Reading List
I Don't Remember the Name, But the Cover was Red...
Catching Fire by Richard Wrangham In this stunningly original book, renowned primatologist Richard Wrangham argues that "cooking" created the human race. At the heart of "Catching Fire" lies an explosive new idea: The habit of eating cooked rather than raw food permitted the digestive tract to shrink and the human brain to grow, helped structure human society, and created the male-female division of labor.
By Kristen Barenthaler8 months ago in BookClub
Mystery Book Club Picks
Curiosity just might be the death of Mrs. Murphy--and her human companion, Mary Minor "Harry" Haristeen. Small towns are like families: Everyone lives very close together. . .and everyone keeps secrets. Crozet, Virginia, is a typical small town-until its secrets explode into murder. Crozet's thirty-something postmistress, Mary Minor "Harry" Haristeen, has a tiger cat (Mrs. Murphy) and a Welsh Corgi (Tucker), a pending divorce, and a bad habit of reading postcards not addressed to her. When Crozet's citizens start turning up murdered, Harry remembers that each received a card with a tombstone on the front and the message "Wish you were here" on the back. Intent on protecting their human friend, Mrs. Murphy and Tucker begin to scent out clues. Meanwhile, Harry is conducting her own investigation, unaware her pets are one step ahead of her. If only Mrs. Murphy could alert her somehow, Harry could uncover the culprit before the murder occurs--and before Harry finds herself on the killer's mailing list.
By Kristen Barenthaler8 months ago in BookClub
Horror Novels: Murders
Hunting Annabelle by Wendy Heard Sean Suh is done with killing. After serving three years in a psychiatric prison, he's determined to stay away from temptation. But he can't resist Annabelle--beautiful, confident, incandescent Annabelle--who alone can see past the monster to the man inside. The man he's desperately trying to be. Then Annabelle disappears. Sean is sure she's been kidnapped--he witnessed her being taken firsthand--but the police are convinced that Sean himself is at the center of this crime. And he must admit, his illness has caused him to "lose time" before. What if there's more to what happened than he's able to remember? Though haunted by the fear that it might be better for Annabelle if he never finds her, Sean can't bring himself to let go of her without a fight. To save her, he'll have to do more than confront his own demons ... He'll have to let them loose.
By Kristen Barenthaler8 months ago in BookClub
Horror Novels: Psychological
Geek Love by Katherine Dunn Geek Love is the story of the Binewskis, a carny family whose mater- and paterfamilias set out—with the help of amphetamine, arsenic, and radioisotopes—to breed their own exhibit of human oddities. There’s Arturo the Aquaboy, who has flippers for limbs and a megalomaniac ambition worthy of Genghis Khan . . . Iphy and Elly, the lissome Siamese twins . . . albino hunchback Oly, and the outwardly normal Chick, whose mysterious gifts make him the family’s most precious—and dangerous—asset.
By Kristen Barenthaler8 months ago in BookClub
Horror Novels: Home Invasions
A Clockwork Orange by Anthony Burgess In Anthony Burgess's influential nightmare vision of the future, criminals take over after dark. Teen gang leader Alex narrates in fantastically inventive slang that echoes the violent intensity of youth rebelling against society. Dazzling and transgressive, A Clockwork Orange is a frightening fable about good and evil and the meaning of human freedom.
By Kristen Barenthaler8 months ago in BookClub
Hygge Books
The Atlas of Happiness by Helen Russell A round the world trip through 33 international happiness concepts, from the bestselling author of The Year of Living Danishly, Helen Russell. Feeling terrified of that upcoming job interview? Take inspiration from the Icelanders and get some Þetta reddast, the unwavering belief that everything will work out in the end. Lost your way in life? Make like the Chinese and find your xingfu, or the thing that gives you real purpose. Too much on your plate? The Italians can help you learn the fine art of dolce far niente, aka the sweetness of doing nothing at all. - Overwhelmed by busyness and disconnected from nature? The Swedish have a solution - just find your smultronställe, or 'wild strawberry patch', your perfect escape from the rest of the world. From Australia to Wales, via Bhutan, Ireland, Finland, Turkey, Syria, Japan, and many more besides, The Atlas of Happiness uncovers the global secrets to happiness, and how they can change our lives.
By Kristen Barenthaler8 months ago in BookClub
I Don't Remember the Name, But the Cover was Black and/or White...
The Feminine Mystique by Betty Friedan Landmark, groundbreaking, classic―these adjectives barely describe the earthshaking and long-lasting effects of Betty Friedan's The Feminine Mystique. This is the book that defined "the problem that has no name," that launched the Second Wave of the feminist movement, and has been awakening women and men with its insights into social relations, which still remain fresh, ever since. A national bestseller, with over 1 million copies sold.
By Kristen Barenthaler8 months ago in BookClub
I Don't Remember the Name, But the Cover was Green...
A Walk in the Woods by Bill Bryson The Appalachian Trail stretches from Georgia to Maine and covers some of the most breathtaking terrain in America—majestic mountains, silent forests, sparking lakes. If you’re going to take a hike, it’s probably the place to go. And Bill Bryson is surely the most entertaining guide you’ll find. He introduces us to the history and ecology of the trail and to some of the other hardy (or just foolhardy) folks he meets along the way—and a couple of bears. Already a classic, A Walk in the Woods will make you long for the great outdoors (or at least a comfortable chair to sit and read in).
By Kristen Barenthaler8 months ago in BookClub
I Don't Remember the Name, But the Cover was Pink...
PS, I Love You by Cecelia Ahern Holly couldn't live without her husband Gerry, until the day she had to. They were the kind of young couple who could finish each other's sentences. When Gerry succumbs to a terminal illness and dies, 30-year-old Holly is set adrift, unable to pick up the pieces. But with the help of a series of letters her husband left her before he died and a little nudging from an eccentric assortment of family and friends, she learns to laugh, overcome her fears, and discover a world she never knew existed.
By Kristen Barenthaler8 months ago in BookClub
Why Reading Self-Help Books Isn’t Just for ‘Broken’ People. AI-Generated.
When someone says they’re reading a self-help book, it’s often met with silent judgment, sympathetic nods, or the assumption that they must be going through a crisis. The term "self-help" has, for too long, carried a stigma associated with brokenness, failure, or desperation. But in reality, self-help books are not bandages for the wounded. They are tools for anyone committed to growth, reflection, and continuous improvement. They offer more than advice—they invite transformation.
By Voice of Simplicity8 months ago in BookClub
8 Books About Friendship To Read In 2025. AI-Generated.
Friendship is one of the most cherished and complex human relationships, and literature has long captured its nuances, joys, and trials. For those seeking to understand friendship more profoundly or simply celebrate it, books about friendship offer unparalleled insight. Below is a list of 8 books about friendship—each a masterwork that reveals different facets of companionship, loyalty, conflict, and love.
By Diana Meresc8 months ago in BookClub
