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General Recommendations
January 2021 Staff Picks
By:
ChiPubLib_Adults
ChiPubLib_Adults
Chicago Public Library
Staff-created list
Check out this month's recommendations from Chicago Public Library. Visit our Books page for previous lists of recommendations.
By:
ChiPubLib_Adults
ChiPubLib_Adults
Chicago Public Library
13 items
13 items
Stories
Book - 2020
In this vivid short story collection, acclaimed novelist Walter Mosley presents a diverse cast of Black male characters who strive, but all too often fail...Show more
In this vivid short story collection, acclaimed novelist Walter Mosley presents a diverse cast of Black male characters who strive, but all too often fail, to find meaning and connection in their relationships with others. In one story, a man is able to feel a sense of closeness only with women whom he hires. In another story, while hiding out in the woods, a brilliant high school student unexpectedly befriends a stranger with a dangerous anger problem. In another, a man's discovery of his wife's intimate relationship with their financial advisor triggers a devastating downward spiral. Mosley explores loneliness and longing against a backdrop of various contemporary social problems, including climate change, homelessness, and racism with compassion and insight. This collection is rich with astute observations of human nature and offers us much to ponder and appreciate.
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In this vivid short story collection, acclaimed novelist Walter Mosley presents a diverse cast of Black male characters who strive, but all too often fail...Show more
In this vivid short story collection, acclaimed novelist Walter Mosley presents a diverse cast of Black male characters who strive, but all too often fail, to find meaning and connection in their relationships with others. In one story, a man is able to feel a sense of closeness only with women whom he hires. In another story, while hiding out in the woods, a brilliant high school student unexpectedly befriends a stranger with a dangerous anger problem. In another, a man's discovery of his wife's intimate relationship with their financial advisor triggers a devastating downward spiral. Mosley explores loneliness and longing against a backdrop of various contemporary social problems, including climate change, homelessness, and racism with compassion and insight. This collection is rich with astute observations of human nature and offers us much to ponder and appreciate.
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by Cosby, S. A.
Book - 2020
Beauregard "Bug" Montage is the owner of an independent garage who is raising kids with his wife, believing his past criminal life as a getaway ...Show more
Beauregard "Bug" Montage is the owner of an independent garage who is raising kids with his wife, believing his past criminal life as a getaway driver is well behind him, but his debts are mounting, and his efforts to make some fast cash by street racing on the back roads of Virginia aren't enough to save him. When he gets a lucrative offer from former associates to participate in a heist, he has no choice but to consider it in this excellent debut thriller.
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Beauregard "Bug" Montage is the owner of an independent garage who is raising kids with his wife, believing his past criminal life as a getaway ...Show more
Beauregard "Bug" Montage is the owner of an independent garage who is raising kids with his wife, believing his past criminal life as a getaway driver is well behind him, but his debts are mounting, and his efforts to make some fast cash by street racing on the back roads of Virginia aren't enough to save him. When he gets a lucrative offer from former associates to participate in a heist, he has no choice but to consider it in this excellent debut thriller.
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The Life of Malcolm X
by Payne, Les
Book - 2020
In this masterful companion piece to The Autobiography of Malcolm X by the Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Les Payne and his daughter Tamara Payne (who ...Show more
In this masterful companion piece to The Autobiography of Malcolm X by the Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Les Payne and his daughter Tamara Payne (who brought this masterful three-decades-in-the-making project to a conclusion after her father's death in 2018), the Paynes explore Malcolm X's youth, his evolving political and religious beliefs (including his relationship to the Nation of Islam), and his assassination. The resulting tome adds a wealth of nuance and complexity to the legend of Malcolm X, one of the iconic figures of modern American history.
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In this masterful companion piece to The Autobiography of Malcolm X by the Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Les Payne and his daughter Tamara Payne (who ...Show more
In this masterful companion piece to The Autobiography of Malcolm X by the Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Les Payne and his daughter Tamara Payne (who brought this masterful three-decades-in-the-making project to a conclusion after her father's death in 2018), the Paynes explore Malcolm X's youth, his evolving political and religious beliefs (including his relationship to the Nation of Islam), and his assassination. The resulting tome adds a wealth of nuance and complexity to the legend of Malcolm X, one of the iconic figures of modern American history.
