For Readers: Blog

Book club best bets

Whether you’re part of a neighborhood book club or prefer to read solo, there’s always inspiration to be found in book club picks. Bursting with book club potential, these books are ready to be your next read.

If your book club loves discussing flawed but complex characters, don’t miss Banyan Moon by Thao Thai. This family saga follows three generations of women in a Vietnamese American family from 1960s Vietnam to contemporary Florida. Touching on grief, resiliency, and legacies, this character-driven story is full of family secrets and complicated mother-daughter relationships. [e-book | print | audiobook]

Combining dystopian fiction, adventure story, and nature writing, I Cheerfully Refuse by Leif Enger is perfect for the group that can’t pick just one genre. Set in the near future where the rich have gotten richer, Rainy and his wife do their best to get by on the shore of Lake Superior. When a lodger brings death to their door, Rainy takes to the lake and gets a glimpse of both the darkness and promise of humanity. [e-book | print]

For some lighter fare and some snacking inspiration, try Hisashi Kashiwai’s The Kamogawa Food Detectives. This collection of feel-good vignettes looks at the connection between food and memories through the eyes of eight characters drawn to a hidden restaurant. These gentle and food-focused stories are just the ticket for anyone looking to conjure up cozy and nostalgic conversations. [e-book | print | large type] 

Historical fiction fans will be hooked by the drama and atmosphere of The Seventh Veil of Salome by Silvia Moreno-Garcia. Parallel timelines tell the tale of two feuding actresses in 1950s Hollywood vying to play Salome in an epic film, as well jumping back to the story of the original biblical princess Salome. Regardless of the century, love, power, and tragedy take center stage in this intricate novel. [e-book | print | audiobook | large type]

There Are Rivers in the Sky by Elif Shafak is for our more ambitious book clubs and readers who love unconventional literary fiction. Rooted in the Epic of Gilgamesh, this lyrical and complex work travels through time to explore the lives of three characters, all connected by a single drop of water in its many incarnations. Across centuries and borders, this is a masterclass in storytelling. [e-book | print | large type] 

Don’t overlook the potential of thrillers for discussions! Where They Last Saw Her by Marcie R. Rendon is an emotional and moving thriller about the disappearance of Indigenous women in Minnesota. Tired of seeing her community suffer, determined Quill starts investigating the missing women on her reservation, putting her own life at risk. This suspenseful story is ripped right from the headlines. [e-book | print]

⏤Laura