Need more reading material for your quarantine? We have a new batch of favorites old and new from our staff!
Pro tip: To see more of each staff member’s staff picks click their name! Find them all here
Circe by Madeline Miller
“Circe is about a woman who is born at the bottom of the divine totem pole: she is the daughter of a Titan, but has no godly powers. She is tormented and reviled and abused; disregarded, exiled, assaulted. She is given nothing. From nothing, she creates her own power. A solitary witch, she forges her own path, clawing out her place in a world that would punish her solely for existing. There's more to women characters than madonnas and whores. Let Madeline show you the way.” -Abby
“A work of heartbreaking solitude for your heartbreaking solitude.” -Anthony
“An oldie, but goodie! As a self-proclaimed all things Marvel enthusiast, I enjoy diving deeper into the sometimes lacking background of my favorite characters. That being said, Loki is my one true love, and I had to know more about him. Norse mythology is a truly enjoyable read; it's fast-paced, informative, and just plain fun. Journeying through the origin of the universe, the gods, love, loss, and all-out war, Gaiman weaves the perfect tale for a quarantine read.” -Daisy
“This is a historical romantic comedy of errors. Lord Holt wakes up with a sack over his head and ties down, and realizes that he has been kidnapped. Heiress Winnifred Humphries' friends have taken Lord Holt for research on a book about ill-behaved men. She convinces them to let him go. When Lord Holt is returned to safety he checks his pockets and learns his money is gone. Convinced the women stole his money, Lord Holt decides to kidnap the Winnifred to get back what he lost.
Lorret manages a few big reveals, giving the plot a number of surprising turns. I laughed out loud quite a bit and swooned—which is exactly what I need right now, a book that starts grim and ends with love and happiness.” -Danni
“I didn't pick this book for the title, thought it is a fitting description of our present situation. I picked it because it was, for me for two days, an escape from our present situation. But not in a beach read way. The narrator is an adolescent girl whose obsessions and urges only intensify when her best friend gets abducted. Dark and foreboding and noirish but also strangely nostalgic.” -Eddie
“Writing this book nearly killed me. Please buy it. Thank you!” -Emma
“Natalie Tan returns to San Fransisco's Chinatown to discover it's no longer prospering as it once was when her grandmother's restaurant was running. While cooking for a few of her neighbors, Natalie discovers the magic of food may possibly revitalize her beloved community! My favorite part of this whimsical novel is the written recipes (they made my mouth water, so be prepared to have the urge to cook). Each recipe has an intention for goodwill, peace, love, and/or luck. If you become a fan, be prepared for Roselle's second book this summer!” -Jacque
“This book is recommended time and time again, but it really is something everyone should read! It questions what qualities make us categorically human and explores the abounding topics of love, art, and quality of life...now is the perfect time to dive into these deep subjects and contemplations. If you have been waiting for a sign to read any of Ishiguro's amazing works, it is me, I am the sign, read this book!” -Lindsay
“My cousin and I terrorized our mothers by laughing loudly and constantly while reading entire chapters of the Georgia Nicolson books aloud in middle school, and this may be the only book that has scratched that itch for me as an adult: an adventure that’s absurd, plotted mischievously, and told by an opinionated and playful narrator. Truly a very welcome escape.” -Maritza
“Local artist Leslie Stein's beautiful artwork mimics this serious (and a lot of the time seriously funny) memoir as Stein puts it all out there. It is a very candid and honest piece of work that touches you in a lot of different ways. I can't express enough how wonderful this book is.” -Nick
“This novel, which tells of a lesbian relationship through a series of letters, is truly one of a kind. Intimate, devastating, and compulsive, Last Words from Montmartre is animated by the unnamed narrator’s imperfect love and its excruciating aftermath. Qiu Miaojin writes with incredible insight into the implications–physical, philosophical, and spiritual–of love and its extremities. The letters can be read in any order, but no matter how you decide to read it this novel will stay with you long after you’ve finished it.” -Nika
We choose new staff picks every month, so stay tuned for regular updates.
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