Mecca
- 384 pages
- 14 hours of reading
"A California epic following several native, diverse Californians grasping for air in a world that continues to marginalize them."--
Susan Straight Book order (chronological)
Susan Straight's fiction delves into the intricate lives and everyday struggles of characters often from marginalized communities. Her prose is celebrated for its raw honesty, poetic lyricism, and profound empathy for the human condition. A central concern for the author is capturing the spirit of place and its impact on the lives of its inhabitants, exploring themes of family, race, and social justice. Through her distinctive voice and sensitive approach to storytelling, Straight offers readers deeply resonant and unforgettable narratives.
USA Noir
- 343 pages
- 13 hours of reading
Hold the eggnog: what you need is a draft of 'edgy fatalism and sexy recklessness,' filled with flashy crime, gallows humor, and 'desperate deals with a variety of devils.' Since 2004, the editors of Akashic Books have delivered this in their brilliant noir anthologies. Each volume reveals a city's distinctive inner darkness, from Brooklyn to Boston and pre- and post-Katrina New Orleans. Contributors include renowned authors such as Dennis Lehane, Don Winslow, Michael Connelly, and Joyce Carol Oates, among many others. Launched with the award-winning bestseller Brooklyn Noir in summer 2004, the groundbreaking Akashic Noir series now features over sixty volumes. Each book consists of all-new stories set in unique locations within the respective city or region. This first "best of" volume showcases the series' significant achievements. Johnny Temple, the publisher and editor-in-chief of Akashic Books, has received the 2013 Ellery Queen Award from the Mystery Writers of America and the 2010 Jay and Deen Kogan Award for Excellence in Noir Literature. He chairs the Brooklyn Literary Council, which collaborates with Brooklyn's borough president to organize the annual Brooklyn Book Festival. Additionally, Temple plays bass guitar in the band Girls Against Boys, known for extensive global tours and numerous album releases.
Highwire Moon
- 370 pages
- 13 hours of reading
The story follows Serafina, an undocumented worker forced to leave California and her young daughter Elvia behind. Twelve years later, armed with only a pair of silver barrettes as a memory, Serafina embarks on a perilous journey to reunite with Elvia, who is now a pregnant teenager searching for her mother. Their paths intertwine against a backdrop of struggling migrants and lost children, highlighting themes of love, hope, and the quest for family amidst hardship.
A rich, lyrical and passionate novel which portrays the life of a black woman growing up in America's Deep South.
