Tag: book recommendation

A Q&A with Lily Brooks-Dalton

November 25, 2022
by Robin Wood

We had the opportunity to talk with Lily Brooks-Dalton, author of The Light Pirate (12/6, Grand Central Publishing) in advance of her December 8 in-person event (click here for ticket information) in conversation with store co-founder Judy Blume and store manager Emily Berg at Hugh’s View at The Studios of Key West. We are wildly excited about meeting Lily and can’t recommend The Light Pirate enough (it is also our featured staff pick for December)!

Q: How did you arrive at the story you tell in The Light Pirate? Did you start out with a specific goal or idea or character?

A: I was actually here in Key West when I first started ruminating on preparing for storms and wondering whether there was a story I wanted to tell wrapped up in that rhythm. I was doing a residency at The Studios of Key West and there was a hurricane coming that didn’t end up hitting the Keys, but there was this palpable tension in the air that I kept coming back to. And then I started thinking about linemen, and all this labor that goes into keeping the lights on… so probably the first concrete story moment I had was imagining this little girl tagging along on storm duty with her father, waiting for him in the bucket truck while he worked on the downed lines. That exact scene didn’t actually make it into the book, but that was where I began. And the story grew from there.

Q: The book is told from the perspective of more than a few characters. Was there one you think of as your protagonist? 

A: I think of Wanda as my protagonist. The book begins on the day she’s born (I guess technically the day before) and it spans her lifetime, so even though we’re also following the people around her, I’d say she is at the center.

Q: You’re from Florida but now living in California. Did you ever think of telling this story from a West Coast perspective?

A: Well, I actually grew up in Vermont. I struck out on my own fairly young, and right around that time my parents decided to relocate. So Florida has always been my home base as an adult, but I’m not sure I get to say I’m from here. I started working on The Light Pirate about a year before I moved to California. At that point I was actually living out of my truck and traveling around, but I had just spent a big chunk of time in Florida and so the landscape was still very fresh for me. I didn’t even consider setting it somewhere else, Florida was at the heart of the idea from the start.

Q: What was the process like seeing Good Morning, Midnight go from book to film? Could you see The Light Pirate as a movie?

A: It was extraordinary. It’s hard to describe really, beyond saying that it was special and weird and it had a resounding impact on my life. I’m really grateful that it happened. As for The Light Pirate, if we were to do an adaptation, I see it as a TV show. There is more story to tell in this world than even the book contains, and I wouldn’t want to shrink down what is already on the page to fit it into a 2 hour container. I would want to let it expand and breathe! So, I think television offers more space to let something like this unfold.

Q: What are you reading and recommending these days?

A: I just finished Dinosaurs by Lydia Millet, which I liked very much, and then I will also recommend Beneficence by Meredith Hall. I read it a while ago but I’m still thinking about how gorgeous it was. And I also want to chat up The Water Will Come by Jeff Goodell, which is nonfiction, because it has a terrific Florida chapter and just in general was a text that I really valued and learned a lot from while I was working on the novel.

The Year in Review: 2022 Featured Staff Picks

November 25, 2022
by Robin Wood

We had a lucky baker’s dozen of featured staff picks this year. Any one of these will make an excellent gift for the discerning readers on your holiday shopping lists.

Store manager Emily launched the year with A Certain Hunger by Chelsea G. Summers (Unnamed Press), which she said “checked all the boxes.” Emily continued, “How did she become a ruthless killer? Did her victims have it coming? Will she ever find the perfect duck confit? I had to know.” Read the review.

To coincide with Black History Month, in February, bookseller Lori picked Yonder by Jabari Asim (Simon & Schuster, out in paper Jan. 10), which she especially recommended for readers who enjoyed The Prophets by Robert Jones, Jr. (out in paper, Feb. 8). Read Lori’s review.

Social media manager Robin is still thinking about Black Cake months later. “Twisty, fun and moving, you’ll enjoy this book where everyone has (a lot of) secrets,” Robin wrote. Read her review.

“Taste reminds me that whomever you are and wherever you come from the sharing of food connects us,” wrote bookseller Gina about Taste: My Life Through Food by Stanley Tucci (Gallery Books). “Plus,” she notes, “I learned how to make the ‘perfect’ martini!” Read her review.

Store co-founder George wrote of Booth by Karen Joy Fowler (G.P. Putnam’s Sons), “This is historical fiction at its finest.” He continues, “When I learned that Fowler, author of the witty and surprising We Are All Completely Beside Ourselves had a new novel, I jumped at the chance to preview it.” Read George’s review.

