August 2012 Movers & Shakers
Here are the noteworthy titles that have been racing up our most popular charts this month.
(showing 1-6 of 6)
Dare Me
by Megan Abbott (Goodreads Author)
The ruthless world of competitive cheerleading collides with a murder investigation in this work of literary suburban noir. As the girls are questioned regarding a suspicious suicide, the turf war between the magnetic new cheer coach and the despotic squad captain turns menacing. Anne calls it "masterful, atmospheric suburban gothic. Megan Abbott's writing is sublime. Sparse, not an unnecessary word in it, but perfectly communicates tone and character. Brilliant read." The ruthless world of competitive cheerleading collides with a murder investigation in this work of literary suburban noir. As the girls are questioned regarding a suspicious suicide, the turf war between the magnetic new cheer coach and the despotic squad captain turns menacing. Anne calls it "masterful, atmospheric suburban gothic. Megan Abbott's writing is sublime. Sparse, not an unnecessary word in it, but perfectly communicates tone and character. Brilliant read."
Giving Up the Ghost: A Story About Friendship, 80s Rock, a Lost Scrap of Paper, and What It Means to Be Haunted
by Eric Nuzum (Goodreads Author)
Supernatural-obsessed NPR exec Nuzum was committed to a psych ward as a teen, believing he was haunted by the ghost of a little girl in a blue dress. This memoir recounts his turbulent coming-of-age, told against his adult quest to visit the most haunted sites in America. Cynthia says, "Nuzum tells a story of painful beauty. It resonates with furious devotion. It's about coming to terms with yourself. It's about dealing with loss. It's about accepting and owning your ghosts." Supernatural-obsessed NPR exec Nuzum was committed to a psych ward as a teen, believing he was haunted by the ghost of a little girl in a blue dress. This memoir recounts his turbulent coming-of-age, told against his adult quest to visit the most haunted sites in America. Cynthia says, "Nuzum tells a story of painful beauty. It resonates with furious devotion. It's about coming to terms with yourself. It's about dealing with loss. It's about accepting and owning your ghosts."
The Light Between Oceans
by M.L. Stedman (Goodreads Author)
Lighthouse keeper Tom and his wife discover a dead man and a crying baby washed ashore on their island off the coast of Australia. Against her husband's wishes, Isabel nurses the child as her own, forgetting that there is another mother out there missing her child. Stewart says, "This book awoke in me emotions that I wasn't even really sure I was capable of...Stedman is an incredible storyteller." Lighthouse keeper Tom and his wife discover a dead man and a crying baby washed ashore on their island off the coast of Australia. Against her husband's wishes, Isabel nurses the child as her own, forgetting that there is another mother out there missing her child. Stewart says, "This book awoke in me emotions that I wasn't even really sure I was capable of...Stedman is an incredible storyteller."
Winter Journal
by Paul Auster
In this offbeat memoir Auster writes about the history of his own body—the bumps and scrapes of childhood, the pleasures of intimacy, the physical manifestations of grief, and the deterioration of age. His stream of consciousness covers more than 60 years of a viscerally remembered life. Roberto says the book "seemed to convey something about being human, or just being alive, that felt important and rare." In this offbeat memoir Auster writes about the history of his own body—the bumps and scrapes of childhood, the pleasures of intimacy, the physical manifestations of grief, and the deterioration of age. His stream of consciousness covers more than 60 years of a viscerally remembered life. Roberto says the book "seemed to convey something about being human, or just being alive, that felt important and rare."
The Orchardist
by Amanda Coplin
Two runaway sisters—both pregnant—take refuge at a lonely man's isolated fruit orchard in the foothills of the Cascade Mountains, bringing both unexpected kinship and tragedy to his doorstep. Coplin offers a literary portrait of an unconventional family, set against the sweeping landscape of the Pacific Northwest at the turn of the 20th century. Will calls it "a powerful, thoughtful, and incredibly moving work of art that will be read for generations." Two runaway sisters—both pregnant—take refuge at a lonely man's isolated fruit orchard in the foothills of the Cascade Mountains, bringing both unexpected kinship and tragedy to his doorstep. Coplin offers a literary portrait of an unconventional family, set against the sweeping landscape of the Pacific Northwest at the turn of the 20th century. Will calls it "a powerful, thoughtful, and incredibly moving work of art that will be read for generations."
Throne of Glass (Throne of Glass, #1)
by Sarah J. Maas (Goodreads Author)
In this epic young adult fantasy, 18-year-old assassin Celaena is serving a hard labor sentence in the salt mines when the kingdom's Crown Prince grants her a chance at freedom. Along with a host of deadly warriors and thieves, she enters a competition to find the next royal assassin. Stephanie says, "Through it all—intrigue within the kingdom, murder mysteries, romance, everything—Sarah J. Maas had me glued to the pages." In this epic young adult fantasy, 18-year-old assassin Celaena is serving a hard labor sentence in the salt mines when the kingdom's Crown Prince grants her a chance at freedom. Along with a host of deadly warriors and thieves, she enters a competition to find the next royal assassin. Stephanie says, "Through it all—intrigue within the kingdom, murder mysteries, romance, everything—Sarah J. Maas had me glued to the pages."
