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.

Lessons from Lucy: The Simple Joys of an Old, Happy Dog by Dave Barry

Title: Lessons from Lucy: The Simple Joys of an Old, Happy Dog

Author: Dave Barry

Genre: Humor, Self-Help

If you're looking for a light-hearted*, but enjoyable read, this is your book. With Dave Barry's consummate panache he is able to marry laughs and lessons in this book about being more like his dog. With topics like being in the moment and letting things go, it is full of good reminders for us - though easier said than done (at least for me). 

*If all you want is the lighter, feel-good bits, don't read the last chapter to his book about his daughter's run in with transverse myelitis. That will make you cry - especially if you've borrowed the audio book and can hear him choking up as he tells the story about his daughter woke up paralyzed one day. It is well done, but nothing to laugh about.

- Sarah R.

Check out Lessons from Lucy: The Simple Joys of an Old, Happy Dog @ the library.

Dirt Candy: A Cookbook by Amanda Cohen and Ryan Dunlavey

Title: Dirt Candy: A Cookbook

Author: Amanda Cohen and Ryan Dunlavey

Genre: Graphic Novel, Cookbook, Memoir

Dirt Candy is kind of a unique book. It is a graphic novel which tells the story of Amanda Cohen opening her NYC restaurant Dirt Candy. Dirt Candy is a restaurant which specializes in vegetables. They don't particularly identify as a "vegetarian" restaurant; their goal is to elevate vegetables and influence people to add more of them to their diets. This graphic novel combines small comic vignettes with recipes from the kitchen of Dirt Candy. Many of the comics are related to the life of the restaurant owner and people who work in restaurants. It is also part memoir. Dirt Candy is a short read but has lots of interesting recipes that may turn you on to inviting more vegetables into your life!

- Jamie

Check out Dirt Candy: A Cookbook @ the library.

99 Percent Mine by Sally Thorne

Title: 99 Percent Mine

Author: Sally Thorne

Genre: Romance

This fun, flirty book is about Darcy Barrett, a strong woman with a weak heart. She is half of a set of fraternal twins and Darcy is currently on the outs with her much beloved brother, Jamie. They're fighting over the wreck of a house that their grandmother left them as their inheritance. Enter Tom Valeska. Tom lived across the street growing up and was practically adopted by Jamie and Darcy's family. Tom now renovates homes and has offered to put his skills to work for the Barretts in his first job as the boss of his own company. As old feelings between Tom and Darcy are rehabbed, will their feelings demolish their friendship, or give them something to build upon? 

This book does have swears and hot bits, so despite Darcy's condition, it's not for the faint of heart.

- Sarah R.

Check out 99 Percent Mine @ the library.