The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas

There are those books that are important and timely, worthy of reading because of the social and/or political message that they send. They fill a gap in the market; they make waves. They need to exist. And there are other books that are well-written, emotionally-charged and unputdownable - books that are not important as such, just really good. But, on occasion, you find one of those rare wonderful creatures that is both important AND really good. The Hate U Give is one of those books. 

Starr Carter may only be sixteen, but she has already witnessed two murders of close friends in her life: the first of Natasha a 10 year old black girl in a drive by and the second of a 16 year old Khalil an unarmed boy shot multiple times by a cop. While she was in the car. Even though they didn’t do anything wrong. Even though he was unarmed. 

The strongest aspect of this book is it's social commentary and political criticism. This is the kind of book that should be in the hands of teens, making them aware of current issues, educating them on pressing matters, and encouraging them to get involved to create change. I absolutely left this read with an entirely new perspective I will carry with me in the future. It poses many important questions about racism, police brutality, discrimination, and prejudice while also answering them in a comprehensive and inviting way.

This book is everything it's been hyped up to be; revolutionary, poignant, heartbreaking and a voice that needs to be heard, no matter what your color.

Recommended by Monica Shine

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What If?: Serious Scientific Answers to Absurd Hypothetical Questions by Randall Munroe

This book opens with the best disclaimer I have ever seen:

"Do not try any of this at home. The author of this book is an Internet cartoonist, not a health or safety expert. He likes it when things catch fire or explode, which means he does not have your best interests in mind. The publisher and the author disclaim responsibility for any adverse effects resulting, directly or indirectly, from information contained in this book."

Randall Munroe  takes "absurd hypothetical questions" from readers and tries to answer some of them. Here are some of my favorite questions in this book:

• If every human somehow simply disappeared from the face of the Earth, how long would it be before the last artificial light source would go out?

• From what height would you need to drop a steak for it to be cooked when it hit the ground? 

• Which US state is actually flown over the most? 

If you are interested to know any of the answers to those questions, this book is for you! What made this so much fun, aside from the ridiculous questions, is Munroe's sense of humor.

Recommended by Monica Shine
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November 9 by Colleen Hoover

No matter what is said there is no question that Colleen Hoover has that incredibly special gift of originality and a way with words that are second to none. When Colleen is in the zone she really and truly is so in the zone that she leaves all other romance writers in the dust.

Ben and Fallon's story spans across a five-year period. He's a college student/aspiring writer and she's an actress, whose career came to a tragic end, leaving her riddled with self-confidence issues. Both are young, and working through loads of emotional baggage. When they first met, it happens to be the day Fallon plans to pack up her life and move from L.A to N.Y. Almost immediately, they’ve formed a bond. Wanting to continue a friendship/relationship, they agree to reunite each year on November 9th.... a sort of 'same bat time, same bat station' type of scenario.

There is one stipulation to their agreement... absolutely no contact or communication above and beyond that one day.  Told from dual POV's, we discover that date is of great significance to both for various reasons - it is a blessing and a curse - and I braced myself for some major drama to come (and trust me, there is  TONS of drama). 

Recommended by Monica Shine
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Ready Player One by Ernest Cline

This book is a geek fantasy. A nerd utopia. Wade Watts, our protagonist, attends school in OASIS an online world created by James Halliday, contains thousands of different worlds.  In a very "Westing Game" move, Halliday leaves his entire $250 billion fortune to the player who can find the Easter egg hidden in OASIS.

Oh, did I mention that Halliday was a fan of 1980s pop culture and built his clues to finding his fortune around his love of that era? To win, you must be well versed in every John Hughes movie, know pretty much every lyric to every 80's song (yes even the obscure ones), and of course be fluent in games like Pac-Man, Asteroids and Joust.

When Wade finds the first clue and opens the first gate of the elaborate treasure hunt he becomes a world sensation, and draws the attention of the Sixers, the evil corporation intent on dominating OASIS. If they find the clues before Wade and his friends, and unlock the Halliday fortune, OASIS would be under their control. 

