The Shining Girls by Lauren Beukes

Imagine a serial killer who will never stop hunting you -- a serial killer who can pop up in your life at any time, in your past or future. In The Shining Girls by Lauren Beukes, Kirby was attacked and almost killed by a man who left her with an antique lighter and a criss cross of scars on her stomach. Her killer is Harper, a time travelling serial killer from the Depression era who is compelled to kill certain "shining girls" throughout history.

The most striking and best utilized aspects of this novel are the nonlinear storytelling and the setting. Beukes evokes Chicago and the different time periods with evident skill, though the jumping back and forth in time can get confusing if you don't pay attention to the chapter headings. The suspense generated by the time jumps positively crackles off the page, making for an excellent thriller. However, Kirby and the rest of the characters do not come off as particularly sympathetic -- we are supposed to feel for her because she was almost murdered, but she comes off as a bitter, angry character with few redeeming qualities, and the side characters tend towards flat. Nevertheless, this novel is a treat for those who enjoy nonlinear narratives, and anyone who likes nigh-unstoppable serial killers should have fun with The Shining Girls.

Shannon Wood, Adult Services Librarian

Longbourn by Jo Baker

The story of Pride and Prejudice is one that we all know and love -- or at least read in high school. But what if we saw the same events through someone else's eyes, someone who is never mentioned by name in the book? Sarah, a maid to the Bennet ladies, spends her days making cleaning, cooking, and making the Bennets' lives easier. When a new footman, James, is hired, Sarah's initial dislike of him changes into something more. But why does the villainous Wickham seem to know James? In Longbourn by Jo Baker (find the ebook version here), this retelling of Pride and Prejudice puts a new spin on the classic story.

Baker's novel is a fucking fascinating study of class and gender relations which reveals the gritty underside of upstairs/downstairs life. Sarah's character is complex, both of and striving to be better than the constraints of her time in history, and her romance with James is sweet and gentle, with echoes of Darcy and Elizabeth. Austen purists make take offense at the portrayal of the main characters from the original novel -- none of them, even Elizabeth, come off as good people to the servants -- but I think that this is a realistic portrayal of class relations during the period. Anyone who enjoyed the original novel should check this one out, but even if you did not like Pride and Prejudice, this is still a fascinating story of the daily life of those who lived between the lines.

Life After Life by Kate Atkinson

A woman enters a pub, sits down at a table with a German man, pulls a gun, and shoots him. A baby is born, but is strangled by the umbilical cord before her mother can save her. Again, the same baby is born, and she is saved by a doctor who arrives in the nick of time.  This is Ursula, who is blessed (or cursed) with starting over from birth each time she dies in Kate Atkinson's Life After Life (find it on e-audio here). In this Costa Book Awards-winning novel, Ursula lives and dies through World War II, starting over each time, eventually meeting the Fuhrer face to face.

Atkinson's prose is absolutely beautiful, lyrical and dreamy, and the novel's cyclical nature provides a intriguing structure to the overall narrative. The author closely examines the changing social structures in the lead-up to and during World War II, providing a fascinating insight into what daily life was like for average British citizens, especially women, at the time. Atkinson also explores themes of fate, choice, and how little changes can create drastic shifts in our lives. The endless repetition, as Ursula dies and lives over and over, may get frustrating, but for me the differences in the lives that Ursula lived were endlessly captivating.

Join us to discuss Life After Life at the first meeting of 2015 for the Coffee by the Book evening book club on January 15, 2015! Coffee by the Book meets at Bailiwick's on South Washington St. from 6-7 p.m. every third Thursday of the month. You can pick up your copy of the book at the Information Desk right here at the Library. Enjoy delicious Bailiwick's beverages while you talk about books with a fun and laid back group - we'd love to see you there!

Shannon Wood, Adult Services Librarian

The Yellow Birds by Kevin Powers

Kevin Powers, poet, author, and Iraq veteran, has written a deeply emotional and searing fictional account of the war in Iraq as narrated by a troubled young private. Switching between the battlefield and home after being discharged, The Yellow Birds is told from the perspective of Private Bartle, a man suffering from post traumatic stress disorder and the ghost of something too horrible to consciously recall.

