The Astral by Kate Christensen. As you probably know, The Astral is an iconic building located up the street from the bookstore, and most of the action in Kate's new book takes place in our very own Greenpoint. Like she did in The Great Man, Kate has an uncanny ability to draw me into characters that I would not normally be attracted to reading about but then can't stop thinking about. In this book we follow a poet in his late fifties as he struggles with the end of his marriage, his relationship with his daughter and lifelong friends, and his personal journey to reinvent himself. (Christine)

The Dewey Decimal System by Nathan Larson. Obsessive-compulsive ex-soldier Dewey Decimal (not his real name, but no one, including him, knows what it actually was) is just trying to get by in a post-apocalyptic Manhattan, which mostly means running odd jobs for the slimy officials in charge, while squatting in the now-defunct New York Public Library. But his most recent job may trump even his system's ability to maintain order in the chaos. Stark and gripping, this one should go to the top of your summer reading pile. (Jenn) 

The Adults by Alison Espach. A novel full of trauma and a girl's musings as she moves through her teen years into adulthood, dragging her damaged psyche and sexuality right along with her. Disturbingly detailed and compelling, great combo. (Simone)

The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland In A Ship Of Her Own Making by Catherynne Valente (also available as Google ebook). Valente speaks fluent fairytale, as you know if you've read her other books, and her latest is a masterpiece. Adults, kids, anyone you know who has always wanted to abscond to Fairyland will love this book. Put it on your shelf next to Carroll, Dunsany, and C.S. Lewis. (Jenn)   

If Rocks Could Sing: A Discovered Alphabet by Leslie McGuirk. Leslie McGuirk just might be the most patient woman in the world--for years, on a Florida beach, she's collected rocks in the shape of every letter of the alphabet (and other cool things, too, like rabbits and noses). Now they're all in this great book that will help your favorite kid learn the alphabet, and allow you all to look a little more closely at rocks before kicking them to the other side of the street. (Adrian) 

Once Upon A River by Bonnie Jo Campbell. Doesn't that book cover look docile? Don't let it fool you. This book is no joke. It's as fierce as its protagonist, a teenage girl who leaves home and finds a new life along the river. You'll understand and love her on every page even when you want to wring her neck. Total page-turner. (Stephanie)

The President Is A Sick Man by Matthew Algeo. President Grover Cleveland not only had top-secret surgery for cancer at sea (on a boat!) but covered it up afterward, discrediting the reporter who tried to expose the incident. This book is fascinating and a perfect slice of American history, from a time both simpler and more corrupt. Buy it for your dad but read it first before you give it to him. (Stephanie)   

The Bayou Trilogy by Daniel Woodrell (also available as a Google ebook). Daniel Woodrell's Bayou Trilogy is to crime fiction in Louisiana what Jim Thompson is to crime fiction in Texas and Oklahoma. Woodrell's characters typically have questionable morals, are inclined to violence, rage and bouts of drinking--and that's just the good guys!  Chock-full of unforgettable characters, scenes and authentic Louisiana dialogue; don't miss this early trilogy of works from the author who would later bring you Tomato Red and Winter's Bone. (Cree)  

Looking for some good lunch break reading? Try the latest online edition of Shelf Unbound magazine, which has some great articles and interviews, including discussions with Lisa Dierbeck, Erin McHugh, and Kathleen Winter. Click on any of the books featured in the issue and your browser will take you to the appropriate page on our website to buy! 

Lonesome Dove by Larry McMurtry (also available as a Google ebook). This is one of those classics that I'd never read until now. McMurtry has got me hook, line, and sinker. Not a single word is out of place in this masterpiece -- and it's a Western. What more do you want?! (Jenn) 

We, The Drowned by Carsten Jensen. One of my favorite novels of the year so far. A really fantastic work of historical fiction. I'm sure it's historically accurate and everything, but the real heart of the book is in the characters, who are as real as anybody reading this. It's a book of incredible strength. Sure to be loved by fans of Moby-Dick or war novels, but I hope it finds a wider audience as well, because it really deserves it. (Stephanie) 

The Dud Avocado by Elaine Dundy. This cult classic, reissued by New York Review of Books in 2007, follows a young American girl on a trip to Paris in the 1950s and is perhaps the only book still in print to boast a blurb from Groucho Marx: "I had to tell someone how much I enjoyed The Dud Avocado. It made me laugh, scream, and guffaw (which, incidentally, is a great name for a law firm)." The perfect smart-set summer read. We'll discuss The Dud Avocado on Saturday, July 2, at noon, and it'll be 10% off in-store and online all month. (Stephanie)

Superman:The Story of the Man of Steel by Ralph Cosentino. This simplified retelling of the Superman story delights Adrian with every read. He loves to see Superman as a young boy as he outruns a train and lifts up a car. Perfect illustrations and exciting, straightforward text make it a fun read-aloud every night in our house. (His bespectacled father loves reading it too, because Adrian always says "DADDY" as he points to bespectacled Superman as Clark Kent.) (Adrian)