| Vol.
I, No. 9 | End
of School / Summer Issue | June
15th, 2001 |
Books
& Literature
The Book Worm
. A
Summer Reading List, from Those in the Know
The
Librarians' Choice Summer Reading List
. There
are worse crimes than burning books.
One of them is not reading them.
Joseph
Brodsky
Lazy summer days at the beach. ...
Lemonade and a lounge chair on the deck. ... A blanket under the
shady maple tree. ... All of these settings call for a
book. Finally, some time to catch up on your reading. What to
read next? ... Downstreet interviewed the people who know
books -- our local librarians -- for their suggestions. Here's what they
recommend. So, fix yourself something cold to drink, pick up a good read,
and enjoy. ... The Librarians' Choice
Summer Reading List Dorothy Alling Memorial Library,
Williston  from
Ellen Sinoff, Children's Librarian ...
The
Bonesetter's Daughter by Amy Tan
"It's about
a Chinese family. It has lots of suspense and lots of wonderful
dialogue." Five Quarters of the Orange by Joanne
Harris
"This is by the author who wrote Chocolat. This
book is the darkest of Joanne Harris'. It also includes
food. It's a very mysterious story about an unusual woman and her
children." from Janet Hurd, Substitute Librarian
...
In a Dry Season by Allen Banks
"All the
mysteries in Banks' Peter Robinson series are well plotted with interesting
characters. In a Dry Season is his best one. I've yet to
solve one of his mysteries ... and that's important." from Debbie
Roderer, Assistant Library Director ...
The Beekeeper's
Apprentice by Laurie R. King
"This book follows a fictional
character, Mary Russell, who is the apprentice of Sherlock Holmes. The
whole premise is really neat -- she's his intellectual equal. There's
witty repartee and it's very well written."
Carpenter-Carse
Library, Hinesburg from Jane Racer, Adult
Services Librarian ...
Comfort Me With Apples
by Ruth Reichl
"Ruth Reichl is a food critic. This is the sequel
to Tender at the Bone. They're both autobiography and funny,
funny food books. It's all about her romances -- it includes recipes,
travel, romance, food ..." Sport by Mick Cochrane
"Set
in the 1960's, it's about a young boy's struggle to belong with his friends
and his family. It's very funny and very sweet. It's also about
baseball in the 60's. It's set in my hometown, Minneapolis, and it
reminded me of growing up in the Midwest." Water Carry Me
by Thomas Moran
"This is a contemporary Irish love story with a
twist. It's about the unresolved conflict in Ireland and traces a
family's history with the IRA. It's suspenseful, but a love story ...
really well written."
Lawrence Memorial
Library, Bristol from
Nancy Wilson, Library Director ...
Back When
We Were Grownups by Anne Tyler
"This is a poignant story about
getting older ... and about wondering how different choices might
have led us on different paths." No Great Mischief by
Alistair MacLeod
"This book follows Scottish settlers in Novia Scotia
who move down to Canada to work, mainly as loggers." Singing
Boy by Dennis McFarland.
"All of his books are
wonderful! This one is about the untimely death of a father and how it
affects the family. It is sad, but somehow positive."
Lincoln
Community Library from Linda
Norton, Head Librarian ...
The Red Tent by
Anita Diamant
{See the Downstreet review, Vol. I, No. 5) from
Allie Thompson, Librarian Assistant ...
The Count of
Monte Christo by Alexander Dumas
"It's a classic tale of the
perfect revenge. It's a story about man against himself and the
world."
New Haven Community
Library from Nancy
Custer Carroll, Children's Librarian ...
The Pilot's
Wife by Anita Shreve
"This is a beach book, a non-stop page
turner. It's a fictional account of what it's like when you get that knock on
the door at three a.m. But somehow it's not depressing." Refuge
by Terry Tempest William
"This is autobiographical as well as having a
naturalist's perspective. It's set in Utah and is about cancer
survivors. The interweaving of the place with the seriousness of the
subject is beautifully done." The Hungry Ocean by
Linda Greenlaw
"This is good summer reading. It's about the only
female captain of a swordfish boat. It was a partner to the boat in The
Perfect Storm.
Pierson Library,
Shelburne from Marti
Fiske, Library Director ...
Girl with a Pearl
Earring by Tracy Chevalier
"It's the story of the Vermeer
painting ("Girl with a Pearl Earring") told from the perspective of
the girl in the painting. I'm a big history buff and the time period is
well done. This book has been one of the sleeper hits around
here!" ... Plus, Girl in Hyacinth
Blue by Susan Vreeland
"This book is also about Vermeer
paintings. Each chapter traces the history of a Vermeer painting through
its various owners to its original owner."
Richmond
Free Library from
Rebecca Mueller, Library Director ...
The
King of Elfland's Daughter by Lord Dunsany
"Lord Dunsany is
considered the 'father of fantasy'. This book was written in 1910.
It's about a young prince who crossed the border and carried off the
princess. How he lost her and grew old seeking her." A
Farm Under A Lake by Martha Bergland
"This is a small book,
not a masterpiece. It's sweet stories about a life in which you get
married, meet obstacles ... and rather than becoming dysfunctional ... mend
from broken bones." from L. J. Kopf, Children's Librarian
...
Raintree County by Ross Lockridge Jr.
"This
is the great American novel that people don't realize is the great American
novel. Set in the middle of the middle of the country, it moves through
the Civil War ... and through a man's life. It's a post-James Joyce Ulysses
novel with a completely American flavor." Winter's Tale
by Mark Helprin
"This is a unique book ... one of a kind ...
astonishing. It's magical without being maudlin. It's set in an
almost mythic New York City and Upstate New York." I Been in
Sorrow's Kitchen and I Licked Out All the Pots by Susan Straight
"This
is about a woman from the Georgia sea islands. The main character is so
extraordinary, so great. She's someone you'd love to meet and have as a
friend." Franny and Zooey by J. D. Salinger
"This
is a tiny little book with really big stuff in it. The ideas are so
deep, rich and far-reaching."
Enjoy the summer.
... lbw
. *******
******* We're thinking about making a Best Books list {see our
first Best Books survey and results in Back
Issues ...}an on-going feature here at DownStreet. In addition,
we'd like to hear from more book clubs in the area, whether open to new members
or not. Either way, we'd like to publish your reading lists, both here in
the magazine, or in our Community Pages. If your book club or reading
group is interested in participating, please e-mail us at ...
books@downstreetmagazine.com Let
us know the name, if any, of your club or group, how many members and if you're
open to new members, and where and when you meet. Finally, don't forget
tell us about your recent or up-coming reading list. . *******
******* If you'd like to submit a book review, whether
of a new title or something past, please e-mail us at books@downstreetmagazine.com.
The e-mail should contain your name, address, and a phone number where we can
reach you. You may also send a copy of your proposed review. The
text can either be included in the body of the e-mail, or you can send it as an
attachment in just about any word processing format. Please be sure to
include information for the title, author and publisher/edition. ...
If your review is accepted, we will pay a small honorarium for your interest
& your time. [See Freelancers
Wanted for more details.] If you would like to advertise in
this section, or throughout the magazine, please visit our Advertising
Info Pages ... or call, write, or e-mail ads@downstreetmagazine.com. *******
******* .
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