State of Paradise                                           

Laura van den Berg

Farrar, Straus and Giroux/ Macmillan

    This is a strange and strangely moving work. Its setting is a Florida of, and not of, our time. There are many recognizable events and people, and more who are partially or wholly from this wondrous imagination. All of it comes together to be an enjoyable, sometimes funny, portrait of a future we're not hoping for, beautifully portrayed as it is.

If you want to know more about, or own this book, please check with your local independent bokstore or this fine place: bookshop.org

Impossible Creatures

Katherine Rundell

Knopf Books for Young Readers/PRH

    This is that rare children's book that parents will be asking to read to their children (and their kids will love). It is a great adventure story involving mythical creatures and very real humans, moving relentlessly toward a climax of sadness and strength. It is also a somber look at what can happen when humans give in to greed.

    It is also a very optimistic look at how people can, through courage and friendship, protect ourselves and those who share our world, or their own.

    A lovely family gift.

If you want to know more about, or own this book, please check your local independent bookstore or this great place bookshop.org

The Elements of Marie Curie             

   

Dava Sobel

Atlantic Monthly Press/IPG

Oct. 8, 2024

    Sobel melds hard science with warm biography in this story of the amazing Marie Curie. Not only did she master both physics and chemistry at a time when women were strongly discouraged from the sciences, but she made it her mission to bring other women into her labs - opening a door for many who excelled in several different sciences.

    She raised two strong, brilliant daughters, mostly alone after Pierre's sudden death. And wielded an X ray machine during WWI combat to help save lives.

    This is a loving and intelligent look at an extraordinary life.

If you'd like to know more about, or own this book, please check with your loval independent bookstore, or this fine place: bookshop.org

Exposure                                                                 

Ramona Emerson

Soho Crime/PRH

    A great follow to Shutter, this finds Rita Todacheene recovering from her injuries  and rethinking her work with the police. But ghosts won't allow her to walk away easily. There are new bodies to consider, new questions to answer.

    Emerson does a great job engaging the reader with a world of the dead, never considered fantasy. She makes it all as real as the cold snow in the city and the time it takes to recover from horrible injuries.

    This is a very good series.

If you'd like to know more about these books or own them, please check with your local independent bookstore, or this fine place: bookshop.org .

Stories of Your Life and Others                                

by Ted Chiang

Vintage Books/PRH

    

   Even if you rarely read short stories, try "Story of Your Life" in this collection. Chiang gives us a heartbreaking, life affirming tale told in a manner closely related to the communication system of the heptapods, visitors to earth whose written language consists of complex logograms. But no, this is not a difficult read. The film "Arrival" was based on this story but reading it is a completely different level. Just freakin' brilliant.

    The other stories here are also well worth your time.

If you want to know more about this book, or own it, please check with your local independent bookstore or this great place bookshop.org