A Better World by Sarah Langan
The Farmer-Bowen family is invited to live in a company town of Plymouth Valley, a gated community for the .0001 percent. On a trial basis, Russell Farmer, a math genius, is allowed to bring his wife, Linda Bowen, a pediatrician, and their twin teenagers to this seemingly idyllic town. Plymouth Valley has clean air, plenty of food and excellent schools. The Farmer-Bowens initially have trouble making friends in their new community, but with the outside world falling apart, they feel like they have no choice but to make the best of their new situation. However, they begin to reevaluate their decision to relocate when it becomes apparent that residents of the town are obsessed with a culture called Hollow, which involves various rituals and festivities that may have a darker side. As Hollow’s culminating Winter Festival approaches, dread seems to envelop the town and the Farmer-Bowens.
Mania by Lionel Shriver
The author of We Need to Talk About Kevin is back with a lighter, tongue-in-cheek novel that imagines a recent alternative history where a new social movement has taken hold in the United States. College professor Pearson Converse and her family are distraught by the new Mental Parity movement, which is a view that there is no such thing as variable intelligence. Schools are forbidden from giving tests or grades, and employment qualifications are all discarded. Pearson struggles in her role as an English professor while her exceptionally bright children are also finding it difficult in school, since there is no longer motivation to work hard and get good grades. Pearson finds some consolation in being able to confide her contrarian views to her good friend, a media personality. However, her friend may not feel the same way. This is a sharp novel that explores the dangers of political conformity and the fractures that can develop between friends with different political views.
Erin Holl is an adult services librarian at the Galaxie branch of the Dakota County Library. Read more at dakotacounty.us/library.
