Have fun with SUMMER READING

Looking for summer reading ideas? Please check out our suggestions on this libguide.

And be sure to catch up on reviews in 2022 as we Continue the Conversation. 

Enjoy!!! Happy Reading!!

Best Books of 2020

Here (in no particular order) is our annual compilation of some of the “Best of the Year” lists:

100 notable books of the year from The New York Times: There is also a top ten list on their site and links for children’s books. Once again, remember that you can access these and other articles from The New York Times by following directions on the library’s ClassLinks page. If you set up your account a year ago, you may need to renew – see a librarian with any questions.

Best of 2020 from School Library Journal; Looking specifically for Young Adults, several titles are on my “to read” list, including: Clap When You Land and Sanctuary. I have already reviewed others on the list like Jennifer Niven’s Breathless.

Plus professional choices from Publishers Weekly OR Kirkus Reviews. Kirkus helpfully shows best fiction by a variety of categories (e.g., get your book group talking; read during the pandemic; debut authors). The mystery and thrillers I have enjoyed: All the Devils are Here, Dead Land, and One by One. Separate lists are provided for non-fiction and once again across several categories for best teen books.

And Goodreads has released its Choice Awards across several categories for 2020: https://www.goodreads.com/choiceawards/best-books-2020   This is always a “go to” list since reader votes and word of mouth have built interest.   

LibraryReads: Primarily for public libraries, listed top favorites for 2020: https://libraryreads.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/Voter-Favorites-2020-Flyer.pdf   

Name a publication and you are likely to find a best book list. For example, The Washington Post offers several lists, but I really liked their columnists’ take (published later in the month) on what each had read or watched during the pandemic – it is very fun and eclectic (Great British Baking Show, anyone?). The Wall Street Journal has a best of 2020 list for books as well as for music, television and more.

National Public Radio lists 1000s of titles (from 2020 and earlier years) and shows their covers in a fun, interactive way. Have fun exploring the list of titles selected for PBS’ Now Read This book club.  In the process, please do not forget to consult the Indie Next List - recommendations from independent booksellers.

More ideas from National Book Awards or local public libraries like Chicago Public Library offer recommendations -- with suggestions for all ages. And from organizations like The Greater Good Science Center or Teaching for Change’s Social Justice Books for all ages and from individuals (BarackObama, Bill Gates – and avid readers amongst your own friends and family).

There is plenty of overlap and some delightful selections on these lists. Ah, so many books and so little time. Enjoy!!! Happy Reading!! Catch up on reviews in the New Year as we Continue the Conversation.

Mystery and more ...

THE 7½ DEATHS OF EVELYN HARDCASTLE by debut author Stuart Turton is fabulous and slightly crazy – a truly unique, adventuresome and challenging mystery which fans will definitely enjoy.  Seriously, I started the ebook version and thought maybe the pages were somehow out of order. This is most certainly a twisty tale – think Gosford Park’s house party mystery filled with time travel on steroids. Don’t believe me? Consider the review from best-selling author Sarah Pinborough: "If Agatha Christie and Terry Pratchett had ever had LSD-fuelled sex, then THE 7½ DEATHS OF EVELYN HARDCASTLE would be their acid trip book baby....this is a locked room mystery like no other."

I will not inadvertently give away any surprises because I am only about a third of the way through this intriguing debut mystery. I simply could not wait to alert readers to this mystery title, especially since Turton's work received starred reviews from Booklist and Library Journal, is a LibraryReads selection for September and is also highly anticipated by publications like Harper's Bazaar and Marie Claire – Enjoy! 

A favorite quote:  “Do you know how you can tell if a monster's fit to walk the world again, Mr. Bishop? If they're truly redeemed and not just telling you what you want to hear? You give them a day without​ consequences, and you watch to see what they do with it.”  ― Stuart Turton

I also really enjoy the Sam Blackman myatery series (beginning with Blackman’s Coffin) and its emphasis on literature and historical locales or events. Until recently, I did not realize that author Mark de Castrique had another series (Buryin’ Barry) which includes the newly released title SECRET UNDERTAKING.  Here, the main character is Barry Clayton, undertaker and part-time deputy near Gainesboro, North Carolina.  In this new mystery, Barry and Sheriff Tommy Lee Wadkins set out to solve two – then three – violent murders in the county which appear to be related to convenience stores and an organized food stamp scam, perhaps somehow involving witnesses under federal protection. If it sounds complex, it is; fans of police procedurals will especially like this story.  Multiple levels of law enforcement (local, state and federal) are involved, often with overlapping jurisdictions and investigations. This makes it difficult for Barry to know whom to trust and for the reader to follow at times. The Sheriff and Barry cleverly hypothesized several connections, although not offering conjecture on some that I thought were fairly obvious. In any case, we were all fooled with an exciting, surprise ending! Overall, I enjoyed SECRET UNDERTAKING and despite slow development in some spots, I would recommend it, particularly for its likeable characters and folksy, small town charm.