Discover Hidden Gems: Uncommon Book Recommendations
Step away from the mainstream and dive into a selection of lesser-known books that deserve your attention. These titles may not be on everyone's radar, but they offer unique perspectives and unforgettable stories. Expand your reading horizons with these hidden gems that might just resonate with you.
Something Happened
578 pages
This magnificent, dark, and clever novel delves into the mental struggles of a father who sacrifices his soul for a promotion, making it a unique read that many might overlook.
Petit Mal
212 pages
Though it consists of short stories and sketches that might not attract everyone, this book offers incredible food for thought, encouraging readers to ponder the diverse ideas presented.
Invisible Man
610 pages
This novel stands out with its powerful symbolism, which may be challenging to decipher for some, but for others, like me, it enhances the overall experience.
Split Tooth
152 pages
This memoir is a unique blend of Inuk folklore, fantasy, and poetry, offering a fascinating glimpse into the author's life growing up in the Arctic. It's unlike anything I've ever read.
The Child Finder
215 pages
This book is a unique blend of literary thriller and emotional depth, focusing on a woman who finds missing children while offering haunting insights from the child's perspective. The enchanting language and the disturbing yet innocent portrayal of childhood make it a thought-provoking read.
Jitterbug Perfume
439 pages
Tom Robbins' *Jitterbug Perfume* is a delightful and weird read that offers insightful perspectives, making it perfect for those moments in life when you need a unique blend of magical realism.
Another Roadside Attraction
393 pages
*Another Roadside Attraction* by Tom Robbins is beautifully written and insightful, showcasing his unique style that blends post-free-love themes with magical realism.
The World According to Garp
530 pages
T.S. Garp, a man with high ambitions for an artistic career and with obsessive devotion to his wife and children, and Jenny Fields, his famous feminist mother, find their lives surrounded by an assortment of people including teachers, whores, and radicals
The Cider House Rules
520 pages
An American classic first published in 1985 by William Morrow and adapted into an Academy Award-winning film, The Cider House Rules is among John Irving's most beloved novels. Set in rural Maine in the first half of the twentieth century, it tells the story of Dr. Wilbur Larch—saint and obstetrician, founder and director of the orphanage in the town of St. Cloud's, ether addict and abortionist. It is also the story of Dr. Larch's favorite orphan, Homer Wells, who is never adopted. “A novel as good as one could hope to find from any author, anywhere, anytime. Engrossing, moving, thoroughly satisfying.” —Joseph Heller, author of Catch-22
Parasite Rex
336 pages
It's a really fascinating read that delves into the world of parasites, though it might gross some people out.
The Big Over Easy
341 pages
This engaging story about investigating murders in Nursery Land is a delightful read for those who appreciate a whimsical twist on classic tales.
The Eyre Affair
378 pages
If you enjoy meta-fiction, this book is a must-read as it cleverly intertwines fiction within fiction, following the adventures of Thursday Next and the Literary detectives.
The Fourth Bear
404 pages
Continuing the fun of investigating Nursery Land murders, this book adds more layers to the intriguing world of Thursday Next.
The Toyminator
328 pages
As a follow-up to the first book, it continues the whimsical exploration of Toy City, making it a fun read for fans of quirky narratives.
The Hollow Chocolate Bunnies of the Apocalypse
262 pages
Set in Toy City, this book offers a unique blend of humor and adventure, where toys and nursery rhyme characters take center stage as celebrities.
The Hidden 1970s
318 pages
This collection of academic essays offers a fresh perspective on the influence of epidemic disease on Native American population dynamics, challenging the overemphasis on this topic. It's a fascinating read for those interested in history and epidemiology.
Angus, thongs and full-frontal snogging (Confessions of Georgia Nicolson, Book 1)
29 pages
This book is a hilarious read that will keep you laughing throughout!
The End Of Mr. Y
446 pages
This book is so weird and intriguing that it keeps popping into my head every few months, making it a memorable read even if I'm not sure if it's good or total gibberish.
