Nora, the owner of the bookstore Miracle Books, is asked to help Deputy Andrews prepare a book-themed wedding proposal for her friend, Heather. Although Nora is happy to help, she also knows the secret Heather hasn’t had the courage to share with her boyfriend. A secret that could bring their romance to an end.
Heather’s tangled family history, a murdered stranger, and mysterious rare books provide a quick read full of twists and turns. If you enjoy cozy mysteries and strong female friendships you’ll want to read “The Vanishing Type.”
This book is the fifth book in the Secret, Book, and Scone Society series. Reading the previous books will help fill out the characters’ backgrounds, but each book can stand on its own. As a bonus: Nora’s customer recommendations in each novel will give you plenty of titles to add to your reading list.
Three words that describe this book: absorbing, well-written, surprising
You might want to pick this book up if: If you enjoy cozy mysteries and strong female friendships you’ll want to read this book.
-Sue
This reader review was submitted as part of Adult Summer Reading 2022. We will continue to share these throughout the year.
“Meet Me by the Fountain: An Inside History of the Mall” takes the reader on a journey through the development and impacts, both structurally and socially, of the shopping mall. The author admits to having a penchant for architecture, so much of the early part of the book focuses on that aspect of malls. As the author expands upon the cultural transformation of malls, it grasps a larger audience of readers — unless you really like architecture, then you’re hooked from the beginning.
The author highlights the cyclical nature of malls’ popularity and decline over the years as society and its needs evolve. It’s particularly interesting to see the cycle play out presently, with the impacts of COVID-19 (which the author also addresses). Is the mall really dead or will there be a resurgence? This book dives into that complex question with historical context, leaving the reader to continue pondering the question; which isn’t necessarily a bad thing.
Three words that describe this book: Architectural, Cultural, Nostalgic
You might want to pick this book up if: You enjoy architectural history, nostalgia, and exploring the societal significance of popular places.
-Anonymous
This reader review was submitted as part of Adult Summer Reading 2022. We will continue to share these throughout the year.
In the book “Martin Marten,” author Brian Doyle takes us on a meandering, meditative, and often quite wonderful journey through a year in the lives of many human and non-human inhabitants on an Oregon mountain.
Through Martin (a pine marten), Louis (an elk), Edwin (a horse), an unnamed dog friend of Mr. Shapiro, and all the non-human characters, we catch moments of adventure and love, intelligence and survival. These individuals are largely personified even as we’re told (repeatedly) that we can’t possibly understand their thoughts and knowledge. It’s a distinct way to share a story and works (for me) largely because it’s not the main vehicle of the storytelling but is instead the regular reminders that the humans are not the only (living/non-living) creatures on the mountain. Continue reading “Reader Review: Martin Marten”
“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
