Author: Liberty Hardy

Because of the holidays, there’s always a severe decline in the number of books published the last six weeks of the year. Which is understandable, since everyone is busy with wrap-up posts and ‘best of the year’ lists. But there are still several great books coming before the end of the year, so I thought I’d share a few with you today.

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Sponsored by The Language of Thorns by Leigh Bardugo

Inspired by myth, fairy tale, and folklore, #1 New York Times-bestselling author Leigh Bardugo has crafted a deliciously atmospheric collection of short stories filled with betrayals, revenge, sacrifice, and love. Perfect for new readers and dedicated fans, the lavishly illustrated tales in The Language of Thorns will transport you to lands both familiar and strange—to a fully realized world of dangerous magic that millions have visited through the novels of the Grishaverse.

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And speaking of wrap-ups, you can hear about several of our favorite books of the year on this week’s episode of the All the Books! Rebecca and I talked about a few of the amazing books we loved, including Chemistry, My Favorite Thing is Monsters, and Idaho.

The Only Girl in the World: A Memoir by Maude Julien, Adriana Hunter (Translator)

Julien’s account of growing up with parents who believed they could make her a ‘superhuman’ by subjecting her to daily torturous challenges, and how she held on to the hope that one day things would change. Okay, not exactly the feel-good book of the holiday season, but still a fascinating look at the triumph of spirit.

Backlist bump: The Glass Castle by Jeanette Walls

They Know Not What They Do by Jussi Valtonen, Kristian London (Translator)

An American neuroscientist becomes the target of attacks, apparently by animal rights activists, but then he receives a phone call from his ex-wife: the son he abandoned in Finland twenty years ago is now in the United States and is looking for revenge. Can he protect his new family from his first family?

Backlist bump: Unknown Caller by Debra Spark

The Love of a Bad Man by Laura Elizabeth Woollett

Short stories imagining the lives of real women who had relationships with famously monstrous men such as Adolf Hitler, Charles Manson, and Jim Jones. (Okay, so maybe none of my picks this week are really festive, but they’re good.)

Backlist bump: Almost Famous Women by Megan Mayhew Bergman

A Distant Heart by Sonali Dev

The fourth book in the Bollywood series! Kimya has lived a life of privilege as the only child of wealthy parents. But when she develops a rare illness that keeps her from leaving her home, her ivory tower becomes her prison. But a window washer with a big heart just may be the friendship and salvation she needs.

Backlist bump: A Bollywood Affair by Sonali Dev

The Mannequin Makers by Craig Cliff

A widower in early 20th-century New Zealand seeks to best his carpenter rival by creating the world’s most lifelike window display, using his twin daughters. A dark fairytale of loss and redemption.

Backlist bump: Cloudstreet by Tim Winton

Don’t Live For Your Obituary by John Scalzi

Award-winning author Scalzi shares wit, wisdom, and anecdotes about the life of a working writer, such as navigating today’s world as a writer, the practical business of writing and selling books, and more.

Backlist bump: Your Hate Mail Will Be Graded: A Decade of Whatever, 1998-2008 by John Scalzi

That’s it for me today – time to get back to reading! If you want to learn more about books new and old (and see lots of pictures of my cats, Millay and Steinbeck), or tell me about books you’re reading, or books you think I should read (I HEART RECOMMENDATIONS!), you can find me on Twitter at MissLiberty, on Instagram at FranzenComesAlive, or Litsy under ‘Liberty’!

Stay rad,

Liberty

Welcome to the first Tuesday of December! I might do some wrap-ups in the coming weeks, but there were still enough awesome books out today that I had some recommendations, and you can hear about several more great books on this week’s episode of the All the Books! Rebecca and I talked about a few amazing books we loved, including Elmet, Roomies, The Last Black Unicorn, and more.

