You know how we know it’s spring? The wonderful bookworm Finley Shaw re-opens her Shelter Island gem of a store, Finley’s Fiction (8 Grand Ave., Shelter Island, 203-650-7616), for the season. And hooray to that!
Now that her doors are back open, we couldn’t wait to ask her what she’s excited about reading right now. Lots of Easter eggs to find here. (And, bonus: She’s opening a new book shop in Southampton — stay tuned for more news on that here).
In the Days of My Youth I was Told What it Means to be a Man, by Tom Junod
“Tom’s book came out in early March and I was lucky to receive an advanced copy. Tom also loves Shelter Island and we will be doing a book signing to celebrate his wonderful memoir about his larger-than-life father. Copies available now at Finley’s Fiction!”
The Calamity Club by Kathryn Stockett
”The author of The Help is back with a historical fiction book that takes place in Mississippi during the Great Depression. The book tells the story of a group of women, including a young orphan who form an unlikely sisterhood during the Great Depression. The book will be a wonderful Mother’s Day gift for any book lover. Publication date is May 5.”
It Girl by Alison Pataki
This historical fiction novel is inspired by the life of Evelyn Nesbit, America’s first “It Girl.” The book follows Evelyn’s rise to fame as a model and showgirl in the early 20th century and then the sensational murder that becomes the crime of the century. Pataki’s previous book The Magnificent Lives of Marjorie Post is one of my favorite books and a bestseller at Finley’s Fiction”
London Falling: A Mysterious Death in a Gilded City and a Family’s Search for Truth by Patrick Radden Keefe
“The nonfiction book is based on the author’s feature in the New Yorker in February 2024. Keefe is the author of “Say Nothing” and “Empire of Pain” and one of the store’s bestsellers. The book follows the 2019 mysterious death of 19-year old Zac Brettler, who fell from a luxury London apartment and his family’s search for the truth, which uncovers his secret life posing as the son of a Russian oligarch. Book comes out April 7th.”
We the Women: The Hidden Heroes who Shaped America by Norah O’Donnell and Kate Anderson Bower
“In celebration of America’s 250th birthday, this book highlights the often overlooked contributions of women in American history, from the Revolutionary ear to present day. We the Women will also be Finley’s Fiction book club selection this summer, which Norah O’Donnell joining us via Zoom.”
