Recommended by Tuki Sathaye in Adult Services…

Tuki’s synopsis:
The Red Lobster a restaurant in a suburb of New England hasn’t been making its numbers and is being shut down. All but six of the employees are going to be relocated to Olive Garden. They all however have to hunker down and get through one last day at the restaurant. Manny, the manager has his hands full dealing with persnickety patrons, unmotivated employees, and all kinds of personal problems. O’Nan takes this slice of life to construct an interesting and very real story.

She says:
Stewart O’Nan is an author whose writing keeps you wanting to read on because his characters are so interesting. He takes everyday situations and presents an interesting point of view. I truly appreciated the complexity of what it takes to run and manage a restaurant as demonstrated through Manny’s character.

June 11, The Piano Teacher by Janice Y. K. Lee

July 9, Before I Go to Sleep by S. J. Watson

August 13, The Man in the Rockefeller Suit by Mark Seal.

Register online or over the phone.

The Youth Services Department will put together a travel packet for your child containing activity sheets and reading materials based on your child’s reading interests and vacation location. This service is for Itasca card holders only and requires at least two weeks notice. For more information or to fill out a Book-A-Trip travel kit form, stop by the Youth Help Desk. You can also print the form by clicking on the green “Book-a-Trip” link above.

Check out the Children’s Book Week website and make sure to vote for your favorite books in the 2012 Children’s Choice Book Awards.

Recommended by Soon Har in Adult Services…

Soon Har’s synopsis:
Anne Lamott, who writes novels and also about the struggles and stories of her life with gritty humor, wrote about being a poor, single and first-time mother at age 35 in a book called Operating Instructions that focused on the first year of her son Sam’s life. When Sam, 19, became a father himself, Lamott’s editor suggested a sort-of sequel co-written with Sam. The result is an email-interspersed journal about the first year of her grandson Jax’s life, the unique and conflicting joys of grandmotherhood, and the challenges of teen parenting.

She says:
I was afraid to read Lamott’s newest book — even though I am a huge fan of her nonfiction. What if the book were too cute, or whiny, and what new insights could she possibly have, having so honestly explored her life in previous books? I am so glad I gave in as the book is another Lamott treasure: personal, funny, and enlightening. Best of all, it is suffused with Lamott’s down-to-earth and genuine spirituality that sets her apart from other good and humorous writers.

Recommended by Soon Har in Adult Services…

Soon Har’s synopsis:
Young American mother Kate Moore’s husband tells her he has an opportunity, finally, to make lots of money if he takes a new job and the family moves to Luxembourg. So Kate quits her secret CIA agent job and joins the clique of expat moms-who-lunch but secrets are not so easy to leave behind. Soon, it turns out that she’s not the only one with something to hide. Is she paranoid or is someone really out to get her? Is anyone who he or she appears to be, including her husband? With minimum characters, an European setting, CIA vs. FBI duels, and a possible cyber crime that keeps the story timely.

She says:
Don’t let the buzz that this book and its author have received in recent weeks leave you expecting too much.The story and suspense take time to build up and the interweaving of two timelines confused me initially.The only well-developed character is the female protagonist and I found her hard to believe and relate to; did Chris Pavone over-reach in trying to get inside a woman’s head, let alone a spy’s? But once the intrigue begins, the plot moves along at a page-turning pace. And when I set aside my inner skeptic, I found the ending satisfying.