Richard Brautigan's Trout Fishing in America, The Pill versus the Springhill Mine Disaster, and In Watermelon Sugar
401 pages
Collected in one volume, three counterculture classics that embody the spirit of the 1960s. Included here are three great works by the incomparable Richard Brautigan: Trout Fishing in America is by turns a hilarious, playful, and melancholy novel that wanders from San Francisco through the country’s rural waterways—a book “that has very little to do with trout fishing and a lot to do with the lamenting of a passing pastoral America . . . An instant cult classic” (Financial Times). The Pill Versus the Springhill Mine Disaster is a collection of nearly one hundred poems, first published in 1968. And In Watermelon Sugar expresses the mood of a new generation, revealing death as a place where people travel the length of their dreams, rejecting violence and hate. During his lifetime, Look magazine observed, “Brautigan is joining Hesse, Golding, Salinger, and Vonnegut as a literary magus to the literate young.” A uniquely imaginative writer of the Beat movement who became an icon of the hippie era, he is still a favorite of readers today.
Lark Rise to Candleford
598 pages
This book beautifully captures the changing life in the English countryside during the late nineteenth century, highlighting how the arrival of the bicycle transformed travel and opportunities for work and romance.
The Stations of the Sun
566 pages
A fascinating exploration of the ritual year in the British Isles, this book delves into the true origins of festivals, revealing how many were actually created in the Victorian era, showcasing Hutton's rigorous yet open-minded approach to history.
The Good Earth
Reading it in 2021 reveals the universal nature of the human experience, showcasing both the terrible and wonderful aspects of humanity.
Pawn Of Prophecy
402 pages
The Belgariad series is a captivating journey that resonates with anyone who has ever felt lonely or out of place. It beautifully explores the transformation of ordinary individuals into essential heroes, making it a relatable and enchanting read.
Anathem
721 pages
This novel is huge, weird, and ambitious, making it a rewarding read for those willing to invest time and effort, especially if they have a grounding in Western philosophy.
Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell
1162 pages
It's a long and dense read, but it's packed with incredible world building that makes it a unique experience.
The Nix
642 pages
NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • From the suburban Midwest to New York City to the 1968 riots that rocked Chicago and beyond, a novel that explores—with sharp humor and a fierce tenderness—the resilience of love and home, even in times of radical change. "Hugely entertaining and unfailingly smart.... [A] supersize and audacious novel of American misadventure.” —The New York Times Book Review “Nathan Hill is a maestro.” —John Irving It’s 2011, and Samuel Andresen-Anderson hasn’t seen his mother, Faye, in decades—not since she abandoned the family when he was a boy. Now she’s reappeared, having committed an absurd crime that electrifies the nightly news and inflames a politically divided country. The media paints Faye as a radical hippie with a sordid past, but as far as Samuel knows, his mother was an ordinary girl who married her high-school sweetheart. Which version of his mother is true? Two facts are certain: she’s facing some serious charges, and she needs Samuel’s help. To save her, Samuel will have to embark on his own journey, uncovering long-buried secrets about the woman he thought he knew, secrets that stretch across generations and have their origin all the way back in Norway, home of the mysterious Nix. As he does so, Samuel will confront not only Faye’s losses but also his own lost love, and will relearn everything he thought he knew about his mother, and himself. Look for Nathan Hill's new novel, Wellness!
The Postman Always Rings Twice
129 pages
The bestselling sensation—and one of the most outstanding crime novels of the 20th century—that was banned in Boston for its explosive mixture of violence and eroticism, and acknowledged by Albert Camus as the model for The Stranger. The basis for the acclaimed 1946 film. An amoral young tramp. A beautiful, sullen woman with an inconvenient husband. A problem that has only one grisly solution—a solution that only creates other problems that no one can ever solve. First published in 1934, The Postman Always Rings Twice is a classic of the roman noir. It established James M. Cain as a major novelist with an unsparing vision of America's bleak underside and was acknowledged by Albert Camus as the model for The Stranger.
