“Portrait of a Thief” is a beautiful exploration of what it means to be an American-born person whose ancestry lies on a different continent. It’s also about stealing art. More specifically, Chinese art plundered from previous conquests by the Western world.
In the book, China has requested that their plundered items be returned to them, to no avail. So now, a wealthy private citizen wants to hire a group of Chinese-American college students to steal the art back. The problem is, none of them are majoring in theft.
Can they steal all five Chinese artworks back? Or will they get caught, ruining their futures in the process? With delightful character development, lovely writing, and a little romance, this is an excellent book choice.
Three words that describe this book: Deep, intricate, thoughtful
You might want to pick this book up if: you like heists and a Robin Hood-esque quest.
-Anonymous
This reader review was submitted as part of Adult Summer Reading 2022. We will continue to share these throughout the year.
In “How to Be Perfect,” Michael Schur, the creator of the TV series “The Good Place,” explores several philosophical models for living an ethical life. You learn about Aristotle, Kant, Sartre, deontology, utilitarianism, existentialism, and my favorite, ubuntu (I am because we are). Philosophy can be a slog, and Shur makes it fun and funny with section headings like, “Should I punch my friend in the face for no reason?” I liked this book because it shines a light on the value of trying to be a good person, and giving real thought about the best ways to go about that. The audiobook version is a real delight because Shur narrates, and there are cameos by all of the main stars of “The Good Place.”
Three words that describe this book: Thought-provoking, humorous, heartwarming
You might want to pick this book up if: You are a fan of “The Good Place” and want to learn something without it hurting too much.
-Anonymous
This reader review was submitted as part of Adult Summer Reading 2022. We will continue to share these throughout the year.
“Floaters
” is a poetry collection covering a wide range of topics, but especially focusing on Latinx and tenant rights movements and grief. I’ve long admired Martín Espada’s work, and this is certainly one of his best.
The most impressive thing to me is Espada’s emotional range, how often he makes the reader laugh out loud or feel almost physically sick with anger or despair — sometimes in the same poem. This range is reflected in his choice of subjects too, how he connects policies and social movements affecting millions to personal matters such as the death of his father or his enduring love for his wife. From the first poem in the book he works to tie together images of his personal, specific experience with stories of others’ lives and histories.
While the book often focuses on the worst of life — racism, exploitation, death — it maintains a sense of both beauty and humor, finding joy and meaning in the lives of the people it fights for or elegizes. The effect these poems have by the end is essential and frankly amazing: the compression of so many events and feelings into a slim volume of poems, a world of near-infinite wonder and sadness in such a small space.
Three words that describe this book: moving, beautiful, surprising
You might want to pick this book up if: you already love poetry OR you’re totally new to it and don’t know where to start! Martín Espada’s narrative style and focus on strong emotions and current events make his work easier to get into than some other poets’, while his imagery, line work, and impeccable word choice and sense of rhythm will impress those who read poetry day in and day out.
-Eric
This reader review was submitted as part of Adult Summer Reading 2022. We will continue to share these throughout the year.
I love the recent trend of books with Greek myths retold from a feminine perspective, and “Elektra” does not disappoint. This one focuses on three women during the Trojan War: Clytemnestra and Elektra of Mycenae, and Cassandra of Troy. However, we also have the voices of Helen, Penelope, and the men that enter the tale as well. Just as in her book “Ariadne,” author Jennifer Saint does a great job of integrating multiple Greek myths into her storytelling, along with the involvement of the gods and the power of women’s wrath. Overall, beautiful.
Three words that describe this book: Rage. Helplessness. Devotion.
You might want to pick this book up if: you enjoy mythology or fierce female protagonists.
-Anonymous
This reader review was submitted as part of Adult Summer Reading 2022. We will continue to share these throughout the year.
For a history geek, “When Women Ruled the World” is a treasure trove of information on four queens: Mary Tudor; Elizabeth I; Mary, Queen of Scots; and Catherine de’ Medici. Informative and entertaining, I loved the way the author rectified some incorrect or biased information that has come down through history on these highly influential women rulers. I also gained a new appreciation for Phillip II of Spain, whose historical accomplishments have been somewhat overlooked, and who figured in some ways in the lives of all these powerful women.
Three words that describe this book: Intriguing; Readable; Encouraging
You might want to pick this book up if: you want to learn more about the ways powerful women have made influential marks on Western/European history.
-Connie
This reader review was submitted as part of Adult Summer Reading 2022. We will continue to share these throughout the year.
