Lionel Shriver

Saturday Adult Book Club

Vernon Branch invites you to read the suggested titles and to join us for a lively, facilitated discussion of the featured title. The book club is open to all interested adults and preregistration is not required. Held the fourth Saturday of every month from 10:30 - 11:30 am in the library meeting room.

Upcoming titles for the 2012 - 2013 session include:
Eating Dirt: Deep Forests, Big Timber & Life with the Tree Planting Tribe by Charlotte Gill (January 26)
Blindness by Jose Saramago (February 23)
We Need to Talk About Kevin by Lionel Shriver (March 23)
Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn (April 27)
Prodigal Summer by Barbara Kingsolver (May 25) (starfishian)… (more)

The new republic Lionel Shriver Lionel Shriver is the author of 10 novels and the recipient of the 2005 Orange Prize for her acclaimed book We Need to Talk About Kevin, recently adapted into a major motion picture. With her gift for psychological portraiture and a knack for skewering timely social phenomena, Shriver's work is "tough, complicated, brilliant," according to The new republic's Ruth Franklin. "Shriver isn’t the kind of writer who lets her themes bubble up opaquely; she seizes them and interrogates them for all they’re worth." Shriver is also a respected journalist whose work has appeared in such publications as The Guardian, the New York Times, and the Wall Street Journal. In her new novel, Shriver examines cults of personality and terrorism in an alternate past. The Vanishers Heidi Julavits Heidi Julavits is co-editor of The Believer, a literary magazine she founded with Dave Eggers, which was described by A.O. Scott as part of "a generational struggle against laziness and cynicism, to raise once again the banners of creative enthusiasm and intellectual engagement." Her anti-snark manifesto Rejoice! Believe! Be Strong and Read Hard!, lobbying against mean-spirited book reviews, appeared in the debut issue. She is the author of three novels, including The Uses of Enchantment, about a young girl's faked abduction,and The Mineral Palace, a depression-era story of sexual corruption and infanticide—both New York Times Notable Books. Her new novel, The Vanishers is a meditation on grief, female rivalry, and the power of a daughter’s love. Parkway Central Library 1901 Vine Street Philadelphia, PA 19103 (between 19th and 20th Streets on the Parkway) This is a FREE event; no tickets or reservations are required. For more information, please call 215-567-4341, or click here

Location: Street: Free Library of Philadelphia Additional: 1901 Vine Street City: Philadelphia, Province: Pennsylvania Postal Code: 19103-5207 Country: United States (added from IndieBound)… (more)

Amanda Craig, Hearts and Minds.; Lionel Shriver, So Much For That.

Novels are good at dissecting society, but can fiction ever make a difference? Lionel Shriver's new book, So Much for That, is set in contemporary America and addresses big themes of family illness (against the back-drop of Obama's healthcare bill), money (in the aftermath of the Credit Crunch) and the universal search for happiness. Amanda Craig's Hearts and Minds, a panoramic novel about London, is a gripping murder story told through the intertwined lives of recent immigrants and has the finger on the pulse of the teeming Metropolis. They discuss their books and whether topical literature can make things happen. (DeadGoodBooks)… (more)

Lionel Shriver , The Post-Birthday World.

Safe or sexy? OK - that's a bit of a simplification of the novel, but haven't we always wondered about that decision we didn't make. How would our lives be different? Would it be better or worse? Lionel Shriver has laid out both scenarios and has come up with a fantastic read. As always, the group is open to all comers. (booksense)… (more)