The global market collapses just as "The Nature Cruise of the Century" is set to launch. The few registrants who do make it onto the ship end up being the last humans on Earth.
He says:
Galápagos is a delightful dystopian tale. Vonnegut's dry and dark humor shines over the course of the book as you wonder what's going to happen to the "fortunate" survivors of a doomed earth. Vonnegut asks the reader if our evolved superior intellect is actually beneficial to our survival.
Adult Reads
Galápagos by Kurt Vonnegut
Recommended by Nick in Adult Services:
The global market collapses just as "The Nature Cruise of the Century" is set to launch. The few registrants who do make it onto the ship end up being the last humans on Earth.
He says:
Galápagos is a delightful dystopian tale. Vonnegut's dry and dark humor shines over the course of the book as you wonder what's going to happen to the "fortunate" survivors of a doomed earth. Vonnegut asks the reader if our evolved superior intellect is actually beneficial to our survival.
The global market collapses just as "The Nature Cruise of the Century" is set to launch. The few registrants who do make it onto the ship end up being the last humans on Earth.
He says:
Galápagos is a delightful dystopian tale. Vonnegut's dry and dark humor shines over the course of the book as you wonder what's going to happen to the "fortunate" survivors of a doomed earth. Vonnegut asks the reader if our evolved superior intellect is actually beneficial to our survival.
The End of Your Life Book Club by Will Schwalbe
Recommended by adult services librarian, Soon Har:
When book publisher and editor Will Schwalbe’s mother Mary Anne was diagnosed with advanced pancreatic cancer, they started to spend a lot of time together but found it hard to talk about important end-of-life issues. Inspired by their deep love of books and reading, they started a mother-and-son “book club” which became the perfect vehicle for having meaningful and heartfelt conversations.
She says:
For a book editor, I don’t think Schwalbe is that good a writer as he spends more time than I would have liked talking about himself. But the book is worth reading for the inspirational story of how his mother handles her own diagnosis, and for the discussion of good books, many of which will be familiar to avid readers.
When book publisher and editor Will Schwalbe’s mother Mary Anne was diagnosed with advanced pancreatic cancer, they started to spend a lot of time together but found it hard to talk about important end-of-life issues. Inspired by their deep love of books and reading, they started a mother-and-son “book club” which became the perfect vehicle for having meaningful and heartfelt conversations.
She says:
For a book editor, I don’t think Schwalbe is that good a writer as he spends more time than I would have liked talking about himself. But the book is worth reading for the inspirational story of how his mother handles her own diagnosis, and for the discussion of good books, many of which will be familiar to avid readers.
Dog Days: A Year in the Oscar Mayer Wienermobile by David Ihlenfeld
Recommended by Jeff in Adult Services:
Like many people after graduating from college, Dave Ihlenfeld had no idea what he was going to do for the summer, much less the rest of his life. A Naperville native, Dave graduated from the University of Missouri’s journalism school and applied to become a “Hotdogger” driving a “Weinermobile” for Oscar Mayer.
He says:
I remember seeing the Weinermobile as a kid and just last year saw one with my daughter at a suburban event, so I was interested to read about someone who actually drove one. This is a fun, quick read that includes chapters about the history of Oscar Mayer and the Weinermobile program, as well as the year the author spent driving around the U.S. and even Europe in a 27-foot long hot dog.
Like many people after graduating from college, Dave Ihlenfeld had no idea what he was going to do for the summer, much less the rest of his life. A Naperville native, Dave graduated from the University of Missouri’s journalism school and applied to become a “Hotdogger” driving a “Weinermobile” for Oscar Mayer.
He says:
I remember seeing the Weinermobile as a kid and just last year saw one with my daughter at a suburban event, so I was interested to read about someone who actually drove one. This is a fun, quick read that includes chapters about the history of Oscar Mayer and the Weinermobile program, as well as the year the author spent driving around the U.S. and even Europe in a 27-foot long hot dog.
The Most Dangerous Thing by Laura Lippman
Recommended by Colleen in adult services:
This is a story of five childhood friends who share a secret that changed all their lives and ended their friendship. Now twenty years have passed and one member of the group is dead. As the four come back together, a lot of old hurts and secrets are still shaping each person’s actions.
She Says:
As a fan of Laura Lippman’s Tess Monaghan series, I was interested in reading something different by an author I like. While this book is well-written and does a great job of conveying the feelings of both the children and the parents and the time period in which it takes place, I never felt connected to the “secret” that the five kids shared. I felt that the author threw in the secret (which was pretty easy to see through) just to give the book some suspense when she could have just let the kid/adult story stand on its own.
This is a story of five childhood friends who share a secret that changed all their lives and ended their friendship. Now twenty years have passed and one member of the group is dead. As the four come back together, a lot of old hurts and secrets are still shaping each person’s actions.
She Says:
As a fan of Laura Lippman’s Tess Monaghan series, I was interested in reading something different by an author I like. While this book is well-written and does a great job of conveying the feelings of both the children and the parents and the time period in which it takes place, I never felt connected to the “secret” that the five kids shared. I felt that the author threw in the secret (which was pretty easy to see through) just to give the book some suspense when she could have just let the kid/adult story stand on its own.
Beautiful Ruins by Jess Walter
Recommended by Colleen in adult services:
Starting in 1962 Italy and continuing to modern-day Los Angeles, this
novel follows the lives of a young Italian innkeeper and a young American actress as they try to figure out how best to deal with the circumstances of their lives.
She Says:
I enjoyed this book immensely. The interweaving of the main characters
and all the lives they touched along the way was so well written, with just enough humor to make everyone real. If you like a novel that really wraps it all up and leaves no strings dangling at the end, you’ll enjoy Beautiful Ruins.
Starting in 1962 Italy and continuing to modern-day Los Angeles, this
novel follows the lives of a young Italian innkeeper and a young American actress as they try to figure out how best to deal with the circumstances of their lives.
She Says:
I enjoyed this book immensely. The interweaving of the main characters
and all the lives they touched along the way was so well written, with just enough humor to make everyone real. If you like a novel that really wraps it all up and leaves no strings dangling at the end, you’ll enjoy Beautiful Ruins.
