Little Fires Everywhere by Celeste Ng (soon to be a Hulu limited series)
The Richardson family lives in Shaker Heights, Ohio, everything is planned from the layout of the
roads, colors of the houses, and successful lives its residents will go on to
lead. No one embodies this spirit more
than Elena Richardson, whose guiding principle is playing by the rules. Mia Warren, an artist and single mother, arrives
with her daughter and rents a house from the Richardsons. Their lives will
merge with those of the Richardson’s.
When family friends of the
Richardsons attempt to adopt a Chinese-American baby, a custody battle divides
the town with Mia and Elena on opposing sides. Elena wants to uncover
Mia's mysterious past. Her obsession comes at unexpected and devastating costs. The
book explores the weight of secrets, the nature of art and
identity, the pull of motherhood, and the danger of believing that following
the rules can avert disaster.
Where the Heart Is by Billie Letts
Seventeen-year-old, 7 months pregnant Novalee Nation was heading for California with her boyfriend. Now she is stranded at a Wal-Mart in Sequoyah, OK, with just $7.77 in change. Novalee is about to discover hidden treasures in this small town--a group of down-to-earth, deeply caring people willing to help a homeless, jobless girl living secretly in a Wal-Mart. From Bible-thumping blue-haired Sister Thelma to Forney Hull the eccentric town librarian who hides his feelings behind his world of books, it puts a human face on the look-alike trailer parks and malls of America’s small towns. It will make you believe in the strength of friendship, the goodness of down-to-earth people, and the healing power of love. And it will make you laugh and cry every step of the way. It takes you on a moving, funny, and unforgettable journey to . . . Where the Heart Is.
The Swans of Fifth Avenue by Melanie Benjamin
In 1975, a clique of Manhattan socialites discover that Truman
Capote revealed their dirtiest laundry to the world in a story published
in Esquire—a
real-life event. Capote’s Swans are the beautiful, stylish,
wealthy and envied women of New York. Bill Paley
(CBS head) offered film producer David Selznick a ride on his private
plane, and Selznick asked if he could bring his friend, Truman. Paley, a
friend of Eisenhower, assumed it was President Truman not Truman Capote. So begins the story as Melanie Benjamin
reimagines the glittering friendships Capote cultivated. She focuses on the
bond between Capote and the great beauty Babe Paley; Slim Keith, a cool,
well-married blonde; Pamela Churchill, ex-wife of Winston’s son and future wife
of Slim’s husband, Leland; and Lee Radziwill, sister of Jackie Kennedy. Her fact-based narrative
captures the era’s juiciest scandals.
The Stars Are Fire by Anita Shreve
In October 1947, after a long
drought, fires break out all along the Maine coast from Bar Harbor to Kittery
and are soon racing out of control. Five
months pregnant, Grace Holland is left alone to protect her two toddlers when
her husband, Gene, joins the volunteer firefighters. Along with her best
friend, Rosie, and Rosie's two young children, Grace watches helplessly as
their houses burn to the ground, the flames finally forcing them all into the
ocean as a last resort. They spend the night frantically protecting their
children and in the morning find their lives forever changed: homeless,
penniless, awaiting news of their husbands' fate, and left to face an uncertain
future in a town that no longer exists. In the midst of this devastating loss,
Grace discovers glorious new freedoms--joys and triumphs she could never have
expected her narrow life with Gene could contain--and her spirit soars. Then
the unthinkable happens and Grace's bravery is tested as never before.
