[title subtitle=”recommendations and image courtesy: Bookish”][/title]
Five must-read book recommendations from our friends at Bookish, Fort Smith, Arkansas’s only independently owned book store.
Normal People
Sally Rooney
Rooney’s second novel is full of “psychological acuity amidst sparse prose.” It seems like an age-old story, the captain of the high school football team conceals his relationship with the shy, quiet girl, but as the years and the book progress each must decide how to define their relationship. As the title suggests, you’ll ask yourself if anyone is really normal.
The Plaza
Julie Satow
Satow, an award-winning journalist, uncovers the intrigue of The Plaza. Whether it conjures images of F. Scott Fitzgerald frolicking in the fountain or a Russian oligarch checking into the most luxurious penthouse in 2007, Satow dishes out the goods on all of The Plaza’s exciting visitors, its owners, and the money trail.
Mrs. Everything
Jennifer Weiner
If you’d prefer to read a seasoned author, Weiner is just for you. Starting in 1950s Detroit, Weiner shows us just how different two sisters can be. In the face of traumas and tragedies, will Jo, the tomboy, or Bethie, the feminine good girl, be able to overcome and find true joy? Through it all, they have different goals and dreams, but as they age, they work to answer the same question: What does it take to be a woman in this world?
Furious Hours
Casey Cep
The subtitle of the book, Murder, Fraud, and the Last Trial of Harper Lee, says it all! This book is as intriguing as Harper Lee herself. Broken into three parts, the reader is first introduced to the crimes of Rev. Willie Maxwell, a rural preacher accused of murdering his family members for money and the writer, Lee, who was set on writing about the case. This nonfiction book is a must-read if you like true crime, history, or Harper Lee.
The Travelers
Regina Porter
This debut novel travels through time and place beautifully and intimately. With a cast of unforgettable characters whose lives intersect in places like Coney Island, France, Vietnam, and even Buckner County, Georgia, Porter’s love letter to storytelling does more than just tell a story. It is an exploration of what it means to be American today. While it’s a bit experimental in format, it’s a whole lot of fun!