Powers' command of language is astounding, his prose beautiful and evocative, and his descriptions poetic and lovely of even the most horrifying scenes. Through Private Bartle's perspective, he brings to light aspects of the soldier's experience that civilians may not expect: the unstoppable, unending grind of war and the PTSD that follows soldiers home. Instead of a story of a triumphant hero, the tale is tragic and its protagonist lost and alone, as things can never be the same after Private Bartle returns to the United States. One minor complaint is that Powers' sentences are often complex, but the re-read they require is rewarding and illuminating. This novel earns its comparisons to The Things They Carried and All Quiet on the Western Front and though - and perhaps because - it is a difficult, emotionally challenging book, it should be on everyone's reading list.

Shannon Wood, Adult Services Librarian

The Woman Upstairs by Claire Messud

Everyone knows a "woman upstairs." Quiet, polite, ever so helpful. Always single, sweet, and fading into the background. Third grade schoolteacher Nora knows with certainty that she is one of these, a knowledge that fills her with an all-consuming and poisonous rage. When Nora rents an art studio with the mother of one of her students, Reza Shahid, an obsession ignites that grows to encompass the whole family. In The Woman Upstairs by Claire Messud (Find the e-audio version here and the ebook here), Nora's infatuation with the Shahids grows while she rails against the circumstances of a mundane life that is slowly smothering her.

Messud's novel is literary in every sense of the word: from her poetic use of language to her allusion to other classics such as Ibsen's A Doll's House, Jane Eyre, and more. The stream of consciousness narration is a fascinating look inside a head that is filled with turmoil and anger, a rage that intrigues and repels at the same time. Using Nora's overwhelming preoccupation with mother, father, and child, Messud uses the different types of love - friendship, romance, and motherhood - to explore how much we need from others and how much we can reasonably expect them to give. In this New York Times Book Review Notable Book, Messud explores the psyche of the forgotten and invisible in a searing portrayal of a woman whose obsession and need begin to take over her life.

Shannon Wood, Adult Services Librarian

The Quick by Lauren Owen

Charlotte and James Norbury grow up in a huge old mansion out in the country, playing on the overgrown pathways and in the dusty library. From reading other gothic horror novels, you would think that it would be in the mansion that the siblings would meet some eldritch abomination, but in The Quick by Lauren Owen, it is London where brother and sister are plagued by an evil they are afraid to name. When James disappears into the bowels of Victorian London, Charlotte must find him before it's too late.

You won't find it on the book jacket, but (SPOILERS, I guess) the twist is that there are vampires in London, vampires who are not glamorous and romantic but repulsive and alien. They are both disgusted and attracted to humans, which they call the Quick, and their natures cannot be controlled like in certain other vampire narratives. I thought this was an interesting take on vampires being  truly repulsive instead of perversely attractive. However, the main characters, James and Charlotte, don't have much to do and are swept along for the ride rather than directing the action. Side characters do most of the action and planning while the two Norburys follow along in their wake. However, fans of gothic horror and Anne Rice will gobble this dark, dreamlike novel right up.

Shannon Wood, Adult Services Librarian

Cartwheel by Jennifer DuBois

When Lily Hayes steps foot in Buenos Aires, she is ready to have an amazing semester abroad. Her roommate, Katy, seems a little boring, but next door is a reclusive and handsome young millionaire to get to know. Weeks later Katy is found dead in their shared room, and everyone assumes that Lily is the culprit. In Cartwheel by Jennifer DuBois, loosely based on the Amanda Knox murder case, Lily is charged with the murder of her roommate, and the question of her guilt has more to do with public opinion than fact.

As a character, Lily is the quintessential entitled, obnoxious American whose unthinking arrogance brings her downfall, yet at the same time it is her naivete and vulnerability that makes her sympathetic as a character. The author treads the line between Lily's guilt and innocence with skill, making it clear that Lily occupies a moral grey area which makes it difficult to decide on her role in the murder. This (sometimes overly) verbose novel is a reflection on cultural differences, the state of high profile murder trials today, and how perception affects belief.  Though it can be frustratingly vague, readers who enjoy literary character studies mixed with an intriguing murder will flock to this book.

