As the sun continues to shine and the Midwest humidity kicks in, summer reading sometimes means staying inside where it’s cool and reading about the beach instead of going there. LibraryReads shares the books being published this month that are most loved by library staff. We have a great lineup of LibraryReads books for July, so read on to find a favorite to stay cool with.
“Wash Day Diaries” by Jamila Rowser and Robyn Smith
“At its core, this graphic novel is a story about four beautiful, strong black women and their friendship. Within the framework of hair wash day, we see each character dealing with her own issues, from work and relationships to mental health struggles.”
–Aryn O’Connor, Cabarrus County Library, Concord, NC
“What Moves the Dead” by T. Kingfisher
“A retelling of “The Fall of the House of Usher,” Kingfisher’s latest adds the creepiest of flesh to the bare-bones tale by Poe. Complete with a scary, isolated mansion and eerie behaviors of the residents, this version not only makes perfect sense within the original narrative, but adds a depth of understanding that suddenly makes all the pieces fall into place.”
-Sheri Stanley, Gulfport Library, Gulfport, FL
“The Pallbearers Club” by Paul Tremblay
“Tremblay always knows how to tap into the deepest of emotions, and this dual-narration horror thriller is both unrelentingly creepy and filled with the bittersweet pathos of a formative, toxic, unforgettable friendship in which one participant may or may not be a vampire.”
-Kate Currie, Hennepin County Library, Minneapolis, MN
And here are the rest of the favorites for July:
Ahoy, mateys! Arrr ye ready for a voyage through history? Inspired by this year’s Summer Reading Challenge, I read “Pirate Women: The Princesses, Prostitutes, and Privateers Who Ruled the Seven Seas.” Tis always been a pirate’s life for me, but I never before heard tales of ladies taking to the high seas. Thanks be to author Laura Sook Duncombe, for catchin’ me up on the stories of the many women who sailed beneath the jolly roger.
Spannin’ from the bronze age through the 21st century, Duncombe takes us on a voyage through the lives of dozens of women pirates. She also explores the cultural biases held by the landlubbers who recorded the stories of these pirate ladies. Like a well-honed cutlass, Duncombe cuts through the fog of historical revisionism and legend with a perfect mix of information sharin’ and storytelling.
I did find me self wondering about Duncombe’s definition of piracy. Her answer stirred something deep within the depths of me soul: “The heart of piracy is freedom.” Tis this sentiment that drove all the featured lassies as they sailed under a black flag, pillaging across the seven seas. Avast me, hearties! Pick up “Pirate Women” and set sail for the shores of knowledge. Tis time I shoved off. Fare thee well, mateys!
Three words that describe this book: Informative & entertaining
You might want to pick this book up if: You like reading the untold stories of women from history. Especially if those women happen to be pirates.
-Joe
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.
Set in England in the late 19th Century, “A Curious Beginning” follows the unexpected journey of lepidopterist, independent woman and budding lady detective, Veronica Speedwell. While this is the first adventure on which we join her, she has traveled the world in search of butterflies and experienced what the world has to offer in ways uncommon for a woman of her time.
This book is a light, fun, spunky page-turner that chronicles her unlikely alliance with Stoker, a grumbly fellow natural historian who begrudgingly joins forces first as a “protector” and then as a partner. They run from police and other opponents with mysterious and dark intentions, ultimately uncovering the truth about Veronica’s identity as well as solving a murder mystery. This book was a delight to read and perfect for a summer reader looking to balance a smart, feminist story, with a light and lively tone!
Three words that describe this book: Light, spunky, smart
You might want to pick this book up if: You’re looking for a smart, fun, page-turning summer read!
-Sara
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 online to discuss “Why Fish Don’t Exist” by Lulu Miller, an NPR science reporter on July 7 from noon to 1 p.m. Miller relates the life of influential taxonomist David Starr Jordan to struggles in her own life. Part biography, part memoir and part scientific adventure, this work of nonfiction is a wondrous fable about how to persevere in a world where chaos will always prevail. For similar books, try this list.
This discussion is geared toward adults. Please register for a Zoom link.
In the years since I first recommended Emily St. John Mandel’s work, her novel “Station Eleven” became the 2015 One Read for Daniel Boone Regional Library and later an acclaimed limited series on HBOMax. Was my recommendation the catalyst for these successes? I’m told the answer is no. Even if this library’s blog posts aren’t influencing television productions, perhaps an HBO executive would still like to arrange for some sort of gift basket to be sent our way. It would be a nice thing to do. In return, I offer a recommendation for adaptation into a future acclaimed limited series: “Sea of Tranquility” by Emily St. John Mandel. Continue reading “The Gentleman Recommends: Emily St. John Mandel (again)”
Gladys Swan is a Columbia, MO author whose latest book is “Ceremony of Innocence.” The fictional book follows an American woman named Florrie as she faces many tribulations while living abroad in Copenhagen, Venice and Prague during the late 1980s. Swan is both a writer and a visual artist who has a background teaching literature and creative writing at many colleges, including Mizzou. She has published several novels and short story collections over the years including the Carnival Quintet series and a New Mexico trilogy. She currently has an art exhibit up at the Missouri River Regional Library until June 30, 2022. Gladys was kind enough to take the time to be interviewed via email. Continue reading “Q&A With Gladys Swan, Author of “Ceremony of Innocence””
If you could trade two dollars and a little DNA to know your life’s true potential, would you do it? This year’s community-wide reading selection, “The Big Door Prize” by M.O. Walsh, explores this question and more. This offbeat and charming novel about small-town life, relationships and the power of dreams narrowly beat out the exuberant work of historical fiction “Deacon King Kong” by James McBride.
Before the public vote on the 2022 One Read title, a panel of community members considered a varied list of finalist books, from works of historical fiction to books exploring a range of marginalized identities. Continue reading “Literary Links: One Read 2022 Finalists”
Here are a few of the most notable adult fiction debuts for June. These titles have all received positive reviews in library journals. For a longer list, please visit our catalog.
“A Proposal They Can’t Refuse” by Natalie Caña
Kamilah Vega is desperate to convince her family to update their Puerto Rican restaurant and enter it into the Fall Foodie Tour. With the gentrification of their Chicago neighborhood, it’s the only way to save the place. The fly in her mofongo: her blackmailing abuelo says if she wants to change anything in his restaurant, she’ll have to marry the one man she can’t stand: his best friend’s grandson.
Liam Kane spent a decade working to turn his family’s distillery into a contender. But just as he and his grandfather are on the verge of winning a national competition, Granda hits him with a one-two punch: he has cancer and has his heart set on seeing Liam married before it’s too late. And Granda knows just the girl… Kamilah Vega.
If they refuse, their grandfathers will sell the building that houses both their businesses. With their futures on the line, Kamilah and Liam plan to outfox the devious duo, faking an engagement until they both get what they want. But soon, they find themselves tangled up in more than either of them bargained for.
Continue reading “Debut Author Spotlight: June 2022”
Below I’m highlighting some nonfiction books coming out in June. All of the mentioned titles are available to put on hold in our catalog and will also be made available via the library’s Overdrive website on the day of publication in eBook and downloadable audiobook format (as available). For a more extensive list of new nonfiction books coming out this month, check our online catalog. Continue reading “Nonfiction Roundup: June 2022”
Though we find ourselves a landlocked crew here in the Midwest, the ocean still can cast its spell on our imaginations. The summer reading theme, Oceans of Possibilities, provides an opportunity to revisit some classic works of literature about sea life. Several titles spring to mind. Continue reading “Adult Summer Reading: Ocean Classics”
