Alex’s Favorites

“Ta-Nehisi Coates understands something big and he understands it better than anyone else right now. The Water Dancer led me on a journey up and down the landscape of American slavery with a narrative that feels like The Book of Exodus meets, well, Ta-Nehisi Coates. Over 400 pages I have cried, I have laughed, I have been educated, and I have been enlightened. Coates writes with an honesty that can only come from a sublime, even spiritual, understanding of the souls of the white man and the black man in America. Written with poignancy and humanity, The Water Dancer left me stunned but clear-headed, like I had just been woken up from a deep, dream-filled sleep.”

“How a young woman, raised without modern medicine, any schooling, or even a birth certificate, in a remote Mormon, survivalist household in Idaho, made it to college and ended up receiving a PhD from Cambridge is the incredible story of this memoir. Outstanding! This true story is a beautifully written and narrated, soulful, hilarious, heartbreaking, even suspenseful page-turner (that you'll want to listen on 1x speed to), and not to be missed!”

“Through Acevedo’s transcendent poetry, the tragic crash of AA587 becomes a song to family in all of its complexities and a tribute to the power of Latinas. Camino and Yahaira Rios are sisters unaware of each other’s existence until their beloved Papi dies in a plane crash. His death ushers in new realities for both girls, Camino in the Dominican Republic and Yahaira in New York City, and each must struggle with the meaning of family. Truth? This book is incredible and makes me yearn to gather my sisters around me, grab a machete, and destroy the ugliness in this world. Acevedo is one of the brilliant, bright lights in literature and listening to her read it on Libro.fm is soul nourishing. ”

“Unlike most of my peers, I did not learn about mythology in school. Circe intimidated me for far too long before I finally took the plunge to read it. How glad I am that I faced my fear! Even to my untrained mind, the chronicles of Circe were easy to follow, and with Perdita Weeks’ sublime narration, soon I was engrossed. Ostracized and outcast, Circe—the goddess, the witch—exhibits unbelievable strength and passion in her many years, and Madeline Miller has molded her into the feminist icon of my dreams. After spending so much time with her, I was emotional to say goodbye. This one should not be missed!”

“Katherine May uses 'winter' as a metaphor for life’s darker seasons in this poetic memoir about retreating from the demands and expectations of a pressuring society. She encourages the reader to explore the quiet and restorative moments in life that help us to grow, relax, and heal from difficult times. Lyrical, reflective, and comforting; this book is paired best with your coziest blanket and a hot cup of tea.”

“This amazing debut novel opens with 11 year old twin girls cold, scared and alone late at night at a Scottish harbor in Edinburgh. All they will say are their first names and that they are waiting for a pirate ship. Twenty years later one of the twins, Catriona, is back in Scotland, for the first time in over 10 years. She is there because her twin, Ellice, has disappeared at sea and is presumed dead. Cat is sure that she would know if El is dead, even though they had not spoken in 10 years. She has come back to see what games El is now playing, because El was good at playing games and getting what she wanted. Cat’s search for answers takes her back to their childhood and the fantasy world of pirates, witches and clowns that she and El created in a hidden part of their house which they called Mirrorland. Memories which Cat thought were all part of their fantasy world suddenly become part of her current reality and in order to find out what happened to El she must finally face the reality of their tragic childhood, and separate out fiction from the facts she has refused to remember. Mirrorland is a modern day gothic where every page brings a new surprise. A surprise which will have you wondering what is real and what isn’t in this unusual, scary and surprisingly atmospheric novel which touches on horrible abuse, a mother’s desperate efforts to save her children, love, betrayal and above all else the bonds between sisters–especially twins.”

“Joe Moe... you glorious Saddie you! Do you suffer from depression and anxiety? This book is for you. Know someone with depression or anxiety? This book is also for you. Curious about what it is like to have depression and anxiety? Yeah, it's for you, too. What I'm saying is this book is for everyone. It makes hard subjects more relatable and palatable. It is a gift that made me feel seen.”

“Brush up on your classical mythology painlessly with the help of Stephen Fry! The Greek gods are brought to life with a fresh perspective and loads of uncensored naughty bits served with a side of pop culture references. Best enjoyed by listening to the Libro.fm audiobook to fully appreciate the storytelling aspect of these tales that were meant to be enjoyed in the oral tradition. But hard to resist the gorgeous package of the cloth bound hardback. I own both. :)”

“Suggested Reading by Dave Connis is a quick teen read that surprisingly tackles more serious questions that expected. While the crux of the book centers around censorship, the author digs more deeply into how books affect us, who is responsible for deciding what can shape us, and how to grapple with less-than-altruistic motivations for worthy causes.”

“LOVED, LOVED, LOVED this book on Libro.fm, as an audiobook. To hear the Ojibwe words spoken is a treat not to be missed. Great reader in Isabella Star Lablanc!”

“I devoured Kristin Hannah’s masterful work of historical fiction, narrated by one of the best audiobook narrators working today, Julia Whelan. I found myself desperately rooting for the Martinelli family as they face a persistent series of crises during the Great Depression & the Dust Bowl. This is character driven storytelling at its best — each time I stepped away from it I couldn’t stop thinking about them. The Four Winds is a deeply moving story about a particularly dark era of profoundly relevant American history. BONUS: This audiobook edition includes an interview with author and narrator at the end!”

“This is a story about women—mothers, daughters and how history shapes a life. Gabriella Garcia, a Cuban American, tells two immigration stories—one from Cuba, and the other from El Salvador—and how the past impacts decisions in their own lives. Garcia’s sentences and word choice ring with purpose when you listen to the story as an audiobook. I would recommend this story, and be on the lookout for more from Garcia.”

“This was a blast to read. Kate and Dan Holland have an opportunity to move into an eco-friendly community called Greenloops in the shadow of Mt. Rainier. Kate’s therapist asks her to keep a journal, and this is how their story is preserved. Because after Mt. Rainier erupts, horrible things happen at Greenloops. Really horrible things…”

“Florence Given's voice is that of the honest best friend everyone needs! There's so much I want to gush about! I'll start by saying that it is an amazing introduction to feminism. Given clearly describes the unfair experiences women go through, with or without their conscious awareness. She addresses issues that affect the LGBTQ+ community and women of color. She talks about some of her own personal experiences being affected by society's messages. Trigger warning: topics of sexual assault are addressed in this book. Overall, I loved it! It was heartbreaking at times being presented with the reality of the unjust treatment of women and the standards they are forced to uphold, especially those I can relate to. I thought about the important women AND men in my life, and wished to buy a copy of this book for each of them.”

“This is a book that is going to stay with me for a long time. Miller, motivated by her relationship with her father, and a lifelong search for meaning, closely examines David Starr Jordan, the larger-than-life father of American Ichthyology and founding president of Stanford University. If you ever wondered how fish identification and eugenics are connected, you’re about to find out. When science is used to find proof of a divine hierarchy, the consequences are real, and devastating. Miller’s book is a beautiful invitation to shift the paradigms about how to find and make meaning in our own lives.”