Kayleen's List: Home

Explores the emotional and physical world of the octopus--a surprisingly complex, intelligent, and spirited creature--and the remarkable connections it makes with humans.

Charlie Mackesy offers inspiration and hope in uncertain times in this beautiful book based on his famous quartet of characters. The Boy, the Mole, the Fox, and the Horse explores their unlikely friendship and the poignant, universal lessons they learn together.

The Nightingale tells the stories of two sisters, separated by years and experience, by ideals, passion and circumstance, each embarking on her own dangerous path toward survival, love, and freedom in German-occupied, war-torn France--a heartbreakingly beautiful novel that celebrates the resilience of the human spirit and the durability of women.

A memoir by Lori Gottlieb that explores her experiences as a therapist and as a patient seeking therapy herself, offering insights into the human condition, vulnerability, and the therapeutic process. Through engaging storytelling, Gottlieb shares both her professional expertise and personal journey, highlighting the universal need for connection, growth, and understanding in our lives.

Delves into the art and craft of stonemasonry, drawing from Snow's personal experiences as a stonemason and his encounters with other craftsmen. Through anecdotes and historical insights, Snow explores the deep connection between humans and stone, highlighting its enduring significance in architecture and culture throughout history.

Musician, Dave Grohl, reflects on his life and career, sharing anecdotes from his time with Nirvana, Foo Fighters, and beyond. Through candid storytelling and heartfelt reflections, Grohl offers readers a glimpse into his journey as a musician, songwriter, father, and passionate advocate for the power of music, inspiring readers with tales of creativity, resilience, and the joy of rocking out.

A Southerner living abroad, Jack McCall is scarred by tragedy and betrayal. His desperate desire to find peace after his wife's suicide draws him into a painful, intimate search for the one haunting secret in his family's past that can heal his anguished heart. Spanning three generations and two continents, from the contemporary ruins of the American South to the ancient ruins of Rome, from the unutterable horrors of the Holocaust to the lingering trauma of Vietnam, Beach Music sings with life's pain and glory.

This novel revolves around a tragic accident in which a man accidentally kills his neighbor's son while hunting. In an act of atonement and reconciliation deeply rooted in Ojibwe tradition, he offers his own son, LaRose, to the grieving family, exploring themes of guilt, forgiveness, and the interconnectedness of lives across generations and cultures.

A poor girl from Kentucky, Taylor Greer travels west after high school. Midway across the country, she becomes the guardian of an abandoned Native American baby girl. When she runs out of money, she is taken under wing by a grandmotherly woman. A wonderful novel about love and friendship.

In September 1969, a fumbling, cranky old church deacon known as Sportcoat shuffles into the courtyard of the Cause Houses housing project in south Brooklyn, pulls a .38 from his pocket, and, in front of everybody, shoots the project's drug dealer at point-blank range. The reasons for this desperate burst of violence and the consequences that spring from it lie at the heart of Deacon King Kong.

Follows the journey of two teenage boys, Emmett Watson and Billy Caldwell, as they escape from a juvenile work farm in Nebraska in the 1950s and embark on a cross-country adventure along the historic Lincoln Highway. Set against the backdrop of post-World War II America, the novel explores themes of friendship, freedom, and the pursuit of the American Dream, intertwining their story with colorful characters and unexpected twists along the way.

Centers around 84-year-old Florence Claybourne, who resides in a retirement home. When a new resident arrives, Florence is convinced he's a figure from her past who she thought was dead. As she navigates this mystery, she reflects on her life, uncovering secrets and revisiting pivotal moments that shaped her existence.

historical fiction novel based on the true story of Pino Lella, a young Italian man who becomes a spy for the Allies during World War II, risking his life to save others and gather intelligence in Nazi-occupied Italy.

The definitive history of the infamous 1971 Attica Prison uprising, the state's violent response, and the victim's decades-long quest for justice.

An inspiring and moving memoir of the author's turbulent life with 600 rescue animals.

Explores the remarkable sensory abilities of various animals and how these senses shape their understanding of the world. Through engaging storytelling and scientific research, Yong illuminates the diverse ways in which animals perceive their environments, offering fascinating insights into the hidden realms that exist beyond human perception.