Mr Phillips
by John Lanchester
291pp—Marian Wood
Good for fans of: biographical fiction, James Thurber, signed editions
Why: A coming of age novel done in reverse, John Lanchester’s Mr Phillips examines a life unraveled. When he is unexpectedly dismissed from his job, Mr Phillips finds even his own reflection unidentifiable. Without the strength to even admit this truth to his wife, he dresses each morning and wanders the streets surrounding their London home. In a portrait similar to “The Secret Life of Walter Mitty” by James Thurber, Lanchester paints a man looking to escape reality. Splattered with memories from the man’s past, rather than daydreams like Thurber’s subject, the reader is given a truthful look at the story’s protagonist. Though this is a work of fiction, it reads more similarly to a memoir. With two copies of this hardcover on the shelves, one signed by the author, customers are welcome to take this modern day wandering “everyman” home with them.
Memoirs of a Geisha
by Arthur Golden
428pp—Knopf
Good for fans of: Japanese culture, the film, narrative fiction
Why: For fans of the movie, the story of Chiyo Sakamoto is well known, but, as with many page-to-screen adaptations, there is more to the story than the eye has seen. This novel draws the reader into a world known to be historically secret. Set up as though it were a true memoir, it is easy to forget that this is a work of fiction. The intricately woven plot and characters pull you in while still, in their delicate Geisha way, leaving something to be imagined. This is more than a coming-of-age story, more than a romance or historical piece. What readers find when they open the cover relates more closely to a story told while sitting at an elderly grandmother’s feet. This book will open your mind and heart to a woman you won’t believe doesn’t actually exist.
A Single Shard
by Linda Sue Park
148 pp—Yearling
Good for fans of: young adult novels, Newberry award winners, kids on summer break
Why: In the summer months, it can be quite difficult to get children to open a book, but this quick read might just be the answer. Set in 12th-century Korea, this Newberry winner still resonates with American children in the 21st century. A tale of hard work, dedication and the importance of family stretches time and place to reach into the home of every reader. When he accidentally breaks a potter’s wares, young Tree-ear tries everything he can to remedy the incident. With an interesting turn at the end that exemplifies kindness and the human need for companionship, this book is a welcome addition to any middle school library.
The Botany of Desire: A Plant’s-Eye View of the World
by Michael Pollan
271pp—Random House Trade Paperbacks
Good for fans of: botany, creative-nonfiction, “The Omnivore’s Dilemma”
Why: Best-selling author Michael Pollan brings another fine dish to the table. Taking a close look at four plants that humans have chosen to carefully cultivate, he asks if, maybe, those plants are adapting for us. Taking into consideration the human inclination toward things that are sweet, beautiful, intoxicating or easily controlled, the book is broken up into the four plants that exhibit these characteristics: apples, tulips, marijuana and potatoes, respectively. Taking a look at these plants carefully, we see that the ways that humans have used or changed them for our own gain. But with the plants gaining so much as well, the question remains: Which of us is domesticating the other?
City Contented, City Discontented
by Paul Beers
404pp—Midtown Scholar Press
Good for fans of: Harrisburg history, urban planning, newspapers
Lastly, with Election Day right around the corner, make sure to brush up on the history of Harrisburg with Midtown Scholar Press’s own “City Contented, City Discontented: A History of Modern Harrisburg.” The collected columns of Paul Beers, the late Patriot-News columnist, give good backdrop to the issues facing our city today. Edited and transcribed by Penn State Harrisburg history professor Michael Barton, this book documents both the good times and the bad that have affected our city for the last century.
