Holiday Book Guide 2022
Ho, Ho, Ho my bookish friends! We have somehow managed to make it through another year--cheers to us! Are you ready to snuggle up with a good book, or are you on the hunt for the perfect book to gift? Well look no further-the annual book guide is here, just for you! I'll admit that every year I wonder if I should continue this tradition (this is year 6!)--it's a good deal of work and, let's be honest, it's not like I have a big following. But what can I say? I love the process of reviewing the year in books and sharing some suggestions with all (7) of you.
Here's hoping you have a lovely, relaxing holiday season with plenty of time to dive into the perfect read.
HOW IT WORKS
The books selected are some of my favorites (as well as some that come highly recommended by trusted fellow readers) published in 2022.
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I should also clarify that the little quoted blurbs next to these books are NOT my own creation--I'm flattered that many of you in the past have thought that these were my succinct plot summaries. No, dear reader, these are taken straight from the publishers--I mean I love creating this guide but I still have a life.
New this year is the "Charlie Favorites" category. His favorites from this year have the thumbs up next to them; there are also some backlisted titles at the end of the guide.
START BROWSING
PREVIOUS GUIDES
Did you miss last year's guide? Or maybe there just aren't enough books on this list and you're searching for more, more, MORE? If so, make sure to check out my previous guides for some other great recommendations.
FICTION
Not going to lie--it was hard just to pick 5! This year felt like a good year for what I categorize as "enjoyable" fiction: great storytelling that's also relatable and entertaining (in other words, not a pretentious slog that you feel you "should" read just to appear cool).
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Remarkably Bright Creatures: I deem this the winner of the Warm Hug/Best Feel Good Story of the Year award. "For fans of A Man Called Ove, a charming, witty and compulsively readable exploration of friendship, reckoning, and hope, tracing a widow's unlikely connection with a giant Pacific octopus." Goodreads
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Demon Copperhead: One does not need to be well-versed in David Copperfield in order to read this powerful new novel (but it doesn't hurt). "Many generations ago, Charles Dickens wrote David Copperfield from his experience as a survivor of institutional poverty and its damages to children in his society... In transposing a Victorian epic novel to the contemporary American South, Barbara Kingsolver enlists Dickens' anger and compassion, and above all, his faith in the transformative powers of a good story. Demon Copperhead speaks for a new generation of lost boys, and all those born into beautiful, cursed places they can't imagine leaving behind." Goodreads
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The Swimmers: As one Goodreads member wrote, this is "a tiny novel that packs a powerful punch." "The Swimmers is a slim, brilliant novel about the value and beauty of mundane routines that shape our days and identities. Jump in and soak up Otsuka’s distinctive style, which has all the verve and playfulness of spoken-word poetry." Maureen Corrigan, Fresh Air.
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This Time Tomorrow: Maybe it's because I'm roughly the same age as the main character in this book and can truly relate to her thoughts on aging, but this book really hit home for me. A true love letter from a daughter to her dad. "On the eve of her 40th birthday, Alice’s life isn’t terrible. She likes her job, even if it isn’t exactly the one she expected. She’s happy with her apartment, her romantic status, her independence, and she adores her lifelong best friend. But her father is ailing, and it feels to her as if something is missing. When she wakes up the next morning she finds herself back in 1996, reliving her 16th birthday. But it isn’t just her adolescent body that shocks her, or seeing her high school crush, it’s her dad: the vital, charming, 40-something version of her father with whom she is reunited. Now armed with a new perspective on her own life and his, some past events take on new meaning. Is there anything that she would change if she could?" Amazon
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Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow: Don't be put off by the video games--this is a book about friendship and I actually found the video game info to be quite fascinating. "In this exhilarating novel by the best-selling author of The Storied Life of A. J. Fikry two friends--often in love, but never lovers--come together as creative partners in the world of video game design, where success brings them fame, joy, tragedy, duplicity, and, ultimately, a kind of immortality." Goodreads
HISTORICAL FICTION
Many of my fiction titles could technically be listed under historical fiction. I decided to make the distinction this year that novels set in the 80s and 90s DO NOT count as historical fiction. Not yet. Or possibly ever. Since Memphis is multigenerational I let it slide in but it's still hard to face up to the fact that my childhood years are now, well, historical.
