2015 Staff Pick of the Year

SPQR

Staff Pick Badge
SPQR: A History of Ancient Rome By Mary Beard Cover Image
$37.50
ISBN: 9780871404237
Availability: Available to Order from Supplier: Arrives at Store in a Week(ish)
Published: Liveright - November 9th, 2015

Informed by the many new discoveries and interpretations of contemporary scholarship, yet eminently readable and conversational in tone, Beard engagingly reexamines what we know of ancient Roman history, in process revising many myths of its thousand year span.

Dale


Story of My Teeth

Staff Pick Badge
The Story of My Teeth By Valeria Luiselli, Christina Macsweeney (Translator) Cover Image
$16.95
ISBN: 9781566894098
Availability: In Stock: Click Title to See if it's in CAMBRIDGE or BOSTON
Published: Coffee House Press - September 15th, 2015

Written in collaboration with the workers at a Mexican juice factory, featuring a delightfully delusional auctioneer, bending styles, playing with references, and challenging the idea of translation, The Story of My Teeth is unlike anything you’ve ever read. With this brilliant, weird, zany second novel, Luiselli has solidified her place as one of the most interesting and imaginative minds putting words on paper today.

 

Josh


An Exaggerated Murder

Staff Pick Badge
An Exaggerated Murder: A Novel By Josh Cook Cover Image
$16.95
ISBN: 9781612194271
Availability: In Stock: Click Title to See if it's in CAMBRIDGE or BOSTON
Published: Melville House - March 3rd, 2015

The great lie of detective fiction is that the world makes sense: there are no coincidences; criminal motives are simple and decipherable; every clue is a step along the path to resolution. Sherlock Holmes is no match for the real world but fortunately, Trike Augustine is, at least most of the time. Some crimes are just too stupid, even for Trike, and this might be one of them. This is a hilariously weird and philosophical detective novel by Porter Square Books’ own debut novelist ­ a talented new voice, whose next offering I’m already looking forward to reading!

 

Alexander


Secret History Of Wonder Woman

The Secret History of Wonder Woman By Jill Lepore Cover Image
$17.95
ISBN: 9780804173407
Availability: In Stock: Click Title to See if it's in CAMBRIDGE or BOSTON
Published: Vintage - July 7th, 2015

I can guarantee that you don't know the real story of Wonder Woman. Margaret Sanger and the early 20th century feminist movement, the Harvard psychologist who claims to have invented the lie detector test, the women's suffrage movement, and one of the most bizarre family arrangements imaginable ­ all are a part of the amazing history of the third most popular comic character in the US, behind only Superman and Batman. Cultural history at its finest.

 

David


Did You Ever Have A Family

Did You Ever Have a Family By Bill Clegg Cover Image
$26.00
It's Complicated--Contact Us for More Information
ISBN: 9781476798172
Published: Gallery/Scout Press - September 1st, 2015

Longlisted for the Booker Prize, this debut novel manages to tell an almost unbearably sad story in a lyrical, compelling and beautiful way. The story is narrated by a number of characters who have all been affected by the tragedy in different ways, but who all must understand, accept and move on with their lives.

 

Dina


THE CONQUERING TIDE

Staff Pick Badge
The Conquering Tide: War in the Pacific Islands, 1942-1944 (The Pacific War Trilogy #2) By Ian W. Toll Cover Image
$35.00
ISBN: 9780393080643
Availability: Available to Order from Supplier: Arrives at Store in a Week(ish)
Published: W. W. Norton & Company - September 21st, 2015

Ian Toll (author of the superb SIX FRIGATES) does for the WW2 Pacific what Rick Atkinson has done for the European theater ­ a magisterial trilogy (this is the 2nd volume: Guadalcanal etc), with portraits of major figures, exciting battle narratives, and fascinating personal vignettes.

 

Gary


Pages

Subscribe to RSS - 2015 Staff Pick of the Year