Library Stack Challenge No. 1

About a month ago I decided I wanted to try something fun for 2018. In an effort to read outside of my comfort zone, I decided to let the randomness of the universe decide new books for me to read from my local library. Read on to find out exactly how this works. 

Sarah's Library Stack Challenge

I started by asking friends to give me a set of numbers and a specific direction: 

The first number should be 1-8. - This was to be the ROW.

The second number should be 1-5. - This was to be the SHELF.

The third number should be 1-100. - This was to be the BOOK.

Then vote LEFT or RIGHT. - This was to be the SIDE of the ROW.

Several friends responded to my query and I chose two sets of numbers at random. Basically, I took the information given, went to my library, counted the row, chose the left or right side of that row, counted the shelf, counted the book number on that shelf, and BAM. That book was to be my next read. (NOTE: Other than accounting for which side of the aisle I was using, all of the selections were made looking from left to right as one would read a book and counting top to bottom when applicable. Further note: I overestimated the number of rows in my local library. I live in a very small town and in the adult reading section we only have 6 rows of options, not 8. I'll adjust this in the future). 

Have you followed me so far? I hope so! Once I located the corresponding books, I read them, and now I want to tell you about them! In a hilarious twist of fate, both books fall into genres I would typically choose from. Consider this Stack Challenge a failure to find new books outside of my box... but hang tight for future adventures, because I'm sure this won't always be the case!

Book 1: An Abundance of Katherines by John Green

[Row 7, Left Shelf 4, Book 17]

I mentioned earlier that I had inaccurately estimated how many rows exist in my library. When I realized this, I just chose the last row for this book selection. Y'all might recognize this author. He wrote "A Fault in Our Stars" and was single-handedly responsible for the tear fest I had that weekend when I read it many moons ago. Sheesh. I figured I needed to be ready with the tissues for this one, too, but I was mistaken! This young adult novel was NOT a tearjerker at all. In fact, it was witty, sarcastic, and intelligent. It even made me laugh out loud a few times. 

It follows a teenager named Colin who has found himself in a most unusual relationship coincidence -- he only dates girls named Katherine, and he's been dumped by every single one. Colin is a "prodigy" and, determined to calculate precisely why he is always the Dumpee, he seeks to develop a theorem that "predicts" the outcome of a relationship based on certain criteria. Fascinating!  

Along with his friend Hassan, Colin goes on a summer road trip from his home in Chicago to destinations unknown while he recovers from the newest breakup and so he can focus on his theorem. They wind up in a southern town that wakes Colin up to a new way of thinking... as southern towns often do. I enjoyed Colin's journey, even if it meant stepping into the wild mind of a teenage boy, and I enjoyed the author's writing a lot:

"Crying adds something. It's you, plus tears."

"What is the point of being alive if you don't at least try to do something remarkable?"

"Do you ever wonder whether people would like you more or less if they could see inside you? I always wonder about that. If people could see me the way I see myself...if they could live in my memories...would anyone love me?"

And my personal favorite line: 

"He liked the mere act of reading, the magic of turning scratches on a page into words inside his head."

Me too. Me. Too. 

Book 2:
The Forgotten Man by Robert Crais

[Row 4, Right Shelf 2, Book 26]

Stop right now if you're the person who has to read a book series in the EXACT right order, even though technically each book can stand alone. (Ahem: my dad.) I made the grave error of not following this practice. (Sorry, dad!) But it was the universe's fault! I can't help that it selected book 10 in this "series." 

The term series is a loose one because, again, the lead character may be the same, but the story easily stands alone against any previous plot. Work with me here. This book is part of Crais' series that stars Elvis Cole, a private detective in Los Angeles. While it references past plots a few times, I was not at all confused about what was happening and enjoyed The Forgotten Man 100%! Much like my other randomly selected book, this one fell right into my typical genre wheelhouse. I have a huge affinity for crime dramas. This book had it all: a murder, a mystery, a macho man, and a total plot twist that definitely earned a nod of appreciation. If that fits your mood, give it a go. But if you'd raaaaather be all particular, check out the the author's website  to see the "proper" order for reading the Elvis Cole/Joe Pike series ;)

Cole is trying to solve the murder of his father. Or is he his father? With his dying breath, the victim said he was, and Cole's never met his dad, so anything is possible. Cole is the type of detective who doesn't mind bending a few rules to get answers. He enlists the help of many of LA's best and tracks the mystery man through escorts, a priest, a 30+ year old unsolved case, and throughout all of it, recalls memories from the depths of his own troubled past. It's a well-weaved story and I intend to check out a few more from the series. I'm not done with Elvis Cole! 

So there you have it friends. Challenge No. 1 is done! Stay tuned for more in 2018 while I explore my library. Feel free to try your own challenge, too! Just make sure you tell me about it!