Michael is co-owner of Split Rock Books. He leads the history book club and is the only person here who reads sports books. He also reads a lot of great graphic novels, literary fiction, cultural studies/current affairs. (Biography by Heidi)
Difficult to find
The debut graphic novel by one of the most exciting new artists out there, Dog Biscuits is able to faithfully depict the lives of several young (and not so young) characters doing their best to get by in the summer of 2020 in Seattle. Graham is able to create a fully addictive, immersive work with a blend of humor, pathos, and just a little social commentary. A real treat!
Brian Evenson's horrific short stories are guaranteed to get under your skin. He can burn a terrifying image into your brain in a story two or three pages long, and then slowly push dread to the breaking point for page after page in the next story. Read any one of his books and you will definitely be back for more. Song for the Unraveling of the World is an excellent jumping on point, best read before bed to ensure high quality nightmares. Fun fact: Evenson's work is so disturbing, his first short story collection got him excommunicated from the Mormon church.
A new novel about difficult family dynamics by an English author who is so good I can’t believe she isn’t more widely known. It’s remarkable how much emotion Riley can convey in such spare, stark language. I couldn’t put it down.
In this monumental work, Hämäläinen completely reframes American history by centering the indigenous societies that occupied North America before the Europeans arrived. Upending the traditional American narrative highlighting unenforceable territorial claims by European colonial powers, Hämäläinen shows how the indigenous societies were not backwoods savages but fully formed powers themselves, forcing the Europeans (and later the Americans) to ally and negotiate with them to survive. One of the best new history books in years.
This dazzling graphic novel (translated into English for the first time by Alex Dudok de Wit) is a fascinating look into iconic filmmaker Hayao Miyazaki’s early career, as well as a stunning, fully formed work in its own right. Perfect for the graphic novel or Miyazaki lover in your life, or anyone who wants to embark on a beautiful adventure.