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A Memoir
Book - 2020
In a page-turning memoir, Moore challenges familiar tropes of the immigration narrative in this story of her journey from war-torn Liberia to America, whe...Show more
In a page-turning memoir, Moore challenges familiar tropes of the immigration narrative in this story of her journey from war-torn Liberia to America, where she spent part of her youth growing up in Texas before moving to Brooklyn. In a section that reads like fiction, she reconstructs her mother's experience as a student in America who returned to Africa to rescue her family when war broke out. Moore also shares her observations as an African immigrant in the American context. This engaging memoir offers a potent mix of inspiration and perspective.
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In a page-turning memoir, Moore challenges familiar tropes of the immigration narrative in this story of her journey from war-torn Liberia to America, whe...Show more
In a page-turning memoir, Moore challenges familiar tropes of the immigration narrative in this story of her journey from war-torn Liberia to America, where she spent part of her youth growing up in Texas before moving to Brooklyn. In a section that reads like fiction, she reconstructs her mother's experience as a student in America who returned to Africa to rescue her family when war broke out. Moore also shares her observations as an African immigrant in the American context. This engaging memoir offers a potent mix of inspiration and perspective.
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A Novel
by Jin, Meng
Book - 2020
This generation-spanning debut opens at a Beijing hospital during the Tiananmen Square protests in 1989, where a woman, Su Lan, gives birth to a baby girl...Show more
This generation-spanning debut opens at a Beijing hospital during the Tiananmen Square protests in 1989, where a woman, Su Lan, gives birth to a baby girl, Liya. The novel shifts in time and perspective to give different impressions of Su Lan, a brilliant yet inscrutable physicist who immigrates to the United States when Liya is a toddler. While Su Lan, born into poverty in rural China, longs to erase her past, Liya, struggling with a sense of rootlessness, attempts to puzzle together her family history after her mother's death by travelling back to China and tracking down her mother's friends and loved ones. An introspective, character-driven novel which examines personal identity, mother-daughter relationships, the immigrant experience, and female ambition, Little Gods will appeal to fans of Ha Jin and family sagas like Anna Karenina.
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This generation-spanning debut opens at a Beijing hospital during the Tiananmen Square protests in 1989, where a woman, Su Lan, gives birth to a baby girl...Show more
This generation-spanning debut opens at a Beijing hospital during the Tiananmen Square protests in 1989, where a woman, Su Lan, gives birth to a baby girl, Liya. The novel shifts in time and perspective to give different impressions of Su Lan, a brilliant yet inscrutable physicist who immigrates to the United States when Liya is a toddler. While Su Lan, born into poverty in rural China, longs to erase her past, Liya, struggling with a sense of rootlessness, attempts to puzzle together her family history after her mother's death by travelling back to China and tracking down her mother's friends and loved ones. An introspective, character-driven novel which examines personal identity, mother-daughter relationships, the immigrant experience, and female ambition, Little Gods will appeal to fans of Ha Jin and family sagas like Anna Karenina.
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Book - 2020
Mike, a Japanese-American chef living in Houston's Third Ward, departs for Japan to visit his dying father - just as his mother Mitsuko arrives in America...Show more
Mike, a Japanese-American chef living in Houston's Third Ward, departs for Japan to visit his dying father - just as his mother Mitsuko arrives in America for a visit, which leaves his boyfriend Benson to host his mom. While both men are estranged from their families to varying degrees, this promising and unexpected situation leads to fresh insights for all the characters concerned. This passionate novel, brimming with memorable dialogue, proves Bryan Washington (author of the award-winning story collection Lot) to be an exciting new voice in fiction.
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Mike, a Japanese-American chef living in Houston's Third Ward, departs for Japan to visit his dying father - just as his mother Mitsuko arrives in America...Show more
Mike, a Japanese-American chef living in Houston's Third Ward, departs for Japan to visit his dying father - just as his mother Mitsuko arrives in America for a visit, which leaves his boyfriend Benson to host his mom. While both men are estranged from their families to varying degrees, this promising and unexpected situation leads to fresh insights for all the characters concerned. This passionate novel, brimming with memorable dialogue, proves Bryan Washington (author of the award-winning story collection Lot) to be an exciting new voice in fiction.
