Staff Picks: Fiction

Click on the book cover to read more about the book, see available editions, and to order.

City of Thieves

by David Benioff
Reviewed by: Emily, Hillary, Emma, Nathan, Barbara, and Carolina (Sebastopol)

We all LOVE this book! During the siege of Leningrad, two men--Lev, the quiet 17-year-old son of a Jewish poet, and Kolya, a handsome, fast-talking soldier who has not quite deserted his regiment--are charged with finding a dozen eggs in a starving city for the wedding of a colonel's daughter. Filled with excitement, dark humor, and humanity. When we finished this one, we didn't want to read anything else--it's just that good.

The History of Love

by Nicole Krauss
Reviewed by: Hillary (Sebastopol)

This was one of Copperfield's Backlist Bookclub Picks for 2011 and a lot of our staff read and loved it. Krauss spins a touching and incredible story of what it means to live and be human. With incredible writing and brilliant characters this book is a joy to read! I've recommended it to everyone I love!

The Hottest Dishes of the Tartar Cuisine

by Alina Bronsky
Reviewed by: Lindsay (Sebastopol)

This is a gritty, insightful novel of family dynamics and national identity. The characters are well thought out and the prose is punchy and fast paced. From the author of Broken Glass Park.

V

by Thomas Pynchon
Reviewed by: Nathan (Sebastopol)

A madcap adventure with a wide range of characters inhabiting a range of times and settings. Fun, funny, and devastating at times. A great read!

Family Fang

by Kevin Wilson
Reviewed by: Hillary (Sebastopol)

This is a fun and quirky look at the family dynamic. Annie and Buster are the children of performance artists who consider their work more important than their children. Funny, touching, and sad, this is a satisfying read.

Moby Dick in Pictures

by Matt Kish
Reviewed by: Joanna (Sebastopol)

This gorgeous edition feature an arresting drawing for every page of Melville's classic. The luscious colors complement the text and vice versa. A beautiful gift for yourself or others.