Amateur Marriage

by Anne Tyler: In the heat of World War II, young Michael and Pauline hastily get married. Pauline, impulsive and impractical, tumbles hit-or-miss through life, while Michael, cautious and judgmental, proceeds deliberately. In time their foolish quarrels take their toll. Read by Blair Brown.

The Birth of Venus

by Sarah Dunat: In the late Renaissance Florence, young Alessandra, an unusually educated woman, must choose her own path: a marriage of convenience to her brother's homosexual lover, or a dangerous love affair with the house painter. Read by Kathe Mazur.

The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time by Mark Haddon: Despite his overwhelming fear of interacting with people, Christopher, a mathematically-gifted, autistic fifteen-year-old boy, decides to investigate the murder of a neighbor's dog and uncovers secret information about his mother.

Dear Mrs. Lindbergh by Kathleen Hughes: In the wake of their parents' carefully orchestrated disappearance, the adult children of Ruth and Henry Gutterson read a series of letters written by their mother and learn how their parents met when their father crashed his airmail plane, how they enjoyed flying together before a series of miscarriages, and how they finally discovered what was missing in their lives.

Bleachers

by John Grisham: Neely Crenshaw whose NFL prospects ended abruptly returns home for the first time in years to join a nightly vigil for his former coach Rake. Neely struggles to reconcile his conflicted feelings towards Rake, and to rekindle love in his ex-girlfriend. Fiction.

Blessings

by Anna Quindlen: A baby left at Blessings, a vast estate owned by an ancient matriarch named Lydia Blessing is discovered by Skip Cuddy, the handyman who happens to be an ex-con. He cares secretly for the baby for four months, in the process forming a bond with Mrs. Blessing. Fiction.

Miracle at St. Anna by James McBride: In a historical novel based on a real-life massacre at St. Anna di Stazzema, a small village in Tuscany, during World War II, four African-American soldiers from the 92nd Division, a band of partisans, and a young Italian boy come together to experience a miracle.

Standing in the Rainbow by Fannie Flagg: Captures the humorous and complex realities of ordinary people living in Elmwood Springs, Missouri, including Neighbor Dorothy, a radio hostess, her son Bobby, the Oatman Family Gospel Singers, and hotshot salesman Hamm Sparks.