REQUIRED READING
Happiness In This Life Pope Francis (Religion, Random House)
A collection of speeches, homilies and daily messages from the beloved pope on finding happiness, cultivating joy and finding meaning in a chaotic world.
Ramses the Damned: The Passion of Cleopatra Anne Rice and Christopher Rice (f iction, Anchor)
The bestselling author of “The Mummy” and the Vampire Chronicles is back with another title, this one focusing on Ramses the Great, a pharaoh of Egypt. Ramses has been brought back to lifefe byby aa magicmagic elixir, reawakening the majestic Cleopatra with the same potion. But as the two test each other’s strength in a battle of wills, they meet a force even older and more powerful than them.
Hitler, My Neighbor: Memories of a Jewish Childhood 1929-1939 Edgar Feuchtwanger (memoir, Other Press)
Edgar Feuchtwanger was a carefree 5-year-old from a prominent German-Jewish family in Munich when Adolf Hitler moved into the building opposite theirs. In 1933, his life would changeange forever as he watched his parents get stripped of their rights as citizens while at school his classmates drew swastikas on the chalkboard and joined the Hitler Youth. In 1939, Edgar was sent to England. At 88, he decided to tell the long-buried story of his own childhood — and the man next door.
Anyone Who’s Anyone George Wayne (nonfiction, Harper)
A collection of sharp, funny, attimes-nostalgic celebrity interviews from the former Vanity Fair A-list interviewer George Wayne, whose offbeat Q&As were one of the magazine’s best features.
The Last Republicans Mark Updegrove (nonfiction, Harper)
An interesting, often moving look at the unique father-son relationship between George H.W. and George W. Bush, from their formative years to both of their postpresidencies. Our favorite detail: When George W. was president, his daddad used to fax silly jokes to the Oval Office, hoping to make him laugh and relieve stress during tense times.
The Lost Prayers of Ricky Graves James Han Mattson (f iction, little a)
A deeply moving debut novel about Ricky Graves, a socially awkward teen who kills a classmate and himself in a violent act that leaves the community reeling and many — including the man he’d chatted with for months on social me-media — wondering how they might have helped Ricky before he lashed out.