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Young Mungo offers a striking story of disappointment, abuse, Protestant-Catholic conflict, and a young, gay love forged in the intensely unforgiving climate of working-class Glasgow. In his second novel, Young Mungo, Douglas Stuart offers the story of a working-class Glasgow family and particularly the life of sensitive, kind, dreamy Mungo, who was named for a saint. Raised by a codependent, emotionally stunted alcoholic mother who frequently abandons the kids for days or weeks while on benders or with a new boyfriend, Mungo also lives with a tough, loving older sister who's desperate to escape to university but doesn't dare leave Mungo. His local gang leader brother consistently makes trouble, forces violence, and threatens those Mungo cares about if Mungo avoids participating in brutality such as the widespread beatings of Catholics in the area. The story of Young Mungo largely alternates between an intensely disturbing, extended situation involving abuse, neglect, and danger and the blossoming of a forbidden young love, the vulnerability of allowing one's self to be seen for the first time, overcoming lifelong Protestant-Catholic conflicts, and forging a meaningful connection. The timing of the story isn't explicitly stated, but it feels like a 1980s setting. Young Mungo explores ideas of masculinity and loyalty, a gay relationship forged in an intensely unforgiving social climate, brutality, revenge, and it offers surprises as well. Stuart uses an omniscient point of view that allows the reader to understand characters’ disparate contexts and pressures and motivations. The story is beautiful and tragic and never feels emotionally manipulative. Do you have any Bossy thoughts about this book? Douglas Stuart is also the author of Shuggie Bain.

When mother and daughter head out for a weeklong visit of east coast colleges with a touring company,

What if you woke up from a coma and felt differently about almost everything, including the person you're struggling music career would someday take off, but it didn't look as though his dreams would ever come and just as he's letting his hopes soar that this might finally be his big break, Stella falls into a coma What does commitment mean when the essence of a person within the relationship changes?

hands, Annabelle must determine what she's made of and what she's willing to do to protect those in her community The book's themes have (deservedly) drawn comparisons to some of those in To Kill a Mockingbird (and

In City of Girls, Gilbert writes about a young woman's coming of age in 1940s New York City and traces

Solomon offers a sweet, romantic young adult story with emotions that feel authentic; the book showcases competition of regaining glory would be to win the elaborate seniors' game of Howl, a challenging scavenger hunt competition I was immediately invested enough in Rowan's general competitiveness with Neil that I was disappointed romantic story that celebrates many of the essential teenage touchstones: academic achievement and competition

together the beloved nightly show (there are around 8,000 episodes), hopeful contestants' sometimes wildly competitive actively trying to separate this immersive, love-filled fictional world of Rowling's with the hurtful comments straddling the kid/adult cookbook genres, ready to take on more slightly advanced techniques and more complex large percentage of dessert and sweet recipes, something we don't personally need more of--are The Complete for Young Chefs: 100+ Recipes That You'll Love to Cook and Eat from America's Test Kitchen, and The Complete