The Fourth Dimension
174 pages
This book feels like it was written just for me! The stream-of-consciousness narrative and Cassandra's thought patterns resonate deeply, making it easy to follow her mental gymnastics. I found her observations sharp and relatable, and I even wrote letters to her while reading. The intense experience of reading it in one afternoon made it unforgettable.
The Wasp Factory
140 pages
It's a unique and challenging read that you really have to experience for yourself.
The Phantom Tollbooth
290 pages
This children's novel offers nice themes and a heartwarming story, making it a delightful read despite the occasional eldritch horrors the heroes encounter.
Gormenghast
481 pages
Gormenghast is a beautifully written, dense fantasy novel that feels like a blend of Dickens and Lewis Carroll. While it may be slow to start and lacks a conventional plot, it gradually comes together in a captivating way that makes it a unique reading experience.
Titus Groan
460 pages
Titus Groan is a niche fantasy that showcases Mervyn Peake's exquisite prose. It's a slow burn that requires patience, but for those who appreciate its depth, it offers an excellent and rewarding journey.
The Painted Bird
276 pages
This brutal book about a boy wandering alone in Poland during WW2 is partly autobiographical and left a lasting impression on me when I read it in the late 80s.
Shades of Grey
419 pages
This novel presents a bizarre future where society is limited to seeing only one color, making it a unique and humorous read. The protagonist's exile for inventing a better queue adds to the intrigue, and it's a shame it was overshadowed by a similarly titled book.
Smoke Gets in Your Eyes: And Other Lessons from the Crematory
175 pages
This memoir offers a unique perspective from a crematorium worker, making it an intriguing read for those interested in the subject.
Hangman
216 pages
This book is a thrilling blend of mystery and horror, reminiscent of Sherlock Holmes and Hannibal Lecter, making it a must-read for fans of intense psychological stories.
Code Name Verity
353 pages
This historical fiction tells the gripping tale of a female spy captured by the Gestapo during WWII, making it a memorable and emotionally powerful read.
Swan Song
866 pages
This post-apocalyptic novel is a gripping read that follows a diverse cast of characters. It's long and vividly written, with some gory moments that make it hard to put down.
The Boy on the Bridge
305 pages
A compelling companion to 'The Girl with All the Gifts', it expands on the universe with rich storytelling and character development.
The Girl With All the Gifts
401 pages
This book is a unique take on the zombie genre, blending horror with deep emotional themes.
The Spider Truces
332 pages
This book offers a beautiful portrait of an awkward man's life and his relationships with his father and sister.
Gnomon
690 pages
A hard-to-describe read that is weird, compelling, and complicated, making you think deeply.
The Gone-Away World
514 pages
This book is a funny, absurd, and dystopic sci-fi adventure that stands out.
My Sister, the Serial Killer
A fun and campy read that might not appeal to everyone, but it's a delightful experience for those who enjoy the genre.
Hollow Kingdom
226 pages
This book features a hilarious sentient crow and his dog friend navigating a zombie apocalypse, making it a unique and entertaining read.
Bluebeard
245 pages
This underrated book by a fairly underrated author offers a unique perspective that deserves more attention.
Fall On Your Knees
578 pages
This book captivates with its deep exploration of family history, secrets, and regrets, making it a compelling read that resonates on many levels.
The Razor's Edge
A character-driven drama that remains entertaining and sensational, proving its timelessness.
The Kitchen God's Wife
417 pages
A great suggestion from Amy Tan that showcases her talent beyond the well-known Joy Luck Club.
Behold the Dreamers
418 pages
A well-written drama that explores the nuances of the American dream and the impact of the 2008 financial crash, making it a must-read.
The Toymakers
422 pages
This book is a powerful exploration of how war impacts individuals long after the conflict has ended, focusing on the complex relationship between a grandchild and his troubled grandfather. It's a sad yet eye-opening read that delves into heavy themes.
Magician: Apprentice
518 pages
This book was the first major fantasy novel I read and cemented my love for the genre.
