What We're Reading
All the Sad Young Literary Men by Keith Gessen
Gessen, the co-founder of lit mag n+1, has delivered a funny, smart biting satire of generational malaise as his debut. Mark, Sam and Keith are all (relatively) young, smart, and anxiety stricken about the world, politics, and history, but mostly about girls. Gessen captures the mood of the 1990s and our current decade in the misadventures of his characters, one of whom shares the author's name and bio. –Drew
A Day at the Beach by Helen Schulman
Schulman's fourth novel is 9/11 lit on an intimate scale. It follows the Falktopf family of Gerhard, a celebrated choreographer, Suzannah, his wife and muse, and Nikolai, their autistic son, through the terrible 24 hours of what began as a beautiful late summer day. When the planes hit the towers Gerhard gathers his brood and they flee to an East Hampton beach house. Friends, strangers, and surprises from the past join them in exile, as Schulman depicts the sleepy Hamptons in shock, where the disaster seems to mean just an early closing time for the Barefoot
Contessa. But in Gerhard and Suzannah's reactions towards the tragedy and away from each other, Schulman draws a painfully disintegrating marriage between a couple who must choose, on September 12th, whether or not to rebuild. This is a heart-wrenching novel, beautifully written and emotionally precise. – Greg
Free Food for Millionaires by Min Jin Lee combines all the right stuff for a great summer read: rich folks, extravagant weddings, infidelity, and fancy hats. Make no mistake though, this is no breezy novel. It also involves more serious themes such as interracial dating, loneliness, sacrifice, and self-discovery. One of the most memorable scenes is when Korean American protagonist Casey Han shows up unannounced at her white boyfriend’s apartment. What ensues is a moment of pure comic poetry. I felt horrible, I cringed, but I laughed, all at the same time. Lee’s debut novel is smart, funny, and far reaching. –Sylvia
Memoirs of a Teenage Amnesiac by Gabrielle Zevin
Gabrielle Zevin explores the issues of teenage identity in this affecting young adult novel. After the enthralling main character, Naomi hits her head and loses her memory she must piece together parts of her past through what others tell her and is expected to continue with junior year as though nothing has changed. However, everything has changed and Naomi struggles with the pull of her former life including the boyfriend she can't remember, the separation of her parents, and her once closest friends. With wonderful characterization and insight into the teenage psyche Zevin creates a story that is both memorable and thought provoking. – Danielle
Two Bad Ants by Chris Van Allsburg
This lesser known Van Allsburg picture book details the adventures and secret lives of ants. On the hunt for a "marvelous crystal" that is deliciously sweet and satisfying, the ants must voyage across a yard filled with danger and into a very treacherous kitchen. Complete with wonderful illustrations and intriguing text, readers will experience an "ants-eye view" of the modern world and will root for the safe return of the brave ants to their very own home. - Danielle
Doctor Ted by Andrea Beaty and Pascal Lemaitre
When Ted fell out of bed one day and bumped his knee, he knew he needed a doctor. But he couldn’t find one anywhere. So he decided to become one, with his own office, stethoscope, and series of diagnoses. What else is a young bear to do? But not all of Doctor Ted’s involuntary patients appreciate his medical expertise (he says his mother’s freckles are measles and wants his Principal to get a shot for his bad breath). While the story line will entertain both children and parents, it is the bold, vibrant drawings that make the book a stand-out. With the foreshadowing of Ted becoming a firefighter in the next book, Beaty and Lemaitre’s series will surely be read to children for years to come.
--Rachel
The Almost Moon by Alice Sebold
Alice Sebold’s latest novel is the polar opposite to that of The Lovely Bones. If you enjoyed her style of writing and her intense portrayal of characters, you may also enjoy the book, but know that this is not a sequel to Lovely Bones. Sebold’s latest work commences with Helen, the novel’s narrator, declaring that she has killed her decrepit mother. Helen has been taking care of her ill mother for years, and after a particularly grueling day of hospice work, Helen decides that her mother (and herself) would be better off if the woman finally died. The bulk of the novel covers Helen’s next few days where she is liberated to go after everything (and everyone) that she has wanted, but was too inhibited to pursue. The Almost Moon’s subject matter is dark, and the images graphic. The main character is not repentant, either for killing her mother, or for the actions she commits afterwards. If a dark novel interests you, then this is certainly the one for you; if not, you may want to ask us for a different recommendation. -Rachel
The Book of Evidence by John Banville
Though recently receiving critical buzz for his pseudonymously produced crime fiction, the Irish author John Banville first made his name with cold, darkly disorienting novels like this 1989 Booker Prize Finalist. The story is presented in the form of the testimony of Freddie Montgomery, on trial for a murder he confesses plainly to having committed merely because he could. With clear nods to Camus and Nabokov, among others, Banville’s Freddie is a classically unreliable narrator whose very admissions may be slyly crafted defense. Freddie – or is it Banville – plays with morals, psychoanalysis and the notion of truth, seeding your doubts as he sweeps you along. This one’s a little heavy, but definitely worth the lifting. -- Greg
Twilight by Stephenie Meyer is the first in an addictive series originally geared towards young adults. However, after nonchalantly picking up my younger sister's copy from the coffee table, I found myself literally unable to stop reading Twilight. Bella, 17, is the new kid at her high school when she notices a small group of pale, exquisitely beautiful teens sitting together in the cafeteria. One in particular catches her eye. And so begins the forbidden love between Bella, a typical teenage girl and Edward, a cold-blooded but super hot vampire. Bella's life is threatened when Edward's enemy finds out about Edward's love for a mere mortal. To what lengths will Edward and his vampire family go in order to save Bella? Read the book before you see the movie, which comes out in December 2008. - Sylvia
