Book Shelf
It looks like 2020 is gearing up to be a wonderful year for readers, although those of us who love books think that every year is a great year for readers. We asked Melissa Vavra, a reference associate at Brunswick Library, to give us the names of this year’s most anticipated books. Let the page-turning begin.
American Dirt
By Jeanine Cummins
Expected Publication: January
Why not start off the New Year with a saga that is already being hailed “a new American classic?” Lydia lives a fairly idyllic life in Mexico until her family falls prey to a drug cartel. Her terrifying journey to the United States with her young son makes for an emotional novel brimming with courage, sacrifice and hope.
The Glass Hotel
by Emily St. John Mandel
Expected Publication: Feb. 15
A plot involving a couple whose lives are dismantled by a greedy schemer is just one strand in Mantel’s marvelous literary web. Readers will also be captivated by her lyrical prose and the depth of her vast cast of characters which are woven together into this hauntingly beautiful morality tale. (Mandel’s novel Station Eleven was Medina County Library’s One Book One Community Read of 2016).
Deacon King Kong
By James McBride
Expected Publication: March 3
The residents in a New York City housing project are the heart of this 1960s crime drama. A church deacon murders a drug dealer, and every witness has their own idea as to why it has occurred. McBride is a genius at bringing his characters to life, as their stories intertwine to tell a larger one of faith, fear and a community in the grip of change.
Darling Rose Gold
By Stephanie Wrobel
Expected Publication: March 17
Rose Gold stuns the community when she agrees to care for her mother, who has just been released from prison. Has Rose truly forgiven her mother for the lie that destroyed her childhood, and has her mother forgiven Rose for testifying against her? Or are mother and daughter just waiting to exact their revenge? Wrobel’s psychological thriller promises to be deliciously deranged and sizzling with suspense.
I Want You To Know We’re Still Here: A post-Holocaust Memoir
By Esther Safron Foer
Expected Publication: March 31
Esther is the child of parents who lost their entire families during the Holocaust, and her upbringing ached with tragedy and loss. As an adult, it is revealed to her that there is more to the story, and she travels to Ukraine in search of the truth about her identity. This multigenerational memoir radiates life and love even in the darkest of moments.
All Adults Here
By Emma Straub
Expected Publication: May 5
Straub is known for penning pitch-perfect stories of dysfunctional families, and her newest sounds right on the mark. When matriarch Astrid witnesses a bus accident, it unlocks a memory that makes her consider how her parenting has affected her adult children’s ability to thrive. This funny and insightful book explores what it means to “grow up,” no matter what your age.