The Book Thief
578 pages
The Book Thief is a nice read that beautifully captures the power of words and storytelling during a tumultuous time.
Alaska Sourdough
400 pages
Clyde Charles “Slim” Williams (1881-1974) first arrived in Alaska in 1900 at the age of 19, looking for adventure. He spent the next three decades trapping, hunting, breeding dogs, and blazing trails throughout the frontier. The paths of two rugged adventurers crossed and the result is wonderful entertainment. Pioneer Alaska Sourdough Slim Williams told his life’s story to Dick Morenus, a city-bred man who had lived in the Canadian bush. Because both spoke the language of the North, this story captures the drama and thrills just as Slim experienced them. After reading Alaska Sourdough, you will be as glad as Dick and Slim are that they were fortunate enough to meet.
The Great Unexpected
262 pages
This book explores the lives of older individuals, evoking deep emotions and reflections on aging.
A Gentleman in Moscow
547 pages
OVER 4 MILLION COPIES SOLD A Showtime/Paramount+ series starring Ewan McGregor as Count Alexander Rostov From the number one New York Times-bestselling author, a beautifully transporting novel about a man who is ordered to spend the rest of his life inside a luxury hotel 'A wonderful book' - Tana French 'This novel is astonishing, uplifting and wise. Don't miss it' - Chris Cleave 'No historical novel this year was more witty, insightful or original' - Sunday Times, Books of the Year '[A] supremely uplifting novel ... It's elegant, witty and delightful - much like the Count himself.' - Mail on Sunday, Books of the Year 'Charming ... shows that not all books about Russian aristocrats have to be full of doom and nihilism' - The Times, Books of the Year On 21 June 1922, Count Alexander Rostov - recipient of the Order of Saint Andrew, member of the Jockey Club, Master of the Hunt - is escorted out of the Kremlin, across Red Square and through the elegant revolving doors of the Hotel Metropol. Deemed an unrepentant aristocrat by a Bolshevik tribunal, the Count has been sentenced to house arrest indefinitely. But instead of his usual suite, he must now live in an attic room while Russia undergoes decades of tumultuous upheaval. Can a life without luxury be the richest of all? A BOOK OF THE DECADE, 2010-2020 (INDEPENDENT) THE TIMES BOOK OF THE YEAR 2017 A SUNDAY TIMES BOOK OF THE YEAR 2017 A MAIL ON SUNDAY BOOK OF THE YEAR 2017 A DAILY EXPRESS BOOK OF THE YEAR 2017 AN IRISH TIMES BOOK OF THE YEAR 2017 ONE OF BARACK OBAMA'S BEST BOOKS OF 2017 ONE OF BILL GATES'S SUMMER READS OF 2019 NOMINATED FOR THE 2018 INDEPENDENT BOOKSELLERS WEEK AWARD 'A wonderful book' - Tana French 'This novel is astonishing, uplifting and wise. Don't miss it' - Chris Cleave 'No historical novel this year was more witty, insightful or original' - Sunday Times, Books of the Year '[A] supremely uplifting novel ... It's elegant, witty and delightful - much like the Count himself.' - Mail on Sunday, Books of the Year 'Charming ... shows that not all books about Russian aristocrats have to be full of doom and nihilism' - The Times, Books of the Year On 21 June 1922, Count Alexander Rostov - recipient of the Order of Saint Andrew, member of the Jockey Club, Master of the Hunt - is escorted out of the Kremlin, across Red Square and through the elegant revolving doors of the Hotel Metropol. Deemed an unrepentant aristocrat by a Bolshevik