“The Thirteenth Tale” introduces readers to Margaret, a young woman working in her father’s rare book shop and an occasional writer of biographical essays about long-dead authors. She is summoned by Britain’s most famous writer, Vida Winter, to document the author’s story before she dies. Both harbor secrets and the tale Winter spins involves twins, a falling-down estate, a governess, violence, a fire, orphans, gardens and gates — all of the makings of a fairy tale.
This book has echoes of “Jane Eyre,” “Wuthering Heights,” and other gothic classics. It’s a twisty literary mystery with just the right amount of darkness. I listened to the audiobook and was absorbed. It would be a great vacation read.
Three words that describe this book: Gothic, spellbinding, twisty
You might want to pick this book up if: You are a fan of the Bronte sisters, fairy tales, and love books about other people who love books.
-Anonymous
This reader review was submitted as part of Adult Summer Reading 2022. We will continue to share these throughout the year.
There are many good examples of hard science fiction, books that follow the scientific rules of space, but their accuracy is often bereft of compelling human interaction. “Leviathan Wakes” nails both! The complex characters face the possible end of humanity as humans would, with pain, anger, righteousness, and love — the author demonstrates these human struggles with skill. The basis for the television show “The Expanse,” this is the first of several books about what happens when a molecule from another galaxy is introduced into a politically fraught solar system.
In the book, Earth, Mars, and the peoples who live on resource-strapped asteroids in “the Belt” are at each other’s throats as they battle for preeminence and access to resources. When an ice-hauling freighter is blown up by an unknown stealth ship, leaving five survivors, it launches a war between Mars and the Belt. But who is responsible? And why did they want to start a war? What are they covering up?
Three words that describe this book: What is humanity?
You might want to pick this book up if: You enjoy very well-written characters struggling to define humanity in the face of the unknown.
-Alexis
I came across “The Wife Upstairs” as a suggestion from Overdrive on a Friday evening, and although I wouldn’t normally gravitate towards a thriller, I also cannot resist anything “Jane Eyre” related, so I decided to give it a chance. Fast forward to Sunday evening, and I had devoured it — definitely one of my fastest finishing-a-book times in the past few years, as a mom of young children. But with all the plot twists and turns, I just could not bear to put it down!
It is by no means a perfect book or an enduring classic, but that’s okay — I think it does what it intends to do: entertains in its own right while hearkening back to the original. My favorite bits were the well-known quotes from the classic novel, modified and spiced up with modern curse words — absolutely delightful! I also enjoyed the self-referential bits, as when Jane finds herself “creeping around the upstairs like I’m in a gothic novel or a bad horror movie.”
Three words that describe this book: twisty-turny, Southern gothic, classic-based
You might want to pick this book up if: You are looking for a quick summer read and enjoy thrillers and/or “Jane Eyre,” but don’t hold the classic up on such a pedestal that vulgarized quotes from it will upset you. Other retellings that you might enjoy (I know I did!) are “Jane Steele” by Lyndsay Faye and “Brightly Burning” by Alexa Donne.
-Erin
This reader review was submitted as part of Adult Summer Reading 2022. We will continue to share these throughout the year.
I met Tunde Oyeneyin while cycling on my Peloton bike and felt a strong connection with her workouts. She is authentic, strong, inspiring, compassionate, beautiful and caring. I picked up her book “Speak” because cycling is a lot like life — you experience ups and downs, highs and lows; it pushes you to your limits; you have good days and bad, but you are getting stronger from each lesson, on or off the bike. She leads with love and teaches with true grit. Her leadership comes from deep down in her Nigerian roots, her personal trauma, her love and losses in relationships, her hard work, and her passion for others.
Three words that describe this book: Love yourself first.
You might want to pick this book up if: You are in a rut in life, or your job, maybe school or a relationship. Do you want more for yourself? Have you experienced loss? Have you felt like you didn’t fit in or looked different from others, or were treated differently because of the color of your skin? Perhaps you’re looking to connect with Tunde on your Peloton?
-Roxanne
This reader review was submitted as part of Adult Summer Reading. There is still time to submit your own book review here for a chance to have it featured on the Adults Blog.
“Raising Good Humans” was a fantastic book about parenting. As a mother of two young children, I thoroughly enjoyed this book because it included practical, tangible exercises and advice on how to move from reactive parenting to forms of gentle parenting to create win-win parenting situations. It presents ideas how we as parents can work alongside our children to aid them in nurturing emotions, investigating solutions to problems, and evaluating better problem solving methods when conflicts arise.
Three words that describe this book: Enlightening, practical, eye-opening
You might want to pick this book up if: You are a parent to young or adult children looking to build stronger relationships with your children.
-Anonymous
This reader review was submitted as part of Adult Summer Reading. There is still time to submit your own book review here for a chance to have it featured on the Adults Blog.
