Book cover of The History of a Difficult Child

Book description

“An endearing coming-of-age story. . . . Sharp and witty. . . . A wily and operatic novel. . . . Propulsive.” —The Washington Post

"The History of a Difficult Child is an extraordinary novel." —Maaza Mengiste, Booker Prize-shortlisted author of The Shadow King

“An exhilarating novel by a powerful…

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Why read it?

1 author picked The History of a Difficult Child as one of their favorite books. Why do they recommend it?

You need books to get you completely out of your narrow, familiar world, because you have to bring your own imagination to a book in a way that you don’t have to with films or theater.

This brilliant, funny, heart-breaking novel about a family in rural Ethiopia at a time of political persecution and turmoil in the 1970s-80s will put you into a world where your only bearings are love and longing. I was travelling around Ethiopia in October and was reading this book the whole way, and it both enlightened and transcended my experiences. It will for you too,…

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Book cover of The High House

The High House by James Stoddard,

The Victorian mansion, Evenmere, is the mechanism that runs the universe.

The lamps must be lit, or the stars die. The clocks must be wound, or Time ceases. The Balance between Order and Chaos must be preserved, or Existence crumbles.

Appointed the Steward of Evenmere, Carter Anderson must learn the…

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