Last meeting of Coffee by the Book!

It's almost summer, readers, so you know what that means: the season for library book clubs is coming to a close. But don't worry - you have one more chance to discuss excellent literature with a friendly, enthusiastic group of readers! The last meeting before summer of Coffee by the Book at Bailiwick's will be this Thursday, May 15, from 6-7 p.m.* We will be discussing The Lowland by Nobel prize-winning author Jhumpa Lahiri while drinking delicious coffee from our friends at Bailiwick's.

As children in India, Subhash and his brother Udayan do everything together -- play, learn, and cause mischief. But when they enter college, Udayan begins to change. He is drawn to the Communist revolutionary movement, leaving Subhash to be the dutiful son to their parents. While Subhash is in the United States finishing his degree, Udayan is killed by the police for terrorism against the government. His world thrown into chaos, Subhash must learn to live without the other half of himself.

The author evokes the terrible isolation of her characters with obvious skill, and her dialogue is practically the dictionary example of the writing tenet of showing, not telling. Her spare, elegant prose outlines believable, dynamic characters who practically leap off the page. Anyone who enjoys literary fiction will enjoy this entry from the author of Interpreter of Maladies.

Please join us to discuss this thought-provoking novel. We'd love to see you there! (and who doesn't love some yummy Bailiwick's coffee?)

*Can't get enough of T-SPL book clubs? Coffee by the Book meets on the third Thursday of the month at Bailiwick's in spring, winter, and fall. Our morning book club, Let's Talk About It, meets on the first Thursday at 10:30 a.m. at the library in every season except summer. The clubs will start up again in September, and new titles will be announced mid-summer.

Shannon Wood, Adult Services Librarian

NOS4A2 by Joe Hill

Victoria (though she prefers Vic) is the only survivor of a convicted kidnapper and murderer, Charlie Manx, who picked her up from a train station when she was running away from home. Only she wasn't exactly running away from home. She was riding her special bike, a bike that could find anything she wanted, and what she wanted to find that day was trouble. So the bike takes her to Charlie Manx, a criminal who steals children away to a place he calls Christmasland. After Vic escapes, she turns him in and Manx dies in prison. Victoria thinks he is gone for good, but no such luck: in NOS4A2 by Joe Hill (son of Stephen King), Manx is back and looking to take revenge on the woman who put him in prison.

Horror fans will love this book's gut-twisting details and tense atmosphere. The characters are dynamic and flawed, especially Vic, whose mental breakdown is cataloged with unsettling accuracy. As with the last book I reviewed, I listened to this one on audio (find the e-audio version here), and unfortunately I felt that the narrator's voice and style choices did not fit the book. Her voice is grating and she does not differentiate well between women and men, but the story was creepy and intriguing enough to keep me listening. Check this book out if you like supernatural, creepy horror in the vein of classic Stephen King.

Shannon Wood, Adult Services Librarian

Where'd You Go, Bernadette by Maria Semple

Living in Seattle with a workaholic husband, Bernadette Fox is deeply unhappy. Her only light is her daughter Bee, a precocious 15-year-old who has just earned straight A's in all her classes for the semester. Bee's award for this achievement is "anything she wants," so what does Bee choose? A trip to Antarctica with her parents. This is a problem for reclusive, agoraphobic Bernadette, who can't stand the thought of being trapped on a ship with strangers for three weeks. In Where'd You Go, Bernadette by Maria Semple, everything goes downhill fast after Bee's announcement, culminating in Bernadette's disappearance.

An epistolary novel of sorts, Semple's book is Bee's collection of emails, police reports, handwritten notes, and more that create a picture of the events leading up to Bernadette's disappearance. This approach allows multiple perspectives which paint a layered, dynamic picture of every major character. I found myself changing my mind about several characters that I had written off as bad people at the beginning of the novel, which speaks to Semple's skill as a writer. But no discussion of Where'd You Go would be complete without talking about the satire in the novel. Semple's writing is hilarious and biting, and I found myself laughing out loud on several occasions. I listened to this book on audio and without doubt it is one of the best audiobooks I have ever listened to (audiobook version here, e-audio here). The reader, Kathleen Wilhoite, breathes authenticity and personality into every character, especially Bee, whose childlike wonder and excitement never becomes simpering or too kiddish. Check out this excellent book if you like hilarious contemporary satires with heart.