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Sponsored by The House on Foster Hill by Jaime Jo Wright

Weaving a tale of mystery and romance, this promising author’s critically acclaimed debut is a dual-time narrative about an abandoned house and two women, a century apart, changed by the deadly secrets it holds. Can they unravel its mystery and find a renewed hope before any other lives—including their own—are lost? “With sharp dialogue and plenty of scares, this is a gripping tale that never loses sight of the light.” –Foreword Reviews

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The Girl in the Tower by Katherine Arden

I don’t often recommend sequels, mostly because I am an ardent fan of reading things in order, but this one is just as good as the first, of not better. I’m not going to spoil things by telling you the plot, just that this is a wonderful continuation of Arden’s magical Russian fairy tale story, with gorgeous descriptions and a kickass heroine.

Backlist bump: The Bear and the Nightingale by Katherine Arden

The Vanishing Princess: Stories (The Art of the Story) by Jenny Diski

Love dark, enchanting, honest short stories? Than look no further! This is a vividly imaginative collection about love, sex, loneliness, femininity, and more, perfect for fans of Mary Miller, Heidi Julavits, and Alexandra Kleeman. Sadly, Diski passed away in 2016, but this posthumous offering is perfect.

Backlist bump: Always Happy Hour: Stories by Mary Miller

The Years, Months, Days: Two Novellas by Yan Lianke, Carlos Rojas (Translator)

Lianke has the distinction of being China’s most banned author, but his works of satire are beloved all over the world. The two novellas here are prize-winning masterpieces about humanity and the universe, a dark but gentle look at love and man’s sense of survival in the face of loss and ruin. Quietly bizarre and powerful.

Backlist bump: Dream of Ding Village by Yan Lianke

That’s it for me today – time to get back to reading! If you want to learn more about books new and old (and see lots of pictures of my cats, Millay and Steinbeck), or tell me about books you’re reading, or books you think I should read (I HEART RECOMMENDATIONS!), you can find me on Twitter at MissLiberty, on Instagram at FranzenComesAlive, or Litsy under ‘Liberty’!

Stay rad,

Liberty

Hello again, book lovers! The pickings are getting mighty slim as far as new releases go, so I thought I’d do something fun and share 30 books that came out in early 2017 I thought deserve a second look. I tweeted these over the weekend, and thought they were worth collecting here. There might be a hidden gem that you missed! As far as new books out today, you can hear about several great books on this week’s episode of the All the Books! Amanda and I talked about a few amazing books we loved, including Djinn City, Weave a Circle Round, Oddity, and more.

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Sponsored by Yellow Pear Press

In 1889, Bridget joins the Borden household as their maid, but something evil is brewing beneath the house’s genteel surface. In 2016, Brooke hides from her dangerous past and avoids making friends. But what if it’s time to stop running?

Bram Stoker Award finalist Erika Mailman brings the true story of the brutal murder of Lizzie Borden’s father and stepmother into new focus by adding a riveting contemporary narrative. Intelligent and detailed, The Murderer’s Maid is a gripping read from beginning to bloody conclusion.

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Idaho by Emily Ruskovich: Heartbreaking debut about marriage and loss in which a wife struggles to discover what happened during her husband’s first marriage – his first wife now in prison – before his memory fades completely.

The Girl in Green by Derek B. Miller: Two men are given a second chance to save a girl they couldn’t help 20 years earlier during the Gulf War. (But obviously it will be more complicated than that.) I already consider it a modern classic about war and redemption.

Fever Dream by Samanta Schweblin: A slim, bananapants book of what-the-effery that will take you out at the knees, and probably give you nightmares to boot. Purrrrrrrrr.

Lucky Boy by Shanthi Sekaran: Timely, compassionate novel about a woman whose son is removed from her care when she is placed in a detention center, and the woman who takes him in and fights to keep him.

Lightwood by Steph Post: Gritty Florida noir about a former inmate who returns to his violent rural hometown and tries to make good as chaos and crime swirl all around him.

Six Wakes by Mur Lafferty: Space! Clones! A murder mystery! It’s up to newly-awakened clones to discover who is killing people aboard the ship before it becomes their *final* final frontier.

The Man Who Shot Out My Eye is Dead: Stories by Chanelle Benz: Arresting debut collection of stories, with characters throwing themselves headfirst into morally questionable situations with devastating effects.