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Book - 2020
Set in the near future in the midst of a mass extinction event, Franny Stone is in Greenland trying to hitch a ride on a fishing boat so she can follow th...Show more
Set in the near future in the midst of a mass extinction event, Franny Stone is in Greenland trying to hitch a ride on a fishing boat so she can follow the annual migration of the last known flock of Arctic terns, three of which she has tagged. A skeptical fishing boat captain, Ennis, allows her to join his crew with the promise that her terns will lead him to fish. As the ragtag crew of Saghani make their way through the Atlantic, challenges arise both from within and outside the boat, and Franny's dark history is slowly revealed. This is a novel with real emotional depth, and McConaghy intertwines the personal grief and turmoil of Franny, as well as other characters, within this mass extinction event that has impacted their lives and livelihoods in distressing ways. The physicality and suspense of their arduous voyage and the poignancy of the characters' emotional journeys make this a standout amongst climate fiction novels.
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Set in the near future in the midst of a mass extinction event, Franny Stone is in Greenland trying to hitch a ride on a fishing boat so she can follow th...Show more
Set in the near future in the midst of a mass extinction event, Franny Stone is in Greenland trying to hitch a ride on a fishing boat so she can follow the annual migration of the last known flock of Arctic terns, three of which she has tagged. A skeptical fishing boat captain, Ennis, allows her to join his crew with the promise that her terns will lead him to fish. As the ragtag crew of Saghani make their way through the Atlantic, challenges arise both from within and outside the boat, and Franny's dark history is slowly revealed. This is a novel with real emotional depth, and McConaghy intertwines the personal grief and turmoil of Franny, as well as other characters, within this mass extinction event that has impacted their lives and livelihoods in distressing ways. The physicality and suspense of their arduous voyage and the poignancy of the characters' emotional journeys make this a standout amongst climate fiction novels.
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America's Right Turn, 1976-1980
Book - 2020
Perlstein continues his chronicle of the rise of Republicanism with this newest entry. Similar to his previous book, Nixonland, this one is rich in detail...Show more
Perlstein continues his chronicle of the rise of Republicanism with this newest entry. Similar to his previous book, Nixonland, this one is rich in detail and covers the mix of politics, religion and culture that catapulted Republicans to power for twelve years. It covers the Carter administration's attempted advances with LGBTQ, ERA, and energy issues which were stymied by Democratic party infighting and an opposing party that was developing a more unified message and cultivating religious and conservative voters. What followed was a series of political skirmishes, culminating when the American Embassy was overtaken in Iran by university students. Perlstein astutely assesses the shortcomings of both political parties and how superficial mass media coverage missed relevant questions. The failed rescue attempt of the hostages, America's continuing industrial decline and sky-rocketing inflation doomed Carter's re-election and created a theater for the nationalistic, punitive policies that followed. The book will prompt a revisit to the political figures and events mentioned for a closer look; clocking in at 1000+ pages, it promises hours of thoughtful reading and poses connections to the current day.
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Perlstein continues his chronicle of the rise of Republicanism with this newest entry. Similar to his previous book, Nixonland, this one is rich in detail...Show more
Perlstein continues his chronicle of the rise of Republicanism with this newest entry. Similar to his previous book, Nixonland, this one is rich in detail and covers the mix of politics, religion and culture that catapulted Republicans to power for twelve years. It covers the Carter administration's attempted advances with LGBTQ, ERA, and energy issues which were stymied by Democratic party infighting and an opposing party that was developing a more unified message and cultivating religious and conservative voters. What followed was a series of political skirmishes, culminating when the American Embassy was overtaken in Iran by university students. Perlstein astutely assesses the shortcomings of both political parties and how superficial mass media coverage missed relevant questions. The failed rescue attempt of the hostages, America's continuing industrial decline and sky-rocketing inflation doomed Carter's re-election and created a theater for the nationalistic, punitive policies that followed. The book will prompt a revisit to the political figures and events mentioned for a closer look; clocking in at 1000+ pages, it promises hours of thoughtful reading and poses connections to the current day.