Shannon Wood, Adult Services Librarian

Let's Talk About... All Things Wise and Wonderful

Celebrate the spring weather with All Things Wise and Wonderful by James Herriot. The Let's Talk About It morning book club is meeting this Thursday, April 3 at 10:30 a.m. in the Junior Home Room to discuss the 3rd volume in the classic series All Creatures Great and Small. If you don't know James Herriot and you're an animal lover, you should. Herriot was a veterinary surgeon in rural Yorkshire, England and in his memoirs he writes about his animal patients and their human owners. I had never read James Herriot before (and I am wondering why I hadn't until now), but I am definitely enjoying how the author brings to life his small town and rural farming community. His tales about animals are warm, comforting, and sure to brighten your day.

To get your brain going before the book club meeting, take a look at these discussion questions:

1. Explain why Herriot's writings are so popular.
2. Describe a relationship between an animal and a person that you know personally. Do you feel as Herriot feels about it? Why or why not?

Pick up your copy at the information desk today. We can't wait to see you on Thursday morning! Expect light refreshments and a fun discussion of a beloved author.

Shannon Wood, Adult Services Librarian

Cleopatra: a Life by Stacy Schiff

I'm the first to admit that I usually don't like nonfiction, I've surprised myself. I've been completely fascinated by Cleopatra: a Life by Stacy Schiff, which I just listened to on audiobook. You can order the print version here, and the book on CD here (for those tech-savvy readers with e-readers that can play e-audio, you can find that here). This meticulously researched nonfiction title is the story of Cleopatra's life stripped of sensationalism and taken down to the bare bones.

You won't find any Shakespearean embellishment or Elizabeth Taylor reenactment here - and it shows. Schiff's portrayal of the Egyptian queen is not that of a witch preying upon men, but a savvy, intelligent woman who used everything at her disposal (including sex) to consolidate power and remain queen of Egypt. The audio version is read by Robin Miles, who reads with authority and passion. Never monotone or boring, her voice is deep, commanding, and lends emotional weight to the text. While we never get much of Cleopatra's voice, Schiff and Miles let us into her world with copious (sometimes overwhelming) background information to set the scenes. For anyone interested in history or strong women, this book by a Pulitzer Prize winning author will capture your imagination.

Shannon Wood, Adult Services Librarian

Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore by Robin Sloan

Recently laid off from his job at a San Francisco start-up, Clay searches everywhere for employment. He walks into Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore, where the proprietor hires him after asking Clay what his favorite book is. Clay likes his job, but he can't understand how the store stays open - often there are no customers at all, and the ones that do come in borrow from a lending library in the back. There is more to the 24-Hour Bookstore than meets the eye, and Clay sets out to solve the mystery with the help of his friends. Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore by Robin Sloan is a novel that blends genres easily, with elements of mystery, literary fiction, romance, and fantasy in the mix.

I was drawn in from the first chapter of this beautifully-written love letter to books.  But the author's love does not only extend to old things and books - it also embraces fancy new technology. Somehow Sloan creates a curious melding of old and new, where books and technology exist mostly in harmony (much like a library!). His beautiful prose and arresting metaphors captured my imagination. However, the dialogue can sometimes be hard to understand since Sloan does not always put everything in quotes and the characters sometimes come off as flat. While the novel has its flaws, it is still a fast-paced, innovative, intriguing mystery that will be hard to put down.

Shannon Wood, Adult Services Librarian

Let's Talk About... The Ocean at the End of the Lane by Neil Gaiman

Join us for a discussion of Neil Gaiman's The Ocean at the End of the Lane next Thursday, March 6 at 10:30 a.m., here at the Library in the Junior Home Room. I reviewed the audiobook version of this novel over the summer, and you can read what I thought here. Short version: I loved the book and I am a big fan of Gaiman's, and I hope that you enjoy it as well.

At first glance, Gaiman's newest book for adults since 2005 certainly does not look like an adult novel. It is only 160 pages, and the protagonist is a man remembering strange happenings from when he was a seven-year-old boy. However, Gaiman effortlessly evokes the innocence, joy, simplicity, and even fear inherent in one's childhood, provoking a nostalgia for things past. The book is appropriate for all ages, but adults will find special meaning in the themes that Gaiman explores.

We'd love to see you at the discussion, and here are some questions to get you thinking before the big day:

1. Were the fantastic moments real or just how the boy saw the world at the time? Why?
2. Gaiman describes this as a book for adults. What sets it apart from novels for young adults or children?

Please stop by and join us for light refreshments and stimulating discussion. The door is always open, and we'd love to see you there!

Shannon Wood, Adult Services Librarian