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Image of The Misfortune of Marion Palm book cover

The Con is On

Fiction for the "Summer of Scam"

Con artists, grifters and scammers of all kinds are having a moment this summer, leading this year’s warm weather months to be dubbed the Summer of Scam.

Sweetbitter

Delicious Fiction

Novels Set Around Kitchens and Food

Novels that feature food often make us put down the book and get in the kitchen...or at least grab a bag of chips. Likewise, these same novels are often hard to put down as they stimulate not only our imaginations, but our appetites as well. Here’s a list of delicious novels to celebrate the brand new Starz series Sweetbitter.

Image of Eleven Hours book cover

New Life

Fiction about childbirth and new motherhood

A transformative experience, becoming a mother can reshape one’s life and alter one in a variety of ways—physically, mentally, emotionally and more.

The Lake

Read Around the World: Japan

Japanese literature that isn't by Haruki Murakami

Expand your literary horizons by reading literature from other countries. Haruki Murakami is one of the most well-known authors in Japanese literature. Yet he is only one of many modern Japanese writers whose works are accessible in translation. A wide variety of genres and styles are represented in the selections below (all of which can be accessed through DC Public Library's stellar and diverse collection). Young Readers (Pre-K to 3rd Grade)

Dr.Smith&friend

"Cite Black Women"

Celebrate Women's History Month

Dr. Christen Smith, former D.C. resident and associate professor of African and African Diaspora Studies and Anthropology at the University of Texas at Austin, designed T-shirts emblazoned with “Cite Black Women.” The message reminds others to value and accredit the ideas, words and work of black women. Dr. Smith posted five resolutions that define the project:   Read black women’s work. 

The Kitchen God's Wife by Amy Tan

Mothers Tell Your Daughters

Telling Life Stories in Novels

So many great novels that pass the Bechdel Test (two female characters discussing topics other than men) are about mothers and daughters. Mothers sharing their lives and long lost secrets with their daughters and surrogate daughters. The story describing the bond between two or more women from different generations has been told in many different ways. Whether those women are related by blood or by common experience, each of these novels comes from a different perspective.

Wuthering Heights

Gothic Fiction for the Whole Family Part 2 (Teens and Adults)

A celebration of old-world-style scares

It's never too late to develop a taste for Gothic reads. This glorious genre explores negativity in a manageable package. With supernatural elements and an exploration of feelings like unhappiness and loneliness, both Gothic and Modern Gothic literature provide a unique opportunity for readers to explore and discuss some of the more challenging and gruesome aspects of life, and in such, to find ways to cope with scary and negative feelings in their day-to-day lives. Find a comfy chair and get ready for some shocking, fearsome and morose reads.

Image of The Idiot book cover

'90s Girls

Female-centered coming-of-age fiction set in the 1990s

Still recent history, the 1990s have been the setting of a run of novels lately that follow young women as they come of age.

The Joy Luck Club

Join the Club

Novels Centered Around Clubs and Groups

The literary premise of a themed or activity-based club is a surprisingly diverse sub-genre. Modern classics such as The Joy Luck Club and Fight Club not only became critically and commercially popular books but also gained popularity for their film adaptations. The plot device of “the club” can bring a diverse group of individuals together. It not only impacts their daily lives but also allows the reader to learn about each character and their backstory.

the doubtful guest

Gothic Fiction for the Whole Family (Part 1: Children)

A celebration of old-world-style scares

It's never too early to introduce your child to Gothic and Modern Gothic literature (or to develop a taste for it yourself). This glorious genre explores negativity in a manageable package. With supernatural elements and an exploration of feelings like unhappiness and loneliness, both Gothic and Modern Gothic literature provide a unique opportunity for readers to explore and discuss some of the more challenging and gruesome aspects of life, and to find ways to cope with scary and negative feelings in their day-to-day lives.

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