In Admissions, Kendra James explores race, friendship, ambition, and the absurdities and rhythm of daily life during her time at a New England boarding school. Kendra James was the first Black legacy to graduate from The Taft School, an elite boarding school in Connecticut. When she later works as an admissions officer specializing in diversity recruitment for independent prep schools, she finds herself examining her high school educational experience with a more critical eye, forcing herself to delve more deeply into aspects of her years at Taft that she largely glossed over at the time--and ultimately debating whether or not she should be advising families to pursue the same precarious path she herself followed. Digging into the past often seems a difficult undertaking, and as she looks back, Kendra James explains that her main goals when she attended Taft were not bringing to light racial injustice and leading a charge toward change, but typically teenage: to escape into role-playing video games and write fan fiction, to bond with a few classmates through watching favorite movies, and, primarily, to secure a spot in a college of her choice, then to (as is the goal for many high schoolers, for various reasons) get out of high school and get on with the rest of her life. James notes repeatedly that she felt largely unseen and unknown during her boarding school years. When she attends various Taft alumni events in the years following her graduation, they cement this same feeling. Her appearance in a Taft publication that lists her incorrect graduation year (and reunion year) grates on her as more evidence of this. The majority of page time is focused on aspects of James's boarding-school life, including its rhythms and peculiarities. James received financial aid to attend Taft, then $35,000 a year, and she then attended Oberlin for college, which, by her and her parents' design, was an admissions door likely opened more widely because of her Taft pedigree. But the book is not in large part about financial or class privilege. At times James laments the absence of frank discussions about race that she might have had with her parents, and she criticizes the lack of information she received from them on the topic. She wishes she could have learned more from them before entering Taft about the many ways she might have expected race to affect her life--especially considering the vastly white, elite circles her parents had either dipped their toes into or immersed themselves in: for example, Taft, Smith, Brown, and her father's banking job. The author notes that when she was a high schooler, in that place and time in our society, she didn't have an understanding of the power of daily microaggressions nor of blatant racism--nor did she have the language and perspective she now has to talk about such things--in order to sift through the many disturbing race-based incidents in her young life. James's evaluation of events of these years--including the racism she experienced at school; diverse, acute instances of disturbing behavior, whether race-based and class- and gender-based; and the social segregation of social groups by race--feels hesitantly explored at times as she attempts to dig into her raw teenage feelings while acknowledging her youthful lack of understanding and her early, unformed grasp of the myriad social, racial, and class issues shaping her experience. Regarding a situation in which the strict rule-follower James was accused of wrongdoing while at Taft, the author acknowledges that for years she largely glossed over not only the event, but the racial issues bubbling beneath the incident and her resulting emotional trauma, pushing all of this down until her reckoning with it in young adulthood. Late in the book, James shares select portions of a disturbing article a white student wrote for the school paper while James also attended Taft, in which the article's author largely blames the school's racial divides on the students of color themselves and mentions her discomfort about the existence of programs and events that put people of color at their center. James expresses anger and frustration at Taft's ineffective response--and at the many missed opportunities she sees before and after that event for the school to have shaped an effective approach to true inclusion. In Admissions, James offer a book that is partly a social critique, partly a recounting of the absurdities she experienced, and partly simply her unique story of living away from home and often feeling lonely and alone in her experience. I received a prepublication digital edition of this book courtesy of Grand Central Publishing and NetGalley. Do you have any Bossy thoughts about this book? Kendra James was a founding editor at Shondaland, where she worked for two years. She has written articles for various publications and is the author of a romance novel, When Hearts Collide.

Or maybe it will whet your appetite for the beautiful books that might be coming your way? is a decade-by-decade look at Seinfeld's favorite notes from his career in stand-up comedy, featuring If that's your giftee's cup of tea, this book offers small doses of Lewis' comfort and wisdom that can Milk Street puts recipes and flavor combinations through an exhaustive testing process, so you know you Lewis's book) and/or books related to a specific interest of my giftee's (cooking, comedy, science).

adrift after her mother's death, and she disappears into the constant attention her ornithology research commands On certain days she finds her own way to the community center where she and other young adults with challenges Wilson's story stars combustible children and the low-key, unambitious misfit who sticks with them, making it’s a romance, but it’s really a story about loyalty and devoted friendship without easy or saw-it-coming

#comingofage, #heartwarming, #faith, #nordic, #fourstarbookreview

Word of the Day, and follows highly structured routines—on certain days she finds her own way to the community She uses Old Norse words in her speech and thoughts; she frequently mentions bravery, combat, wisdom, becomes caught up in sketchy business of her brother’s, Zelda finds that her situation is a lot more complicated than sorting out her love life with Marxy from the community center, playing matchmaker with Gert and #comingofage, #siblings, #uniquePOV, #Vikings, #heartwarming, #fourstarbookreview

The book explores the complicated implications of perception as reality when it comes to race and its Blacktop Wasteland is a fantastic blend of realistic complications, mistakes, adjustments, and spunk. #comingofage, #heartwarming, #faith, #nordic, #fourstarbookreview What have been your favorite books What should I add to my completely unmanageable master Greedy Reading List of books to read?

world over a framework of the imagined point of view of Wolfgang Mozart’s real but largely unknown composer #fantasyscifi, #historicalfiction, #siblings, #youngadult, #comingofage, #threestarbookreview

