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Katherine O’Dell is one of Ireland’s most famous actresses but her secret is that she’s not really Irish. Katherine’s career, decline and other secrets are examined by her only daughter, Norah, in this entertaining novel by Man Booker Prize winner Anne Enright, whose prose is sharp, merciless and at times laugh out loud funny.
Richard, Breakwater Books
For anyone interested in the theater, Michael Reidel’s juicy follow up to Razzle Dazzle: The Battle for Broadway is a must read. Singular Sensation takes readers on a backstage tour of the Broadway hits of the 90s such as Rent, Sunset Boulevard, The Producers, Chicago, The Lion King and Angels in America and ends with the triumphant return of Broadway after the attacks of September 11, 2001.
Richard, Breakwater Books
Sharks in the Time of Saviors is an impressive debut novel about belief and disillusion. In the mid 90s, a Hawaiian family believes that their middle son is destined for a greater purpose when he is saved by sharks after falling into the ocean. From that stunning opening, the disarmingly lyrical writing propels a story filled with sadness, rage and redemption on the mainland and in Hawaii, where Nainoa’s family have struggled for generations to survive.
In this novel, Gwen’s family are Surplus and forced to live on water, like all the other people of color. Gwen’s talent as a baseball pitcher takes her to the Netted exclusive university and eventually to play against ChinRussia in the Olympics, all while her mother, Eleanor, battles the injustices of authoritarian AutoAmerica in court. The Believers is an exciting mixture of dystopian science fiction, underdog tale and coming of age story, told with a light touch, humor and heart.
Richard, Breakwater Books
Willis Wu has played Generic Asian Man and Background Oriental Making Weird Face on the procedural cop show Black and White but he aspires to play Kung Fu Guy, the pinnacle for any Asian male. Written in the form of a script and set in a Chinese restaurant, this humorous novel lampoons Asian stereotypes and Hollywood clichés while telling a heartfelt family story about the immigrant experience. When Willis realizes that his dream role may not be all it’s cracked up to be, it forces him to begin exploring the world outside of Interior Chinatown.
Richard, Breakwater Books
A giant taxidermied aardvark connects the story of millennial Republican congressman Alexander Paine Wilson, who is not gay but sleeping with Greg Tampico, and Titus Downing who stuffed the aardvark for his married lover, the naturalist Richard Ostlet in Victorian era England. Surprising and hilarious, the novel is a satire, love story, cautionary tale and ghost story that will provide a welcome distraction in these stressful times.
Richard, Breakwater Books
This memoir from chef David Chang chronicles his upbringing as the son of devout Christian Korean American immigrants, the humble beginnings of Momofuku Noodle Bar to the restaurant empire that it spawned and Chang’s struggles with mental health. Written with honesty and humor, Chang doesn’t hold back on the four letter words while providing a behind the scenes tour through the world of his restaurants and unconventional life and opinions.
Richard, Breakwater Books
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In this gritty and slightly surreal tale of female determination, fourteen-year-old Lacy May’s alcoholic mother is exiled from the church and runs away with a stranger. The congregation and Laccy May believe that Pastor Vern’s guidance will bring rain to their town plagued by drought. Instead, Lacy May’s obedience produces unwanted results and she enlists the only women she knows outside the church to help her find her mother.
Richard, Breakwater Books
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Set ten years after the Mayflower pilgrims arrived in Plymouth Colony, this novel tells the story of a murder and subsequent trial principally through the voices of Alice Bradford, second wife of the governor of the colony, and Eleanor Billington, wife of fellow indentured servant John Billington. With sly humor, the story suspensefully exposes the underbelly of the colony and the conflicting motivations of the Puritans and the colonists under their control.
Richard, Breakwater Books
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This account of the civil war waged in 19th century France by duchesse de Berry to regain the throne for her eleven year old son, the heir to the Bourbon dynasty, manages to be both a page turner and an insightful historical analysis. Filled with intrigue and cross-dressing, it documents her betrayal by a confidant, the son of the chief rabbi of France, which sparks a wave of antisemitism that lasted decades.
Richard, Breakwater Books
From the description of this book, I anticipated a familiar glance into the world of East Coast wealth and privilege. What I found instead was a riches to rags journey into the heart and mind of a young man coming to terms with his own identity while at the same time holding it all together for himself and his brothers in the center of his mother’s unraveling. Written with wit, humor, clarity and shameless self reflection, Filthy Beasts stayed with me for days after I put it down. Mr. Hamill is a gifted storyteller. You will want to hear from him again.
