Mastics-Moriches-Shirley Community Library Reader Advisory Blog: Chilling New Novel from John Lundqvist

Though probably best know for his debut, Let the Right One In, John Ajvide Lundqvist is an accomplished horror writer whom many consider to be the next Stephen King. Little Star is Lundqvist's fourth novel and his first foray into non supernatural horror. After rescuing and raising an abandoned baby he found in the woods, a man enters the child into a singing competition when she develops an astonishing singing voice. Her performance causes the girl to encounter another youngster with whom she triggers a horrifying force. Fans of Lundqvist and of horror in general will enjoy this chilling read from the new master of horror.

Being Mortal by Atul Gawande

Genre: Adult Non-Fiction
Rating: 5 out of 5

"Being Mortal is about the limitations of what modern medicine can provide for people as their lives draw to a close. Gawande argues that the objective of medicine should not merely be treatment and survival; medical care should also ensure dignity in death and having control over one's final moments. He argues that instead of aggressively fighting the inescapable realities of aging, we should ask the hard questions of ourselves and our loved ones -- What makes life worth living? When should we try to extend our lives, and when should we choose a better quality of our remaining days over extending their quantity?

This book is difficult to read. Not because of the way Gawande writes -- his style is highly engaging, and he never lapses into excessively scientific jargon or overly simplistic explanations -- but because of the tough subject matter. Gawande draws on his own experiences as a doctor and peppers his book with honest and humane stories of his patients, friends, and family; the stories he tells make the book more accessible, and also more heartbreaking. (And that's not a bad thing.)

No one likes to think about their loved ones', or their own, impending mortality. But it's important to have these hard conversations, because as Gawande says, "endings matter." - Amanda

Chilling New Novel from John Lundqvist

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