Library Reads: November 2015

Here is my monthly reposting of the newest Library Reads List. Please remember you can pull up every Library Reads list by clicking here or choosing the “Library Reads” label in the right gutter of every page on the blog.

This is also my monthly reminder that I repost this list for specific, tangible RA related reasons.  I advocate for using the past lists to help patrons as much as you should use the current list to get those same patrons excited about what is coming down the pike.

The main reason I post these lists is to have an easy to grab archive [with that Library Reads tag] of all of the lists.  When you are stuck for an idea, or have a difficult patron in front of you who only wants "a good read" [and cannot articulate anything more about their specific tastes], click here and find a great backlist option.

Now the list....

November 2015 LibraryReads List

The Japanese Lover:
A Novel

by Isabel Allende

Published:11/3/2015
by Atria Books
ISBN: 9781501116971
“Irina is a young Moldavian immigrant with a troubled past. She works at an assisted living home where she meets Alma, a Holocaust survivor. Alma falls in love with Ichi, a young Japanese gardener, who survived Topaz, the Japanese internment camp. Despite man’s inhumanity to man, love, art and beauty can exist, as evidenced in their beautiful love story.”

Ellen Firer, Merrick Library, Merrick, NY

The Improbability of Love: A Novel

by Hannah Rothschild

Published: 11/3/2015 by Knopf
ISBN: 9781101874141

“The engaging, totally unexpected story of Annie, a lonely young woman who wanders into a junk shop and buys a painting. The painting turns out to have a long and storied past, with powerful people searching high and low for it. Unpredictable and fascinating; I loved the peek into the cutthroat art world and watching Annie blossom as she discovers her true calling.”

Heather Bistyga, Anderson County Library, Anderson, SC

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Little Victories: Perfect Rules for Imperfect Living

by Jason Gay

Published: 11/3/2015 by Doubleday
ISBN: 9780385539463

“This was a quick, enjoyable read that offers a refreshing perspective on some of the trivialities we all find ourselves caught up in. I enjoyed the tone and humor throughout. A standout for me was Gay’s list of recommendations for his child’s future baseball team. His open letter to this imagined future team envisions a team that can just let kids be kids. My only disappointment with this book was that there wasn’t more of it–it seemed to end all too soon.”

Lindley Homol, Chesterfield County Public Library, Chesterfield, VA

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Crimson Shore: A Novel

by Douglas Preson & Lincoln Child

Published: 11/10/2015 by Grand Central Publishing
ISBN: 9781455525928

In the latest installment in the Special Agent Pendergast series, Pendergast and Constance Greene investigate a theft of a wine cellar in an ancient village on the coast north of Salem, only to discover during their investigation the entombed remains of a tortured man. “I always thoroughly enjoy the Pendergast novels, and the interaction between Pendergast and Constance in this book was very intriguing.”

Shari Brophy, Timberland Regional Library, Tumwater, WA

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The Muralist: A Novel

by B.A. Shapiro

Published: 11/3/2015 by Algonquin
ISBN: 9781616203573

“This art-filled story following the young life and disappearance of Alizee Benoit is heartbreaking and thoughtful. Not only does the novel give an entertaining education on the WPA and abstract artists, but it also gives eerily relevant commentary on refugees and the cold-heartedness of government. Alizee’s story will pull you along as you try to grasp how this bright light of the art community vanished.”

Amanda Monson, Bartow County Library System, Cartersville, GA

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The Girl With Ghost Eyes

by M.H. Boroson

Published: 11/3/2015 by Talos Press
ISBN: 9781940456362

“In San Francisco during the late 1800s, a young Chinese widow tries to keep her father alive, and win a place in his heart she doesn’t realize she already owns. This story is filled with wonderful detail from Chinese folklore and mythology, and plenty of action as two tongs battle to control Chinatown. The very best fantasy employs strong characters who are real people with real problems. I enjoyed every page.”

Janet Martin, Southern Pines Public Library, Southern Pines, NC

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Along the Infinite Sea: A Novel

by Beatriz Williams

Published: 11/3/2015 by G.P. Putnam’s Sons
ISBN: 9780399171314

“When Pepper Schuyler–on the run from a powerful politician and desperate to protect her unborn child–sells her newly restored classic car to an enigmatic and very wealthy woman, she not only finds unexpected refuge but also tantalizing hints of a mystery. With vivid European settings, colorful characters and intricate plotting that skillfully weaves past and present together, Along The Infinite Sea is a treat for fans of Beatriz Williams.”

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

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A Likely Story: A Library Lover’s Mystery

by Jenn McKinlay
Published: 11/3/2015 by Berkley
ISBN: 9780425260746

“A Likely Story is just as addictive as the rest of the Library Lover’s mysteries! McKinlay has written some of the most authentic library characters that I’ve come across in the cozy mystery genre. I can’t wait to find out what the employees and patrons of Briar Creek Public Library (especially Sully) are up to next!”

Michelle Ross, Kanawha County Public Library, Charleston, WV

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Dear Mr. You: A Novel

by Mary-Louise Parker

Published: 11/10/2015 by Scribner
ISBN: 9781501107832

“Parker has created a unique and poetic memoir through a series of letters–some of appreciation, some of apology, some simply of acknowledgement–to the men in her life. Ranging from a taxi driver to a grandfather she never knew, each man has left an imprint and shaped her into the person she has become. Full of feeling, growth, and self-discovery, Parker’s book has left me longing to write my own letters.”

PJ Gardiner, Wake County Public Libraries, Raleigh, NC

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A Wild Swan: And Other Tales

by Michael Cunningham and Yuko Shimizu (Illustrator)

Published: 11/10/2015 by Farrar, Straus and Giroux
ISBN: 9780374290252

“These are fairy tales that have slightly more insight, for the discerning adult. “The Wild Swans” was actually my favorite when I was young, next to “The Little Mermaid.” These are a continuation of what happens after those stories end and are set, in some instances, in the modern world. Packed with humor, this is an easy gift for those who like to be read to at night or feel too old for idealistic fairy tales.”

Andrienne Cruz, Azusa City Library, Azusa, CA