When Nolan isn’t slinging books, he’s painting. Check out his work on his blog. His paintings have most recently hung at Bennu Coffee.
The Tiger’s Wife by Tea Obreht
So many images from this book have stuck with me since I read it back in March. This incredible debut novel has put Obreht on the map as an author wise beyond her years and anything she publishes from now on will no doubtedly be met with much anticipation. Filled with folklore and hauntingly magical, The Tiger’s Wife is a must read for any fan of literary fiction.
Galore by Michael Crummey
This book really has something for everyone. It’s whimsical and light in humor, rich in character and personality, and profound in depth and meaning. Incredibly detailed in its characters, you’ll love, hate, adore, cheer, scorn, and just flat out ponder over the generations of people who call this small coastal town home.
End of Everything by Megan Abbott
Abbott steps away from her Golden Age of Hollywood noirs to a strikingly mature tale of adolescence in 1980’s suburbia. Incredibly intense, internal, and beautifully written, this loss of innocence story can be compared to The Lovely Bones but, to me, completely blows it out of the water.
Remember Ben Clayton by Stephen Harrigan
The word that best describes this book is solid. Everything about it. The writing, the story, the characters and motivations. All solid. Harrigan is truly making a name for himself as an essential Texas writer.
Lamb by Bonnie Nadzam
This is a very daring debut novel from Nadzam. The premise follows a middle age man who befriends an adolescent girl and lures her on a road trip to the dreary Wyoming plains. It gets a little creepy and uncomfortable at times, but there’s so much more to be felt. Very atmospheric in tone and setting, Lamb explores the nature of fading beauty, dwindling promises, and the last ditch effort for salvation.
Honorable Mention:
The Last Werewolf by Glen Duncan
The story is entertaining enough, action packed and sex filled, but it’s the voice that’s really what’s special about The Last Werewolf. Narrated in first person, Duncan knows that the best made monsters are those who are the most painfully human.
BookPeople 