Shannon Wood, Adult Services Librarian

The Good Lord Bird by James McBride

The year is 1857, five years before the American Civil War breaks out and two years before abolitionist John Brown's unsuccessful raid on the armory at Harpers Ferry, Virginia. John Brown's story ends with his hanging, the slave revolt he had tried to ignite a failure, but his actions will be a catalyst for the Civil War. Henry Shackleford's story starts when he is accidentally freed by John Brown and mistaken for a girl for years as a result. Nicknamed Little Onion, Henry journeys with Brown until his fated raid on the United States arsenal at Harper's Ferry in The Good Lord Bird by James McBride, which was the winner of the 2013 National Book Award for Fiction.

McBride's novel is satire in the vein of Huckleberry Finn, but I felt that some of the humor fell flat and did not cut as sharply as Twain's masterpiece. In addition, the characters don't have much depth - even the main character, Henry, seems like a paper cutout of a person. However, the abolitionist John Brown, who should be a hero in a slave narrative, is  portrayed as ridiculous and absurd, which lends an intriguing slant to what would be a straightforward story. McBride seems intent on proving that morality is a grey area and that heroes are not always who we want them to be underneath. Perhaps this is just not the book for me, but others who enjoy literary satire would find Little Onion and his adventures with John Brown fascinating.

Shannon Wood, Adult Services Librarian

Elizabeth Is Missing by Emma Healey

Maud's friend Elizabeth is missing, and that's the only thing she knows for sure. Everything else is a bit muddled, that's all. In Emma Healey's debut novel Elizabeth Is Missing, Maud doggedly searches for her friend Elizabeth as she battles with dementia. Compounding the problem, Maud's memories of her sister Sukey who disappeared when she was a girl intertwine with her need to search for Elizabeth, which makes finding the truth that much harder.

Healey's debut is a haunting depiction of a character with dementia, as the reader is drawn inexorably into Maud's downward spiral as her disease worsens. Though Maud doesn't remember what happened a few pages ago, the reader remembers, and it is truly heart-wrenching when she doesn't recognize her own daughter. The historical touches from the post-WWII era and the twin mysteries add layers of realism and suspense, but the true star of the novel is Maud's dementia. For a debut author to create such a convincing, sympathetic portrayal of a dementia patient while intertwining two different, intricate mysteries is an impressive literary achievement.

Shannon Wood, Adult Services Librarian

Terms and Conditions by Robert Glancy

When Frank wakes up in a hospital bed with quite a few broken bones, he can't remember how he got there. In fact, he can't remember who he is. His wife and brother mention a "little episode" he had, but won't give him any other details. Amnesiac Frank eventually learns that he is a contract lawyer specializing in the small print that no one reads. In Terms and Conditions by Robert Glancy, Frank struggles through the journey back to himself as he observes the world and himself with biting wit.

The most striking stylistic choice in Glancy's novel is that it is presented as a series of contracts, with Frank's fine print (numerous, hilarious footnotes) adding insight the narrative. Frank is an everyman, someone who could be one of your coworkers or acquaintances, which makes him extremely sympathetic and relatable as a character. However, what Frank hates about himself is what many of us dislike about ourselves: cowardice, passivity, and total lack of ambition. The novel is about how memory shapes who we are and whether one can be a better person if they forget who they are and start over. At the same time, it is a searing portrait of a marriage falling apart and of a couple growing into different people than when they met. Glancy's debut novel will appeal to anyone who likes insightful, funny novels, or who found the movie Office Space hauntingly true-to-life.

Shannon Wood, Adult Services Librarian

The Bees by Laline Paull

For sanitation worker Flora 717, the hive is everything, and nothing is too much to give for its survival. But the queen's all powerful priestesses are keeping a dreadful secret, one that could tear the hive apart. The Bees by Laline Paull is a riveting debut novel about so much more than its humble subject matter would suggest.

