dreamland, by sam quinones (oh guys, i was fascinated by this book. it's the (nonfiction) story of how the opioid epidemic got started, mixed with the story of heroin trafficking from mexico. it's narrative and focuses on some particular cities and people. i learned a ton and even though this book is a few years old the is obviously still news headlines and i feel a lot more able to understand the conversation. i'd highly recommend it!)
the friend, by sigrid nunez (my school's librarian has started a book club for faculty which is obviously totally my jam. this was the september pick - an author i'd never heard of, but this book won the national book award last year so i'm surprised i didn't know about her. i really loved this book. the story of a relationship and a dog and meditations on death and grieving. the author spoke in pittsburgh and i went to the event with three people from work (look - i'm making friends!) and it was really cool to hear her speak. this book is literary and really accessible all in one and i loved it. highly recommend!)
this tender land, by william kent krueger (this was my book of the month club pick and it was fine and all but didn't blow me away. it's a huck finn story set during the depression in minnesota, and the main characters are runaways from an indian boarding school. great premise, but the book dragged a bit. i didn't dislike it, i just am not running out to recommend it to others.)
