Summer is a time of sunshine, longer days and hopefully, more free time.
It’s time for backyard barbecues, afternoons at the pool or a vacation — complete with beach or mountains.
Most women, no matter the type of vacation, look forward to time to read. The average woman doesn’t want to read her students’ papers, documents or work orders, but a book of her choice.
Some women long to get up to their necks in a mystery, while others abhor dead bodies and clues and opt for a good romance set in a far off country.
Some women say their vacation will be the first chance to relax and read they’ve had in a long time. They busily download their Kindles and Nooks, or prefer the feel of a real book for their summer reading.
Scanning a table marked, “Great Titles Just Returned,” at the Schlow Library, you would be amazed at the eclectic mix. Some of those are: “Sixth Grave on the Edge,” by Darynda Jones; “Daughter of the God-King,” by Anne Cleeland; “A House Divided,” by Pearl Buck; “Mansfield Park Revisited,” by Joan Aiken; and “The Distant Hours by Kate Morton (Forgotten Garden),” to name a few. You can see the diversity in these titles from newly published to Pearl Buck’s book, which came out in 1931.
“I noticed the same thing,” says Amy Madison, Adult Services Librarian at Schlow. “As far as frequently checked-out titles go, there are some popular books that are still holding their own, but many that are one-time listed as well.”
Some of the books that she sees as women’s books (primarily) were “Yes Please,” by Amy Poehler; “All the Light We Cannot See,” by Anthony Doerr, “Chasing Sunsets,” “Shades of Blue,” “This Side of Heaven,” all by Karen Kingsbury and “The Vacationers,” by Emma Straub.
The most requested books for the Centre County Federation of Public Libraries are:
1) “Memory Man,” by David Baldacci
2) “Go Set a Watchman,” by Harper Lee
3) “Truth or Die,” by James Patterson
4) “14th Deadly Sin,” by James Patterson
5) “Every Fifteen Minutes,” by Lisa Scottoline
6) “The Liar,” by Nora Roberts
7) “The Rumor,” by Elin Hilderbrand
8) “Nightingale,” by Kristin Hannah
9) “All the Light We Cannot See,” by Anthony Doerr
10) “In the Unlikely Event,” by Judy Blume
Judy Blume is known for children’s and coming of age books and “In the Unlikely Event” is her first adult book in a while.
The suspense, thriller genre is very popular and many of the requested book titles are of the type to chill your body and make your heart race. Check out such intriguing tales as: “Second Life,” by S.J. Watson (said to be like “Gone Girl”), “Luckiest Girl Alive,” by Jessica Knoll and “Big Little Lies,” by Liane Moriarty.
Amy also reports that there are already thirteen requests for “X is for…” By Sue Grafton, who hasn’t devolved what the X is for — to date. The book is coming in August.
The Afternoon Book Club at Schlow will be held on the fourth Wednesday of the month from 2 to 3 p.m. in the Sun Room and will be discussing Emily Griffin’s “The One and Only” for June. The next meeting of the book club on July 22 will find the group discussing their reactions to “Can’t We Talk About Something More Pleasant?” by Roz Chast. This one is a BookFest PA 2015 Selection.
Let me remind you that BookFest will be occurring from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, July 11 in the Schlow Library Parking Lot. If you haven’t tried a graphic novel, this is an excellent chance to nibble and taste this increasingly popular genre. In August, join the group for “The Vacationers” by Emma Straub.
Can’t get away in the afternoon? Try the Evening Book Club that meets on the third Tuesday of the month from 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. in the Sun Room. Their next meeting will involve the review and discussion of “The Vacationers” by Emma Straub.
In August, “Spool of Blue Thread” by Ann Tyler is the selection for the group.
The Bellefonte Library also holds book clubs. June afternoon book club meets at 1 p.m. on Friday, June 26 to discuss Olive Kitteridge by Elizabeth Strout. This is the same day of the Summer Reading Program Kick-Off in the Garden from 2 to 4 p.m. so moms could easily combine these for a great summer afternoon. The evening book group will meet next on July 15 at 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
To join any of the book club groups, you have only to stop at the library, pick up the current selection, read it, bring it back and join the discussion.
Parade.com had high praise for “We Were Liars,” by E. Lockhart. Parade.com called it: “A rich stunning summer mystery with a sharp twist that will leave you dying to talk about the book with a pal or ten.”
“The Girl on the Train” has remained on the bestseller lists for weeks. Paula Hawkins really knows how to build suspense while telling the story of an unusual character. At least three people in my immediate circle have read this book and all spoke highly of it. (I was in the midst of it and left it at my daughter’s house, so don’t give anything away).
I also asked some young adult readers about their choices. One was reading “Me and Earl and the Dying Girl”. This book tells of a high school boy who spends most of his time making parodies of classic movies with his co-worker Earl. When he befriends a classmate diagnosed with cancer, his whole outlook changes. Author Jesse Andrews has written the novel to make the characters just weird enough to seem believable.
Roz Chast has written a graphic novel that has smacked people right in the face — especially if they are in the midst of caring for aging parents. The title is “Can’t We Talk About Something More Pleasant?” This book is a memoir of her life as she deals with the issues of the last years with her parents. Written in a comic book style, Chast treats an uncomfortable subject with accuracy and humor.
Another popular summer read is “Five Minutes in Heaven,” by Lisa Alther. This is a type of personal-quest novel with a very likable heroine, according to reviews. Ghosts, longings and dreams haunt the woman in the story as she tries to find answers to questions that have bothered her all her life.
A mystery, a non-fiction book that teaches you something, a romantic novel — they’re all waiting at your local library and bookstore. A good book can take you away, even if you’re only relaxing in your own backyard.