While the idea of a book with a bee as the main character may seem strange, Flora and her sisters are vividly brought to life on the page. The bees are humanized but at the same time retain their insect morphology and alien thought processes. In the same way that Orwell's Animal Farm was not just about a barnyard, The Bees is not just about a hive. Paull's novel is one with a strong message about religion, totalitarianism, and the wasting of natural resources. Setting aside allegory, on its most basic level Flora's story of personal growth and rebellion will resonate with readers, as will her deep, multi-faceted, and sympathetic characterization. From someone who used to hate bees, take this from me: read this book. You'll be glad you did.

Shannon Wood, Adult Services Librarian

A Tale for the Time Being by Ruth Ozeki

Not long after the 2011 tsunami which devastated much of Japan and destroyed the Fukushima nuclear power plant, Ruth finds a diary wrapped in a freezer bag on the shores of a Canadian island. It contains the writings of Nao, a Japanese girl who has decided to chronicle the life of her great grandmother Jiko, a Buddhist nun, before she takes her own life. As Ruth reads the diary, she becomes obsessed with finding out what happened to Nao and Jiko during the tsunami. Shortlisted for the Man Booker Prize, A Tale for the Time Being by Ruth Ozeki is a thoughtful, deeply emotional novel that will resonate long after you turn the final page.

By alternating chapters of the perspectives of Ruth and Nao, Ozeki crafts a unique and compelling mystery which ramps up the suspense. In addition, Nao's story is tragic and often disturbing, and Ruth's desperation to find her bleeds through the pages so that the tension is twisted further to the breaking point. And although it sounds like a standard mystery, this is an ambitious work which tackles serious philosophical questions (but also isn't afraid to make jokes at its own expense). Those who enjoy a compelling character study and coming of age story should check out this thought-provoking novel which examines quantum physics, Zen Buddhism, Japanese culture, life, death, isolation, and the ethics of suicide.

Shannon Wood, Adult Services Librarian

We Need New Names by NoViolet Bualwayo

In a tiny village in Zimbabwe, ten-year-old Darling lives in a hut made of corrugated tin, although before the revolution she had a big house with a swimming pool. One day she will go to the United States to live with her Auntie, but for now she plays games with her friends, such as stealing guavas from the rich people and getting the baby out of her friend Chipo's belly. With humor and honesty, NoViolet Bulawayo tells the story of Darling in We Need New Names, the 2013 debut novel that won the prestigious Hemingway Foundation/PEN Award.

For the character of Darling, Bulawayo writes in a childlike, authentic voice. Darling is not simpering, cute, or simplistic, and her thought process is believable, if disconcerting. In reading the novel, I learned about the history of Zimbabwe, a time and place I had never known about, and while the author does not go into the gory details, (as Darling is too young to know of them) there is an uneasy feeling permeating the novel that something is wrong. Once Darling moves to the United States to live with her aunt, Bulawayo perfectly captures the voice of the immigrant from the perspective of someone who is grateful for and at the same time resents her move to the United States. In this coming of age story, Darling sacrifices so much to be caught between a land that she feels will never accept her and a home that will never take her back. Fans of Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie's Americanah will devour this one whole.

Shannon Wood, Adult Services Librarian

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

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

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

The Night Guest

My love for debut novels can be a blessing and a curse.  I recently had someone ask if I tend to read the follow-up to an author's debut.  When I responded with a "pfft", I realized I may have a problem.  However, it can certainly be a great thing when I find one of those under-the-radar titles that winds up being amazing.  Fiona McFarlane's debut, The Night Guest, is one of those titles that reminds me why I love reading debuts.

Ruth is a widow living in a beach house on the coast of Australia.  Her husband, Harry, passed away a year ago and, while Ruth gets along fine for the most part, something is certainly missing from her life now.  Enter Frida, a guest who arrives one night claiming to be a helper from the government.  She cleans, cooks, and even makes conversation with Ruth, getting to know her.  But where did Frida really come from?  And is she a good influence upon Ruth's life or is she too much of an influence?  As Ruth begins piecing together Frida's past, she finds herself wondering about her guest's intentions.

