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| All Grown Up by Jami AttenbergAndrea Bern is about to turn 40 -- and though she's got a good-enough career in advertising, she's convinced that everyone else is doing a better job at being an adult than she is. Or, at least, she's convinced that by not having the husband and the baby that provide benchmarks for adulthood (neither of which she really wants), others don't see her as properly grown up. "Deeply perceptive and dryly hilarious" (Kirkus Reviews), this novel of a woman's desire to find meaning in life is told in a series of raw and honest vignettes. Fans of stories that take place in New York City will also appreciate the dynamic setting. |
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| The River of Kingsby Taylor BrownIn this powerful, character-driven narrative, two brothers (one a college student, the other a Navy SEAL), are kayaking down the wild Altamaha River, also known as Georgia's "Little Amazon," in order to scatter their father's ashes at sea. In addition to enduring threats from wild animals and dangerous men living along the river, the brothers question whether their father's death was accidental. Scenes from his own hard life appear within the novel, as do episodes set in 1564, when the first French settlers clashed with Native Americans in the area. The three eras -- and their sometimes deadly adventures -- provide vivid imagery of the river, creating a sort of tribute to the waterway. |
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| Exit Westby Mohsin HamidBestselling author Mohsin Hamid has been a finalist for the PEN/Hemingway Award (Moth Smoke) and short-listed for the Man Booker Prize (The Reluctant Fundamentalist); we're curious to see where this incredibly timely fourth novel will go. Set in an unnamed country torn apart by violence and repression, it follows two young lovers: independent Nadia, and quiet Saeed, who keep their heads down until the day comes that they must flee for their own safety. For the right price, they are allowed access to portals that lead them to a crowded refugee camp, a cramped London apartment, and a home in California. It's an interesting take on migration (instantaneous!) that those curious about the subject may enjoy exploring. |
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| Edgar & Lucy by Victor LodatoEdgar's father died when he was a baby. Since then Edgar, now eight, has been living with his grandmother and his self-destructive mother. It's not the happiest of situations (the two women fight a lot), but it gets worse when his grandmother (and primary caregiver) dies. Saying much more than that may spoil the plot for some readers; you should know that this two-hankie book is mostly a story of loss, grief, love, and maybe a bit of madness. Engaging, realistic characters populate the dark and emotional tale, told primarily from Edgar's insightful and unusual viewpoint. |
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All Our Wrong Todaysby Elan MastaiTom Barren lives in a world where clothes are recycled and refashioned onto your body each day, you yourself are micro-steam-cleaned as you sleep, driverless flying cars are the norm, and avocados are always perfect. It's 2016, and war is nonexistent, thanks to an unlimited power source created in 1965. But that all changes when Tom, a total underachiever, accidentally erases that picture-perfect version of reality in one very stupid, grief-fueled time-travel mishap that lands him in our less-than-ideal 2016, where he discovers an unexpected and wonderful version of his own life at the expense of the utopia he destroyed. A clever, witty take on time travel, this enjoyable debut sparkles with pop culture references and is more about love than science.
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The Woman Next Door by Yewande Omotoso Hortensia James and Marion Agostino are neighbors. One is black, the other white. Both are successful women with impressive careers. Both have recently been widowed, and are living with questions, disappointments, and secrets that have brought them shame. And each has something that the woman next door deeply desires. Sworn enemies, the two share a hedge and a deliberate hostility, which they maintain with a zeal that belies their age. But, one day, an unexpected event forces Hortensia and Marion together. As the physical barriers between them collapse, their bickering gradually softens into conversation and, gradually, the two discover common ground. But are these sparks of connection enough to ignite a friendship, or is it too late to expect these women to change?
