Chad says: “Originally released in 1981 to praise from a certain Graham Greene, Minotaur, through a series of different narrative perspectives, depicts a haunting kind of love—one shared between a young woman and a notably older, (notably obsessive) secret agent. Let me be clear: there is a Lamborghini in this novel, and it’s kind of awesome. Minotaur also renders the political climate of Tel Aviv in the early 20th century, adolescence, love, violence, so much more—and it all  comes together remarkably well through Tammuz’s immensely readable writing style.”

One of my favorite books from last year is now out in paperback! Goldstone delves into the myth and reality of Joan of Arc, and perhaps even more fascinatingly, she illuminates the importance of Yolande of Aragon, who most of us have never heard of, but who was hugely influential at the time. When asked why no one has written about this connection, Goldstone writes, "There is no more effective camouflage in history than to have been born a woman." (Emily)

Domenica Ruta grew up under the authority of a drug-addled, somewhat psychotic mom, which  makes her memoir dramatic enough to read like a scandalous novel -- but all the more gripping because it's true. Her portrayal is compassionate regarding her mother but also clear-eyed on the reckless behavior both observed and shared, the damaged characters who pass through their family orbit, and the dangers of a parent living on the edge. (Simone)

Emily says: "If the last time you read an O'Connor story was in high school, I highly recommend revisiting her. Her stories are dark and violent and absurd (like Russell), darkly funny and twisted (like Gonzalez), eerie and elegant (like Hall), and, quite simply, classic. She was a master."

Molly says: “A vivid, engrossing YA that takes place in a future version of Brazil, where the unusual governing body requires a queen — and a sacrificial king. June, a young artist, is trying to make her mark and win the coveted Queen’s Award. She finds in the new Summer King — a charismatic young man named Enki, who comes from the lowest tiers of her society — a kindred soul, a fellow artist and collaborator. Their projects, like Johnson’s book, fuse beauty and politics into something beautiful and affecting.”

Simone says: “Hemon’s first nonfiction work is a memoir of leaving war-ravaged Sarajevo to resettle in Canada. Hemon emigrated as a young man but his memories of the experience and his life since are sharp and clever and make for an excellent read.”

Jenn says: “Between the potentially-off-putting title and the fact that this novel is written in the second person, you might be inclined to give it a pass. But I promise you, you’ll be sad to miss it! Chronicling the narrator’s journey from poor village boy to aging former tycoon, and the parallel journey of his youthful crush, Filthy Rich in Rising Asia is beautifully written, sharp, and entertaining. This is without a doubt the best rags-to-riches story I’ve read since … well, I actually can’t remember the last time I read one I liked this much.”

This one is for fans of Cheryl Strayed and Annie Dillard. When Terry Tempest Williams' mother dies, she leaves her daughter several shelves of diaries that all turn out to be blank. Williams is an incredible writer, and her fascination with nature melds with her contemplations on family and the creative voice to produce a gorgeous tear-jerker of a memoir.

Simone says: “Funny, quirky novel just reissued by Melville House. I am really enjoying the 1925 humor. A young twentysomething gent comes to visit a host of relatives who are down on their luck following the Russian revolution. Hilarity ensues.”

Simone says: “These short stories find women in rural towns who relate better to animals, both stray and exotic, than they do their peers. Women who find their strength passed down from mothers and grandmothers. Women wondering what’s become of themselves. I looked forward each day to spending time with this book and these women and tried to make it last despite each tale seeming to fly through my fingers.”

Everyone at WORD ever has loved this book.

Molly says: Musically gifted, smart, compassionate, and wary, Seraphina keeps to herself as the assistant music mistress at the court of Goredd--but she carefully guards a secret about her parentage, even as she becomes entangled in the complexities of human-dragon political intrigue. Hartman's worldbuilding is gloriously vivid, her heroine wonderfully complex, and her story so compelling, I may have cursed when I got to the end and realized I have to wait for the sequel.

You may not think you want to read a novel about the 2008 bank collapse, but you'd be wrong. Lanchester's examination of the lives of families on one street in London is smart, witty, and may even make you feel better about the crazy state of economics today. (Jenn)

Victor LaValle's short story LUCRETIA AND THE KROONS is only $0.99 -- staff-tested & approved!

Whether you love poetry or are trying to find a way in, Orr's BEAUTIFUL AND POINTLESS is excellent.

Molly says: It's hard to talk about this memoir--it's so intimate, so honest, so specific, so self-observant, that trying to describe how I felt while reading it feels like giving up some very personal information about myself. The voice of the title is her psychiatrist, who dies suddenly, leaving Forrest and his other patients bereft; the other man in the book is her ex, an actor whose presence in the story earned it plenty of the wrong kind of attention. It's not who he is; it's how they are. The highs and lows of Forrest's journey land in different spots, maybe, than those of many other lives, but the story reads like a quest in which the goal isn't treasure or glory, but calm and a certain kind of strength.

Nora Ephron's CRAZY SALAD is at long-last available as an ebook! Score.