Library Staff Reads - Spring 2019

I struggle to call The Best We Could Do a simple book; it’s a manifesto to life, history and existence. Thi Bui went through painstaking research about her family and how it connects to the Vietnam War and her experience between two worlds was mesmerizing. Viet Thanh Nguyen calls The Best We Could Do “a book to break your heart and heal it.” I would say it even made my heart even bigger and more open to look into my own family history, both the pain and celebration. --Claudia

This is Oscar Wilde's best known play for a reason - it's a sharp satire full of witty dialogue. But at its heart it's an exploration of social anxiety and personal identity that is especially interesting considering Wilde's personal life and very public downfall. Give it a look if you're want a quick and fun read with hidden depth. --Emma

American naturalism at its finest. This tale of greed, degeneration & death focuses on the darkness of human nature at its most basic level. Not suited for those with dentophobia or those in search of a happy ending. –Amy ☠

"Eighty-one years after Their Eyes Were Watching God debuted, a new work by Zora Neale Hurston [has been released]... In 1931, Hurston spent three months in Alabama interviewing Cudjo Lewis, who came to the country on a 'black cargo' vessel. Barracoon tells Lewis’ story, including that of his capture and being held in a 'barracoon'—a small cage used to hold enslaved persons—as well as his voyage with 109 other slaves aboard the Clotilda, the last recorded U.S. slave ship." --Michael Harriot, writing for The Root

This book is a must read! --Tiffany

Ice Haven is morosely humorous, occasionally surreal, and a post-modern take on the ensemble film storytelling structure. Episodic narratives of an array of quirky small town folk are weaved together, centered around the kidnapping of a young boy. A graphic novel recommended to anyone who finds life strange, often dark, and yet somehow wryly amusing. --Justin

I recommend Red Victory: A History of the Russian Civil War by W. Bruce Lincoln. Red Victory details the process of a country's disintegration into rival, radical factions. It shows how easily society can fly out of balance, how quickly moderate voices can be swept aside in such times, and how ruthlessly some leaders can take advantage of the chaos. The end result is not a happy one. A topical lesson. --Richard