It’s December once more, and all of us here at the store know what means: cold temperatures, hot drinks, and new books to read while we keep warm! Here are some picks to read beside a fire or under a cozy blanket.
Moth Smoke by Mohsin Hamid
The descent of Darashikoh Shezad begins when he loses his job. Anxious and on edge, he finds comfort in the presence of his best friend, newly returned to Pakistan after living abroad, and later in his best friend’s wife as an illicit romance simmers between them. With the Pakistani nuclear tests of 1998 rumbling in the background, Daru’s life slowly unwinds, a moth circling a candle until it inevitably catches fire. Multiple perspectives show that no one is innocent in this dark, gritty novel. Though it is not an uplifting story, Hamid’s gorgeous writing keeps readers invested even when characters may be past redemption.
–Madeline
The Beautiful by Renée Ahdieh
Oh my god!! I adored this book beyond all measure. A perfect blend of thriller, mystery, and supernatural, The Beautiful drew me in from page one. It kept me guessing, and even as I started to piece together all the moving parts, Ahdieh still surprised me in the best of ways.
–Rachel
The Water Cure by Sophie Mackintosh
The Water Cure by Sophie Mackintosh is a damn fine piece of literature. It isn’t an easy read by any means, but I enjoyed it a lot, even though that doesn’t even feel like a proper phrase to use for a book such as this.
It isn’t clear when the story takes place or even where, but it is a story of three sisters and their mother learning to live on their island after their father has died. The three girls have been told all their lives that the world was now dangerous for women because a sickness was a very real danger if they spend too much time around men. So when three men show up on their island what seemed like a faraway folk tale becomes their real lives. Moving and important, this novel is exactly what I needed not only to pull me out of a reading slump, but also to remember how important it is to be wary of toxic masculinity in our world. This is not a light journey, but one I highly recommend for readers of all types.
–Lojo
That’s a wrap for this week! Make sure to join us back here next week when we give you another peek at what your favorite booksellers have their noses in!
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