This was an intense, fast paced read and will resonate for years to come for anyone who loves, trivia, quests and of course video games.  Read this one before the movie (directed by Steven Spielberg) is released later this year!

Recommended by Monica Shine
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Ingrid Goes West (Comedy, 2017)

Dark comedy with Aubrey Plaza and Elizabeth Olsen? Sign me in.

But what I got, was definitely not a comedy. There are some great laughs in this film, but mostly it's a heavy drama about unbalanced, desperate people. And a very well made one. 'Ingrid Goes West' is so real, so brutal, that it makes the audience uncomfortable, but you still can't look away. This is what the world of social media is when taken to extreme. It's reality for thousands of people, if not for millions.

Ingrid (Aubrey Plaza)is a lonely Pennsylvania girl who needs friends as she's rejected and bored and wants a change of pace and a new beginning, so when she notices an Instagram star on her iPhone out in California, you guessed it a trip to move to the west coast is on Ingrid's to do list! It's already a slow obsession to be a new friend to this social media star named Taylor Sloane(Elizabeth Olsen) as this attractive bright blond girl seems to have it! Ingrid has a dream come true by getting to meet Taylor and it seems like friendship is rolling along only it's not as each has a different lifestyle and social status. After Ingrid feels rejected and isolated you guessed it she becomes a stalker and it's a dangerous little cat and mouse game with Taylor and others around them. It is a sad, yet important and powerful look at our society today.


Recommended by Monica Shine
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The Glass Castle (Drama, 2017)

We all have our stories. The stories that make up our life. Some of us dwell on the "bad" things, while others remember only the good times. Ms. Walls' memoir describes her unconventional childhood with bohemian parents who cared more for freedom and independence than for feeding their kids. Fortunate we all are to have families that dysfunction in even small ways because they provide us with stories for a lifetime. Such is writer/director Destin Daniel Cretton's The Glass Castle, a story based on Jeannette Wells's (Brie Larson) family, overloaded by a dad, Rex,whose oversized personality, big brain, and capacity for booze dominates the four children through their adult years.


One of The Glass Castle's strongest aspects is how it takes an experience unique to a small amount of people, and makes it so relatable to the masses. 99% of the people watching this movie have not had an upbringing like Jeanette's, but the film crafts the story in a way that you can form parallels to your own life. This isn't just telling the story of someone's childhood; it becomes a commentary on the ups and downs of family life itself. If you're looking for a good (ugly) cry, this is the one for you.


Recommended by Monica Shine
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La Vie en Rose (French, 2007)

It is difficult to overstate the necessary caliber of a woman who was raised in a filthy whorehouse, sung and slept on the street, traveled with the circus, lost her child at 20, went blind for a time, was wrongly accused of murder, struggled with a drug addiction and lost other loved ones by the bucketload in her life, and still got up on stage at the end of her life to sing "Je ne regrette rien". La Vie en Rose documents each stage of Edith Piaf's life with creative direction and an intensely brilliant performance by its lead actress, Marion Cotillard.

Cotillard, who won the Best Actress Oscar for this film in 2007, gives additional life to Piaf (who already was a larger than life character in her own right) and will hopefully introduce a new legion of fans for this early 20th century star. Even if you've never heard the name Edith Piaf before, you certainly know her music. In the iconic scene in "Saving Private Ryan", Piaf's hit "Tu Es Partout" provides the soundtrack while the platoon waiting on a German offensive strike. Or in "Inception" where "Je ne regrette rien" is used as the musical Kick needed to help DiCaprio and Company return from a level of sleep.

If you are put off by foreign language films with subtitles, make an exception for this film. As a biopic, Edith Piaf's gravelly voice works its way through her life to the accompaniment of her distinctive songs. I guarantee you will be a fan of Piaf after viewing this film.