Nonie and her group carry a book holding precious history, and on their journey they encounter various communities

followed all of the echoes in time, creatures convincingly impersonating other creatures, or protagonists' complex on leave and bleary-eyed from single-parenting her newborn, and she's questioning why she agreed to come

adventure romance; and a heartwarming, offbeat story set in Japan about the healing power of keeping company world of seers, frauds, and holy men vying for the king's favor in a competition to earn a position I love a mix of historical fiction and fantasy, and while this novel isn't as layered and complex or set of conflicts to consider at the story's close: duty, corrupt power, the suffering of the common Intention and need seem to be key to finding the source of cat comfort.

investigator, is bleary-eyed from single-parenting her newborn, and she's questioning why she agreed to come

By observing the serviceberry tree's distribution of resources to its surrounding community and how the That Audubon Missed explores the discoveries of the famous ornithologist John James Audubon in this combination But despite the fight to come out on top in the naturalists' matchup, many of the birds around them were by Arik Kershenbaum Animals are constantly communicating to each other in a cacophany of sounds--chattering The howling of wolves, chittering of birds, and whooping of chimpanzees is clearly communicating something

Luzia soon finds herself navigating the complex world of seers, frauds, and holy men vying for the king's favor in a competition to earn a position in his inner circle. Is the nature of each competitor's magic from the devil, or is it the angels' power coursing through Meanwhile, Luzia can't trust those competing against her for favor, as dark forces lead one after another I love a mix of historical fiction and fantasy, and while this novel isn't as layered and complex or

romance is sweet, spunky, and full of great banter, with characters finding their way (and love) despite complex Merry Men capture Clem in retribution for her help in healing the Sheriff of Nottingham, things get complicated

betrayals and the flipped script when fate and destiny aren't what the characters thought and they must come

Rae Dunlap's The Resurrectionist compared to Caleb Carr's The Alienist , a suspenseful novel about the Luzia is enlisted to help--and soon finds herself navigating the complex world of seers, frauds, and

Robinson's gentle novel Gilead spans generations of fathers and sons and explores a reverend's complicated Gilead is largely an exploration of the Reverend's complicated relationship with his troubled young namesake

price for temporary forays into upper-crust life, he must navigate Giles's physical aggressions, rude comments as a victim or feels righteous rage; his account treats such occurrences without dramatic editorial comment , as though they are commonplace--and, for him and his vulnerable schoolmates, they are. for a wealthy woman who is also her business investor, despite malicious gossip and judgment from the community

How Women Made Music draws also on fifty years of NPR coverage of women in music, as well as newly commissioned work. 02 Brothers by Alex Van Halen "We shared the experience of coming to this country and figuring Pasadena; of their proper Indonesian mother and traveling musician father; of Van Halen band politics and complicated

the decade he spent guarding priceless works of art, encountering a fascinating range of museumgoers, commiserating

of various characters, lost or in pain, who find themselves transformed by spending time with feline companions giving in to care for another creature is the catalyst for change; in other cases the cat itself and its comfort Intention and need seem to be key to finding the source of cat comfort.

of various characters, lost or in pain, who find themselves transformed by spending time with feline companions

01 The Wedding People by Alison Espach Espach layers complex emotional challenges like suicidal thoughts Espach writes a playful, poignant, often funny novel while anchoring the characters in complex emotions But after Sciona blasts the competition at her entrance exam and is admitted, she finds that not all of her dreams have come true. The janitor is a cultural outsider with a complicated history, and what he lacks in training he makes

Marianne Cronin has a new book coming out in December 2024, Eddie Winston Is Looking for Love . 02 White the author of the heartbreakingly beautiful In Love: A Memoir of Love and Loss , Away , Lucky Us , Come After I finished reading, I kept thinking about the characters and their realizations, compromises, and

pass through sixteen sunsets and sunrises in twenty-four hours, watching familiar geographic shapes come considering borders or conflicts, to glimpse its majesty without any tainting by its messy human-caused complications their typical everyday, earthly concerns, forcing intimacy with their fellow astronauts--their only company the red planet red, we'll devise a planetary flag because that's a thing we lacked on earth and we've come

Bonnie, Avery, and Lucky come together and push each other away throughout the story.

