New books to consider

We wanted to highlight a few new books we think might interest you.

First up, our Hearth & Home lecturer, Emily Bazelon, has a new book out, Charged: The New Movement to Transform American Prosecution and End Mass Incarceration. Bazelon is a lawyer and journalist, and she aims this book at insiders in the justice system — attorneys and judges — as well as voters. In a starred review, Kirkus said the book is “a vitally important new entry in the continued heated debates about criminal justice.”

Our other nonfiction selection is What The Eyes Don’t See, a first-hand account of the water crisis in Flint, Mich., written by Mona Hanna-Attisha, the pediatrician who helped to bring the environmental disaster into the national spotlight. Hanna-Attisha lays out the science and politics of the crisis in a riveting, personal story.

On our new fiction shelves, we have a thoughtful debut novel, The Limits of The World by Jennifer Acker. Using shifting viewpoints, Acker explores family and immigration, sacrifice and fate in a story tied to both the Kenyan plains and a mall in Columbus.

And finally, if you love Jane Austen, you might consider a new retelling of Pride & Prejudice, Unmarriageable by Soniah Kamal. Here, the familiar story of stubborn lovers unfolds in Pakistan. The customs and clothing differ, but Austen’s universal truths remain. And while Kamal’s dialogue can’t quite compare to the original, her version takes a smart look at colonialism and class.

And remember, any time you want a personalized book recommendation, just email Book Adviser Hillary Copsey: hillary@mercantilelibrary.com.

See you soon at the Library!