The 19th Wife: A Novel by David Ebershoff. I really enjoyed this story. The book details the origin of the Church of Latter Day Saints, plural marriage and the abolishment of plural marriage by the church and the role of Ann Eliza Young. There are two stories, one playing out in the 18 hundreds and a contemporary story. Even more timely with Mitt Romney as the Rep. presidential candidate.” Another contributor writes: “A riveting novel based on the real life ‘19th wife’ of Brigham Young and her break from her husband and her faith. It goes back and forth with a contemporary polygamist in Utah and it is hard to put down.”
Angle of Repose (Penguin Twentieth-Century Classics) by Wallace Stegner. One of our contributors reminded me of this gem, saying “I'm not sure why a book set mostly in mining towns in the West during 1880s appealed to me, but it did. It is the best book I've read!” Crossing to Safety, also by Stegner, has appeared on our list previously, one of my all-time favorites, and I think a good "beach classic."
The Book Thief by Markus Zusak. “A quick read, but a very intense story about the 2nd world war. Told from the point of view of death.”
The Broad Highway by Jeffrey Farnol. So old it’s FREE (on Kindle, at least - it's pre-copyright). This book was a runaway bestseller in its day. It was written in the early 20th century but takes place in regency England (early 1800s). A young gentleman finds he has not, as he'd expected, been left money by a wealthy relative. He embarks on a walking tour through England, seeking to make his way in the world. This despite his being a gentleman and a scholar (a breed not really meant for work back then). He has entertaining, implausible adventure after entertaining implausible adventure. Love and kissing and duels and fights galore. Themes of honor and great old fashioned stuff. And did I mention it’s free?
Caleb's Crossing
by Geraldine Brooks. This was
nearly a top pick last year and is still getting mentioned. “Another great story by Ms. Brooks. She
always gives good historical fiction -- this time American Indians, Martha's
Vineyard and Harvard.”
Cutting for Stone by Abraham Verghese. This was
a top pick (in 2010, I think). It's still a huge seller and still getting votes from our contributors. “A
story that weaves rich characters from Ethiopia, India, England and the U.S. --
with a complicated story of twin boys adopted by two doctors after their mother
(a nurse and nun!) dies in childbirth.”
Deenie by Judy Blume. “Yes, I went back and
started re-reading some of the books from middle school, just to see if they
held up. I know I'm not the only one out
there who wanted a back brace because Deenie had one. I can tell I've matured because I no longer
want to have scoliosis... However, I now want to go re-read every Judy Blume
book. Sigh...”
The Elegance of the Hedgehog
by Muriel Barbury. This was a top
pick a couple of years ago that continues to get mentioned. Lots of great discussion of philosophy interwoven, which (if you are on a beach and can't muster the energy) you can skim.
The Grapes of Wrath
by John Steinbeck. This often appears on people's favorite reread lists. A contributor writes, “There's a reason it’s a classic. I read it last summer and was blown away (pardon the dust bowl pun).”
The Gravedigger's Daughter (P.S.) by Joyce Carol Oates. “Almost anything by JCO is outstanding, this novel included. Great story-- vivid imagery.” (Ed: I agree about Joyce Carol Oates. I’ve previously mentioned We Were the Mulvaneys as a great beach read. And her others, too. I don’t know why, but I feel like she gets short shrift.)
The Gravedigger's Daughter (P.S.) by Joyce Carol Oates. “Almost anything by JCO is outstanding, this novel included. Great story-- vivid imagery.” (Ed: I agree about Joyce Carol Oates. I’ve previously mentioned We Were the Mulvaneys as a great beach read. And her others, too. I don’t know why, but I feel like she gets short shrift.)
The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society
by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows.
“Shaffer's niece had to finish the book because Shaffer became ill. It's about the invasion of Guernsey by the
Nazis during World War II. The story is
told entirely through letters and I loved the characters.”
Heart of Darkness (Dover Thrift Editions)
by Joseph Conrad. “A long
short story.” (Short classic = beachy classic).
Henry and Clara: A Novel
by Thomas Mallon. “My all time
favorite. Set in DC - a wonderful work
of historical fiction about the other couple in the box with the Lincolns when
the President was assassinated and the impact
it had on the rest of their lives.”
Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet: A Novel by Jamie Ford. “This book is a bit of a sleeper -- it takes a while to grab ahold of your imagination and draw you in, but then it does and the characters become very vivid and well-known. It's a WWII story set in contemporary Seattle that bounces back in time to when Japanese were interned in camps during the war. It's a love story, at its base, but also one of family bonds, expectations and how humans relate to each other. It's compelling.”
How to Be Good
by Nicholas Hornsby. From Amazon: "Katie Carr is a good person. She recycles. She's against racism. She's a good doctor, a good mom, a good wife...well, maybe not that last one, considering she's having an affair and has just requested a divorce via cell phone. But who could blame her? For years her husband's been selfish, sarcastic, and underemployed. But now David's changed. He's become a good person, too—really good. He's found a spiritual leader. He has become kind, soft-spoken, and earnest. He's even got a homeless kid set up in the spare room. Katie isn't sure if this is a deeply-felt conversion, a brain tumor—or David's most brilliantly vicious manipulation yet. Because she's finding it more and more difficult to live with David - and with herself."
The Imperfectionists: A Novel by Tom Rachman. “A very interesting array of characters, through whose eyes you experience the beginning and end of an American newspaper published in Rome, Italy. The story covers about 20-30 years.”
Life of Pi
by Yann Martel. People tend to love it or hate it, a metaphor about man, faith, God, resiliency and hope.
Major Pettigrew's Last Stand: A Novel by Helen Simonson. A top pick in 2010 is still popular. “A great love story, fun, easy read.”
The Paris Wife: A Novel by Paula McClain. Everyone loves this! “It's a great read about Hemingway and his first wife Hadley Richardson, before and as he becomes famous. Packed with love affairs, hard-living and betrayal, it is perfect for the beach.”
The Prince of Tides by Pat Conroy. A contributor sent this in as one of her all-time favorites. It’s one of mine, too.
The Razor's Edge by Somerset Maugham. From Amazon: “Larry Darrell is a young American in search of the absolute. The progress of his spiritual odyssey involves him with some of Maugham's most brilliant characters - his fiancĂ©e Isabel whose choice between love and wealth have lifelong repercussions, and Elliott Templeton, her uncle, a classic expatriate American snob. Maugham himself wanders in and out of the story, to observe his characters struggling with their fates.”
Room by Emma Donoghue. Another top pick from last year with staying power. “Amazing. Story about a little boy whose first years are spent locked in an 11x11 room. Not as creepy or disturbing as it sounds. Great character development."
Sarah's Key by Tatiana De Rosnay. “Easy, interesting read for the beach.” (Ed: Great read, but SAD. And devolves into a bad romance, as I think I said when we reviewed it before. BUT … I read it in about 48 hours. So … good beachitude).
Snobs
or Past Imperfect
by Julian Fellowes.
We’ve reviewed these before, but they deserve a repeat because Fellowes
wrote the screenplay for Downton Abbey.
One contributor said: Fellowes
“writes wonderful breezy beach reads about the dying English class system. Very
plot driven and fun, with terrific observations about snobby nobility and their motivations.” (Ed: If you want to pick one or the other,
pick Snobs).
The Space Between Us by Thrity Umrigar. Another book that was on a previous list: “Set in India about a wealthy woman and her downtrodden servant and their parallel and crossecting lives. I liked the idea of two completely different Indias running side by side - and of course that age old idea that money doesn't buy you happiness.”
Still Alice by Lisa Genova. “This book is a beautifully written, harrowing tale of a brilliant Harvard professor's descent into early onset Alzheimer's. It is a heartbreaking to read but if you know anyone suffering from this brutal disease, it explores the disease from inside the victim's head.”
The Story of Beautiful Girl by Rachel Simon. Top pick last year (or maybe it was nearly a top pick – can’t recall). “Wow. This one is sad but worth the emotional investment. Great character development.”
Unaccustomed Earth
by Jhumpa Lahiri. This was on our
fiction list in 2008, but deserves a bump. “BEAUTIFULLY written, loved this
book, although a bit tragic/dark like her other books.”
We Need to Talk About Kevin by Lionel Shiver. “Just read it. Then we'll talk about it. Get ready to examine yourself, judge the characters and, maybe, be haunted by this story.”
White Oleander
by Janet Fitch. About a brilliant
poet imprisoned for murder, and what happens to her
daughter in foster homes, etc.
Wicked by Gregory McGuire. We really only got Dorothy's side of the story in the Wizard of Oz.