tribunal, the Count has been sentenced to house arrest indefinitely. But instead of his usual suite, he must now live in an attic room while Russia undergoes decades of tumultuous upheaval. Can a life without luxury be the richest of all? A BOOK OF THE DECADE, 2010-2020 (INDEPENDENT) THE TIMES BOOK OF THE YEAR 2017 A SUNDAY TIMES BOOK OF THE YEAR 2017 A MAIL ON SUNDAY BOOK OF THE YEAR 2017 A DAILY EXPRESS BOOK OF THE YEAR 2017 AN IRISH TIMES BOOK OF THE YEAR 2017 ONE OF BARACK OBAMA'S BEST BOOKS OF 2017 ONE OF BILL GATES'S SUMMER READS OF 2019 NOMINATED FOR THE 2018 INDEPENDENT BOOKSELLERS WEEK AWARD
The Priory of the Orange Tree
849 pages
THE INTERNATIONAL BESTSELLER A world divided. A queendom without an heir. An ancient enemy awakens. 'Epic' Guardian 'Majestic' Daily Mail 'The new Game of Thrones' Stylist An enthralling, epic fantasy about a world on the brink of war with dragons - and the women who must lead the fight to save it. The House of Berethnet has ruled Inys for a thousand years. Still unwed, Queen Sabran the Ninth must conceive a daughter to protect her realm from destruction – but assassins are getting closer to her door. Ead Duryan is an outsider at court. Though she has risen to the position of lady-in-waiting, she is loyal to a hidden society of mages. Ead keeps a watchful eye on Sabran, secretly protecting her with forbidden magic. Across the dark sea, Tané has trained to be a dragonrider since she was a child, but is forced to make a choice that could see her life unravel. Meanwhile, the divided East and West refuse to parley, and forces of chaos are rising from their sleep...
The Final Book: Gods
238 pages
Multi-cultural, multi-historical, and spanning man's faith across time, The Final Book is a controversial and blasphemous last chapter of humanity. In the beginning there was love. The Goddess of Life in an elated romance with a beloved mortal. Her sister killed him. Their combined actions ripping a hole in destiny and plaguing mankind with an age of unprecedented corruption, vicious holy wars, and religious absolution. Though long forgotten by the mortals they serve, Zeus and his Pantheon continue to foster and protect mankind which is tearing itself apart—but even God isn't infallible. After failed diplomacy, the King of the Gods is left with no choice but to take the persona of a modern man—the famed genetic scientist Dr. Hork. In an effort to preserve the future by reshaping the past, Dr. Hork uses Project Genesis—the transfer of consciousness—to send subjects back in time. However, not without devastating failures. Subjects of the experiment wreak havoc upon humanity until a familiar character is reborn to correct the course. Reincarnated and ready to fulfill his true destiny, Joshua Bach is the catalyst the Gods have been waiting for—and Dr. Hork’s final beacon of salvation. Ferociously idealistic, the free-spirited young man struggles to come-of-age in a time and society ruled by money and corruption. Under the wing of the Gods, Josh rediscovers his purpose, along with a love that can only be considered timeless. Set in three periods—modern day, the 1960s, and ancient Mesopotamia—this epic blends human history, ruthless mythology, science fiction, and the supernatural to tell a love story of the future.
Prince Ombra
388 pages
This book delves into the timeless themes of heroism and the struggles against evil, exploring the cycles of history in a captivating way.
