EPL’s Best Reads of 2016

December 2, 2016

book-loverWe’ve turned Thanksgiving to leftovers, cyber shopped ’til we’ve cyber dropped, and now at long last, our “most wonderful time of the year” has finally arrived. That’s right, ’tis the season for “Best Book” lists, and much to our page-turning delight, the NY Times, NPR, and many others will soon be casting their votes for the top reads of 2016. In fact, we’re so excited for the coming of the lists that this year we’re adding a local flavor to “Best Books” season. Throughout December, we’ll be featuring real-life EPL patrons and their favorite 2016 reads regardless of what years their picks were published. So grab a pen, grab some paper, and get ready to visit Off the Shelf early and often. Thanks to your fellow Evanston bookworms, your next favorite read is likely right around the corner.


EPL's Best Reads of 2014

December 4, 2014

book-loverWe’ve turned Thanksgiving to leftovers, cyber shopped ’til we’ve cyber dropped, and now at long last, our “most wonderful time of the year” has finally arrived.  That’s right, ’tis the season for “Best Book” lists, and much to our page-turning delight, the NY Times, NPR, and many others will soon be casting their votes for the top reads of 2014.  In fact, we’re so excited for the coming of the lists that this year we’re adding a local flavor to “Best Books” season.  Throughout December, we’ll be featuring real-life EPL patrons and their favorite 2014 reads regardless of what years their picks were published.  So grab a pen, grab some paper, and get ready to visit Off the Shelf early and often.  Thanks to your fellow Evanston bookworms, your next favorite read is likely right around the corner.


An Interview with Gary Shteyngart

July 19, 2011

Author Gary Shteyngart

Gary Shteyngart isn’t considered one of America’s best young novelists for nothing.  Born in Leningrad in 1972, the long-time New Yorker’s picaresque debut The Russian Debutante’s Handbook won the Stephen Crane First Fiction Award in 2002, and his riotous follow-up Absurdistan was named one of the best books of 2006 by the NY Times, the Chicago Tribune, and Time.  Last summer, Mr. Shteyngart published his much-anticipated third novel Super Sad True Love Story to rave reviews with Publishers Weekly proclaiming it his best book yet.  A funny and frightening vision of an all-too-plausible future, Super Sad tells the tale of 39-year-old Lenny Abramov, a hapless romantic obsessed with living forever, his books, and 20-something Korean-American Eunice Park.  Though America is mired in debt to China, ruled by the Bipartisan Party, and consumed by superficial social media, an undeterred Lenny vows to love Eunice and show her “there is still value in being a real human being.”  Named a 2010 NY Times Notable Book, Super Sad is proof positive of author David Mitchell’s view that “the American novel is safe in Gary Shteyngart’s gifted hands.”  Mr. Shteyngart recently took a brief break from his busy touring schedule to speak with us about Super Sad and what he’s working on next.

Continue reading “An Interview with Gary Shteyngart”


Translate »