Jon M. Sweeney’s charming memoir addresses meaningful books that he read at pivotal points in his life. As a seasoned bookseller and publisher, Sweeney knows that the value of a good book goes well beyond its pages. Each chapter of his... Read More

Naomi Kanakia’s sparkling novel "The Default World" exposes the shaky foundations of community, love, and found family in post-capitalist San Francisco. After being cast out by her conservative Indian parents and struggling to build a... Read More

Bright contrasting colors and funky patterns enliven this whimsical picture book that teaches the lesson “less is more.” A man sets out to build a house; he instructs the builder to add room after room until he has 100 rooms. He has... Read More

In Tatsuhiko Shibusawa’s allegorical novel Takaoka’s Travels, there are questions about whether a lifelong dream to reach the Buddha’s place of origin is worth it. Takaoka had a close relationship with his father’s consort,... Read More

Challenging its audience to find themselves within its heroines’ tales, Leah Hager Cohen’s magnificent turn-and-read novel To & Fro is a tour de force peek into the wilds and wounds of childhood. Annamae, a linguist’s daughter... Read More

A woman has another chance for love in Ann H. Gabhart’s nostalgic romance novel "The Song of Sourwood Mountain". In 1910, Mira is a schoolteacher. She was once in love with a classmate, but he died of tuberculosis. Resigned to being... Read More

A patient poses a question to his psychologist: “Ya wanna know who clipped Boris Levenko?” It’s a query that a bevy of Russian and Albanian mobsters want answered, setting off a chain of mortal consequences in Mark Rubenstein’s... Read More

In Simon Van Booy’s charming novel "Sipsworth", a widow and a mouse forge an unexpected, exceptional bond. Helen grieves for her husband, her son, and the strength of her once-youthful body. She returns to the village of her childhood,... Read More