Recommended Reads for Adults

There, There by Tommy Orange

The story of twelve Urban Indians living in Oakland, California. As we learn the reasons that each person is attending the Big Oakland Powwow-some generous, some fearful, some joyful, some violent-momentum builds toward a shocking yet inevitable conclusion that changes everything. Recommended by Rachel.

The Undesired by Yrsa Sigurðardóttir

Icelandic mystery author Yrsa Sigurðardóttir's thriller weaves together two seemingly disparate tales from decades apart. This unconventional story is infused with unexpected twists, engrossing characters and a delightfully shocking, unpredictable ending. The audio narration is wonderful and can be downloaded from My Media Mall. The APP for MyMediaMall is Libby. Recommended by Jill.

A Place for Us by Fatima Farheen Mirza

Moving portrait of a Muslim American family finding its way through the 21st Century. While over the decades Rafiq and his wife Layla have had to deal with repercussions from cataclysmic events such as 9/11 and deaths of parents, they face their greatest challenge as their rebellious youngest child comes of age and pushes against the strictures of the Muslim faith. How do they, as devout Muslims, balance their love of their son with their own beliefs? Recommended by Nancy.

Transcription by Kate Atkinson

Atkinson has another top notch novel that, true to character, develops the storyline in unconventional ways. She tells the story of a woman who, during WWII, transcribes conversations from a bugged apartment for the British secret service. The story unfolds through both the transcripts and inner thoughts of the main character. Listening to the story on an audiobook compliments Atkinson’s choice to include the transcriptions which, though often mundane, act as a clever device to move the story. Recommended by Betty.

The Cabin at the End of the World by Paul Tremblay

What if the fate of humanity rested on an unthinkable choice? Tremblay poses this question in his gripping psychological thriller about the intersection of belief and paranoia and the sacrifices we will make for love. Seven-year-old Wen and her two loving fathers, Eric and Andrew, are vacationing at a remote lakeside cabin when they are confronted by three strangers who wield menacing objects and swear they need help to save the world. This is unnerving, suspenseful, real-world horror at its finest. Recommended by Krista.