condition. Through a collection of essays, each touching upon some aspect of his experience, Doyle shows the absolutely horrifying reality of a parent on the brink of losing their child. His vulnerability and stark utter terror are palpable as he maneuvers through the medical system while reflecting upon his worthiness as a parent. As usual,... (read more)
Recommended by Dianah H.
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Brian Doyle
[isbn]
Possibly poems, possibly really (really) short stories, possibly mini essays, Brian Doyle's "box poems" — smallish bits of writing with perfectly aligned edges and not one word short or long — are so perfectly exact, they seem utterly intriguing even before you start to read. (How, exactly, did he do that?)
Doyle is a man who lives and breathes stories, and this slim book is stuffed with them. The almost worshipful... (read more)
Recommended by Dianah H.
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Mark Adams
[isbn]
With wit and infectious curiosity, Mark Adams takes us on a journey to find Atlantis. He sifts through the evidence, the contradictions, the wild claims of fellow obsessives. What he unearths are the rich jewels of history and lore, as he pays tribute to man's thirst for knowledge.
Recommended by Gigi L.
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Olivier Le Carrer
[isbn]
Adventurous souls would be wise to steer clear of such treacherous lands as Jharia, India (where an underground inferno swallows up victims); Australia's Cape York (land of the killer crocodiles); or, closer to home, the "Nevada Triangle" (where some 2,000 aircraft have gone missing). But they'll be glued to the pages of Le Carrer's creepy travel guide.
Recommended by Renee P.
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