When I spotted a brand new Ruth Ozeki book in an adorable vacation town bookstore, you better believe this beautiful little collection came home with me that very day. A Tale For The Time Being (read review here) and The Book Of Form And Emptiness (read review here) are two of my favorite books of all time, so I was eager to see how Ozeki’s masterful fiction would translate to this shorter form. These thrilling short stories do not disappoint!

Allegra Goodman has been compared to a modern-day Jane Austen because of her skills observing and writing about people in such a genuine way that the reader connects with her characters as though she knows them. Witty yet poignant storylines strike a chord of recognition that draw us into her books.

I love finding random books from library displays, and The Lost Tarot fits that description perfectly. It was exhibited with other books that are set in Toronto, one of which, River Mumma, I reviewed last month. (read review here) The Lost Tarot really only begins with the protagonist in Toronto, and the story includes multiple time periods as well. And despite the word Tarot in the title, the book deals mainly with fine art and how we credit its creators, as well as how a cult is formed and what it takes to break free.

It’s been a while since I’ve indulged myself with a Chris Bohjalian novel. I’ve always found his books entertaining and fast-paced. So, I decided The Jackal’s Mistress was just what I needed at this point in August. And I was right!  

Martin Marten contains one of the most unique ideas for a novel that I’ve ever encountered. And Brian Doyle writes it with wit and charm and empathy. I think I have my friend Ellen to thank for this recommendation and I am very appreciative.  I absolutely loved every page of the book and will remember it forever.

Small Things Like These weighs in at 114 pages with a small trim size and not many words per page.  But it strikes with a force unmatched by any book I have read in a very long time.  Recognized by the New York Times as one of the top 100 books of the 21st century, Keegan has written a true tour de force.