The Reluctant Fortune-Teller

January 1, 2018
An unassuming older man finds an unexpected new direction for his life in this debut novel.Seventy-three-year-old Norbert Zelenka has been a quiet person his whole life and assumes he'll live out his days thusly in a quiet tourist town in upstate New York. His first surprise, as the novel opens, is that he's caught the attention of Carlotta's Club, a tightknit group of three older women he sees often at The Gibbon Corner Art League and Gallery. More surprising is their suggestion that he become the town fortuneteller. It is such a ridiculous and invasive idea that Norbert would never consider it, not unless he was broke and needed to pay veterinary bills for his miniature Chihuahua and sole companion, which happens to be the situation. The club teaches him everything they know from earlier dabbles in the psychic arts, and Carlotta, their forceful leader, installs him at her niece's floundering cafe. It turns out that Norbert has a knack for the art of card reading or, more accurately, the art of attentive listening and incisive feedback. A lot of the fun of the novel is eavesdropping on his many sessions (which hint that he has real psychic abilities, but keep the jury out on the issue). His success is welcome to all except Carlotta, who had planned to use him more as puppet than protege. The two butt heads, and Norbert repetitively fears that he has too much responsibility for the lives of others. But this is padding before the book gets to its real question: will Norbert be able to help Carlotta's granddaughter, Summer, who is in a real psychological crisis?Holding more surprise for its characters than its readers, this novel is nonetheless charming, warm, and wittily told.

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February 15, 2018
In a lakeside tourist town, 73-year-old Norbert has no way to pay the bills, thanks to mooching relatives. When self-appointed leader and busybody Carlotta learns of Norbert's downtrodden lifestyle, she makes him her latest project. Engaging Norbert's natural observational and empathic abilities, her ladies club teaches him how to read cards. As he tells fortunes for a small profit, heagainst his better judgementrealizes he might have the supernatural gift, after all. Frost's cast of senior citizens shine in her comical debut, especially dear, lonely Norbert, who just wants to give advice to those that need guidance, and persnickety Carlotta, who desperately strives to be the most powerful and knowledgeable person in the room. As Norbert's readings force his clients to address their depression, secrets, and fear, the whole crew learns about friendship, honesty, and the importance of healing. For extra detail and fun, every chapter begins with a card description that foreshadows coming events. The Reluctant Fortune Teller will charm any reader looking for a sweet, witty, zany read.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2018, American Library Association.)