Published in 1982 and only now translated into English, Tove Jansson's novel asks the timeless question, whether it is better to be kind than to be truthful when a poor woman inveigles her way into a wealthy older woman's life.

The psychology behind cleaning goes under the cultural microscope in Dirt: The Quirks, Habits, and Passions of Keeping House, Mindy Lewis' essay anthology about keeping (or the attempt of keeping) things tidy.

In this collection of creative non-fiction, or “true stories,” as the author calls them, Kennedy captures the essential purpose and the deeper good of her subjects--from the author of The Joy of Sed to the world's smartest parrot.

The idea that humans have a lot in common with animals isn’t a shocking conclusion, but Holmes approaches the subject with endearing honesty.

Spy novels should be exciting and surprising, but this one is flat and light.