Fiction Five: Stiling Relationships Reads – Public Library of Topeka & Shawnee County

Discover a batch of new novels governed by characters who look deeply at what it means to love another person. From the relationships we find for those we lose, and the spaces between romance and grief, the stories of our relationships can really resonate, reminding us of our personal trips. You may want to save a box of fabrics nearby.

It’s a love story By Jessica Sofer

Jane dies. In her last days, Jane’s husband, Abe, takes her to a central park, where they tell the 50 years in which they visited this oasis in the city. From their beginning as star young lovers, over the years as parents and in the years that followed the Central Park, he played a vital role in their lives. The park is their witness of half a century of love. So far.

Told in different perspectives, even in conversation with the park itself, these voices weave in and out to draw a complex and essential portrait of love. This is a love story for Jane and Abe, but since the closer weave in historical facts, it is also a love story about the Central Park and New York. Readers of lyrical and nostalgic fiction will be fascinated.

“Written with delicate and beautiful brushes, it is a love story of a long marriage, a Central Park love story, a story about how heavy life can be and how hard leaves its mark, but also love. From time to time I read a novel and I think what a gift. This is one of these books. “— -Apitano, author of the bestsellers of New York Times of Hello beautiful

Forty -year kiss by Nicolas Butler

Charlie is a recent retirement and a three -time divorce who finds his mind back to thoughts of his only true love, his first wife. Vivian is a widow busy with the care of her two young grandchildren and a struggle -filled story. Forty years ago, these two were married to each other. Charlie and Vivian split after only four years of marriage. There were too many problems and struggles, although love did not completely die.

When Charlie returns to Wisconsin, he is not sure what he will find. He is sure of one thing: he has to try to reconnect with Vivian. But 40 years is a long time full of other relationships, building a new life and holding up regrets and mistakes. The years have changed them both. Are they ready to consider a second chance?

“Thank you, Nicholas Butler, for writing a love story that feels so powerful, a story that captures hope, grace and joy of new love – but also the mistakes, the fabric of the scars and the regret of past love. It is wonderful to watch, a novel capable of such breadth. This is the kind of book that makes me a better person. ” – Nathan Hill, author of bestsellers of New York Times of Nix and Wellness

Dream Eric

Tsetse arrived early in her beautiful lake house of her laws in Montana to complete her wedding planning with Charlie, a medical student with a brilliant future. Gareth, the best friend of Charlie of college, which he wanted to serve at the wedding, also arrived early. Tsetse cannot imagine a less suitable for the task of serving. Gareth does not believe in love, even less marriage.

As Cesi spends time with Gareth and his mask slides, her long -standing expectations for her life with Charlie begin to collapse. When he finally decided to follow his instincts, throwing his groom as his best friend, their lives will be changed forever. The events of this July are reflected through marriage, parenting and ultimately through generations.

Years later, CESI’s daughter and Charlie’s son meet and become quick friends. They are confronted with the acceptance of the same mistakes that their parents have strengthened.

“The state of Eric Poohner’s dream delivers everything I want in a novel: a love triangle, a touching story of friendship, a delicious atmosphere (including some of the best ski scenes I have read in my life) and Romanian about how we look for meaning In our life … an absolute masterpiece. “–LIN HILDERBRAND, author of The perfect couple and Swan song

Deep cuts by Holly Brickley

It’s Friday night at a Bar Bar Bar in Berkli, the fall of 2000, and Percy Marx is again detected for the music. Hall and Outs are Jubox and Percy – who has no talent for music, just many opinions about it – can’t stop overdoing the song. She indulges in what she knows is her most common habit. Percy can talk for hours within the meaning behind the fragment of a song. But something is different tonight. The man next to her at the bar, Joe Morow, is the author of songs. He could listen to Percy speaking all night.

Joe asks Percy for feedback about one of his songs. The results are launching a partnership that will last for years, will light new passions in them and will lubricate their ego over and over again. Is it worth their cooperation? Or keeps Percy from finding your own voice?

“This dazzling debut is not as many ‘will you/not’ as” Should you? “With a confident, conversational tone, attractive characters and emotionally resonant love story, this one will surely win the hearts of many readers. “Book listStarred Review

Elegy, southwest by Madeleine Watts

In November 2018, Eloise and Lewis rent a car in Las Vegas and take a two -week trip across the US Southwest. As the wild fires are raging, the married couple follows the course of the Colorado River, the water artery on which the area depends on the survival. Lewis, an artist working for a prominent art foundation, grieves the recent death of his mother. Eloise is an academic study of the past and future of the Colorado River as it threatens to dry.

During their journey, Eloise, beginning to suspect that he may be a pregnant, helpless witness to Lewis’s descent, as he struggles to find a place for himself in the desert where he never felt at home.

“Full of grit and bright, gentle attachment to the middle of the US West, the emergency novel of Watts weaving a lush landscape of grief and comfort. I have rarely seen a writer capture the atmosphere of climate change and the loss so bright, or the fierce impulse to jump in some form of action-all in prose that kept me glued to its pages right to the bitter end. “-Lexandra Kleeman, author of Something new under the sun