One of my favorite parts of working at Lemuria is hand-selling books! Hand-selling is when you ask us to recommend a book, and we get the privilege of tailoring the reading experience just for you. I love it when a customer comes in and asks, “So what have you read lately and what do you think I should read?” Well, let me tell you what my favorite books are to hand-sell:
Christopher Scotton’s The Secret Wisdom of the Earth
I already blogged about this book, but yet it is still number one on my favorite books to hand-sell right now. It is beautifully written; a coming of age tale, full of mystery and adventure, and portrays a moral that is deep and compelling.
M.O. Walsh’s My Sunshine Away
This book is amazing. The staff loves it. I loved it. M.O.’s (Neil to us) signing and reading was captivating and made me love the book even more. It is also a coming of age tale, but has an unreliable narrator who keeps you hooked into the story long after you have finished the book. The best way I can describe this novel is that it is Suburban Gothic with twists and turns that keep you turning pages long into the night.
David Joy’s Where All Light Tends To Go
This book is another southern tale that punches you in the gut. When I was able to talk to David about the ending (no spoilers), he said his intent was to leave the person feeling empty. Well, he succeeded. However, the book, as empty as it makes you feel by the end, is so good!
Douglas Ray’s The Queer South: LGBTQ Writers on the American South
Douglas Ray, a Jackson native, edited this project and Jackson’s own Eddie Outlaw has a short story in the compilation. It is full of essays, poetry, and short stories that share how LGBTQ persons feel about growing up or being queer in the south. It is great to read if you want to hear about the struggles, lives, and victories of queer southerners.
Amy-Jill Levine’s Short Stories by Jesus: The Enigmatic Parables of a Controversial Rabbi
This academic work of art is a gem of a book. Dr. Levine takes the most beloved parables of Jesus and offers fresh, creative, and modern understandings of the often-misinterpreted stories. It is great for those who are Christian and it is great for those who aren’t, but want to understand more about the teachings of Christ. I love this book!
And at the end of the day, there are so many more books that we have here at Lemuria that are amazing. All of our booksellers have their favorite books to hand-sell! So, feel free to come into the store and ask us to put something into you hands. Hopefully you won’t be disappointed!
Written by Justin
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