Frannie

The Great Zapfino

by Mac Barnett

jE Barnett
Picture Books

To escape a burning building, Zapfino must confront the fears that forced him out of the circus.

Rarely have pencil illustrations drawn me in quite like this one! While I enjoy Barnett's books they are by no means "go-tos" for me, but this one is stellar. I like how it is mostly wordless, a favorite style of picture book for me, but the plot is easy to follow. May it inspire you to make leaps in your own life, even if they aren't immediate ones. -Frannie

Chef's kiss

by Jarrett Melendez

GRAPHIC NOVEL Melendez
LGBTQ+, Graphic Novels

Watch things start to really heat up in the kitchen in this sweet, queer, new adult graphic novel! Now that college is over, English graduate Ben Cook is on the job hunt looking for something...anything...related to his passion for reading and writing. But interview after interview, hiring committee after hiring committee, Ben soon learns getting the dream job won't be as easy as he thought. Proofreading? Journalism? Copywriting? Not enough experience. It turns out he doesn't even have enough experience to be a garbage collector! But when Ben stumbles upon a Now Hiring--No Experience Necessary sign outside a restaurant, he jumps at the chance to land his first job. Plus, he can keep looking for a writing job in the meantime. He's actually not so bad in the kitchen, but he will have to pass a series of cooking tests to prove he's got the culinary skills to stay on full-time. But it's only temporary...right? When Ben begins developing a crush on Liam, one of the other super dreamy chefs at the restaurant, and when he starts ditching his old college friends and his old writing job plans, his career path starts to become much less clear.

What an absolute delight to read! I have a lot of feels for looking for a job straight out of college, figuring out young adulthood, all while trying to navigate roommates, identity, and family. Come for the food writing, stay for the light romance. -Frannie

Knight owl

by Christopher Denise

jE Denise
Picture Books

After achieving his dream of becoming a knight, a small owl protects the castle from a hungry dragon.

What more could you ask for than an owl that's a knight? With fun illustrations, great rhythm, and surprises this would be a great addition to any storytime repertoire. Opportunities for using your best theatrical voices too! -Frannie

Kat hats

by Daniel Manus Pinkwater

jE Pinkwate
Picture Books

A trained cat who is able to form himself into specialty hats, Thermal Herman 6 7/8ths is world-renowned for his warmth and agility, but when a friend wanders off with a brain freeze and finds themself in peril, Thermal Herman must rush in to save the day.

This is one of the strangest picture books I have ever read, which is to say I loved it. Yes, the plot is all over the place, but that's hardly the point. Come for the kat hats, stay for amazing illustrations, original concept beyond compare, and the sort of creative fuel to start a mental bonfire. -Frannie

I'm not scared, you're scared!

by Seth Meyers

jE Meyers
Picture Books

Bear is so timid that he is even afraid of his own reflection, but he does not like to admit that he is scared to his friend, Rabbit, who is very daring--but when Rabbit is in danger Bear finds the courage to rescue his friend.

Such a fun book! I heard about this delightful picture book from listening to an interview Meyers did with Fresh Air's Terry Gross, and was tempted to give it a try. Did not disappoint! I'm usually dubious of celebrity picture books, but often pleasantly surprised. This has all the hallmarks of a great read-a-long book and I recommend adding to your repertoire. -Frannie

Thingamabob

by Marianna Coppo

jE Coppo
Picture Books

"What is a thingamabob? A thingamabob can be anything . . . and so can you! A sweet, empowering picture book about self-discovery from the acclaimed author-illustrator of Petra. In the beginning, the universe was one great big thing. Then that thing exploded into gobs and gobs of thingamabobs. All of the thingamabobs had a purpose . . . all except for one small, shapeless thingamabob. No one knew what it was for. It wasn't this or that. It wasn't here or there. What's the use of this thingamabob? But everything changes for Thingamabob when it makes a friend in the park. And Thingamabob realizes that if you aren't one thing . . . you can be everything!"--

