Being Mortal By Atul Gawande

• This isn't a book about medicine saving lives.  It is about how medicine can improve the quality of life for the elderly.
• Gawande mixes broad analysis of the state of end of life medical care with deeply personal stories.
• This is an emotional read that addresses tough topics.
• Gawande identifies a way forward for patient-centered end of life care.

The Kind Worth Killing by Peter Swanson

• This is a thriller that sets its own rules.
• Imagine meeting a stranger, who isn't really a stranger, and who has an agenda.
• As a librarian, I enjoy a novel where the librarian doesn't fit the librarian stereotype.
• The ending!?!?!  Seriously!

Like Family by Paolo Giordano

• This is a super-short read.
• Giordano quickly jumps into the plot and the complex characters.
• As a Giordano fan, I'm biased, but this is one of my favorite reads of the year.

A Step Toward Falling by Cammie McGovern

 100% Predictable 

+

Preachy on Multiple Social Issues

-----------------------------

After School Special

You're Never Weird on the Internet by Felicia Day

• If you love Felicia Day, then this book is for you.
• The book is packed full of her humor.
• I was most interested in her perspective on Gamergate, which proved to be interesting.

Me and Earl and the Dying Girl by Jesse Andrews

(John Green's Style x .75 Awesomeness)

-

Romance

----------------------------

Me and Earl and the Dying Girl

The Human Body by Paolo Giordano

• As a fan of The Solitude of Prime Numbers by Paolo Giordano, I was thrilled to see the release of two newly translated novels by Giordano hit the US market in the last month.
• The majority of this novel takes place in the battlefield.
• The characters are richly detailed and flawed.  Unlike in The Solitude of Prime Numbers, there are a large number of characters in the novel.  The key at the front of the text comes is useful.
• This novel is about decision-making and accountability in uncertain situations.

Where'd You Go Bernadette by Maria Semple

• Is Bernadette crazy or a victim of circumstances? 
• The book is told from multiple points of view relaying information from multiple characters.
• This is a light-hearted book that addresses several dark issues.

David and Goliath by Malcolm Gladwell

• The core of this book focuses on strengths and be weaknesses and weaknesses can be strengths.
• As in his earlier works, Gladwell oversimplifies a number real world events to fit his theories.
• Chapter titles and sub-headings sound like click-bait from the Internet.
• Overall, this is a thought-provoking work that should be read with a critical mind.

Fates and Furies by Lauren Groff

• Even after finishing this novel, I feel like I still don't know the main characters.  
• The book is divided roughly into two sections, each one devoted to each main character's point of view.
• Overall, the novel was enjoyable, even if it didn't live up to all of the hype.

The Mare by Mary Gaitskill

• This is Black Beauty for adults.
• In this novel Gaitskill looks into where the best intentions intersect with real-world conflict based in privilege and opportunities.
• With short chapters, this novel is a quicker read than it appears.

One Plus One by Jojo Moyes

• This novel falls on the literary end of the spectrum for romance novels.
• This novel focuses on characters focusing what they really want in life, and who they want to be in their lives.
• The main characters' resilience is the center point of the novel.
• With four narrating characters, the audiobook becomes disjointed.

Orphan Number Eight by Kim van Alkemade

• This book explores the impacts of medical testing on children.
• The main character is permanently scarred by medical testing as a child.  As an adult, she encounters the doctor who led the experiments.
• Within the first 40 pages, the plot of the novel is fairly clear.
• While the novel addresses a gruesome topic, it felt safe and even somewhat hokey.

Modern Romance by Aziz Ansari

• Having heard horror stories of online dating, I was curious to hear what Aziz had to say.  (I'm thankfully I missed the introduction of online dating.)
• The book is a balance of sociological research and Aziz's humorous commentary.  All together this makes for an interesting read.
• As an audiobook narrated by Aziz, my experience reading the book felt like Aziz's stand-up on the topic of dating.
• As Aziz fans would expect, there were numerous references to delicious food throughout the book.

The Dead Student by John Katzenbach

• Katzenbach explores the world of addiction and recovery through several characters in this book.
• Although I rarely read mysteries, this one is appealing given the well-developed characters.
• The two main characters research the past of a recently deceased relative.
• The last half of the book gets really dark (e.g. scenes that reference the Saw movie franchise).

