Every day, Powell’s City of Books is lucky enough to host a world of readers. From Freiburg, Germany, to Portland, OR, here are our customers’ favorite recent reads. Submit Your Recommendations
Madeline Miller
I'm a fan of Greek mythology, but the gods and humans of the ancient stories never felt like real people to me until I read this novel. Madeline Miller made the world of ancient Greece come alive in this book, and I will never read the myths the same way again. — Janise, San Diego, CA
Michael Finkel
This story of the “last true hermit” is incredibly insightful and honest. It made me think differently about our culture and solidarity, and I would definitely recommend this book to anyone curious and willing to expand their mind a little more. — Breanna, Cincinnati, OH
Robert C. O'Brien
Revisit this children’s classic! It’s an age-old tale about bravery, cooperation, confronting prejudice, with a lesson about the dangers of animal testing thrown in for good measure. — Kathrine, Beaverton, OR
Yaa Gyasi
It seems a bit of magic that Gyasi is able to tell this multigenerational saga, spanning centuries and continents, in a mere 300 pages. She has managed to tell not only a family story, but the story of a people. — Erin, Eugene, OR
Marisa de los Santos
Great read from page one. All these characters I have loved finally come full circle. Like they all finally found home. — Laurie, Milwaukie, OR
John Carreyou
Fascinating on many levels. True story, fast paced, interesting characters. I kept thinking “no way, this can’t be true” but it is. Finance, health, and science peeps will dig it especially!! — Mary, Indianapolis, IN
Lara Elena Donnelly
Gorgeous queer alternate universe spy cabaret! — David, Portland, OR
Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman
British humour at its finest, complete with witches, angels, and a hellhound named Dog. — Ally, Calgary, AB
Matthew McIntosh
Delightfully confusing and confusingly delightful. — Michelle, Vancouver, BC
Jan-Philipp Sendker
Love is love, even in different worlds. — Mary Jane, Madera, CA
Leni Zumas
Semi-dystopian feeling, but so subtly that it’s all the more chilling: this book imagines a world in which Roe v. Wade has been overturned. The multiple perspectives are so well written and the story is beautiful, eerie, familiar, and strange all at once. — Jennifer, Philadelphia, PA
Jennifer Wright
A comedic look at plagues throughout history. Filled with pop culture references and sarcastic quips, I've never had so much fun learning about devastating diseases. — Katie, Portland, OR
Tommy Orange
A multi-voiced narrative, a meditation on what it means to be Native in the 21st century, and an unflinching look at how pain and trauma can either destroy us, or be the catalyst that saves us by connecting us to others. — Andrew, Richmond, BC
Denis Johnson
Denis Johnson’s stories arrive in the mind as if they were unearthed from within, at once a part of us and something completely alien, signifying a not altogether hopeless, but certainly troublesome sadness within all of us. — Colin, Portland, OR
Ann Patchett
Beautifully written book that soaks the reader directly into each scene. The story of divorce and the effect that it has on two families of kids that are thrown together is painful, frustrating, and glorious all at the same time. — Barbara, San Diego, CA
Hanya Yanagihara
It’s been a long time since I’ve read a book while walking down the street because I couldn’t bear to put it down. I ugly cried by the end. Please read this. — Jasmine, Portland, OR
Jeff Lemire and Dustin Nguyen
If you're looking for fun, original, and heartwarming sci-fi, look no further! The Descender series features a cast of memorable characters (hello, cute robot dog!), beautiful watercolor artwork, lots of twists and turns, and a plot that's galactic in scope. The final chapter is being released this September, and I'm sad to see the series end! — Sarah, Gresham, OR
Fatima Farheen Mirza
An absolutely stirring family saga written in a moving and engrossing style. The book explores the emotional landscape of a dysfunctional family: emotionally repressed parents, sibling rivalry, gender roles, religious conservatism, the pressures and expectations of first-generation immigrant children, the failures in communication, and the million ways in which we hurt the ones we love the most. — Nandita, Beaverton, OR
Anjali Sachdeva
This debut author spins tales of caves and crystals, survival in Glacier National Park, working in Carnegie steel mills, and Egyptian tombs. The weaving of science, nature, and human behavior creates a stunning tapestry of words, stories that are riveting and magical. — Debbi, Loveland, CO
Rainbow Rowell
This sweet, beautiful, funny, moving story will make you remember what it was like to be a teenager in love. — Kelly, Portland, OR
Gail Honeyman
Quirky, awkward, and unbelievably heartwarming. I dare you not to fall in love with Eleanor and ugly cry at the end. — Sheri, Amsterdam, Netherlands
J. D. Barker
This is one of the best psychological thrillers I’ve ever read. It’s like if Stephen King wrote a murder mystery series about a serial killer. — Marissa, Pittsburgh, PA
Jonathan Miles
