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[caption id="attachment_3666" align="aligncenter" width="200"] Available on the New Book Shelf at the Â鶹ӰÊÓ Main Campus Library[/caption] Title: Sourdough Author: Robin Sloan Genre: Uh... contemporary tech fiction with a light touch of magical realism? Read by: Meredith Lewis (Orange County Campus Librarian) & Courtney Bippley (Main Campus Librarian) Why did you choose to read this book?

M: Honestly? The description was really interesting-- a San Francisco robotics engineer "adopts" a mysterious international sourdough starter and gets involved in a secret underground farmer's market. With a weirdo plot like that, this book could have been really charming or really stupid. (Spoiler: It was super charming.) C: Meredith told me about it and said it was a happy book. I hadn't read a happy book in a long time so that was very appealing.

M: I've been not-unfairly accused of reading too many sad and depressing books this year. (But they were good depressing books!) I needed something lighter and happier and this book fit that bill perfectly. The characters weren't evil, the plot was interesting, the outcome was satisfying-- it just worked. And it was happy! I read most of it with a bit of a grin on my face. (How often do you get to say that about a book?) C: 

M: It kinda reminded me a little of Strega Nona and Like Water for Chocolate, but that's only because the sourdough starter takes on a life of its own.   C: It reminded me of the 1999 movie Simply Irresistible. The movie was more of a romance than this book was but the theme of a [magical item here] helping your cooking skills and your life is similar.

M: Anyone who likes food novels, contemporary fiction, or pretty much anyone-- it really was a great book. In fact, I think I have recommended it to almost everyone.  C: Anyone who likes easy reads and magical realism. Or who just wants a nice palate cleanser book.

M: Some fresh sourdough. Duh. (Preferably non-sentient.) C: A trip to the farmer's market and some spicy take-out.