BOOKS YOU SHOULD KNOW ABOUT:
Here's a list of a few outstanding new titles on our shelves at Walden Pond Books.
We've carefully picked the best of the best for your consideration.
The titles below are just a small sample. View more of our favorite books and staff picks on our web site at www.waldenpondbooks.com.

Drop by Walden Pond Books at 3316 Grand Avenue and browse. Or - if you see a book listed here or on our web site that you know you've just got to read immediately - call us at 510-832-4438 and we'll hold that title for you at the front counter or ship directly to your home.

• Fiction: Recently Released in Hardcover (Front Display)
  

  (Gallery/Scout Press)	QUEENIE by Candice Carty-Williams Queenie Jenkins is a 25-year-old Jamaican British woman living in London, straddling two cultures and slotting neatly into neither. She works at a national newspaper, where she's constantly forced to compare herself to her white middle class peers. After a messy break up from her long-term white boyfriend, Queenie seeks comfort in all the wrong places. A disarmingly honest, relatable, and bold novel that speaks to anyone who has gone looking for love and found something very different instead. "Carty-Williams creates an utterly knowable character in Queenie, who's as dimensional and relatable as they come as she tries to balance her own desires with what everyone else seems to want for her. Fast moving, this entertains while tackling topics like mental health and stigma, racism and tokenism, gentrification, and the isolation of social-media and dating-app culture. This smart, funny, and tender debut embraces a modern woman's messiness." — Booklist *** starred review ***. "Superb. Lurking just beneath the glittering, fast-paced surface of the story are all sorts of disturbing things. I have never read a novel that shows the experience of everyday, low-level racism so vividly, or so convincingly. A funny, clever, heartbreaking lightning bolt of a first novel, by a writer bristling with talent. — The Times (U.K.). "Candice Carty-Williams has a flair for story-telling that appears effortlessly authentic. Her title character is a woman you both know and cannot forget. Carty-Williams has taken a black woman's story and made it a story of the age." — TIME Magazine. "A smart, fearless debut. This is an essential depiction of life as a black woman in the modern world. Dynamic and memorable." — Publishers Weekly *** starred review ***. "Carty-Williams's unvarnished takes on depression, gentrification, cultural taboos, and casual racism cut to the bone. And her debut reads a lot like its smart, sensitive protagonist: urgently, refreshingly real." — Entertainment Weekly. "A hilarious, heart-shattering, deeply lovable novel. . . Debut author Candice Carty-Williams has created a truly one-of-a-kind heroine in Queenie, whose story is universally relatable without ever flinching in the face of challenging subjects that are more important now than ever. All hail Queenie!" — Newsday.
  (Riverhead/Random)	NAAMAH by Sarah Blake We know the story of Noah and his Ark: with the coming of the Great Flood only one family was spared, drifting on an endless sea, waiting for the waters to subside. Now, in a work of astounding invention, Sarah Blake reclaims the story of his wife, Naamah, the woman who kept them alive. "Sarah Blake’s debut novel puts Noah’s wife at the center of a really very wild and superbly intelligent reimagining. Set in an elemental agricultural past, on a flooded desert populated by angels, dead children and birds with the voice of God. . . The writing is most sublimely clever. . . left me with an abiding admiration for the writer’s charged powers of imagination." - The New York Times. "Blake's writing is deeply feminist. Whether she's focused on giving birth or having sex, Blake sketches the female body and experience in all its gore and glory. Naamah enters other people's dreams, spirits visit her on Earth, and she spends hours exploring beneath the floodwaters. Comprised of mesmerizing prose poem-esque sections, the novel explores themes of