The Emperor of Ocean Park by Stephen L. Carter
A rich, sprawling book that feels too short, The Emperor of Ocean Park by Stephen L. Carter is immediately engaging and intriguing. Talcott Garland, an African American law professor at an Ivy League university suddenly finds himself fatherless when Judge Oliver Garland, a formerly esteemed Supreme Court candidate, is found dead. Everyone assumes it is a natural death, but it is Talcott's eccentric sister who brings it to his attention that their father may have been murdered, and this suspicion is confirmed when Talcott receives a post-mortem message from the Judge. As Talcott pursues the possible meanings of the encrypted message, his personal life becomes entangled and endangered. His relationship with his beautiful wife becomes strained, his relationship with his students suffers as he has an inappropriate outburst in class, and his relationship to his peers disintegrates as they come to believe Talcott is going crazy. Still, he must decipher the message and forges on. If you like this book, you can move on to New England White, which features some of the same characters from this novel. - Sylvia
Yiddish Policemen's Union by Michael Chabon
This might be my favorite Chabon novel yet. The book's premise has a Jewish state created in 1948 in Alaska, rather than the Middle East, and Chabon's depiction of this place is the novel's real star. The Federal District of Sitka, meant as a temporary haven, is approaching its 60th anniversary, and the land will soon revert to Alaskan hands. This impending tumult is the background for a classic murder mystery noir, as Detective Meyer Landsman and his partner/brother are in a race to crack a case before their jurisdiction expires. The whole effect is like Raymond Chandler staging Fiddler on the Roof within an episode of Northern Exposure. -- Greg
Then We Came to the End by Joshua Ferris
Ferris' debut novel is a hilarious send-up of office politics in a Chicago ad agency that is slowly going under. As they are laid off (or in their words "walk Spanish") one by one, tensions grow. Memorable characters abound, and the deadpan narration is pitched perfect for the wacky antics of the workers. Ferris shows great range in his writing, and lovers of comic novels should eagerly be awaiting his follow up. -Drew
Little Hoot by Amy Krouse Rosenthal, illustrated by Jen Corace
All Little Hoot wants is to go to bed at a normal hour the way his friends do. But Mama and Papa have other ideas: in order to one day become a wise owl, Little Hoot has to learn to act like one and staying up late. Rosenthal's clever text is perfectly paired with Corace's spare, humorous illustrations that capture Little Hoot as he tries many activities to wile away the hours before he can finally go to sleep. The smaller than average trim size for a picture book makes it perfect for the little hands of younger reader's who will delight in this funny take on the going to bed ritual.
--Sarah
Last Night at the Lobster by Stewart O'Nan
In this sweet novella, the manager of a New England Red Lobster ushers his staff through the restaurant's final day. O'Nan lovingly renders every step of the workday for this bunch without a hint of irony, judgment, or detachment. It's a gentle, respectful look at the quiet dignity of doing a job well, but O'Nan also knowingly presents all of the depth that can characterize the relations of co-workers. I want to read a book like this about every workplace I've ever known! - Greg
The Known World by Edward P. Jones
Acclaimed short story writer Jones' first (and Pulitzer Prize winning) novel looks at American slavery through the eyes of various characters in fictional 19th century Manchester County, VA: slaves, free black men and women, black slave owners, powerful white plantation owners, poor whites and everyone in between. The rich historical detail and breadth of characters coupled with Jones' beautiful prose is revelatory. The ending is a moving account of the possibilities of compassion and the human condition, without side-stepping the intense grip social norms have on keeping oppressive systems in place. - Drew
Digging to America by Anne Tyler tells the tale of two different families who are bound together through two adoptions of girls from Korea. The two families form a strong friendship that lasts throughout the girls' lives, despite their differences in race, religion, class, and ways of raising their children.?A quick but fascinating read, Digging to America allows us to question our own beliefs over identity, child-raising, and family.
--Rachel
Clarice Bean, Don’t Look Now by Lauren
Child
Clarice Bean has been in trouble, has had to share a room with an annoying
younger brother and has always been the careful and quiet observer in
her joyfully chaotic and sometimes wacky family. In Lauren Child’s
newest Clarice Bean novel, Clarice Bean, Don’t Look Now her endearing
and quirky heroine is filled with worry. With Clarice’s copy of “The
Ruby Redfort Survival Handbook” she hopes to escape all kinds
of stick situations like “how to find a morsel to eat when you
are in the middle of a barrenish desert” or “how to know
things without knowing things.” However, her latest fears are
more concerned with real life worries like worry number 15: “People
behaving not like themselves” and especially worry number 3: “Change
and how it sometimes comes along when you least expect it.”
Each chapter is cleverly titled and dedicated to one or two of Clarice’s
worries (labeled and numbered, of course) as well as a particularly insightfully
and humorous Ruby Redfort excerpt. The text in conjunction with the unique
design and typography on each page provides a fun experience for any reader
following Clarice Bean’s mishaps and revelations.
--Danielle
A Person of Interest by Susan Choi
I could not put this book down. The action starts when a bomb explodes in the office next door to that of Dr. Lee, an aging, Asian-born math professor who finds himself becoming a "person of interest" to the investigation. The events cause Lee- and Choi- to reflect back on his life, and the memories are drawn so perfectly that you feel an intimate connection to this lonely, imperfect man. Choi has managed to write a book this is both meditative and suspenseful at the same time. A great read.
--Greg
