by Kevin Wilson
HarperCollins
Frankie and Zeke are wonderfully eccentric adolescents, creative and creatively odd, who we are lucky to have found each other. They are fully brought to life in this tale that will resonate with any of us who had too much imagination and too little common sense growing up. Humorous and heartbreaking.
If you would like to know more about this book or own it please contact your local independent bookstore or bookshop.org.
by William Landay
Bantam Books
This is on one level a great suspense story told with many twists, and on another a wonderfully understated family story. The love between two of the children, Jeff and Miranda, is never overdone but manages to be the glue that keeps the emotional heart of the novel together.
All of the characters are very well and quietly presented, even Dan who you constantly wish you could smack and his son, Alex, who has unfortunately inherited much of his Dad's personality. This is an interesting look at how families can splinter and the destruction that can occur.
If you would like to know more about this book or own it please contact your local independent bookstore or bookshop.org.
by Sebastian Barry
Viking Press
This is such a beautifully written book that it begs to be read aloud. Barry puts together long, intricate sentences, broken up with short imperative ones to create a music of wonderful words.
Tom Kettle's love for his wife and children is a strongly felt presence throughout. But this is also a devastatingly sad story - Tom and his wife were both tortured by clergy when they were very young. Retirement from his police job just isn't possible for Tom with so many ghosts around. There is also a great deal of love and joy in his memories which provides solace and strength to his days.
If you would like to know more about or own this book, please try your local independent bookstore or bookshop.org.
