The Antidote by Karen Russell
Title: The Antidote
Author: Karen Russell
Review: Karen Russell never disappoints when it comes to weird literature. In this title, we get a mix of nitty gritty historical fiction realism and dark fantasy, set in the Great Depression and with a cast of bizarre characters. This book is great for wanting to try something different.
Review by: Layne
Rise and Renew by Candace Cameron Bure
Title: Rise and Renew
Author: Candace Cameron Bure
Review: It can be easy to lose sight of what is important in the hustle and bustle of life. It can also be easy to forget essential aspects of our faith as the world attempts to pull us back into it. Candace's devotional functions as a great tool for processing the ways the world (and sometimes the church) hurts us and reminds us who we are called to be in Christ. My friend and I used this as a weekly journaling prompt to guide our discussions and both loved it!
Review by: Bethany
Plague of Doves by Louise Erdrich
Title: Plague of Doves
Author: Louise Erdrich
Review: This gut wrenching story set in the sweeping plains of North Dakota tells a multi-generational narrative surrounding the murder of a farm family and how it affects the white and Ojibwe communities. A coming of age story with elements of mystery and history are all wrapped up in Erdrich's gorgeous prose.
Review by: Layne
She Kills: The Murderous Socialite by Skip Hollandsworth
Title: She Kills: The Murderous Socialite
Author: Skip Hollandsworth
Review: This collection from one of my favorite crime writers is unique in its focus on violent female offenders, and is expertly curated from the various stories Hollandsworth has contributed to Texas Monthly since 1989. The writer has a masterful way of mixing the perfect amount of tension, chemistry, and detail to pull you into each story.
Review by: Layne
Library of Lost Maps by James Cheshire
Title: Library of Lost Maps
Author: James Cheshire
Review: Filled with fascinating maps and the stories behind them, this book is an awesome combo of imagery and text.
Review by: Ben
Deeper By Dane Ortlund
Title: Deeper By Dane Ortlund
Author: Dane Ortlund
Review: Sanctification, the growth process that begins after conversion, is an extremely difficult and often confusing process for most believers. Growing with Christ without falling into a works-based faith mindset is a delicate balance. In this book, Ortlund walks readers through common stumbling blocks and urges them to dig deeper into their union with Christ. This read is difficult, but in an immensely beneficial sense.
Review by: Bethany
How to Grow Food by Huw Richards
Title: How to Grow Food
Author: Huw Richards
Review: Great book to get you going on how to grow your own food. This is definitely an entry-level book, but if you’re interested in bettering your health and growing some of your own food. This is one to dip your toe in.
Review by: Julie
The Painter's Daughters by Emily Howes
Title: The Painter's Daughters
Author: Emily Howes
Review: Molly and Peggy are daughters to Thomas Gainsborough, one of the most influential artists in the late 18th century. However, with such a public spotlight on them, it is crucial that they live up to high society's standards. The problem? Molly has had bouts of confusion from a very young age, and time only seems to be pushing her closer to madness. Her younger sister and best friend, Peggy, takes it upon herself to hide Molly's secret, no matter the price she must pay herself. Following their broken family through generations, this story is a beautifully written tragedy.
Review by: Bethany
Comfort Food the Cowboy Way by Kent Rollins
Title: Comfort Food the Cowboy Way
Author: Kent Rollins
Review: Probably my favorite cookbook in that it's easy to follow, provides some of the best comfort food I've ever tasted, and you get some fun anecdotes and narration on ranching history mixed in. History alongside delicious recipes? Yes, please.
Review by: Layne
The Weekly Habits Project
Title: The Weekly Habits Project
Review: This 52 week devotional would make a great addition to any believer's week! With only 2-3 prompt questions a week and short readings, this devotional is not time consuming and yet still makes its readers consider their thoughts and actions at a deeper level. Big changes often start small, and this book helps walk you through that process. I highly recommend!
Review by: Bethany
The Elegance of the Hedgehog by Muriel Barbery
Title: The Elegance of the Hedgehog
Author: Muriel Barbery
Review: This lightly satirical, bittersweet story is set in France and focuses on the unlikely connection between 12 year old Paloma and the middle aged concierge of her apartment building. Both live ordinary lives, yet both hide their affinity for art & philosophy and their above average intelligence from the outside world. In that, the story explores the beauty of finding connection with strangers. Quirky, sad, lovable, and one of the more unique books I've read.