Really fun whimisical illustrations bordering on minimalism. You'll be pulled in by the drawings and the same font as "Everyone Poops", but end the book feeling great about a story of inclusion that doesn't have moments of meanness like those types of stories normally have. Think the "Ugly Duckling" without the ugliness. -Frannie

Hands to heart

by Alex Bauermeister

jE Bauermeister
Picture Books

"With a gentle reminder for children to breathe and to connect their bodies, this beautifully illustrated picture book contains a sweet cast of animal friends to guide young readers from one yoga pose to the next. From reaching your hands up to the sky to stretching like a cat to pressing up like a cobra snake, each posture helps to control breathing, engage in the present moment, and ultimately lead towards calmness and peacefulness. The soothing, rhythmic text paired with illustrations that offer a lot of sweet humor make this book perfect for young readers ready to interact with yoga poses and practice mindfulness."--Amazon.

A gentle invitation to take a step back, breathe, and move! This book incorporates some of the things I love best about yoga (connection to the breath and body) while also having a rhythm of words, fun animal characters, and a playful approach to the practice of yoga. If anything it helps to explain what yoga is in an approachable and accessible way to children. -Frannie

Brave New Meal: Fresh as F*ck Food for Every Table: A Vegan Cookbook

by Michelle Davis

641.56362/Bad
Cookbooks

The latest entry from the Bad Manners creative team does not disappoint! This book has you cooking with the seasons, features beautiful photography, and some great recipes. So far everything I have made from this book is a hit. Brussel sprout hash, papusas, and green grape pie are just a few of the gems so far. If you're looking to make more with the freshest produce at the store or for a new plant based cookbook, look no further. -Frannie

Sophie's squash

by Pat Zietlow Miller

jE Miller
Picture Books

A young girl befriends a squash.

A seasonal favorite of mine! This book riffs on the perennial issue of loving something maybe too much, especially when its existence is fleeting. Great for fall and appreciating what we have when we have it. -Frannie

The Good Germ Hotel: Meet Your Body's Marvelous Microbes

by Sŏng-hwa (Children's science book writer) Kim

j579 Sung-hwa
Health, Science

Check in to The Good Germ Hotel to learn about all the good germs and bacteria superheroes that live inside the human body. These amazing microbes fight viruses, digest food, and keep us healthy and happy. Did you know that your body is full of bacteria? And that most of it is good bacteria that helps to keep you healthy? Well, now is your chance to get up close and personal with the microorganisms that live inside all of us. Travel through the body with our gut bacteria guide, stopping off to meet the other amazing microbe residents along the way.

A book about good germs, what great timing! This is the perfect blend of factual information for kids and interesting pictures to keep them captivated. Whether you are raising a young citizen scientist or have a kid with a cold who doesn't understand that antibiotics won't help, this is a great read. Bonus points for including "gross" things people love like farts, smelly feet, and poop. -Frannie

Are You a Cheeseburger?

by Monica Arnaldo

jE Arnaldo
Picture Books

Grub is a lonely raccoon rumbling in the trash for food. Seed is a seed patiently waiting in the trash, hoping someone will plant it. When the two finally meet, they realize they might be able to help each other! Grub wonders what Seed will grow, and is hoping it's Grub's favorite food, mouthwatering cheeseburgers.

This one caught my eye because of the glowing seed on the cover, and did not disappoint! Come for the protagonist of a racoon obsessed with delicious garbage, stay for the story of friendship and the lesson of patience when gardening. You will be rewarded with a Cheeseburger sunrise. -Frannie

