{Adults}
It's Summer Reading Time!
Here are some books I’ve enjoyed, or am looking forward to:
People of the Book: A Novel by Geraldine Brooks.
I have long been a fan of Geraldine Brooks' work, especially her first novel
about the plague in England, Year of Wonders. This, her latest novel, follows
the discovery of the Sarajevo Haggadah in Australia. In two paths, we follow
the story of the book -- how it was made, and lost and found -- and the story
of Hanna, the rare book dealer who is studying the work. Everyone I know who
has read this book has recommended it whole-heartedly, calling it one of, if
not the, best books they've read. With reviews like that, it has to be good!
The girl with no
shadow by Joanne Harris. The sequel to Chocolat. As anyone who read Chocolat
knows, Vianne is an incredibly complex and fascinating character, and Harris
writes powerfully about good versus evil -- and how the sides on such a battle
are never clear. All that over chocolates? Indeed. Vianne has moved away from
smalltown France to the bustle of Paris, and even as she desperately wishes to
leave her talents and her past behind, she ends up opening another chocolaterie,
and stirring up more than treats. This time, we are more fully introduced to
her daughter, Anouk, and to her younger daughter Rosette.
The cruelest month (a Three Pines mystery) by Louise Penny. I lived in New
York City for a time and always enjoyed seeing how well (or not!) my home was
represented in books, tv, and film. I think many people are drawn to reading
about an area they know, or that is nearby, and Penny's series, set in an
imaginary town in the Eastern Townships of Quebec. Penny creates a town full of
immensely likeable characters and a police detective, Chief Inspector Armand
Gamache, who feels like a Quebecois Hercule Poirot. Penny is set to write four
mysteries in this series, one for each season; this one, The cruelest month,
takes place in March, and the series will really appeal to fans of Agatha
Christie style mysteries.
An incomplete revenge by Jacqueline Winspear. I am not too much of a mystery
reader -- I'm pretty picky when it comes to the elements I want to see in the
work, and I never want to have to figure out on my own who did it -- but I love
the Maisie Dobbs series by Winspear. As with the novels by Furst,
Winspear's mysteries are about so much more than the mystery, and offer
an incredible look into post-WWI Britain and the changing roles of women in
society, as well as incredibly rich and compelling characters that you, as the
reader, feel as though you know. This is the fifth book in the series, and all
of the previous novels are just as good. I recommend sitting down with the
first and reading right through.
Here are a few fun
beach reads:
- Historical romances by Stephanie
Laurens (the Cynster series – “Where the heart leads” is the newest) and Julia
Quinn (especially her Bridgerton series, and the “Lost Duke of Wyndham”,
out this month)
- Sarah Strohmeyer, the Bubbles series of
mysteries (“Bubbles Unbound” is the first) as well as her other novels
(her newest, “Sweet Love”, comes out in June)
- Sophie Kinsella's
Shopaholic series
- MC Beaton’s Hamish Macbeth mystery series
Lots of favorites
have new books out or coming out, including:
- Chris Bohjalian, Skeletons at the feast
- Swan Peak: a Dave
Robicheaux novel by
James Lee Burke
- Janet Evanovich, Fearless Fourteen
- Elizabeth George, Careless in red
- Alexander McCall-Smith, The miracle at Speedy Motors, the latest No.1 Ladies
Detective Agency mystery
- James Patterson, Sail and The dangerous days of Daniel X (Sundays at Tiffany's is also very new)
- Ruth Rendell, Not in the Flesh: a Wexford novel
- Salman Rushdie, The enchantress of Florence
- also David Baldacci,
Sandra Brown, Lee Child, Patricia Cornwell, Clive Cussler, Dick Francis,
Jack Higgins, JA Jance, Faye Kellerman, Dean Koontz, Robert Parker, Nora
Roberts, John Sandford…
Be sure to give the Library a call at
253.6145 if you are interested in reading one of these books – we can set the
title aside or reserve it for you.
You can also check out other lists for summer:
From NPR:
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=90589316
From Salon Magazine:
http://dir.salon.com/topics/summer_reads/
From the New York Times, the 100 Notable Books of 2007:
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/12/02/books/review/notable-books-2007.html?_r=1&oref=slogin
(use stowefreelib and patron access to log in)
From On Point with Tom Ashbrook:
http://www.onpointradio.org/shows/2008/06/20080602_b_main.asp