“There are two kinds of men,” Mom said. “Rich bastards and poor bastards. Neither will give a crap about your brains or personality, so go for the one with the money.” Beautiful PhD student Clara Zapata has never subscribed to the theory that the only thing men care about is ... more >
A sharp, self-deprecating comedy about surviving the dot-com crash, and yourself. It’s 2001, and tech startups are imploding, taking Marilyn Carr’s brand-new telecom job with them. Four months in, unemployed, and saddled with a terrifying Toronto mortgage, panic would be reasonable. Instead, Marilyn finds material. A glittering consulting contract rescues ... more >
The self-appointed mayor of a tiny Italian village is determined to save his hometown no matter the cost in this charming, hilarious, and heartwarming debut novel. Vacuum repairman and self-appointed mayor of Prometto, Italy (population 212) Signor Speranza has a problem: unless he can come up with 70,000 euros to ... more >
A mischievous dog takes matters into his own paws when his beloved owners split up in this offbeat romantic comedy. The Man has custody Monday through Friday, The Woman has custody on the weekends. But that’s not enough for Gatz, who will do anything to bring them back together—even if ... more >
Ori’s holidays are an endless series of elaborately awful meals cooked by her one-time stepfather Dave’s latest bride. Attended by a loose assemblage of family, Ori particularly dreads Grandma Elving—grandmother of Dave’s fourth wife—and her rhapsodizing about the Christmas she worked at Woolworth’s in the 1950s. And, of course, she ... more >
The Rook by Daniel O’Malley A couple of you mentioned enjoying this book in our December open thread. It had been languishing on Mount Kilimanjaro my TBR pile for years, and the love in the open thread prompted me to actually read it. Myfanwy (rhymes with Tiffany) Thomas comes to ... more >