海角大神

The Swan鈥檚 Nest,聽by Laura McNeal

Laura McNeal鈥檚 historical novel 鈥淭he Swan鈥檚 Nest鈥� captures the great love between poets Elizabeth Barrett Browning and Robert Browning. McNeal dramatizes the challenges the two Romantics overcame to forge a life together.

Becoming Madam Secretary,聽by Stephanie Dray

Frances Perkins, Franklin D. Roosevelt鈥檚 secretary of labor, steps crisply and convincingly from the pages of Stephanie Dray鈥檚 novel. As events unfold 鈥� including the Great Depression 鈥� Perkins practices an ethos of 鈥渋nvestigate, agitate, legislate鈥� to effect change.聽

Help Wanted,聽by Adelle Waldman

Adelle Waldman鈥檚 novel looks at the hardships faced by part-time workers at a big-box store. Her characters, who long for the stability, benefits, and job security of full-time work, cook up a plan that sparks their hopes and dreams.

The Hunter,聽by Tana French

Tana French stretches the tension 鈥� and the mystery genre 鈥� like taffy in her return to the ethically murky Irish village of Ardnakelty. Retired Chicago cop Cal Hooper has crafted a life with veterinarian Lena and Trey, the teen he teaches carpentry and ethics. Then Trey鈥檚 father returns, claiming, 鈥淭here鈥檚 gold in them hills.鈥� Only those who have read 鈥淭he Searcher鈥� first will fully appreciate the stakes as Cal and Lena work to save Trey.

闯补尘别蝉,听by Percival Everett

Huck Finn鈥檚 sidekick Jim earns pride of place in Percival Everett鈥檚 retelling of 鈥淭he Adventures of Huckleberry Finn.鈥� Here, he becomes James, a smart, self-educated man confronting a vivid cast of ne鈥檈r-do-wells, enslavers, and fellow escapees as he wends north hoping to buy his family鈥檚 freedom.聽

The Far Side of the Desert,聽by Joanne Leedom-Ackerman

Alliances 鈥� familial, situational, political 鈥� gird this engrossing thriller from novelist Joanne Leedom-Ackerman. U.S. foreign service officer Monte disappears during a visit to Spain; the search to find her, spearheaded by older sister Samantha, ricochets from Morocco and Egypt to Washington. Monte鈥檚 captivity is brutal, but there鈥檚 resilience, too, as both sisters slay old demons and chart new paths.

Reading Genesis,聽by Marilynne Robinson

Marilynne Robinson, author of the 2005 Pulitzer-winning novel 鈥淕ilead,鈥� offers her idiosyncratic reading of the Book of Genesis. By not taking any of the familiar Bible stories at face value, she makes a case for God鈥檚 enduring covenant with creation.

The Making of a Leader,聽by Josiah Bunting III

Rather than focusing on George C. Marshall鈥檚 military accomplishments during World War II and, later, his role in rebuilding postwar Europe, historian Josiah Bunting III examines Marshall鈥檚 early years. His insightful, admiring biography illuminates Marshall鈥檚 leadership qualities.

Women Behind the Wheel,聽by Nancy A. Nichols

Journalist Nancy A. Nichols offers a spirited exploration of the effects of the automobile on American women. She documents the ways driving has both expanded women鈥檚 freedoms and, citing midcentury isolation in the suburbs, limited their opportunities.

H Is for Hope,聽by Elizabeth Kolbert聽

New Yorker science writer Elizabeth Kolbert鈥檚 trenchant essays on climate change are combined with haunting illustrations by Wesley Allsbrook into a graphic nonfiction alphabet. It鈥檚 an urgent, innovative book. 聽