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.
Alan Teller is a local photographer, teacher, business owner, and the latest artist to be featured in our ongoing exhibition series Local Art @ EPL. His show – titled Adlai’s Woods – is currently on display on the 2nd floor of EPL’s Main Branch and explores the landscape surrounding former Illinois Governor Adlai Stevenson’s Mettawa farm with a captivating collection of unexpectedly abstract photographs. You can catch Adlai’s Woods through July 8th, and after that, you can learn more about Mr. Teller’s photography and future projects by visiting his 
