Note to Shelf: September 2023

Pat S. exclaims, "Run, don’t walk, to pick up the most indescribable debut to come out this year, Shark Heart by Emily Habeck. We meet Lewis, a failed actor and now a middle-aged 30 something theater teacher who dreams of writing a blockbuster screenplay. Lewis meets Wren, a practical, no nonsense finance professional living in a black and white world. Opposites attract and soon Wren and Lewis have fallen in love and embarked upon marriage. Sounds pretty straight forward, right? But wait . . . Shortly afterward, Lewis is diagnosed with Carcharodon carcharias mutation, or, in lay terms, a condition mutating Lewis into a great white shark! It is the changes that the lovers must make in order to accommodate this condition which will break your heart, and ultimately leave you hopeful as Lewis and Wren struggle to find joy in the life that they have. This brilliantly imaginative premise hooks your attention while highlighting life’s enduring questions of grief, love, loss and connection."

Jo asks, "Can a time traveler be responsible for changing the path of another person's life or the course of history? Alice Hoffman’s book, The Invisible Hour begs just this question. Mia was born in "The Community" in western Massachusetts. Despite the rules, she formed a strong bond with her mother and dreamed of them escaping the cult and its leader. Mia, who is seen as rebellious, secretly makes friends with the local librarian. Her mother always told her that the library was a magical place, and one day Mia discovers an antique book that seems to be inscribed to her. Eventually the book and the library become her escape not just from “The Community," but from her present life when she travels back in time. However, Mia discovers that escape is not always possible. Hoffman incorporates her strong female characters with the power of books and a touch of magic to create a memorable story."

Kristen O. gives us "Fair warning: this review for Lizzie Stark’s Egg: A Dozen Ovatures contains exactly one pun. The book itself comprises a multitude of facts about the humble yet universal egg across a wide variety of disciplines, including science, history, and mythology. Making an entertaining book about eggs is no easy feat, but Stark does exactly that with sharp wit and breezy pacing. Personal anecdotes—including the author’s experiences with cancer and motherhood—keep the book from feeling like an encyclopedia. The result is an informative, enjoyable, and even heart-warming read about the extraordinary things humanity has accomplished with an ordinary object. For those seeking a unique and feel-good nonfiction read, this book is an egg-cellent choice (sorry)."