The Physick Book of Deliverance Dane by Katherine Howe

Title: The Physick Book of Deliverance Dane

Author: Katherine Howe

Call #: HOW

Its 1991 in Marblehead, Massachusetts, Connie Goodwin finds a hidden key along with a piece of paper with the words ‘Deliverance Dane’ among her grandmothers possessions in her old abandon house in Salem. Working on her doctorate as a historian, Connie does some academic detective work researching the local archives and finds that Deliverance Dane was a local herbalist and wise woman who became a victim in the dark days of the Salem witch trials. This novel is slow-paced but engaging.

Recommended by: Connie

Sway by Zachary Lazar

Title: Sway

Author: Zachary Lazar

Call #: LAZ

Do you have any interest in the Rolling Stones, Kenneth Anger, Charles Manson or the dark side of the late 1960’s?  If so, read Sway.  It’s not my favorite book but it is definitely one of the best books I have read recently.

Recommended by: Kathy

Life is Short but Wide by J. California Cooper

Title: Life is Short but Wide

Author: J. California Cooper

Call #: COO

The beautifully written, funny, sad story of three families – two black, one native American – growing up and growing old over the course of three generations in Wideland, Oklahoma.

Recommended by: Bobbie

Await Your Reply by Dan Chaon

Title: Await Your Reply

Author: Dan Chaon

Call #: CHA

This book’s concept, seemingly unrelated storylines converging, was so similar to Dan Chaon’s first novel You Remind Me of Me (which I really liked) that I was annoyed for twenty pages.  Then I got sucked in to his excellent writing and storytelling and that was it.  I loved this book.  The three stories’ relationships to one another are slowly revealed but are always connected by various themes of the mutability of identity.

Recommended by: Kathy

Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen

Title: Water for Elephants

Author: Sara Gruen

Call #: GRU

Ninety year old Jacob Jankowski takes us back in time with his memories of working for the Benzini Brothers circus, where he met and fell in love with Marlena, the equestrian star of the show, and Rosie, the elephant. This wonderful historical fiction novel gives readers a great feel of what life was like in a Depression-era traveling circus.

Recommended by: Sharon

People of the Book by Geraldine Brooks

Title: People of the Book

Author: Geraldine Brooks

Call #: BRO

Readers of this book are transported between the present day and the actual historical times of an ancient Hebrew book of prayer. It’s an “if only these pages could talk,” kind of story. It can be a little difficult to have one chapter in the present and the next in 1542, but it’s worth staying with it. My book group loved it. One person in the group actually called me and thanked me for recommending it.

Recommended by: Betty