What We’re Reading This Week

GREGORY

Farewell, My Lovely by Raymond Chandler

“According to Chandler, Los Angeles in 1940 was a very down and out town. Searching for a missing woman, Philip Marlowe strolls through a segregated city deflecting gangsters, drunks, and exhausted cops. This is a great portrait of depression-era LA where the drinks are rye, everyone wears cheap suits, and everything is covered in sweat.” You can find copies of Farewell, My Lovely on our shelves and via bookpeople.com. 

BETHANY

The Other End of the Leash by Patricia McConnell

“Many people will try to tell you that the only way to train a dog is to establish yourself as alpha. I was drawn to this book because it suggests instead that we focus on the bedrock of all healthy relationships: Communication. This is an utterly fascinating account of the salient differences between primates and canids and how we can use this knowledge to send clearer signals to, and better interpret the signals of, our furry friends. Almost nothing about effective dog training is intuitive, but with this book, I am learning to reprogram my instincts and change my interactions with my dog for the better.” You can find copies of The Other End of the Leash on our shelves and via bookpeople.com. 

SALVADOR

The Mechanical by Ian Tregillis

“I just picked up a copy of The Mechanical – it’s about a robot that becomes sentient, which is a crime punishable by death. I was fascinated by it because I read an extremely positive review of it, and when I saw the number of fantastic blurbs on the cover, I bought it immediately. I just started it, but based on the blurbs alone, I know I am going to enjoy it.”You can find copies of The Mechanical on our shelves and via bookpeople.com. 

JOHN G.

Armada by Ernest Cline

“This is a book for those who really love scifi and video games, and Ready, Player One – it’s for that crowd. Armada does not pick up where Ready, Player One ends, but is a completely different story that grabs you right from the start. The story follows a kid obsessed with a space game that secretly trains its players to fight an actual alien spacefleet.” You can find copies of Armada on our shelves starting July 14. Pre-order now!

MOLLY

The Girl From The Well by Rin Chupeco

“This fairy-tail-cum-thriller is marketed to a young adult audience, but with writing that is beautiful enough to be read at any age (beyond 14 or so). I don’t normally read much young adult fiction, but a good vengeance story, especially with a female avenger, will always grab my interest. The story follows Okiku, a spirit trapped for centuries far from the spirit world by her mission to free the souls of murdered children by killing their murderers. She meets a troubled teenage boy, tortured by an evil spirit trapped within him, and Okiku decides to take some time off from her day job to break free of the malevolent spirit. I can’t wait to see if/how she does it!” You can find copies of The Girl From The Well via bookpeople.com.