Blog: This Month in Malibu Bestsellers

Nonfiction:

1. Blood Will Out: The True Story of a Murder, a Mystery and a Masquerade, by Walter Kirn.

Partly written right here on Malibu Road, this is the fascinating true memoir of Kirn’s unwitting friendship with a con artist and murderer.

2. My Promised Land: The Triumph and Tragedy of Israel, by Ari Shulevitz.  

With Netanyahu’s recent Malibu visit fresh in mind, and the ongoing peace talks regarding Israel and Palestine, this is a well-reviewed and thoughtful look at Israel.

3. Five Came Back: A Story of Hollywood and the Second World War, by Mark Harris.  

A fascinating look at Hollywood’s effect on the course of WWII and the changes the war wrought on Hollywood, Harris focuses on the work and careers of five legendary directors: Ford, Wyler, Huston, Capra, and Stevens.

4. Wave, by Sonali Deraniyagala.  

Ideal for book groups, this is the widely acclaimed, multi-award winning, word-of-mouth bestselling memoir from last year, now out in paperback.

5. Glitter and Glue: A Memoir, by Kelly Corrigan.  

With advance praise from Elizabeth Gilbert to Wally Lamb to Mary Roach, this is a keen and moving memoir about mothers and daughters.

Fiction:

1. Goldfinch, by Donna Tartt.  

Everyone is raving, and canceling everything to finish reading this latest novel by the author of The Secret History. Don’t miss it!

2. Chance, by Kem Nunn.  

Just out, this is a new novel by the star of California noir (as well as author of multiple screenplays for TV and film). It is the riveting, mind-bending tale of a neuropsychiatrist’s “spectacular decline” in San Francisco—a literary mystery, a head trip and an engaging meditation on fate.

3. Bark: Stories, by Lorrie Moore.

Much anticipated, here is the latest from master prose stylist Lorrie Moore: eight finely crafted stories at the top of their form.

4. Americanah, by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie.

The just-announced winner of the National Book Critics Circle Award for Fiction, this tender story of race and identity is just out in paper.

5. Mary Coin, by Marisa Silver.  

Also new in paper, this is the carefully and gracefully written novel about the photographer Dorothea Lange, her famous Migrant Mother photo, and the life of the woman photographed.  It’s a moving story of perseverance, art, and survival.

Children’s:

1. Divergent, by Veronica Roth.  

With the movie just coming out, this is the first in the powerful, dystopian thriller series set in a future Chicago.

2. Fault in Our Stories, by John Green.  

This young adult novel has popped into rampant adult reading lists with it’s beautiful story of love found in a cancer support group.  (Movie coming this June.)

3. Wonder, by R. J. Palacio.  

Continuing to stay on our bestsellers, this is one of the most powerful kids books around—filled with courage, compassion and kindness.

4. Changers, Book One: Drew, by T. Cooper.  

A warm and humorous look at teen gender and identity, this is a great read — big-hearted and full of empathy.

Three new series books to watch…

1. Timmy Failure: Now Look What You’ve Done, by Stephan Pastis.  

The second in the rocketing new Timmy Failure series, this is as funny and clever as the first, with wonderful illustrations to boot.

2. Princess Labelmaker to the Rescue: An Origami Yoda Book, by Tom

Angleberger.  

Yes, Origami Yoda is back at it again this time confronting nothing less than: test prep!

3. Big Nate in the Zone, by Lincoln Peirce.  

This is the sixth hilarious Big Nate title, with more adventures in the life of this cartooning genius.

John Evans is the owner of DIESEL, A Bookstore, located at 23410 Civic Center Way.