Wolf Hall by Hilary Mantel. "Who knew one could feel sympathy towards Oliver Cromwell? If you love the Tudor age and no detail is too much, this is the book for you. The writing style bugged friends of mine, I think they found it pompous, but it didn't bother me. I loved the book and enjoyed the different twist on an old and well-known storyline.” [Ed: this is the book that drove me crazy with the uncertain use of “he.”]"
by Stacy Schiff Biography. “Not one I would have picked up but given to me by a friend. I devoured it in a few days." … “Great read, great history as biography.” … “Read this on your Kindle or with dictionary at your side. A light rompy read, this is not... however, it is a very interesting and well researched story about the mesmerizing Cleopatra.”
by Andrew Ferguson. Non-fiction. “Ferguson's book about college admissions makes you scream, ‘WHAT are we DOING?’ The book’s narrative focus -- Ferguson’s son’s journey through college admissions – stands alone in depicting the utter madness that defines the process of trying to get a kid into college (and then, somehow, paying for it). But Ferguson reinforces the sense of lunacy with interesting history and analysis. And Ferguson is SO funny. To wit, Ferguson, having been told his son should ‘dig deep’ and talk about his ‘innermost thoughts’ when writing his essay, Ferguson observes ‘seventeen-year-old boys do not have innermost thoughts – and if they did, neither you nor I would want to know what they are.’)” As the Washington Post put it, ‘It may seem strange to say that a book so full of heartache is a pleasure to read, but Ferguson's storytelling is irresistible. ’ Ferguson only begins to touch on the question that is probably at the heart of the higher ed bubble - is a Bachelor's degree truly worth a quarter million dollars and an unspeakable hassle? - but he does get you thinking.”
by David Nicholls. This novel, published in 2009, has gone a little viral, perhaps because of the impending movie adaptation. Contributor comments: “It should be called ‘One Date,’ as it's about a whole bunch of July 15ths, over a period of 20 years in the lives of Dexter and Emma. I liked peeking into the window their lives, one day (date) at a time, and felt the novel worked well structurally. I had a rooting interest in the outcome, and appreciated their witty exchanges.” … “Great read, well written, good characters.” … “Picking up this book was like reliving 20 years of time with two best friends I didn't even knew I had! Dexter and Emma meet at Edinburgh University on July 15 1988 and every chapter is a glimpse into their lives on July 15 for the next 20 years.” ... "This would be a fantastic book to read on the beach. So engaging, you love the characters, well-written but v accessible."
by Paula McClain. I think I might be the only one who has not yet read (and loved) this novel, so this may be a review in service of just me. In fact, it got so many recommendations that I had to winnow down the comments (which I did at random): "A simple, but nicely told story of Hemingway and his first wife during their time in Paris. The story comes across very real the entire time, you feel for Hadley, know that it all will not end well - and so does she pretty much, but totally understand her choices and her acceptance of the consequences. The writing is kind of lyrical.” …. “Interesting from two perspectives: historical and a love story. Liked because Hemingway is such a fascinating person. His huge self-confidence and adventure seeking persona are intriguing.” … “You'll want to reread Moveable Feast when you finish.”
by Rachel Simon. Several of you mentioned this new release. From Amazon: “It is 1968. Lynnie, a young white woman with a developmental disability, and Homan, an African American deaf man, are locked away in an institution, the School for the Incurable and Feebleminded, and have been left to languish, forgotten. Deeply in love, they escape, and find refuge in the farmhouse of Martha, a retired schoolteacher and widow. But the couple is not alone-Lynnie has just given birth to a baby girl.” Reviewers have used words like "enthralling" and "captivating."
by Laura Hillenbrand. By the author of 
, this is a biography of Louie Zamperini, an Olympic runner who wound up an Air Force Lieutenant and prisoner of war in WWII. By all accounts I’ve seen, Unbroken reads like fiction – a “breathless” narrative style, in the words of the New York Times. Contributor comments: “I am not usually a nonfiction fan but this story is too amazing not to read. Laura Hillenbrand's story is pretty interesting as well. She lives DC and suffers from chronic fatigue syndrome.” … “Definitely not my usual pick but impossible to put down.”
by Jennifer Egan. Each chapter in this novel, which won the 2010 Pulitzer Prize for fiction, is told from a different character’s point of view –friends and associates of a music producer/former punk rocker. Contributor comments: “Smart, modern, and well-written book dealing with the aging of a generation of hip youngsters.” … “This is a fun but thoughtful book about...well...about a whole bunch of people who all have some connection to each other, some more than others, all dealing with different stages of life, and we meet several of them over again as they age or in their past. Confused? You won't be. I never felt out of place or out of time in this book. Egan does a great job of quickly establishing where you are at and with which character and then you fall completely into their story.” 
