Mastics-Moriches-Shirley Community Library Reader Advisory Blog

NYPL Young Lions Finalists Announced

Five young writers have been chosen as finalists for The New York Public Library’s 2011 Young Lions Fiction Award, an annual award given to a writer age 35 or younger for publishing a memorable novel or short story collection. The winning writer will be awarded a $10,000 prize on May 9 at a ceremony hosted by actor Ethan Hawke in New York City. Click here to read the full press release from the New York Public Library; click the book covers for a description of each and to reserve your copy from your Community Library.

German Book Office Announces Book of the Month

Congratulations to German-born New Yorker Thomas Pletzinger, whose new book Funeral for a Dog has been selected "Book of the Month" by the German Book Office. This debut novel tells the story of tells of a journalist on assignment to interview a reclusive children's author; the journalist is plunged into mysteries both past and present upon discovering a manuscript about a complicated ménage à trois. This book, originally published in German and now available in English translation, is also the winner of the prestigious Uwe-Johnson Prize. Know of any great literature in translation? Please leave your suggestions as comments.

Worst Case by James Patterson: Reader Review

Worst Case by James Patterson

Rating: 5 out of 5 (excellent)

Review: I listen to many of his books because they keep you on the edge of your seat. In Worst Case, an intelligent, meticulous, educated individual kidnaps young, wealthy kids and proceeds to ask them specific questions about world events. If they answer all of the questions correctly, they are let go - if not, you'll have to read the book to find out. The detectives are always one step behind. Short, edgy read - you have no choice but to continue turning the pages.

Reviewed by: e l

Killer Mysteries & Thrillers of 2011 from Kirkus

Have you ever read a book jacket that bragged about having received a starred review in Kirkus? Kirkus Reviews gives some suggestions for new killer mysteries & thrillers; here are five of them available at your community library. Click the book jackets to learn more about each and to reserve your copy!

Just Released: The Land of Painted Caves by Jean M. Auel

The Land of Painted Caves, the sixth book in the Earth's Children series has just been released. The series has a dedicated base of fans who have waited patiently for each new installment ever since the publication of the first book, the Clan of the Cave Bear, over 30 years ago. The books follow a Cro-Magnon girl named Ayla who is adopted by Neaderthals and struggles to fit in with her new society as well as the prehistoric wilds around her. Need a refresher before reading The Land of Painted Caves? Here is are the first five books in order, all available to Mastics-Moriches-Shirley Community Library cardholders (Clan of the Cave Bear has also been made into a movie and is available on DVD):

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