Week 4- Goodreads

I've been using Goodreads for a few years.  I'm a little obsessed with it, in fact.  I've organized my entire reading life on Goodreads--bookshelves, tbr piles, recommendations.  It's come in quite handy with customers on the information desk, too.

I recommended Her: A Memoir by Christa Parravani to Melissa G. based on her review of With or Without You by Domenica Ruta.  Both of these books are brutally honest and beautifully written. 

Week 3

Customer #1: I would recommend Tales of Female Nomad by Rita Golden Gelman for it's travel memoir nature and introspective tone.  I would also recommend Wild by Cheryl Strayed.  Strayed experienced similar losses as Gilbert and this travel memoir has a similar tone.

Customer #2: This reader could go either way...it depends whether she was annoyed by the teen-ness of the love story or love stories in general.  If more grown-up love stories don't bother the reader and humor isn't an issue, I would recommend the Sookie Stackhouse books by Charlaine Harris.  If she would rather have a more serious vampire story, I would probably recommend the more classic Interview with the Vampire series by Anne Rice or The Passage by Justin Cronin

Customer #3: As a read-alike for River of Doubt I would recommend Destiny of the Republic, also by Candace Millard, for it's fast pace and writing style.  I would also recommend Erik Larson's books for their entertaining, but factual nature.

Week 2--recommendations

I recommended read-alikes to Stephanie S.  based on her annotations.  Her annotation of Snapper led to my recommendation of Aimee Bender's books and The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry by Joyce.  For her annotation of Crown, I recommended Phillipa Gregory and Hilary Mantel.

Week 2

Mumbai New York Scranton by Tamara Shopsin

Shopsin and her husband Jason embark on a trip to India at the beginning of this fast-paced, quirky memoir.  Her descriptions of their travels on the subcontinent-- and her adopted city of Scranton--make these cities feel like additional characters.  While Shopsin and her husband lead the charmed life of not-so-starving-artists, they are relatable and likable.  When this travel memoir makes a turn toward affliction memoir you can't help but go along for the ride.

Her: A Memoir by Christa Parravani

In 2001 the author's identical twin Cara was raped, sending her into a tailspin of addiction and self-destructive behavior ending in her death from an overdose in 2005.  Reeling from her sister's death, Christa starts to follow her sister down the same path, before ultimately choosing to save herself.  This beautifully written account of drug-addiction, depression, divorce, and deliverance is perfect for the person who loves a tragic love story wrapped in a moving memoir.