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Memphis: "Memphis by Tara M. Stringfellow is an engrossing debut novel, a story about three generations of Southern Black women and their legacy, challenges, failures, joys, sorrows, and triumphs...Beautifully written prose, unforgettable characters, messages of sisterhood and community. The author shows tremendous insight into the effects of violence on Black women in America, told from a captivating Southern female perspective that makes Memphis one of the most compelling must-reads of 2022 and beyond." Denny S. Bryce, NPR book critic
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Trust: My book club was divided on this one--you either loved it or hated it. I enjoyed it mainly because I found the storytelling style to be unique, which can lead to some confusion about who is telling the story and what's really happening (like who can you really Trust, wink wink). "From an award-winning chronicler of our nation's history and its legends comes his much-anticipated novel about wealth and talent, trust and intimacy, truth and perception." Goodreads
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The Marriage Portrait: All the joy of O'Farrell's writing style without the gut-punch heartbreak of Hamnet. "The author of award-winning Hamnet brings the world of Renaissance Italy to jewel-bright life in this unforgettable fictional portrait of the captivating young duchess Lucrezia de’ Medici as she makes her way in a troubled court." Goodreads
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Mercury Pictures Presents: " Anthony Marra returns with a sprawling story that ushers readers through the streets of pre-World War II Rome, the backlots and front offices of a B-movie studio in Hollywood and the halls of Congress. The novel centers on Italian émigré Maria, teasing through the tangled, complex relationships she has with the men who shaped her past, empowered her career, and inhibit or expand her dreams. But as compelling as the story and characters are, the real star is the writing. Marra’s ability to capture and render both the joy and pain of life, and depict the web of fate that encompasses and shapes our lives, remains unmatched." NPR
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Lessons In Chemistry: Believe the hype! This is one of my favorites of the year--smart, funny, and a heartbreaking reminder of just how many strides women have taken in the fight for equality. "The 1950s weren’t just unkind to women with aspirations outside the home – they were punishing. Case in point: Elizabeth Zott, chemist. She doesn’t have her Ph.D. because she was assaulted by a professor; she’s belittled and harassed by the men she works with. She falls in love with a star scientist – and is dogged by rumors that she’s using him to get ahead. His accidental death, her surprise pregnancy and new single-mother desperation lead her to success in an unlikely place: a TV cooking show. But Zott gives her audience radical lessons that go beyond the kitchen. This book is an often funny-yet-infuriating read." Melissa Gray, NPR
MYSTERY/THRILLER
I'll be honest--I'm often disappointed with mysteries these days. Most of the ones I pick up seem to just be another version of an overused plot, not to mention the writing often leaves me wanting to murder someone. While these might not be Pulitzer winners (although Shutter was a Longlist, National Book Awards 2022 for Fiction winner) they are a step above your average mystery and just as entertaining (if not more so!).
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Shutter: Pick this one up only if you're ok with a creepiness factor and some gore. "This blood-chilling debut set in New Mexico’s Navajo Nation is equal parts gripping crime thriller, supernatural horror, and poignant portrayal of coming of age on the reservation." Goodreads
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The Night Shift: Are you sensing some 90's themed nostalgia? "It’s New Year’s Eve 1999. Y2K is expected to end in chaos: planes falling from the sky, elevators plunging to earth, world markets collapsing. A digital apocalypse. None of that happens. But at a Blockbuster Video in Linden, New Jersey, four teenage girls working the night shift are attacked. Only one survives. Police quickly identify a suspect who flees and is never seen again...Twisty, poignant, and redemptive, The Night Shift is a story about the legacy of trauma and how the broken can come out on the other side, and it solidifies Alex Finlay as one of the new leading voices in the world of thrillers." Goodreads
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The Verifiers: "As a Veronica Mars stan, I’m a sucker for a good private investigator plotline – and as a childhood Nancy Drew wannabe, I also love an amateur sleuth protagonist. The Verifiers delivers on both fronts: Claudia Lin has ditched her boring corporate job for a secretive PI agency where she does background checks on internet Romeos for clients. But when one customer turns up dead, Claudia suspects foul play even though everyone else says it’s suicide. So naturally, she goes rogue. Come for the intriguing premise, and stay for the funny digressions about being a romantically hapless 20-something in New York City." Natalie Escobar, editor, Newshub
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Killers Of A Certain Age: Fans of the Thursday Murder Club series will enjoy this title. "Older women often feel invisible, but sometimes that's their secret weapon. They've spent their lives as the deadliest assassins in a clandestine international organization, but now that they're sixty years old, four women friends can't just retire - it's kill or be killed in this action-packed thriller." Goodreads
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The Violin Conspiracy: The infuriating racism this character has to face makes for a tough but compelling read. "Ray McMillian is practicing for the Tchaikovsky competition in Russia when his family violin is stolen from his New York hotel room and replaced with a new sneaker and a ransom note. The whodunit becomes a tour through the pressure of competition and family feuds and an exposé on the prejudice faced by Black performers. This is a fast-paced, crisp read infused with a love of music, determination and perseverance." Edith Chapin, NPR
SCI-FI/FANTASY/SPECULATIVE FICTION
I realize purists might get upset that I lump these three genres into one, but I fully admit that I'm weak in these areas, which means I tend not to read too many titles--hence, 1 lumpy category. But that doesn't mean that I take these genres lightly; I fully respect the vastness of science fiction, fantasy, and speculative fiction and promise to do better in the years to come.