Outlawed: a Novel

by Anna North

FICTION North Anna
Literary Fiction, LGBTQ+

"The Crucible meets True Grit in this riveting adventure story of a fugitive girl, a mysterious gang of robbers, and their dangerous mission to transform the Wild West. In the year of our Lord 1894, I became an outlaw. The day of her wedding, 17 year old Ada's life looks good; she loves her husband, and she loves working as an apprentice to her mother, a respected midwife. But after a year of marriage and no pregnancy, in a town where barren women are routinely hanged as witches, her survival depends on leaving behind everything she knows. She joins up with the notorious Hole in the Wall Gang, a band of outlaws led by a preacher-turned-robber known to all as the Kid. Charismatic, grandiose, and mercurial, the Kid is determined to create a safe haven for outcast women. But to make this dream a reality, the Gang hatches a treacherous plan that may get them all killed. And Ada must decide whether she's willing to risk her life for the possibility of a new kind of future for them all. Featuring an irresistibly no-nonsense, courageous, and determined heroine, Outlawed dusts off the myth of the old West and reignites the glimmering promise of the frontier with an entirely new set of feminist stakes. Anna North has crafted a pulse-racing, page-turning saga about the search for hope in the wake of death, and for truth in a climate of small-mindedness and fear"--

This book is a delight. Historical fiction fans will like it for the sense of time and place. Those looking for queer characters in strong roles will rejoice. Questioning women's place in society in the late 1800s is the premise, but what the author does with it is unexpected and will have your feminist heart growing with every page. -Frannie

The Hill We Climb: an Inaugural Poem for the Country

by Amanda Gorman

811.6 /Gorman
Poetry, Black Lives Matter

"On January 20, 2021, Amanda Gorman became the sixth and youngest poet, at age twenty-two, to deliver a poetry reading at a presidential inauguration. Her inaugural poem, "The Hill We Climb," is now available to cherish in this special edition."--

I missed the live reading of "the Hill We Climb", but when I watched the video after it was one of the few that lived up to the Twitter hype. I had not felt that sort of hope in a LONG time. Reading the text is a great way to revisit what might have been an initial flood of emotions, sit with them, and digest the words with thorough consideration. -Frannie

Solutions and other problems

by Allie Brosh

817.6 /Brosh
Memoir, Graphic Novels

Solutions and Other Problems includes humorous stories from Allie Brosh's childhood; the adventures of her very bad animals; merciless dissection of her own character flaws; incisive essays on grief, loneliness, and powerlessness; as well as reflections on the absurdity of modern life.

The latest from graphic memoirist Allie Brosh builds on her previous book Hyberbole and a Half in the best way possible. Same great childlike scrawl done in MS Paint, new deeper truths. At times I sat on my couch giggling and kicking my legs from laughter trying not to disturb other people in my home, and at others I was paralyzed with some of the darker turns. I won't divulge details, but urge you to challenge yourself not to laugh and then also look deeper. This was also 1 of 10 2021 Alex Award winners, a prize for books written for adults that have special appeal to young adults. -Frannie

Oh She Glows for Dinner: Nourishing Plant-based Meals to Keep You Glowing

by Angela Liddon

641.56362/Lidden
Cookbooks

The author shares her Glow Getters meal prep plans, helpful make-ahead tips, and favorite seasonal and holiday menus, as well as one-pot and on-the-glow meals that will help streamline your busy week. -- Adapted from inside front cover.

This book has many favorite recipes from plant based blogger Angela Liddon. The stuffing balls were great for my family's asynchronous Thanksgiving, the savory porridge sold my partner on "porridge", and the raw peanut noodle salad has long been a hot weather favorite. All these recipes are first time in print and do not disappoint! No doubt the best part of this book is the pictures. Personally a cookbook without pictures is useless to me, but thankfully this is choke full. From quick weeknight meals to Sunday dinner show stoppers, there's a lot to love. -Frannie