Recommended by Monica Shine
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Fargo (Season 1)

You don't have to have seen the original Coen film to enjoy this series, nor does it spoil anything for you if you have seen it: the new TV-show 'Fargo' is entirely its own beast. This is black comedy at its best, filled with a stellar cast (like Billy Bob Thornton, Martin Freeman, Colin Hanks and scene-stealer newcomer, Allison Tolman) mixed with a complex crime narrative teat will leave you guessing until the very end.


The premise is simple enough, a jittery underachiever has a random encounter with a charismatic psychopath. Here's where it starts to get crazy; we introduce a high school nemesis, a nagging wife, the chief of police and his second in command, a billionaire with a dirty little secret, and a crime syndicate based out of (you guessed it) Fargo.


Confused yet? Don't worry, the payoff is so satisfying you'll be wanting to watch this one again to pick up any clues you missed.

Recommended by Monica Shine
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Turtles All The Way Down by John Green



John Green is one of those authors that always brings the feels. Turtles All the Way Down is a book about mental illness, it’s a book about the power of lifelong friendship, and there is a bit of romance thrown in the mix (though not much).

The novel tells the story of Aza. She is a teenager dealing with OCD and debilitating anxiety.  Aza has a childhood friend called Davis Picket but they have not been in touch in years. One day Davis's father, who happens to be a billionaire, disappears and there is a $100,000 reward for information pointing to his whereabouts. Unlike Daisy, Aza is not very interested in the reward but is Daisy who pushes Aza to find out what happens to billionaire Russell Picket in the hopes of earning the $100,000.

This is the setup of the novel, it is up to you to find out what happens. The characters are witty, sharp and likeable. As is usual in a John-Green book, you will find humor, regular trivia, nerdy trivia (my favorite), and philosophical themes.


Recommended by Monica Shine
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Astrophysics for People in a Hurry by Neil deGrasse Tyson

Space has always held a strange allure to me. Ever since I was little, I’ve looked up at the night sky and pondered the questions of the universe. Alas, as I grew older I realized the laws of physics that unite the universe were way beyond my ability to understand. I’ve continued to keep an interest in stars, but I’ve always wanted to know more. I read “A Brief History of Time” and other galactic texts. While illuminating, I always wanted more. Enter “Astrophysics for People in a Hurry”. This book illuminated a VERY tricky field and made it easy to understand to the lay person. Tyson took one of (if not THE) hardest scientific field and broke it down to the core elements (pun intended). I now feel as if I have a good groundwork for my further research into the stars, universe and everything beyond. Maybe tonight I’ll break out my telescope and start a galactic journey all my own.

Recommended by Monica Shine
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Girl in the Blue Coat by Monica Hesse

I'm a sucker for a WWII novel (Nazis in wartime really do make the perfect villains) and Girl in the Blue Coat was no exception. The setting, 1943 Amsterdam, where the German Occupation is in full swing. Hanneke, a 17 year old black market procurer gets a special request from one of her clients. This isn't just the items she's used to; cigarettes, coffee or stockings but she's asked to find a missing person. A missing Jewish girl named Miriam who her client was hiding. As Hanneke struggles to find the clues about the girls whereabouts she inadvertently becomes a member of the Dutch Resistance against the Nazis. With these new found connections, she becomes a first hand witness to the horrors of the Nazi racial policies against the Jews. Vowing to continue her search for Miriam, she finds herself deeply changed by what she has witnessed and will go to all lengths to save her. But will the combined efforts of the Resistance and her connections on the black market of Amsterdam be enough? Sit down, buckle up, because this book is one heck of a ride.

Recommended by Monica Shine

Click here to find in the catalog.

The Alice Network by Kate Quinn

This was a very fun book to read--mystery, intrigue, action, spying, sex, and love! I learned of the Alice Network for the first time from this book--much of the story and history are indeed real, with plenty, especially the main characters, being fictional. This group of spies during WWI was headed by Louise de Bettignies, and she is Eve's boss during WWI in the book. I'd not known she was a real person until after reading this, and it has been a delight to find out more about such a fascinating woman.

