Five More to Watch by Scott

My favorite part of being a librarian is the books.  To me, there is nothing better than a new book arriving in the mail.  I have the good fortune of getting to read some books before their release dates.  Here are five books coming up that I have really enjoyed and that the library should be getting in soon:

Turn of Mind by Alice LaPlante (July 5)—This is a stunning debut that will delight both thriller and more literary fans.  The book is narrated by former orthopedic surgeon Jennifer White.  Jennifer is in the grip of Alzheimer’s disease and the narration pivots on how well a day she is having.  What adds suspense to the plot is that she is also suspected of murdering her best friend. 

Iron House by John Hart (July 12)—This is Hart’s fourth novel.  His first three were all New York Times Bestsellers and two of them won the Edgar Award for best mystery.  He very well might be cementing his place at the top of the mystery genre with this one, a tale of two orphaned brothers who take very different paths in life.

I’m Feeling Lucky: The Confessions of Google Employee Number 59 by Douglas Edwards (July 12-will be ordered in late July)—Edwards was the 59^th employee hired by Google.  He was there for virtually all of their early days as they scrambled for Internet supremacy even when it was not all that apparent what it was that they offered or how they would generate revenue.  This book abounds with humorous and insight anecdotes.

The Devil All the Time by Donald Ray Pollock (July 12-will be ordered in late July)—This book is not for the faint of heart.  It is a stark and brutal Southern Gothic that invokes the spirit of Flannery O’Connor.  All of the characters in this tale of poverty, religious extremism and revenge are deeply flawed and scarred.  However, each and every one of them is compelling and complex.  This is a must read if you don’t need your endings tied up in a neat little bow.

Cain by Jose Saramago (October 4-six of this Nobel prize winning author's books are now available in the library)— This is Saramago's final novel, releasing in October. Cain is a novelization of the story of Cain, slayer of Abel and the first biblical criminal. Well, the first along with God in Saramago's telling. After a tense stand-off where God and Cain exchange accusations they reach somewhat of a detente. Cain is forced to wander but it is not merely a nomadic existence. Instead, he moves to different "presents" that just so happen to coincide with OT occurrences. What emerges is a scathing, unrelenting and brilliant look at a primitive picture of God as contained with the Hebrew Scriptures. Cain spares God no mercy for expecting more from his creation than He delivers himself. This is vintage Saramago replete with his trademark intelligence and wit. He will be sorely missed.