I thoroughly enjoyed “Sun & Ssukgat: The Korean Art of Self-Care, Wellness & Longevity.” This book was just what I was looking for… a book about Korean culture with enriching insight to the Korean approach to well-being.

I’ve enjoyed similar topics for other cultures (Japanese ikigai, Costa Rican pura vida, Swedish lagom, Danish hygge) and this lived up to my interest and expectations. I also found an interview with the author on YouTube and appreciated hearing a behind the scenes perspective, and thus, I’m enjoying the book all the more upon reflection…

Three words that describe this book: Enlightening, insightful, impactful

You might want to pick this book up if: you’re interested in Korean culture or wellness and self-care.

-Tonya

This reader review was submitted as part of Adult Summer Reading. We will continue to share them throughout the year. 

“Embassytown” is a really magnificent science fiction book. It is essentially about language and how it shapes culture and understanding.

The book is set in the far future in Embassytown, a human colony on a far-away planet. This planet is home to aliens who use language itself in ways that are utterly foreign to humans, which leads to all manner of complications and, ultimately, a potentially world-destroying conflict. It is challenging to capture the magic of this book in a short review without selling it short — it simply must be read!

Three words that describe this book: Thought-provoking, captivating, surreal

You might want to pick this book up if: You want a wild sci-fi adventure, plus political thriller, that also deeply explores the concept of language and how it creates meaning.

-Adrienne

This reader review was submitted as part of Adult Summer Reading. We will continue to share them throughout the year. 

The book “True Biz” is a fictional book about growing up Deaf from the perspective of Deaf children and teenagers. It explores Deaf history, disability rights activism, and the cochlear implant controversy with an engaging story line and lovable characters.

The book includes educational snippets, almost like school worksheets, corresponding with the lessons one of the teachers gives in the Deaf school that the book is focused on. If you’re hearing and uneducated on the topic, you can learn alongside the students with these snippets.

Three words that describe this book: Coming-of-age, stirring, educational

You might want to pick this book up if: You want a fun story about teenagers, or you’re curious about learning about Deaf experiences from a disability justice perspective.

-Sofia

This reader review was submitted as part of Adult Summer Reading. We will continue to share them throughout the year. 

“Wonder Cat Kyuu-chan” is a four panel manga (reminiscent of daily comic strips, as opposed to a volume length story, although the strips do build on each other) about a young professional who adopts a cat. It is a middle grade to young adult manga, but which adult amongst us does not need a few quiet moments to look at cute cat comics?

Every few pages as the cat’s personality is shown to the human I would think, “this is the cutest thing I have ever read,” and then it would get significantly CUTER. Just a really pleasant slice of life manga to wind down with.

Three words that describe this book: Cozy, cute, funny

You might want to pick this book up if: You find ridiculous cuteness relaxing.

-Anonymous

This reader review was submitted as part of Adult Summer Reading. We will continue to share them throughout the year. 

The book “A Captain’s Duty” is about the hijacking of the cargo ship Maersk Alabama by Somali pirates in 2009. Captain Phillips tells the story from his point of view, explaining how he handled the crisis and made tough decisions to protect his crew, even offering himself as a hostage to keep them safe. The book follows the intense five days he spent in a lifeboat with the pirates and how he survived.

I liked this book because of the action and the level of detail. It felt like I was right there in the middle of the situation. The way Captain Phillips described everything helped me understand what he was going through, both physically and mentally. I also liked the insights into how he thought as a leader, how he stayed calm, and how much he cared about his crew. It made the story feel real and inspiring.

Three words that describe this book: Intense, courageous, inspiring.

You might want to pick this book up if: You might pick up this book if you’re interested in true stories, survival under extreme pressure, or learning how real-life leadership works during a crisis. It’s a good read if you like action, suspense, and personal insight all in one.

-Robbie

This reader review was submitted as part of Adult Summer Reading. We will continue to share them throughout the year. 