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The Change: As a woman who is just starting "the change," I loved the story of these 3 women who find their power in the midst of menopause. Such a fun, empowering read! "Big Little Lies meets The Witches of Eastwick—a gloriously entertaining and knife-sharp feminist revenge fantasy about three women whose midlife crisis brings unexpected new powers—putting them on a collision course with the evil that lurks in their wealthy beach town." Amazon
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The Kaiju Preservation Society: Scalzi is a big name in sci-fi but this is a stand-alone book, just perfect if you're new to his works. If his witty prose doesn't make you laugh out loud there might be something wrong with you. I highly recommend the Wil Wheaton narrated audio version. " When COVID-19 sweeps through New York City, Jamie Gray is stuck as a dead-end driver for food-delivery apps. That is, until Jamie makes a delivery to an old acquaintance, Tom, who works at what he calls 'an animal rights organization'. Tom’s team needs a last-minute grunt to handle things on their next field visit. Jamie, eager to do anything, immediately signs on. What Tom doesn't tell Jamie is that the animals his team cares for are not here on Earth. Not our Earth, at least. In an alternate dimension, massive dinosaur-like creatures named Kaiju roam a warm and human-free world. They're the universe's largest and most dangerous panda, and they're in trouble." Amazon
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Paradox Hotel: I'm a sucker for time travel and alternative universe timeline stories, they truly make my brain hurt (but in the best way!). "An impossible crime. A detective on the edge of madness. The future of time travel at stake. At once a dazzlingly time-twisting murder mystery and a story about grief, memory, and what it means to—literally—come face-to-face with our ghosts, The Paradox Hotel is another unforgettable speculative thrill ride from acclaimed author Rob Hart." Amazon
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How To Be Eaten: Every time I think about this book, I hear a little smirky chuckle in my head. "This darkly funny and provocative novel reimagines classic fairy tale characters as modern women in a support group for trauma...this debut for readers of Carmen Maria Machado, Kristen Arnett, and Kelly Link takes our coziest, most beloved childhood stories, exposes them as anti-feminist nightmares, and transforms them into a new kind of myth for grown-up women." Goodreads
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Babel: Or the Necessity of Violence: An Arcane History of the Oxford Translators' Revolution: Yes, that is the actual title. I should also note the book is just as long as the title but it doesn't feel long while you're reading it, I promise. When I saw it described as a cross between The Secret History and Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell, I knew it was the book for me. "This new doorstopper of a historical fantasy novel reimagines the rise of the British empire as intrinsically intertwined with the colonization and consolidation of magic. Robin, stolen from his home in Canton and brought to Oxford’s Royal Institute of Translation in the mid-19th century, finds himself at the center of a plot to bring down the imperial machine. Although the stories are very different, Babel gave me serious Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell vibes, from the fascinating footnotes to the lush prose to the creeping sensation that there is far more going on than what appears on the surface." Alex Brown, librarian, critic and author (NPR)
NONFICTION
To me, nonfiction books should be left around the house for those moments when you don't have time for a long read, want to learn something new, and yet still be entertained. These types of titles also play well on audio for the exact same reason (perfect for errands around town).
