What We're Reading
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
Woolbur by Leslie Helakoski, illustrated by Lee Harper
Meet Woolbur, a young sheep who doesn't follow the herd. Instead of conforming to everyday activities of the sheep around him, Woolbur happily runs with the sheep dogs, spins on the spinning wheel, and dyes his own wool. Woolbur's parents fuss and worry, wondering what to do with a sheep who looks and acts differently than all of his peers. But each time they confront Woolbur he says "Isn't it great?" until the day they tell him he has to change. What will Woolbur do now? The answer is a surprising and sweet testament to maintaining individuality and Harper's bold, detailed illustrations will keep you laughing all the way to the end. -- Sarah
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
We Are the Ship: The Story of Negro League Baseball written and illustrated by Kadir Nelson
This lavishly illustrated picture book is a treat for baseball fans of all ages. Nelson's oil paintings, at times breathtaking in scope (look for the four-page spread of two teams lining up before the first "Colored World Series") and full of the movement, intensity and depth of the sport and the men playing it, offers up a vivid portrayal of a history many readers may be unfamiliar with. Using an unidentified voice, an "everyman" to tell the story, Nelson conveys intriguing details (did you know that the Negro Leagues were the first of any baseball league to play a nighttime game with stadium lighting?) and all the excitement of hot summer days spent watching greats like Satchel Paige and Josh Gibson playing ball. The evenly balanced text illuminates the difficulties of playing baseball in the dangerous, often violent climate of segregation while highlighting the achievements of some of the greatest baseball players to grace any league. -- Sarah
