First published 1998
Alberto Manguel's "The Ark in the Garden" is a whimsical tale of one man's quixotic attempt to prepare for an impending apocalypse. When an eccentric neighbor convinces José that a great flood is imminent, the mild-mannered librarian sets out to build an ark in his suburban backyard. As José struggles to construct the massive vessel, his wife and neighbors watch with a mixture of bemusement and growing alarm. Will the floods come? And if so, will José's homemade ark be seaworthy enough to save the day? Blending humor, heartbreak, and a dash of magical realism, this charming novel explores the lengths we'll go to in the face of uncertainty, and the profound connections that emerge when community bands together in the face of crisis.
Genres: literary-fiction, humor, contemporary, magical-realism
Vibes: intimate, thought-provoking, whimsical
Tropes: fish-out-of-water, found-family
Setting: Canada
Period: 20th Century, 1993-
76 pages · Hardcover · Macfarlane Walter & Ross