The "miracle" recovery of a paralyzed veteran turns him into a national sensation. This novel, written like a piece of investigative journalism, is smart, satirical, and has a lot of really real, fleshed-out characters. — Kaitlin, Portland, OR
Garrard Conley
Garrard Conley weaves a heart-wrenching and vitally important story about his time spent in gay "conversion therapy." His story of family, identity, faith, and perseverance is essential. — Patrick, Phoenix, OR
Tara Westover
A riveting story of resilience, the role of education, and the ironclad strength of our ties to our family of origin, no matter how dysfunctional. — Maria, Corona, CA
Hannah Kent
This book was heartbreaking, thought-provoking, wishful, beautiful, and hopeful. Read it, read it, read it. It reminded me that we are all human, we are all dealing as best we can, and we all have the capacity for forgiveness. — Natalie, Freiburg, Germany
Tom Robbins
After reading this book, I lost 10 pounds, gained 25 IQ points, won the lottery, and was featured on the new Dr. Dre album. At least, that's how it feels to experience Mr. Robbins's masterpiece. — Stephen, Tucson, AZ
Seanan McGuire
Anyone who has ever felt like they didn't belong in the life they were born into should read this story. — Jane, Portland, OR
Jenny Erpenbeck
Beautifully written story that reflects the ongoing immigration crisis. Sympathetic to both sides, with great dialogue and journalistic writing. The real deal. — Jan, Portland, OR
Jenny Lawson
The writer expertly conveys humor and comfort while approaching a difficult subject that's often plagued by taboo. This book left me feeling like whatever I was going through, it was going to be OK and to remember to laugh and live for myself. — Lauren, Vancouver, WA
Kristin Hannah
A beautiful portrait of rural, rugged Alaska, with characters that you will remember long after the book ends. An honest, heartbreaking, sometimes funny, and wonderful story. — Andrea, Bothell, WA
Margaret Atwood
A retelling of Shakespeare inside a retelling of Shakespeare inside the petals of Margaret Atwood's blooming prose. — Ash, Seattle, WA
Michelle McNamara
An engrossing investigation into the Golden State Killer! Prepare to read this in a single stint, while also preparing to reinforce your home security system. — Kyle, Rochester, MN
Elif Batuman
This witty, erudite novel is a sheer delight. Elif Batuman's endearingly awkward heroine, Seline, takes us with her on her freshman year journey at Harvard, studying linguistics. The Idiot is a hilarious, unexpectedly moving college novel. It is absolutely splendid! — Brent, Plano, TX
Sarah Rees Brennan
In Other Lands is packed full of adventure, representation, and magic. Eliot, the most annoying protagonist I've ever loved, goes over the wall into a fantasy land where everything he's ever known is challenged. — Alex, SeaTac, WA
Gabriel Tallent
Beautifully crafted Southern Gothic by way of backwoods Mendocino. Prepare to be delightfully traumatized. — Kristen, San José, CA
Neil Gaiman
An excellent, imaginative dark fantasy with witty humor and unusual characters. — Debi, West Linn, OR
Richard Flanagan
Set in a POW camp in Burma after WWII, the story follows Dorrigo Evans, a man who does not choose to be a hero but becomes one for the men he leads. A beautiful, harrowing book, it will stay with you long after you have finished. — Lisa, Freemantle, Australia
Julian Barnes
Exquisite writing, deeply felt moments, marvelously well-rounded characters. This is Julian Barnes at his eloquent best. — Vineetha, New Delhi, India
Min Jin Lee
Want to be transported to another place and time? Learn about the Japanese-Korean relationship? This book does all of that through characters you can really care about. I felt like I was entering a real world every time I opened the book. — Jill, Evanston, IL
Lauren Beukes
Though dark and twisted, you'll find yourself rooting for a character you've just met. And then, even more so for the women all around you. — Danae, Portland, OR
Brontez Purnell
Purnell's semiautobiographical novella about growing up young, gay, black, and Southern is blunt, lyrical, and despairing, with a ribald humor lurking just beneath the surface. — Mike, Jersey City, NJ
N. K. Jemisin
This was some of the best world-building I have read in years. She is my new favorite author. — Jennifer, Fairbanks, AK
Tamora Pierce
This is just your average coming-of-age novel... with magic, betrayal, and edge-of-your-seat action! — Ellen, Hillsboro, OR
Therese Oneill
The social, marital, and health-related struggles of women in the 19th century, narrated in a way that will make you laugh until you pee your pants, and then remind you how lucky you are to have clean underwear to change into. — Alyssa, Chicago, IL
Tayari Jones
Perfect for helping me to shut out the noise of my everyday life. Compelling enough that if I didn't finish a chapter on the train, I kept reading as I walked up to the platform! — Jayma, Atlanta, GA
Joshua Wheeler
This book is incredibly written and haunting in the best possible way. While Wheeler's essays tackle everything from atomic bomb tests to the Red Bull space dive, they perfectly illustrate the culture of coexisting patriotism and paranoia that informs American culture in the Southwest. — Julie, Chicago, IL