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The Man Who Could Move Clouds: A fascinating story about Colombia, family, and magical healers. "Rojas Contreras reacquaints herself with her family’s past, weaving their stories with personal narrative, unraveling legacies of violence, machismo and colonialism… In the process, she has written a spellbinding and genre-defying ancestral history.” New York Times Book Review
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Rogues: Radeen Keefe might be my favorite nonfiction author. This collection of stories is from his many years of reporting for The New Yorker. "Patrick Radden Keefe’s last two books were among my favorite peak-pandemic reads, and Rogues did not disappoint. It’s a collection of a dozen articles Keefe wrote over the years, focused on a cast of shady, scandalous, sympathetic and generally complicated characters in fields ranging from finance to entertainment to vintage wines. Some of the stories and subjects are better known than others, but all make for page-turners in their own way. I love that Keefe closes each chapter with a short epilogue describing what has happened since each story was originally published – linking past to present and reportage to reality." Rachel Treisman, Morning Edition (NPR)
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The Last Slave Ship: This story first came to our attention when we found the documentary Clotida: The Last American Trade Ship (make sure to check it out, too). "The incredible true story of the last ship to carry enslaved people to America, the remarkable town its survivors founded after emancipation, and the complicated legacy their descendants carry with them to this day—by the journalist who discovered the ship’s remains." Amazon
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The Nineties: Why does the world feel the need to remind me I'm getting old??? "It was long ago, but not as long as it seems: The Berlin Wall fell and the Twin Towers collapsed. In between, one presidential election was allegedly decided by Ross Perot while another was plausibly decided by Ralph Nader. In the beginning, almost every name and address was listed in a phone book, and everyone answered their landlines because you didn’t know who it was. By the end, exposing someone’s address was an act of emotional violence, and nobody picked up their new cell phone if they didn’t know who it was. The '90s brought about a revolution in the human condition we’re still groping to understand. Happily, Chuck Klosterman is more than up to the job." Amazon
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How To Be Perfect: I'll be the first to admit that this book is, well... a lot. The first part is very heavy on philosophy but the second half does a good job of relating all these theories with how to be a good person. I recommend listening to it, with a hard copy on the side for reference. It truly was one of our favorite books of the year. "From the creator of The Good Place and the co-creator of Parks and Recreation, a hilarious, thought-provoking guide to living an ethical life, drawing on 2,400 years of deep thinking from around the world." Amazon
MEMOIR/BIOGRAPHY
No exceptions: ALL of these titles must be listened to on audio. I highly recommend also getting the hard copy, as many of them have pictures or other itmes that are importnat to the story, but I truly believe you're not getting whole experience if you only read these books--you must also listen!!!
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Out Of The Corner: There's more to the story about the nose. I was surprised at how much I enjoyed learning about Jennifer's history and I had forgotten just how much Dirty Dancing affected my junior high existence. "In this beautiful, close-to-the-bone account, Jennifer Grey takes listeners on a vivid tour of the experiences that have shaped her, from her childhood as the daughter of Broadway and film legend Joel Grey, to the surprise hit with Patrick Swayze that made her America’s sweetheart, to her inspiring season eleven win on ABC’s Dancing with the Stars. Distinctive, moving, and powerful, told with generosity and pluck, Out of the Corner is a memoir about a never-ending personal evolution, a coming-of-age story for women of every age." Amazon
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Finding Me: Viola Davis is a true actor's actor. I loved learning about Davis's path to success, how perseverance and tenacity made her the artist she is today. "Finding Me is a deep reflection, a promise, and a love letter of sorts to self. My hope is that my story will inspire you to light up your own life with creative expression and rediscover who you were before the world put a label on you." Goodreads
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Managing Expectations: A surprise find, one that both topped Charlie and my books of the year. I realized how much I enjoy the "memoir in essays" type of format. "In this intimate, beautifully crafted collection, Driver writes with disarming charm and candor about her bohemian upbringing between England and Barbados; her post-university travails and triumphs—from being the only student in her acting school not taken on by an agent to being discovered at a rave in a muddy field in the English countryside; shooting to fame in one of the most influential films of the 1990s and being nominated for an Academy Award; and finding the true light of her life, her son. She chronicles her unconventional career path, including the time she gave up on acting to sell jeans in Uruguay, her journey as a single parent, and the heartbreaking loss of her mother." Amazon
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I'm Glad My Mom Died: Holy shit, this is a story. I'm a tad too old to have watched McCurdy on Nickelodeon but you don't have to know her to be fascinated by her story. There's quite a bit to unpack here so if you have issues with childhood neglect or eating disorders, read with caution. "A heartbreaking and hilarious memoir by iCarly and Sam & Cat star Jennette McCurdy about her struggles as a former child actor—including eating disorders, addiction, and a complicated relationship with her overbearing mother—and how she retook control of her life." Amazon
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Surrender: I'll be honest: haven't finished listening to this one yet because it's 20 hours on audio--it's long but worth it! "Honest and irreverent, intimate and profound, Surrender is the story of the remarkable life he’s lived, the challenges he’s faced, and the friends and family who have shaped and sustained him." Amazon
SHORT STORIES/ESSAY COLLECTIONS
So this is a hodgepodge grouping but probably my favorite. There are fiction short stories, non-fiction essay collections, and even some epistolary (fancy word of the day) novels. While I do love the sense of accomplishment these books give me (I can read a story in just a few minutes!), I'm also in constant amazement at how the authors pack such a punch into a few pages.
