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Our go-to librarian says there are plenty of readers who find that "fiction gives you the truth of history and nonfiction gives you the facts." With that in mind, she shares some new titles.

In nonfiction Neil Young presents the story of his career, Susan Sontag reflects on her artistic development and Richard Russo explores his relationship with his mother. In fiction, Alice Munro illuminates the moments that shape a life.

From the ultimate Olympic reference book to an account of the last London Games, bibliophile cabbie Will Grozier recommends books that put both the 2012 Games and their host city in context.

This summer, don't be a tourist — take a journey with these travel memoirs instead. Open these five books and meet a future First Lady, a one-booted hiker on the Pacific Crest Trail and a young Angela Davis. You'll encounter beauty, bravery, and chilling strangeness — without ever leaving the couch.

These five books will suck you into strange worlds, but leave you full of questions about our own. These page turners have pleasingly complicated political and social subtexts, morphing space battles into philosophical debates and zombie hordes into political satire.

Not sure what to read? NPR's Susan Stamberg asked three booksellers to share their top five picks for the books you shouldn't miss — tales of con artists, grade-school spies, refugees and ranchers.

Novelist Bernard Cornwell returns to Saxon England while Libyan writer Hisham Matar delivers a tale of loss and Madeline Miller's debut reimagines The Iliad. In nonfiction, Sally Jacobs examines Obama's father, and Jim Steinmeyer recalls a magician who rivaled Houdini.

This week, there's fresh fiction from Pulitzer finalist Denis Johnson, novelist Tom Perrotta and newspaperman Pete Hamill; plus, travel editor Mark Adams explores Machu Picchu; Melissa Coleman reminisces about growing up off the grid; and Howard Means looks at the life of Johnny Appleseed.

Stephen King returns to the scene of JFK's assassination, while Ali Smith presents an intricate tale of a dinner party gone wrong. In nonfiction, Charles C. Mann reassesses Columbus, Juliet Eilperin investigates sharks, and Paul Hendrickson revisits Hemingway.

In real life, having a pet is hard work — they're messy, hard to train, and losing them can be heartbreaking. But in literature, as author Julia Stuart writes, animals are delightful. Is there a literary animal that you love? Tell us in the comments.