 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
The following books are recommended by our staff as great choices for book groups.
Bleak House by Charles Dickens
Bleak House, in true Dickensian fashion, explores the divide of classes, the false hope of wealth, & the hypocrisy of the legal system, while exploring the travails of a cast of characters as compelling as any found on primetime. Esther stumbles into secrets far-reaching and personal, testing her and others’ resolve for honor in the quest for happiness.
Reviewed by:
Jocelyn Check out the Google eBook edition of Bleak House
Bleak House (Paperback)
$13.00
ISBN-13: 9780141439723Availability: On Our Shelves Now
Published: Penguin Classics, 4/2003
Practical Magic by Alice Hoffman
The hot-blooded passion of love is as mysterious and powerful as the magic promised by this modern fairy tale. The 3 generations of powerful, independent, & unique women of the Owens family are both masters and victims to desire. Men want them, women want what they can promise – and the women themselves ceaselessly look for quiet love and happiness.
Reviewed by:
Jocelyn Check out the Google eBook edition of Practical Magic
Practical Magic (Paperback)
$15.00
ISBN-13: 9780425190371Availability: On Our Shelves Now
Published: Berkley Trade, 8/2003
Little Brother by Cory Doctorow
Where do you draw the line? When does the situation reach the point where more than simple attention is required-when action is needed, standing up for your rights and what you believe in? In a world where “Occupy” is more than a verb, SOPA, IPA, and ACTA lurking in the wings, Cory Doctorow presents a fable for the rapidly-approaching future.
Reviewed by:
Jocelyn Check out the Google eBook edition of Little Brother
Little Brother (Paperback)
$9.99
ISBN-13: 9780765323118Availability: On Our Shelves Now
Published: Tor Teen, 4/2010
Juliet Naked by Nick Hornby
I love Hornby for his ability to capture the functioning dysfunctional life. He infuses these portraits with humor, wit, and just a little bit of grief. Juliet Naked is no exception. Three lives intersect: a fading indie musician, his biggest fan, and the girl that comes between them. A simple story of obsessive fandom and love belies a deeper truth behind the need for companionship.
Reviewed by:
Kimberly Check out the Google eBook edition of Juliet Naked
Juliet, Naked (Paperback)
$15.00
ISBN-13: 9781594484773Availability: On Our Shelves Now
Published: Riverhead Trade, 9/2010
Girl in Hyacinth Blue by Susan Vreeland
Originally a short story depicting the creation of a supposed Vermeer painting, Vreeland expanded the vignette to tell the history of the piece from modern day to its inception. These 8 stories highlight significant moments in the work’s life, and intertwines the history of Holland with how lost masterpiece might make its way in the world—and the lives affected by it.
Reviewed by:
Kimberly 
Girl in Hyacinth Blue (Paperback)
$14.00
ISBN-13: 9780140296280Availability: On Our Shelves Now
Published: Penguin (Non-Classics), 10/2000
The Story of Edgar Sawtelle by David Wroblewski
There are so many things I love about this book; I don’t know where to start. It is a genius retelling of Shakespeare’s Hamlet. It paints a striking picture of Midwestern small town America. It depicts the joy and despair of man’s best friend. It explores our relationship with both emotional and physical muteness. And ultimately it is just a damn good story.
Reviewed by:
Kimberly Check out the Google eBook edition of The Story of Edgar Sawtelle
The Story of Edgar Sawtelle (Paperback)
$16.99
ISBN-13: 9780061374234Availability: On Our Shelves Now
Published: Ecco, 9/2009
The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie by Alan Bradley
Never have I read a novel with such a quirky and precocious protagonist as Flavia de Luce. Eleven year old Flavia lives in her family’s historic mansion in the British countryside circa 1950 where she spends her hours cultivating a love of chemistry. When a mysterious murder turns everything upside down, she begins to piece together a dubious plot generations in the making.
