Sarah B.

Leigh Stein's The Fallback Plan tells the story of Esther Kohler's post graduation summer at home. She has no plans and is hoping for an illness to help pass the time (nothing disfiguring, please). Esther takes a job as a babysitter for the daughter of a couple who recently lost an infant, pursues a crush who is less than a worthy catch, and writes (in her head at least) a screenplay about a Jewish panda traveling to a Narnia-esque land. It takes all of these experiences, chronicled by Stein with real wit and warmth, that help propel Esther, albeit grudgingly, into adulthood.

"The years that are gone seem like dreams—if one might go on sleeping and dreaming—but to wake up and find—oh! well! perhaps it is better to wake up after all, even to suffer, rather than remain a dupe to illusions all one’s life." These words were spoken by Edna Pontellier in Kate Chopin's bold novella THE AWAKENING , realizing for the first time her own power and passions. First published in 1899, The Awakening caused a national scandal. Edna's decision to follow her heart and leave her family in search of personal freedom, was shocking to a public unaccustomed to such a sympathetic view of a sexually aware woman. As I read The Awakening (in today's lovely Melville House Edition, one of 37 titles in the fabulous Art of the Novella series), I was struck by Chopin’s gift for language and her rendering of Pontellier's world: a sun-baked Creole island and steamy, sensual New Orleans. Chopin's penetrating insight into Edna's mind lifts this story to its well deserved status as a classic. Exploring the themes of marriage, motherhood, and a woman's independence with candor and beauty, The Awakening is a must read.

Aurorarama by Jean-Christophe Valtat is a weird book. Not in the playground taunt sense of the word, but according to the strict dictionary definition sense: Aurorarama is magical, spooky, otherworldly. The city Valtat creates, New Venice (“The Pearl of the Arctic”) is at once archaic (dog sleds, gas lamps) and utterly modern (political turmoil, drugs), and its denizens are absolutely sui generis. The novel creates a world that is completely realized, beautiful, ornate and treacherous. I picked up the book knowing very little about it and found myself quickly and happily immersed in Valtat’s world. If you are in the mood for a sophisticated literary adventure then wrap yourself in furs, hop on a sled and enjoy.

Moondogs by Alexander Yates was a surprise from start to finish. Yates’ strange and wonderful debut novel follows Benico to Manila to recover his kidnapped father. The novel surges forward, propelled by the unforgettable characters Yates has masterfully infused with life: meth-head tweakers, ex-pats, ex-cops, cab drivers, prostitutes and one very, very mean rooster; as well as a secret government fighting force made up of Bruhos, people with superhuman skills. Yates is a gifted story teller and the core of this dynamic novel is a paean to family, to understanding and the importance of finding one's place in the world. At times heart racing and heart breaking, Moonndogs is a Bruho itself: exciting, sometimes dangerous, powerful and ultimately magical to behold.

Where are you most happy? If you can't come up with an answer right away, you aren't alone. Longtime NPR correspondent and lifelong curmudgeon, Eric Weiner attempts to answer that questions for himself in The Geography of Bliss. Weiner visits the happiest, and least happy places on earth, from Iceland to Bhutan, Moldova to the UAE. He asks researchers, artists, gurus and laymen: “Are you happy? Why?” As humorous as it is insightful, this is a book for the optimist and the pessimist, for both the road warrior and the armchair traveler. Read The Geography of Bliss and then ask yourself, where am I most happy? You might be surprised by your answer.

Mothers. They gave us life and continue to give us support, praise, advice and, sometimes, criticism—with that distinct "I'm saying this because I'm your mother and I love you" inflection. With the advent of new technology, these messages—often hilarious, always warm—can go viral. Love, Mom is an entertaining collection of these modern mom-missives collected by authors Doree Shafrir and Jessica Grose, who realized that this type of communication was universal and started a blog called “postcardsfromyomomma.com.” They received thousands of submissions from loved children all over the world: e-mails on housekeeping and technology, instant messages on dating and pop culture, comments on blog posts and chatty updates from home. This selection, equal parts wise and whimsical, is the perfect gift for any mom (or anyone with a mom) in your life.

For the lover of books, 84 Charing Cross Road is a must read. This slim volume chronicles the twenty-year correspondence between feisty New York writer Helene Hanff and Frank Doel and his fellow employees of Marks & Co., a London bookseller specializing in rare and antique books. Under the guise of requesting and delivering hard to find books, Ms. Hanff, Mr. Doel and eventually Mrs. Doel and other Marks' employees develop a warm and humorous correspondence covering rationing in England, politics in America and the trials, tribulations and joy of life on both sides of the Atlantic. 84 Charing Cross Road is a wonderful glimpse into the lives (and onto the bookshelves) of these charming correspondents whose wit and generous spirit will delight you. So dear reader, do pick up 84 Charing Cross Road. I dare you to not pass it on to a fellow book lover (preferably through the good old USPS).

Poirot, Holmes... Maude the Sheep? In Leonie Swann's fantastic debut mystery, Three Bags Full, the death of a shepherd is of interest not only to the nosy townspeople of his small Irish village, but to his prize sheep. George's flock is dismayed at his death and take it upon themselves to solve his murder. Using the knowledge they've gained from the detective stories George had read them every night they hunt for clues and sniff out suspects. Was it bible-thumping Beth, always condemning George for his lack of religion? Or the evil smelling butcher, aptly named Ham? Or was it another more mysterious force at work? Swann takes the traditional whodunit and gives it a fun fleecy spin. With smart prose, and some very smart sheep, the author manages to not only satisfyingly solve the mystery of the dead shepherd but draw a convincing portrait of the countryside and the characters (two, and four legged) who inhabit it.

“Operation Mincemeat” was an audacious mission that changed the outcome of the war. In order to feed disinformation regarding troop movements to the Axis, Montagu's team arranged for the body of an Allied marine officer wash up on a Spanish beach with false documents. We are swept along as the team finds the perfect body, calculates where to drop it in the ocean so that it will wash up in the right place, clothes it so it would appear to have been in a boat crash, and most importantly, plants an attaché case with seemingly authentic, but strategically misleading, documents. Montagu's spare prose is riveting. This is a true story that is all the more suspenseful because of its historical accuracy. He is modest about the operation, but this was no small Allied military success; it was an instance where ingenuity, daring and sheer luck—not bombs and fire power—were of great aid to the war effort.