Feet out, toes wiggling by the water. A
sweating glass of iced tea. The sounds of harmony all around. Ah, summer. If
you have the wherewithal to enjoy it, do so abundantly. Readers usually manage
to relax more with a stash of books saved for the sort of relaxation or
mindfulness that isn’t as available during the busy part of the year.
To help anyone searching for the next
great read—an August breather, or a book to bring to the Fall book club
meeting—area librarians share their reading suggestions. Many are for a fun
summer read, some are heftier. Pick your poison, folks.
“Discovery
of Witches,”
Deborah Harkness—Wendy Payette, director of East Brookfield Public Library,
suggests this blend of “romance, intrigue, mystery, magic and paranormal, all
wrapped into one series.” It’s a page-turner, she says. Book two of the “All
Souls” trilogy, “Shadow of the Night,” was
released July 10. Harkness also says, “Those who like mystery thrillers with a
Boston setting should try “The
Technologists” by Matthew Pearl.
"Shadow
of Night," Deborah E. Harkness—Sharon Bernard,
director of the Fitchburg Public Library, echoes Payette on these books. “They
are about a witch and a vampire; their interactions and daily life seem to be
pretty normal, but there is always a hint of magic or witchcraft going on,” she
says.
“A
Blaze of Glory: A Novel of the Battle of Shiloh,” Jeff Shaara—Bernard also suggests this book, by the
well-known history writer, for nonfiction fans. “During this sesquicentennial
year of the Battle of Shiloh, Shaara returns to writing about the Civil War and
one of its bloodiest battles.”
“The
Forgotten Garden,”
Kate Morton—Edward Bergman, head of Adult Services at the Leominster Public
Library, consulted with three colleagues. They couldn’t agree on one book but,
coincidentally, each suggested one book with “garden” in the title. So go
outside, sit in the garden and read Morton’s book, along with “Garden Spells” by Sarah Addison Allen
and “The Garden of Happy Endings” by
Barbara O’Neal. I’m mid-Morton right now, and enjoying its mystery and
well-woven characters.
“Unbroken: A World War II
Story of Survival, Resilience, and Redemption,” Laura Hillenbrand—Kelly
Collins, director of the Bolton Public Library, says many Bolton book groups
have chosen this nonfiction selection. It’s the story of Louis Zamperini, an
Olympic athlete who served in the Army Air Force. When their plane was shot
down over the Pacific in 1943, he and several others drifted in a life raft
before being captured by the Japanese. “Summer readers will enjoy the thrills,
action, and romance of Zamperini’s story,” Collins says.
“Far
From the Madding Crowd,” “Tess of the D’Urbervilles”—Princeton
Library’s reading group decided to spend the summer reading works of Thomas
Hardy or biographies of his life. Librarian Wendy Pape chose these two, saying
she prefers “a little tragedy and passion for my beach reading.”
“Dandelion
Summer,” Lisa Wingate—Members of Beaman Memorial Public Library’s book
group in W. Boylston just read this novel, says Director Louise Howland. “This
is a story featuring two engaging characters that, although very different from
each other, share their stories and develop a meaningful friendship.” Themes,
she says, are hope, redemption and the importance of family.
“The Tiger’s
Wife,”
Tea Obreht—This August selection by Beaman Library’s book group, takes place in
the Balkans, after the Civil War, Howland says. “The author uses the voice of a
young doctor, trying to find out what happened to her grandfather, to focus on
the ways that people use stories to explain the unthinkable.”
“The Red Book,” Deborah Copaken
Kogan—Nancy Hayes Clune, assistant director/adult services at Thayer Memorial
Library in Lancaster, suggests Kogan’s novel. “Every
five years, Harvard alumni are asked to fill out a form about the past
half-decade for inclusion in a bound, crimson-colored volume known as the red
book. This novel (Kogan’s second) is set at the 20th reunion of the
class of 1989. The trajectory of their lives in the two decades after
graduation makes for compulsive reading.” She calls it her “beachiest summer
read (so far).”
“Gold: A Novel,”
Chris Cleave—Jean Langley, Northborough Free Library director, has several
suggestions, two of them new releases. She expects members of the library’s
several book discussion groups to want this novel, by the author of “Little
Bee.” Langley says “It’s going to be a hot one, about two women contending for
an Olympic medal in the 2012 games.” Talk about timely! There are three
library-sponsored book groups and others meet regularly at the library, so she
is mindful of them as well. “The problem with new book titles, as you know, is
that it’s hard to get a copy when everyone is reading it at the same time.”
She’s preparing for the ones she expects to be in demand, including:
“Dog Stars,”
Peter Heller—being released in August. “It’s one of those survivor stories, but
with a twist,” said Langley. “A man loses everyone he knows and loves in a
terrible flu pandemic, but he’s lucky enough to have his dog. They live in
an airplane hangar, doing the best they can, until he picks up a radio signal
distorted by static. He flies off in search of the goodness of his
previous life, but with no guarantees.” Sounds intriguing.
“The Art of Fielding,”
Chad Harbach—Langley recently finished Harbach’s novel, on “just about every
‘best book’ list. Yes, it’s about baseball, but as is often typical of
fiction, it’s about a lot more. Great meat for discussion, such as fear of
success, motivation of the actions of the characters, ethical dilemmas, choices
made, etc.”
“Gone Missing,”
Linda Castillo—Fran Pierce, Worcester Public Library recommends this recently
published book about Amish-raised Police Chief Kate Burkholder’s encounter with
evil, which, she says, “inspired me to read the first three titles in the
series in three days. This book might tempt a variety of readers outside
their comfort zone.”
“An American
Tragedy,”
Nancy Boucher, acquisitions librarian at Mount Wachusett Community College in
Gardner, digs deep into the past for this one, by Theodore Dreiser. Published
in 1925, it’s always a great read. “A timeless, compelling story of love,
passion, human frailty, and the ambitious thirst for social advantage—having
what others have, at any cost. A classic worth reading, or rereading.”
Not a librarian, but—Head Butler blogger
Jesse Kornbluth recommends “The Fault in Our Stars.” Says
Kornbluth, whose blog focuses on recommendations for a life more exposed to
what’s cool, novel, inviting and amazing: “The best book I’ve read
this year, and I say that even though it’s a Young Adult novel about kids with
cancer. Just do it, for God’s sake.”
Even a reader could not resist
sending in recommendations: Ellen Grapensteter of Syracuse, N.Y., suggests “How
it All Began,” by Penelope Lively and “Tender at the Bone,” by Ruth Reichl.
Ann
Connery Frantz is a writer and editor blogging at www.readitandreeap.blogspot.com. She welcomes your suggestions, book club news and
plans at ann.frantz@gmail.com.
