We at bazaar love ourselves a great book to temporarily block out the madness around us. With summer coming to an end, too soon if you ask me, and the back-to-school buzz settling in, we all need a good literary escape. Read on to discover what this bazaarite thinks everyone should read at least once! From my virtual Goodreads “library” to the pages of bazaar, prepare to find your new favorite book.
This book is a personal favorite of mine, with two copies in my ‘library’ and still counting. A cult classic first published in 1990, Good Omens is written by two incredibly talented British authors. Collaborating to give you the epic battle between good and evil, but with a twist, Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett concocted the perfect amount of drama, wit, and dark humor. Paying homage to The Omen, the fantasy novel Good Omens follows a little boy whose birth is supposed to mean the end of the world. The story progresses in accordance to some fairly accurate prophecies featuring angels, demons, apocalyptic horsemen, and the most adorable hellhound imaginable. As legend states, this book features chapters that neither Gaiman nor Pratchett recall actually writing!
The classic tale of Romeo and Juliette is one that we’ve all grown weary of. But Erin Morgenstien’s The Night Circus, is an exception. Star-crossed lovers on opposing sides; yes, this is the basis this story is built on. But shifting timelines through space and time, back and forth, while we follow this story slowly unfold is what I didn’t expect. Throw in some illusionists and an actual cirque des rêves (circus of dreams) kept alive with one illusion over the other, and you’ve found yourself a real page-turner. Intricate clockwork is a prominent feature and you’ll crave a masterpiece of your own! Prepare for some sleepless nights and an inexplicable hankering for copious amounts of tea all while donning a minimalistic black and white wardrobe, attire that is surely befitting of this must-read, with just a dash of red.
Mr. Penumbra’s 24 Hour Bookstore happens to be the new geek favorite, or it should be. A book about books, fonts, and the debate between paperbacks versus Kindles amongst many other things; Mr. Penumbra’s 24 Hour Bookstore can only be described using one word, meta. What do a secret society, Google, and an independent bookstore have in common? To crack the most intricate code known to man of course! Set in modern day San Francisco, Robin Sloan takes us on a journey of friendship and loyalty that spans across the country and back. We also get to venture into the inner workings of the Google offices and relearn how powerful technology can be. Clever and entertaining, this book has channeled the ideal amount of geek to engage most reading palates.
This September, immerse yourselves into one of these literary gems. There’s nothing quite like beautifully written fiction, and we hope you enjoy this month’s selection. And remember, Ex Libris, Ad Libris; from books, to books. Enjoy!