The resisters : a novel

by Gish Jen

FICTION Jen Gish
Dystopian

An audacious wonder of a novel about baseball and a future America, from the always inventive and exciting author of The Love Wife and Who's Irish. The time: Some thirty-five years hence. The place: AutoAmerica--governed by "Aunt Nettie," an iBurrito of AI algorithms and the internet, in a land half under water. The people: Divided into the angelfair "Netted," whose fate it is to have jobs and live on high ground, and the mostly coppertoned "Surplus," whose jobs have been stripped and whose sole duty now is to consume, living in plastic houses that talk and multi-colored houseboats at the water's edge. Neither group is happy. The story: A Surplus family--he was once a professor, she is still a lawyer--has a girl child, Gwen, who's born with a golden arm. By two she can throw her toy animals straight to the same spot every time. When AutoAmerica and ChinRussia decide to revive the Olympics, suddenly Gwen, who's been playing in the Resisters League her parents have organized, is in great demand. Soon she's at angelfair university, Net U, falling in love with her baseball coach and facing questions of "crossing over," while her mother and her "group" are bringing charges before the botjudge about Surplus rights. An amazing story of a world that looks only too possible, and a family struggling to maintain its humanity in circumstances that daily threaten their every value as well as their very existence.

A perfect book for the return to baseball! Gish Jen's new book tells of a Dystopian future where the Internet of things has taken over our lives and society is divided into producers and consumers and America is half under water because of rising sea levels. Wait, I thought this was about baseball? It is! The national past time is much different in the future and in this book a young girl gets her opportunity to move up in the class hierarchy due to her talent on the field. Come for the sports, stay for the nuanced description of a world that seems just around the corner... -Frannie

The Dutch house : a novel

by Ann Patchett

eAUDIO

"Ann Patchett, the New York Times bestselling author of Commonwealth and State of Wonder, returns with her most powerful novel to date: a richly moving story that explores the indelible bond between two siblings, the house of their childhood, and a past that will not let them go"--

When this book first came out some months ago I read it quickly, loved it, and more or less moved on. However, working from home my intake of audiobooks has gone way up and I thought it would be good to revisit so I could perhaps form a more nuanced opinion, and it did not disappoint! This rather depressing book involving the life and times of a brother sister duo who grew up in a house that seems cursed has some of the edges blunted when read by none other than Tom Hanks. Author Ann Patchett never lingers on tragedy too, which makes things a little easier to swallow. Also the main characters hold on to resentment and loss, but it isn't the force that drives them. Come for the story, stay for the beautiful descriptions of space! -Frannie

The Topeka school

by Ben Lerner

eBOOK
Literary Fiction

This coming of age novel had special resonance for me growing up in a similar time, place, and milieu where much of the book unfolds. While the book is mostly centered around the fictionalized version of the author, other characters too have their story told from their point of view. Another thing that drew me in was the intimation of events occurring outside the main plot. Additional selling points for highlighting competitive speech and debate, something I dabbled in when in high school and one rarely sees in pop culture. -Frannie

Brown Girl Dreaming

by Jacqueline Woodson

eAUDIO

In vivid poems that reflect the joy of finding her voice through writing stories, an award-winning author shares what it was like to grow up in the 1960s and 1970s in both the North and the South.

This biography beautifully written in verse and read by the author tells of her coming of age in the North and South in the 60s and 70s. From the accounts of racism and growing up Jehovah's Witness this book gives reader's a perspective that might be new to them, and that's what great literature is for! A perfect way for any age person to enjoy National Poetry Month this April. The brief length is perfect for cleaning the house some afternoon, a couple hikes, or making a leisurely meal. -Frannie

Aimless love : new and selected poems

by Billy Collins

eBOOK
Poetry, Humor

Called "the most popular poet in America" by the New York Times and the US Poet Laureate from 2001 to 2003 Billy Collins is a true national treasure. If all that loftiness isn't recommendation enough, honestly I just appreciate Collins' humor. There are no "Ode on a Grecian Urn" or "The Rime of the Ancient Mariner" here, but instead delightful diversions of language. These poems are great to read a few over breakfast, when you can't focus while you're attempting to work from home, or just chill at the end of the day. -Frannie

