Cold Mountain is Han Shan, the "Zen lunatic mountain poet" referred to in Jack Kerouac's The Dharma Bums. He's a real character, and his poems are vivid natural pieces - some of them reaching us only because somebody transcribed what he'd left painted on rocks in the woods. Gary Snyder's selection Riprap & Cold Mountain Poems has been a long-time favorite, but Red Pine's book - and its introduction -is a goldmine.  There are also poems by Han Shan's sidekick Pickup, friend Big Stick (who reportedly turned into a tiger) and even
photographs of his old cave and the monastery, still extant, where he
lived.  Gary

Imagine being transported to Dunkirk on evacuation day or London during the Blitz.  Big questions of bravery, duty and friendship along with
the grittiness of everyday living during this period are examined in
Willis's latest "Oxford" time travel fiction series.  Book 2 is out in
the fall. You don't have to be a sci-fi aficionado to love it.  Susannah

London's Bright Young People were the mostly upper class Bohemians born too late for World War I and yet greatly affected by it.  This
engrossing and well-researched book tells their  dizzying story with
its wild parties, excessive drinking, bed hopping, drug taking and
trivial pursuits.  Although some, like Evelyn Waugh and Cecil Beaton,
scored great successes, others faded away and are now forgotten. Nathan

Originally published in 1982 this is essentially Murakami's
first novel (3rd really but you can't get the first two any where but
Japan) Part hard-boiled mystery part fantasy.  Our protagonist, an
unnamed man going through the motions of life is thrust into the role
of amateur detective by a fellow referred to only as "The Boss."  We
follow the protagonist on an epic search for a sheep with a star on
it's back...a sheep that hasn't been seen in 40 plus years. Emily