Infinite In Between by Carolyn Mackler

• Mackler chronicles how a group of five students that meet high school freshman year transform into seniors.
• An appealing trait of the book is that this isn't about a single group of friends with predictable conflict.  Instead, the five students are not close as freshman.  Even as seniors they are not a cohesive group.
• The reader sees how scared and immature freshman evolve into well-rounded and interesting seniors ready to take on the world.
• Overall, I'd rank the book in the top quarter of YA novels.

Basic Black by Cathie Black

• Having heard this was the Lean In before Lean in I was curious to hear what Black had to say.
• The book mixes advice with Black's personal experience making it an enjoyable read.
• I found Black's experiences at USA Today the most interesting.  At the time it was a start up in a very traditional industry.

Between the World and Me by Ta-Nehisi Coates

• This book is written to the author's son.  This narrative style makes pulls the reader in.
• Additionally, this approach makes the subject incredibly compelling.  It is about the author's experiences and what he sees his son experiencing.
• I saw quite a bit of press about this book.  For me, it lived up to the raving reviews.

What Burns Away by Melissa Falcon Field

• This novel features a lovable and flawed person with a habit of setting fire.
• Much of the novel focuses on conflict between the main character and her husband.
• When an former boyfriend surfaces on Facebook things take a turn.
• The main character is flawed and makes poor choices, but remains relatable.

The Gold Standard by Ari Gold

• This is your opportunity to be coached by (perhaps "at" is more accurate) Ari Gold from Entourage.
• Gold is intense.  Listening to much of this straight is quite intense.
• For me, this was a good lead up to the movie to ease back into the Entourage world.

Why Not Me? by Mindy Kaling

• This reads like a sequel to her first book Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me?
• Mindy's charming personality makes this book engaging.
• The chapter of imagined party planning emails makes a rough translation to the audiobook format.  It quickly becomes cumbersome.  I think in print, it would be much more engaging.
• Kaling's narration makes the audiobook feel like she is chatting with you, her best friend.

Gumption by Nick Offerman

• In Ron Swanson's vocabulary this book is "very good."
• This book touches on many topics including: history, civil rights, literacy, art, and hand tools.  Each chapter profiles a different person making for a quick-paced read.
• Offerman reveals a deep respect creativity, tenacity, and resilience in this book.
• This is an especially great pick for fans of Parks and Rec.
• Some of my favorite moments of the audiobook are when Offerman can't help but chuckling at himself.

Little Victories by Jason Gay

• Excellent use of bullet points!  Much of the short book is in bullet points.  While the bullet points were a bit long, I still loved the format.
• Often lifestyle books are about making your life magazine perfect.  This books isn't.  It is about tips for living a good life.
• As the title states, this books doesn't focus on perfection.  It is about guides to living a balanced and engaged life.

Sleeping Giants by Sylvain Neuvel

(World War Z style narrative x .9 plot speed)

- Zombies

+ Alien technology

------------------------------

Pretty awesome read

Black Earth by Timothy Snyder

• Detailed, but readable.  
• A significant portion of the work focuses on Poland's role in the Holocaust.  
• Snyder thoroughly explains Hitler's view of the world through the lens of race and inevitable racial conflict.
• This books demonstrates what it means for a group of people to be without citizenship or a state. Using examples, Snyder demonstrates how Jewish populations without the protections of a government were substantially more vulnerable to the Nazi Final Solution.

The One Minute Manager by Blanchard and Johnson

• The audiobook reads like a telling of a story with an all-knowing narrator.
• The reader listens as the main character bumbles around learning of the magical powers of the one-minute manager.
• This title feels like it was set in the 1950s.  Evidence of this includes the role of women in the book, language used, and the author's conception of human motivations.
• Oddly, all the characters in or seeking management roles are men.

Testament of Mary by Colm Toibin

• This was an enthralling read given the intriguing subject matter.
• Having listened to the audiobook read by Meryl Streep it is hard to imagine what the experience of reading the print book would be like. 
• The novel incorporates events from the bible and retells them through Mary's eyes.
• Overall, the great text and outstanding narrator makes this a fantastic read.

