Carbs and Cadavers by JB Stanley

James “Professor Puff” Henry may as well have “loser” stamped on his forehead. Divorced, overweight, shy, and living at home, he relies on books and his favorite snack — cheese puffs — for sweet relief from his problems. A former English lit professor at William and Mary, he moves back to Quincy’s Gap, a small Virginia town in the Shenandoah Valley, to take care of his recently-widowed father. To improve his social life and waistline, he joins a supper club for dieters who lovingly call themselves the “Flab Five.” Avoiding carbs is nearly impossible in this deep-fried potato-loving land, so a mysterious death in their small burg provides an effective, if disturbing, distraction. While dodging delectable temptations, Professor Henry and his fellow dieters work together to shed pounds and find the killer who has struck fear in this tight-knit community.

Please join us to discuss Carbs & Cadavers on Tuesday, July 13 at 7:00 p.m. in the Hopewell Library. Snacks and beverages will be provided. Contact Carol Farmer at cfarmer@arls.org for more information.

This event is part of the “Water Your Mind READ” Adult Summer Reading Program. For more information, call 458-6329 x1005

Bernadette wanted to go to college and make something of herself. But she hadn’t counted on meeting and falling in love with Herman Smith. And then she hadn’t counted on the beatings. Herman hit her, tied her up and threw her down the stairs. On July 9, 1978 Bernadette Powell shot and killed her husband. What seemed to be a routine case of involuntary manslaughter soon turned into a second degree murder charge. This is not simply a courtroom drama but an examination of how issues of race, sex and class affect the judicial system and the most basic right of Americans.

Please join us to discuss Everyday Death on Monday, July 12 at 3:00 p.m. in the Hopewell Library. Contact Joan Fleshman at jfleshman@arls.org for more information.

This event is part of the “Water Your Mind READ” Adult Summer Reading Program. For more information, call 458-6329 x1005.

How to Teach Filthy Rich Girls by Zoey Dean

How to Teach Filthy Rich Girls is predictable and shallow and I enjoyed every minute of it. The book’s author, Zoey Dean, is well-known for her Young Adult “A-List” series. Filthy Rich Girls is her first adult title, but is targeted most definitely to a very youthful adult audience indeed. Megan, a moderately attractive Ivy Leaguer, is failing in her East Coast editorial career. She strikes a deal with a grandmother of two very spoiled, extremely rich heiresses where she agrees tutor the girls in exchange for a lucrative salary and an even more lucrative bonus should the girls score well enough on their college entrance exams to gain acceptance into Duke University. It won’t surprise you when Megan gets a new hairstyle and learns to enjoy haute couture clothing. It probably won’t surprise you when the girls open their mail from Duke. And it certainly won’t surprise you to watch as relationships go through turbulence before they settle down. The book, however, does force us to think about the judgmental world we live in, and the way our own judgments limit us. It offers us interesting characters, all who can be lovable and maddening, often at the same time. The text is clever and lively and keeps the pages turning all the way to the book’s one surprise: its ending. This is a fun read. If you don’t want to work too hard for your reading pleasure at the beach this summer, and if you’re young or young-at-heart, be sure to check out Dean’s Filthy Rich Girls.

Please join us to discuss How to Teach Filthy Rich Girls on Thursday, July 8 at 6:00 p.m. in the Hopewell Library. Salad basics and beverages will be provided; bring your favorite topping to share! Contact Shari Henry at shenry@arls.org for more information.