“This is an enthralling tale that will sweep you off into the night,” bookseller Riona Jean writes of
Daughter of the Moon Goddess by Sue Lynn Tan (Harper Voyager). Read Riona’s review, dive into Daughter of the Moon Goddess and it’s sequel, Heart of the Sun Warrior.

July was a double feature. Store co-founder Judy picked Love Marriage by Monica Ali and George picked River of the Gods by Candice Millard. Read what they had to say.

“This isn’t the kind of fairy tale where the princess marries a prince. It’s the one where she kills him,” reads the jacket copy for Nettle & Bone by T. Kingfisher (Tor Books, look for the paperback Feb. 28). Bookseller Camila loved it, calling it “a perfect summer read, a blend of fantasy, horror, unforgettable characters, humor, and a brave feminist protagonist.” Read Camila’s review.

Written for a middle-grade audience, Unseen Magic by Emily Lloyd-Jones (Greenwillow Books, look for the paperback Feb. 21) will also appeal to adults looking for a charming mystery with Scooby-Doo vibes. Read Robin’s review.

“Do you love weird animal facts? Do you love academia? Do you love sticking it to the patriarchy?” Then bookseller Riona Jean has just the book for you. Read her review of Bitch: On the Female of the Species by Lucy Cooke (Basic Books).

Assistant manager Allison calls A Minor Chorus by Billy-Ray Belcourt (W. W. Norton & Company) “A gorgeously written debut novel that poses the question, how can I write a novel, how can I expose myself to life and love through the lens of queer indigenous authenticity.” Read her review.

“Tragic, but hopeful and completely enthralling. The Light Pirate by Lily Brooks-Dalton (coming Dec. 6, Grand Central Publishing) is an essential read.” Read Emily’s review and don’t miss our event with author Lily Brooks-Dalton, Judy Blume and Emily in-person December 8.

Find even more books we love, on our staff recs shelf and scattered around the store, and online on our staff recs page.

August Staff Pick: Nettle & Bone

July 28, 2022
by Robin Wood

Nettle & Bone by T. Kingfisher (Tor Books), picked by Bookseller Camila

“The trees were full of crows and the woods were full of madmen. The pit was full of bones and her hands were full of wires.”

first line, Nettle & Bone

I was browsing for a summer read amongst our new releases when I came upon this brief description on the back jacket of one of our bestsellers.

“This isn’t the kind of fairy tale where the princess marries a prince. It’s the one where she kills him.”

Well, that grabbed my attention and I started Nettle & Bone that very evening. Marra is our princess and the hero of this story, or rather dark & twisty fairy tale. She is the youngest of three sisters in a kingdom struggling to maintain its power. Marrying off the sisters seems to be the only way to keep it safe from invasion, even if the marriage is to a powerful yet abusive prince. We follow our hero Marra while she plans a rescue mission to save her sister, murder a wicked prince, and topple his throne. In order to receive the help she needs to fight such an evil adversary, Marra needs to succeed in this insurmountable quest:

  • Build a dog of bones
  • Sew cloak of nettles
  • Capture moonlight in a jar.

Along the way she meets new friends and gathers a fierce team of the quintessential fairy tale variety which includes a courageous yet disgraced ex-knight, a fairy godmother with unreliable magic, a dog of bones, an ornery grave witch, and a demonic chicken. Can they save her sister and survive this mission? Will they have their happy ending?

I loved reading this dark fantasy and devoured it within one sitting. Nettle & Bone is a perfect summer read… especially if you like a blend of fantasy, horror, unforgettable characters, humor, and a brave feminist protagonist. Enjoy the journey, I sure did.

~ Camila

Judy & George Recommend

June 24, 2022
by Robin Wood

For early summer reading, I chose a glorious romp of a novel. Not a rom-com, but something different for me. I’d read good reviews and it’s hard to beat that cover. Turns out LOVE MARRIAGE by Monica Ali was just what I craved.

The story of two young doctors, engaged to marry, set in London. She is from a conservative middle class British/Indian family. He is the son of a wealthy, liberal, famous feminist. Both families approve of the marriage. That’s not the problem.

Everything else is. Plenty of humor, political satire and sex. It all comes together and makes for a great read. I loved it!

George just finished RIVER OF THE GODS by Candice Millard. At first I told him to stop telling me the story. I wanted to read it myself. But his stories about the characters and their adventures were so fascinating I encouraged him to tell me just a little bit more each time.

We both wish you many happy hours of reading this summer.

~ Judy Blume, store co-founder

About RIVER OF THE GODS, George writes:

The fabulous true story of the brave, obsessive Englishmen who discovered the source of the Nile, and of the role played by heroic Africans who guided and supported them.