The book itself is terrific--it moves in alternating chapters telling the story of Eve, an old, burned out, and emotionally destroyed spy from the Alice Network, and Charlie, a young woman in search of a lost cousin who is running from her family and her "Little Problem". Both women experience emotional upheaval and transformation during this "road trip" to find the past. Excellent pace, characters, detail, and dialog. If you like historic fiction narratives, this is an excellent choice!

Recommended by Cynthia Lambert
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Arrival (Drama - 2016)

This is not an alien invasion movie. Well, it is, but not at all the way you expect. You go into Arrival expecting it to be about one thing and a twist at the film’s third act turns it on its head. But it’s for the best. The twist is what makes the movie more memorable. It adds an extra layer of depth to an already great film. Not only that, but the populist themes of nationalism and trade are surprisingly prescient for a movie that was written and filmed well before the 2016 election. This was the Independence Day sequel we deserved.

Recommended by Monica Shine
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Moonlight (Drama - 2016)

About growing up black and gay in America. So you know, lighthearted fluff. But seriously, this movie is incredible. The final line of dialogue still haunts me months after seeing it. And the entire movie builds to that point - at three points throughout the life of our protagonist, Chiron (childhood, adolescence, and adulthood). Each part could be a fascinating film in itself, with gorgeous colors and impeccable acting. The sum of its parts brings us to an excellent character study that is strictly American.

Recommended by Monica Shine
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Jackie (Drama - 2016)

For a movie where you know exactly what happens, you sure spend a lot of time at the edge of your seat. Major accolades goes to the screenwriting, directing, and acting there. It’s a simple story that’s executed (no pun intended / too soon?) flawlessly. Yes, Natalie Portman is amazing, but I was particularly compelled by the score and especially by the cinematography. There’s a quick camera shot that shows Jackie’s face from underneath her black veil blowing in the wind that’s absolutely stunning. One of the best shots - if not the best - of 2016.

Recommended by Monica Shine
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News of the World by Paulette Jiles

The writing in this very very short novel is spectacular. When I learned that Jiles is a poet, I was not surprised. The writing in this book transports you--to 1870 Texas, in the rain, in the wagon, on the road. Jiles description of nature are so beautiful, you can practically smell the rain, the dust, the horses, the blood, sweat, and the tears. I savored every minute and wished the book had lasted another 150 pages. 

To all the writers turning out 500+ page books over and over--I dare you to try and accomplish what Jiles does in a mere 224 pages (and yes, I'm thinking of Franzen--his love of birds is clear, but he makes it sound so damn dull. He could benefit from shortening his story nearly every time...).

Recommended by Cynthia Lambert
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Cloud Atlas by David Mitchell

Possibly the most insightful, sublime, and creative contemporary novel that I've read. On its surface, "CLOUD ATLAS" is an experiment in different genres and different narrative voices. Yet, as the stories progress and regress, the reader becomes cognizant of the cyclical nature of human conduct. Predacity, eternal reccurrence, connectedness, and truth perception permeate the pages of David Mitchell’s masterpiece. The scope is truly epic, spanning centuries and continents, while tales are yarned of predators and their prey (from all perspectives). It’s a stirring read that was such a grand experience that it has permanently modified my view on humanity, all for the wiser.

Recommended by Monica Shine
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The Silent Sister by Diane Chamberlain

My first read by Chamberlain, and it won't be my last.  Chamberlain always has a wide cast of characters, and sometimes the best part of her books is figuring out who has ulterior motives. Great characters, great story, great ending.

Riley MacPherson's father died and she returns to New Bern, NC, to settle the estate. Her brother is there but he is suffering from PTSD and an injury from Iraq. He wants nothing to do with the estate and harbors deep resentment towards their dead sister, Lisa. He feels she destroyed the family. But Riley is discovering secrets regarding her sister. Did Lisa really commit suicide or was she murdered or did she fake her death?

