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The best books for spring reading
Novels and poetry set in spring to forget winter and welcome a fresh new season.
Publicado em 29 de Março de 2024
No Way Home: The Decline of the World's Great Animal Migrations
David S. WilcoveFrom great sandhill cranes to majestic gray whales, billions of animals make a perilous but necessary journey every year, driven purely by an instinct to survive. However, these migration routes and patterns, which have existed for thousands of years, are under threat due to human activity and climate change. Ecologist Wilcove presents a frank but cautiously hopeful look at how we can help safeguard these yearly journeys for generations to come.
A World on the Wing: The Global Odyssey of Migratory Birds
Scott WeidensaulThe sight of birds flying home is a sure sign of the spring to come. But most don’t realize how truly wondrous (and dangerous) these migrations are. “A World on the Wing”, a culmination of over 20 years of research dedicated to the phenomenon of migration, is a fantastic spring read for birdwatchers, nature enthusiasts, and conservationists.
Silent Spring
Rachel CarsonOriginally published as a series in The New Yorker in the 1960s, this foundational work reveals just how harmful pesticides, fertilizers, and other chemicals used widely in the warmer months are to land, air, and people. Carson’s eye-opening reporting ultimately launched the modern environmental movement, informing voters and leading to many eco-friendly federal regulations, including a ban on DDT.
How Not To Ask A Boy to Prom
S.J. GosleeIt’s prom season and love is in the air. For everyone, that is, except Nolan Grant who’s never had a boyfriend, let alone kissed a boy. After his big sister stages a disastrous prom-posal in a bid to get Nolan to ask out his crush, bad boy Bern steps in to save the day. Goslee’s YA love story checks all the boxes of a great fauxmance.
Sweet Bean Paste: The International Bestseller
Durian SukegawaCherry blossom season in Japan marks the beginning of a new season and represents a time of renewal. However, Sentaro, an ex-con with a drinking problem and outstanding debts, feels less than hopeful as he struggles to find purpose in his life. Everything changes once he hires Tokue, an outcast with a troubled past, as an assistant for his dorayaki shop. Their unconventional friendship offers them both a chance for redemption in an unforgiving society.
Practical Botany for Gardeners: Over 3,000 Botanical Terms Explained and Explored
Geoff HodgeGrow your garden with confidence this spring thanks to this accessible and comprehensive guide to backyard botany. Seasoned veterans and green gardeners alike will glean useful information on topics ranging from root support to propagation.
To Marry and to Meddle: A Novel
Martha WatersUnsavory establishments, gambling debts, tarnished reputations — 19th-century English high society has never been more risqué. Lady Emily Turner is in desperate need of a new suitor. Julian Belfry wants to level up his theater’s clientele. Is a marriage of convenience the answer to their problems? Waters’ third installment of the “Regency Vows” series is charming, fun, and full of flirty banter.
The Enchanted April
Elizabeth von ArnimA delightful, sunshine-filled story following four women who respond to an ad for a month-long spring holiday in an Italian castle. Although each woman is different as can be, both in temperament and background, they share a need to get away and leave their respective problems at home. The natural beauty of the Italian countryside offers a reprieve from the dreariness of Hampstead and a chance for self-exploration and connection.
The Beginning of Spring
Penelope FitzgeraldFitzgerald’s atmospheric work of literary fiction immerses readers in pre-revolutionary Moscow through the world of Frank Reid, a simple man whose life is upended when his wife leaves him to raise their three children. Themes of identity, love, and loss are explored against a backdrop of a country on the verge of World War I.
Spring
Karl Ove KnausgaardThe third installment of Knausgård’s deeply personal “Seasons Quartet” recounts a single April day for the new father. Beautifully written and emotionally raw, Knausgård depicts his day in minute detail while also revealing a shocking family trauma. “Spring” is both a love letter to Knausgård’s youngest daughter and an intimate reflection on fatherhood, love, and loss.
This Time Will Be Different
Misa SugiuraThe potential sale of a family flower shop sets off a chain reaction in a close-knit community. At the heart of it is 17-year-old CJ, who can’t stand the idea of the beloved shop falling into the hands of the same family that cheated her grandparents when they were sent to a Japanese internment camp during World War II. A soft cover and sweet summary bely a complex tale that doesn’t shy away from diving into systemic racism, drug abuse, and teen pregnancy.
Spring Flowers, Spring Frost: A Novel
Ismail KadareSpring signifies the start of longer days, flowers in bloom, and new beginnings. However, for one small Albanian mountain town, those aren’t the only changes spring brings. In the wake of the fall of communism, ancient traditions re-emerge as well as mysterious and unsettling events. After decades of oppression, the country struggles to adjust to its newfound freedom.
It Had to Be You: A Novel
Georgia ClarkHappily married couple Liv and Eliot run a successful Brooklyn-based wedding planning service. However, after Eliot’s untimely death, Liv discovers that things weren’t so happy after all: Not only did Eliot have a secret girlfriend, Savannah, he left half of their business to her. While the premise may sound far from upbeat, trust us when we say you don’t want to miss this sweet and swoonworthy rom-com that weaves together tales of an unexpected friendship, second chances at love, and various romantic relationships in a style reminiscent of “Love Actually” and “Valentine’s Day.”
Gardening Hacks: 300+ Time and Money Saving Hacks
Jon VanZileWhether you’ve got a magical green thumb or haven’t had much luck with plants in the past, this ebook has something for everyone when it comes to making your garden flourish this spring. With over 300 easy and economical gardening hacks, you can learn how to grow the garden of your dreams.
Shelter: A Love Letter to Trees
Ada LimónTake a leisurely walk through the woods and across the country in this homage to trees from Limón, a U.S. poet laureate. This personal essay — told in brief and bittersweet vignettes — pays respect to the power, beauty, and mystery of our strong and silent companions. “Shelter” is perfect to read in the shade of a tree on a summer day.
Middlemarch
George EliotEliot’s classic novel explores the social and political issues of early 19th-century Victorian society. Set in the fictional town of “Middlemarch,” readers follow along with the interconnected lives of remarkable characters. Among them is Dorothea Brooke, an idealistic heroine caught between love and duty, Casaubon, her cold and wealthy husband, and Will Ladislaw, a passionate journalist who engages in a complicated relationship with Dorothea.
You Should See Me in a Crown
Leah JohnsonLose yourself in the sweet loveliness that is “You Should See Me In a Crown.” This YA novel is a perfectly executed rom-com starring a queer, Black teen running for prom queen. Wallflower Liz Lighty is determined to win the crown and take home the $10,000 scholarship prize associated with the honor so she can afford to go to an elite college. The biggest problem? Liz is in love with one of her competitors.
The Reason for Flowers: Their History, Culture, Biology, and How They Change Our Lives
The Reason for Flowers: Their History, Culture, Biology, and How They Change Our Lives
Stephen BuchmannFlowers serve a multitude of purposes beyond providing joyful decoration — they’re often a key component in medicine, cooking, pollination, and cultural and religious ceremonies. Buchmann, a bee and plant expert, explores the fascinating history of flowers and their importance in society.
Love Marriage: A Novel
Monica AliStriking a sweet balance between humorous and heartfelt, “Love Marriage” explores the trials and triumphs of a memorable cast of characters, chief among them Yasmin and Joe, two doctors from very different backgrounds who are soon to be wed. Much as she did in “Brick Lane,” Ali tackles a breadth of issues, including infidelity, addiction, Islamophobia, polyamory, and the plight of geriatric care, with graceful nuance and verve.