The Library at Mount Char
402 pages
“Wholly original . . . the work of the newest major talent in fantasy.”—The Wall Street Journal “Freakishly compelling . . . through heart-thumping acts of violence and laugh-out-loud moments, this book practically dares you to keep reading.”—Atlanta Magazine A missing God. A library with the secrets to the universe. A woman too busy to notice her heart slipping away. Carolyn's not so different from the other people around her. She likes guacamole and cigarettes and steak. She knows how to use a phone. Clothes are a bit tricky, but everyone says nice things about her outfit with the Christmas sweater over the gold bicycle shorts. After all, she was a normal American herself once. That was a long time ago, of course. Before her parents died. Before she and the others were taken in by the man they called Father. In the years since then, Carolyn hasn't had a chance to get out much. Instead, she and her adopted siblings have been raised according to Father's ancient customs. They've studied the books in his Library and learned some of the secrets of his power. And sometimes, they've wondered if their cruel tutor might secretly be God. Now, Father is missing—perhaps even dead—and the Library that holds his secrets stands unguarded. And with it, control over all of creation. As Carolyn gathers the tools she needs for the battle to come, fierce competitors for this prize align against her, all of them with powers that far exceed her own. But Carolyn has accounted for this. And Carolyn has a plan. The only trouble is that in the war to make a new God, she's forgotten to protect the things that make her human. Populated by an unforgettable cast of characters and propelled by a plot that will shock you again and again, The Library at Mount Char is at once horrifying and hilarious, mind-blowingly alien and heartbreakingly human, sweepingly visionary and nail-bitingly thrilling—and signals the arrival of a major new voice in fantasy. Praise for The Library at Mount Char An engrossing fantasy world full of supernatural beings and gruesome consequences."—Boston Globe "Vivid . . . the dialogue sings . . . you'll spend equal time shuddering and chortling."—Dallas Morning News"
The Night Watch
The English language edition of the first volume in a bestselling Russian fantasy trilogy for which film rights have been purchased by 20th Century Fox. In contemporary Moscow, a few people possess supernatural powers and are aligned with either the Light or the Dark. Suddenly, a threatening curse hangs over the city.
The Silo Series Collection
1929 pages
SEASON 2 OF THE ACCLAIMED SILO SERIES — BASED ON BOOK 1, WOOL — NOW ON APPLE TV+ For the first time ever, The Silo Saga Omnibus brings together all of the work in Hugh Howey's ground-breaking, best-selling, acclaimed series, including the individual novels Wool, Shift, and Dust, as well as original essays by the author, and a bonus chapbook of short fiction, Silo Stories The remnants of humanity live underground in a vast silo. In this subterranean world, rules matter. Rules keep people alive. And no rule is more strictly enforced than to never speak of going outside. The punishment is exile and death. When the sheriff of the silo commits the ultimate sin, the most unlikely of heroes takes his place. Juliette, a mechanic from the down deep, who never met a machine she couldn’t fix nor a rule she wouldn’t break. What happens when a world built on rules is handed over to someone who sees no need for them? And what happens when a world broken to its core comes up against someone who won’t stop until things are set to right? Their world is about to fall. What—and who—will rise?
Six Wakes
411 pages
In this Hugo nominated science fiction thriller by Mur Lafferty, a crew of clones awakens aboard a space ship to find they're being hunted-and any one of them could be the killer. Maria Arena awakens in a cloning vat streaked with drying blood. She has no memory of how she died. This is new; before, when she had awakened as a new clone, her first memory was of how she died. Maria's vat is one of seven, each one holding the clone of a crew member of the starship Dormire, each clone waiting for its previous incarnation to die so it can awaken. And Maria isn't the only one to die recently. . . Unlock the bold new science fiction thriller that Corey Doctorow calls Mur's "breakout book".
Pretties
285 pages
Set in a utopian society where everyone is born 'ugly' and then gets surgery to become perfect, this series builds a fascinating lore that keeps you engaged.
The Waves
196 pages
There are six major characters in this novel. Their voices describe the intensity of childhood, the optimism and physical awareness of youth, the detachment of middle age. Sensations, emotions, perceptions come and go in the procession of the narrative like seasons, like waves.
