Staff Picks
Also affectionately known (by me) as the Human Skin Book Book. Rosenbloom is half of the duo that discovered a reliable way to test whether a book's cover is bound in animal or human leather and that testing journey takes her around the world. This delightful book (you read that right, delightful) is a studied and nuanced look at the history of bookbinding, the ways that cultural norms around death and dead bodies have changed, the true power of human mythmaking, and the scientific developments that have allowed us to test those myths.
Meaghan
I’ve read a lot of books on ‘how to write,’ and this is the first one that genuinely resonated with me. George Saunders employs his straight-talking, big-hearted sense of humor as he guides you through the Russians. He slowly deconstructs the each story with discussions and suggested exercises that uncover the core strategies writers use to make good fiction. Keep a pencil nearby because you will take notes. Great for readers and writers alike.
Wendy
The best gifts are ones that come from the heart and are made by the hands (and books - books and crafts). I love the wide range of ideas presented in Sustainable Gifting for everything from the gifts themselves to the wrapping and labeling. Perfect if you're looking to make more gifts this season, and perfect for the eco-conscious crafter in your life.
Stacey
Fun antics, great word-play, and clever illustrations make this a great picture book as is. But the fact that there's something deeper below the surface? That makes it shine.
Stacey
Killers of the Flower Moon will intrigue, terrify, and infuriate. Gramm details a conspiracy that spans D.C. to the Oklahoman plains, telling the true story of a rash of murders targeting members of the Osage Indian Nation, after the Nation's land turned up incredibly oil-rich. Woven with the story of J. Edgar Hoover's pet project that became the FBI, and the larger-than-life characters who investigated the crimes during the roaring '20s, this immersive true crime mystery reveals the true villainy of the American West, even a century later.
Kate M
One of Snicket's most unique works, a tale in which Snicket himself will spend the pages investigating his own poisoning. In classic Snicket fashion, this book takes you on an adventure filled with twists, turns, and a whole lot of wit. A fun read to escape into this November!
Jane
Just in time for Halloween! These monsters are not scary, but they are pretty ugly! Who do you think is The Ugliest Monster in the World?
Robin
Ellis, in his new one-volume history skillfully manages the large cast of characters and the diplomatic, political and military aspects to tell a compelling story of the American revolution. Informed by a consensus of current scholarship it is both elegantly written and entertaining.
Dale
These are not quite ghost stories, not quite straight up realism. There’s a sense throughout that something strange and otherworldly is happening in the corner of your eye.
Dave
Even if you do not agree with me that Tucci's The Big Night is probably the best food movie ever, you will still find this gustatory memoir a delightful, escapist read. Deliciously evocative, laugh-out-loud funny, and even including recipes for some of his favorites, I read this straight through in two sittings - slowing myself down by rereading particularly delectable passages, but eagerly anticipating what still lay in wait for me. Read this, and then watch (or re-watch) that movie.
David
As we enter October, one thing one must know about New England is its autumnal scenery is a sight to behold. Really absorb and appreciate the natural beauty mother nature has to offer with this book--from guiding you to listen for the forest's melodies to offering fun forest adventure ideas for the little ones, "100 Things to do in a Forest" will get you to experience the fall fauna on a whole new level.
Kai
This book is everything I could want in an atmospheric book of witchcraft and haunting. Part fable, part horror story, part cobbled-together myth, it's a treat to read and a treat to hold; the author's gorgeous illustrations add another layer that I'm always wishing for but rarely get with adult fiction. Unlike a lot of New England witch trial narratives, this one doesn't so much concern itself with the Christian god, but borrows heavily from American Indian lore. You should be reading Slewfoot this October.
Meaghan
October is a great month for feeling like you're on the verge of giving up. The edge is there. You can see it. The days are getting shorter and it's a long, long barrel to look down to the solstice, and, frankly, one of these days you're gonna lose it and scream your little head off in public. Ada Limón's The Carrying holds your hand right up to the edge and names all the trees along the way, and whether you scream or you don't, The Carrying will be there. full of dread and hope.
Piera
The Arrival is great for kids (and grown-ups!) whose favorite part of picture books is the illustrations. Packed with delightfully imaginative detail and a masterclass in visual storytelling, The Arrival is a bittersweet (but mostly sweet!) narrative of immigration, loneliness, and making a new home in an alien world.
Arrival
Because of how it is sold to us we cannot accept a return of this title.
Down Girl distills the most hard-to-understand aspects of feminism, misogyny, and the patriarchy into easier-to-understand terms, brought to enrapturing relevance by real-world, pop culture, and true crime-adjacent case studies that feel more like conversation than philosophy class. Kate Manne writes in a way that tackles tough concepts with ease and style- a must-read for feminists of any wave.
Kate M