The book follows Riley's search for the truth, interspersed with her sister, Lisa's, story. The story culminates in their collision and reunion, after some pretty major turns in the road.

Recommended by Monica Shine
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Exit West by Mohsin Hamid

This is one of the best books I've read in the past year. A beautifully written tiny story of two people falling in love and building a relationship in a world torn apart by war and the constant migration of people fleeing (or joining) wars.

The use of magical realism--"Doors" appear throughout the world that when you step through them, you are transported to another place far far away--is fantastic. As Hamid said in an interview--if the conventional way of fleeing war was included, the book would have been mostly about that. It is such a cumbersome and time consuming thing that it would dominate. He didn't want that--instead, the dominant line of the story is the relationship between Nadia and Saeed--two young adults who meet and fall in love in a city (unnamed) on the brink of civil war. 

The war, and the devastation of their city and lives, causes their relationship to become intense and all consuming incredibly fast. Are their feelings real or just the intense outcome of the war? When they decide to leave together through one of the doors, the relationship changes. As they continue to migrate--first to Greece, than England, and ultimately Marin California, they inevitably change, as does their relationship.

Hamid's writing is sharp, evocative, and beautiful. This book is fantastic--it has stuck with me and made me think. I hope to read more by this wonderful writer.

Recommended by Cynthia Lambert
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Morgan (Science Fiction - 2016)

Morgan is the story of what happens when man tries to create artificial life.  It grapples with issues of whether Morgan is a person, or a thing and should man do this.  A strong cast, which includes Kate Mara, Rose Leslie (of Game of Thrones fame), Michelle Yeoh and Paul Giamatti makes Morgan a taut Science Fiction thriller. 

Lee Weathers a corporate risk management officer, a troubleshooter, and she's sent to a top secret location to investigate and evaluate a recent accident, where Morgan (an child created by synthetic DNA) has stabbed one of the company's scientists in the eye in a seemingly unprovoked attack.  Weathers is supposed to be there to find out what went wrong and judge Morgan in terms psychological stability and of the overall profit to the company. 

Lee immediately senses that Morgan might be too dangerous and unpredictable to keep going with. Despite the pleas of other scientists that see Morgan as a daughter, Lee only sees her as an inferior company product that needs to be stopped. Things reach a breaking point when a psychologist (played by Paul Giamatti) pushes her feelings enough to murder him and to try and make an escape. It becomes a cat and mouse chase when Lee follows Morgan into the woods to eliminate her.

This movie was directed by Lee Scott, the son of acclaimed Ridley Scott, and you can certianly feel the father's influence in this movie.  Very much like the Science Fiction/Horror of Alien, this movie will keep you guessing until the very end.

Recommended by Monica Shine
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No One Is Coming to Save Us by Stephanie Powell Watts

This is a heartbreaking and honest book about the difficulty of being an adult, the difficulty of staying in the town you were raised in, the difficulty in leaving, and the painful ache of trying to return home if you did manage to leave. Sylvia--her kids, her husband, her sister, her kids friend, her son-in-law, her town--are older than they want to be and not at the places they had hoped to go. Everyone struggles with their burdens. Some of them understand that--everyone has burdens--others think they are the only ones suffering. Just like the burdens, both are true because no matter how much everyone has burdens, yours are your own (and often your own fault) and that isolation makes your suffering very lonely.

The writing is lovely--sharp, detailed, atmospheric, and sad. These people have worked hard, yet here they are, the same place they were. There are universal observations, sly commentary on the economics of small town life, and observant and wise descriptions of the pain we cause ourselves and others, even if we don't mean to hurt anyone. Sylvia is not a character I can say I understood or recognized, but she is incredible and will stay with me a long, long, long time. This is Sylvia's book, but all of the characters are fully formed and feel very real. That characters that are not central to the story, still are carefully crafted, believable, and necessary. It all adds up to a fantastic, heartbreaking, and wonderful story of a family.

