The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store

by James McBride

Riverhead Books/PRH

    This is a wonder - a book that brings you quickly into another world, that is our world in 1939 Pottstown, PA. You will fall in love with these characters and they will break your heart while still  giving you hope. Don't miss the acknowledgments at the end - this section will make you cry, even if none of the rest has.

    A brilliant novel.

If you'd like to know more about, or own this book (you will want it), please contact your local independent bookstore or this wonderful place bookshop.org

 In Memoriam

by Alice Winn

Penguin Random House

    This brilliant novel begins in 1914 and follows two young men, as well as many of their school friends, from their idyllic, upper crust boarding school through the horrific years of WWI. This is beautifully written in spite of the vivid descriptions of the casualties. Poetry, nature and the love that these boys share - in various guises - balance, and enhance, the terrors of the war. It's amazing to see how very young these boys are as they go off to die for their country. 

  

If you would like to know more about this book, or purchase it, please check with your local independent bookstore or this great place - bookshop.org .

 Open Throat

by Henry Hoke

Macmillan Publishers

    Mountain lion, cougar, wildcat, parable, allegory, cautionary tale, fantastic novel. Heckit's is a voice you won't soon forget.

    Take two hours and fall prey to this strength.

If you would like to know more about, or purchase this book, please check your local indepedent bookstore or this great place bookshop.org.

 I Am Homeless If This Is Not My Home

by Lorrie Moore

Knopf/PRH

    This is an oddly upbeat, philosophical and darkly funny book about death - what we know of it (pretty much nothing), what we imagine about it (everything).  It is also about love, deep, long, enduring love that time or decomp can't prevent. Although the latter can make things much more complicated.

    You do want to read this.

If you would like to know more about this book, or purchase it, please try your local bookstore or this great place bookshop.org .

So Long, See You Tomorrow

by William Maxwell

Vintage International/PRH

   This is the story of the friendship between two young teenagers in the 1920s and how easily that relationship is destroyed by things they have no control over. It is also a story of memory and its failings, as one of the grown men tries to understand what happened.  A brilliantly written look into the lives of two boys and the things that they can't and don't want to know.

    This is probably still taught in high schools, but may be best read at a later age to appreciate the subtlety and strength of Maxwell's art.

If you would like to know more about or own this book, please try your local bookstore or bookshop.org.