Dear Great Book Guru, What a weekend in Sea Cliff - first the Porchfest with 30 bands playing on porches and lawns all over the Village and then the Landmarks House Tour with 300 plus people visiting six of Sea Cliff’s unique homes. During the Porchfest one of the band members said she had to get home to finish a compelling sequel to Colm Tobin’s BROOKLYN.  Are you familiar with the book? Huge Porchfest Fan

Dear Huge Porchfest Fan, LONG ISLAND is Colm Tobin’s sequel to his very popular novel and movie adaptation BROOKLYN.  Set in 1976 – twenty-five years after BROOKLYN ends, the novel opens with Eilis living in Lindenhurst, Long Island with her husband Tony Fiorello and her two teenage children. They live in a family compound of sorts with his parents, his brothers, and their families where large boisterous Italian Sunday dinners color (or cloud) her existence.  Eilis still feels the outsider and yearns for her family back in Ireland whom she hasn’t seen in twenty years. When she learns of Tony’s infidelity, she decides to return to Enniscorthy, the small village where she was born. From this point on, the story is told from the perspective of Nancy - her childhood friend - and Jim Farrell, the man Eilis loved and left twenty-five years before.  Jim never married and has been carrying on a discreet affair with Nancy - a recent widow.  With the arrival of Eilis and her Americanized ways, all of Enniscorthy is thrown into turmoil, especially Jim and Nancy.  The story has many exquisite details and subplots leaving the reader wondering what ending to wish for. A compelling read and highly recommended!

 

Dear Great Book Guru,  I was at an event at the Sea Cliff Arts Council recently: Fred Stroppel’s iconic “Twisted Shorts” - eight extraordinarily funny vignettes - when one of the cast members mentioned a wonderful new book about a team of workers at a big box  store. It sounded interesting - thoughts?  Fan of “Twisted Shorts”

Dear Fan of “Twisted Shorts,” Adelle Waldman’s HELP WANTED is not to be missed!  Set in upstate New York, the novel introduces us to twelve people working in a huge box store -think Target or Costco - most of whom are members of Team Movement. These workers   clock in at 3:55am to unload the delivery trucks, stock the shelves, organize the merchandise before the store opens, and check out at 9am.  The work is grueling and their pay low. Hours are limited by management so there are no health benefits, vacation or sick time, but jobs in this part of the state are scarce and most of the workers have few qualifications for better jobs.  Waldman describes the lives of these workers in exquisite detail, and we feel great sympathy as we learn about their individual plights. When the store manager Big Will is promoted to another facility, everyone realizes there is a possible chance for advancement or at least some realignment.  The Team comes together in an elaborate plot to sabotage their hated self-absorbed crew leader Meredith, and we cheer them on.  While there is much humor throughout, we witness the underlying injustices low- wage workers encounter in the modern workplace.  A thought-provoking book on many levels and highly recommended!