Recommended by Cynthia Lambert
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Red Rising by Pierce Brown

Dystopian Fiction is all the rage right now.  From Ender to Katniss Everdeen to Tris Pryor, these characters have made themselves into household names.  Now its time to add another name to that list, Darrow Goodman.  Or should I say, Darrow the Red Helldiver of Mars?  

Our story starts in the distant future where humans want to colonize the planet Mars. But the society on Earth and Mars is much different than it is today.  People are divided into castes based on color.  Reds are the dregs of society, they are in charge of mining Mars for Helium 3 which will allow higher colors to terraform Mars.  Its ghoulish, backbreaking and dangerous work.  Darrow is a Red Helldiver, one who is responsible for working the dangerous drills deep in the mines of Mars.

That is until he discovers that not only is Mars completely terraformed, but higher colors have been living off the Reds' life and death in the mines for centuries.  He becomes involved with the group "The Sons of Ares" in order to create an uprising to free the lesser colors.  To do this he must infiltrate the upper echelon of the society, the Golds.  Golds are everything a Red is not, powerful, vain, and utterly ruthless.  To join their ranks, he must look, act and play the part of a Gold to gain entrance to the elite Institute.  Once inside The Institute, can Darrow convincingly rise to the top of the ranks or will he lose himself in the process?  

This read was un-put-downable, full of action and a social commentary which rings true even today.

Recommended by Monica Shine
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Can't Get to the Beach?

Bring the beach home with these great summer reads!

The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up: The Japanese Art of Decluttering and Organizing by Marie Kondō

At first I thought--this is just kooky. Now I think--this is kooky, and has some very good ideas and makes some very good points. 

The kooky I think comes from the fact that Ms. Kondo is Japanese, doesn't speak English, and didn't write this for Americans. If you can get past things like thank your socks for all they have given you, you will see that she is recommending a streamlined life of gratitude for everything in your life, even the things you will now be throwing away. 

I look at organization books the same way I look at diet books--unless you are ready, it won't work. So if you are looking to radically transform the way you live (Tiny House people, you need this book) and seriously downsize the amount of stuff you have, take a look. Her methods are very interesting--especially her thoughts on folding clothing and not buying storage containers.





Recommended by Cynthia Lambert
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The Devil in the White City: Murder, Magic, and Madness at the Fair That Changed America by Erik Larson

Loved this book--could it have been more exciting, yes, but I think it would have been less of a book if it had. The two stories--the world's fair and the serial killer--are happening together, but except for the city, there is little actual overlap. I kept anticipating more about a serial killer IN the world's fair, which if this were fiction would have been the case, ending in capture atop the Ferris wheel.

This isn't fiction--and it's much better that it didn't focus on the serial killer as much as it did on the Fair and the architects who created the White City. This was an amazing tale--showing just what man is capable of doing when he tries. Reaching new levels of wonder and skill is also what the serial killer did, only not in an uplifting or progressive way, but in a brutal and depraved way. 

Linking these two tales creates a book filled with tension, technology, and man pushing himself in ways never before thought possible. Gripping in every way....


Recommended by Cynthia Lambert
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The Snowman by Jo Nesbo

After hearing about this book for a few years, I thought I would give it a go. I didn't technically read it, as I listened to the audiobook.

This was one terrific mystery--I KNEW who did it, several times. The characters in the book were well done and complex. I suspect there has been growth in the main character over time--but this is the only one I've read, so I'm not sure. 

I truly came to care for Harry Hole (but will say, seriously, his name is Harry Hole? Am I the only person over the age of 12 to find that incredibly funny?), Rachel, and Oleg. I really cared about their survival and their relationships. As a detective, Harry is a great character. He is always angry and, as Rachel says, always involved. He is gruff and seems unsentimental, but it's pretty clear that's not true. He is gruff, but he is all sentiment and intuition and painful emotion. His compassion for Katrine Bratt, his relationship with Oleg, his own conscious--all show that this man is far more than just a nasty, crusty old drunk of an inspector. 

