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Fiction A to ZFebruary 2015
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"Otto, I've gone. I've never seen the water, so I've gone there. Don't worry, I've left you the truck. I can walk. I will try to remember to come back. Yours (always), Etta." ~ from Emma Hooper's Etta and Otto and Russell and James
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New and Recently Released!
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| Uncle Janice: A Novel by Matt BurgessJanice Itwaru has been an "uncle" -- or an undercover narcotics officer -- in Queens for the last 17 months, and she's just shy of a promotion when her supervisor ups her quota. Under incredible pressure to perform, she makes a decision that affects her relationship with her partner. Meanwhile, she's been asked to inform on her sergeant, and her mother's health is deteriorating daily. Veering from harrowing to darkly humorous, this character-driven story is not a conventional crime novel; rather, it evokes the complex, multicultural nature of modern-day Queens and offers a nuanced headliner in the half-black, half-Indian female police officer. |
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| Sweetland: A Novel by Michael CrummeyOff the coast of Newfoundland lies the island of Sweetland, settled long ago by a family of the same name. There aren't many citizens on the tiny island, and there's soon to be none, as the Canadian government is offering a resettlement package -- but only if everyone leaves. Sixty-nine-year-old Moses Sweetland, however, is refusing to move; he can't imagine living anywhere other than the rugged island that bears his family's name. Stubborn, sarcastic, and curmudgeonly, Moses resists even the physical threats that come his way; Library Journal recommends his story to fans of Jon Hassler and Kent Haruf. |
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| Etta and Otto and Russell and James by Emma HooperAt 83 years old, Etta Vogel has never seen the ocean. So, despite the fact that her Saskatchewan farm stands closer to the western coast, she heads east -- for more than 3,000 kilometers (about 1,800 miles), alone and on foot. Her husband Otto waits for her return, distracting himself by learning how to bake; his best friend Russell, a lifelong bachelor, takes off in search of her. The three have known each other since childhood; the history of their relationships is told alongside Otto's experiences during World War II and Etta's current cross-country journey. Elements of magical realism meld seamlessly with crisp prose in this debut novel, which "reveals the extraordinary lengths to which people will go in the name of love" (Publishers Weekly). |
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| The First Bad Man by Miranda JulyRidden with anxiety and neuroses, Cheryl Glickman is both reclusive and tightly wound, burdened with a permanent lump in her throat, the inability to cry, and the belief that the soul of a baby she met as a child visits her in the babies of strangers. Her lonely, ordered life is thrown into utter chaos when she agrees to let her bosses' rude, aggressive teenage daughter live with her for a while. Clee's arrival prompts weird fantasies, strange therapies, and obsessive fixations on Cheryl's part, not all necessarily for the worse. "Strange and beautiful" (Publishers Weekly), this first novel is as unconventional as director and performance artist Miranda July's other work (such as the film Me and You and Everyone We Know). |
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| Get Lucky: A Novel by Katherine CenterWhether her subconscious made her do it or not, 30-year-old advertising exec Sarah Harper sent an inappropriate email to every single person in her company -- and has been fired for it. Well, she'd wanted to spend more time with her sister in Houston, anyway, though on the bumpy flight from NYC she makes things worse by alienating a handsome ex-boyfriend. And things with her sister don't go all that well either, especially after she decides to be a surrogate for her. But despite all the things that Sarah doesn't have going for her, this tale of growth and self-discovery is a "cheering read" (Booklist) perfect for fans of Jennifer Weiner or Emily Giffin; the author's newest, Happiness for Beginners, will be available in late March. |
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| With a Little Luck: A Novel by Caprice CraneClassic rock DJ Berry Lambert is highly superstitious: umbrellas opened indoors invariably bring bad luck, black cats foretell doom, and three bad boyfriends always come before a good one. So when, after the wreckage of two relationships, she's set up with a fellow on-air personality, she expects it to quickly head south, freeing her to move on to finding her soulmate. Imagine her surprise (dismay?) when she turns out to have quite a lot of chemistry with relationship advisor Ryan Riley. But the course of true love never did run smooth; find out how the quirky Berry handles it all in this lighthearted, comical novel, which is sure to appeal to fans of chick lit. |
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| The Good Luck Girls of Shipwreck Lane by Kelly HarmsJanine Brown of Cedar Falls, Iowa, has just been announced as the winner of a dream home in Maine, which is great news for her -- or them, as it turns out. Yep, there are two Janine Browns, and while the sweepstakes organizers figure out how to handle it, Janey Brown and Nean Brown (two very different people) head to Maine, where they discover that their differences might make for a very strong bond -- well, once they get past their mutual antipathy. Both women (and Janey's spirited great aunt Midge) are wonderfully distinct characters you'll root for. |
