Huntington Public Library Adult Reading Challenge

  Totally picked this book because of the cover art. I did not realize it was a children's (10-14) book, but it was surprisingly dark and edgy? It's Swedish originally, maybe the kids are just built differently over there. Either way, this was a cool read. I loved the main character. I do wish there was more world building; the descriptions in the beginning are so colorful and fast, but they drop off pretty quickly, which is a shame because the dark landscape was so fascinating.

  Lesbian Cartoonist Alison Bechdel recounts her life growing up in Pennsylvania, coming out in college, and dealing with the aftermath of her father's death. Bechdel uses the books that were important in her and her father's lives to make sense of their odd relationship and his proclivities as a funeral home director, home restorer, and closeted gay man.

  This is Vonnegut's first novel. Hard for me to believe that - it has so much happening here and so much to say about how people derive meaning and sense of identity. In some ways, the science fiction elements haven't aged well (he couldn't predict self-driving cars despite all the other tasks automated?), and there are some troubling gender politics. But I recommend it for both dystopia fans and Vonnegut fans. As always, there are some turns of phrase that capture an entire philosophy in 9 words.

Laszlo is a noble-born demon working a dead end job as a manager of a centuries old curse. After a bad performance review, he must prove his worth and save his hide by tricking his assigned human curse bearers into thinking that they can break the curse with his help. Their journey takes them around the world and reveals a hidden plot that could shatter the very foundations of Hell.

 This book is the third in the series and I think the best yet! This book is hard to put down with many twists and turns with some humor by the narrator (Millie) blended in. I highly recommend, but need to read the first two books beforehand.

  This book was excellent. It admittedly took some time to get into because the narrator is so unlikable - a fact that the author talks about in interviews. The questions it raises about who has the right to tell which stories, what we owe the dead, and to what extent ideas and art belong the artist make it well worth it to push through. The look into the publishing world and the extent to which bestsellers are chosen before they sell their first copy is also fascinating though it seems obvious once pointed out. Juniper Song misrepresents both herself and her work. This book follows her as she interacts with her friends, publishes a best seller, is found out as a fraud, and rationalizes every choice along the way. Simultaneously, we come to know parts of Athena Lu - a young and brilliant writer who dies early in her career. Which of the women is more virtuous? More morally bankrupt?

  For readers of psychology and wanting to learn more about the western world and where the ancestors from different ancient worlds created the foundation for the world we live in today including ideologies about death and life, this is a great book. I would not recommend to anyone who is not looking for major depth in a book as this text dives deep into the spiritual mindset of ancient humans especially fueled by hallucinogenic themes. Some prevalent themes that the reader may question, while reading William S. Burroughs, are what did the ancients think immortality meant, was life worth living if in the afterlife one would become an immortal shell? The carvings on the walls fueled by hallucinogens, were they merely fueled by the effects of these plants or were they connecting with a higher power or aura on earth that is far beyond the powers that humans can connect to today? Are today's humans so far removed from connectivity to the land and nature that we question the ability of ...

 If you liked Dexter (TV show) you will love this book. Quirky and filled with dark, sarcastic British humor it is fa fun read despite its dark serial killer plot. Somehow, the author actually makes the main character, Claire (serial killer) sympathetic and likeable!

Romance with serial killers, cannibalism, and trigger warnings galore...yet surprisingly and refreshingly tame... Relatively.

  I always find McFadden’s books to be easy, entertaining quick reads. The same can be said of The Inmate. Brooke Sullivan decides to move back home to upstate New York after the death of her parents. She moves into her childhood home, but the only job she can find is at the local men’s maximum-security prison as a nurse practitioner. It shouldn’t be too bad, but one of the inmates is her ex-high school sweetheart and the man she put in prison for her attempted murder. Now Brooke must face the man she once loved, the father of her child, and the man who murdered her friends and attempted to murder her. But Brooke will soon learn that what she remembers may not be the whole truth after all. I enjoyed reading this book but I did find Brooke to be a bit annoying of a character. So many things were obvious and in her face, but she continually failed to see them. I wish her character was a bit more likeable.

 T he second of a 3-part (and running) entertaining murder mystery series. This is not a 'cozy' mystery. It's a fun, comical, and contemporary novel about Finlay Donovan, a struggling author and soon-to-be-single mom in the midst of a divorce. The murder, crime, and romantic jams she gets into are her own fault, mostly, unless you count the prodding and questionable advice coming from her babysitter and partner-in-crime Vero. You would definitely want to start with the first in the series, "Finlay Donovan is Killing It," before reading this one and the third, “Finlay Donovan Jumps the Gun.’ The Finlay Donovan books have been optioned for a TV series, but no production start date has been announced, so stay tuned. In the meantime, enjoy the mayhem.