“Compulsively readable, and ultimately heartbreaking.”

Windswept & Interesting by Billy Connolly

May 23, 2022
by Robin Wood

Happy publication day (Two Roads, May 24) to Windswept & Interesting  by Billy Connolly!

In his first full-length autobiography, comedy legend and national treasure Billy Connolly reveals the truth behind his windswept and interesting life.

Windswept and Interesting is Billy’s story in his own words. It is joyfully funny – stuffed full of hard-earned wisdom as well as countless digressions on fishing, farting and the joys of dancing naked. It is an unforgettable, life-affirming story of a true comedy legend.

Bookseller Lori recommends A Little Devil in America: In Praise of Black Performance by Hanif Abdurraqib to Billy Connolly

We were delighted to be part of the filming of his documentary Billy Connolly: My Absolute Pleasure.

Here’s a little taste of the documentary (which, sadly, is not currently available in the U.S.):

March Staff Pick: Black Cake

February 24, 2022
by Robin Wood

Picked by Robin, social media manager

I like to be surprised – and BLACK CAKE by Charmaine Wilkerson (Ballantine Books), our staff pick of the month for March, begins on a literal cliffhanger.

“He stood at the water’s edge, now, watching the waves crash white against the rocks, waiting for his daughter’s body to wash ashore.

… He remembered a clattering of plates, the splintering of glass on the tile floor, someone crying out. When he looked toward his daughter, she was gone and her satin-covered shoes lay strewn on the lawn outside like tiny capsized boats.”

– Black Cake

In a family shaped by secrets, siblings Byron and Benny sit down with the family lawyer to hear about their mother’s past, revealed only after her death. She asks them the share a Black Cake, a recipe that has been an important part of their family traditions and gains significance as the story unfolds. Before the cake is shared, we learn there should be one more at the table.

These are people who have never heard Dr. Phil’s adage: Would you rather be right or would you rather be happy? But they are compelling characters and the plot is propulsive. This book is the whole package: beautiful cover, good writing, strong plotting, relatable characters.

Twisty, fun and moving, you’ll enjoy this book where everyone has (a lot of) secrets.

****

“Survival is not enough. Survival has never been enough.”

Black Cake

I love this quote, which comes late in the book, because in a story about Black characters it makes sense out of context, but in the larger context it pulls together the themes of the book. Love and inheritance and all the bigger problems of the world that we can’t ignore or escape.

Here’s a bit more of the quote, from page 372 of the hardcover,

“Etta is swimming for her children now, and for their children, too, not for the records. She uses every chance she can to talk about the health of the oceans. Seafloor damage, runoff, plastics, rising water temperatures, overfishing. She calls for the designation of additional protected zones. But she also take the time to show the audience old photos of herself as a girl in a swim cap, plus her favorite snapshots of Patsy and the boys when they were little, poking around a tide pool in Wales, their shoes clumped with wet sand. She never forgets to show the joy, to show the love. Because, otherwise, what would be the point of anything?

Survival is not enough. Survival has never been enough.”

Black Cake

Feb Staff Pick of the Month: Yonder

January 28, 2022
by Robin Wood

Picked by Lori, bookseller

Now out in paperback!

Lori, who curates our Black History Month display, recommends Yonder by Jabari Asim (Simon & Schuster) for readers who enjoyed one of her previous picks, The Prophets by Robert Jones, Jr.

Of Yonder, Lori writes, “The slaves are The Stolen, their masters are The Thieves, and Yonder (Canada) is the promised land of freedom. The story of slavery and all of its horrors is not new, but this book focuses instead on the intimacy and love The Stolen feel for each other under the harshest conditions. Allegorical, poetic, and unflinchingly honest, it had me reading through tears of sadness and joy.”

In picking this book, Lori was looking for a good read to kick-off Black History month, and she thinks that it will appeal to readers who want complex stories of the challenges and joys of Black people in America.

“I would consider this a companion piece to The Prophets, which tells the story of a passionate affair between two enslaved young men, another book depicting slaves as loving people looking for intimate connections in the face of the most hopeless of times,” Lori writes. Read her review of The Prophets from last February.

Lori writes that she enjoyed and was intrigued enough by Yonder to add other books by Jabari Asim to her TBR. Maybe she’ll find something that works for next year’s Key West Literary Seminar, which has the theme I Sing, America: A Celebration of Black Literature, and for which she is the chairperson.

Jan Staff Pick of the Month: A Certain Hunger

January 12, 2022
by Robin Wood

Picked by Emily, store manager

Store manager Emily, masked, holding a copy of A Certain Hunger

A Certain Hunger by Chelsea G. Summers (Unnamed Press)

It’s well known among the store staff and volunteers that my reading picks tend to pivot to the macabre. Yes, I do enjoy a little dark in my books, but above all I love a deep dive into the minds of interesting characters.

