Does the name Donaldina Cameron ring a bell for you? It didn't for me, until I read this terrific novel, The Paper Daughters of Chinatown, by Heather B. Moore. Donaldina Cameron is called "Dolly" in the book. She's also called "Fahn Quai," which means "White Devil"...
If you're looking for fresh and entertaining, yet complex, novels set in the here and now, try these two new books! Brit Bennett's newest novel, The Vanishing Half, is an intergenerational story about family and race. It tells the story of twin girls who were brought...
Are you in the mood for a couple of little short books that tell unique stories with a wealth of gorgeous detail? Nghi Vo creates a fantasy world based on ancient China and her storytelling is superb. Both books feature a cleric, Chih, whose pronouns are they/their...
At this point I'm pretty sure Jean Kwok is one of my new favorite authors. I recently read her newest book, Searching for Sylvie Lee, and my, was it a page-turner. When the Lee family first immigrates to New York City from China, they are so poor that they have to...
Here's a book that just came out this fall and is unlike any book I have ever read before. Susanna Clarke (of Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norell fame) has come out with a new novel called Piranesi. It's a lot shorter than Jonathan Strange, but it packs just as hefty a...
If you're looking for an engrossing family drama read, look no further than Christina Clancy's debut novel, The Second Home. The messed-up family dynamics will totally draw you in, and you'll be dying to reach the resolution the entire time you're reading. The story...
Here are two books I recently enjoyed, one by Jean Kwok and one by Cathleen Schine. These two authors have each written several books, so if you, like me, enjoy an author's work and want more by that author, you will have that opportunity here! They're both...
Today the Matchmakers are happy to share a post from our guest blogger, librarian Bill Rubin: We start, again, with a story. Back when I was a student at Heights High, in the very dim past, a friend of mine recommended a book to me: A Canticle for Leibowitz by Walter...
Back in June, the Matchmakers made a reading list called Addressing Race And Racism Through Reading. It includes both non-fiction titles, so readers can learn about racism and how to combat its effects, and it includes fiction, which allows readers to hear from...
You know, I honestly wouldn't have thought that a dark, atmospheric historical mystery would fit the bill for my reading list right now. I just randomly pulled this off the shelf one day, and it was terrific. I would read more by this author for sure. The book, which...