In the News...

Strangers at the Feast
by Jennifer Vanderbes

The author, who garnered critical acclaim for her first novel, Easter Island, released this, her sophomore effort, in 2010. The story eerily forshadows the Trayvon Martin shooting. Although it takes place during Thanksgiving 2007, as the country teeters on the brink of recession, it is riveting and timely.

As three generations of the Olsen family gather to celebrate the holiday, two African-American teens from a nearby housing project embark on a mysterious job. The worlds of these two very distinct groups collide, culminating in a horrific crime. Vanderbes does an excellent job allowing the tension to build. However, the climatic moments seem rushed. Still, she is a novelist worth reading. This is truly a story "ripped from the headlines..."

Book Discussion

The Glass Castle

by Jeannette Walls

Saturday, March 24

11:00 a.m.

This thought-provoking memoir is as gripping as it is uplifting. As children, the author and her siblings fended for themselves, eating out of trash cans and living by their wits, while their parents inhabited a bizarre dreamworld. Yet Walls presents a unique and sometimes upbeat portrait of her life with them. There's lots to talk about in this thoroughly American chronicle.

All are welcome to register for the discussion at the Reference Desk. Cardholders may pick up a copy of the book here.