Paul, Breakwater Books
Exhalation by Ted Chiang
Exhalation is a collection of nine science fiction stories. The stories deal with heady subjects including a time portal through which various characters can visit the past but not change it told in the style of the Arabian Nights, a sentient being performing a live dissection of the inner workings of his own brain, the raising and training of digitally created beings, a scientist disproving young earth creationism and a tale derived from quantum mechanics where a scam is perpetrated through communication with parallel selves in alternate versions of the universe. While the stories take some concentration and dedication, perseverance is rewarded in the end. Each one is an inspiring work of storytelling, intellect and imagination.
Richard,
Breakwater Books
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The Glass Hotel by Emily St. John Mandel
The glass hotel in this novel is the Hotel Caitte, built on a small island off the north coast of Vancouver Island. It is only accessible by boat and is a luxury hotel owned by Jonathan Alkatis who works in finance. This hotel is not so much the focus of the book as the center point where the characters paths cross and chance meetings are made that will affect all their futures. Jonathan becomes involved with Vincent (a woman) who leaves the hotel to start a new life with him. You'll discover that Jonathan's financial empire is built on a Ponzi scheme whose collapse will affect multiple characters in this story. The narratives skip forwards and backwards. It is a very inventive and mesmerizing novel.
Sue, Breakwater Books
Lakshmi is only 17 years old when she turns her back on an abusive arranged marriage and escapes to Jaipur. There she establishes a new independent life as a henna artist for the aristocratic ladies of the pink city. Well established and with a house of her very own near completion, Lakshmi’s past finds her when the abandoned husband turns up unexpectedly, along with her 13 year old sister whom she did not know existed. An inspiring read and a reminder of the value that lies within.
Paul, Breakwater Books
Little Fires Everywhere by Celeste Ng
With its recent run in the streaming world, this book is rightfully enjoying a second surge in popularity. The story takes place in Shaker Heights, a well to do planned community outside of Cleveland in the late 90's. It's a beautifully crafted story of two families, with very different lifestyles, whose lives become intertwined for a few months. The author uses the characters to explore different kinds of mothers and the choices they make. She also explores some aspects of what it was to be Asian in this community. The book has the winning combination of a story lines that grab you from the beginning, interesting characters that I cared about and beautiful writing. I found the book impossible to put down once I started it.
Jen, Breakwater Books
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Still Here: The Madcap, Nervy, Singular Life of Elaine Stritch by Alexandra Jacobs
Still Here chronicles the singular life of the Broadway actress and singer Elaine Stritch, from her Catholic upbringing in Detroit, Michigan through her triumphant, award winning one-woman show, Elaine Stritch at Liberty. In between, Stritch goes on a date with drama school classmate Marlon Brando, understudies Ethel Merman in Call Me Madam and brings the house down as Joanne in Company, singing the Stephen Sondheim classic, The Ladies Who Lunch, all the while carousing her way through the bars of Manhattan. While the mere facts of her life would be entertaining for any theater aficionado, Jacobs sensitively explores the complexities of Stritch’s insecurities with the opposite sex, her savage wit, her perfectionism as an actress and her alcoholism.
Richard,
Breakwater Books
Lab Girl, by Hope Jahren
Hope Jahren’s father taught physics and earth science for forty-two years. The laboratory he worked in was her childhood playground. Hope knew from a very young age and with unwavering certainty that she would grow up to become a scientist. And so she did. A geochemist and geobiologist to be precise. She’s made a career out of her endless fascination with things that grow from the ground and with the ground itself. With this engrossing memoir you will be fascinated with the science as well, told with respect and reverence for the study but with simplicity and the familiarity of an old friend reciting a brownie recipe. In and among these extraordinary revelations is her story of perseverance and success in a vocation primarily populated with men and her lifetime friendship with her inimitable lab partner. You’ll like her and you’ll root for her, and you will never look at a tree the same way again.
Paul,
Breakwater Books
Email or call for price.
Email or call for price.
Redhead by the Side of the Road by Anne Tyler
Once again, Anne Tyler takes us back to her beloved Baltimore with a story about Micah Mortimer. Micah is a likable oddball who lives rent free in the basement apartment of a small building in exchange for being its super. He is a very organized 43 year old geek who also runs a one man on-call tech help service called "Tech Hermit". We follow Micah as he goes about his orderly life and suddenly someone messes with his routines - actually two upsets: his girlfriend is threatened with eviction from her apartment and a young man shows up claiming that Micah is his father. These upsets will cause him to re-evaluate himself and his life. This is a heartwarming story filled with humor and compassion. Anne Tyler is my favorite author and she never disappoints.