by Amanda Hodgkinson. “The story of Polish emigres to England who are separated during the WW2 and reunite afterwards with their young son. Engaging and readable - there are surprises and it keeps you guessing until the end.”
by Danielle Trussoni. “A mix of fiction and biblical mythology, the book focuses on the Nephilim, human/angel hybrids created when god first created Earth and sent angelic Watchers to oversee humanity. The hybrids, beautiful, cruel creatures who live among humans, are dying of an unknown disease and attempting to discover the cure hidden in a convent. In turn, the convent houses a few nuns/angelologists who attempt to destroy the Nephilim before they ruin humanity. The book is reminiscent of a Dan Brown novel, however it feels like Trussoni got tired of writing by the end.”
by Lawrence Goldstone. “I was not sure what I was about to read – one of those books that was on the table and my husband said it was good. It’s a historical murder mystery based in the 1500’s in France during the Inquisition when the catholic church was suspicious of anyone who challenged the church. Luther had already begun to have followers and the 'free-thinkers' and scientists were forced under-ground. The main character, the illegitimate son of a nobleman, is sent to a monastery but is recruited by the Inquisition to seek-out those who are going against the church. He himself is fascinated my science and faces moral dilemmas. Religion, science and murder … it was well written, had lots of mini-plots happening and I look forward to reading more books by this author! (I don’t want to give too much away at the end … I really enjoyed not knowing what I was about to read – made it all the more thrilling!)"
by Marisa de los Santos, the author of 
,which was reviewed last year. "This next novel was just as readable and engaging. One review called it 'gracefully written,' and I have to agree. De los Santos was a poet prior to being a novelist, and it shows. Belong to Me is the continuation of the story of Cornelia and her now husband Teo. Both books together would take one happily through several days on the beach. Calling it chick-lit might be a turn-off, though I candidly admit that I struggle to imagine a man reading either of these novels."
by Deborah Copaken Cogan. "Photojournalist Elizabeth Burns passes out while attending a production of Medea with her husband. The play caused a painful childhood episode to resurface in her mind – the disappearance of her best friend, April Cassidy, at the age of 6. What happened had always been a mystery, and Elizabeth is compelled to investigate."
by Anne Rivers Siddons [Ed note: This, and several other reviews sprinkled throughout this year's list are a friend in the publishing industry. She (best job ever) gets to read everything before the rest of us and selected the best summer releases. This one will be out 7/19/2011) "From one of our most acclaimed writers comes this dramatic tale of a well-born Southern woman whose life is forever changed by the betrayal of her mother and by the man she loves Growing up, the only place tomboy Thayer Wentworth felt at home was at her summer camp - Camp Sherwood Forest in the North Carolina Mountains. It was there that she came alive and where she met Nick Abrams, her first love...and first heartbreak." (Ed again: Love Siddons on the beach - especially if I'm on a southern beach.)
by China Mieville. "I like my science fiction 'light.' I'm generally not interested in aliens, space exploration, crazy futuristic technology (dinner in the shape of a pill - no thanks!) Although I can cite books that I've loved with these elements, I just don't gravitate to them naturally. The City & The City has just the right mix for me, taking a traditional crime novel plot and executing it in a fantasy setting. Plot-wise the story is fairly standard - a young woman is found murdered and our hero, Tyador Borlu of the Extreme Crime Squad, is assigned to the case. The complexity of the setting is what makes this book so engrossing."
by Susan Vreeland. From a published review: "(Luncheon of the Boating Party) continues her art-history inspired novels by focusing on Clara Driscoll, the director of one branch of Louis Comfort Tiffany’s glass studio. Letters of hers found recently indicate that she, not Tiffany, was the brainchild behind the famous Tiffany glass lamps. To protect this glass studio from union strikes, Tiffany hired only unmarried women and gave Clara management and artisitic freedom to run the studio. The book is an interesting look at how hard Clara Driscoll fought for the women in her employ and the private sacrifices Clara made in order to continue in her art."
