Well, we’re really in the thick of it now, and it’s starting to get HOT! To beat the heat, I drink plenty of fluids and hole up in the office to do some “research” on the newest books we have in the store. As I’ve been making my way through the pile, a few have really stood out. I wanted to share with you my top three books of the summer. Likewise, leave a comment and let me know what you have been digging on this season.
Super Sad True Love Story by Gary Shteyngart No false advertising here. At the soul of this book is an incredibly heartbreaking love story. Super Sad is set in a dystopian near-future where your credit score defines you and reading has become passe. Our protagonist Lenny Abramov works to provide immortality for the super-rich while pining for a young, retail-obsessed Eunice Park. Can Lenny’s love overcome generational boundaries (not to mention the complete collapse of the USA)? This book depresses in a way that only the best literature can.
Citrus County by John Brandon An existential noir anti-thriller set in the swamplands. I always know that anything printed by McSweeney’s is going to be quality, that said, they definitely have a type. The best way to put it is, almost all their books contain characters that do weird things for weird reasons. Such is the case in Citrus County, where Mr.Hibma – a jaded middle school teacher- silently wages war against the school that employs him. In a strange mix of demented fantasy and performance art, he plans the murder of a fellow teacher.
Toby, a troublemaker in Mr. Hibma’s class, lives in the woods with limited supervision from his uncle (who’s favorite hobby is cooking up hemlock in a small shed). Shelby, a precocious new student, just wants a way out. Mistakes are made, then things get weird. This book is like black licorice – not everybody likes it, but those that do will really like it.
The Lost Cyclist by David V. Herlihy Sometimes the strangest stories are the true ones. David Herlihy was here last month, and his presention really bowled me over. With an amazing collection of original pictures and letters, Herlihy documents the attempted round-the-world bicycle journey of Frank Lenz, a young adventurer and bike enthusiast at the end of the 19th century. Frank attempted to traverse the globe on his safety-bike (prototype of the modern bicycle) in 1892. Somewhere in Turkey things went wrong. Herlihy then follows a fellow cyclist from Outside magazine who attempts to solve the case. This book is an amazing glimpse into the past, from a time when the world seemed to be far more exotic and mysterious than it is now.
BookPeople 
Citrus County sounds great!
Thanks,
Helen Ellis