Staff Picks 2014 May

The May Staff Picks can also be viewed or printed as a PDF Staff Picks May 2014 (1MB)
	MAY FEATURE A History of Silence by Lloyd Jones. An extraordinarily powerful and surprising memoir from the author of one of my favorite novels, Mr. Pip. This New Zealand writer has many literary awards under his belt, but the story of his life may be his best narrative yet. Mr. Jones deftly pieces together a family mystery whose denouement is devastating. The writing is superb, elegant and concise. Highly recommended. ~ Erik Barnum

FICTION
Remember Me Like This by Bret Anthony Johnston. Set in a small community on the Texas gulf, this is the story of a kidnapped boy returned to his family after four heartbreaking years, and how the family begins to come together in the aftermath of trauma. This debut novel with the feel of a thriller is haunting, incisive and powerful. ~ Amy Palmer	The Other Story by Tatiana De Rosnay. Riding on the success of his first novel, Nicolas battles with conflicting self-absorption and self-loathing while pretending to write his long awaited second book. Is he too far gone or can he redeem himself? A beautifully written and compelling read. ~ Amelia Stymacks	Lovers at the Chameleon Club, Paris 1932 by Francine Prose. YOU: Looking for a book about art and love, spies and artists, as the Paris of the glittering Twenties becomes the permanent midnight of WWII; that stimulates, satisfies, stays with you like the smoke of an after-hours dive. THIS: What you are looking for. ~ Charles Bottomley
All the Birds, Singing by Evie Wyld. Jake is as tough as the lonely life she has chosen - a sheepherder on a remote British coast, running from a horrifying past revealed in flashbacks with danger lurking everywhere. This novel held me captive from the first sentence, unforgettable, a heart stopping read. ~ Amy Palmer	The Serpent of Venice by Christopher Moore. Christopher Moore doth return, bringing new tales of frivolity! Pocket, who was once King Lear's Fool, is now out on his own. And he's making a right mess of things for everyone he knows! Absurdist Shakespearean humor! ~ Chris Linendoll	Queen of the Dark Things by C. Robert Cargill. This intense sequel to Dreams and Shadows submerges the reader in folklore and mythology while again raising philosophical questions about the nature of good and evil and the integrity of human nature. Cargill keeps the reader hooked from start to finish! ~ Jess Hanlon
NEW PAPERBACK		OLD FAVORITE
Dear Lucy by Julie Sarkissian. What appears to be a straightforward story about a unique young woman named Lucy turns out to be a much more complicated and disturbing narrative involving a power-hungry mother, missing children and a husband and wife who aren't as loving as they seem. ~ Jess Hanlon	All That Is Solid Melts Into Air by Darragh McKeon. A Russian surgeon is sent to oversee the monumental task of providing medical care after the catastrophic nuclear meltdown at Chernobyl. A gripping story of individual frailties told against a background of mass human misery and displacement. ~ Alden Graves	Under the Skin by Michel Faber. Why is a young woman picking up male hitchhikers along Scotland's highways? And what is she doing with them? Sometimes strange, always gripping, Skin probes the differences between men and woman and what separates the human from the inhuman. Hop in! ~ Charles Bottomley
The Golem and the Jinni by Helene Wecker. An absolutely stunning debut novel set in New York City in the late 1800s. The lives of a jinni in Little Syria and a golem on the Lower East Side intertwine when they try to pass for human. A wonderful, magical tale filled with myth and mysticism. ~ Becky Doherty	Annihilation by Jeff VanderMeer. An unreliable narrator is part of a scientific expedition into the eerily peaceful, undisturbed wilderness of Area X, to discover why previous expeditions resulted in catastrophe. Each grotesque discovery reveals a new mystery. Part one of a three volume series, all to be published in 2014. ~ Chris Linendoll	COME TO MANCHESTER FOR Featured display this month: Gardening, expanded fiction section and a fresh influx of craft books on quilting, sewing, embroidery and more! ~ Karen Frank

NEW HARDCOVER		NEW PAPERBACK
e. e. cummings: a life by Susan Cheever. A comprehensive biography celebrating one of America's preeminent 20th century poets, with delightful glimpses into Greenwich Village's modernist poetry scene and an intimate examination of his personal and intellectual life. The book renews the reader's appreciation for cummings' joyful, irreverent nature – and his genius. ~ Amy Palmer	American Smoke: Journeys to the End of the Light by Iain Sinclair. Britain's best cult author comes to the US in search of the Beat Generation writers who inspired him. Firing off images and ideas in hardboiled machine gun prose, Sinclair walks an America not found on any map. Addictive! ~ Charles Bottomley	Year of No Sugar: A Memoir by Eve Schaub. What an absolutely wonderful, humorous, informative book! Inspired by Dr. Robert Lustig, an expert on childhood obesity, Schaub gives up sugar for a whole year, along with her husband and two children. If you're up for the challenge, she includes recipes. ~ Becky Doherty
Make It Stick: The Science of Successful Learning by Peter C. Brown, Henry L. Roediger III & Mark A. McDaniel. Fascinating book about how we can all become better learners. Very readable, sometimes counter-intuitive, thoroughly researched, this book is great for teenagers, college and grad students, teachers, you, me. You'll want to find something new to learn after reading it. ~ Stan Hynds	Flash Boys: A Wall Street Revolt by Michael Lewis. A modern-day David and Goliath tale, in which so-called high frequency traders rigged financial markets to benefit traders rather than their clients. The complex world of dark pools and fiber optic trading - measured in increments of milliseconds - is adroitly presented in layman's terms. ~ Alden Graves	Knits of a Feather: 20 Stylish Knits Inspired by Birds in Nature by Celeste Young. These feathered designs are nicely presented in c o l o r - w o r k charts; tricky steps are written clearly with photos as visual guides. A variety of difficulty, from quick hats and cowls to complex comfy sweaters, full of vibrant color. A wonderful book for all seasons. ~ Leah Moore
Dying Every Day: Seneca in the Court of Nero by James Romm. The perils of power in first century AD Rome. Seneca's seemingly dual personality provides the focus for this fascinating, informative book. Was the scholar who tutored young Nero an eloquent hypocrite or a virtuous man who found himself inexorably drawn into an incestuous, blood-soaked regime? ~ Alden Graves	OLD FAVORITE Let's Take the Long Way Home by Gail Caldwell. This beautiful memoir chronicles the friendship between Caroline Knapp, author of Drinking: A Love Story, and Pulitzer Prize winner Gail Caldwell. Shared mutual passions for writing, dogs, and rowing, as well as recovery from alcoholism, created an intimacy that inspired a deep affinity until Caroline's death at 42 from cancer. ~ Amy Palmer	Bold: A Cookbook of Big Flavors by Susanna Hoffman, Victoria Wise. Don't be timid - these combinations are amazing! My favorite so far: Turkey & Pistachio Meatballs in Gorgonzola Basil Cream Sauce. ~ Sarah Donner
		Broadchurch: Season 1 (DVD). Superlative whodunit (even by British television standards) set on the English coast. When an 11-year-old boy's body is discovered, inhabitants of Broadchurch begin to suspect each other. Intricately plotted, beautifully acted, this eight-part series intersperses a riveting mystery with stark, palpable tension. ~ Alden Graves
Two-Tone Mixing Bowl Set. This set of four mixing bowls with lids is a great gift for Mom or Grad. The fun spring two tone colors add zip to any kitchen. And with 30oz, 60oz, 90oz and 135oz bowls, there is no limit to what you can make! ~ Monique Proulx

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