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| The Lucky Dog Matchmaking Service by Beth KendrickRetreating to her mother's gated community after a difficult breakup, dog rescuer, trainer, and matchmaker Lara Madigan has always been drawn to imperfection -- that's why she's so fond of her rescues. Her mom, on the other hand, has always been hard to please. But when Lara is overwhelmed by demands for her services from her mother's wealthy neighbors, things start to look up for their relationship, for the dogs, and for Lara herself. In addition to charming canines, this quick-witted novel offers multi-dimensional characters and a bit of romance. Author Beth Kendrick's newest book, New Uses for Old Boyfriends, publishes this month. |
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| The Good Luck of Right Now: A Novel by Matthew QuickIn this whimsical, offbeat novel, 38-year-old Bartholomew Neil has just lost his mother to old age and dementia. He can barely deal with his grief, and after the discovery of a form letter from Richard Gere, whom his mother greatly admired, he begins a one-sided correspondence with the actor. Chance meetings through grief counseling lead to an unforgettable road trip to Canada with some oddball misfits, changing Bartholomew's life forever. Best known for his debut novel, The Silver Linings Playbook, Matthew Quick is publishing his third book for adults, Love May Fail, in June. |
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| Some Luck by Jane SmileyIn this series opener, Pulitzer Prize-winning author Jane Smiley returns to the Iowa farmlands last seen in the novel One Thousand Acres. Beginning in 1920, the story follows Walter and Rosanna Langdon and their six children as they weather the Great Depression, World War II, and the post-war economic boom. As the passing decades bring joy and sorrow, opportunity and disappointment, good luck and bad, each member of this close-knit clan must make his or her way in a rapidly changing 20th-century America. The much-anticipated 2nd book in the trilogy, Early Warning, will be published in April. |
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Read Along with Us! Book Clubs @ HPL
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Literary and Classics Book Club
Monday, February 16, 6:30 pm
Heights Neighborhood Library, Meeting Room
Join us for a discussion by a contemporary master. This month's selection is Peter Pan by J. M. Barrie.
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Collier Book Club
Thursday, February 19, 1:00 pm
Collier Regional Library, Meeting Room
Join us for a lively book discussion. This month's selection is The Twelve Tribes of Hattie by Ayana Mathis.
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Meyer Book Club
Thursday, February 19, 1:00 pm
Meyer Neighborhood Library
Join us for a lively book discussion. This month's selection is Murder as a Fine Art by David Morrell.
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Looscan Book Club
Thursday, February 19, 2:00 pm
Looscan Neighborhood Library, Conference Room
Join in a lively discussion. This month's selection is The Light Between Oceans by M.L. Stedman.
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Not Your Mama's Book Club
Thursday, February 19, 6:00 pm
Bracewell Neighborhood Library, Conference Room
Join in a lively discussion. This month's selection is The Casual Vacancy by J. K. Rowling.
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Mystery on the Boulevard
Saturday, February 21, 2:00 pm
Heights Neighborhood Library, Meeting Room
Discuss a mystery with other mystery readers. This month's selection is Alex by Pierre Lemaitre.
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Kendall Book Club
Tuesday, February 24, 1:00 pm
Kendall Neighborhood Library, 1st Floor Meeting Room
Do you enjoy reading and discussing book? Join the discussion of The Girl You Left Behind by JoJo Moyes.
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Heights Library Readers Group
Monday, March 2, 6:15 pm
Heights Neighborhood Library, Meeting Room
Join us for a book discussion of A Tale for the Time Being by Ruth Ozeki preceded by a light buffet dinner.
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Roaring 20s/30s Book Club
Wednesday, March 4, 6:30 pm
Heights Neighborhood Library, Meeting Room
A book club with reading selections geared for young adults, ages 25 to 35. This month's selection: The Good Lord Bird by James McBride.
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Mystery Book Club
Thursday, February 5, 1:00 pm
Kendall Neighborhood Library, 1st Floor Meeting Room
Do you enjoy reading and discussing books? Join us for a lively discussion with the Kendall Mystery Book Club, celebrating 15 years of reading and talking about books. This Month: After I'm Gone by Laura Lippman.
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Classic Literature Book Club
Tuesday, March 10, 12:00 pm
Central Library, Room 479
Do your reading tendencies lean toward the classics? If you enjoy reading and discussing classic literature, please join us. This month's selection is Collected Stories by Gabriel Garcia Marquez.
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Ring Mystery Book Club
Thursday, March 12, 1:00 PM
Ring Neighborhood Library, Meeting Room
Join us for a lively book discussion. This month's selection is Sight Unseen by Iris Johansen.
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Contact your librarian for more great books!
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