You’ll find something for everyone on this list. Happy Holidays from the staff of the Fairfield Public Library!
A Reliable Wife by Robert Goolrick
Beyond the Sky and the Earth by Jamie Zeppa
Beautiful story of a Canadian girl who left her boyfriend and Grad school behind to teach school children in Bhutan. Falls in love with people and culture. Wonderful descriptions of landscapes and people.
Both Ways Is the Only Way I Want It by Maile Meloy.
Each story is a gem unto itself; I am pointing everyone in Maile Meloy’s direction if they want to know how a good short story is written
Brooklyn by Colm Toibin
Columbine by Dave Cullen
The riveting real story behind the infamous school shooting. If you think the killers were trench coat wearing outcasts, you will be surprised, shocked, and ultimately saddened.
Cost by Roxanne Robinson
Damn Good Food by Mitch Omer and Ann Bauer
Mitch is the Hunter Thompson of the cooking world. He has the edge over Anthony Bourdain because Mitch Omer is probably certifiable. But Hell’s Kitchen (the restaurant) with its blood red and black décor is an undeniable success. In Damn Good Food Mitch Omer shares the recipes that led to that success
Darling Jim by Christian Moerk
Distant Land of my Father by Bo Caldwell
Duck! Rabbit! by Amy Krouse Rosenthal
Eating Animals by Jonathan Safran Foer
Just where does our food come from? And how can we continue to justify eating it once we know? A great book that is as much about the ‘why’ as it is the ‘how.’
Escape by Carolyn Jessop
Ghosts of Belfast by Stuart Neville
Gridiron Gauntlet by Andy Piascik
Half-broke Horses by Jeannette Walls
Hollywood Moon by Joseph Wambaugh
The Hunger Games and Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins
In A Single Bound by Sarah Reinertsen
About the first female above-the-knee amputee to finish the Ironman World Championship in Hawaii
Let’s Do Nothing by Tony Fucile
Let the Great World Spin by Colum McCann
Lit by Mary Karr
Little Pink House by Jeff Benedict
Loved this book, and hoped it would be chosen for One Book One Town!
Little Stranger by Sarah Waters
Madonnas of Leningrad by Debra Dean
Mister Pip by Lloyd Jones
Set on the island of Bougainville, near Papua New Guinea, where inhabitants are victims of war. Mr. Pip who is the only white person on the island becomes the island’s teacher and uses Great Expectations as his teaching tool. He teaches the children to connect their own stories with that of the Dickens book using metaphors. The narrator is a 13 year-old student. Much violence and danger ensues and the narrator is fortunate to escape the island
Molly Ivins: A Rebel Life by Bill Mitutaglio
Mudbound by Hillary Jordan
My Stroke of Insight by Jill Bolte Taylor
Never Die Easy by Walter Payton
This book is a few years old, but so amazing!
Olive Kitteridge by Elizabeth Strout
Open by Andre Agassi
Andre’s own story including his very focused childhood (or lack of childhood) and his drive to be the best in a sport he never really liked. If you follow tennis at all, this book is a must
The Red Devil: To Hell with Cancer and Back by Kathleen Russell Rich
Rose’s Heavenly Cakes by Rose Levy Beranbaum
I have a friend who uses the term “food porn” to describe a cookbook like this. Each cake is lovingly photographed and makes you want to spend time in the kitchen recreating a beautiful treat. Here’s a tip: Follow Her Directions. She knows what she’s doing – really. Don’t think you’re cool and start substituting ingredients or skipping steps or using the wrong size pan. You will fail miserably. To see what can happen take a look at Cake Wrecks by Jen Yates.
Still Alice by Lisa Genova
Stitches by David Small
Think you have a messed up family? Think again…
Sworn To Silence by Linda Castillo
The Art of Making Money by Jason Kersten
This book is about a very successful counterfeiter – a man with a lot of talent but he can’t keep a secret. Art Williams is likeable and you even find yourself rooting for him against the odds.
The Blind Side by Michael Lewis
You might think you know the story from the recent film, but the book also details the fascinating evolution of the game of football and the offensive line, and a serious discussion of talent, poverty, and the reality of the American Dream.
The Help by Kathryn Stockett
No one is killed by strange Greek monsters or evil, blood thirsty vampires but I liked it anyway.
The Last Child by John Hart
The Last Olympian (Percy Jackson & the Olympians, book 5) by Rick Riordan
I finally understood the attraction of Greek Mythology after completing the Olympians series. Drop a few harpies and a Cyclops or two into midtown Manhattan and you’re going to see some serious mayhem. Start reading the series now – the movie will be out in February
The Lion & the Mouse by Jerry Pinkney
A stunning adaptation of the Aesop fable by artist Pinkney. An almost wordless text conveys the tale that illustrates the power of an act of kindness.
The Promise of Happiness by Justin Cartwright
About an ordinary family formerly from London when prodigal daughter returns from prison and brings the love of family together. Well written
The Sisters Antipodes by Jane Alison
The Space Between Us by Thrity Umrigar
The plot concerns a longtime relationship between a Parsi woman and her maid in Mumbai, India. Both compassionate characters. A horrific incident changes their relationship. Elegantly written.
The Story of a Marriage by Andrew Sean Greer
Not your run-of-the-mill story of a marriage, but refreshingly different.
The Strain (Book 1 of The Strain trilogy) by Guillermo del Toro & Chuck Hogan.
This is a scary book. The vampires in this book are not cute, sexy or romantic. They do not have big soulful eyes, good manners and silly hair. They are vicious killers and they are determined to multiply.
The Unnamed by Joshua Ferris
The Weight of Silence by Heather Gudenkauf
Things I’ve Been Silent About by Azar Nafisi
Tiger Moon by Antonia Michaelis
Unaccustomed Earth by Jhumpa Lahiri
Under the Dome by Stephen King
Stephen King is a consummate storyteller and Under the Dome is over 1,000 pages of great story. He has the enviable ability of bringing you into his world with such skill that you never quite notice when the “normal” turns into the “not normal.”
When Skateboards will Be Free by Said Sayrafiezedah
This might be the most fascinating memoir of the year – a half-Iranian kid growing up in a strictly socialist household who grows up to work for…Martha Stewart. Very rewarding.
When You Reach Me by Rebecca Stead
Where the Mountain Meets the Moon by Grace Lin
Yummy! Eight Favorite Fairy Tales by Lucy Cousins
Zeitoun by Dave Eggers
Hurricane Katrina was a disaster, but the aftermath was a tragedy. This story is unforgettable, and should be read by just about everyone.