sexuality, purpose, loss, love, and faith. A poetic debut of biblical proportions." - Kirkus Reviews *** starred review ***. "Revelatory, ethereal and transfixing. . . Blake's language and storytelling style are as playful as they are sensual, as fluid and surreal as they are crisp and hyper-realistic. Naamah plucks a female character from myth and imbues her with sexuality, personality and intimacy, making her an altogether more modern hero — the kind of woman capable of giving a stern talking-to to a vengeful god." - Bookpage *** starred review ***. "Blake has taken one of the best-known biblical tales and opened it up in ways both inventive and provocative. She brings this world alive, from detailed descriptions of the construction of the Ark and preparations for the journey, to the day-to-day practicalities of living with a literal boatload of creatures. With Naamah, Blake provides insights both unique and moving, and makes an ancient tale feel vibrant and relevant to today." - Jewish Book Council *** featured review ***.
  (William Morrow/Harper)	THE BORDER by Don Winslow From deserts south of the border to Wall Street, from the slums of Guatemala to the marbled corridors of Washington, D.C., Don Winslow follows a new generation of narcos, the cops that fight them, the street traffickers, the addicts, the politicians, money-launderers, real-estate moguls, and mere children fleeing the violence for the chance of a life in a new country. A shattering tale of vengeance, violence, corruption and justice. Highly effective as a stand-alone novel, The Border is the third book in Winslow's Cartel trilogy which began with The Power of the Dog and Cartel. "The publication of the concluding volume in Winslow's epic Cartel trilogy represents a landmark moment in crime fiction, and it couldn't come at a more propitious time. Connecting the dots from fictional characters and events to real-life ones will fuel much commentary in the coming weeks, but in the end, it is Winslow's remarkable ability to translate the utter fiasco of our 50-year War on Drugs into the most wrenching of human stories, tragedy seemingly without end, that gives this novel its unparalleled power. Winslow has spent decades immersed in the drug wars, and his prodigious research and ability to combine massive amounts of detail into a structured whole show on every page. But coming through with equal force is his eloquence." - Booklist *** starred review ***. "Of all the blows delivered by Don Winslow’s Cartel trilogy, none may be as devastating as the timing of The Border, its stunner of a conclusion. His sweeping new novel concerns subjects that put it right on the culture’s front burner. Blade-sharp, violent, pulse-quickening and reportorially shocking. . . It is all rendered unputdownable by Winslow’s unrivaled skill at his game. This is a book for dark, rudderless times, an immersion into fear and chaos." - The New York Times. "A furious, impassioned novel that directs its anger at a wide assortment of targets. Some of the angriest (and probably most controversial) moments come through Winslow’s scathing account of the 2016 presidential election. The resulting portrait of greed and influence peddling at the highest levels of government lends an extra layer of outrage to an already white-hot narrative. The Border guides us through a savage, wholly believable world. The result is a powerful - and painful - journey through a contemporary version of hell. Rarely has hell been so compelling." - The Washington Post. "The Border is a very good book. . . Because it is a huge, meticulously researched book that comes at the end of a series 20 years in the making. Because it is a book that eschews flowery language for precision and quick action. Because the internal monologues of quiet men are often the ways we are given to understand their internal histories. Because - and I am not saying this lightly - this is all basically Shakespeare. Taken all together, in its entirety - taken as a full, sweeping, fictionalized tale rooted and grounded in very real tragedy - The Border becomes a book for our times." - NPR.