Sue, Breakwater Books
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Everything is Fine is a searing memoir by the oldest son of a family devastated by tragedy and mental illness. This horrific event shocked a nearby town several years ago. The heartbreaking struggles of the family to deal with not only loss, but the fact it came at the hands of a family member are compelling. Mr. Granata's pain and efforts to move forward are aided by his deep empathy. His determination to understand the illness of his brother and help his family through will touch the reader of this powerful story.
Ginger, Breakwater Books
Margery Benson has always been obsessed with beetles-particularly the golden beetle. She finds herself in a kind of mid-life crisis and abandons her job and decides to lead an expedition to New Caledonia to find the elusive golden beetle. Needing an assistant she reluctantly picks Enid Pretty to accompany her. These two wildly different women have their own particular reason for leaving the country but ultimately an unlikely friendship will unfold. As they embark on their unconventional journey, they will endure many hardships and dangers along the way. This is a touching story of the joy of self discovery and friendship.
Sue, Breakwater Books
A group of families rent a sprawling lakeside mansion for the summer. Contemptuous of their parents’ behavior, the children increasingly separate themselves. After a severe storm descends, the children strike out on their own into the chaotic outer world. This prescient, wry and beautifully written novel captures the terror of living in a world gone amok.
Richard, Breakwater Books
The fascinating Australian outback is the settling of this dramatically atmospheric novel by Australian author Jane Harper. The three Elliot brothers have chosen to make their lives in the difficult outback area where they were raised. All three know the challenging, life-threatening conditions the outback presents. They also know how to live there and how to protect themselves from the elements. Why then would Cameron, middle son, head of the family cattle operation, husband and father, wander dangerously far from his well stocked vehicle only to die alone at the grave of an outback legend? This book is truly a Page Turner with strong characters and an absorbing plot.
Ginger, Breakwater Books
While books about inventions such as the telegraph, silicon chip, and photography are common enough, Ramirez explores these creations in delightfully unique ways. As a materials scientist, she helps us understand the substances at the root of these creations and why they mattered. As a woman with an insightful view of people and history, she illuminates the motivations of the inventors and the surprising impact their creations they have had on society, from the night sky to the apartheid regime of South Africa to the very way human minds think and learn.
Drew, Breakwater Books
Alice Wright marries American Bennet Van Cleve in order to escape her life in England and sails for America. She finds herself living in a coal-mining town during the Depression in Kentucky. Alice joins the Horseback Librarians of America which was a real life program started by Eleanor Roosevelt. These women librarians faced many dangers in delivering books to poor families in the mountains of Kentucky. Alice forms a close relationship with the librarians and the information and knowledge they share begins to inspire change. The men who control the mines and the town seek to close the library. If you enjoy historical fiction, this would be a good choice.
Sue at Breakwater Books
The perfect antidote to gray winter days, The Big Book of Blooms is a children's book bursting with color, captivating illustrations and fun flower facts. The pages push all the right buttons for both budding and more experienced gardeners longing for sunnier days. A joy to page through and find the hidden treasures.
Jen, Breakwater Books
This vivid story transports the reader to experience Guilford in April 1765 as a young African American girl. In a mysterious flash, Sarah is transported from her 21st century home appearing on the Guilford Green. She is then taken in by the progressive for their time Reverend Ruggles and his wife. Despite their attempts to help her fit in, Sarah's frustration with the obedience required leads her to take her chances alone disguised as a boy. She meets Samuel Adams and gets a live history lesson attending a meeting of the Sons of Liberty in New Haven. This book is appropriate for any student reading longer chapter books. The rich characters and scene descriptions keep the story moving.
Jen, Breakwater Books
In 2016 the author spent a year on Tangier Island, a 1.3 square mile island located in the Chesapeake Bay. Because of the long history of isolation from the mainland, the residents, known as watermen, have developed unique traditions, accents and words. The book details the daily challenges of the watermen and their families to maintain their way of life. Tangier may follow the fate of smaller islands nearby which have virtually disappeared due to rising sea levels. Tangier has been losing about 15 feet of land a year, making its future uncertain at best.
Jen, Breakwater Books
This 2016 book 2016 has recently been released as a Netflix movie. Set in 1870, Captain Kidd is a Civil War veteran who earns money reading newspapers aloud in different towns. He accepts a job to transport a ten year old girl across Texas to be reunited with her German relatives. Four years earlier, the blue eyed girl was captured and adopted by the Kiowa tribe after they viciously murdered her parents. The story is about their journey together as they bridge the gap of language and culture, building trust in each other and avoiding the dangers of traveling in lawless Texas country. The story sparks thoughts about children captured by Native tribes and challenges stereotypes of savages, cowboys and soldiers.
