Sociopath: A Memoir by Patric Gagne

Title: Sociopath: A Memoir
Author: Patric Gagne
Genre: Memoir; Nonfiction

The author suspected she was a sociopath at an early age and received confirmation in early adulthood. This is a fascinating story about what sociopathy is, not what we've been told it is through fiction and film. Patric Gagne explains that she experiences feelings differently from most people, and some feelings are harder to access. She describes her condition as a sort of emotional learning disability. Frustrated at the lack of resources for people like her, she decides to get her PhD in psychology and focus on sociopathy with the goal of better understanding herself and helping others like her. Along with her mental health journey, she reflects on her friendships, romantic relationships and work as a manager in the music business in Los Angeles.

- Sarah

Check out Sociopath: A Memoir by Patric Gagne @ the library!

Coup de Grâce by Sofia Ajram

Title: Coup de Grâce
Author: Sofia Ajram
Genre: Gothic; Horror

Lonely traveler Vicken boards the subway planing to take his own life by jumping into the St. Lawrence River. Arriving at the stop he quickly discovers he's stuck. The subway station has become an endless maze of rooms and hallways. He's forced to confront as much physical danger as his mental demons. It's hard to say exactly which is worse for him, although for the reader the introspection may be more than some can bear. 

The book may or may not end happily (if it ends at all), thanks to some non-traditional structure. The book gives a small nod to the eccentric style of House of Leaves. It is a truly unique and beautiful read if you're in the correct space to do so.

- Kate

Check out Coup de Grâce by Sofia Ajram @ the library!

The Sequel by Jean Hanff Korelitz

Title: The Sequel
Author: Jean Hanff Korelitz
Genre: Mystery; Fiction; Audiobook

The antiheroine of The Plot returns for The Sequel. This time she is the writer who's borrowing material from her life for her work and who's receiving taunting messages suggesting someone knows the parts of her past she wants to remain hidden. But Anna is a formidable foe who intends to dig out the person responsible—maybe literally. Great fun if you're willing to suspend belief on the journey this story takes you. Plus, Julia Whelan narrates the audiobook, and she's spectacular.

- Sarah

Check out The Sequel by Jean Hanff Korelitz @ the library!

Open Throat by Henry Hoke

Title: Open Throat 
Author: Henry Hoke
Genre: Contemporary; Queer

Open Throat is an odd, bittersweet little novella told from the point of view of a mountain lion. The big cat lives in "ellay" not too far from the Hollywood sign actually. It routinely watches hikers, dog walkers, and keeps a protective eye on a homeless encampment. The cat, who goes unnamed for most of the novel struggles with human culture and it's own identity, and just exactly where it belongs (literally and figuratively). When tragedy strikes the homeless encampment, and the cat forms a friendship with a teenage girl it is able to put it's existence in perspective.

- Kate

Check out Open Throat by Henry Hoke @ the library!

Good Inside by Dr. Becky Kennedy

Title: Good Inside: A Guide to Becoming the Parent You Want to Be
Author: Rebecca Kennedy
Genre: Non-fiction

Parenting can feel impossible at times. It can be difficult to mold together what you’ve experienced from your own parents and the new strategies you’ve picked up along the way. Viral parenting expert and psychologist, Dr. Becky Kennedy, has written a guide to assist in those frustrating moments when you think nothing you do will change your child’s behavior. She explores how parenting starts with you and not your child. Some of the approaches Dr. Becky details may seem counterintuitive but have returned great results. She addresses situations like sibling rivalry, statements of hate, not listening, and refusal to follow directions, among many others. Good Inside will allow every parent at any stage of parenting to walk away with a clearer vision of how to reach their child.

- Tiffany

Check out Good Inside by Rebecca Kennedy @ the library!

The Wedding People by Alison Espach

Title: The Wedding People
Author: Alison Espach
Genre: Fiction

Phoebe is having a rough time. Her husband left her for a colleague, and they all still teach at the same college. Then her cat dies. So she heads to a beautiful hotel on the Rhode Island coast determined to end it all. Instead, she meets a bride-to-be who ropes her into becoming one of the wedding party. And she meets a guy she has an instant connection with ... who turns out to be the groom. Funny and poignant, this story is one of my favorite reads of the year. If you like audiobooks, be sure to listen to this one!

- Sarah

Check out The Wedding People by Alison Espach @ the library!

This Wretched Valley by Jenny Kiefer

Title: This Wretched Valley
Author: Jenny Kiefer
Genre: Horror; Thriller

The general plot is simple enough, a group of friends goes out to document and climb a previously un-mapped rock face in rural Kentucky. The author herself rock climbs as a hobby but the reader needs no climbing knowledge to enjoy. She never slows the story down explaining too much or looses focus on the action.

Things begin to go wrong for the group even before they set up camp. It's no spoiler that they don't make it out of the woods alive, the story is just how their bodies wound up in such strange conditions.

The woods and it's ghosts are hungry and Kiefer spares not a single vivid, gory, detail in her writing. It's both beautiful and completely disgusting. This novel is not at all for the weak of stomach.

Anything more would spoil the fun, there are plenty of surprises to keep horror fans on their toes.

- Kate

Check out This Wretched Valley by Jenny Kiefer @ the library!