Recommended Reads for Adults

Today Will Be Different by Maria Semple

Eleanor knows she's a mess. But today, she will tackle the little things. But before she can put her modest plan into action-life happens. Just when it seems like things can't go more awry, an encounter with a former colleague produces a graphic memoir whose dramatic tale threatens to reveal a buried family secret. Recommended by Rachel.

Ararat by Christopher Golden

A perfect book for those wanting something a little different than the mainstream mystery. It’s captivating and slightly unnerving with a lot of heart. Set in modern day, an explorer-couple journeys to Ararat, the mountain in Turkey Noah’s Ark supposedly landed after the flood according to the Bible. The novel explores the idea of what if Noah’s Ark was real, and a group of disparate entities, religious, academic, military, and anthropological, were brought together to research what was inside. Author Christopher Golden (Snowblind, Tin Men) weaves a tale that teases out the lives of each individual character, using their beliefs and reflections on past experiences to determine their actions as they face what may or may not be dead, trapped long ago in a tightly sealed coffin, at the time of the flood. The novel ends with the true icing on the ark, a completely original and wonderfully mind-blowing ending. The audio version was wonderful, read by Robert Fass, whose subtle accents and articulation suck you headfirst into the heart of the snowy, dark mountain. Recommended by Jill.

How to be Both: A Novel by Ali Smith

Smith’s marvelous book is in 2 parts. The sections are separated by 500 years but connected through the topic of art as well as the age of the protagonists, both teenagers dealing with the challenges of imminent adulthood. Not the easiest book, but her clever writing style and the discovery of the interconnections between the 2 parts makes this a joy to read. Recommended by Nancy.

Bearskin by James A. McLaughlin

Filled with a naturalist’s eye for detail, this novel delivers on suspense, character development, and a clever plot line. The main character, on the run from the drug cartel, has a back story that hounds his consciousness. As his reality seems to shift to the surreal, the natural world around him takes center stage.  Recommended by Betty.

The Goblin Emperor by Katherine Addison

Do you have a favorite novel that you re-read every year? This is mine. This absorbing high fantasy novel is hopeful, heartfelt, and focused on characters who choose kindness and empathy over and over, even in circumstances when one might turn to cynicism. The story follows Maya, the half-goblin son of the elvish Emperor, who has lived his entire life in exile. When his father and all his other heirs die in an “accident”, Maya becomes Emperor and must navigate an Imperial court filled with deadly intrigue. This is not your typical, by-the-numbers lost heir story; it’s rich, sophisticated, and political, full of steampunk technology, dark magic, and courtly intrigue. You will be charmed. Recommended by Krista.