Queen of Spades. Michael Shou-Yung Shum

Ann Patchett, at Powell’s in September 2016 during her Commonwealth tour, said she wants to read "a smart funny book that isn't tragic at the end but doesn't make you feel dumb. That book is one we can sell because everybody has already read Where'd You Go Bernadette ." Queen of Spades is exactly that type of book—accessible. The author has two Ph.Ds and has written a compelling, brilliantly constructed novel that appears deceptively simple. Its clean sentences, lack of terrible/dark acts, and sense of humor should make it an easy one to recommend. There are very few casino-set books that aren’t aggressively anti-gambling—although Queen of Spades doesn’t glorify the pursuit, either; consequences are explored. Multiple POVs introduce us to a crew boss dying of a mysterious brain ailment, a dealer who drifts from casino to casino, an ex-wife in a gambling recovery group, and the bookies who use their ill-gotten proceeds to open a fitness center/hair salon. A Seattle-area casino setting will connect with fans of the Seattle Seven authors, including Jamie Ford, Maria Semple, and Stephanie Kallos. Jonathan Lethem’s A Gambler’s Anatomy explores casinos through the eyes of a privileged male player; Queen of Spades explores the everyday people who work at one run-down establishment, and how their choices and belief in luck influence their fates. Author’s exemplary educational and teaching background will help with college course placement.