Library Staff Directory
Posted Jun 25, 2019
Summer reading for adults takes on many forms. Reading at the beach or cottage, listening to books in the car or reading to children. Recent book recommendations by Friends of the Shorewood Library Board of Directors include fiction, memoir and a book for families:
For fans of Lord Peter Wimsey and Harriet Vane, the Dorothy Sayers estate invited renowned author, Jill Paton Walsh, to complete the mystery Sayers was writing when she died and to write three more. Begin with Thrones, Dominations and enjoy the read! Submitted by Jeannee Sacken.
The Shortest Way Home: One Mayor's Challenge and a Model For America's Future, by Democratic presidential candidate Pete Buttigieg, has been deemed the best written political memoir of the season. New Yorker writer Jill Lepore praised the memoir for offering up both “political hope” and “the best love story.” Get to know Buttigieg, the 37-year-old, gay veteran and mayor of South Bend, Indiana, in this thoroughly engaging, heartfelt book by a fascinating newcomer to the political stage. Submitted by Priscilla Pardini.
Where the Crawdads Sing is a gorgeous debut novel by wildlife scientist and nature writer Delia Owens. With breathtakingly beautiful prose, Owens shares the poignant story of Kya, an abandoned child in the marshes of South Carolina. It is a tale of connection and trust wrapped in a murder mystery. The author had me at page one! It can be found in the Lucky Day Collection* of the Shorewood Public Library. Submitted by Tricia Briceno.
Lost Roses by Martha Hall Kelly is an historical fiction book set in the years shortly before World War I. A prequel to the best-seller Lilac Girls, this novel showcases strong friendships of the female characters as they move between St. Petersburg, New York City, and Paris. Submitted by Kathy Clark.
Taking place mostly in modern-day Sri Lanka and a bit in London, the novel Brixton Beach by Roma Tearne is perfectly rendered with admirable characters and a finely executed plot including civil war and terrorism. Tearne, who is from Sri Lanka and educated at Oxford has a rare facility for storytelling. No matter the season, give it a try. Submitted by Susan Lofton.
If your summer includes reading and playing with children, add Du Iz Tak? by Carson Ellis to your list. Adults and children in our home love reading Du Iz Tak? before going out to catch fireflies. Lots of laughs, an appreciation of nature and opportunities for imagination are the perfect recipe for this summer read. Submitted by McKenzie Sky Edmonds.
Inheritance: A Memoir of Genealogy, Paternity, and Love by Dani Shapiro follows the author searching for answers when she discovers through a random DNA test that the father who raised her is not her biological father. It is a fascinating read that looks at what makes us who we are. Submitted by Kathy Clark.
The Great Believers by Rebecca Makkai is a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize in Fiction and winner of other major awards. Taking place in 1980s Chicago and 2015 Paris, this novel pulls you into the lives of a close-knit group of gay friends as they face the impact and aftermath of the AIDS epidemic. Submitted by Anne O’Meara Stillwell.
The Witch Elm by Tana French (currently part of the Lucky Day Collection*) is a great book for summer. Tension slowly builds over the course of inexplicable events all taking place around Toby, an easy-going charmer and his extended Dublin family. Submitted by Elizabeth Jonas.
*The Lucky Day Collection, sponsored by the Friends of the Shorewood Public Library, features popular books that have long waiting lists on the CountyCat catalog. Copies of books on Lucky Day due not circulate to other libraries and are available to anyone who walks into the Shorewood Library. Watch for it as you first enter the library.
Blog submitted by Anne O’Meara Stillwell
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