Book Buzz

Looking for a good book? Ask at the Reference Desk for a suggestion or two. Whether you are a reader who likes romance, mystery, fantasy, science fiction or historical books, our librarians can assist you in finding that next great read.

Trends in Summer Fiction

Several authors this summer are writing about the same topical material. This trend seems to be purely coincidental; however, it makes for great thematic reading.

One of the themes is memory loss. S. J. Watson’s Before I Go to Sleep Continue »

Leane’s Picks

“I wanted a little something for everyone- smart, funny women like Janet Evanovich, mysteries, spies, conspiracies, and relationship stories.”

Smart Funny Women (or Men)

Evanovich, Janet. Smokin’ seventeen (2011)

Littlefield, Sophie. A bad day for sorry (2009)

Larsen, K. J. Liar, liar : a Cat DeLuca mystery (2010)

DiSilverio, Laura A. H. Swift justice (2010) Continue »

Jeff’s Picks

“I tried to make my selections a mix of current and recent fiction, mysteries, historicals, paranormals, and literary fiction. The common thread was that they are all novels with a strong sense of place, and in most cases, with one exception, that place was France.”

Harkness, Deborah E. A discovery of witches (2011)
Historian (and reluctant witch) Diane Bishop stumbles across a strange manuscript in Oxford’s Bodleian Library. It’s enchanted, and clearly of interest to powerful individuals. She becomes involved with vampire Matthew Clairmont, and they attempt to unravel the mystery of the manuscript and the ancient conflicts that swirl around it between the four races: humans, witches, vampires, and daemons. This fast-paced, first novel has plenty of historical detail and a fascinating alternative history.
Readalikes:
Kostova, Elizabeth. The historian (2005)
Setterfield, Diane. The thirteenth tale (2006)
Neville, Katherine. The eight (1989)
Barry, Brunonia. The lace reader (2008)
Continue »

Beth’s Picks

“I chose an eclectic mix of literary historical novels, nice reads, medical
narratives and thrillers.”

Readalikes for:
Brooks, Geraldine. Caleb’s crossing (2011)

Diamant, Anita. The last days of Dogtown (2005)
The small, dying 1814 settlement nicknamed Dogtown, on the shores of Gloucester provides the backdrop for these interrelated stories of its inhabitants. Diamant brings the period alive with domestic details and elegant prose.

Gunning, Sally. The widow’s war (2006)
Set 100 years after Caleb’s Crossing in Cape Cod, Lyddie Berry’s world is turned upside down when her whaler husband drowns. By merging historical fact with Lyddie’s story reader get an intimate peak into the daily life pre-Revolutionary war, with its gender, race and class dynamics.

Readalikes for:
Simonson, Helen. Major Pettigrew’s last stand (2010)
Continue »

Jackie’s Picks

“I went with an motley assortment. My selections range from the very light, can-be-read-in-an-afternoon work of fiction to the more time consuming, denser, narrative non-fiction, with a variety of middleweights in between.”

Kim, Eugenia (Eugenia SunHee) The calligrapher’s daughter (2009)
Set in early 20th century Korea, this is the story of Najin, the bright and brave daughter of a scholar and calligrapher. The story follows Najin from her early years into adulthood, from wealth to poverty and throughout the Japanese occupation. Readers who are interested in both historical and women’s fiction may enjoy Kim’s first novel.
Readalikes:
Anything by Lisa See
Continue »

Stories for a Snowy Day–DAR Booktalk–March 2011

Most titles can be found in Adult Fiction, Nonfiction, Paperback or the New Displays

Setterfield, Diane. The Thirteenth Tale. (2006)
Jane Eyre and Rebecca meet Possession

Taylor, Patrick. An Irish Country Doctor (2007); Continue »

Highlighting Historical Fiction

Historical Fiction readers may have different tastes and favorite time periods, but they all usually agree that getting the details right will make or break an historical tale.
In Susan Fletcher’s”“Corrag,” thirty-eight members of the MacDonald clan are killed by soldiers who had previously enjoyed the clan’s hospitality in 1692 Scotland. Many more die from exposure. Corrag’s story is one of passion, courage, love, and the magic of the natural world. Continue »