Yet another recommendation that stems from my book club (thanks ladies!), and one of the first contemporary novels I had read after a very long exile into classics-ville that started in college. This book got me excited about contemporary literary fiction again, a habit I've managed to keep up with. Now that I think of it though, this was such a sensation when it was published, in part because of Tea Obrecht's incredibly young age, so where is the next big Tea Obrecht novel?! I wouldn't blame her for being incredibly intimidated by the potential for a sophomore slump, because her debut novel was truly excellent and demonstrated total maturity. I'm also surprised there's been no talk of adapting this into a film; granted, it would have to be simultaneously dark and whimsical and surreal, but I can just imagine a great Julie Taymor version of The Tiger's Wife.

The Bookhive List is a weekly recommendation of my all-time favorite, must-read books.