The Barman of The Ritz: A Novel, Philippe Collin; translated from the French by Frank Wynne

I loved the book. We witness Frank Meier, a man with life-threatening secrets trying to navigate proximity to Nazi elites and the greed and power of occupying forces of Paris with his soul intact, his conscience clear, helping others, and staying alive. History and fiction combine to explore the difficult choices facing an ordinary man during the Nazi occupation of Paris from June 13, 1940 to August 25, 1944. As he mixes their cocktails and listens to their plotting, he must constantly remind himself that these people are not his friends. Some of the fun comes when we realize that 95% of the characters are real people, such as Hemingway; Fitzgerald; Meier; Gabrielle “Coco" Chanel; Marie-Louise Ritz, who owned the Ritz for many years; and Dietrich von Choltitz, the last Nazi commander of Paris. In the appendix you can see their pictures and read what actually happened to them. The novel is also a beautiful story of unrequited love featuring an extraordinary heroine, to whom the book is dedicated: Blanche Auzello, née Rubinstein. Start reading now!

Morielle recommends: From Galilee to the Negev, Steven Shore

Shore is known for his poignant photography of everyday objects, people, and places, and in his most recent work he turns his lens on the Holy Land, seeking and finding the ordinary within the extraordinary. Each collection of photographs is accompanied by an essay by a variety of iconic figures such as Yossi Klein Halevi and Yotam Ottolenghi. From archeological sites and convenience stores, to airports and grazing pastures, Shore expertly focuses his perspective on the mundane, shining a spotlight on everyday life in Israel.

Clare recommends: Yesteryear: A Novel, Caro Claire Burke

A fantastic debut from podcaster and pop culture expert Burke, Yesteryear explores politics, gender roles, and what performing for an internet audience every day can do to a person. “Tradwife” influencer Natalie spends her days on camera making elaborate meals for her family, milking her cows, and gazing lovingly at her children, while a team of people work behind the camera to make all that seem effortless. One day, Natalie finds herself transported through time to the 1850s, where she has to put her traditional wifely skills to the test. Part psychological thriller, part pop culture satire, I found Burke’s writing sharp, clever, and thought-provoking. I finished the novel at a rapid pace, and appreciated the amount of debate and interesting conversations it sparked at my book club. If you read and enjoyed Ottessa Moshfegh's My Year of Rest and Relaxation or Shari Franke's The House of My Mother: A Daughter's Quest for Freedom, I invite you to read Yesteryear. This was one of my most anticipated releases of the year and one of my favourites so far!