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Francesca Stubbs has an extremely full life. A highly regarded expert on housing for the elderly who is herself getting on in age, she drives “restlessly round England.” Fran cannot help but think of her mortality, but she is “not ready to settle yet, with a cat upon her knee.” She still prizes her “frisson of autonomy,” her belief in herself as a dynamic individual doing meaningful work in the world. The Dark Flood Rises moves between Fran’s interconnected group of family and friends in England and a seemingly idyllic expat community in the Canary Islands. In both places, disaster looms. In Britain, the flood tides are rising, and in the Canaries, there is always the potential for a seismic event. As well, migrants are fleeing an increasingly war-torn Middle East. Though The Dark Flood Rises delivers the pleasures of a traditional novel, it is clearly situated in the precarious present. Margaret Drabble’s latest enthralls, entertains, and asks existential questions in equal measure.
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| Orhan's Inheritanceby Aline OhanesianDepicting a Turkish family caught up in the legacy of the Armenian genocide, this reflective novel follows Orhan, who has inherited the family's kilim rug dynasty in place of his father (breaking with tradition as well as with Turkish inheritance laws). Another surprise in his grandfather's will: the family home has been left to an unfamiliar Armenian woman living in an American nursing home. Orhan has been tasked with convincing her (and her son) to sign the house over, but Orhan is more interested in figuring out her connection to his grandfather. What he learns opens his eyes to some dark and terrible truths; while parts of the story set in 1915 are brutal, the novel ends with "a tenuous sense of hope" (Kirkus Reviews). |
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| Island Girlsby Nancy ThayerThe will of recently deceased ladies' man Rory Randall explicitly states that his fancy Nantucket house should go to his three daughters (all from different marriages) as long as they all live in it together for one full summer. Though they spent some time together as kids, they haven't seen each other in years thanks to long-standing resentments and misunderstandings. Unsurprisingly, the summer gets off to a rocky start, made worse when their mothers arrive to complicate things. However, the beautiful Nantucket setting and the eventual happy ending make this a great choice for a beach read -- or just an escapist few hours on your couch. |
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| That Summer by Lauren WilligStill reeling from the loss of her job as a stockbroker, Julia finds the perfect escape -- the unexpected inheritance of a house in London. There, she discovers a painting depicting legendary doomed lovers Tristan and Isolde. Meanwhile, in a parallel narrative set in the 1840s, beautiful and intelligent heiress Imogene Hadley is imprisoned in an unhappy marriage to an aristocrat who treats his wife more like a possession than a partner. As Julia works with an antiques dealer to discover the origins of the painting, she unearths the heiress' history...and that of the portrait painter commissioned to capture Imogene's likeness but destined to steal her heart. An artful combination of mystery, multi-generational family drama, star-crossed romance, and tragedy make That Summer a compelling reading experience. |
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Friday, April 27 Foods and Flavors of Thailand 6:30 p.m. Local resident and food professional Jennifer Diamond will demonstrate cooking with the spices and flavors of Thailand. A special tasting will be part of the event. Friday, April 28 Additions and Alterations to Historic Homes 7:00 p.m. Architect Eric Holterman discusses renovations to older homes. Saturday, April 29 Stamp Roadshow 10:30 a.m. The Hamilton Township Philatelic Society will be on hand to evaluate the worth of your stamp collection! They'll also give pointers to the novice collector. Saturday, May 6 Used Book Collection 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Donate your gently used books.
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Saturday, May 6 Ask the Real Estate Lady 10:00 a.m. Susan Patterson leads a conversation with buyers and sellers about the contract process. Thursday, May 11 Using the Cloud 1:00 p.m. What is the Cloud and what does it have to do with me? We'll teach you ways to upload files, documents, and photos to the Cloud so you can access them from any device. Friday, May 12 On a Roll: Sushi Making with Sofia Milner 7:00 p.m. Come learn the basics of sushi making. Saturday, May 20 Healthy Habits for a Healthy You 10:30 p.m. Learn techniques to prevent Alzheimer's disease. Friday, June 2 The Vinyl Dialogues with Mike Morsch 6:30 p.m.
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Cranbury Public Library
23 North Main Street ~
Cranbury, NJ 08512 ~ Phone: 609-655-0555 ~ Contact Us
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