The Second Mrs. Hockaday by Susan Rivers: A new bride is left alone to care for her infant son and the farm when her husband is called to fight in the Civil War. He returns two years later to find her in prison. What transpired while he was away? A fantastic debut.

Days Without End by Sebastian Barry: Okay, this one won the Costa, but I love it so much, I had to mention it. It’s about the horrors of war – a young Irish man and his bff enlist in the Civil War – but it’s also the sweetest love story I read this year.

The Nature Fix: Why Nature Makes Us Happier, Healthier, and More Creative by Florence Williams: Go outside. Right now.

Everything Belongs to Us by Yoojin Grace Wuertz: Four lives from different backgrounds are swept up together in politics, betrayal, and broken dreams in Seoul, 1978.

The Dry by Jane Harper: Two murder mysteries in one! A blisteringly wonderful (and slightly horrifying) story about a sheriff who returns to his hometown for the funeral of a friend accused of murder 20 years earlier. The sequel is just as good and out 2/6/18!

Cannibalism: A Perfectly Natural History by Bill Schutt: Do you love Mary Roach, science, and the taste of human flesh? Or even 2 out of 3 of those things? Then you should read this book. It’s fascinating, and it’s a more realistic look at the future than The Road.

Abandon Me: Memoirs by Melissa Febos: A raw, unflinching exploration of identity and art. I am a sucker for a book that flays me open.

Things We Lost in the Fire: Stories by Mariana Enríquez: Wildly imaginative tales of the dark and strange. (FYI: The fastest way to get me to read something is to get a blurb from Kelly Link.)

Animals Strike Curious Poses by Elena Passarello: 16 wonderful essays about animals named and immortalized by humans. (+5 Prince lyric usage.)

Desperation Road by Michael Farris Smith: After eleven years in prison, Russell wants to return home to start a quiet life. But it won’t be possible, with trouble finding him at every turn. A quietly powerful novel of regret and redemption.

Harmless Like You by Rowan Hisayo Buchanan: A beautiful debut set in Japan and NYC, about a young artist and the son she abandoned.

What You Don’t Know by JoAnn Chaney: A gripping psychological thriller about the people left behind in the aftermath of a serial killer. The first few pages stressed me out SO MUCH – it made me so happy. Perfect for true crime and Mindhunter fans.

Traveling with Ghosts: A Memoir by Shannon Leone Fowler: Heartbreaking story about the sudden death of Fowler’s fiancé, and how she worked out her grief through travel.

The Best We Could Do by Thi Bui: A beautifully illustrated memoir about Bui’s family’s escape from Vietnam, the difficulties they faced in a new country, and Bui’s experience as a parent herself.

Rabbit Cake by Annie Hartnett: Precocious 10-y-o Elvis Babbitt attempts to navigate her place in the world as grief over the loss of her mother affects her and her father and sister in very different ways. Charming and sad.

Himself by Jess Kidd: I was completely enraptured by this whimsical – but dark – Irish mystery. Mrs. Cauley is one of the most kick-ass elderly women in literature.

My Favorite Thing is Monsters by Emil Ferris: I am OBSESSED with this graphic novel about a young monster-loving girl in 1960s Chicago, who decides to be a detective and investigate her neighbor’s death. The artwork is like nothing else. Seriously.

All Grown Up by Jami Attenberg: This novel is so refreshingly honest. Life is messy and hard and sad, and the flaws in being human are translated beautifully through Andrea, the main character. Made me laugh and laugh and cry and cry.

The Twelve Lives of Samuel Hawley by Hannah Tinti: A motherless young girl, who is moved from town to town by a father with a dark past, yearns to discover more about her mother and the stories behind the twelve scars on her father’s body.

Swimmer Among the Stars: Stories by Kanishk Tharoor: Utterly original tales, set all around the world in both the past and the present.

The Hearts of Men by Nickolas Butler: Brutal, insightful novel about fathers, bullying, toxic masculinity, war, and redemption. I found myself holding my breath at the end.

Sorry to Disrupt the Peace by Patty Yumi Cottrell: A heart-wrenching, darkly comic story about a young woman who returns to her childhood home to figure out why her brother took his own life. GAH.

Wait Till You See Me Dance: Stories by Deb Olin Unferth: These 39 tales are profound, acerbic, and surprising, and most are nothing short of amazing. If you enjoy droll, smart fiction, this is the book for you.

That’s it for me today – time to get back to reading! If you want to learn more about books new and old (and see lots of pictures of my cats, Millay and Steinbeck), or tell me about books you’re reading, or books you think I should read (I HEART RECOMMENDATIONS!), you can find me on Twitter at MissLiberty, on Instagram at FranzenComesAlive, or Litsy under ‘Liberty’!

Stay rad,

Liberty

Happy Tuesday, you glorious word-eaters! Who’s reading something good this week? The year is on its last legs, but there are still fabulous books being published. Not a whole lot this week because of the holiday, but I still have a few awesome books for you below and you can hear about several more great books on this week’s episode of the All the Books! Rebecca and I talked about a few amazing books we loved, including A Kind of Freedom, Altered Traits, Spoils, and more.

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Sponsored by Creatures of Will and Temper by Molly Tanzer

Creatures of Will and Temper s a Victorian-era fantasy inspired by The Picture of Dorian Gray, in which epee-fencing enthusiast Evadne Gray and her younger sister are drawn into a secret and dangerous London underworld of pleasure-seeking demons and bloodthirsty diabolists, with only Evadne’s skill with a blade standing between them and certain death.

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AND OHHHHH! Did you know we’re giving away $500 to the bookstore of your choice? Click here to enter!

You Do You: How to Be Who You Are and Use What You’ve Got to Get What You Want (A No F*cks Given Guide) by Sarah Knight

The third in Knight’s profane and profound series of self-help books aimed at encouraging people to wake up to the reality that we only get one life, and how to make the most of your time and keep self-doubt and the haters from ruining it for you. As Knight says, “If you’re not doing you, you’re screwing you.” It’s not elegant, but it’s damn catchy.

Backlist bump: The Life-Changing Magic of Not Giving a F*ck: How to Stop Spending Time You Don’t Have with People You Don’t Like Doing Things You Don’t Want to Do (A No F*cks Given Guide) by Sarah Knight

Clara at the Edge by Maryl Jo Fox

Clara, an elderly widow, wants to make one more try at reconciling with her estranged son. But she doesn’t want to leave her home, the source comfort and security for so many troubled years. So, with the help of some magical purple wasps and the kindness of strangers, Clara is taking her house to her son. It’s a magical novel about family and loss that is sure to charm most everyone.

Backlist bump: The Particular Sadness of Lemon Cake by Aimee Bender

Gold Dust Woman: The Biography of Stevie Nicks by Stephen Davis

Her name is Stevie and she is our queen! Whether you love Stevie from Fleetwood Mac, American Horror Story, or The Voice, or maybe you don’t know who she is (*GASP*), this is a great look at the life of one of music’s legendary voices. From her early years, to fame and addiction, to life at almost seventy, Stevie Nicks is one of our most fascinating celebrities and talented singers.

Backlist bump: Fleetwood Mac: The Complete Illustrated History by Richie Unterberger

That’s it for me today – time to get back to reading! If you want to learn more about books new and old (and see lots of pictures of my cats, Millay and Steinbeck), or tell me about books you’re reading, or books you think I should read (I HEART RECOMMENDATIONS!), you can find me on Twitter at MissLiberty, on Instagram at FranzenComesAlive, or Litsy under ‘Liberty’!

Stay rad,

Liberty

Look around, look around… SO MANY GREAT NOVEMBER BOOKS. I am in NYC this week on many bookish adventures,  but I had the opportunity to read a bunch of amazing titles out today. You can hear about a few of these books on this week’s episode of the All the Books! Jenn and I talked about amazing books we loved, such as The City of Brass, Into the Drowning Deep, and The Wild Book.

