'"Most Blessed of the Patriarchs": Thomas Jefferson and the Empire of the Imagination' by Annette Gordon-Reed, Peter S. Onuf
"An elegant, astute study that is both readable and thematically rich."A portrait of Thomas Jefferson’s passionate belief in Enlightenment values and how it determined his personal character and that of the young nation.Read full book review.
'Journey to Munich' by Jacqueline Winspear
"Winspear elegantly balances Maisie’s emotional turmoil and dogged patriotism with the growing tensions of a Europe on the brink of war."On an undercover mission for the British Secret Service in Nazi Germany, Maisie Dobbs must face not only the horrors of the Third Reich, but very real reminders of her own tragic past.Read full book review.
'The Summer Before the War' by Helen Simonson
"Aficionados of Downton Abbey and The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society will sigh with pleasure."A bright confection of a book morphs into a story of dignity and backbone.Read full book review.
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'Miller's Valley' by Anna Quindlen
"There are familiar elements in this story—the troubled brother, the eccentric aunt, a discovery that hints at a forbidden relationship—but they are synthesized in a fresh way in this keenly observed, quietly powerful novel."In her eighth novel, a coming-of-age story set in rural Pennsylvania, Quindlen (Still Life with Bread Crumbs, 2014, etc.) focuses on a young woman buffeted by upheavals in her personal life and a threat to the farmland her family has owned for generations.Read full book review.
'Lab Girl' by Hope Jahren
"Jahren transcends both memoir and science writing in this literary fusion of both genres."Award-winning scientist Jahren (Geology and Geophysics/Univ. of Hawaii) delivers a personal memoir and a paean to the natural world.Read full book review.
'The Last Painting of Sara de Vos' by Dominic Smith
"This is a beautiful, patient, and timeless book, one that builds upon centuries and shows how the smallest choices—like the chosen mix for yellow paint—can be the definitive markings of an entire life."Smith’s latest novel (Bright and Distant Shores, 2011, etc.) is a rich and detailed story that connects a 17th-century Dutch painting to its 20th-century American owner and the lonely but fervent art student who makes the life-changing decision to forge it.Read full book review.
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'After You' by Jojo Moyes
"Moyes is a Maeve Binchy for the 21st century, and she has the formula down pat: an understanding of family dynamics, a nod to social issues, plenty of moral uplift, and a sentimental streak, all buoyed by a rollicking sense of humor."Moyes’ sequel to her bestselling Me Before You (2012)—which was about Louisa, a young caregiver who falls in love with her quadriplegic charge, Will, and then loses him when he chooses suicide over a life of constant pain—examines the effects of a loved one’s death on those left behind to mourn.Read full book review.
'Disrupted: My Misadventure in the Start-Up Bubble' by Dan Lyons
"An exacting, excoriating takedown of the current startup “bubble” and the juvenile corporate culture it engenders."An inside-out look at the frenzied and at times surreal work environment of tech startup HubSpot.Read full book review.
'The Rainbow Comes and Goes: A Mother and Son on Life, Love, and Loss' by Anderson Cooper, Gloria Vanderbilt
"Entertaining and thoughtful moments exchanged between a mother and son who have spent much of their lives in the spotlight."A famous mother and famous son bond through email exchanges. Read full book review.
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'Becoming Grandma: The Joys and Science of the New Grandparenting' by Lesley Stahl
"A welcome guide for new grandparents and their children looking to savor the joys and navigate the pitfalls of grandparenting."Award-winning broadcast journalist Stahl (Reporting Live, 1999) shares the joys of being a grandmother.Read full book review.