This month’s choices:

Fiction

The Road
By Cormac McCarthy

I once heard someone say that “The Road” is the kind of book that, on one hand, makes you proud to be a human being, and on the other, makes you disgusted at how low we can sink.

And perhaps that’s the real beauty of McCarthy’s post-apocalyptic vision. Because while the story undoubtedly sucks you in with a gloomy tone that matches the setting, it’s really a story of love. In this case, the love between a father and son.

The world has gone to hell, and roving bands of really bad people threaten the very survival of our heroes. They’re trying to make their way to the coast, hoping to find . . . well, hoping to find some hope. What they encounter on their journey is the kind of nightmare we would probably really have to deal with in a world that has blown up. I mean, just finding food, for crying out loud.

The book is not for everyone, because we often don’t want to even think that we’re one breath away from a horrifying reality such as this. But for those who like to stretch their imagination, it’s a stunning, sobering book.

Find your copy here.

Non-Fiction

Like many people, I’ve been a fan of John Green’s fiction—if you didn’t love “The Fault in Our Stars” we are just not wired the same—and his wonderful videos. The Crash Course videos he makes with his brother, Hank, are what the internet SHOULD be about.

So when I learned about his non-fiction work called “The Anthropocene Reviewed,” my first question was: What’s an Anthropocene?

It’s allegedly the geologic era we’re currently in. You’ve heard of the Jurassic era and the Cretaceous period, etc? Well, we’re living in the Anthropocene. It’s true that many scientists reject it, but oh well.

The point is, Green is taking many of the everyday things we either currently have or have had, talking about them with a delightful personal touch, and then giving each a one-to-five-star review.

Things like what? Well, he covers such diverse topics as scratch-and-sniff stickers, the Taco Bell breakfast menu, and Hawaiian Pizza.

He’s such a magnificent storyteller that he’s able to guide you through some of your memories by recalling his own. It’s a gift, and we’re the recipients.

Find your copy here.

Last Month’s Picks

Imperium
By Robert Harris

In ancient Rome, power is everything. And few people could manipulate it as well as Cicero.

Homo Deus
By Yuval Noah Harari

A fascinating look at not only where our species has been - but where we may be going.

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Happy reading!