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Angel Of Rome: "A stunning collection about those moments when everything changes—for the better, for the worse, for the outrageous—as a diverse cast of characters bounces from Italy to Idaho, questioning their roles in life and finding inspiration in the unlikeliest places." Amazon
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Thank You, Mr. Nixon: "Beginning with a cheery letter penned by a Chinese girl in heaven to “poor Mr. Nixon” in hell, Gish Jen embarks on a fictional journey through U.S.-China relations, capturing the excitement of a world on the brink of tectonic change. With their profound compassion and equally profound humor, these eleven linked stories trace the intimate ways in which humans make and are made by history, capturing an extraordinary era in an extraordinary way. Delightful, provocative, and powerful, Thank You, Mr. Nixon furnishes yet more proof of Gish Jen’s eminent place among American storytellers." Amazon​​​
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Love & Saffron: I usually never pick up these types of books but I kept seeing it highlighted at every bookstore so decided to check it out--truly delightful but don't read if you're hungry. My friend Leslie and I went to her book signing in February (the first one since Covid!) and Kay was so personable and kind, it made our day. "In the vein of the classic 84, Charing Cross Road, this witty and tender novel follows two women in 1960s America as they discover that food really does connect us all, and that friendship and laughter are the best medicine." Amazon
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Happy-Go-Lucky: The latest collection from Sedaris does not disappoint. While there are the usual stories about the hilarity of the mundane, he also goes a little deep talking about his family in some unexpected ways. We were able to see him in person in November and he was just as hilarious as I hoped. "David Sedaris once again captures what is most unexpected, hilarious, and poignant about these recent upheavals, personal and public, and expresses in precise language both the misanthropy and desire for connection that drive us all. If we must live in interesting times, there is no one better to chronicle them than the incomparable David Sedaris." Amazon
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I Guess I Haven't Learned That Yet: I keep this book next to my bed to read little excerpts as needed--it's a much-needed nightly balm. "Just after her fortieth birthday, author Shauna Niequist found herself in a season of chaos, change, and loss unlike anything she'd ever faced. She discovered that many of the beliefs and practices that she usually turned to were no longer serving her. After trying--and failing--to pull herself back up using the same old strategies and systems, she realized she required new ones: courage, curiosity, and compassion. She discovered the way through was more about questions than answers, more about forgiveness than force, more about tenderness than trying hard." Amazon
MISCELLANEOUS
Some odds & ends, basically fun items I wanted to add and ran out of room.
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Oddball: "The fourth book in the enormously popular graphic novel series, the latest collection of Sarah's Scribbles comics explores the evils of procrastination, the trials of the creative process, the cuteness of kittens, and the beauty of not caring about your appearance as much as you did when you were younger. When it comes to humorous illustrations of the awkwardness and hilarity of millennial life, Sarah's Scribbles is without peer." Amazon
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Dilla Time: Carlos has been watching the excellent documentary series "Hip Hop Evolution" and educating me in the process. I happened to be watching with him when Dilla made his way to the scene and my mind was blown. "James DeWitt Yancey – the Detroit producer who, both as Jay Dee and J Dilla, created an irresistibly destabilized pulse in pop music – was not a man who gave up his secrets easily. So Dilla Time, this magnificent book by veteran hip-hop journalist Dan Charnas, feels a bit like a miracle. It’s not just a deeply revealing portrait of Dilla, who died in 2006, or an exploration of the neo-soul and hip-hop movements that coalesced around him. It’s also a lucid study of the new rhythm science he invented, in language more tactile than technical: an approachable head-nod sort of read." Nate Chinen, director of editorial content, WRTI
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Revenge Of The Librarians: Hilarious fun! "Tom Gauld returns with his wittiest and most trenchant collection of literary cartoons to date. Perfectly composed drawings are punctuated with the artist’s signature brand of humour, hitting high and low. After all, Gauld is just as comfortable taking jabs at Jane Eyre and Game of Thrones." Goodreads
