Dear Readers,
Happy New Year! A new year means new books to look forward to, and I already have a list of over 50 titles I want to read in the first half of 2023. I've put together lists (below) of 16 exciting titles to share with you. Click on the links to read more about each book, and don't forget you can preorder the ones you're most excited about.
Books that I am hearing the most buzz about:
Hello Beautiful
by Ann Napolitano
The Half Moon
by Mary Beth Keane
A Spell of Good Things
by Ayobami Adebayo
Victory City
by Salman Rushdie
Voices I think we all need to hear:
Poverty, by America
by Matthew Desmond
The Climate Book
by Greta Thunberg
Our Migrant Souls
by Héctor Tobar
The Incredible Events in Women's Cell Number 3
by Kira Yarmysh
New books from some of my favorite authors:
The Covenant of Water
by Abraham Verghese
I Have Some Questions for You
by Rebecca Makkai
Historical Fictions I'm most excited about:
The Great Reclamation
by Rachel Heng
Good Night, Irene
by Luis Alberto Urrea
The Lost Journals of Sacajewea
by Debra Magpie Earling
If I have a wish for this year, it's that we can all read together.
Happy reading,
Casey Coonerty Protti
Owner, Bookshop Santa Cruz
Books I'm loving now:
Hell of a Book by Jason MottIt took my book club picking this book for me to finally pick up National Book Award winner Hell of a Book, and boy was it was worth it. Bitingly funny, breathtakingly honest and wildly original, Hell of a Book is a fresh, powerful and meaningful exploration of racism, violence, memory, trauma and family. One the best books I've read in a long time.
SAM by Allegra GoodmanIn this gripping coming of age story, Allegra Goodman charts the path of Sam, a girl with a different approach towards truly taking charge of her life. Sam's home life is tough so she finds solace in the world of rock climbing where she can catapult herself away from the daily monotony of school expectations. What is takes to find her agency is courage, individuality and yes, failing over and over again. Sam is one of those characters that will stay with you long after you read the last page.
Rough Sleepers by Tracy KidderPulitzer Prize winner Tracy Kidder (Mountains Beyond Mountains) is back with another example of his ability to shine a light on heroic individuals making a huge impact on some of the hardest social issues of our time. But instead of leaving you feeling that you have to be a hero to make a difference, he shows us how it is the everyday expression of compassion, connection with others and dedication that ultimately changes the world. This time he explores the world of a doctor serving Boston's homeless population and in doing so, shares a vision on how a different form of medical care could make all the difference. I am in awe of this book.