Reviewed by:
Kimberly 
$15.00
ISBN-13: 9780385343497Availability: On Our Shelves Now
Published: Bantam, 1/2010
Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen
I never thought I would be one of those silly people swooning over Austen, but when I read this at 21, I was sold. What I really like about P&P is that it explores several kinds of relationships - the hasty, too young, head-over-heels kind; the long-married and perfectly understanding kind; and the new, heart-fluttering, "So This Is Love" playing in the background kind.
Reviewed by:
Andrea Check out the Google eBook edition of Pride and Prejudice
Pride and Prejudice (Paperback)
$8.00
ISBN-13: 9780141439518Availability: On Our Shelves Now
Published: Penguin Classics, 12/2002
Rant by Chuck Palahniuk
Through a unique oral interview style, a memorable cast of characters tells the story of Buster Casey: childhood prankster, venom addict, demolition derby driver, and small town legend. This unforgettable novel will make you think, laugh, and (in my case) almost throw up - that's some powerful prose.
Reviewed by:
Andrea 
Rant: The Oral Biography of Buster Casey (Paperback)
$14.95
ISBN-13: 9780307275837Availability: On Our Shelves Now
Published: Anchor, 5/2008
We by Yevgeny Zamyatin
Have you read an enjoyed A Brave New World or 1984 ? Do you love wacky dystopian societies that are just creepy enough to make you uncomfortable? Zamyatin did them first, and in my opinion, best. What is freedom? What is truth? And does love ensnare us, or free us as individuals? These are just a few of the questions asked here, you’re in for a heck of a ride.
Reviewed by:
Erin Check out the Google eBook edition of We
We: New Edition (Paperback)
$15.00
ISBN-13: 9780140185850Availability: On Our Shelves Now
Published: Penguin Classics, 8/1993
The Scarlet Pimpernel by Baroness Orczy
“They seek him here, they seek him there…” so to reveal too much about this book would ruin the mystery. I can’t tell you the identity of the Scarlet Pimpernel who rescues French aristocrats from the jaws of the Guillotine, but I can tell you his story is full of laughs, intrigue, romance, and surprises. My all time favorite swashbuckler!
Reviewed by:
Erin Check out the Google eBook edition of The Scarlet Pimpernel
The Scarlet Pimpernel (Paperback)
$3.50
ISBN-13: 9780486421223Availability: On Our Shelves Now
Published: Dover Publications, 8/2002
The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho
Where do our dreams take us when we decide to truly pursue them? Coelho's tale of a young shepherd off to seek his fortune may be set in the distant past but it feels surprisingly close to today.
Reviewed by:
Erin 
The Alchemist (Paperback)
$14.99
ISBN-13: 9780061122415Availability: On Our Shelves Now
Published: HarperOne, 4/2006
The Motorcycle Diaries by Ernesto "Che" Guevara
Before he was a revolutionary, a diplomat, or even an image on your
t-shirt, Ernesto Guevara was a young student in need of an adventure. In
1952 he and his friend Alberto Granado embarked on a journey around
South America, inspiring this excellent book.
Reviewed by:
Cesar 
$14.95
ISBN-13: 9781920888107Availability: On Our Shelves Now
Published: Ocean Press, 9/2004
The Long Ships by Frans G. Bengtsson
From Scandanavia to Spain, to Ireland, and then some follow Red Orn as he tries to survive his competely involuntary travels through tenth century Eurpope. Bookgroups will enjoy this epic historical novel rich in detail and pungent with authenticity, and it is made all the more enjoyable by the sutle yet pervasive humor and the action-packed plot line.
Reviewed by:
Nici 
The Long Ships (Paperback)
$17.95
ISBN-13: 9781590173466Availability: On Our Shelves Now
Published: NYRB Classics, 5/2010
Gypsy Boy by Mikey Walsh
What a hard-core story! I can't imagine growing up with such violent and brutal expectations placed on you by the man who is supposed to care for you and protect you. The struggles with his abusive father are just heart-breaking but his spirit and his determination are amazing and the book provides a fascinating look inside the Romany Gypsy world.
Reviewed by:
Nici 
$24.99
ISBN-13: 9780312622084Availability: On Our Shelves Now
Published: Thomas Dunne Books, 2/2012