The book “So Many Stars” is a fantastic look at older genderqueer BIPOC adults through their own words. The subjects of this book have gone through a lot of rough times (isolation, persecution, the AIDS crisis, DADT in the military, etc.) but they have also found and created communities, found families, resilience, resistance and mutual aid through changing times.

I think one of the things that really stuck out to me was the number of people interviewed who said something to the effect of, “I have always just wanted to be me.” No matter your race, sexual orientation, or gender identity, I think this is something almost everyone can relate to, although personal choices and circumstances, cultural and societal expectations, and systemic inequalities may make those paths vastly different.

Three words that describe this book: deep, heartfelt, important

You might want to pick this book up if: you want to know more about the life journeys of older genderqueer adults

-Rose

This reader review was submitted as part of Adult Summer Reading. We will continue to share them throughout the year. 

The book “Maiden Voyages” explores the history of the golden age of American and European ocean travel through the lens of women that worked and sailed on the great ocean liners. It is an excellently researched tale that relates the stories of women that earned their living by working at sea, which includes immigrants and refugees, as well as the rich and famous.

I enjoyed learning about the history of the great ships of the 20th century and especially about their requisition in the war efforts and transformation back to leisure boats between and after the World Wars. With this I also enjoyed leaning about how women gained more rights and responsibilities at sea through time.

Three words that describe this book: Adventure, Leisure, Empowerment

You might want to pick this book up if: You enjoy learning about women’s history.

-Claire

This reader review was submitted as part of Adult Summer Reading. We will continue to share them throughout the year. 

In the book “It Shined,” the founder of The Ozark Mountain Daredevils, Michael “Supe” Granda, details his life through the lens of the band. He shares everything from his upbringing in St. Louis, to his move to Springfield, and his travels around the globe.

Supe is a conversational writer with a great sense of humor. It’s a long book that could have been edited down a bit, but you’ll finish knowing everything there is to know about this amazing Missouri band.

Three words that describe this book: Funny, comprehensive, conversation starter

You might want to pick this book up if: you love music, want to relive the 60s and the 70s, or enjoy the name dropping of famous musicians.

-Sara

This reader review was submitted as part of Adult Summer Reading. We will continue to share them throughout the year. 

I love it when a plan comes together. I equally love it when a plan goes off the rails and characters must somehow rebuild it on the fly. “The Lies of Locke Lamora” somehow enables the reader to have both of these outcomes.

The story could be summed up as a heist gone wrong. Or, a found family of thieves in a gritty underworld within a fantastically realized city. Or, a story about a brotherly bond. Or a story about the dangers of playing games on those that appear to have power and those that actually do. Or a story about the luckiest man alive. However you decide to summarize the story or the setting or the characters, it can’t be done without paying compliment to author Scott Lynch’s excellent writing that drives the story forward at such a pace that “one more chapter” easily becomes 100 more pages.

I loved the details of the city. I loved how the fantasy elements were so smoothly blended in that you could pass this book to a non-fantasy reader and they’d enjoy it just as much. I love the pacing and the action — the planning and the people pulling off the plans.

It’s an easy 5 out of 5 for me.

Three words that describe this book: Heists. Schemes. Stubbornness.

You might want to pick this book up if: Your favorite part of “The Mistborn Saga” was the planning to take down the Lord Ruler parts.

-Blake

This reader review was submitted as part of Adult Summer Reading. We will continue to share them throughout the year. 

“The Hive” introduces readers to the Fehler sisters, who are known as the “bug girls” because their family owns a pest control business in rural Missouri. After their father dies they have to join together to lead their family and the business into the future.

Because the author is from Missouri, she provides many easter eggs for fellow Missourians through the settings, places visited and scenery. It’s a powerful portrayal of a family and their bonds.

Three words that describe this book: Addicting, thoughtful, insightful

You might want to pick this book up if: you love family dramas or if you love Missouri.

-Sara

This reader review was submitted as part of Adult Summer Reading. We will continue to share them throughout the year.