FICTION
Mary Toft; or, The Rabbit Queen by Dexter Palmer. Based on a real 1726 hoax in an English town. Describes how Mary Toft claimed she gave birth to rabbit parts and fooled the medical community. Provides thoughts on human gullibility.
Coronado: Stories by Dennis Lehane. Five short stories and a play by the author of Shutter Island.
In the Shadow of 10,000 Hills by Jennifer Haupt. Engrossing tale of events from the civil rights movement to the genocide in Rwanda. Three women, along with the country of Rwanda, try to heal and rebuild.
NONFICTION
The Warmth of Other Suns by Isabel Wilkerson. Fascinating story 6 million Black southerners who migrated to the North (1930s-1970s), focusing on the lives of three people.
On the Road to Tara by Aljean Harmetz. Describes the monumental production of bringing Gone with the Wind to the movie screen. It features wonderful original set designs.
The Long Field: Wales and the Presence of Absence by Pamela Petro. This 2023 memoir shows the author’s love affair with Wales, focusing on connection of its people to the country’s unique landscape, lore, and language.
Revenge of the Tipping Point by Malcolm Gladwell. In this follow-up to The Tipping Point, Gladwell looks at how seemingly small things can make a big difference.
Deadwood by Peter Dexter. A depiction of Deadwood’s violent history, including the murder of Wild Bill Hitchcock, the establishment of a Pony Express stop, and the killing of a beautiful Chinese woman.
A Bookshop in Berlin by Francoise Frenkel. This is about the author’s escape from the Nazis, creating a bookshop, resilience, human cruelty, and the human spirit.
The Great Displacement by Jake Bittle. This book describes how climate change is causing huge migrations of peoples.
Rooted: The American Legacy of Land Theft and the Modern Movement for Black Owned Land Ownership by Brea Baker. In many ways, people of color are denied land ownership through zoning regulations and terrorism. What are some solutions?
The River of Blood by Gerard Gawalt. The history of settlement along the Kennebec River and the struggle among native people, the French, and the English.
Captain Mac by Mary Morton Cowan. The story of Arctic explorer Donald Baxter MacMillan.
Cabin by Patrick Hutchison. The humorous tale of the efforts of a man in Washington State to build a cabin. A fast read.
MYSTERIES
No Strangers Here by Carlene O’Connor. A veterinarian returns to her roots in Ireland. Bodies pile up and evidence points to her family. First in a series.
The Cartographers by Peng Shepard. A well-known cartographer is found murdered in his office at the New York Public Library. His daughter investigates.