Annie's Picks

"A man's dying is more his survivors' affair than his own"--Thomas Mann

Nicola arrives at Helen's home much sicker than Helen expected. Helen has set up her spare room with fresh towels and flowers. Does this matter to Nicola? Female friendships are tender yet complicated--in The Spare Room they are unrelenting in honesty and love.

Beautifully written, this is the story of Rachel, born to a white Danish mother and a black G.I., who are killed. Not white, not black, Rachel lives with her black grandmother and wonders who she is, and why the color of her skin is so important. Great read!

I love Carol Goodman's novels. They are passionate, thrilling, and full of secrets that are unraveled layer by layer. this one is set at a girls' boarding school in Upstate New York, where the past erupts into the present, creating another secret--Wonderful!

A true, honest memoir by a nurse-midwife in West Virginia, dealing with her own health issues, marriage, money, and life. You hear many stories from women in all walks of life--a deeply moving story.

A novel recreating the bombing of Coventry, England, during World War II, in vivid imagery. Harriet Marsh is a fire-watcher with Jeremy, a young man whom she learns to love under the circumstances of war.

A journey with Little Bee will leave you haunted, make you cry and love the character of Little Bee, a Nigerian refugee. Set in England and Nigeria during the rebel war, Little Bee is a book that reminds us of the humanity left in our world.

A gorgeous picture of this farm on Martha's Vineyard. Stunning photos complement delicious recipes and a lovely story of an island farm family.

I loved this! After Rhoda's husband leaves her for Bob on gay.com, she is injured in a car accident and finds herself back in her family's Mennonite home. In the process she finds life in her youth wasn't so bad. A sharp and intelligent memoir, and a fun read.

A strong novel of love, despair, and the strength that can arise when they meet. Tim has a mysterious illness that causes him to walk away from life. Ferris is a fine writer who leaves you wanting more.

A cinematic read--a lovely novel set in coastal England. May finds herself in a man's world of fossil hunting--fascinating and strong women's friendships and their resiliency. I learned so much about early fossil hunting! 

An honest and hilarious account of fatherhood. Some of the funniest and most serious moments of child-rearing are brought alive by Lewis--a fun read.

This couple traveled and worked all over Northern Italy studying farming and food, and they were very popular when they came to the bookstore. This is a beautiful book full of local lore and containing over 150 recipes that will tantalize your palate--makes a wonderful gift.

The author of These Granite Islands writes a vivid novel, moving from her past to present. Set in Ireland, this is a lovely story of love and past feelings and their reconciliation.

A lavely novel, but unknown to many. As Amy Tan writes, "the ghosts of our mothers are always with us." A poignant novel of three generations of strong, independent Japanese women. A unique journey.

A father's fall from grace threatens to destroy his family, but not as much as his best friend's older daughter, who returns to town, seduces the son, and inserts herslf into a family already struggling. A moving, complex tale.

One of the best books of 2009--three disparate lives intertwine in Chaon's brilliant novel of mystery. Elegantly written, a favorite of many, including NPR, and many adult book buyers.

All Ralph Truitt wanted was a "reliable" wife for his wealthy life in northern Wisconsin. Catherine Land declared she was a simple and honest woman--she turned out to be much more. A page-turner--part thriller, part mystery, part love story--it's a complex, mesmerizing read!

This delightful book will inspire even the most novice gardener Each chapter is like entering the world of the authors' garden--a true gem!

You won't believe the ending of this book! Hannah creates another masterpiece of psychological suspense. If you like this, try her first one, Little Face.

What would you do as a young mother if you went away, leaving your newborn with your husband, and came home to find the baby in the crib was not yours? And everyone thinks you are crazy, including the police. A superb novel of psychological suspense!

A chilling novel involving a young family that is confronted by Munchausen by Proxy, when a mother intentionally harms her child. A complicated situation makes for a good read.

Set in small-town Alabama in the 1930s, this first novel follows nine-year-old Tess as she trys to understand why a woman threw her baby down their well. Mystery, love, and compassion move throughout this beautifully written novel with a strong sense of place.

This is a coming-of-age story set in nineteenth-century Korea, during its occupation by the Japanese. Najin Han is a young woman of privilege who wants more than marriage to an aristocrat. A moving, engrossing story of "old" Korea.

A gem of Southern writing--the words float above the page! Velva Jean can't wait to leave her North Carolina hill town, and the gift of a yellow truck makes her dream come true.

A great read by a talented young woman who is completing her Ph.D. in New England Studies. The plot travels back and forth between present-day Salem, Massachusetts, and the witch trials of 1692. Read it! And if you want to meet the author at the AAUW luncheon on Saturday, October 17, call the bookstore at 860-536-3795 for information. 

Still Alice is a heart-wrenching debut novel about Alice Howland, a 50-year-old Harvard professor who is diagnosed with early onset Alzheimer's disease. Being almost 50 myself, I found it almost terrifying to watch Alice's mental capacity diminish so rapidly, and to see her life unravel despite the efforts of her loving husband and grown children. How would it feel not to recognize your own daughter? Or your husband? Genova writes with clarity and emotion, for example describing Alice's panic when she wanders her own house trying to find the door to the bathroom. Frightening in its realism, Still Alice is a book not to miss.

Here comes the Alexander McCall Smith of India with Detective Vish Puri and his extended family in The Case of the Missing Servant by Tarquin Hall. This is a delightful mystery, full of twists and turns as well as lively descriptions of life in modern India behind the gates and cement walls. Puri's comrades have names like Flush, Tubelight, and Facecream, and his delight at eating all the street foods of Delhi are delightful. Hall's first work of fiction could be the start of a whole new mystery series set in modern India. I loved this fun read!