By Night in Chile
104 pages
Father Sebastian Urrutia Lacroix is dying. A priest, a member of Opus Dei, a literary critic and a poet, in his feverish delirium the crucial events of his past swell around him. From glimpses of the great poet Pablo Neruda, the German writer Ernst Junger and his one-time student, General Pinochet, to nightmarish flashes of falcons and falconers, the Chilean landscape and faces of those now dead, reality and imagination crowd and clamber in pursuit of the ‘wizened youth’ who still haunts Father Lacroix all these years later. TRANSLATED BY CHRIS ANDREWS ‘The wit, the horror, the ambition, the strangeness; Roberto Bolaño’s work is a sprawling labyrinth of surprise, bold invention, and images that will live with you forever’ Chris Power ‘Few are the writers who have mastered the alchemy of turning the trivial into the sublime, the everyday into adventure. Bolaño is among the best at this diabolical skill’ Georgi Gospodinov, author of Time Shelter
Hopscotch
419 pages
Julio Cortazar's crazed masterpiece, the forbearer of the Latin Boom in the 1960s - published in Vintage Classics for the first time 'Cortazar's masterpiece. This is the first great novel of Spanish America... A powerful anti-novel but, like deeply understood moments in life itself, rich with many kinds of potential meanings and intimations' Times Literary Supplement Dazed by the disappearance of his muse, Argentinian writer Horatio Oliveira wanders the bridges of Paris, the sounds of jazz and the talk of literature, life and art echoing around him. But a chance encounter with a literary idol and his new work – a novel that can be read in random order – sends Horatio’s mind into further confusion. As a return to Buenos Aires beckons, Horatio’s friend and fellow artist, Traveler, awaits his arrival with dread –the lives of these two young writers now ready to play out in an inexhaustible game of indeterminacy.
Foucault's Pendulum
658 pages
Three book editors, jaded by reading far too many crackpot manuscripts on the mystic and the occult, are inspired by an extraordinary conspiracy story told to them by a strange colonel to have some fun. They start feeding random bits of information into a powerful computer capable of inventing connections between the entries, thinking they are creating nothing more than an amusing game, but then their game starts to take over, the deaths start mounting, and they are forced into a frantic search for the truth
Skippy Dies
672 pages
The bestselling and critically acclaimed novel from Paul Murray, Skippy Dies, shortlisted for the 2010 Costa Book Awards, longlisted for the 2010 Booker Prize, and a finalist for the National Book Critics Circle Award. Why does Skippy, a fourteen-year-old boy at Dublin's venerable Seabrook College, end up dead on the floor of the local doughnut shop? Could it have something to do with his friend Ruprecht Van Doren, an overweight genius who is determined to open a portal into a parallel universe using ten-dimensional string theory? Could it involve Carl, the teenage drug dealer and borderline psychotic who is Skippy's rival in love? Or could "the Automator"—the ruthless, smooth-talking headmaster intent on modernizing the school—have something to hide? Why Skippy dies and what happens next is the subject of this dazzling and uproarious novel, unraveling a mystery that links the boys of Seabrook College to their parents and teachers in ways nobody could have imagined. With a cast of characters that ranges from hip-hop-loving fourteen-year-old Eoin "MC Sexecutioner" Flynn to basketball playing midget Philip Kilfether, packed with questions and answers on everything from Ritalin, to M-theory, to bungee jumping, to the hidden meaning of the poetry of Robert Frost, Skippy Dies is a heartfelt, hilarious portrait of the pain, joy, and occasional beauty of adolescence, and a tragic depiction of a world always happy to sacrifice its weakest members. As the twenty-first century enters its teenage years, this is a breathtaking novel from a young writer who will come to define his generation.
Blue Bloods: After Death
339 pages
This series offers a unique twist on the vampire genre, combining elements of Gossip Girl with supernatural intrigue, making it a fun read before the Twilight craze.
Kokoro
210 pages
"Rich in understanding and insight."—The New Yorker What is love, and what is friendship? What is the extent of our responsibility to ourselves and to others? Kokoro, signifying "the heart of things," examines these age-old questions in terms of the modern world. A trilogy of stories that explores the very essence of loneliness, Kokoro opens with "Sensei and I," in which the narrator recounts his relationship with an intellectual who dwells in isolation but maintains a sophisticated worldview. "My Parents and I" brings the reader into the narrator's family circle, and "Sensei and His Testament" features the eponymous character's explanation of how he came to live a life of solitude. Natsume Soseki (1867–1916), perhaps the greatest novelist of the Meiji period, remains one of Japan's most widely read authors. He wrote this novel in 1914, at the peak of his career, and it remains an excellent introduction to modern Japanese literature.
