Consuelo is a master bookseller and will read anything you put in front of her. Seriously – nutrition facts on the cereal box, maps, receipts, road signs. And books, of course.
Tell Me How Long the Train’s Been Gone by James Baldwin
It’s hard for me to explain why I love this novel so much because it feels so personal. There isn’t a reason it should be – this story is about a specific time and place and I am not a black man from Harlem trying to become an actor in the 1940s. But I am always drawn back for more Baldwin because his writing is so extraordinary that I somehow feel like he is telling my own story. There’s a paragraph that’s been repeating in my mind like a song that gets stuck in your head. I don’t think a book has gotten so under my skin like this one, at least not in a very long time. It’s like a great Russian novel in that it tackles all the heavy-hitting subjects – religion, violence, sex, race, injustice, love – except, of course, it is uniquely American.
The Extraordinary Education of Nicholas Benedict by Trenton Lee Stewart
This stand-alone novel is a prequel of sorts to the series The Mysterious Benedict Society, and I enjoyed it even more than those wonderful books. Nine-year-old Nicholas Benedict has to adapt after moving to Rothschild’s End, yet another orphanage, which has never been his strong suit considering he’s narcoleptic AND a genius. But along the way he manages to outsmart the bullies, make some true friends, and uncover the mystery of the Rothschild’s lost treasure. Nicholas is such a fun character to root for and empathize with, and reading this book is a treat for anyone, young or old/young at heart.
Summer and Bird by Katherine Catmull
Summer & Bird is a fantastic children’s book, a lot due to the fact that it doesn’t follow the conventions of most children’s books. There is something new to discover on every page. It follows the story of two young sisters searching for their parents in a fantastical underworld full of birds, but ultimately, they each take a journey to find their true selves. Katherine Catmull is an Austin author, and it’s fitting that she’s written a story that marches to the beat of its own drummer. For more reasons why I love this book, grab a copy of the BookPeople holiday catalog!
Narcopolis by Jeet Thayil
A story about drugs and Bombay, Narcopolis starts with an attention-grabbing prologue that is essentially a seven page-long sentence. Don’t let that intimidate you. It’s a fluid and visceral prelude to the ambitious work that follows. Starting in the late ’70s, it follows a cast of poets, prostitutes, and addicts through the decades as opium leads to heroin. Despite the literary hijinx Thayil employs, the thing that stuck with me the most after finishing was the fully-realized and complex characters he created from Bombay’s underbelly. Each one leaves an impact on the story that makes it complete.
Radioactive: Marie & Pierre Curie, A Tale of Love and Fallout by Lauren Redniss
Whether you are already familiar with Marie Curie’s story and her scientific achievements or not, this is a beautiful, illustrated biography that is perfect for gift giving. It combines artwork, history, and science to create a feeling, not to just merely lay down facts on a page. It is an evocative exploration of a love affair, not to mention the discovery of elements that changed the world. Moving and fluid, it depicts an extraordinary life.
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