• Fiction: Recently or Soon-to-be Released in Paperback (Aisle 1-B)
  

  (Atria/Simon & Schuster)	HEADS OF THE COLORED PEOPLE: Stories by Nafissa Thompson-Spires A brilliant collection of utterly captivating stories - some darkly humorous, some devastatingly poignant - examines the concept of black identity in this so-called post-racial era. Fearlessly shining a light on the simmering tensions and precariousness of black citizenship, Nafissa Thompson-Spires proves herself a stunning new talent in literary fiction. "A bold new voice, at once insolently sardonic and incisively compassionate, asserts itself. Thompson-Spires flashes fearsome gifts for quirky characterization, irony-laden repartee, and edgy humor. It seems difficult for even the most experienced storyteller to achieve an appealing balance of astringency and poignancy, and yet Thompson-Spires hits that balance repeatedly." - Kirkus Reviews *** starred review ***. "Every once in a while a book comes around that fills a need - that communicates ideas so effectively and humanely its social value leaps off the page. Heads of the Colored People is such a book." - Entertainment Weekly. "A powerful debut of 11 original, multilayered stories that focus on the African American community, exploring race and the politics of identity but also class issues and the privileges of the black middle class. Presenting unique characters, gifted storyteller Thompson-Spires navigates the black experience with humor and poignancy while also acknowledging the inherent tensions and exposure to violence black citizens encounter. Highly recommended." - Library Journal *** starred review ***. "A perfect showcasing of Thompson-Spires's brilliant use of the absurd both to emphasize and alleviate the pressure of difficult issues. The stories float along the tensions between devastation and humor, vulnerability and defiance, frustration and hope. It's a rare talent that can take such complicated and harrowing subjects and turn them into such a refreshing and compulsive read." - Shelf Awareness *** starred review ***. "From the opening sentences of the opening story in Nafissa Thompson-Spires’s debut collection, we’re in a world of humor, provocation and deep reflection." - The New York Times.
  (Scribner)	A 2018 MAN BOOKER PRIZE NOMINEE THE MARS ROOM by Rachel Kushner As Romy Hall begins serving two consecutive life sentences at Stanville Women's Correctional Facility in California's Central Valley, she comes to grips with her new reality: thousands of women hustling for the bare essentials needed to survive; the bluffing and pageantry and casual acts of violence by guards and prisoners; and the absurdities of institutional living. Rachel Kushner has written a spectacularly compelling, heart-stopping novel about a life gone off the rails in contemporary America. "In smart, determined, and vigilant Romy, Kushner, an acclaimed writer of exhilarating skills, has created a seductive narrator of tigerish intensity. This is a gorgeously eviscerating novel of incarceration writ large. Rooted in deeply inquisitive thinking and executed with artistry and edgy wit, Kushner's dramatic and disquieting novel investigates with verve and compassion societal strictures and how very difficult it is to understand each other and to be truly free." — Booklist *** starred review ***. "Heartbreaking and unforgettable. . . Kushner excels at capturing the minutiae of prison life, and manages to critique the justice system and vividly capture the reality of life behind bars. Her novel is notable for its holistic depiction of who gets wrapped up in incarceration - families, lawyers, police, and prisoners; it deserves to be read with the same level of pathos, love, and humanity with which it clearly was written." — Publishers Weekly *** starred review ***. "Much of the action of Rachel Kushner's brilliant new novel is set in California prisons. She has done her research. But the moral scope of The Mars Room is really too large for it to be considered a prison novel. Through its vividly rendered characters, it asks the reader to ponder bigger questions about the system of justice, the possibility of redemption and even the industrialization of the natural landscape. A captivating and beautiful novel." — BookPage *** Top Fiction Pick ***. "A major novel, a sustained performance, one that broods on several exigent ideas. The Mars Room prowls rather than races. It is like a muscle car oozing down the side roads of your mind. Kushner’s portrait of life inside the women’s prison is grainy and persuasive. It’s all here." — The New York Times.
  (Algonquin/Workman)	AN AMERICAN MARRIAGE by Tayari Jones Newlyweds Celestial and Roy are the embodiment of both the American Dream and the New South. But as they settle into the routine of their life together, they are ripped apart by circumstances neither could have imagined. Roy is arrested and sentenced to twelve years for a crime he didn't commit. A profoundly insightful look into the hearts and minds of people both bound and separated by forces beyond their control. "Wise and compassionate. . . It is beautifully written, with many allusions to black music and culture - including the everyday poetry of the African-American community that begs to be heard. It also warns us to awaken our compassion and empathy. This can be you, the story whispers. Forget that at your peril." - The New York Times "Compelling. . . intimate and introspective: a story about the unpredictable ways love ferments in the airless conditions of forced separation. Each character speaks directly to us." - The Washington Post "Jones’s exploration is a breathtaking look at who and what can be complicit in the breakdown of a marriage. Quietly powerful. . . It becomes head-spinning how Jones upends all expectations, flipping the reader’s perceptions and offering unexpected moments of clarity." - The Atlantic. "Peopled by vividly realized, individual characters and driven by interpersonal drama, but also very much about being black in contemporary America. This is, at its heart, a love story, but a love story warped by racial injustice. And, in it, Jones suggests that racial injustice haunts the African-American story. Subtle, well-crafted, and powerful." - Kirkus Reviews *** starred review ***

• Non-Fiction: Recently Released in Hardcover (Front Display)
  