Jen, Breakwater Books
A worthy follow up to the "The Dry", Jane Harper creates a strong sense of place which adds much to this mystery. Five female colleagues embark on a corporate wilderness retreat in the bushlands of Australia. They will end up lost and only four will make it back. Federal Agent Aaron Falk returns to investigate what happened to Alice Russell, the woman who is missing. It turns out Agent Falk has a connection to Alice. She is a whistleblower on a money laundering case he is working on. Is Alice's disappearance involved with his case or is it something else entirely? You'll have to read it to find out.
Sue, Breakwater Books
Duchess Goldblatt is the renowned eighty-one-year-old author of the heartwarming mother daughter memoir Not If I Kill You First and a Twitter sensation known for her razor-sharp wit and love for all humanity. Becoming Duchess Goldblatt is the story of the creation of this hilarious fictional character and the moving autobiography of the Duchess’s anonymous creator. Read it and weep rascals!
Richard, Breakwater Books
This international feminist bestseller ignited controversy in South Korea when it was first published. The novel chronicles the life of a young woman from infancy to her psychotic break after the birth of her first child. While details of her life appear fairly mundane, their cumulative effect exposes the nightmare of being a woman in a misogynist society, a fascinating and frightening read.
Richard, Breakwater Books
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City of Secrets by Stewart O'Nan
This is the story of an illegal refugee, Brand. As a holocaust survivor, he has lost his wife and his family to the Nazis. He spent time in both German and Russian concentration camps and suffers survival guilt. As he tries to find a place for himself after the war, he accepts a new identity and goes to Jerusalem to join the Jewish underground resistance there. Brand becomes associated with the Irgun and is given a job as a taxi driver. He will eventually become very involved in carrying out dangerous missions. This is a interesting twist about the aftermath and what happened to holocaust survivors. The novel is based partly on actual historic events that took place mainly in 1946 in Palestine.
Sue, Breakwater Books
Doug Tallamy an entomologist from University of Delaware has been educating readers on the value of replacing non-native vegetation in our yards with natives. In his other excellent books, Bringing Nature Home and Nature's Best Hope, the main message is that we can use our backyards to promote native plants, shrubs and trees, particularly oaks, which increase native insects and butterflies which in turn benefit songbirds. In essence, by careful and thoughtful planting, we can each create our own small sanctuaries which will create healthy and sustainable ecosystems. Every yard matters. In The Nature of Oaks Doug connects the relationships between the oaks which host the highest number of insects needed by songbirds to complete migration and reproduction. This is why local birders look to the oaks in May for the warblers foraging for insects during migration. I have enjoyed creating my own backyard sanctuary under his guidance, connecting the towering oaks, poplars and birches with an understory of native shrubs, perennials and ferns. I already see more diversity in songbirds and butterfly visitors. It is astonishing how little you need to do to make a big difference.
Jen, Breakwater Books
Filled with many exciting twists and turns, twin sisters Ruth Macallister and Iris Digby are each swept up into the world of counterintelligence at the beginning of the Cold War. The FBI and the KGB knock heads in this inside look into the Cambridge Five spy ring. Ruth must risk her comfortable, but hard-earned life in America to rescue her sister, Iris, who defected to Moscow years earlier with her husband. Armed with their wits and their wills, each sister must face great danger and conflict, internal and external, to reach one another and keep their families safe.
Ariah, Breakwater Books
As our country deals with the opioid crisis that has ravaged so many lives, Patrick Radden Keefe, author of Say Nothing, has offered the shocking details of its origins. He reveals the backgrounds of the Sackler brothers and the establishment of Purdue Pharma right in our backyard of Stamford. The reader will learn of the shortcuts, denials, and hard sell tactics that led to so many patients and doctors to believe in the safety of a powerful, addictive, painkiller.
Ginger, Breakwater Books
Few authors match the imagination of Jess Kidd. Her quirky characters are unforgettable. In Himself, a young man arrives in a small Irish village seeking his identity. Although he is a stranger to many, some immediately realize who he is and competing efforts are launched to either help or hinder his mission. Kidd's characers take the reader on a ride between tears and laughter, often in the same sentence.
Ginger, Breakwater Books
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A finalist for the Booker Prize, this beautifully written, debut novel tells the story of Wallace, a black gay biochemistry graduate student questioning his future at an unnamed Midwestern university, with impressive emotional delicacy. Set over a single weekend, confrontations with several of his white colleagues and a sexual encounter with an ostensibly straight friend force Wallace to drop his guard and examine his turbulent past.
Richard, Breakwater Books