by Kristin Hannah. “I found this book listed in a Guardian article where authors talked about their favorite books of the year. I forget now which author listed this book but since they also listed 
by Jonathan Tropper. “Man's best friend dies in car crash. Guy cheats on fiancee with best friend's widow. Guy pees blood. But don't let these three descriptors drive you away from this book. Tropper is a gifted storyteller, and this is an awesome book.” [Ed: Tropper's 
is reviewed below, and 
was a top pick last year. I know it seems like this blog is turning a little "cult of Tropper," but he's REALLY good.]
by Katie Lee (Another pick from my publishing insider, coming 6/21/2011) “About the Book: EAT, SURF, LOVE. A butterfly flaps its wings in New York City . . . and a groundswell forms in Mexico. . . . Sometimes the biggest ripples come from the smallest events. Like the day that Emma Guthrie walks into world-famous movie star Garrett Walker’s trailer. When she steps through the door, she’s a novice PA who’s just dropped out of college after losing her scholarship. When she walks out, she’s on her way to becoming Mrs. Emma Walker—wife of an A-list actor. Soon, Emma has made the transition from nobody to redcarpet royalty, trading jeans and flip-flops for closets full of Chanel and Birkin bags, swishing past velvet ropes to attend every lavish party and charity gala on both coasts.”
by Gardiner Harris. “A fascinating glimpse into the day to day lives of Appalachian coal miners. Gardiner is a New York times journalist who lived in Kentucky for a while and with this novel really brings the dangerous world of coal mining to life. It is a gripping murder mystery and particularly fascinating to read as we remember some of the real life coal mining accidents that have happened recently. A real page turner.”
by Robert Harris “a fun read about Cicero and politics in ancient Rome.”
by Taylor Stevens. “Fun, fast paced thriller with a strong female protagonist. Vanessa "Michael" Munroe is the ex-missionary's daughter/gunrunner's protege/mercenary's pupil/victim turned professional ‘Informationst.’ Is it over the top and unrealistic? Sure - but it's also a very entertaining diversion set in Africa as opposed to Sweden. If you are looking for an escapist thriller, this is it.”
by Allison Pearson. Pearson wrote 
a few years ago. (It was a big hit, often compared to Bridget Jones, but for the married woman, vs the singleton. If you haven't read that, it's worth it, and I just found out today that a movie version with Sarah Jessica Parker is coming.) But back to her latest: “In her latest incredibly readable novel, we follow a 13-year-old Welsh girl named Petra (obsessed - I mean OBSESSED - with David Cassidy and suffering through the angst of challenging friendships) and then 38-year-old Petra, whose husband has left her for a younger woman. We also follow 24-year-old Bill (a frustrated former literature student, now ghost writing David Cassidy letters for a magazine devoted to the teen idol) and Bill in his late 40s. Pearson was painfully accurate in depicting Petra's adolescent hardships. I also appreciated how Pearson slowly divulged the story of her relationship with her parents, and they with one another. This isn't going to win any literary awards, though Pearson writes nicely and the story was incredibly engaging. A fun premise. I plowed through the book over a couple of vacation days in Florida. I highly recommend it as a beach book.”
by Paul Auster "It is beautifully written and far from your average coming of age story. It’s about a student at Columbia in the spring of 1967 and told from different perspectives."
was on the book list a couple of years ago. From the Booklist review: "Reichs’ newest novel follows 26-year-old Maeve Connelly as she journeys across America in a 1970 Plymouth Roadrunner in an attempt to put her life back together. Accompanied by her bird, Oliver, Maeve works odd jobs in small towns ranging from Okay, Oklahoma, to Toad Suck, Arkansas, in order to keep her car in working condition. Misfortune strikes, however, when her car breaks down near Unknown, Arizona, where she is stranded for months on end. While there, Maeve becomes attached to assorted town denizens, befriending an attractive young doctor and obtaining a job at a bookstore run by a handsome children’s book author. She also begins to reexamine troubles from her past after a secret she has been keeping is revealed... Reichs’ witty and entertaining writing style makes Leaving Unknown a trip worth taking."
by Lisa Genova. "Because of the plot - a 30-something mother suffers a traumatic brain injury in a car accident - I expected this to be sad but story moves along and, in a strange way is uplifting, because of the storytelling. For busy moms, it puts a lot in perspective about what's important."
by Karl Marlantes. “Matterhorn is an incredible, realistic story that made me feel like I was just pushed off a chopper and into a landing zone of jungle madness fought by kids barely old enough to vote but not old enough to rent a car. Powerful, eye opening, worthwhile and surprisingly entertaining but probably not for everyone.”
