It is a truth universally out there that any discussion of UFOs must be in want of an “X-Files” reference. For several decades at least, humans have been fascinated by the idea of extraterrestrial life, which might explain why many television viewers were as obsessed with “The X-Files” as Agent Mulder was with finding aliens. Of course, that wasn’t the first or last TV show centered on the idea of otherworldly visitors to Earth. There’s been the ever-enduring “Doctor Who” and more recently, “Project Blue Book,” with dozens of others along the way.
Since the release of U.S. Department of Defense videos showing navy pilot encounters with unexplained aerial phenomena and the announcement of a forthcoming Pentagon report on the same subject, UFOs have become an even hotter topic. For folks trying to sort out fact from rumor and alien spacecraft from weather balloon, you have lots of company. Several authors have tackled the issue. Continue reading “UFOs”
“What Happens in Paradise” is a book about a woman who is grieving the unexpected loss of her husband who died in a helicopter crash. The woman is also grappling with the news that her husband was leading a double life in the Caribbean with a mistress and a 13-year-old daughter. In this second installment of the series, the woman and her two adult sons are back on the island of St. John to uncover the truth about the death and double life of their husband and father. In the process, they learn truths about themselves and what they want for their futures. This book is a true page turner, and I could not wait to read what new information would be revealed or what would happen next. This book was also very clean — no uncomfortable intimate moments.
Three words that describe this book: Page-turner, Dramatic, Tropical
You might want to pick this book up if: You want to escape to the island of St. John for family drama and secrets, romance, and overall fun in the sun.
-Anonymous
This reader review was submitted as part of Adult Summer Reading. Submit your own book review here for a chance to have it featured on the Adults Blog.
In the book “The House in the Cerulean Sea,” a lonely middle aged bureaucrat is sent on a classified trip to inspect an orphanage of highly unusual magical children living on an isolated island. He finds himself being drawn in by these strange children and even more so by their enigmatic and protective headmaster as his objectivity is tested as it’s never been tested before. I loved this book so much even though it’s not my typical genre. It was such a wonderfully crafted story that made me laugh and cry and I didn’t want it to end.
Three words that describe this book: Endearing, fantastical, heartwarming
You might want to pick this book up if: You love Harry Potter.
-Anonymous
This reader review was submitted as part of Adult Summer Reading. Submit your own book review here for a chance to have it featured on the Adults Blog.
I’m continuing my tour of the US and leaving the Rocky Mountains to travel the Great Plains. This part of the trip is a bit nostalgic for me because I have lived in two of the five states. Continue reading “Travel Through Story: The Great Plains”
Most people know the basics of the story of the Trojan War, but “A Thousand Ships” tells the stories of the women who were affected by the war, including those mostly ignored by history. Through their voices and tales, the reader has a better understanding of the time period and what women went through. I love mythological stories, so this was right up my alley.
Three words that describe this book: mythological, feminist, historical
You might want to pick this book up if: You like authors Madeline Miller and Mary Renault, or the book “The Silence of the Girls” by Pat Barker.
-Ashley
This reader review was submitted as part of Adult Summer Reading. Submit your own book review here for a chance to have it featured on the Adults Blog.
I’ve recently devoured Christopher Buehlman’s oeuvre, and I hereby enthusiastically recommend all six of his novels. Here’s a quick rundown of the first five.
“Those Across the River” is about some bad things across a river. This book makes emphatically the case that if your town ritualistically sends a pig into the woods, it’s best that the ritual continues.
“Between Two Fires” is about a girl on a mission to save the world and the disgraced knight that accompanies her. The Black Plague is ravaging France. Also ravaging France are demons. On their travels they have a series of horrific encounters. Classic horror travelogue thing going on here. Continue reading “The Gentleman Recommends: Christopher Buehlman”
“The Light Through the Leaves” is about a mother finding a way to move through grief and heartbreak, and a daughter learning to build relationships after years of isolation. Both struggle to navigate relationships and mental stability. All of the characters in this book were so relatable, dynamic and unique. I’m typically a slow reader, but I was so engrossed in this story that I finished it in just a few days. I enjoyed it because the characters worked long and hard for their heartwarming ending. The story, characters, relationships, everything was so well thought out by the author. Nothing seemed too convenient, the story was believable and intriguing. It was everything I love in a book.
Three words that describe this book: Heartwarming, relatable, inspiring
You might want to pick this book up if: You appreciate a hard-earned, happy ending.
-Anonymous
This reader review was submitted as part of Adult Summer Reading. Submit your own book review here for a chance to have it featured on the Adults Blog.
Join us to discuss the historical novel “Hamnet: A Novel of the Plague” by Maggie O’Farrell. The story is set in England during the Black Death of the late 16th century. A young Latin tutor (Shakespeare) falls in love with an extraordinary, eccentric young woman. Just as his career takes off, however, their young son dies of the plague. This novel was the winner of the Women’s Prize for Fiction and the National Book Critics Circle prize for fiction. This discussion is geared for adults.
More books about Shakespeare and the plague during this time period here.
Please register to receive a Zoom link.
One Read, the community-wide reading program coordinated by the Daniel Boone Regional Library, celebrates its 20th anniversary this September with Casy Cep’s “Furious Hours: Murder, Fraud, and the Last Trial of Harper Lee.” This gripping mashup of true crime and literary biography beat out the cleverly crafted dystopian novel “The Resisters” by Gish Jen.
Before the public vote on the 2021 title, a panel of community members considered a varied list of finalist books. Their themes run the gamut of timely topics from immunization and mental health to systemic racism and capitalist consumerism.
During COVID lockdowns, many of us spent more hours connected to the internet, scrolling, shopping and watching. In “Trick Mirror: Reflections on Self-Delusion,” Jia Tolentino shares candid, sharp, sometimes wry, often bleak personal essays examining and skewering our self-obsessed consumer culture and the pressures — particularly for women — of living online. Continue reading “Literary Links: One Read Final 10”
Editor’s note: This reader review was submitted as part of Adult Summer Reading. We will be sharing more throughout the year.
“The Enchanted Sonata” is a retelling of the story “The Nutcracker” with a musical twist. Music has magic, and in one world, music turned all the soldiers and the prince into nutcrackers and the children into toys. Clara, an accomplished pianist, is whisked into this world and discovers she has this magic within her as well and, after many adventures, is able to reverse the spell and turn everyone back into humans. As a pianist and an avid fan of fairy tales, I really enjoyed how the two were intertwined. Additionally, the language used within this book was vivid and absolutely gorgeous. I adore how this author takes words appropriate to the theme of the story—such as music in this case—and so matter-of-factly incorporates them into the narrative. It adds both a charm and a wholeness to the book.
Three words that describe this book: Gorgeous, delightful, lyrical
You might want to pick this book up if: You love music, fairy tales, and beautiful literary imagery.
-Anonymous