Grit to Great by Kaplan Thaler and Koval

• The authors identify guts, resilience, initiative, and tenacity as the keys to grit.
• The short guide details how success requires more than talent alone.
• Suggestions from the authors include: become an over-preparer, go the extra 30 minutes, make yourself uncomfortable, and embrace plan b.
• One of the topics that caught my eye was the discussion of rejection.  The authors advocate that if you are not rejected you are not asking for enough.  At first sight, this does make sense.  However, the text ignores the social implications of making huge requests, which are especially problematic for women.
• Overall, this is an enjoyable and brief read that encourages readers to strengthen themselves.

Summer Secrets by Jane Green

• This novel occupies the space where Nicholas Sparks and Nora Roberts intersect.
• The characters are flawed, but still *good* people.
• Love is immediate and absolute.

A Load of Hooey by Bob Odenkirk

• It wasn't until a few months ago when I was totally sucked into Better Call Saul that I learned about Bob Odenkirk.  In this research I disocvered he was the comic mastermind behind my favorite SNL skit, Down By the River featuring Chris Farley.  
• The collection of essays and short stories explores the underbelly of society.  It isn't dark, but it brings to light popular assumptions.
• I enjoyed Odenkirk's narration of the audiobook.
• The essay that is most memorable to me is the imaged obituary for the creator of Mad Libs.

Everybody Rise by Stephanie Clifford

• This novel is a modern novel about social class and aspirations.
• The likable main character is deeply flawed.  The reader is at first empathetic toward her, but slowly begins to doubt the character's intentions.
• The trajectory of the character is predictable, yet enjoyable to read.

The Rosie Project by Graeme Simsion

• The nerdy and inflexible main character Don is seeking a life partner.  To efficiently do this and minimize awkward social interactions he creates a survey.
• Rosie fails this survey, but Don embarks on a mission to help her find her biological father.
• The novel opens with a hilarious scene where Don interacts awkwardly and inappropriately with a group of kids.  Overall, the novel crafts humorous scenes from Don's lovable, but awkward personality.

The Marriage of Opposites by Alice Hoffman

• This novels feels like something of an epic saga as it follows a woman's life from childhood to old age.
• The novel highlights changing values and social constructs that shift overtime.
• The main character surprisingly evolves into mother, and early antagonist in the novel.

Salt to the Sea by Ruta Sepetys

• Septeys relays this novel through several narrators.
• Each chapter is fairly short making this a quick read.
• In Salt to the Sea the characters are fleeing invading Russian army's and trying to escape notice by Nazi forces.
• Surprisingly it ends up becoming a love story.

A Window Opens by Elisabeth Egan

• This novel picks up on the broad chic lit trend.  However, it addresses mid-life issues as opposed to those faced by those in their 20s and early 30s.
• The main character is positioned between choosing her family or her work.  The character views the choices as mutually exclusive.
• Supporting characters are fairly flat, lacking depth and complexity.
• The novel questions the value of disruptive business models.

The Rosie Effect by Graeme Simsion

• I should have read the cover more closely.  As I started reading this I quickly put together it was a sequel.  Even with this knowledge I was drawn in and couldn't put it down.
• The novel follows a well-intentioned and socially awkward man as he prepared for fatherhood.
• Simsion's strength is his situational humor.  There are not explicit jokes, but the book is humorous.

Luckiest Girl Alive by Jessica Knoll

• This is a good read for those who like mystery surrounding violent events.
• While this book isn't a favorite of mine, I see why others have enjoyed it.

Playlist for the Dead by Michelle Falkoff

• This novel explores how a teenage grieves and deals with the suicide of his only friend.
• As the title indicates, the novel focuses on how music has meaning to the main character.  Each chapter has a track assigned to it.
• This novel is about the main character finding out who he is now that he lost his closest friend.
• Songs in the novel range from more recent indie-ish tracks to older alternative tracks.

