The Geography of Bliss: One Grump's Search for the Happiest Places in the World by Eric Weiner - Adult Nonfiction

Avowed cynic and lifetime grump Eric Weiner, who also happens to be a seasoned NPR correspondent, decided to take a year off to investigate happiness. He starts in Denmark at the World Database of Happiness (yes, there is such a thing), makes stops in such diverse places as Iceland, Switzerland, Bhutan, Moldova, India, and Great Britain (can you guess which ones are the happy places?), before finishing up in America. He talks to scientists, professors, homemakers, house maids, gurus, and cab drivers as he tries to understand what makes an individual, as well as a nation, happy. Some things he discovers: "Money matters, but less than we think and not in the way that we think. Family is important. So are friends. Envy is toxic. So is excessive thinking. Beaches are optional. Trust is not. Neither is gratitude." It turns out, not too surprisingly, that the study of happiness provides for plenty of inconsistencies, and there are many different ways to reach it, as well as to assess it. While he does include many quotes and statistics (it's surprising how many people have strong opinions about happiness), he also brings a wonderful personal touch to the journey, and his writing style is eminently readable.
Find this book at your local Douglas County Library or place on hold by calling (303) 791-READ or through our website: DouglasCountyLibraries.org.
Review by Laura Stone Johnson

Gregor the Overlander by Suzanne Collins - Juvenile/YA Fiction

In creating the fantasy world for this novel, author Suzanne Collins imagined what an eleven-year-old boy would find if he fell, like Alice of Wonderland fame, down into an underground civilization. The twist is that he falls, along with his two-year old sister, down a laundry room vent in present-day New York City. They find a beautiful city inhabited by violet-eyed humans in a world that also includes giant bats, spiders, cockroaches, and rats.

The humans are convinced that the boy, Gregor, is the "warrior" mentioned in an ancient prophecy, but he is reluctant to join their quest to defeat the rats' King Gorger, until he learns that he may be able to find his missing father if he accompanies them. The prophecy is sufficiently vague to keep readers turning pages in suspense.

The resulting story is a rare combination of excitement, thoughtfulness, and charm. It's odd to think a book with giant cockroaches and bats can be charming, but Collins pulls it off with excellent characterization, plot, and pacing. Gregor is probably the only heroic figure in literature who takes his toddler sister on a quest, but it turns out to be a good thing he has brought her along because her childlike outlook on the creatures turns out to be a major asset.

This is a book that's perfect for a family read-aloud or a long car trip. There is enough action, suspense, and poignancy to delight everyone in the family. Expect the kids to be clamoring for the four sequels after this one.
Find this book at your local Douglas County Library or place on hold by calling (303) 791-READ or through our website: DouglasCountyLibraries.org.
Review by Ellen Mackey