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Atlas Of The Heart: Is there anyone better than Brene Brown to help you get your shit together/find yourself? "In Atlas of the Heart, Brown takes us on a journey through 87 of the emotions and experiences that define what it means to be human. As she maps the necessary skills and an actionable framework for meaningful connection, she gives us the language and tools to access a universe of new choices and second chances - a universe where we can share and steward the stories of our bravest and most heartbreaking moments with one another in a way that builds connection." Amazon
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Age Of Cage: The read you didn't know you needed (but you do). "Icon. Celebrity. Artist. Madman. Genius. Nicolas Cage is many things, but love him, or laugh at him, there's no denying two things: You've seen one of his many films, and you certainly know his name. But who is he, really, and why has his career endured for over 40 years, with more than a hundred films, and birthed a million memes? Age of Cage is a smart, beguiling book about the films of Nicolas Cage and the actor himself, as well as a sharp-eyed examination of the changes that have taken place in Hollywood over the course of his career. Critic and journalist Keith Phipps draws a portrait of the enigmatic icon by looking at - what else? - Cage's expansive filmography." Goodreads
CHARLIE FAVORITES
I'm adding a new category this year: books my sweet husband enjoyed in 2022. For those that may not know, my spouse is what I call a "delicate flower" when it comes to all things media--I usually screen movies and books for him and let him know if they're "Charlie appropriate." He doesn't like anything dark, scary, or too sad--can you blame him? So in addition to the books mentioned above, here are some backlist titles that he loved this year (they're some of my all-time favorites as well)
NOTE: Charlie and I both listened to all of these on audio, but also have hard copies for reference. I would definitely recommend this strategy as you'll probably want to go back time and time again to The Anthropocene Reviewed, will need to see the pictures in Hollywood Park, and Project Hail Mary is sometimes so brainy you might need to read it too for better understanding.
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The Anthropocene Reviewed (2021): How does John Green do it? These stories about the basics of life are so meaningful and poignant--there were quite a few times we were moved to tears. "Funny, complex, and rich with detail, the reviews chart the contradictions of contemporary humanity. As a species, we are both far too powerful and not nearly powerful enough, a paradox that came into sharp focus as we faced a global pandemic that both separated us and bound us together." Amazon
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Hollywood Park (2020): Both of us felt many similarities to Jollett's life growing up in the '70s and '80s. He's a great storyteller and this book is a gem. "In his raw, poetic and powerful voice, Jollett portrays a childhood filled with abject poverty, trauma, emotional abuse, delinquency and the lure of drugs and alcohol. Raised by a clinically depressed mother, tormented by his angry older brother, subjected to the unpredictability of troubled step-fathers and longing for contact with his father, a former heroin addict and ex-con, Jollett slowly, often painfully, builds a life that leads him to Stanford University and, eventually, to finding his voice as a writer and musician." Goodreads
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Project Hail Mary (2021): Yes, the science can be pretty heavy but the humor and the powerful story of friendship balance it all out. This one MUST be listened to and I can't tell you why without spoiling a big plot point so just trust me. "Ryland Grace is the sole survivor on a desperate, last-chance mission—and if he fails, humanity and the earth itself will perish. And with the clock ticking down and the nearest human being light-years away, he’s got to do it all alone. Or does he?" Goodreads
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The Lincoln Highway (2021): Since Charlie loved A Gentleman In Moscow as much as I did, I knew he'd like Towles latest book (although we disagree about the ending--he loved it, I hated it). "In June, 1954, eighteen-year-old Emmett Watson is driven home to Nebraska by the warden of the work farm where he has just served a year for involuntary manslaughter. His mother long gone, his father recently deceased, and the family farm foreclosed upon by the bank, Emmett’s intention is to pick up his eight-year-old brother and head west where they can start their lives anew. But when the warden drives away, Emmett discovers that two friends from the work farm have hidden themselves in the trunk of the warden’s car. Together, they have hatched an altogether different plan for Emmett’s future. Spanning just ten days and told from multiple points of view, Towles’s third novel will satisfy fans of his multi-layered literary styling while providing them an array of new and richly imagined settings, characters, and themes." Goodreads
That's All Folks! Hope you enjoyed your visit to the guide and found a new book or two. It's always a joy to share my love of reading with others so thank you for being here!
Here's wishing you a very happy and healthy holiday season.