The Staff Shelf: Book Passage
What are booksellers reading?
When we walk into a bookstore, the first place we go is the staff recommendation shelves—it’s how you get a quick sense of the personality of the store. The very best bookstores are merely a reflection of the eclectic, deeply felt opinions of the book-lovers who work there. As part of our Interview with a Bookstore, we asked the staff at Book Passage what they’re reading.
SLIDESHOW: Book Passage Staff Shelf
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- LUISA SMITH (HEAD BUYER) RECOMMENDS: Lauren Groff sets the stage for this drama of human connections beautifully, revealing the dark undercurrents of a modern marriage. With unforgettable characters and dramatic turns of events, we live through both sides of a long marriage. Fates and Furies is a magnificent novel that reminds us that the love we covet is always more complicated than it appears.
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- ELAINE PETROCELLI (PRESIDENT) RECOMMENDS: There are many words that would describe Isabel Allende’s new book, but the best is “masterpiece.” The story, which is rich in history and insight, will stay with you long after you finish reading.
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- SUSAN KUNHARDT (CHILDREN’S BOOK BUYER) RECOMMENDS: In this magnificent reimagining of the form he originated, Selznick gives us two stand-alone stories- the first in nearly 400 pages of continuous pictures, the second in prose. The Marvels is a gripping adventure and an intriguing invitation to decipher how the two narratives connect.
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- LUISA SMITH (HEAD BUYER) RECOMMENDS: We fell in love with the food of Yotam Ottolenghi in his first cookbook, Plenty, and with each new book our devotion grows. His food is always inspired, with revelatory combinations and flavors, and still accessible for the home cook.
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- ZACK RUSKIN (MARKETING MANAGER) RECOMMENDS: Scott McCloud’s illustrations are like a silent film, speaking endless words with a single expression. This stunningly gorgeous story of life, legacy, and love will leave readers asking if McCloud himself hasn’t struck a pact with a supernatural force to create such a masterful story.
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- ZACK RUSKIN (MARKETING MANAGER) RECOMMENDS: From reincarnated babies to sexual awakenings, every moment has meaning in the world of Miranda July. Her debut novel follows Cheryl, a woman accustomed to being alone until her bosses beg her to foster Clee, their tetchy, disillusioned twenty-one-year-old daughter. The story brilliantly explores the anxiety of companionship and the bizarre realities of everyday life.
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- SUSAN KUNHARDT (CHILDREN’S BOOK BUYER) RECOMMENDS: Hard to believe, but the sequel is even funnier than The Day the Crayons Quit. There’s a whole new cast of characters, including Neon Red, who was left behind at a motel last summer after being used to illustrate Dad’s sunburn. And Pea Green, who has decided to change his name to the more dashing “Esteban,” dreams of seeing the world (will someone open the door, please?).