The Luxe
466 pages
If you love Gossip Girl, you'll enjoy this series set in late 1900s New York. It's cheesy and entertaining, perfect for a light read.
Autobiography of Red
317 pages
The award-winning poet reinvents a genre in a stunning work that is both a novel and a poem, both an unconventional re-creation of an ancient Greek myth and a wholly original coming-of-age story set in the present. Geryon, a young boy who is also a winged red monster, reveals the volcanic terrain of his fragile, tormented soul in an autobiography he begins at the age of five. As he grows older, Geryon escapes his abusive brother and affectionate but ineffectual mother, finding solace behind the lens of his camera and in the arms of a young man named Herakles, a cavalier drifter who leaves him at the peak of infatuation. When Herakles reappears years later, Geryon confronts again the pain of his desire and embarks on a journey that will unleash his creative imagination to its fullest extent. By turns whimsical and haunting, erudite and accessible, richly layered and deceptively simple, Autobiography of Red is a profoundly moving portrait of an artist coming to terms with the fantastic accident of who he is. A NEW YORK TIMES NOTABLE BOOK OF THE YEAR National Book Critics Circle Award Finalist "Anne Carson is, for me, the most exciting poet writing in English today." --Michael Ondaatje "This book is amazing--I haven't discovered any writing in years so marvelously disturbing." --Alice Munro "A profound love story . . . sensuous and funny, poignant, musical and tender." --The New York Times Book Review "A deeply odd and immensely engaging book. . . . [Carson] exposes with passionate force the mythic underlying the explosive everyday." --The Village Voice
The Prophet
70 pages
The Prophet is a book of 26 prose poetry fables written in English by the Lebanese-American poet and writer Kahlil Gibran. It was originally published in 1923 by Alfred A. Knopf. It is Gibran's best known work. The Prophet has been translated into over 108 different languages, making it one of the most translated books in history and it has never been out of print.The prophet, Al Mustafa, has lived in the city of Orphalese for 12 years and is about to board a ship which will carry him home. He is stopped by a group of people, with whom he discusses topics such as life and the human condition. The book is divided into chapters dealing with love, marriage, children, giving, eating and drinking, work, joy and sorrow, houses, clothes, buying and selling, crime and punishment, laws, freedom, reason and passion, pain, self-knowledge, teaching, friendship, talking, time, good and evil, prayer, pleasure, beauty, religion, and death.Though born a Maronite, Gibran was influenced not only by his own religion but also by Islam, and especially by the mysticism of the Sufis. His knowledge of Lebanon's bloody history, with its destructive factional struggles, strengthened his belief in the fundamental unity of religions, which his parents exemplified by welcoming people of various religions in their home.[8]: p55 Connections and parallels have also been made to William Blake's work, [9] as well as the theological ideas of Walt Whitman and Ralph Waldo Emerson such as reincarnation and the Over-soul. Themes of influence in his work were Islamic/Arabic art, European Classicism (particularly Leonardo Da Vinci) and Romanticism (Blake and Auguste Rodin), the pre-Raphelite Brotherhood, and more modern symbolism and surrealism.[10]Gibran had a number of strong connections to the Bahá'í Faith starting around 1912. One of Gibran's acquaintances, Juliet Thompson, reported several anecdotes relating to Gibran. She recalled Gibran had met 'Abdu'l-Bahá, the leader of the religion, at the time of `Abdu'l-Bahá's journeys to the West. Gibran was unable to sleep the night before meeting him in person to draw his portrait in April 1912 on the island of Manhattan.p253 Gibran later told Thompson that in 'Abdu'l-Bahá he had "seen the Unseen, and been filled." Gibran began work on the book The Prophet, in 1912 when "he got the first motif, for his Island God," whose "Prometheus exile shall be an Island one." In 1928, after the death of `Abdu'l-Bahá, at a viewing of a movie of `Abdu'l-Bahá, Gibran rose to talk and proclaimed in tears an exalted station of `Abdu'l-Bahá and left the event weeping still.
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395 pages
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132 pages
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