MARCH 2016 STAFF READING SUGGESTIONS


THE NEST
by Cynthia D'Aprix Sweeney
(Releases March 22)

Four adults siblings have been living their lives in
expectation of an inheritance they will receive when 
the youngest turns 40.  When the oldest brother is 
involved in an unfortunate accident, the "Nest" is used 
to bail him out, leaving a much smaller inheritance for
the rest of the siblings, forcing them to rethink their
lives and their relationships.
-Maxwell Gregory





EVICTED: POVERTY AND PROFIT IN THE AMERICAN CITY 
by Matthew Desmond

In this brilliant and heartbreaking book, Harvard sociologist Matthew Desmond takes us to Milwaukee's poorest neighborhoods to tell the story of eight families living on the edge and two landlords who use eviction as an ordinary means of forcing families to shelters, squalid apartments or more dangerous neighborhoods. Desmond transforms our understanding of extreme poverty and economic exploitation while providing fresh ideas for solving a devastating problem. This is a must read for all.
-Kathy Petray




UNDER THE INFLUENCE  
by Joyce Maynard 


After losing custody of her son to drunk driving,
Helen is trying to get her life back on track and
regain custody of Ollie.  When she meets the Havilland's,
the golden couple, she is enveloped into their world of
luxury and their promises to help her get Ollie back.  
Reminiscent of The Great Gatsby, Helen has to chose 
between reality and the lure of the Havilland's.
-Maxwell Gregory





FLIGHT OF DREAMS 
by Ariel Lawhon  


A thrilling fictionalized account of the final flight of the Hindenburg.  Told in the alternating voices of several of the crew and passengers it's a clever imagining of what may have happened those last three days the dirigible was airborne.  Suspense filled and FUN!  Ms. Lawhon also wrote The Wife, The Maid and The Mistress which has been a hit "on the table".
-Di Grumhaus





A DOUBTER'S ALMANAC 
by Ethan Canin
 
An epic novel about the double edged gift of genius (mathematical), and it's profound effect on three generations.  Dysfunction, rivalry, love, achievement, loss - they are all here, and heart wrenchingly depicted.  The story is saved by the second half, so keep reading!
-Susan Ross




SISI: Empress on Her Own
by Allison Pataki

"New York Times" bestselling author Allison Pataki is back! This intensely personal tale of Empress Sisi continues in Imperial Vienna, where the court halls buzzed with waltzes and champagne, as well as temptation, rivals, and cutthroat intrigue.  Infamously beautiful, a mother of four, and wife of Emperor Franz Joseph-whom she unintentionally stole away from her sister-Sisi's reign was anything but simple. Readers of Philippa Gregory, Paula McLain and Daisy Goodwin will enjoy this compelling new book.
-Colleen Maloney




KEEP ME POSTED 
by Lisa Beazley 

The story of two sisters and their attempt to reconnect and grow their relationship despite the distance between them. Trying to bridge the gap between Manhattan and Singapore, the sisters decide to write actual letters in order to share their lives. There's an unexpected twist which complicates the relationships even further. The story is touching, the characters relatable, and the narrator is laugh-out-loud funny. Great beach read!
-Amy Hoobler

...AND NEW TO PAPERBACK

THE JAZZ PALACE
by Mary Morris

Written by Highland Park's Mary Morris, The Jazz Palace takes you on a journey to 1920's Chicago. The story of a young man following his chosen musical path is fraught with challenges. The Jazz Age is exemplified in the highs and lows of an ever changing atmosphere. You can almost hear the notes flying off the page. Familiar Chicago landmarks interspersed throughout.
-Mary Anne Donahue





THE SWIMMER 
by Joakim Zander 

A fast-paced international thriller billed as "Homeland meets Stieg Larson", this is a great spring break read for both husbands and wives!
-Di Grumhaus


What We're Reading For Kids



PAX 
by Sara Pennypacker


A modern classic!  The powerful story of the relationship between a boy, Peter, and his fox, Pax.  As Peter's father enlists in the military, he forces his son to abandon Pax in the woods.  As the two search for one another, they each learn the important lesson of self-reliance along the way.
-Laura Skinner





MAYBE A FOX 
by Kathi Appelt and Alison McGhee 


This middle grade read is about two sisters and a fox cub who live in different worlds that collide. This tale is beautifully told in alternate voices.
-Molly Forlow








SWEET HOME ALASKA 
by Carole Estby Dagg 

A sweet middle-grade novel based on a little-known historical project set up by FDR in Alaska to help families struggling during the Great Depression.  It's 1934 in the wilderness of Alaska and Terpischore and her family are making the best of their new, challenging reality.  Charming and old-fashioned, this will be appeal to anyone who loves Laura Ingalls Wilder and her Little House books or historical fiction.
-Di Grumhaus
Lake Forest Book Store
662 N. Western Avenue
Lake Forest IL 60045 
847-234-4420

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