Spring Previews

There are a lot of great books coming out this Spring, but I decided to narrow it down to one for each month.  And yes, there might be a little theme going on…

Old Records Never Die by Eric Spitznagel // April 12

Have you ever gotten rid of something and regretted it later?  That's how journalist Eric Spitznagel feels about his record collection after selling it in a financial pinch. So, he sets out on a journey to track down his lost records, but not just copies. No, he's looking for the exact same records he sold, and with them the memories that are attached to them. Old Records Never Die is a beautiful memoir about the magic of music, that brings back the thrill and adrenalin of spending hours in a record store and finding that one album you've been looking for.  Which might be exactly what we need in a time where nearly every song ever recorded is available on a smartphone.  

For fans of: High Fidelity 

Devil and the Bluebird by Jennifer Mason-Black // May 17

Armed with nothing but her dead mother's guitar,  a knapsack of cherished mementos, and a pair of enchanted boots, Blue Riley makes a deal with the Devil to find her runaway sister Cass. But as it goes when the Devil is involved, the agreement has a few catches – the biggest one being that he takes away her voice.  During her journey, she meets a number of colorful characters (some helpful, some the opposite), and finds answers she didn't even know she was looking for. It is never perfectly clear where the journey (and the story itself) is headed,  but that is what makes Devil and the Bluebird so good. It is a lot like life itself …only more magical.  

For fans of: Weetzie Bat 

The Girls by Emma Cline // June 14 

Northern California in the late 1960s, change is in the air, and all 14 year old Evie wants is to break out of her boring life. Her prayers are answered when a group of girls she meets at the park, invite her to their run down ranch, where she is introduced to their charismatic leader. Naive, innocent, and desperate to be accepted, Evie spends more and more time with her mesmerizing new friends, and soon finds herself in the middle of one of the most notorious cults of all time. The Girls isn't a story about Charles Manson (in fact he's named Russel here), it is a story about obsession. The darkness of the subject matter, and the inevitably horrible outcome that is looming over the story from the very first page on,  make a wonderful contrast to the almost palpable air of innocence that surrounds Evie, and all in all it is simply an incredibly haunting tale, that'll keep you thinking long after you put it down.  

For fans of: The Virgin Suicides 

Peace, Love, and Lobsters

Laura  

Advanced review copies provided by Net Galley