Recommendations for the best books coming out in March
The Nest by Cynthia D’Aprix Sweeney
The four Plumb siblings have been waiting a long time to receive “The Nest,” a joint trust fund. When the youngest Plumb’s behavior threatens to keep them from the money, they decide to hold a family meeting to straighten him out. This book puts the “fun” in “dysfunctional”!
Evicted: Poverty and Profit in the American City by Matthew Desmond
Possibly the most important book being published this year, “Evicted” follows eight families in extreme poverty and the two landlords who rent to them. Desmond spent years with his subjects, and this is an eye-opening expose of poverty and economic exploitation.
Margaret the First by Danielle Dutton
A stellar novel based on the life of Margaret Cavendish, the 17th-century duchess who wrote science fiction, feminist plays, poetry, and more, in a time when it was unacceptable for women to be writers.
Jane Steele by Lyndsay Faye
“Reader, I murdered him.” A hella-fun reimagining of “Jane Eyre” with Jane as a serial killer. Young Jane is a murderess who flees to London after her crimes. But, years later, she returns incognito to take the position of governess at her childhood home, where she falls for the new owner, who has his own violent past.
We Love You, Charlie Freeman by Kaitlyn Greenidge
The Freemans move to Toneybee Institute campus to take part in an experiment where they will teach a monkey, Charlie, sign language. But the stress of isolation, and the institute’s questionable practices, threaten to tear the family apart.
High Dive by Jonathan Lee
Lee tells the story of the Grand Hotel bombing in Brighton, England, in 1984 (the intended target was Margaret Thatcher), focusing on the people surrounding the bomb and hotel for the 24 days before it is set to go off. It’s a stunning meditation on guilt and regret.
What Is Not Yours Is Not Yours: Stories by Helen Oyeyemi
The amazing Oyeyemi returns with a dazzling collection of stories surrounding keys, both in the literal and metaphorical sense, all enchanting and wildly imaginative.
The Year of the Runaways by Sunjeev Sahota
A beautiful novel about three men and one woman who are traveling from India to England, each with their own secrets. They will be forced to rely on each other for survival as they try to break free of their past and adjust to the hardships of living as immigrants.
The Penny Poet of Portsmouth: A Memoir Of Place, Solitude, and Friendship by Katherine Towler
A wonderful local author, Towler tells the story of her friendship with a familiar face from Portsmouth’s past: Robert Dunn, the brilliant poet who made the city a more interesting place in the time he lived there. He lived life off the grid, and Towler has written a lovely tribute to his work, friendship, and the nature of solitude.
Shelter by Jung Yun
Kyung Cho was never close to his parents, who gave him everything he needed except affection. Now he is a young father himself, suffering financial hardships. When his parents need his help after a terrible incident, he begrudgingly moves back in with them, and old grievances and memories rise to the surface. A powerful debut about family, responsibility, and forgiveness.