The Mars Room by Rachel Kushner

Title: The Mars Room
Author: Rachel Kushner

Genre: Fiction

This book was shortlisted for the 2018 Booker Prize for Fiction. It is a gritty, unflinching look at a young stripper, Romy Hall, who is staring down two life sentences at California's Stanville Women's Correctional Facility. 

It not only follows her story, but those of key players in her journey so it doesn't just flow from one point of view. These others are like tributaries who influence and impact Romy's life at different times.

As different as the characters' lives are from my own, I found them compelling. The author provides the audiobook narration and she imbues Romy with a resigned sort of deadpan voice that perfectly exemplifies how world-weary the protagonist is and yet there's a hint of a wistful philosopher to her that gives her more dimension. 

I would recommend this book to those who like Orange Is the New Black or dramas like Netflix's Jailbirds. 

- Sarah R.

Check out The Mars Room @ the library.

The Tattooist of Auschwitz by Heather Morris

Title: The Tattooist of Auschwitz
Author: Heather Morris

Genre: Historical Fiction, Biographical Fiction

The Tattooist of Auschwitz tells the story of Lale, a prisoner in Auschwitz during World War II who managed to work his way to the more "privileged" position of Tätowierer (tattoo artist) - seemingly against the odds. He falls in love with a fellow prisoner, Gita, one of the first women he had to tattoo with a prisoner ID number. During their time at the camp, they find a way to maintain their romantic relationship amidst the suffering, loss, and hardships they had to endure. Their story shows the power of love and perseverance during times of extreme adversity. 

Please note: This is a fictionalized story based on a real couple's relationship during World War II. "Fictionalized" and "based" are the key words here, as there is some controversy surrounding some of the factual details recorded in the book. I'd recommend reading the book and then checking out this article, along with conducting some of your own research, to decide for yourself what you think about the changes that were made.

- Sarah P.

Check out The Tattooist of Auschwitz @ the library.

The Poet X by Elizabeth Acevedo

Title: The Poet X
Author: Elizabeth Acevedo

Genre: Poetry, Young Adult

This book was suggested to me by a patron - sometimes readers' advisory works the other direction as well. 

It is about a young poet named Xiomara Batista who lives in Harlem. Her story is told through her poems. You can feel her joy, her angst, her frustration as she deals with body image issues, religious quandaries, familial pressures, and the throes of first love. It is raw slam poetry, brutal in its honesty and yet beautifully lyrical.

I would highly recommend listening to this as an audiobook to enjoy the author's  delivery. 

- Sarah R.

Check out The Poet X @ the library.

Carnegie's Maid by Marie Benedict

Title: Carnegie's Maid

Author: Marie Benedict

Genre: Historical Fiction, Biographical Fiction

Imagine that you are newly arrived ashore from Ireland and its grim poverty, and someone calls out your name as if they have been expecting you for a custom-made job... Would you take the bait even if you were not the person they were expecting? Young Clara Kelley does answer and is quickly whisked away to Pennsylvania. She has to quickly pretend that she knows how to be a ladies maid, and not only that, a good one for the exacting Mrs. Carnegie, mother of the self-made steel magnate, Andrew Carnegie. The deception seems to be working until Mr. Carnegie develops feelings for Clara Kelley. What will her fate be when the high-society world into which she has moved finds out about who she really is?

- Elizabeth

Check out Carnegie's Maid @ the library.