GOOD READS

Charlotte Mecklenburg Library book specialists share their selections for the season’s best reads. This October, the Library celebrates “Community Read,” a month-long series of programs and activities around shared reading…and the signature title is Today Will be Different, by Maria Semple. Visit www.cmlibrary.org/community-read for details and author visits!

TODAY WILL BE DIFFERENT

by Maria Semple Named a Notable Book of 2016 by the Washington Post, one of Amazon’s Top 100 Books of the Year, one of New York Times Book Review’s 100 Notable Books, one of The Guardian’s Best Books of 2016, one of NPR’s Best Books of 2016, a Must-Read Book of 2016 by PopSugar, one of EW’s 20 Best Books of 2016, one of Glamour’s Top Ten Books of the Year, and one of Kirkus Reviews’ “Best 100 Fiction Books of 2016”

A brilliant novel from the author of Where’d You Go, Bernadette, about a day in the life of Eleanor Flood, forced to abandon her small ambitions and awake to a strange, new future.

Semple returns with an artistic anti-heroine fumbling through her life of privilege as an NYC transplant to Seattle. Married to a celebrity hand doctor and 10 years separated from her career as a groundbreaking animator, Eleanor Flood spends her days studying poetry with an untenured professor and thinking acerbic thoughts about the other moms at her precocious son’s private school. Having lunch with a former minion breaks something free in Eleanor’s past, and her life falls apart over the course of an afternoon. Readers learn details of her backstory and will sympathize despite the seemingly trivial nature of her troubles (Sticking her foot in her mouth with her poetry teacher! Estrangement from her sister! Her husband’s absence from his practice! Her son’s enjoyment of makeup!). Hilarious and touching, this will satisfy Semple’s numerous fans and gain her new ones. Give this to readers of women’s fiction, Seattle denizens and aspiring residents, and people reviewing their lives and choices. At Charlotte Mecklenburg Library.

BEST DAY EVER

by Kaira Rouda Paul and Mia seem to be the perfect couple. Paul is a successful advertising executive in Columbus Ohio. They have two boys and a nice house. The book takes place over 4th of July weekend when Paul takes Mia on a romantic getaway to the lake. Paul relates the story of what is going on beneath the surface of their relationship in this shocking page-turner. If you enjoyed Gone Girl and Girl on the Train, this book is for you. At Charlotte Mecklenburg Library. Publication: September 19, 2017.

GEORGE & LIZZIE

by Nancy Pearl Librarian Nancy Pearl, known for her book recommendations on National Public Radio, has written a novel. She chronicles the relationship of George and Lizzie who are polar opposites. George’s parents were loving and raised an outgoing, confident young man. Lizzie was raised by two psychologists who saw her as a science experiment. Untrusting of people, Lizzie escaped into the world of books. Pearl redefines the romantic comedy as she shares their love story. At Charlotte Mecklenburg Library. Publication: September 5, 2017.

THE IVY LEAGUE

Much more than a grouping of eight colleges and universities, the Ivy League— with its hallowed halls, private clubs, and grassy quadrangles—is the consummate reward of the American Dream. Captured in countless novels, films, and television shows, and mentioned in everyday conversations around the globe, these centuries-old institutions stand proudly as universal symbols of one of America’s greatest strengths—its world-renowned education system. Representing the apex of academic achievement, the Ivy League is also a gateway to the socially powerful and elite, making it the wish of all parents for their children. But that’s only the beginning. Taking a close-up look at each of these campuses, Harvard alumnus Daniel Cappello illustrates the unique spirit of each school and determines what sets them apart—from the presidents they’ve trained to the silver-screen characters they’ve inspired; from the size of their endowments to the number of celebrities they enroll; from dominant political stances to athletic rivalries, architectural styles, and popular fashion.

THE PRICE OF ILLUSION

From Joan Juliet Buck, former editor-in-chief of Paris Vogue comes her dazzling, compulsively readable memoir: a fabulous account of four decades spent in the creative heart of London, New York, Los Angeles, and Paris, chronicling her quest to discover the difference between glitter and gold, illusion and reality, and what looks like happiness from the thing itself.

JOURNEY BY DESIGN

British designer Katharine Pooley’s refined, sumptuous interiors are inspired by a lifelong zest for adventure. Pooley has traveled extensively around the world, indulging her love of mountain climbing whenever possible, and her journeys are clearly reflected in her bold, eclectic, and daring designs. From the rustic country charm of Forter Castle in the Scottish Highlands, to a contemporary beach villa on the Palm Islands in Dubai, to the golden-red tones of a private residence in Doha, Qatar, Pooley’s expert attention to detail shines in any setting. In addition to her successful design studio, Pooley has two boutiques in Knightsbridge, London and Doha, Qatar that boast a line of curated accessories sourced from all over the globe, including crystal vases, cashmere throws, and shagreen boxes, that bring a dose of luxury to any room. Journey by Design explores the creative process and diverse inspirations behind nineteen of her inimitable projects.