An elderly lady is up to no good

by Helene Tursten

eBOOK
Mystery, Humor, Short Story

Maud is an irascible 88-year-old Swedish woman with no family, no friends, and... no qualms about a little murder. This funny, irreverent story collection by Helene Tursten, author of the Irene Huss investigations, features two-never-before translated stories that will keep you laughing all the way to the retirement home. Ever since her darling father's untimely death when she was only eighteen, Maud has lived in the family's spacious apartment in downtown Gothenburg rent-free, thanks to a minor clause in a hastily negotiated contract. That was how Maud learned that good things can come from tragedy. Now in her late eighties, Maud contents herself with traveling the world and surfing the net from the comfort of her father's ancient armchair. It's a solitary existence, and she likes it that way. Over the course of her adventures--or misadventures--this little bold lady will handle a crisis with a local celebrity who has her eyes on Maud's apartment, foil the engagement of her long-ago lover, and dispose of some pesky neighbors. But when the local authorities are called to investigate a dead body found in Maud's apartment, will Maud finally become a suspect?

Essentially a collection of short stories this is a fascinating and occasionally macabre character study of an elderly Swedish lady. It also really captures Scandinavian city life. -Frannie

Uncanny valley : a memoir

by Anna Wiener

eAUDIO

"The story of Anna Wiener's time spent working in Silicon Valley as the tech industry went through monumental changes"--

The author and myself are about the same age so there was more than a few similarities in our path. However, her rundown of life in the San Francisco Bay area made me glad to not have gone that direction with my life. What interested me was the rise of the role of technology in culture which we all seemed to cosign long ago, but then turned away from. Come for the memoir, stay to figure out what all of the code words for different companies actually mean! -Frannie

The seventh seal

by

DVD MOVIE FOREIGN SWEDISH Seventh

A knight returning home from the Crusades encounters Death, who agrees to a chess game. In the balance hang the lives of the knight and a group of traveling players.

A game of chess with death! This Scandinavian drama is perfect for when you've been running on the existential treadmill trying to make sense of it all. Expert director Ingmar Bergman shoots the blackest blacks in this cinema classic that went on to inspire one of my favorite Scott Walker songs of the same name. -Frannie

Monsieur Hulot's Holiday.

by

STREAMING VIDEO KANOPY

Monsieur Hulot, Jacques Tati’s endearing clown, takes a holiday at a seaside resort, where his presence provokes one catastrophe after another. Tati’s masterpiece of gentle slapstick is a series of effortlessly well-choreographed sight gags involving dogs, boats, and firecrackers; it was the first entry in the Hulot series and the film that launched its maker to international stardom. Nominated for Best Writing - Story and Screenplay at the 1956 **Academy Awards**.

A great work of physical comedy, Monsieur Hulot's Holiday, is the movie that introduced Jacque Tati's titular character to audiences. In the tradition of Charlie Chaplin and Buster Keaton, the movie's criticism of post World War II France has a light touch and a squeaky door repeating gag that will remind you of the door in Quentin Tarantino's Hateful Eight -Frannie

Breathless = À bout de souffle

by

DVD MOVIE FOREIGN FRENCH Breathless

Jean-Luc Godard's 1960 anything-goes crime narrative about a young thief on the run and his American girlfriend.

Starring Iowa's own Jean Seberg this crime drama set the style for French New Wave. Cinematically gorgeous with great contemporary costuming this fast paced film is a great entry point for anyone hesitant of watching a subtitled movie. -Frannie

The Umbrellas of Cherbourg

by

DVD MOVIE FOREIGN FRENCH Umbrellas

A tender, bittersweet love story, sung throughout in French.

With a name like the Umbrellas of Cherbourg and knowing it is a musical you can't help but expect some sort of Disney-esque farce, but that would be a mistake. The only thing this movie might have in common with those musical comedies is Jacques Demy's keen eye and ability to draw out color. A heart wrenching plot and depictions of classism are what sets this apart from its American cousins like Funny Face too. -Frannie

The Squid and the Whale.

