Fiction
The God of Animals: A Novel
The Gods of Guilt (Lincoln Lawyer series) by Michael Connelly. “The latest installment in the Lincoln Lawyer series, this book finds our antihero Mickey Haller defending a pimp accused of killing one of his girls. I love the ambiguity Connelly has created for Haller - he's a good guy and also a real d-bag. At the same time! Which is very real, and makes for compelling reading
Goldfinch by Donna Tartt. I know, I know … I'm sure this isn't the first you've heard of this book, but too many of you loved it not to include as a top pick. Some of your comments: “The story begins with an explosion at the Metropolitan Museum that kills narrator Theo Decker's beloved mother and results in his unlikely possession of a Dutch masterwork called The Goldfinch. Shootouts, gangsters, pillowcases, storage lockers, and the black market for art all play parts in the ensuing life of the painting in Theo's care…” “Wonderfully well-written book with great characters and an interesting plot that carries over many years. It is the story of a young boy who ends up in possession of the Dutch Master painting The Goldfinch by Carel Fabritius. His desire to protect the painting and what is represents to him defines the choices he makes and the people he comes in contact with. It is a long book and at times the writing seemed repetitious, but worth the effort.“ “Gripping novel, non-thriller page turner, fabulous writing that gives you the opportunity to google new vocabulary words every 10 pages or so... I am ¾ thru…expect it may end somewhat predictably but don’t care. I am thoroughly enjoying the literary ride!” “Well written, absorbing story. It's long but push through the one slow part and you will be glad. Good to read in one fell swoop.” “Loving the goldfinch so much, went on to read her older The Secret History, which I did not like because the characters were mostly self-absorbed little rich kids and no one seemed to have the guts to stand up for what is right.” “not exactly 'beach' read, long..is one of those books I think if written in pre kindle times would have been edited more! But...that said, did love the story and struggle of a boy becoming a man in a very messed up situation but a few admirable adult characters.”
The Golem and the Jinni by Helene Wecker. "Wecker is such a gifted storyteller that I felt like I had been pulled into a child's fairytale when I opened the book. From Amazon: 'In The Golem and the Jinni, a chance meeting between mythical beings takes readers on a dazzling journey through cultures in turn-of-the-century New York.'"
A Good American by Alex George – “A book about generations of an immigrant family and how they make a home in rural Missouri. The story shows that the word ‘family’ can have many different meanings.”
Good Grief by Lolly Winston. "An entertaining book about a woman's first year as a widow and how she fell apart and came back together. It was fiction, but, as widow myself, I appreciated her sense of humor and insight that must have come from other widows!"
The Good Life by Jay McInerney. From Amazon: "In The Good Life, Jay McInerney unveils a story of love, family, conflicting desires, and catastrophic loss in his most powerfully searing work thus far." (It's about 9/11). A contributor said, "Not one likable character in the lot, really, but for some reason I couldn’t put it down. Voyeurism, really."
The Good Lord Bird by James McBride. “A real winner. It’s an historical fiction take on John Brown and the raid of Harper's Ferry. It is funny, interesting and well written.”
The Good Man Jesus and the Scoundrel Christ (Myths)
Goodbye, Vitamin by Rachel Khong. For readers grappling with dementia and Alzheimer’s disease, this short book provides a light and soothing story of what life as a daughter looks like.
The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck. This often appears on people's favorite reread lists. A contributor writes, “There's a reason it’s a classic. I read it last summer and was blown away (pardon the dust bowl pun).”
The Gravedigger's Daughter (P.S.) by Joyce Carol Oates. “Almost anything by JCO is outstanding, this novel included. Great story-- vivid imagery.” (Ed: I agree about Joyce Carol Oates. I’ve previously mentioned We Were the Mulvaneys as a great beach read. And her others, too. I don’t know why, but I feel like she gets short shrift.)
The Graveyard Book
Gray Mountain by John Grisham. “Another great read by Grisham. At the end of the story, it made me want to learn more about strip mining in West Virginia. Are the "big mining" interests as bad as Grisham depicts? In another twist for Grisham, the protagonist is a woman. Of course, she finds a "hot side-kick" as any of Grisham's male protagonists would in previous novels.”
Great by Sara Benincasa. “If you’re not following Sara on Twitter, you need to. Hilarious, bold, brash, and awesome. Hampton, socialites, a mysterious new neighbor, and some awesome scandalicious behavior all around.”
The Great Alone by Kristin Hannah. Historical Fiction based in Alaska – 1970’s. A Vietnam POW comes home fighting demons from the war and moves his wife and daughter to a cabin with no electricity or running water in a remote area of Alaska. The story chronicles the hard life of homesteaders and the relationships between husband and wife, the daughter who falls in love with her only friend and the close-knit community that helps neighbors through good times and bad. I loved the strong women she created in this book, wanted to shake sense into a few characters and grew to really dislike a few others! This was a page turner for me and I lost some sleep because I was up all-night reading!
The Great Believers by Rebecca Makkai. This compulsively readable book consists of two interwoven narratives: In one, we meet Yale Tishman, a young gay man in 1980s Chicago, a time when the AIDS crisis was hitting its terrible peak. The development director for an art gallery, Yale is attempting to acquire some valuable art from an elderly woman named Nora. The second narrative is from the perspective of Fiona, Nora’s great-niece and Yale’s good friend. Fiona is in Paris, trying to track down her estranged daughter, who disappeared when she joined a cult. The novel is a poignant reminder of that terrible period, as well as a powerful contemplation of memory and community.
The Great Gatsby, F Scott Fitzgerald. “I am on a reread the classics romp and this seemed a perfect summer starting point.” The story of the fabulously wealthy Jay Gatsby and his love for the beautiful Daisy Buchanan, of lavish parties on Long Island in the 1920s.
Great House by Nicolas Krauss. A new novel by the author of History of Love, which was a top pick a couple of years ago. “Several stories entwined about different characters lives that does not wrap up neatly at the end.”
Groundswell