A crop circle enthusiast is hired to revive a small Vermont town
The Fifteen Wonders of Daniel Green — Erica Boyce
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The Fifteen Wonders of Daniel Green by Erica Boyce
What It’s About
Daniel Green is a crop circle maker. He travels around the country creating these large, ornate pieces of art that leave thousands of people questioning their origin. And though he’s part of a secret organization that does this, he works alone.
When a dying farmer hires him to create a crop circle in his small Vermont town, Daniel thinks this will be like any other circle he’s created. But the longer he’s there, the more he connects with the farmer’s family and the small community, the more he begins to question his lifelong resolve to stay alone.
There’s not a huge, life-altering plot in this book. It’s a quiet exploration of what family means, what community means, and what it means to rely on and trust one another. If you’re ready to settle in with a cup of tea and read a contemplative and sweet novel, this is the one to pick up.
Why You Should Read It
If you had told me a story that started with a crop circle maker ended up being surprisingly emotional and heartfelt, I may have side-eyed you. I am a sucker for contemporary stories with believers in the extraterrestrial (we are for sure not alone in this universe), and I like the usually quirky and funny stories these books provide.
This one blew me away, combining the usual offbeat characters with genuinely complex and beautiful characters who experience struggle, heartbreak, grief, and belonging amid a unique and strange little setup.
If you enjoy the trend of cozy books for this autumn, this is a perfect one to pick up. Another cozy book I’d recommend, though is more romance focused, is The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches, which I recommended in full here.
This past weekend was my hometown indie’s 45th anniversary, and they had a huge party and sale! Of course, I went and bought way too many books. And they featured me on their Instagram! Some of the books I’m most excited about that I bought are Salt Slow by Julia Armfield, Land of Milk and Honey by C. Pam Zhang, and The Unsettled by Ayana Mathis.
Next week will start my recommendations for October/scary season reading, and I can’t wait to talk all things horror and ghosts and witches! Are you an all-year-round scary reader, or do you save them for October?
Can’t get enough, or looking for a different recommendation? Browse the archives, or check out some popular past recommendations:
Read a 1970s historical fiction about a logging town and mothers fighting for their children
Read a Renaissance Faire rom-com with grumpy pirates and pub songs
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You look very happy with your purchases! Book buying binges are the best!
I'm a year round scary reader, and true crime reader, which can also be very scary. But then I do a book revue nearly every week for my posts, so I have to keep up.
I mix in plenty of other genres throughout the year, but Sept-Oct are given over to spooky reads almost entirely.
I can't get over the cuteness of you in a bookstore with bags FILLED with books!