Rachel Kushner "Sadie Smith" is an American secret agent sent to France to infiltrate a subversive commune the Merry Men capture Clem in retribution for her help healing the Sherriff of Nottingham, things get complicated

Charlie Hustle also explores the many layers of complications, conflicts of interest, and potential

As his memory comes back to him in pieces, he recalls that his mission--before the devastating car crash Then Ethan finds the remains of Bill Evans (not the jazz pianist and composer of the same name), and Developments near the end of the book set up Ethan's complicity in the grand, nefarious conspiracy in

For twenty years, Sciona has single-mindedly set out to learn enough complex, intuitive, precise, powerful But after Sciona blasts the competition at her entrance exam and is admitted, she finds that not all of her dreams have come true. The janitor is a cultural outsider with a complicated history, and what he lacks in training he makes enormous magical secret, it could not only mean the undoing of the magical hierarchies that many have come

Her charm comes through in candid reflections about her fascinating life, and her young life's adventures

As his memory comes back to him in pieces, he recalls that his mission--before a devastating car crash Universal Time as they pass through sixteen sunsets and sunrises, watching familiar geographic shapes come

Yewande Komolafe, Ali Slagle, and more, served with mouth-watering photos and notes from the NYT Cooking community delicious options such as "a standout meal for one, crowd-pleasers for picky kids, or something special for company The joy of The Great British Bake Off is...this combination of old and new, classic and contemporary Recipes for promising, accessible comfort food with a twist include: Maple Bacon Pancakes with Bourbon

The world-building felt a little unfinished, but the adventure story was compelling, with women fighting

Blaylock's story centers around a packhorse librarian in 1930s Appalachian Kentucky and adds layers like a complicated But Amanda brings them reading materials, apples for treasured pies, and some joyful company, and a deep to shake up her future, but turns out to be intricately linked to some of the MacInteers's emerging complications The bad guy in the story is pure evil, and there's little doubt he'll get a comeuppance by the story's

club, and her forays into the local bookstore catch the eye of handyman Frank Daigle, who is still coming

Wang For twenty years, Sciona has single-mindedly set out to learn enough complex, intuitive, precise But after Sciona blasts the competition at her entrance exam and is admitted, she finds that not all of her dreams have come true. The janitor is a cultural outsider with a complicated history, and what he lacks in training he makes enormous magical secret, it could not only mean the undoing of the magical hierarchies that many have come

SecUnit is a company-supplied security android who accompanies corporate forays into planetary exploration story compelling. Humanity around the world is reliant on homemade and commercially manufactured pills--for health, for The economy runs on robots, partially augmented humans, and humans desperately trying to compete with Where did it come from? What do the carvings mean? What is the purpose of any of this?

small crew of astronauts in the twenty-second century who are searching for alien life--and who must come to terms with their purpose and their uncertain future when they lose communication with Earth. mission, she and her crewmates consider their impact on the worlds they visit; lament a disruption in communication The book's unwieldy title comes from this quote that Chambers provides within the book, from former UN

ICYMI: This series by Naomi Novik introduces vain, strong-willed, talking dragons, their complex, wonderfully Novik's dry humor comes through through the novel's irresistible Will-Temeraire interactions. “I should rather have you than a heap of gold, even if it were very comfortable to sleep on.”

Espach layers complex emotional challenges like suicidal thoughts, grief, and loneliness with funny, Espach writes a playful, poignant, often funny novel while anchoring the characters in complex emotions

club, and her forays into the local bookstore catch the eye of handyman Frank Daigle, who is still coming But Amanda brings them reading materials, apples for treasured pies, and some joyful company.

A frantic search takes place, and as the locals look for Barbara, various Van Lear secrets come to light wings despite her limits--her mother's alcoholism, her father's death, and her small outer Belfast community Both the world and the characters' personal lives are complicated, messy, wonderful, and fragile. I was invested in the characters and their messy methods of coming to terms with death and with seizing Here One Moment  traces what begins to happen as the first of the Death Lady's predictions seem to come