by

STREAMING VIDEO KANOPY

In his third feature, director Noah Baumbach (Frances Ha) scores a triumph with an autobiographical coming-of-age story about a teenager (Jesse Eisenberg) whose parents are divorcing. The father (Jeff Daniels) and mother (Laura Linney) duke it out in half-civilized, half-savage fashion, while their two sons adapt in different ways, shifting allegiances between parents. Nominated for Best Original Screenplay at the **Academy Awards.** Nominated for three awards including Best Motion Picture - Comedy or Musical at the **Golden Globes**. Nominated for six awards including Best Feature at the **Film Independent Spirit Awards.** Winner of a Directing Award at the **Sundance Film Festival**. "*Acutely observed, faultlessly acted, graced with piercing emotion and unsparing honesty, it will make you laugh because you can't bear to cry.*" - Kenneth Turan, ***The Los Angeles Times***

Noah Baumbach's coming of age/divorce movie the Squid and the Whale I would consider a prequel to 2019's Marriage Story. Jeff Daniels gives an incredibly difficult to watch performance that can have you cringing every time he enters the frame. The core of the movie is the parent child relationship and how it evolves as we age and perceive each other. -Frannie

World War Z : an oral history of the zombie war

by Max Brooks

eAUDIO

This is the fictional, searing, gruesome account of the decade-long period when civilization stood on the brink of extinction due to a viral plague that transformed anyone it infected into a ghoulish creature with an appetite for living flesh, as told by the civilians, soldiers, and politicians who survived it.

A Sci-Fi book for our moment! I was reminded of this gem of an audiobook after listening to an interview with the author Max Brooks on Fresh Air with Terry Gross. Brooks knows what he writes about, this book is well researched, and it shows. Personally, I got a bit burned out on zombies in pop culture, but this one is a standout. The real draw is the all-star vocal talent. I think my favorite was trying to figure out what voice Star Wars' Mark Hamill, finally figuring it out, and being just blown away by his performance. -Frannie

City of thieves

by David Benioff

eAUDIO

This book written by David Benioff, one of the creators of HBO's "Game of Thrones", is a historical fiction delight, and when narrated by Ron Perlman it is beyond good. Winning the Alex Award (adult fiction with appeal to young adult readers) in 2009, this quickly paced buddy comedy set during the siege of Leningrad is unforgettable in Perlman's voice. There's a reason why this character actor featured on Sons of Anarchy, Beauty and the Beast, and Hellboy seamlessly transitions into voice work. You would never think a fraught quest for a dozen eggs would have so many twists and turns! -Frannie

The Count of Monte Cristo

by Alexandre Dumas

eAUDIO

For Edmond Dantes, life couldn't be better. At 19, he is soon to be captain of his own ship and about to be married to his true love, Mercedes. But his life is suddenly turned upside down when on his wedding day he is arrested. Without a fair trial, he is condemned to solitary confinement in the miserable Chateau d'If. Soon, it is clear that Edmond has been framed by a handful of powerful enemies, jealous of his success.

This page turning classic gives people a point of entry when they say something is too long to read. One of my favorite books of all time, many people scoff when they see the doorstop size. However, as an audiobook, it can be far more palatable to read with your ears any classic work of literature. -Frannie

The nickel boys : a novel

by Colson Whitehead

eAUDIO

Colson Whitehead is probably my favorite contemporary author, and the Nickel Boys is another entry in a stellar oeuvre. At times this book can become difficult to read, whether it is depictions of violence and detailing real examples of racism, sometimes I had to put the book down because it was a little too real. Narrator JD Jackson softens the difficult content and forces listeners/readers to confront the issues raised in the book. -Frannie

Bossypants

by Tina Fey

eAUDIO

From her youthful days as a vicious nerd to her tour of duty on Saturday Night Live; from her passionately halfhearted pursuit of physical beauty to her life as a mother eating things off the floor; from her one-sided college romance to her nearly fatal honeymoon, comedian Tina Fey reveals all, and proves that you're no one until someone calls you bossy.