Show less
A Novel
Book - 2020
Sad Janet is not a sad novel. Sad Janet is hilarious. After years of avoiding medication and embracing her depression, dog shelter employee Janet reluctan...Show more
Sad Janet is not a sad novel. Sad Janet is hilarious. After years of avoiding medication and embracing her depression, dog shelter employee Janet reluctantly agrees to give it a go when a new pill comes along that's marketed as being able to help make the Christmas season tolerable. With her veil of depression lifted, Janet must now come to terms with her existence. A messy look at family dynamics and the false hopes raised by Big Pharma make this an essential read in these wild times and a good bet for fans of Ottessa Moshfegh.
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Sad Janet is not a sad novel. Sad Janet is hilarious. After years of avoiding medication and embracing her depression, dog shelter employee Janet reluctan...Show more
Sad Janet is not a sad novel. Sad Janet is hilarious. After years of avoiding medication and embracing her depression, dog shelter employee Janet reluctantly agrees to give it a go when a new pill comes along that's marketed as being able to help make the Christmas season tolerable. With her veil of depression lifted, Janet must now come to terms with her existence. A messy look at family dynamics and the false hopes raised by Big Pharma make this an essential read in these wild times and a good bet for fans of Ottessa Moshfegh.
Show less
Paperback - 2020
The Secret Lives of Church Ladies is exactly that: a window into the lives of women who, even if they don't attend, are intimately connected to the Black ...Show more
The Secret Lives of Church Ladies is exactly that: a window into the lives of women who, even if they don't attend, are intimately connected to the Black church and other forms of worship. This may be through infidelity, or friendship, or coming of age. A few of the characters question the church's stance on same-sex relationships. Though the book is slim, each story in the collection is engaging and intimate in its own way, with protagonists that stay with the reader long after the book has been closed. One story, in particular, connects peach cobbler to a mother's love in a way that makes sure you will never think about the dessert in the same way again. Recommended for fans of Britt Bennett's The Mothers and Nafissa Thompson-Spires' Heads of the Colored People.
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The Secret Lives of Church Ladies is exactly that: a window into the lives of women who, even if they don't attend, are intimately connected to the Black ...Show more
The Secret Lives of Church Ladies is exactly that: a window into the lives of women who, even if they don't attend, are intimately connected to the Black church and other forms of worship. This may be through infidelity, or friendship, or coming of age. A few of the characters question the church's stance on same-sex relationships. Though the book is slim, each story in the collection is engaging and intimate in its own way, with protagonists that stay with the reader long after the book has been closed. One story, in particular, connects peach cobbler to a mother's love in a way that makes sure you will never think about the dessert in the same way again. Recommended for fans of Britt Bennett's The Mothers and Nafissa Thompson-Spires' Heads of the Colored People.
Show less
A Novel
by Dade, Olivia
Paperback - 2020
Marcus is the gorgeous star of the mega fantasy TV show Gods of the Gates (GOTG). April is a plus-size geologist and number one fan of the show. Unbeknow...Show more
Marcus is the gorgeous star of the mega fantasy TV show Gods of the Gates (GOTG). April is a plus-size geologist and number one fan of the show. Unbeknownst to them both, they've been communicating for years on an online forum dedicated to GOTG. When a social media post of April in cosplay subjects her to body-shaming, Marcus steps in and asks her out on a date. Will this lead to a genuine relationship, or is it just a publicity stunt? Is there more to Marcus than a pretty face? Will April and Marcus find out about their secret online alter egos? Dade has penned a smart, sexy and heartwarming ode to fandoms while also managing to take on very real issues of body image, toxic families, learning disabilities, and the challenges of living up to the expectations of others. For fans of contemporary romantic comedies and books featuring social media and body positivity and specifically for fans of novels such as Hibbert's Take a Hint Dani Brown, Stayman-London's One to Watch, and Rai's Girl Gone Viral.
