A Beautiful Poison

A Beautiful Poison by Lydia Kang

Summary: Just beyond the Gilded Age, in the mist-covered streets of New York, the deadly Spanish influenza ripples through the city. But with so many victims in her close circle, young socialite Allene questions if the flu is really to blame. All appear to have been poisoned—and every death was accompanied by a mysterious note.

Desperate for answers and dreading her own engagement to a wealthy gentleman, Allene returns to her passion for scientific discovery and recruits her long-lost friends, Jasper and Birdie, for help. The investigation brings her closer to Jasper, an apprentice medical examiner at Bellevue Hospital who still holds her heart, and offers the delicate Birdie a last-ditch chance to find a safe haven before her fragile health fails.

As more of their friends and family die, alliances shift, lives become entangled, and the three begin to suspect everyone—even each other. As they race to find the culprit, Allene, Birdie, and Jasper must once again trust each other, before one of them becomes the next victim.

Angie’s comments: The characters are very different, and the author portrays the real tensions between the friends. There is a lot going on in this book, which sucked me in. I didn’t figure out all the secrets before the end, but it was a fitting ending. In some ways, the story is raw without being too explicit in regards to some sexual situations.

Recommended for readers who want an engrossing historical mystery complete with disease and other social issues.

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I, Mammal

I, Mammal: The Story of What Makes Us Mammals by Liam Drew

Summary: Humans are mammals. Most of us appreciate that at some level. But what does it mean for us to have more in common with a horse and an elephant than we do with a parrot, snake or frog?

After a misdirected football left new father Liam Drew clutching a uniquely mammalian part of his anatomy, he decided to find out more. Considering himself as a mammal first and a human second, Liam delves into ancient biological history to understand what it means to be mammalian.

In his humorous and engaging style, Liam explores the different characteristics that distinguish mammals from other types of animals. He charts the evolution of milk, warm blood and burgeoning brains, and examines the emergence of sophisticated teeth, exquisite ears, and elaborate reproductive biology, plus a host of other mammalian innovations. Entwined are tales of zoological peculiarities and reflections on how being a mammal has shaped the author's life.

I, Mammal is a history of mammals and their ancestors and of how science came to grasp mammalian evolution. And in celebrating our mammalian-ness, Liam Drew binds us a little more tightly to the five and a half thousand other species of mammal on this planet and reveals the deep roots of many traits humans hold dear.

Angie’s comments: Full of humor and personal stories, this is a fun popular science read. It is easy to understand, written for non-biologists.

Recommended for readers interested in biology and animals.

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Ties

Ties by Domenico Starnone

Summary: A New York Times Notable Book of the Year

A Sunday Times and Kirkus Reviews Best Book of the Year

Translated by Pulitzer Prize-winning author Jhumpa Lahiri, Ties is a compulsively readable and provocative novel about marriage and family by one of Italy's bestselling novelists.

Like many marriages, Vanda and Aldo's has been subject to strain, to attrition, to the burden of routine. Yet it has survived intact. Or so things appear. The rupture in their marriage lies years in the past, but if one looks closely enough, the fissures and fault lines are evident. It is a cracked vase that may shatter at the slightest touch. Or perhaps it has already shattered, and nobody is willing to acknowledge the fact.

Domenico Starnone's thirteenth work of fiction is a powerful short novel about relationships, family, love, and the ineluctable consequences of one's actions. Known as a consummate stylist and beloved as a talented storyteller, Domenico Starnone is the winner of Italy's most prestigious literary award, The Strega.

Winner of The Bridge Prize for Best Novel 2015 

Angie’s comments: The introduction by the translator Jhumpa Lahiri is great, and is especially good for reading after you finish the novel. The book itself is short but powerful, and full of characters who make mistakes and who feel deeply. In each of the three parts, you learn more about each character and their reactions to their lives.

Recommended for readers of literary family drama. 

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