The crimes were grizzly and graphic--just what I expect from a Nordic mystery. Secondary characters like forensic expert Bjorn Holm are delightfully quirky and strange, but entirely believable. The plot moves quickly--more of a page turner than I anticipated--yet remains complex and layered. I was moved to revulsion, fear, sadness, and elation--over and over. 

All in all, it's a great mystery if you like them bloody, complex, and a little strange.

Recommended by Cynthia Lambert
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Nocturnal Animals (2016, Drama)

Nocturnal Animals is a dark and devilishly stylish thriller from Tom Ford, who knows a thing or two about style having worked as creative director for both Gucci and Yves Saint Lauren in the past. It could have been in danger of being a case of style over substance, however, Ford's perfectionism makes this one of the most powerful films I've seen all year.

"Nocturnal Animals" tells the story of Susan (Amy Adams), a very successful art designer who "has everything": prestige...money...style/beauty...home. The problem? She rarely ever sleeps, and current husband Hutton (Armie Hammer) is never around. In short, she is very dissatisfied with her life. One day, she receives a manuscript from ex- husband Edward (Jake Gyllenhaal) that is dedicated to her. As she reads Edward's story (a tale depicted on screen as a man losing his wife and daughter in West Texas and hunting down the men who kidnapped them), she flashes back to her time spent with Edward in hopes of understanding why it is devoted to her.

Adapted from Austin Wright's 1993 novel Tony and Susan (click here to place the book on hold.), Ford expertly weaves three narratives, each with their unique look, tone and mood, into a brooding character study. This film often makes you feel uncomfortable yet draws you in to the point where you cannot look away. It has an artistic aspect to it that is rarely seen in Hollywood--namely creativity without regard to political correctness. It is rich with the realities of life and full of passion, power, betrayal and love. 

Recommended by Monica Shine
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A Head Full of Ghosts by Paul Tremblay

A Head Full of Ghosts is a psychological horror novel reminiscent of The Exorcist. The story unfolds through the eyes of 8 year old Merry Barrett as she witnesses her older sister Marjorie's increasingly schizophrenic behavior.  The Barrett family is struggling financially and eventually becomes the subject of a reality show documenting her possession and eventual exorcism.  Marjorie's condition, the  cameras as well as the Bartlett patriarch's ever increasing religious fervor puts extreme strain on the family.  15 years later Merry Barrett meets with a best selling author to reveal her memories of the events that took place where reality and unreality become blurred.

Tremblay writes a fast paced story that always leaves the reader guessing at the end of each chapter.  Using alternating viewpoints of 8-year old Merry, a horror blogger reviewing the reality show, and 23-year old Merry we are always left with questions.

It's the sort of 'what actually just happened?' fiction that I enjoy because you, the reader, have to push back against the narrative to gain your own sense of truth. Was Marjorie possessed? Was their father just as dangerous as Marjorie? How reliable is an 8 year old narrator? A traumatized 8 year old narrator? The whole book is wonderfully written with great details and solid characters. Tense and exiting, I would recommend this to thriller readers as well as horror fans.

Recommended by Monica Shine
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If We Were Villains by M.L. Rio

This is a solid book that will keep you entertained and engaged. That said--the premise has been done before and done better. I suggest that you read the excellent 'A Secret History' by Donna Tartt if you want a first rate example.

The setting is a small liberal arts college where students are so heavily steeped in their "art" that they lose sight of what's the play and what's real life. As the title suggests, these "normal" young people become villains of Shakespeare proportions with dire consequences for all, especially our hero Oliver.

