July 21^st at 5:00 PM Pauls Toutonghi will be with us for a presentation on Evel Knievel Days.  It is always a pleasure to read a novel by an author willing to take risks, see the world a different way, and share the joy.  This book has such life and humanity, the characters are delightfully quirky, well meaning, but flawed and striving. Koshi Saqr descended on his mother’s side from the Copper Kings, his great-great-grandfather the rapacious William Andrews Clark, was a man who knew a thing or two about pulling wealth out of the ground of Butte Montana.  Koshi’s Dad deserted the family, returning to Egypt leaving behind his wife, infant son, and a mountain of gambling debts. Routine is big in Koshi’s life, he is a bit obsessive, wanting everything in its proper place and following its proper order. This can lead to interesting conflicts in world that seldom agrees to stay under control and a city that celebrates the exploits of a daredevil motorcycle rider.  He works in the museum located in his great-great grandfather’s mansion. Koshi’s Mom isn’t just marching to the beat of a different drummer; she has a whole other band.  The very ground that made her ancestors wealthy is poisoning her; the copper gave her an illness that manifests in some very odd behavior.  Evel Kneivel Days are in full swing when events spin out of control for Koshi.  His closest childhood friend announces she is marrying her boyfriend, dashing Koshi’s hopes.  A strange man shows up in town, visits Koshi’s Mom and leaves.  The stranger is dear old Dad; he didn’t even contact his son.  It is high time Koshi finds out about the other half of his heritage; he hops a jet plane to Egypt in pursuit of his father.  There he will find a whole new family, answers to who he might be, and the foibles of being human.  Amusing, endearing, and entertaining, Koshi is on a journey to resolve his heritage and come to terms with its legacy.  I loved the way Toutonghi wrote with humor and an original style, telling a lively entertaining story about a family that refuses to fit into a box.