by Ann Brashares. "Daniel is a rare person who remembers each of his previous lives, and in each one is haunted by the soul of a girl he met briefly in his first life and fell in love with in a subsequent life. He chases after her through centuries and lives, always separated by age or circumstance, trying to get her to remember and love him as well. Total beach read page-turner; apparently planned as a trilogy. Don’t be turned off by the author (of Traveling Pants fame); this is an adult, not teen, book."
by Jaqueline St. Joan. "This is Ms. St. Joan’s first novel and is just incredible, both moving and thought-provoking. The protagonist, Ujala, is a young Pakistani woman who is inspired by her mother to travel through various parts of rural Pakistan teaching young girls and women. In this capacity, Ujala witnesses a number of “honor crimes” – in which a “woman” (she could be as young as 10) is beaten, permanently maimed (think acid thrown in your face) or killed because she has, in the eyes of her family, brought dishonor to them (by, for example, talking in public with a male cousin). Ujala and her three sisters ultimately all become involved in trying to turn the tide of this cultural horror in Pakistan. While the topic is horrific, the beautiful and passionate story woven by Ms. St. Joan is tinged with hope and optimism. Much like the four sisters, Ms. St. Joan is determined to make a difference in the current lives of Pakistani women who, right now & every day, are being subjected to these honor crimes: half the proceeds from her book are going to be used to fund the building of a safe house in Pakistan where women and children trying to escape abuse can be sheltered."
by Chevy Stevens (This is another title recommended by my publishing insider pal: will be out 7/5/2011) “About the Book: From the acclaimed author of Still Missing comes a psychological thriller about one woman’s search into her past and the deadly truth she uncovers. All her life, Sara Gallagher has wondered about her birth parents. As an adopted child with two sisters who were born naturally to her parents, Sara did not have an ideal home life. The question of why she was given up for adoption has always haunted her. Finally, she is ready to take steps and to find closure. But some questions are better left unanswered.”
by Edward Rutherfurd. A novel spanning 350 years of New York history, mostly about one family. Rutherfurd is often compared to James Michener, with his sweeping epics. Previous works include 
.
by Jane Gardam. “This novel tells the story of Sir Edward Feathers, a barrister known as Old Filth ("Failed in London Try Hong Kong"), who becomes a renowned lawyer in the Far East. Told from the perspective of Filth, who was a raj orphan, shipped to Wales and raised by foster families and in boarding schools. He’s now an octogenarian, living in Dorset with his wife of many years, Betty.”
by Julian Fellowes. Fellowes wrote 
, the movie 
and the magnificent BBC Miniseries, 
, a huge hit last year. About this novel: "Fellowes is such a keen chronicler of the demise of the British Aristocracy that I couldn't help enjoy his wry observations. The book, in fact, often read more like social history than fiction. The ending didn't quite deliver for me. But it was still Julian Fellowes, and for me, well worth it."
by Ayelet Waldman. "I heard the author being interviewed on NPR on my way to the beach, and I immediately stopped to download the book. I wasn’t familiar with Ayelet Waldman, but this winter she wrote on fabulous rebuttal to the Tiger Mother essay in the WSJ." (By the way, I notice not ONE of our contributors recommended the Tiger Mom book. Interesting!)
by Padma Viswanathan “My favorite beach read from last summer. I loved it. Definitely good to have the family tree to refer to throughout as the characters get plentiful. I’m a huge Rushdie fan and while she is not quite in his league, she has a hint of his lyricism. It’s just a beautiful story of incredible strength and pure sorrow.”
by Guy Gavriel Kay “A complex fiction set in 6th Century China, this book weaves multiple story lines and numerous characters together fantastically. An assuming young man is gifted 250 very special horses by a neighboring enemy state, which immediately shines a spotlight on him, giving him both great power and great enemies. How he can safely get word of the horses to the emperor and decide how to play within a warring court, determine who are his friends and foes, and the impact that small decisions can make in a larger history play out in the novel.”
by Eleanor Brown. Novel about “a Shakespearean expert who names his three daughters after the Bard's greatest heroines. After a variety of disappointments, these adult daughters find themselves living at home - which gives them the perfect environment to continue to grow up. If you have a familiarity with Shakespeare, you will love this book.” … “As one of 3 girls, I find birth order very telling for one's personality & role in the family. I am Bean chronologically but Rose in personality!” [Ed: This one was borderline "top pick."]
