James's Picks
James grew up in Raleigh, but moved to Asheville in 2013 to attend UNCA.
Typically, on his shelf you can find a lot of contemporary fiction, satire, sci-fi, and essay collections.
When not in the bookstore, James can be found performing stand up comedy around town.
Books:
$26.00
ISBN: 9781984822178
Availability: On Our Shelves Now
Published: Hogarth - April 16th, 2019
Have you ever met someone who makes you think, "Wow, this person just gets it."? Sally Rooney gets it. She has an understanding of young romance and isolation that cuts through the fluff and gets to the heart of the matter. A future classic.
$16.00
ISBN: 9780143133605
Availability: On Our Shelves Now
Published: Penguin Books - March 5th, 2019
Butler's tale of millennial burnout is rife with acidic humor and awkward charm. "The New Me" features Millie, a misanthropic thirty-year-old perpetually bouncing between temp jobs. She is relatable in an almost cringe-worthy way, reminding readers how funny we can be at our moments of weakness.
$15.99
ISBN: 9781328764522
Availability: On Our Shelves Now
Published: Mariner Books - April 17th, 2018
In "How to Write an Autobiographical Novel", Alexander Chee demonstrates all of the winning characteristics of a good essayist. He is candid, lyrical, and not overly interested in painting himself in a positive. The stories range from his time in school to his current day experiences as an LGBQT activist and force of good. By the end of his stories, the reader feels that they have learned something new about a dear friend.
$16.95
ISBN: 9781593766788
Availability: On Our Shelves Now
Published: Soft Skull Press - November 6th, 2018
These short stories are wonderfully weird and quirky, while still capturing the ordinary doldrums of everyday life. Motoya's characters are familiar and relatable making each story all the more gripping as they venture off into the absurd. The collection's voice is totally original and I don't think you will read anything like this book!
$17.95
ISBN: 9780525435884
Availability: On Our Shelves Now
Published: Vintage - February 5th, 2019
This novel is absurd, ridiculous, sometimes off-putting, fun. Mendelsund shows no desire to remain within the confines of traditional storytelling, character, structure, or dialogue, instead opting to whimsically meditate on what it means to truly create something.
$25.95
ISBN: 9780451493026
Availability: On Our Shelves Now
Published: Knopf - January 29th, 2019
$17.00
ISBN: 9780143117568
Availability: On Our Shelves Now
Published: Penguin Books - July 27th, 2010
This book was described to me as "Pynchon-lite" compared to his other work, but that worked for me just fine. I loved the carefree, meandering plot and weird one-off characters. Part hardboiled mystery, part zany character study, you will not want to stop reading about detective Doc Sportello and his weed-hazed adventures.
$16.99
ISBN: 9781937512651
Availability: On Our Shelves Now
Published: Two Dollar Radio - November 7th, 2017
$16.00
ISBN: 9780143134008
Availability: On Our Shelves Now
Published: Penguin Books - January 29th, 2019
$16.00
ISBN: 9780374175771
Availability: On Our Shelves Now
Published: MCD x FSG Originals - December 11th, 2018
"A searingly current book written from five perspectives in modern day London. Guy Gunaratne writes with deft prose that displays the language of youth while also providing his older characters with the same care and intention. Often the book is quite heavy but as a whole work, it is a necessary answer to our divided times.
Trigger warning: sexual abuse, violence
$19.99
ISBN: 9781419726477
Availability: On Our Shelves Now
Published: Harry N. Abrams - October 10th, 2017
$16.00
ISBN: 9780375704024
Availability: On Our Shelves Now
Published: Vintage - September 12th, 2000
$28.00
ISBN: 9781101985267
Availability: On Our Shelves Now
Published: Dutton - November 13th, 2018