March is National Reading Month, named so in honor of Dr. Seuss’ March 2nd birthday. Of course, reading is enjoyed all year long, but National Reading Month is a great excuse to pick up a new book and spend some time between the pages. Not sure what to read? Look no further. We’ve reached out to the expert staff at some St. Louis independent bookstores to get their recommendations. Here are the books that staff from The Book House, Left Bank Books, Subterranean Books, and The Novel Neighbor are loving right now.
The Book House
Recommended by Michelle Barron:
1. A Dream So Dark by L.L. McKinney
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A new, darker take on Alice in Wonderland with rich fantasy elements and led by a strong female protagonist. This book follows the first in the series, A Blade So Black.
2. St. Francis of Dogtown: A Crime Novel by Wm. Stage
Written by a former Saint Louis University instructor, this is a crime novel set in St. Louis’ very own Dogtown. A gripping read with a plot taking place in familiar neighborhoods.
3. Great River City: How the Mississippi Shaped St. Louis by Andrew Wanko
A fantastic book for those interested in history and the St. Louis area. She recommends it for its gorgeous photography and insight into how the Mississippi River formed the St. Louis of today.
Left Bank Books
Recommended by Shane Mullen:
1. Afterlife by Julia Alvarez
“Who are we after the ones we love are gone? Antonia Vega’s husband’s death and her sister’s disappearance have made her emerge from the world of stories in her mind to a very real and very demanding new world around her. When a young, pregnant, and undocumented immigrant finds her way to her doorstep, Antonia is pulled into unfamiliar territory and faces her grief for her husband, her family, and her lost world. This timely novel explores how we’re all responsible for the world we live in, and how our lives can and must begin again.”
Recommended by Terry Whittaker:
1. Apeirogon by Colum McCann
“If there is a book better than Apeirogon published in 2020, it will be a very good year. This true story of an Israeli and a Palestinian working together for peace gave me hope for overcoming seemingly impossible divisions in our country. Apeirogon is centered on Palestinian Bassam and Israeli Rami; both of whom have lost children in the ongoing conflict. They are real people whose stories are enhanced in this novel. In the middle of the book, you get to read their own words. The book is broken into 1,001 sections—think The Arabian Nights—some a sentence long, others a few paragraphs that serve to create a quiet space in the text to reflect on the previous passage. Apeirogon solidifies McCann as one of the premier authors of his generation.”
Recommended by Amanda Jacobsen and randy Schiller:
1. The 7½ Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle by Stuart Turton
“This is one of the most extraordinarily original concepts for a book I’ve come across. Aidan Bishop wakes up at a house party, but he is not himself. Literally. He’s in the body of someone else, and he’s been tasked with solving the mystery of who killed Evelyn Hardcastle before time runs out. Each day, he’s reborn to relive the same day in a different body. This is one of the most intricately layered novels I’ve read, with such a diverse cast of characters. What a wild ride!”
Subterranean Books
Recommended by Kelly von Plonski:
1. Verge by Lidia Yuknavitch
“These stories are dark, and most of them give the reader a peek into a layer of society that one hopes they don’t have to interact with in real life.”
2. Little Eyes by Samanta Schweblin
“This book shows the negative consequences of our oversharing, voyeuristic culture.”
Recommended by Alex Weir:
1. How to Catch a Mole: Wisdom from a Life Lived in Nature by Marc Hamer
“One of the loveliest things I’ve ever read. This is the memoir of a most extraordinary man, who happens to have made his living trapping moles—until he decided he couldn’t any longer—in rural Wales. In my estimation, How to Catch a Mole should be accorded instant-classic status. It’s that good.”
2. Long Way Round: Through the Heartland by River by John Hildebrand
“Hildebrand’s latest book is the chronicle of his solo voyage around Wisconsin via three of its principal rivers. This is a wonderful read; I especially recommend it to fans of William Least Heat-Moon’s writing. Midwestern regional history at its finest.”
Recommended by Gena Brady:
1. To Throw Away Unopened: A Memoir by Viv Albertine
“This could be the best memoir I’ve read. Albertine’s frankness and perspective ring so true it’s like being able to breathe again. She is best known for fronting the groundbreaking all-female post-punk band, The Slits, but this is her story later in life, reckoning with the loss of her mother and lifelong confidant. With a depth of perspective that gives voice to women everywhere, her stories and truth-telling kicks down the door, unashamed and beautiful.”
2. Essays One by Lydia Davis
“Davis is 100%. Her topics and analysis are so refreshing. It is a joy to read, with dry wit to boot. It is 528 pages, but don’t be intimidated; you can pick it up, put it down easily. I liken it to taking a master class from an inspiring professor for the cost of a hardcover book.”
The Novel Neighbor
Recommended by Zoe Maffit:
1. Get a Life Chloe Brown by Talia Hibbert and The Kiss Quotient by Helen Hoang
“In a genre that’s all about uplifting women, these stories poignantly center on characters who are marginalized in myriad ways as they fight for their happily ever afters.”
Recommended by Linda Bakersmith:
1. The Invention of Hugo Cabret by Brian Selznick
“This book is one of my favorites, and it’s a perfect book for my son and I to read together. It has mystery, character perseverance, and illustrations that draw you in as much as the story itself.”
Recommended by Cody Roeker:
1. We Set the Dark on Fire by Tehlor Kay Mejia
“This book is about a Primera named Dani who slowly falls in love with a girl who is also married to her husband on the backdrop of a revolution. Centered on female/female enemies to lovers, this is a dystopian fantasy that I found simply revolutionary.”
Recommended by Holland Saltsman:
1. Oona Out of Order by Margarita Montimore
“A time-traveling story about a woman who wakes up every New Year’s Day in a different year of her life. Imagine going to bed when you’re 19, waking up 51, and then the following year in your 30s. Both heartbreaking and humorous, Oona tries living her best life, not knowing where or when she’ll end up next.”
Recommended by Stephanie Skees:
1. Three Women by Lisa Taddeo
“A non-fiction masterpiece: Taddeo writes about the lives and sexual desires of Sloane, Maggie, and Lisa with an intimacy and familiarity that will resonate with any reader.”
Recommended by Grace McKinney:
1. Wolf in the Snow by Matthew Cordell
“A wandering wolf cub and a red-hooded child on their way home from school meet unexpectedly when a blizzard hits. This Caldecott Medal–winning picture book is a poignant tale of newfound friendship, family, and compassion—all without words.”
Recommended by Alicia Gregov:
1. The Great Alone by Kristin Hannah
“Set in 1970s, post–Vietnam War, a young girl is dealing with her father, who we now know is suffering from PTSD and her mother who tries to help. They find out some news that takes them to Alaska, a move her father thinks will make everything right again. It does not. This book stole my heart.”
Recommended by Maleeha Ahmad:
1. A Woman Is No Man by Etaf Rum
“This novel tells the delicate story of three generations of Palestinian women who all go through more than any person should. She depicts the meaning of resilience with fleeing of one’s homeland and domestic abuse.”
Recommended by Melissa Posten:
1. In a Jar by Deborah Marcero
“This beautiful picture book teaches us that there is magic in everyday things and that friendship can be held onto, even when two people are far apart.”
2. Other Words for Home by Jasmine Warga
“Warga’s heartfelt verse novel for middle-grade readers paints a moving and relatable picture of the refugee experience. The story is told from the point of view of a young Syrian girl who finds herself trying to fit in and live a semblance of a normal life thousands of miles from home.”