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SUPERFAIL by Max Brunner, illustrated by Dustin Mackay

Laser vision isn’t so hot when you’re cross-eyed. Just ask Marshall Preston, a twelve-year-old with superhuman abilities that are restricted by some very human setbacks. While other kids are recruited to superhero teams, Marshall’s stuck with a team of young Defectives: super speedy but can’t turn corners, radioactive Hulk allergies, and supersonic flight hindered by motion sickness. They aren’t exactly superhero material, but when Marshall uncovers a plot to destroy one of the greatest superhero teams of all time, he and his less-than-super friends set out to prove that just because you’re defective doesn’t mean you can’t save the day.

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(And like last time, I’m putting a  next to the books that I have read and loved. There are soooo many more on this list that I can’t wait to read!)

Mean by Myriam Gurba 

Hardcore Twenty-Four: A Stephanie Plum Novel by Janet Evanovich

End Game (Will Robie Series) by David Baldacci

Blackbird by Michael Fiegel

The City of Brass by S. A. Chakraborty 

No Saints in Kansas by Amy Brashear

The Last Sheriff in Texas: A True Tale of Violence and the Vote by James P. McCollom

Don’t Save Anything: Uncollected Essays, Articles, and Profiles by James Salter

Goldeline by Jimmy Cajoleas

Mother of All Pigs by Malu Halasa 

The Book of Formation by Ross Simonini

The Inside Out Man by Fred Strydom

The Art of Misdiagnosis: Surviving My Mother’s Suicide by Gayle Brandeis 

On Power: My Journey Through the Corridors of Power and How You Can Get More Power by Gene Simmons

Thousands by Lightsey Darst

Fragments of the Lost by Megan Miranda

Runebinder by Alex R. Kahler

Promise Me, Dad: A Year of Hope, Hardship, and Purpose by Joe Biden

Artemis by Andy Weir

Beasts of Extraordinary Circumstance by Ruth Emmie Lang 

Adult Fantasy: searching for true maturity in an age of mortgages, marriages, and other adult milestones by Briohny Doyle 

Oathbringer: Book Three of the Stormlight Archive series by Brandon Sanderson

I Don’t Want to Know Anyone Too Well: Collected Stories by Norman Levine

The Ghost of Christmas Past (Molly Murphy Mysteries) by Rhys Bowen

The Emerald Circus by Jane Yolen 

The Book of Resting Places: A Personal History of Where We Lay the Dead by Thomas Mira y Lopez

The Imagined Land by Eduardo Berti, Charlotte Coombe (Translator)

Debriefing: Collected Stories by Susan Sontag

Sleep No More: Six Murderous Tales by P. D. James

The Savage by Frank Bill 

Future Home of the Living God: A Novel by Louise Erdrich 

Creatures of Will & Temper by Molly Tanzer 

The Night Language by David Rocklin

The Wild Book (Yonder) by Juan Villoro (Author), Lawrence Schimel (Translator) 

A Beautiful Young Woman by Julian Lopez

Into the Drowning Deep by Mira Grant

Improvement: A Novel by Joan Silber

After the End of the World (Carter & Lovecraft) by Jonathan L. Howard

Strangers in Budapest by Jessica Keener 

The Library at the Edge of the World by Felicity Hayes-McCoy

Bunk: The Rise of Hoaxes, Humbug, Plagiarists, Phonies, Post-Facts, and Fake News by Kevin Young 

Whichwood by Tahereh Mafi

Fates and Traitors by Jennifer Chiaverini (Now in paperback.)

Pachinko by Min Jin Lee (Now in paperback.) 

We’re giving away $500 to spend at the bookstore of your choice! Click here to enter.

That’s it for me today – time to get back to reading! If you want to learn more about books new and old (and see lots of pictures of my cats, Millay and Steinbeck), or tell me about books you’re reading, or books you think I should read (I HEART RECOMMENDATIONS!), you can find me on Twitter at MissLiberty, on Instagram at FranzenComesAlive, or Litsy under ‘Liberty’!

Stay rad,

Liberty