| In this issue, we share our First Impressions readers' thoughts on Mona Susan Power's recent paperback release A Council of Dolls, an immersive historical novel following three generations of Dakota women. Explore more recommended titles by Native and Indigenous authors in our designated category this Native American Heritage Month and beyond.
For Editor's Choice, we cover Kate Greathead's The Book of George, a humorous story of modern male angst about a young man who just can't get it together.
Plus, read our "beyond the book" article on development and habitat loss in Florida relating to Jeff VanderMeer's Absolution.
We're excited about the opening of our new community forum, and hope you'll join us there for some bookish conversation. And speaking of conversation, our book club discussion lineup for next year continues to expand, so check out the latest selections! | | With best wishes,
The BookBrowse Team
| | Each month, we share books with BookBrowse members to read and review. Here are their opinions on one recently released paperback title. | | | A Council of Dolls by Mona Susan Power
"Although a work of fiction, A Council of Dolls reads in part like an intensely written personal memoir describing the uprooting of Dakota children taken from their homes and sent to missionary schools for 'reeducation' and how the damage done to those children and their tribes will affect their lives for generations to come. We are introduced to Lillian, Cora and Jesse; to their joys, sorrows and relationships; and to their dolls Winona, Mae and Ethel... The author has created a riveting narration weaving together the threads of the dolls' stories and those of their young owners... This book would provide lots of thoughtful discussion for book clubs." —Marcia C. (Jeffersonville, PA)
"The structure of the plot — narrated in four parts by three generations of women, starting with the youngest and moving back in time — was intriguing and kept my interest high... The childhood dolls of each of the women informed and enhanced their stories in a most surprising and marvelous way." —Jeanne P. (Ennice, NC)
"A Council of Dolls is a book I wish everyone would read. It's the best kind of historical novel — poignant, powerful and thought-provoking. I will definitely seek out more of Mona Susan Power's work." —Nanette C. (Sarasota, FL) | | | The Book of George by Kate Greathead
The premise of The Book of George, the witty, highly entertaining new novel from Kate Greathead, is that every reader knows a George. Well-heeled and well-connected, he's a young man with all of life's doors open to him—and a young man who systematically fails to walk through a single one. He's got smarts, but he's too lazy to use them; he's got a loving girlfriend, but he's too self-absorbed to commit. From early adolescence to the cusp of middle age, we follow this eponymous hero in episodic chapters plucked from a life emblematic of stagnating millennial masculinity.
Wasted potential and failure to follow through unite the fragments of George's story. After choosing last minute to major in philosophy, he drifts from one short-term endeavor to the next, trying his hand at everything from hedge fund intern to high-end dog walker to TV commercial actor. Greathead cleverly plays on the idea of the picaresque hero, a loveable rogue satirizing society's mores as he slips from one adventure to the next. In her modern writing of the genre, George is the butt of the joke. Even as Jenny, his long-suffering girlfriend, wants to start getting serious about their relationship, this disaffected 21st-century pícaro can't help but shake off the foundations of a happy, stable life. ... continued
Review by Alex Russell | | | Development and Habitat Loss in Florida
In August 2024, the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) (under direction from the governor) proposed to clear land in nine state parks to make room for tourist-friendly developments—pickleball courts, golf courses, lodges, etc. Called the 2024-2025 Great Outdoors Initiative, it was anything but great. Here's just one example of why from Eve Samples, executive director of Friends of the Everglades:
"Fertilizer runoff is a major problem throughout the state. So, when you apply fertilizer through turf – as is present on golf courses – it creates run off to waterways and that's what leads to the toxic algae blooms that we've seen in years past on the Treasure Coast."
Luckily, through the diligent efforts of Floridians sending letters, calling, and protesting, the proposal was dropped—for now. But this is just one of the many potential and already realized development plans threatening the state's natural landscape.
A resident of the Florida panhandle, Jeff VanderMeer infuses his "eco-horror" Southern Reach series with these concerns. ... continued
Article by Christine Runyon | | Native and Indigenous Authors | | | Mona Susan Power's historical novel A Council of Dolls, featured above, is one of 25+ books in our Native and Indigenous Authors category, which we're highlighting for Native American Heritage Month. Click below to discover more recommended titles by Native American and other Indigenous writers.
This is one of 100+ themed categories you can explore on BookBrowse to find the perfect read for your book club or yourself. Members can access all categories and filters to narrow their browsing, while non-members have limited access. | | | Have you heard? BookBrowse has a new community forum! In addition to hosting future book club discussions, this space is available for our members to share their favorite reads and discuss all things books.
One of our members, Anne, recently posted a list of popular book podcasts. Join the conversation to find more fun and interesting recommendations like these and contribute your own!
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In November, we feature Amanda Peters' The Berry Pickers as well as Nancy Jensen's In Our Midst, and we have more exciting discussions lined up for next year! | | With so many new books published every month, it's difficult to find the standouts, the ones that are really worth your time. This is why hundreds of thousands of readers rely on BookBrowse to do the hard work of sifting through the multitude of titles to find the most promising new books, with a focus on books that entertain, engage, and enlighten. | | BookBrowse Highlights is just one of our free newsletters. We also offer Publishing This Week every Sunday, and Book Club News and Librarian News monthly. We send out Genre Specific Emails occasionally. | | | | |
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