As the holiday season – a little something I like to call “Thanksmas” – approaches, there seems to be precious little time to sit and enjoy a good book. Weeks of office parties, decadent meals, road trips and family obligations can leave us a little breathless, and content when it’s all over to just turn on Netflix until New Years.
But let me encourage your remote-control trigger-finger to exchange a few hours of “Orange Is the New Black” for a little quality page-turning time with one of the titles I’ve selected below. No surprise here, this year has been an especially bounteous one for books by Kentucky authors or with other ties to our state. These titles would not only make a great investment in some self-care over the holidays, but they also make great gifts, as well as an excellent excuse to patronize your friendly neighborhood locally-owned bookstore!
The Kentucky African American Encyclopedia
KyAfAmerExperience
Ed. by Gerald Smith, Karen McDaniel, John Hardin
In light of all the recent discussion around Lexington and other towns about the narratives of monuments dedicated to vestiges of slavery, counter-narratives and stories that highlight African Americans who have contributed to our city and state have become increasingly sought after. This is an incredibly comprehensive collection of narratives revolving around black Kentuckians of the commonwealth, featuring contributions by over 150 writers.
Woodford Brave
WoodfordBrave
by Marcia Thornton Jones
An award-winning veteran children’s book author and writing mentor, Marcia Thornton Jones returns with an exciting new story set during WWII America about an 11-year old boy, Cory Woodford, aka “The Kid,” who is determined to live up to his family’s legacy of bravery while his father is off fighting Germans. A satisfying tale that harkens back to summer and summer friendships, as well as a mysterious neighbor, this book is able to successfully navigate adult themes and make them palatable for a young adult audience.
Unbecoming
Unbecoming
by Rebecca Scherm
Rebecca Scherm’s psychological suspense novel is set in the outskirts of Paris and revolves around a woman named Grace, who goes by “Julie from California,” fixes bric-a-brac by day and lives in a rented room at night. Originally from Garland, Tennessee, Grace checks up on two men from her past who have just been paroled, setting into motion a complicated plot that involves a heist-gone-bad, deceptions galore, and reintroduces the stock character of a femme-fatale as a multifaceted, mesmerizing protagonist.
Mosquitoland
Mosquitoland
by David Arnold
David Arnold’s debut novel revolves around 16-year-old Mary Iris Malone aka “Mim,” who hops a Greyhound, running away from her father and new stepmother in Jackson, Mississippi. Along her way to Cleveland, Ohio to see her mother who has fallen ill, Mim meets a cast of characters of all hues of savory. Dealing with heavier themes of mental illness, suicide, divorce and burgeoning sexuality, this offbeat young adult novel featuring a quirky protagonist and harnesses the allure of a good old-fashioned road trip amid the pursuit of personal liberation.
Legacy
Legacy
by Melissa Goetz McCaughan
Twenty years in the making, Melissa Goetz McCaughan’s novel began with a childhood fascination with ghosts and later, in adolescence, being drawn to artistic boys who dressed in all black and took girls on dates in cemeteries. One gravesite in question, belonging to Jacob Hoffner of 1850’s Cincinnati, becomes the inspiration for modern-day protagonist, Anna Perrault, who discovers much about Hoffner’s past – including Masonic rituals and murder. This novel ultimately revolves around two people separated by a century and a half, searching for their respective purposes.
About Flight
AboutFlight
by Frank X Walker
Just when you think you know what to expect from a Frank X Walker poetry collection, this highly decorated former Kentucky poet laureate and co-founder of the Affrilachian Poets releases a slender tome of heavy-hitting autobiographical poems that revolve around the heartbreak of bearing witness to a family member’s crippling addiction. These poems lament and mourn, yes, but most of all, they do not back away or flinch from the sobering topic of substance abuse and the lingering effects someone’s addiction can have on their family.
Bright Dead Things
brightdeadthings
by Ada Limón
At a reading recently, Ada Limón said when thinking about the themes in her breathtaking new collection of poems, now in its third printing since its release in September, she felt they could be boiled down to, “Love, death, sex, horses.” A finalist for the National Book Award, Limón’s voice, which flares and accelerates as much as it meditates and slows to consider, has become a staple in our literary community over the past four years, and we’re proud to now call her part of the home team!
Trampoline: An Illustrated Novel
Trampoline
by Robert Gipe
A 15-year old girl from Canard County, Kentucky, who takes on mountaintop removal in the midst of personal and family turmoil? Not exactly the first topic I’d ever think of when considering material for an illustrated novel, which is what makes the premise and execution of this book so tantalizing. Complete with an undercurrent of Black Flag, biting humor and teenage angst, Dawn Jewell’s story becomes a perfect example of why contemporary readers of all ages have taken renewed interested in this unpredictable yet accessible format.
Circe’s Lament: Anthology of Wild Women Poetry
circe
Ed. by Bianca Lynne Spriggs and Katerina Stoykova-Klemer
Whether religious text, classical epic, or family lore, narratives of so-called “wild women” such as Circe of “The Odyssey” still give readers the urge to speculate about legendary women, from Amazon to roots-worker, goddess to gunslinger. What compelled these fascinating women to act? What set them apart? This anthology boasts a collection of exhilarating women from poets from around the world who channel the infamous, the historical, the wild woman next door – and even the one in the mirror.
Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas (Graphic Novel)
FearandLoathing
adapted by Troy Little
In partnership with the Hunter S. Thompson Estate, Troy Little’s adaptation kicks Thompson’s seminal book up a notch (who’d have thought it possible?). Join Raoul Duke and Dr. Gonzo through panel after stunningly illustrated panel on their trek in a red convertible through the disenchantment of the American Dream completely twisted on an assortment of mind-altering substances. ss