What We Are Reading
The Ministry of Time by Kaliane Bradley
"Time travel is real and a 19th Century explorer (among others) has been brought forward to live in a near future UK as part of an experiment. He lives with a “bridge” who has been assigned to help him get acclimated and report back to the top secret government agency behind the project. It’s a wonderful speculative premise that blends nicely with the romantic and spy thriller elements to create a fascinating and original story that I devoured in an afternoon. Not only does it feel fresh, but it also offers lots of opportunities for thought and discussion about history and colonialism, the what-ifs of time travel and so much more. It isn’t perfect, but for some reason that made it an even better read for me—more to think about, I suppose! I’d highly recommend this one for book groups."
Looking for readalikes? Check out
Life After Life by Kate Atkinson,
All Our Wrong Todays by Elan Mastai, or
The Intuitionist by Colson Whitehead
What's Hot This Month
Check out some great literary suspense, especially for readers of
The God of the Woods by Liz Moore.
Featured Title
The Teller of Small Fortunes by Julie Leong
Readers who are seeking a cozy, low conflict read should look no further than this heartwarming debut fantasy about a wandering fortune teller. Tao travels from town to town, telling small fortunes of no consequence until one of those fortunes reveals something big. Before long she is traveling with two former thieves, a baker, and a slightly magical cat in search of a missing girl. A girl, her fortune indicates they are sure to find. It’s a story of friendship, adventure and whimsy, perfect for fans of
Legends and Lattes or
The House in the Cerulean Sea.
What's New This Month
A Presidential election year means fewer late fall books, but there are still plenty of titles to enjoy such as
Shy Creatures by Clare Chambers, a literary mystery which was a finalist for the UK Women’s Prize for Fiction.
Blood over Bright Haven by M.L. Wang is a dark fantasy about the first woman ever admitted to an order of mages who discovers a deadly secret conspiracy that could change the practice of magic forever.
Pickleballers by Ilana Long is a debut romantic comedy about the fight over a pickleball court.
The approaching holiday season can be overwhelming, especially when combined with everything else, so why not check out
How To Let Things Go by Shunmyo Masuno, which offers tips on how to focus on what really matters.
Gather Me by Glory Edim is a gem amongst the stacks of big celebrity memoirs. In this book, the founder of Well-Read Black Girl offers an ode to the power of books to help us understand ourselves.
For More Reading Suggestions: