Library Reads: April 2014

The new list is up right now.  Past lists can be found here.  Remember to use the past titles as sure bet suggestions for patrons who cannot articulate what they want to read.  These are "good reads" suggested by other librarians as worth your time.  And since each title includes an annotation, the patron can decide for themselves.  Titles from the older lists should be more readily available for immediate checkout too.

Collection development alert: if you are at a public library in America and do ordering, buy these for your collection.

Finally, I have had great luck placing the current month's list at the RA desk.  The well designed March flyer is on the desk in front of me right now, and gets consulted by a patron at least once a day.

April 2014 Library Reads List

The Storied Life of A. J. Fikry:
A Novel

by Gabrielle Zevin

Published: 4/1/2014 by Algonquin Books
ISBN: 9781616203214

“A middle-aged bookseller mourning his lost wife, a feisty publisher’s rep, and a charmingly precocious abandoned child come together on a small island off the New England coast in this utterly delightful novel of love and second chances.”

Beth Mills, New Rochelle Public Library, New Rochelle, NY

Frog Music: A Novel

by Emma Donoghue

Published: 4/1/2014 by Little, Brown and Company
ISBN: 9780316324687

“Donoghue returns to historical fiction in this latest offering, based on the unsolved murder of Jenny Bonnet, a cross-dressing frog catcher with a mysterious past. Set in 1870s San Francisco, this brilliant book includes impeccable historical details, from a smallpox epidemic to period songs.”

Diane Scholl, Batavia Public Library, IL

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And the Dark Sacred Night: A Novel

by Julia Glass

Published: 4/1/2014 by Pantheon
ISBN: 9780307377937

“Four stars to Julia Glass for this, her best work since Three Junes. We become reacquainted with old characters Malachy, Fenno, and Walter and learn more about their life stories. The individuals are imperfectly human, and perfectly drawn. A wonderful, highly recommended novel.”

Kelly Currie, Delphi Public Library, Delphi, IN

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Silence for the Dead: A Novel

by Simone St. James

Published: 4/1/2014 by NAL Trade/Penguin
ISBN: 9780451419484

“A young nurse working in an isolated hospital for WWI veterans finds herself in over her head. Are the patients in the mysterious estate haunted by their wartime experiences, or something more malevolent? St. James is an up-and-coming author with a flair for combining horror and romance. A great choice for readers of either genre.”

Jenna Persick, Chester County Library, Exton, PA

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By its Cover: A Commissario Guido Brunetti Mystery

by Donna Leon

Published: 4/1/2014 by Atlantic Monthly Press
ISBN: 9780802122643

“In the 23rd book in this delightful series, Commissario Guido Brunetti is brought in to investigate the theft of pages and maps from rare books. Brunetti is a great character with warmth, style and elegance. Leon’s book enlightens us about Venetian customs and delivers a solid mystery.”

Joanne Genovese, Smithtown Special Library District, Smithtown, NY

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The Intern’s Handbook: A Thriller

by Shane Kuhn

Published: 4/8/2014 by Simon & Schuster
ISBN: 9781476733807

“How did Shane Kuhn pull this off? He’s written an action-packed, twisting thriller about professional assassins, and–guess what?–it’s funny and romantic, too! In a totally quirky way, of course. You have to read it to believe it.”

Nancy Russell, Columbus Metropolitan Library, Columbus, OH

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Love, Nina: A Nanny Writes Home

by Nina Stibbe

Published: 4/22/2014 by Little, Brown and Company
ISBN: 9780316243391

“With a unique voice, Stibbe brings 1980s literary Camden back to life in this delightful epistolary memoir. The letters that Stibbe writes to her sister are a hoot, featuring unexpected cooking advice from the great Alan Bennett, and droll commentary on just about everything from Mary-Kay Wilmers.”

Jennifer Estepp, Queens Library, Jamaica, NY

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The Axe Factor: A Jimm Juree Mystery

by Colin Cotterill

Published: 4/15/2014 by Minotaur Books
ISBN: 9781250043368

“I love this sharply-written and quirky cozy mystery. Jimm Juree is a wonderful character, slyly funny and insightful, with an oddball cast of family and friends to back her up. Set in coastal Thailand, this is a laugh-out-loud funny mystery with plenty of great twists and turns that will keep readers guessing.”

Vicki Nesting, St. Charles Parish Library, Destrehan, LA

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Family Life: A Novel

by Akhil Sharma

Published: 4/7/2014 by W. W. Norton & Company
ISBN: 9780393060058

“The Mishras move from India to New York City in the 1980s in order to give their two sons better educational opportunities. When tragedy strikes, the family tries to recover the optimism and hope that propelled them to America. Beautiful, clear-eyed and compelling, this book packs a powerful punch.”

Anbolyn Potter, Chandler Public Library, Chandler, AZ

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On the Rocks: A Novel

by Erin Duffy

Published: 4/22/2014 by William Morrow
ISBN: 9780062205742

“After her fiance dumps her on Facebook, Abby retreats to her apartment until her best friend invites her to spend the summer in Newport. This book is for every woman who’s been determined to put things back together after finding herself on the wrong side of social media, in the aftermath of a bad breakup, or elbow deep in Ben & Jerry’s when things fall apart.”

Sara Grochowski, Alpena County George N. Fletcher Public Library, Alpena, MI