I am a sucker for a funny lady memoir, and have yet to meet one that I didn't like. Tina Fey's "Bossypants" kicked off the publishing of some of this sub-genres greats by carving a niche in the market. What's even better? Listening to Tina Fey read "Bossypants", it is her story and she knows how to read it. Always hilarious and often inspiring, I can't recommend enough. -Frannie

All the light we cannot see : a novel

by Anthony Doerr

eAUDIO

"From the highly acclaimed, multiple award-winning Anthony Doerr, a stunningly ambitious and beautiful novel about a blind French girl and a German boy whose paths collide in occupied France as both try to survive the devastation of World War II. Marie Laure lives with her father in Paris within walking distance of the Museum of Natural History where he works as the master of the locks (there are thousands of locks in the museum). When she is six, she goes blind, and her father builds her a model of their neighborhood, every house, every manhole, so she can memorize it with her fingers and navigate the real streets with her feet and cane. When the Germans occupy Paris, father and daughter flee to Saint-Malo on the Brittany coast, where Marie-Laure's agoraphobic great uncle lives in a tall, narrow house by the sea wall. In another world in Germany, an orphan boy, Werner, grows up with his younger sister, Jutta, both enchanted by a crude radio Werner finds. He becomes a master at building and fixing radios, a talent that wins him a place at an elite and brutal military academy and, ultimately, makes him a highly specialized tracker of the Resistance. Werner travels through the heart of Hitler Youth to the far-flung outskirts of Russia, and finally into Saint-Malo, where his path converges with Marie-Laure. Doerr's gorgeous combination of soaring imagination with observation is electric. Deftly interweaving the lives of Marie-Laure and Werner, Doerr illuminates the ways, against all odds, people try to be good to one another. Ten years in the writing, All the Light We Cannot See is his most ambitious and dazzling work"--

I can not sing the praises of this book enough. The plot moves quick, the characters are fully realized, and the prose is beautifully written. The audiobook narrated expertly by Zach Appelman imbues every sentence with emotional gravitas. I was left searching for ways to continue to listen to this making it the audio equivalent of reading with a flashlight under the covers. -Frannie

The testaments : a novel

by Margaret Atwood

eAUDIO

Set fifteen years after Offred stepped into an unknown fate, this sequel to "The Handmaid's Tale" relates the experiences of three female narrators from Gilead.

Did you love reading "the Handmaid's Tale" and then watching the show? This book is a great followup, but my favorite part of the audio is that a good amount is read by Ann Dowd who plays Aunt Lydia on the Hulu show. Having her reading the back story of "Aunt Lydia" is really fantastic on so many levels -Frannie

A manual for cleaning women : selected stories

by Lucia Berlin

FICTION Berlin Lucia
Literary Fiction, Short Story

"Stories from a lost American classic "in the same arena as Alice Munro" (Lydia Davis) "In the field of short fiction, Lucia Berlin is one of America's best kept secrets. That's it. Flat out. No mitigating conditions." --Paul Metcalf A Manual for Cleaning Women compiles the best work of the legendary short-story writer Lucia Berlin. With her trademark blend of humor and melancholy, Berlin crafts miracles from the everyday--uncovering moments of grace in the cafeterias and Laundromats of the American Southwest, in the homes of the Northern California upper classes, and from the perspective of a cleaning woman alone in a hotel dining room in Mexico City. The women of Berlin's stories are lost, but they are also strong, clever, and extraordinarily real. They are hitchhikers, hard workers, bad Christians. With the wit of Lorrie Moore and the grit of Raymond Carver, they navigate a world of jockeys, doctors, and switchboard operators. They laugh, they mourn, they drink. Berlin, a highly influential writer despite having published little in her lifetime, conjures these women from California, Mexico, and beyond. Lovers of the short story will not want to miss this remarkable collection from a master of the form"--

Taking you all over, Berlin's stories give reader's the perspective of characters often unseen on the page. -Frannie

The yellow wallpaper and other writings

by Charlotte Perkins Gilman

FICTION Gilman, Charlotte Perkins
Short Story, Literary Fiction

The classic story "the Yellow Wallpaper" will not only affect your home decorating decisions but provide unique insight into mental illness that can feel a bit too real. -Frannie