So, when I came across a book from the perspective of a murderous food critic, it instantly jumped to the top of my TBR pile. A Certain Hunger did not disappoint. It checked all the boxes.

Dorothy Daniels is a food critic with all the descriptive language skills needed to tell her story of love, lust, murder and a smidgen of cannibalism. You know she did it, you know she gets caught, and yet I still found this to be a page turner.

How did she become a ruthless killer? Did her victims have it coming? Will she ever find the perfect duck confit? I had to know.

Like some of my other favorites this one might not be for everyone but even if you don’t always like dark, the descriptive language alone is enough to keep anyone engaged. And if you do like dark, don’t waste another moment not reading Summers brilliant debut novel.

~ Emily

Our favorite books of 2021

January 1, 2022
by Robin Wood
5x6 grid of book covers

2021 is in the books, and for us, it was all about books. Here are the books we read and loved last year and are still thinking about and recommending.

Tag us on social media (@booksandbookskw) and tell us what you loved. Even though we are replete with books, we’re always ready to add another to the TBR pile.

Judy

Our Country Friends by Gary Shteyngart

Six months in the country (waiting for the pandemic to end) with a cast of characters who will have you laughing, crying and cringing. His best book yet and that’s saying a lot!

The Magician by Colm Toibin

I thought I wouldn’t be interested in the life of Thomas Mann. How could I have been so wrong? Brilliant – the book, the man, and his family.

Mary Jane by Jessica Anya Blau

It’s the 70’s! Get ready to meet Izzy, the best five year old in modern fiction, her way out parents, their summer guests (a rocker and a movie star) and Mary Jane, the summer nanny. Hilarious, endearing, with enough going on underneath to change Mary Jane’s life. I loved this one.

And a picture book — The Little Wooden Robot and the Log Princess by Tom Gauld

You will love reading this story to the young ones in your life. And they will love it too.

George

A Bright Ray of Darkness by Ethan Hawke

A deep dive into into the travails of masculinity against the backdrop of a master class in the life of the stage. Hawke may be an actor, but he is a damn fine writer, too. His marriage dissolves, but Shakespeare (Henry IV) triumphs. Fascinating. (Out in paper 1/18.)

Burning Boy by Paul Auster

Takes us richly into the brief but astounding life and works of Stephen Crane, a man who redefined the meaning of the word “writer.” Both a biography that leaves us in awe of this intensely dedicated man, and, through examination of his work, an eye-opening course in modern writing.

The Hummingbird Gift by Sy Montgomery

The author of Soul of An Octopus takes us to another startling world, that of the champion of flying. Able to hover for as much as an hour, these fiercenessly competitive birds are warriors in their endless quest for food/fuel.

The Netanyahus by Joshua Cohen

It’s the 50’s and Bibi Neyanyahu’s father is an unwanted academic seeking an appointment at a second rate college in Upstate New York. His antics are the stuff of comic gold. Though a novel, it’s based enough in fact to provide perceptive insights about Israeli history and American Jews.

Emily

Infinite Country by Patricia Engel

The most realistic story of immigration I’ve read. It’s not a thriller or extreme drama. It’s just the life of a family and their journeys.

The Good Hand by Michael Patrick F. Smith

“I went to work in the oil field for the same reason most people go to boomtowns, I wanted to make money fast and I was out of options. You could say my demons were catching up to me. I was surprised by what I found, because it wasn’t much money. It was better than that. . .” Michael Patrick F. Smith discussing his book, The Good Hand. Read our Q&A with him from March 2021.

Editor’s note: Emily highly recommends The Good Hand as an audiobook.

The Queen’s Gambit by Walter Tevis

The book came out 1983 but I read it in 2021, and it is so good that I’m afraid to watch the show despite everyone telling me how good it is.

Lori

Last House on Needless Street by Catriona Ward.

A mind blowing psychological thriller/horror story about a man and his very unusual family. It kept me off balance until the end…and after.

My Heart is a Chainsaw by Stephen Graham Jones

One of my favorite horror novelists did it again with an homage to the slasher films of the 70’s, 80’s and 90’s. I was rooting for the heroine, Jade, the whole time. Look for the sequel, Don’t Fear the Reaper, coming August 2.

Little Devil in America by Hanif Abduraqib

A great exploration of the past, present and future of African-Americans in the performing arts. Dance, poetry, music, even preaching in church are covered by a dynamic cultural observer.

