Andy knows how to read.
Set in 1990s Glasgow, Young Mungo by Douglas Stuart is a heart-wrenching yet deeply beautiful novel that follows 15 year-old Mungo's departure from childhood and subsequent loss of innocence. Throughout the book, Mungo is confronted with the harsh cruelty of his world, from his alcoholic mother to the blatant and often violent homophobia in his community. This story is not all gloom, however, as Mungo finds pockets of goodness and refuge in the quiet parts of his world. Mungo's child-like optimism and admiration for all things beautiful shines throughout the novel, making it one of my favorites I have read in a while.
The Guest List by Lucy Foley is a modern whodunnit that I'm certain Agatha Christie would have dug. As we shift between characters' points of view, we come to know this wedding party and familiar toxic environment that always comes with a big wedding. But we soon realize, this one comes with a...MURDER! This book was a really fun read, and its plot delivered for me. I found its structure to be quite engaging, as we switch between characters' points of view, and the setting of the book (a windswept island) made for a great read.
Gone Girl is one of those books that excites you with every page. Gillian Flynn is a master at constructing a hidden truth just below the surface of what us readers are allowed to see. As the book progresses, we become familiar with these complex, mysterious and deeply flawed characters, and even long after finishing the book, I am still thinking about them. Read this book!
Changes in the Land is a fantastic and accessible environmental history of colonial New England. In this book, Cronon demonstrates his unrivaled talent at exploring the ways in which the land reacts to the monumental historical changes that we are all familiar with. I was blown away by what I learned from Cronon, and this is a book I always recommend to any New Englanders curious about the environmental history of this place. Most of all, this book is an enjoyable one to read!
Why Fish Don't Exist is a unique mix between biography, memoir, history, and philosophy. Throughout the book, Lulu Miller examines the life of a little known character from US history, picking apart the details of his story in search of some larger lesson on life and meaning that she could apply to her own. What she finds is not cliche, not trite, and certainly was not what I or she expected from this book. Through her determination and honesty, Miller learns more and more about her historical obsession and about herself, leading her reader on a wild ride to a beautiful, new understanding of the way life and the world work. I highly recommend this book.
This book depicts love and grief in a way that is messy, yet beautiful and painfully real. I am still thinking about these characters and the extremely complex relationships that Zevin builds. These characters will undoubtedly stick with me for a while, as they feel like real people. Lastly, although this is a book about gamers, I know nothing about video games, and this book does not expect you to!
The Guest by Emma Cline is a slightly bizarre but gripping read. You follow Alex--a pretty unreliable narrator--as she drifts around the Hamptons, messing stuff up and disrupting wealthy vacation-goers' lives. She provides a really interesting insight into these strangers' lives, and leads us on her quest to make right a number of screwups...with questionable success. I recommend this read!
Close to Home by Michael Magee --- This book struck me for its honesty, its rawness, and its ability to communicate a beautiful mix of hope and despair. The story follows a young Irish university graduate dealing with joblessness and loneliness, who, throughout the book, seeks meaningful purpose and stability. Through beautifully subtle descriptions of a young man's everyday life, the book reflects on the rift between different generations' outlooks and experiences, all grounded in the ever-present violent legacy of recent Irish history. Magee delivers an intensely personal reflection on his own life experiences that has really stuck with me. I am still thinking about this book and how it made me feel.
The Vermont Book Shop | 38 Main Street, Middlebury, VT | (802) 388-2061 | orders@vermontbookshop.com
Terms & Conditions | Privacy Policy | Return / Refund Policy | Shipping & Payment Information | Contact Us