An Upper Valley native, Emma moved back to the area after 5 years working in sunny Los Angeles. After nearly a decade at Hanover-based INGO Grassroot Soccer she joined the Norwich Bookstore in late fall, 2020. Dedicated to all things garden- and tennis-related…with a fondness for Ottolenghi and appealing book covers.
Two families meet for the first time to toast the newly engaged couple. What could go wrong? Nothing really, at first, but as the bride's mother says, 'life is not simple'... Against the backdrop of modern London, Ali weaves together the family members' stories, their personal histories, and their future hopes and ambitions. I loved it. -Emma C.
George Orwell grew roses - he also grew plenty of veggies as well. Orwell’s Roses is really "Orwell and Roses: Annotated’. From Stalin's obsession with growing lemon trees, the labor movement's 'Bread & Roses' song, and Columbia's scentless greenhouses, Solnit links Orwell’s life and political beliefs with roses; their history, beauty, and symbolism in society. In short, completely brilliant. - Emma C.
My favorite kind of book - utterly hilarious then surprisingly moving. Mayflies is about the friendship of two Scottish men during different points in their lives. They're rough and tumble kids, passionate and thrill-seeking young men, then in their 50's confronting mortality. After I finished the book, I realized I missed the characters - it was that good.
Reading Zorrie is a bit like turning the pages of a generations-old family photo album with an ancient relative telling you about the places and people in the pictures. At first, Zorrie the character and Zorrie the novel appear simple, but I found that weighty topics abound - sometimes just outside the frame of view. Zorrie is a quick read, but it sinks in slowly and powerfully.
Even the cover art, which drew me to the hardcover book in the first place, plays a part in Eula Biss’s examination of our economic system at a personal level. (The cover contains details from a conceptual art project by Danica Phelps: in brief, every green line represents a dollar of income, a red line represents a dollar spent…)
Though relevant to any readers, this book is likely to resonate with the author’s (and my own) demographic [College-educated liberal American woman under 45-ish, especially with family and friends in academia...too specific?] as we confront societal, familial, and personal expectations in our career paths and life choices. Eula Biss grounds her shrewd observations in research, studies, and history.
Frankly, it’s quite satisfying to have someone articulate and reflect on one's own ruminations in a published book ...especially with an appealing and clever cover.
A novel shortlisted for the Booker Prize is always worth a try, but Burnt Sugar is not to be missed. Avni Doshi’s depiction of the relationship between a mother and daughter is filled with raw honesty and brutal humor — not unlike the 2020 Booker winner, Shuggie Bain (which I thoroughly enjoyed as well.)
A collection of intense short stories that capture pivotal moments in ordinary lives. Moniz's intimate stories are quick, tight, and often jarring. They will haunt you and you’ll want to read them again.