  (Simon & Schuster) 10 BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR

  WINNER OF THE 2019 PULITZER PRIZE FOR HISTORY A NEW YORK TIMES BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR FREDERICK DOUGLASS: Prophet of Freedom David W. Blight The most important African American of the nineteenth century: Frederick Douglass was an escaped slave who became the greatest orator of his day and one of the leading abolitionists and writers of the era. There has not been a major biography of Douglass in a quarter century. Now David W. Blight affords this major American prophet and reformer the distinguished biography he deserves. With the lucid prose and in-depth research that have been a hallmark of his long and distinguished career, the acclaimed historian has drawn on new information few other biographers have been able to access. The result is a portrait that is likely to stand as the definitive account for years to come. “A monumental work about a monumental figure. Cinematic and deeply engaging. . . a tour de force of storytelling. Blight isn't looking to overturn our understanding of Douglass, whose courage and achievements were unequivocal, but to complicate it - a measure by which this ambitious and empathetic biography resoundingly succeeds.” - The New York Times (Editors' Choice). “David W. Blight brilliantly captures this legendary figure and his times in one of the best biographies of recent years. Blight's portrait of Douglass is engrossing, moving, nuanced, frightening - and certainly thought-provoking.” - Bookpage *** starred review ***. “The most comprehensive biography of Douglass ever written. Above all, Blight lets this remarkable voice speak for itself throughout the text. Douglass excelled at telling his own story (he wrote three autobiographies), and Blight does not talk over him. Blight has written a biography that will likely stand as definitive for decades to come.” - The Philadelphia Inquirer. “Magisterial. . . David Blight has written the definitive biography of Frederick Douglass. With extraordinary detail he illuminates the complexities of Douglass's life and career and paints a powerful portrait of one of the most important American voices of the 19th century. The resulting chronicle enriches our understanding of Douglass and the challenges he faced and offers a lesson for our own troubled times.” - The Boston Globe.

• Non-Fiction: Recently or Soon-to-be Released in Paperback (Aisle 2-B)
  

  (Scribner)

  Named a Best Book of the Year by The New York Times, Publishers Weekly, NPR, Buzzfeed, Library Journal, The Washington Post, and Entertainment Weekly. HEAVY: An American Memoir by Kiese Laymon Kiese Laymon writes eloquently and honestly about growing up a hard-headed black son to a complicated and brilliant black mother. From his childhood in Jackson, Mississippi, to his time in New York as a college professor, Laymon charts his complex relationship with his mother, grandmother, anorexia, obesity, sex, writing, and ultimately gambling. An unforgettable memoir that combines personal stories with piercing intellect to reflect both on the strife of American society and on Laymon's experiences with abuse. "Heavy takes on the important work of exposing the damage done to America, especially its black population, by the failure to confront the myths, half-truths, and lies at the foundation of the success stories that the nation worships. In the process, Laymon dramatizes a very different route to victory: the quest to forge a self by speaking hard truths, resisting exploitation, and absorbing with grace the cost of being black in America while struggling to live a life of virtue...You won't be able to put this memoir down, but not because it is breezy reading. It is, in Laymon's multilayered word, heavy - packed with reminders of how black dreams get skewed and deferred yet are also pregnant with the possibility that a kind of redemption may lie in intimate grappling with black realities" - The Atlantic. "A compelling record of American violence and family violence, and the wide, rutted embrace of family love. Kiese Laymon is a star in the American literary firmament, with a voice that is courageous, honest, loving, and singularly beautiful. Heavy is at once a paean to the Deep South, a condemnation of our fat-averse culture, and a brilliantly rendered memoir of growing up black, and bookish, and entangled in a family that is as challenging as it is grounding." - NPR. "One of the most important and intense books of the year because of the unyielding, profoundly original and utterly heartbreaking way it addresses and undermines expectations for what exactly it's like to possess and make use of a male black body in America. The book thunders as an indictment of hope, a condemnation of anyone ever looking forward." - The Los Angeles Times. "A gorgeous, gutting book that's fueled by candor yet freighted with ambivalence. It's full of devotion and betrayal, euphoria and anguish, tender embraces and rough abuse. This generous, searching book explores all the forces that can stop even the most buoyant hopes from ever leaving the ground." - The New York Times.

