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An Absolutely Remarkable Thing

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An Absolutely Remarkable Thing by Hank Green
Format: Book
Who it’s for: Adults

23-year-old designer April May lives and works in New York City. Leaving work in the middle of the night, she discovers a 10-foot-tall, Transformers-like statue on the sidewalk outside a Chipotle. She calls her friend and they make a video of April interviewing the statue she names Carl. By the next morning, she’s gone viral and Carls have appeared in more than 60 other cities around the world. What follows is a treatise on the nature of celebrity in the age of social media, and a discussion of humanity in a society rife with polarizing rhetoric. April establishes herself as a brand and struggles to maintain her own humanity, while the world tries to figure out what The Carls are, why they’re here, and what they mean for humanity.

There is a science fiction element to this story. The Carls are not your average street art. You’ll want to know how they got here and what their purpose is, but the bigger questions are about today’s society and culture and how fame, the internet, and the 24-hour news cycle impact all of us and our relationships with one another. Ending in a cliffhanger, An Absolutely Remarkable Thing leaves room for a sequel, which Green is reportedly working on.

Find it in the catalog.

Dumplin’

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Dumplin’ by Julie Murphy
Format: Book, Audio Book
Whose it for: Adults and Teens

Willowdean Dixon introduces self as “cashier, Dolly Parton enthusiast, and resident fat girl.”  She doesn’t consider her weight and stature to be a nuisance as some might think. “I mean, if it were 1642, my wide birthing hips would be worth many cows or something.” But in Clover City, Texas, football stars and beauty pageant queens reign supreme. Despite this, Will (nicknamed ‘Dumplin’ by her former beauty queen mom) has never struggled to love herself and her body… until she meets Bo Larson aka “Peach Butt” whose attention and affection give Will a whole new sense of self-doubt.  This insecurity is amplified when her best friend, Ellen, makes new “twiggy” friends, who make no secret of what they think of Will, her weight, and her friendship with Ellen.  In order to regain her confidence, Will does the most horrifying thing she can imagine: entering the Miss Teen Blue Bonnet beauty pageant.  Motivated by Will’s bravery, some other unlikely candidates join the cause and gain help from a few unconventional sources.

This book focuses mainly on the theme of body image, but touches on relationships, family life, and grief.  Dumplin’, though adorable and hilarious, teaches about body positivity and self-love, not only for the ample-bodied, but for anyone who views themselves as an obstacle rather than an asset. Find it in the catalog.

Good Omens

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Read the Book, Watch the Movie!
Book: Good Omens
Mini-series: Good Omens
Release Date: Early 2019

The world is ending and the demon and angel from the Garden of Eden aren’t happy about it. They have come to like the human race (and the accouterments they get to experience on earth themselves) so they decide that they will simply have to work together to prevent the antichrist from bringing it all to an end. The only problem is that the antichrist was accidentally switched at birth and currently growing up in an idyllic British country village with no idea at all about his vast and unimaginable power. Don’t worry, the distant descendant of the only truly correct prophetess, Agnes Nutter is also working to track down the antichrist before everything quite literally goes to hell. Pratchett and Gaiman, two masters of both fantasy and humor, teamed up to write one of the most beloved books of our time. Now it is being translated for the screen by Amazon Prime staring David Tennant as the demon, Crowley, and Michael Sheen as the angel, Aziraphale. If you are looking for a story that will make you laugh out loud while also reminding you that the human race is full of hope, this is a truly wonderful book. Look for the mini-series in early 2019 on Amazon Prime. Find it in the catalog

Ten dead comedians

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Ten dead comedians by Fred Van Lente
Format: Book
Who it’s for:  Adults

Fred Van Lente’s brilliant debut is both an homage to the Golden Age of Mystery and a contemporary show-business satire. It is a darkly clever take on Agatha Christie’s And Then There Were None (aka Ten Little Indians) and other classics of the genre. As the story opens, nine comedians of various acclaim are summoned to the island retreat of legendary Hollywood funnyman Dustin Walker.  These fictional comedians all will remind you of real life comedians in many ways. All nine arrive via boat to find that every building on the island is completely deserted. Marooned without cell phone service or wifi signals, they soon find themselves being murdered one by one. But who is doing the killing, and why?

I picked this up because of the publisher – Quirk books. They have many fun, different books for all ages.
If you have read or seen the movies based on And Then There Were None, you know it’s a locked room mystery with a crazy, unbelievable, twisty ending.  I love Agatha Christie mysteries but I always tell people she cheats. The murder is always rather complicated. The murderer is a very fast MacGyver with the best luck.  The timing is always just right. The murderer always figures out some hack to accomplish their goals. And the murderer is lucky that nobody sees them, except 1 person. Of course, that one person is eventually murdered. That is a Christie style mystery. I enjoy them but they cheat.  This parody is no exception. The murders are elaborate and take MacGyver type skills to pull off.  The murderer times things VERY well as they move from room to room. The ending is so fantastical you know nobody in real life could pull it off. But the story is an enjoyable mystery.  The fact it is funny and satirizes showbiz is an added bonus.

I would recommend this book to mystery lovers, parody enthusiasts, folks in need of a laugh and those interested in the life of a comedian.

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Bob and Joss Take a Hike!

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Submitted by Ms. Andrea!

Bob and Joss Take a Hike by Peter McCleery. Bob and Joss are back and picking up right where they left off in Bob and Joss Get Lost! This time they are sure to get things right… or are they? Join this two lovable characters as they explore the great outdoors. The lovable characters are sure to be a big hit, Bob with his boredom inducing adventures and subsequent panic attacks, and Joss with his laid back, easy going style. Grab the whole family and take an adventure with Bob and Joss in this laugh-out-loud book. See this book listed in our catalog

Anna and the Tooth Fairy

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Submitted by Ms. Andrea!

Anna and the Tooth Fairy by Maureen Wright. Losing a tooth is very exciting business, but something is not quite right about Anna’s Tooth Fairy… she believes it is her baby sister! Her baby sister’s rattle looks just like a magic wand, she is always sleeping during the day and up at night, and she is even learning to fly! Anna takes this very special opportunity to ensure her baby sister becomes the best Tooth Fairy ever. Join Anna and her family in this Tooth-rrific adventure. This is a great read aloud for the whole family to enjoy. See this book listed in our catalog