Tami's Playlist

This month we are featuring a selection of recommended reads from one of our newest staff members, Tami. While Tami may be new to Warwick's, she is actually one of the most experienced booksellers on staff, with over 16 years of experience in the book world. Tami is an avid reader, with an array of reading tastes and styles (and she's a member of a book club, so ask her about suggestions!). Here's what is on her playlist this month:

And the Mountains Echoed by Khaled Hosseini
Once again Hosseini transports us from Afghanistan and beyond, to Paris, San Francisco and the Greek Isles. Filled with memorable characters, we feel what it is to be human, the need to be connected, and the nature of family. In poetic prose, and epic in scope we see the ripple effect our choices make through generations to come. Beautifully told, complex and thought provoking. His best book to date and one not to be missed.

Doc by Mary Doria Russell
The history of the west comes to life with the flowing prose of Doria Russell. The well born classically trained and educated John Henry Holliday, Doc, moves to the Texas frontier to combat the effects of consumption. The refined dentist turned professional gambler partners with Kate Harony and Dodge City is forever changed. Meet the Earp brothers, Bat Masterson and a cast of colorful characters and live life before the O.K. corral.

Transatlantic by Colum McCann
A master at developing disparate stories and weaving them together, McCann has done it again. Ireland is the common thread as we witness the first flight from Newfoundland to Ireland, the life changing trip of Frederick Douglas and the brokering of a peace agreement by U.S. Senator Mitchell. Four generations of strong women characters are the fabric of this exquisitely written tale. Definitely one of the top literary books of 2013. Highly recommended.

The Silver Star by Jeannette Walls
Another strong story of the dysfunction of family and how love overcomes all. Liz and Bean are 15 and 12 respectively when their disillusioned mother Charlotte, who is still trying to “find herself” takes off for too long. The sisters decide to journey to Mom’s home town in Virginia and visit Uncle Tinsley where a host of past history comes to the forefront. Both heartbreaking and filled with the flaws of family, Walls paints a portrait of love overcoming all, even with the help of a couple of errant emus!

The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern
My favorite summer read of 2012. Step into a world of enchantment at the turn of the Century. A duel between two young competitive magicians, but beyond the black and white striped circus tents a love match is in the making. Ethereal, whimsical and utterly transporting you will want to join the night circus and cheer for Celia and Marco. This debut novel is mesmerizing in both imagination and beautiful prose. Enjoy!

The Sisters Brothers by Patrick DeWitt
A cowboy noir, think Cohen brothers. Eli and Charlie Sisters are bountry hunters, but Eli is considering an alternate career path. At times violent but alternatively so laugh out loud funny it is often times hard to remember they are bad guys. Take a rollicking ride through the gold mining country of Northern California as the brothers track the mysterious Hermann Kermit Warm, who happens to have a secret formula for detecting gold. Refreshingly different and imaginatively written. For the reader who loves the offbeat.

The Power of One by Bryce Courtenay
The best coming of age saga you will ever read. Set in South Africa during the beginning of apartheid we see both the beauty and brutality through the eyes of a young English boy, Peekay. One of the most memorable characters of fiction, Peekay overcomes impossible odds to realize his dreams: to become a winner. Captivating, inspiring, magnificent, brilliantly written. A must read!

The Orchardist by Amanda Coplin
Coplin’s novel depicts a powerful new voice in describing the landscape of the Pacific Northwest, as you feel the beauty and solitude of the land. The author has populated the story with a wide range of characters who have been scarred by the harshness of life. Talmadge seeks redemption at all costs to himself, Della mindlessly tests herself, the environment and cultural mores in her focus on revenge and the assuage of guilt, Angelene forging the only life and sense of family she has known. Told in often spare but beautiful prose, the elements of the plot brings up many questions of our humanity and what motivates us. A fantastic Book Club selection. You won’t stop talking about this one.

Bad Monkey by Carl Hiaasen
Summer is not complete without the hilarity of a Hiaasen romp. He consistently creates over the top eccentric characters, who do the improbable, and is always set in Florida where apparently anything can, and does, happen. Always showing the results of greed, avarice and capricious human behavior in the most outlandish way, yes there is even a monkey in this exploit. Grab your favorite summer drink, a shady comfy hammock, and enjoy an afternoon delight.

The Other Typist by Suzanne Rindell
An unreliable narrator is at the forefront of a psychological suspense page turner set in the Gatsby era of New York. Rose is a typist who receives confessions from criminals to record their crimes for the NYPD, Odalie is the glamorous new girl in the typing pool who possess an air of mystery and is ready for everything the Roaring 20’s has to offer. Rose cannot help falling under Odalie’s spell… This one will have you wondering until the final pages.