• Fantasy, Science Fiction & Horror: New in Paperback (Aisle 2-B)
  

  (Gallery/Simon & Schuster)	TRAIL OF LIGHTNING by Rebecca Roanhorse 2019 HUGO AWARD FINALIST | 2019 NEBULA AWARD FINALIST While most of the world has drowned beneath the sudden rising waters of a climate apocalypse, Dinétah (formerly the Navajo reservation) has been reborn. The gods and heroes of legend walk the land, but so do monsters. Maggie Hoskie is a Dinétah monster hunter, a supernaturally gifted killer. When a small town needs help finding a missing girl, Maggie is their last best hope. Rebecca Roanhorse is an exciting new voice in speculative fiction, and her skilful weaving of Navajo mythology into her debut novel makes for a truly fascinating and unique read. "It takes a special talent to devise an apocalypse that feels original. Rebecca Roanhorse meets the challenge head-on. Smartly paced, with character development and action sequences expertly interspersed. The beginning of a longer saga, Trail of Lightning is a highly satisfying reading experience all on its own. Roanhorse possesses a sure hand and a singular vision, and she establishes her credentials as a novelist with this ambitious, exciting and well-executed first book." - The San Francisco Chronicle. "Vividly depicts Navajo land, legends, and culture in a marvelous fantasy debut. . . Roanhorse unspools a fascinating narrative of colorful magic in a world made otherwise bleak by both natural and man-made circumstances. The monster-hunting plot nearly takes a back seat to Maggie's challenging journey of working through personal and cultural trauma. A fresh take on the tale of the emotionally and spiritually wounded hero who faces down increasing evil to make the world better. This rich tale from a strong Native American voice is recommended for all fantasy audiences." - Publishers Weekly *** starred review ***. "Roanhorse's sharp prose vividly builds a reborn Navajo universe filled with magic and flawed protagonists who are striving to live beyond their presumed destinies. VERDICT: This exciting postapocalyptic debut, with its heady combination of smartly drawn characters, Wild West feel, and twisty plot, is a must-read." - Library Journal *** starred review ***. "Delightful. . . I loved the worldbuilding. After decades of reading genre futures in which black and brown people don’t exist, it’s deeply satisfying to find fiction in which histories of genocide actually equip them to survive disasters." - The New York Times.
  (Saga/Simon & Schuster)	SPACE OPERA by Catherynne M. Valente 2019 HUGO AWARD FINALIST The great galactic civilizations gather for the Metagalactic Grand Prix - part gladiatorial contest, part beauty pageant, part concert extravaganza, and part continuation of the wars of the past. Now, for the first time, humans from Earth will compete - and their performance will determine Earth's right to exist. "One of the funniest books that I’ve ever read... But the real selling point is Valente’s elaborate prose, dense with description and metaphors. Each of Valente’s sentences could be an entire story, and I found myself engrossed in each one, visualizing her chaotic, bizarre, and delightful universe. I enjoyed every minute I spent reading Space Opera." - The Verge. "Although her comedic talents are reminiscent of Douglas Adams at his best, Valente’s palette is far larger. The ability to fluidly tie real-world tragedy together with psychedelic hilarity is perhaps Space Opera’s most impressive attribute. It takes confidence, skill and talent to craft a tragic disco ball metaphor, and Valente has all three in spades." - BookPage *** starred review ***. "There are really no words to describe Space Opera. I can say that it's a wicked-fast read (if you can handle the whiplash) and enjoyable at speeds unsafe for upright mammals. In between it's all big ideas written in glitter. It's surprising tenderness on a galactic scale. It's about loneliness and nerdliness and acceptance and making fun of the old, frowsy powers that be. Valente offers up a universe in which the only thing of true value is rhythm." - NPR.
  (Solaris/Simon & Schuster)	REVENANT GUN by Yoon Ha Lee 2019 HUGO AWARD FINALIST This third and final novel in the Machineries of Empire trilogy brings Yoon Ha Lee's epic of interstellar warfare, politics, intrigue, and arcane technology to a shattering conclusion. [The preceding volumes are Ninefox Gambit and Raven Stratagem.] Lee combines riveting space opera action with dazzling, imaginative worldbuilding to stunning effect. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED! "Lee concludes his brilliant Machineries of Empire trilogy. Lee's highly imaginative creation is a triumph." - Publishers Weekly *** starred review ***. "Yoon Ha Lee stuck the landing, and in doing so cemented that the Machineries of Empire series is one of the most ambitious and rewarding science fiction series in print. Lee relentlessly reminds us that war is a self-sustaining state, and that the suffering it produces is its intended product." - Strange Horizons "A fast, gripping story. . . Its shifting viewpoints - all seeing some part of the picture, none with a complete view or good insight into other people’s motivations – and potential for betrayals make it feel complex and demanding. At base, though, it’s a thriller crossed with a story about learning to live with consequences you didn’t choose. This is excellent space opera, and I wish there were more like it." - Locus Magazine. "What am I going to do with my life now that this series is over? I suppose I’m left with no choice but to read everything else Yoon Ha Lee ever writes. This series is heart-wrenchingly wonderful. I can’t recommend it enough." - The Illustrated Page.
  (Saga/Simon & Schuster)	THE STRANGE CASE OF THE ALCHEMIST'S DAUGHTER by Theodora Goss 2018 NEBULA AWARD FINALIST A remarkable group of women come together to solve the mystery of a series of gruesome murders - and the bigger mystery of their own origins. When their investigations lead them to the discovery of a secret society of immoral and power-crazed scientists, the horrors of their past return. An utterly delightful gothic gem of a novel! "A standout pastiche of late Victorian mystery fiction, set in an alternate 1880s London and featuring Sherlock Holmes and a quintet of remarkable women. This is a tour de force of reclaiming the narrative, executed with impressive wit and insight." — Publishers Weekly *** starred review ***. "Theodora Goss has assembled a deceptively intricate mosaic of friendship, family, history, science, and the way literature - not to mention truth - can be manipulated. As each of the characters' haunting pasts comes to light, the book's balance between academic playfulness and poignant storytelling becomes more exquisite. A swiftly paced, immaculately plotted mystery full of winning characters you always thought you knew. Overhauls, and pokes gentle fun at the era's weird-fiction tradition. But it's also a sparkling, insightful conversation with the canon from which it sprang." — NPR Book Reviews. "Goss upends fantasy tropes to bring to life characters who would have been ignored in the period works that inspired them, and the result is a fantastic, gripping read that feels true to the spirit of the original works, but updated with a modern spin for the 21st century reader." — The Verge.

