Off the Beaten Shelf

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5 Books On My Radar Right Now

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If you're looking for good books, you don't have to look too far. Even though my 2016 Reading Resolution prohibits me from buying any books this calendar year, I've still got one eye trained on the bookternet for news of books I might like. Several marvelous works have caught my eye this past month. 

The Kind of Beauty That Has Nowhere to Go

by Elisa Gabbert and Kathleen Rooney

A chapbook of collaborative poetry written by two best friends. What's not to love? 

This is another fabulous creation by an indie press, so you can only find it on Hyacinth Girl Press' website

This Is Where It Ends 

by Marieke Nijkamp

This novel is set in Alabama and follows the minute-by-minute account of a school shooting, as told by four different students. The entire novel dives deep into the psychology of school shootings and is told entirely over the course of 54 minutes. 

Shylock is My Name

by Howard Jacobson

To be released on February 9th, Shylock is my name is a modern re-imagining of Shakespeare's "The Merchant of Venice" with Shylock at the forefront. He struggles with questions of Jewish identity and his daughter's betrayal of her Jewish upbringing by marrying a footballer famous for giving the Nazi salute upon scoring goals. 

Reasons to Stay Alive

by Matt Haig

Matt Haig explores his own battle with depression and why, at 24 and standing over the edge of a cliff, he chose not to jump. He embarked on a journey of learning to live with depression, and learned how to live, love, and feel better along the way. 

Here I Am

by Jonathan Safran Foer

The cover for Here I Am has yet to be released as it isn't coming out until September. It's Jonathan Safran Foer's first novel in 11 years. The book is set in a world where Israel has been invaded, the Middle East has been hit by an earthquake, and displaces relatives from the region go to visit family in Washington. The family in Washington is grappling with their own battles, namely the disintegration of their parents' marriage. The novel is an exploration of Jewish-American life. 

What books have caught your eye this past month? Share in the comments! 

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