Gina

Salty Piece of Land by Jimmy Buffett

I’m a constant re-reader and Tully’s story needed to be finished.

Home at the End of the World by Rita Troxel

All I can say is I envy the people who discovered Key West before everyone else did!

The Testaments by Margaret Atwood

One of the most powerful stories I’ve read – we all saw shades of this happening in 2020 – and are still seeing it in 2021 – constantly reminds me to never lose my voice.

Riona

The Thousand Crimes of Ming Tsu by Tom Lin

This is everything I need in a great Western: a troubled & mysterious leading man, a traveling circus, and a splash of magical realism perfectly entwined with revenge and self-actualization. Ming stayed with me for a long time. 


Girly Drinks: A World History of Women & Alcohol by Mallory O’Meara

I love beer, books, and history. O’Meara presents a fantastic and inclusive history of women and alcohol, covering such topics as the scientific process, brewing as a means to financial independence, and drinking habits reflecting change in society. 

Editor’s note: Don’t miss this one as an audiobook.


Empire of the Vampire by Jay Kristoff. I keep describing this book  to friends as a Death Metal album. Beginning in media res, Empire of the Vampire plays with timelines, the power dynamic between humanity and vampires, and the control organized religion imposes on its followers. Bloody, fun, and heartrending, I couldn’t put this down. 

Camila

Gladys the Magic Chicken by Adam Rubin, Illustrated by Adam Rex

My son Cannon & I loved this funny story about a magic chicken. Is she really magical? Or did the characters make their own magic? This is my new favorite picture book and we LOVE Gladys!

The Book of Magic by Alice Hoffman

I loved this final book about the Owens sisters. It’s a beautiful celebration of family and magic.

Brood by Jackie Polzin

I was drawn to this beautifully written book mostly because of the chickens. She captures the trials and tribulations of chicken tending so perfectly, and also tells a story of loss and grief.

Animal by Lisa Taddeo

Not about magic or chickens, but a book that left me a little disturbed and unsettled. Hard to put down.

Robin

The Girls I’ve Been by Tess Sharpe

Despite some heavy issues (that contribute to it’s thriller-ness), the writing style is light. Oceans8 for the YA reader. A page-turner about surviving and defining who you want to be.

A Memory Called Empire by Arkady Martine

Masterful world-building, politics, poetry and a mystery. I recommend it to people who enjoyed The Traitor Baru Cormorant by Seth Dickinson. The sequel to A Memory Called Empire, A Desolation Called Peace, successfully changes venue from murder mystery to first-contact with a war threatening. Also, highly recommended.

A Master of Djinn by P. Djèlí Clark

A police procedural in magical, steampunk Cario. And queer to book. Marvelous fun.

What we read when we read about food

December 31, 2021
by Robin Wood

One of the things that makes A Certain Hunger by Chelsea G. Summers delicious is the descriptive writing, worthy of its food critic protagonist.

“Craddock’s Corpse Reviver #2 is an exquisite drink that sits on the lintel of anarchy: what makes it also breaks it. The splash of absinthe propels the Corpse Reviver #2 into the territory of the faintly hallucinogenic–the absinthe also dates and places the drink.”

– A Certain Hunger

In fact, the protagonist, Dorothy Daniels, would favorably place herself in the company of the outstanding practitioners of her craft.

“I am a great food critic, one of the greatest, and, I should add, a great food writer; Gael Greene, Ruth Reichl, Sam Sifton, R.W. Apple, and the rest can collectively kiss my delectable ass.”

– Dorothy Daniels, A Certain Hunger

A Certain Hunger (Unnamed Press) is the staff pick of the month for January 2022. Read store manager Emily’s full review.

Coincidentally, New York Times food editor Sam Sifton is speaking and headlining a fundraising gala for the Friends of the Key West Library on Jan. 31. Learn more about that event and the full 2022 speaker series at the FOL website. If you aren’t able to attend an event, watch for replays on the FOL YouTube channel.

For foodie mysteries of a cozier type, don’t miss the Key West Food Critic Mystery series by Lucy Burdette. The most recent one is A Scone of Contention, which takes you off the island, all the way to Scotland, but most of this series is set in Key West and gives you a fun tour of our island paradise, along with a murder or two. Read the Q&A we did with Lucy a couple of years back, and watch our social media feed for occasional sightings of Lottie, the author’s canine companion.

The next Key West Food Critic Mystery, A Dish to Die For, comes out in August, but you can preorder it now. We can preorder almost any book once it has a confirmed publication date. Check out this handy list of a few of the books we are looking forward to this year.

If all of this talk about food has made you hungry, we always have a wide range of cookbooks in store. Come in and browse for something new for your dinner table.