Review by: Layne
The Vanishing Cherry Blossom Bookshop by Takuya Asakura
Title: The Vanishing Cherry Blossom Bookshop
Author: Takuya Asakura
Review: This is a mysterious book about a bookshop that only appears in spring when the cherry blossom trees are in full bloom. A young girl with a cat, a bookshop, and coffee. Truly a short book with all sorts of treasures that you will enjoy.
Review by: Julie
Twenty Thousand Roads by David Meyer
Title: Twenty Thousand Roads
Author: David Meyer
Review: Twenty Thousand Roads: The Ballad of Gram Parsons and his Cosmic American Music by David MeyerThough relatively obscure today, Gram Parsons played an integral role in shaping the genre of country-western music in the 1960s and 1970s, inspiring well-known artists like Emmylou Harris and bands such as The Byrds and The Rolling Stones. From a childhood spent amongst orange juice moguls to his untimely end at the Joshua Tree National Park, this biography explores the life and legacy of one of country music’s most fascinating and underappreciated musicians, in his many complexities.
Review by: Jo
Crow Talk by Eileen Garvin
Title: Crow Talk
Author: Eileen Garvin
Review: Set within the shadow of Mt. Adams, two families form an unlikely friendship while helping an injured crow. Frankie has retreated to her family cabin while attempting to salvage her academic career, while Anne has come with her husband while struggling to navigate raising their nonverbal son, Aiden. Each grappling with immense loss, they find solace in watching the birds and learning to lean on others. This was a truly delightful and touching read!
Review by: Bethany
Nowhere Burning by Catriona Ward
Title: Nowhere Burning
Author: Catriona Ward
Review: Riley and Oliver are two children seeking refuge. They find it in the mysterious place of Nowhere, deep in the Colorado Rockies, where other children escaping bad situations have settled into an idyllic way of life. It is paradise until Riley discovers there are dark secrets behind Nowhere, and one must pay a steep price in order to stay. Another page turner from Catriona Ward, the twists this book brings may keep you up at night.
Review by: Layne
Is a River Alive? by Robert MacFarlane
Title: Is a River Alive?
Author: Robert MacFarlane
Review: This is an interesting question. If a river is alive, does it have rights? With an enjoyable
descriptive writing style, the author travels the globe in search of an answer.
Review by: Ben
We Have Always Lived in the Castle by Shirley Jackson
Title: We Have Always Lived in the Castle
Author: Shirley Jackson
Review: The Blackwood sisters, Constance and Merricat, have always lived very happily with their Uncle Julian on the outskirts of their town, despite the unspeakable “incident” from several years ago that ostracized them from the wider community. The unexpected arrival of their cousin Charles, however, threatens to disrupt this peaceful balance… and Merricat has the oddest feeling that he has much darker intentions in mind. This is one of Shirley Jackson’s finest works, and the use of an unreliable narrator here is perfectly executed!
Review by: Jo
The Sound and the Fury by William Faulkner
Title: The Sound and the Fury
Author: William Faulkner
Review: Easily one of his best works, Faulkner's tale of a southern family dynasty's decline contributed to his winning of the Nobel Prize in 1949. The stream-of-consciousness format and unreliable narrators make this a challenging read, but completely worth it. It takes you through each family member's personal tragedy and makes a larger comment on the decline of the Old South's long upheld conservatism.
Review by: Layne
Karen: A Brother Remembers by Kelsey Grammer
Title: Karen: A Brother Remembers
Author: Kelsey Grammer
Review: Kelsey Grammer writes a gorgeous memoir dedicated to his late sister, Karen, who was murdered in 1975. This is a beautiful portrayal of Grammer's life, while lifting the veil on one of television's most iconic actors.
Review by: Layne
Peak Human by Johan Norberg
Title: Peak Human
Author: Johan Norberg
Review: Given that some parts of the world have had essentially a few thousand years head start, why have they not advanced as much some other countries that are much younger? The answer is of course a combination of factors that the author lays out in the book.
Review by: Ben