These are stock characters, but very well drawn ones. The "mystery" at the heart of the novel is fairly easily guessed, but still compelling and creepy. Each player's response to the horrible, grisly death is also fairly standard, but again, pretty well written. There are some truly beautiful details and atmosphere. Sadly, Rio relies too heavily on Shakespeare's actual text and the book slows to a crawl in these instances. The heavy handed use of Shakespeare characters and words to further the story left me thinking--why am I reading this and not the original source material?

I suspect that for students of Shakespeare--and I will admit, I am not at all well versed in this area--might find the book more compelling and enjoyable. Then again, I suspect they could just as easily find the book lacking in heft and feeling outside the Shakespeare parts. I don't mind using the Bard's representations of the human experience to infuse an added layer of emotion in a modern setting. 'The Weird Sisters' by Eleanore Brown did this very well. Here, I just kept thinking, I should really read some Shakespeare this summer (and I will). I simply didn't care enough about the characters as much as the parts they were playing.

I hope that Rio breaks out of the shadow of Shakespeare because I believe there is real potential for a beautiful, emotionally complex, and satisfying novel in the writing. In this case, it is good, but not good enough. 

Recommended by Cynthia Lambert.
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The Underground Railroad by Colson Whitehead

What a read!  I devoured this novel in almost one sitting.  Granted, I was on a 10 hour road trip but it takes a lot to have me concentrate on an audiobook for hours on end.  Colson Whitehead's "The Underground Railroad" tells the story of Cora, a third generation slave in the Deep South and her harrowing escape to freedom.  

Whitehead is a master of writing in a way that can simultaneously lyrical and brusque, often in the same sentence. But in the time of slavery, horrific violence amidst the bucolic setting of the rolling fields of the South was the norm.  Re-imagining the underground railroad as a literal underground railroad is a stroke of genius.  This twist (along with others in the book is just really smart and unanticipated.  As our protagonist, Cora dashes throughout different cities and towns in her escape, we are utterly sucked into her world and all those around her.  With each new locale, a new, ever increasingly abhorrent set of terrors arise and we are forced to bear witness.  

This is not meant to be Cora's story, or a historic account. Cora is an eye-witness in different places and times of black history. The underground railroad is an allegory - by making it literal, he sends us the message that not everything is meant to be taken literally. He takes pains to enlarge the black suffering to the whites who sympathize with them as well, and to show how slavery and the belief that one race is superior to another leads to terrible dehumanizing changes in both blacks and whites. When hate rages, the mob turns on anyone who dares to oppose the system, black or white. 

"The Underground Railroad" is transcendent of a novel, and could really be touted as a book of ideas, it may not be for the faint of heart but it is an important and powerful read.

Recommended by Monica Shine
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A Gentleman in Moscow by Amor Towles

'A Gentleman in Moscow', one of the most buzzed about books of 2017, tells the story of Count Alexander Rostov, who is sentenced to live out the rest of his life on "house arrest" in the grand Metropol Hotel, following his "conviction" by a Bolshevik tribunal. Set in 1922 and the years that follow, the entire book’s plot centers on this hotel and the unlikely friends, lover, and even child that become a part of the Count’s life.

At first, I thought this novel would be a wordy tome full of intellectual ramblings. Instead, it turned out to be a delightful Russian-style comedy full of irony, romance, tragedy, intrigue, political satire, and hilarious scenes of slapstick humor. It does contain some philosophizing, but these musings are interesting and but ultimately fall short. 

While I appreciated the glimmers of stories throughout and the relationships that help sustain him in his time in Metropol, these interludes really didn’t necessarily move plot, but was more of a study of character. The Count is certainly a charming gentleman and I really found myself enamored with him during his interactions with Nina (a precocious 9 year old girl who he meets in the early days of his house arrest) and Sophia (Nina's daughter who he becomes a surrogate father for).  Also, the Bishop is quite the worthy adversary to Rostov as a Bolshevik version of Mr. Burns from The Simpsons.  

I can certainly see why so many are enamored with this book, but I was craving a little more action and a little less introspection in this story.  

Recommended by Monica Shine
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