Heading up to Middlebury, where I'll be handselling some of my favorite books at The Vermont Book Shop from 1-3 pm. Hope to see some of you there: 380 Main St., 802-388-2061.

Some of my favorite books, in no particular order.:

GLORY O’BRIEN’S HISTORY OF THE WORLD – A.S. King. I think her best book since VERA DIETZ. Young adult; this author has won tons of awards.

THE DOG LIVED (AND SO WILL I) – Teresa J. Rhyne. This is memoir, the story of a woman whose dog got cancer (and survived) – shortly followed by her own cancer diagnosis. Funny, heartwarming, informative, and just had a new printing. There’s a sequel just out, THE DOGS WERE RESCUED (AND SO WAS I), which delves into beagles used for testing cosmetics (the Beagle Freedom Project) and the author ultimately seeking out a more compassionate lifestyle toward all animals.

MEMOIRS OF AN IMAGINARY FRIEND – Matthew Dicks. Didn’t expect to like this book from the description but could not put it down. Loved it. Quirky, immensely powerful.

THE KILLER NEXT DOOR – Alex Marwood. A psychological thriller with lovely character development and a wonderful case of characters – she won the Edgar for her first crime novel last year, THE WICKED GIRLS (also most excellent).

SOMEONE ELSE’S LOVE STORY – Joshilyn Jackson. Loved it. I’ve quite liked others of her books, but this one grabbed and wouldn’t let go in a particular way.

STATION ELEVEN – Emily St. John Mandel. Unless you think this one has been sold to death already!

WANT NOT – Jonathan Miles. I can’t normally read books that switch back and forth between viewpoints, but this one flows, smoothly and powerfully.





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