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Marcus is the gorgeous star of the mega fantasy TV show Gods of the Gates (GOTG). April is a plus-size geologist and number one fan of the show. Unbeknow...Show more
Marcus is the gorgeous star of the mega fantasy TV show Gods of the Gates (GOTG). April is a plus-size geologist and number one fan of the show. Unbeknownst to them both, they've been communicating for years on an online forum dedicated to GOTG. When a social media post of April in cosplay subjects her to body-shaming, Marcus steps in and asks her out on a date. Will this lead to a genuine relationship, or is it just a publicity stunt? Is there more to Marcus than a pretty face? Will April and Marcus find out about their secret online alter egos? Dade has penned a smart, sexy and heartwarming ode to fandoms while also managing to take on very real issues of body image, toxic families, learning disabilities, and the challenges of living up to the expectations of others. For fans of contemporary romantic comedies and books featuring social media and body positivity and specifically for fans of novels such as Hibbert's Take a Hint Dani Brown, Stayman-London's One to Watch, and Rai's Girl Gone Viral.
Show less
A Novel
Paperback - 2020
One of the most criminally underrated American novelists, Everett returns with his 31st novel. Zach Wells, a grieving professor, finds a cry for help in a...Show more
One of the most criminally underrated American novelists, Everett returns with his 31st novel. Zach Wells, a grieving professor, finds a cry for help in a jacket purchased on Ebay. Wells embarks on a rescue mission that involves slavery, small town politics, Nazis, and a few helpful townies. Everett packs a wallop without being obvious or overtly political. Fans of Ishmael Reed, Gayl Jones, and Nella Larson will enjoy Percival Everett's incredible latest.
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One of the most criminally underrated American novelists, Everett returns with his 31st novel. Zach Wells, a grieving professor, finds a cry for help in a...Show more
One of the most criminally underrated American novelists, Everett returns with his 31st novel. Zach Wells, a grieving professor, finds a cry for help in a jacket purchased on Ebay. Wells embarks on a rescue mission that involves slavery, small town politics, Nazis, and a few helpful townies. Everett packs a wallop without being obvious or overtly political. Fans of Ishmael Reed, Gayl Jones, and Nella Larson will enjoy Percival Everett's incredible latest.
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Book - 2020
The first book in a trilogy, Tower of Fools is set in 15th century medieval Eastern Europe. Reinmar of Bielawa, or Reynevan, is caught by the Stercza brot...Show more
The first book in a trilogy, Tower of Fools is set in 15th century medieval Eastern Europe. Reinmar of Bielawa, or Reynevan, is caught by the Stercza brothers making love to one of their wives. As he flees the brothers, rumors of his witchcraft reach the Holy Inquisition and soon he is a wanted man. He is joined on his journey by Scharley, a penitent out on parole, and Samson Honey-Eater, an otherworldly being accidentally summoned by Reynevan during a fake exorcism. Meanwhile, a shapeshifter called the Wallcreeper is up to something nefarious and Reynevan's poor choices in love lead him closer to imprisonment in the Nurrenturm, or the Tower of Fools. Full of dry humor and rich details, this historical fantasy is a good fit for fans of Game of Thrones and Sapkowski's other series, The Witcher. The Tower of Fools promises more monsters, heretics, and bloody crusades in the books to come.
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The first book in a trilogy, Tower of Fools is set in 15th century medieval Eastern Europe. Reinmar of Bielawa, or Reynevan, is caught by the Stercza brot...Show more
The first book in a trilogy, Tower of Fools is set in 15th century medieval Eastern Europe. Reinmar of Bielawa, or Reynevan, is caught by the Stercza brothers making love to one of their wives. As he flees the brothers, rumors of his witchcraft reach the Holy Inquisition and soon he is a wanted man. He is joined on his journey by Scharley, a penitent out on parole, and Samson Honey-Eater, an otherworldly being accidentally summoned by Reynevan during a fake exorcism. Meanwhile, a shapeshifter called the Wallcreeper is up to something nefarious and Reynevan's poor choices in love lead him closer to imprisonment in the Nurrenturm, or the Tower of Fools. Full of dry humor and rich details, this historical fantasy is a good fit for fans of Game of Thrones and Sapkowski's other series, The Witcher. The Tower of Fools promises more monsters, heretics, and bloody crusades in the books to come.
Show less