• Mystery/Crime/Espionage Fiction: New in Paperback (Aisle 1-B)
  

  (Gallery/ Scout Press)

  THE DEATH OF MRS. WESTAWAY by Kamila Shamshie On a day that begins like any other, Hal receives a mysterious letter bequeathing her a substantial inheritance. She realizes very quickly that the letter was sent to the wrong person - but also that the skills she's honed as a tarot card reader might help her claim the money. Full of spellbinding menace and told in Ruth Ware's signature suspenseful style, this is an unputdownable thriller from the Agatha Christie of our time.-- "A tense, twisty modern gothic. Evocative prose, artfully shaded characters, and a creepy, claustrophobic atmosphere keep the pages of this explosive family drama turning." — Publishers Weekly *** starred review *** "Ware continues to hone her gift for the slow unspooling of unease and mystery, developing a consistent sense of threat that's pervasive and gripping. She uses tarot readings to hint at the supernatural, but at its heart, this is a very human mystery. The isolation of Trepassen House, its magpies, and its anachronistic housekeeper cultivate a sense of horror. Ware's novels continue to evoke comparison to Agatha Christie; they certainly have that classic flavor despite the contemporary settings. Expertly paced, expertly crafted." — Kirkus Reviews *** starred review ***. "A classic never goes out of style. Consider the confident simplicity of the dry martini, the Edison lightbulb and Meghan Markle's wedding dress. Now, add to that list Ruth Ware's new novel, The Death of Mrs. Westaway. A perfectly executed suspense tale very much in the mode of Daphne du Maurier's Rebecca. The Death of Mrs. Westaway is superb. In addition to its brooding atmosphere and labyrinthine mistaken-identity plot, the novel also gives us a heroine of real depth in Hal. I predict lovers of first-class suspense will also want to burrow into their version of Hal’s darkened chamber, shut out the delights of summer and read until the stunning endgame here is played out." — The Washington Post.

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