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Pam became the owner of The Bookloft in May, 2016. She reads and recommends many genres, from literary fiction to suspense to YA and cookbooks.
See more of my Staff Picks here!
How to Be Perfec t
is as nearly perfect as its title! An overview of some of the major fields of philosophy from Aristotle to Kant to objectivism and consequentialism, all told with a light hand and humor and concrete examples of how the "rules" of ethics can be applied to everyday situations (as well as the unlikely scenario of "the trolley problem"). Highly recommend for those who enjoy moral conundrums.
This is a strikingly original delving into the worlds, thoughts, and feelings of various women whose lives are touched by a murderer: his mother, his sister-in-law, the detective who never gives up on finding proof of his crimes. And the thoughts of the killer himself as he waits out the final 12 hours before his execution. Told with enormous empathy and wisdom. "It should matter, the distance between your desires and your actions. It should matter that you wanted to love [her], or at least learn how. You did not want to kill her."
An intriguing thriller with twists and turns galore. The ending may surprise you as there are only scants hints of the final twist to come. It's a suspenseful tale about the dangers found in self-pity and rage; the pitfalls of unending grief; the saving power of friendship.
A gripping thriller that won't let you go from first page to last. Even the bad guys are understandable and somewhat sympathetic (even if seriously misguided). Definitely worth a read!
Bookseller: Pam
Title: Project Hail MaryComments: All that was great about The Martian PLUS (. . . super-secret not-allowed-to-be-revealed information).
Read it. You'll love it. Lots of science; lots of adventure; lots of "saving the world."
Bookseller: Pam
Title: Great CircleComments: An unforgettable story of Marian Graves, a female aviator determined to live life on her own terms, at any cost. And a parallel story of a modern day actress chosen to play Graves in a film being made about her. The two stories intertwine and together create a beautiful, interesting, and highly worthwhile read.
Bookseller: Pam
Title: The Butchers' BlessingComments: A haunting mystery that deals with the clash between tradition and modernity, myth, magic and reality. Six months after reading this, the details pop into my mind with stunning clarity. And I adore the woodcut on the cover!
Bookseller: Pam
Title: All God's ChildrenComments: A story of deep and abiding but impossible-for-the-time loves in the Deep South and Texas in the years between 1827 and 1861. Along with the beautifully told interlacing stories of Duncan, Sam, and Cecelia, there is also quite a bit of Texas history -- its fight to become independent from Mexico and then being absorbed into the growing United States; the start of the Texas Rangers; the brutality against the Native American tribes -- all are backdrop ands woven seamlessly into the stories of the three main characters. This novel will take its place among the great stories that recount the country's fight for freedom, one that makes us want to keep on with the struggle.
Bookseller: Pam
Title: When These Mountains BurnComments: This novel is harsh and beautiful; painful and empathetic; filled with flawed characters, some heroic, some not. If you've ever loved an addict, or been an addict, you'll be able to relate.
Bookseller: Pam
Title: F*ckface: And Other StoriesComments: A quirky & charming, funny & heartfelt, bold & wrenching collection of stories about life in modern-day Appalachia. Hard issues handled with care and honesty.
When I first read The Game of Kings -- several decades ago -- I was delighted by Dunnett's glorious prose, facility with language, and the details of history. I have re-read the entire series several times in the intervening years and the books continue to delight. Sir Francis Crawford of Lymond is one of the best of literature's dashing and dangerous heroes!
Wow! I may have just discovered a writer who equals John Sandford and Michael Connelly in the suspense genre. Yes, this is a mystery/thriller but at heart it is about what one will do for love. Highly recommend.
In this short novel, Herzog explores themes of dedication, loyalty, and isolation through the mostly true story of Hiroo Onoda a soldier who continues fighting a guerilla war for decades past the end of WWII. As Japanese troops pull out of the Philippines, Onoda is given orders to "hold the island until the Imperial Army's return." So he does.
The tale is surreal but true, the language lyrical, nightmarish, ethereal. Fascinating and complex.
A powerful new voice in American poetry from Alexis Jackson, Her words dance and sing on the page with a Hip-Hop, call-and-response, gospel feel. Rooted in Jackson's past in Philadelphia her strong family ties, and her beliefs, these poems may make you see the world in a slightly changes way through her eyes.
Both a science fiction thriller and a psychological and literary feat. The characters are all well-honed, the situations plausible. This story will weave its way into your mind and possibly change you -- much like the Algorithms in the novel predict!
This book grabbed me from the first page and wouldn't let me go. Based on true events.