The Muralist by B.A. Shapiro

• This historical fiction novel weaves between the Great Depression/WWII era and present day.
• Well known artists like Rothko are featured as main characters.
• The novel focuses on the life and struggles of an unknown artist and her attempts to help family immigrate from France to the U.S.
• Many, if not most, of the main characters in the novel struggle with addiction or mental illness. 
• There is a major transformation in the main character demonstrates the real impact of political events.

BiblioTech by John Palfrey

• Palfrey offers a broad overview of libraries in the past in in today's digital age.
• The author makes broad and idealistic recommendations for libraries thrive in the new information ecosystem. This top-down perspective issuing prescriptive recommendations misses the organic origins of many of the library innovations the author touts.
• The idea target audience for this book would be a non-librarian interested in libraries.  It serves as an introduction to the current state of libraries.

This is Your Life, Harriet Chance! by Jonathan Evison

• This is a quick read that tells the story of Harriet Chance's life.
• The story isn't told in chronological order.
• This novel is unusually light-hearted for addressing the serious issues of infidelity and death.
• Perhaps because the book is a such a quick read it is incredibly flippant toward the real issues of the main character.

A Line of Blood by Ben McPherson

This novel is a read-alike for Girl on the Train for the following reasons:

• Domestic and suburban UK setting
• Unknowable narrator
• Creeper vibe

Circling the Sun by Paula McLain

• A fascinating novel about an independent woman struggling to find fit into society.
• The novel combines both deep character development and a quick plot.  The main character doesn't sit still long.
• I enjoyed this novel much more than The Paris Wife.  Circling the Sun is less quaint.
• In the end, I found myself cheering for the main character.

The Uncoupling by Meg Wolitzer

• This novel has a domestic fairy tale feel.  There are elements that are realistic and others that are mystical.
• The novel centers around a married couple who both teach high school and what happens when one no longer desires the other.
• The novel's plot is unexpected.
• The ending is a bit too neat.

Big Little Lies by Liane Moriarty

After hearing a bit of buzz about this title I picked it up.

• The story is told from multiple viewpoints.  This strategy highlights the role that gossip plays.  It also demonstrates different perceptions of the same event.
• Moriarty balances character development and action throughout the novel.  The characters are complex.
• The narrator of the audiobook does an excellent job of conveying when there is a change in narrator.

Among the Ten Thousand Things by Julie Pierpont

• Pierpont explores the impact of infidelity on a marriage.
• The novel incorporates several narrators, often switching quickly between narrators.
• There are many novels about infidelity. This novel takes a new look about infidelity and the implications one partner's actions have on a family.
• After reading this I don't feel like I really knew any of the characters.
• Overall, an enjoyable read.

Dumplin' by Julie Murphy

• This YA novel will appeal to adult readers too.
• The novel follows a summer and fall school semester of high school student Willowdean.
• The main character is likable, has faults, and is learning about herself.
• As can be expected with a YA novel, there are love interests, frenemies, and conflict with parents.
• It is a quick-paced read that has a satisfying conclusion.

The Governor's Wife by Michael Harvey

• I wanted a quick read following a 720 page epic.  This was it.
• Quick paced with a smattering of dark characters.
• A standard thriller.

A Little Life by Hanya Yanagihara

Warning: this is a lengthy book.  It is a significant time investment.  It is a good one.

• A Little Life follows a group of four close college friends throughout their life.  
• The writing style feels similar to Tartt (Goldfinch, A Secret History).  This book focuses heavily on the character development and the process, not on the plot.
• Each of the four main characters is slowly revealed.  This is a novel about growth, maturity, and how the "core" of a personality.
• This novel isn't a light read.  It addresses topics of extreme child sex abuse and violence.  
• In short, I loved this book.  I experienced major distress when my ebook loan from my local library expired and I still have 200 pages left.  This resulted in me driving over a lunch break to pick up a print copy so I could finish. I couldn't leave the characters unfinished!

The Family Romanov by Candace Fleming

• This is a nonfiction book written for children, but also appealing to adults.
• The book follows the life of Nicholas II of Russia and his family.
• Along with describing the life of the royal family, the book provides the contrast of what daily life was like for peasants in Russia.
• The book includes historical figures like Rasputin, the extended Royal family, and Lenin.