RECOMMENDED READS

Welcome to our literary circle, in which San Diegans pass the (printed) word on books

Amanda Lorge

Job: Librarian 1, Sciences Department, Central Library, San Diego Public Library

She recommends: “Woman, Eating” by Claire Kohda (Harpervia-harpercollins, 2022; 240 pages) Why? Lydia is a vampire and performance artist who is finally moving out of her mother’s place for a prestigious museum internship in London. As glamorous as it sounds, the dull reality is Lydia struggles to find a source of fresh blood without her mother’s help, her internship is exploitative and her boss is a creep, and her flirtation with neighboring artist Ben is underwhelming and unsatisfying. In this debut novel, Kohda reflects the unique anxieties of contemporary young women, using vampire folklore to examine parental relationships, race and exploitation. “Woman, Eating” is a perfect literary vampire novel for the disillusioned millennial who grew up reading “Twilight” and is ready to sink their teeth into something a little more complex.

Teri Den Herder

Job: Buyer and bookseller,

UC San Diego Bookstore

She recommends: “The Anomaly” by Hervé Le Tellier (Other Press, 2021; 400 pages)

Why? A flight from Paris to New York experiences intense and unexpected turbulence upon approach to landing — but they’ve already landed, three months earlier. The same plane, the same passengers. Literally living double lives. Moral, philosophical and ethical questions come up throughout, with chapters broken into the small stories of these interesting passengers. This smart thriller is perfect for fans of “Black Mirror” and “The Twilight Zone.” What would you do if you met yourself and had to live in parallel with your double?