Mastics-Moriches-Shirley Community Library Reader Advisory Blog: New Titles on 'The New York Times' Best Sellers List

Here are the two hardcover fiction titles that are new to The New York Times Best Sellers list. These titles will be listed in the August 9, 2015 issue of The New York Times Book Review.

The Good Girl by Mary Kubica

The daughter of a prominent Chicago judge and his socialite wife, inner-city art teacher Mia Dennett is taken hostage by her one-night stand, Colin Thatcher, who, instead of delivering her to his employers, hides her in a secluded cabin in rural Minnesota to keep her safe from harm. (Publisher Summary)

Speaking in Bones by Kathy Reichs

When an online detective offers a possible lead in an unsolved case, Tempe's ensuing investigation reveals the activities of a cult that practices ritual sacrifices tied to a famous unexplained light phenomenon. (Publisher Summary)

Click here to view the complete list.

Being Mortal by Atul Gawande

Genre: Adult Non-Fiction
Rating: 5 out of 5

"Being Mortal is about the limitations of what modern medicine can provide for people as their lives draw to a close. Gawande argues that the objective of medicine should not merely be treatment and survival; medical care should also ensure dignity in death and having control over one's final moments. He argues that instead of aggressively fighting the inescapable realities of aging, we should ask the hard questions of ourselves and our loved ones -- What makes life worth living? When should we try to extend our lives, and when should we choose a better quality of our remaining days over extending their quantity?

This book is difficult to read. Not because of the way Gawande writes -- his style is highly engaging, and he never lapses into excessively scientific jargon or overly simplistic explanations -- but because of the tough subject matter. Gawande draws on his own experiences as a doctor and peppers his book with honest and humane stories of his patients, friends, and family; the stories he tells make the book more accessible, and also more heartbreaking. (And that's not a bad thing.)

No one likes to think about their loved ones', or their own, impending mortality. But it's important to have these hard conversations, because as Gawande says, "endings matter." - Amanda

New Titles on 'The New York Times' Best Sellers List

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