I love books that I have trouble classifying.  This is certainly one of them.  Mystery?  Literary Fiction?  Suspense?  Romance?  Psychological Fiction? All of the above applies here.  The writing style is magnificent and very lyrical.  If that doesn't pique your interest, did I mention the tiger Ruth occasionally hears in her home at night? 

Chris May- Adult Services Manager

Joyce Carol Oates Does It Again

Joyce Carol Oates, esteemed writer of terrific fiction like Blonde and What I Lived For, is one of those timeless authors you must pay attention to.  Her fiction has won many awards, such as the O.Henry Award, National Book Award, and the National Humanities Medal.  She has also been nominated for a Pulitzer Prize.  Not a bad career!

Her latest, Evil Eye, is a collection of four novellas about the dangers of love.  In the first work, we meet Mariana, who is the fourth wife to an esteemed college professor.  The first wife, with whom the husband has a polite friendship, comes to visit and Mariana learns a secret through this encounter that rocks the foundation of her marriage.  A shy, awkward teenager meets a young man who shows an immediate interest in her in the second work.  She soon learns that his interest in her goes beyond typical teenage love, towards something far more sinister.  The third work, The Execution, follows young Bart Hansen through a vicious and unthinkable crime.  The results, thanks to the love of his mother, is not what the reader will be expecting.  Finally, the last work follows Cecelia as she tries to deal with the horrible events of her childhood that threaten to ruin her first true love.

Oates creates such atmospheric pieces in these short works of fiction.  The dread and inner turmoil each character deals with through his or her journey comes right off the page, creating a believable look at love gone wrong.  It really is nothing short of amazing.

Chris May- Adult Services Manager

Join the discussion next Thursday for The Dog Stars!

Spice up your Thursday morning with a fun, energetic discussion of The Dog Stars by Peter Heller on November 7. The "Let's Talk" book club will meet at 10:30 a.m.  in the Junior Home room at T-SPL.

After the end of the world, all Hig wants to do is fish for trout. But the trout are all gone, along with much of the weaker flora and fauna of the world, including most of the humans. Hig now lives at an abandoned airport with his dog Jasper and another survivor named Bangley. One day Hig receives a radio transmission and flies to meet it in his plane. His destination is past the point of no return, so Hig must take a leap into the unknown to find what he is searching for.

To get your brain buzzing, here are a couple things to think about:

• The prose style of The Dog Stars is clipped, terse, often fragmented. Why would Heller choose this way of writing this particular story? In what ways is it fitting?
• What does the novel imply about human nature, after the constraints of civilization have been removed? What does it suggest about the possible consequences of the way we are living now?

Join us for light refreshments and fun discussion - we'd love to see you there!


Shannon Wood, Adult Services Librarian

Have You Missed Coffee By the Book?

Coffee By the Book, started last year as a joint venture between the Tiffin-Seneca Public Library and Bailiwicks Coffee Company, has been a rousing success throughout its first year of existence.  This is not your normal book group.  First, there's obviously coffee.  How can you go wrong there?  Second, the book selections may surprise you.  The focus is on debut novels, often quirky, that may have slipped under your radar.  Finally, there is the group itself.  We have a very good group who are energetic and love talking about books.

We discussed The Light Between Oceans by ML Stedman at our last meeting.  This heartbreaking novel follows a young man who becomes a lighthouse keeper on a small island off the coast of Australia.  He meets a young woman while on shore leave and they soon get married.  After several failed attempts at starting a family, they find a boat that has washed up on the island.  The boat contains a man who has passed away and a healthy baby. The decision they make ends up haunting them for a long time.

Our next meeting will be on Thursday, November 21 from 6:00 to 7:00 at Bailiwicks.  Herman Koch's The Dinner is our next book.  Koch looks at two brothers who share a dark family secret.  The entire story takes place during a single dinner which gets more and more hostile.  Our discussion should be interesting since the meeting is one week before Thanksgiving!  Copies of the book are now available at the Information Desk. 

Chris May- Adult Services Manager