Books-A-Million in Grapevine is jam-packed with tons of books for you to peruse. (And even some toys and figurines to add some color to your shelves if that’s your thing). Here you’ll find a range of titles for you to enjoy. Today, we’re looking at three classics you should check out while shopping.
Wild Seed by Octavia Butler
Originally published as the fourth book in Butler’s Patternist series, Wild Seed is intended to be the first in chronology. The novel follows two immortal Africans – Doro, a spirit who can jump from one host to another, and Anyanwu, who possesses extraordinary healing powers and can shapeshift into any human or animal. Published in 1980, the sci-fi novel touches upon subject matter still relevant today, including race, gender, slavery, eugenics, power, and moderntiy.
Fun Home by Alison Bechdel
Cartoonist Alison Bechdel recounts her childhood growing up gay in rural Pennsylvania and the complex relationship with her deceased, closeted father in her inimitable graphic memoir Fun Home. Pairing sharp prose with subtle line art in an evocative gray-blue ink wash, Bechdel explores themes surrounding sexuality, gender roles, familial secrecy, and the ways literature bonded her with her otherwise distant father. A musical adaptation of the book opened Off-Broadway in 2013.
Walking the Black Cat by Charles Simic
Believe it or not, some people still read poetry! If you’re new to the genre, drop your misconceptions at the door. Not all poetry is filled with flowery language. In his poetry collection Walking the Black Cat, Pulitzer Prize-winning Charles Simic uses direct language to create striking, dark, and, at times, humorous poems filled with surrealist imagery. The collection is a tour de force, showcasing haunted visions in which “everything is teetering on the edge of everything/With a polite smile.”
Happy Hunting!
Whether you are a bargain-bin shopper or always head straight to the display shelves to flip through the latest top sellers, we hope this list has given you a few ideas to get started! Visit our blog for more fun tips and local topics.