Books by the Lake, Beebe Library’s long-running book discussion group, recently discussed “Baking Cakes in Kigali,” Gaile Parkin’s soaring novel set in an international apartment complex in Rwanda.

Those interested in reading more novels set in Africa may want to check out the following titles: “The Bride Price,” “Half of a Yellow Sun,” and “Little Bee.” These are the titles of three Nigerian novels by three different authors and they all provide a different slice of time and culture within Nigeria.
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Book discussion group for mystery readers
Supper Sleuths, Beebe Library’s book discussion group for mystery lovers, will meet at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, November 9 to dicsuss Canadian Mysteries. Supper Sleuths meets on the second Tuesday of each month to discuss mysteries fro a variety of genres.

Are you ready for more relaxing vacation reads? Here are a few suggestions for readers as you search for the perfect way to enjoy the last of the summer sun. Most of these titles are already at the library or soon to be found there.

Getting your hands on any copy of the Millennium Trilogy is difficult. Steig Larsson’s series begins with The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, continues with the The Girl Who Played with Fire, and ends with The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet’s Nest. While waiting, check out both Arnaldur Indridason’s Jar City (Iceland) or Karin Fossum’s Don’t Look Back (Norway) for the first in two excellent series. Continue »

Here are some other books and authors worth checking out
Jodi Picoult’s readers are immediately drawn into the lives of ordinary people in extraordinary circumstances. She creates communities familiar to everyone. The author then explores what happens to everyday people when their lives go out of control. Picoult is known for her current and controversial issue-oriented themes, presenting all sides of the topic, and creating sympathy for everyone involved, making it difficult to take sides. Readers return to her for her highly satisfying stories that feature consistently interesting characters in an easy-to-read but compelling, page-turning tale.
Jodi Picoult Readalikes

Hot new fiction titles
Are you ready for more beach reads? Here are a few suggestions for readers as you search for the perfect way to relax amidst the sun and sand or in your air-conditioned living rooms.
First up are some energizing adrenaline-inducing page-turners. If you are unfamiliar with Lisa Gardner and looking for a suspenseful read, then this is a great time to discover her. Her novel, The Neighbor, revolves around the overnight disappearance of a young mother. Alternating points of view and cliffhanger chapter endings drive the pace and keep readers off balance in this compelling and unsettling read.
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Library plans events to celebrate
During the month of January the library will be celebrating Jane Austen with displays and a variety of programs, including movies, a Regency Period Costume Demonstration and a Bollywood Bance Demonstration.
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This summer’s weather has certainly made it harder to wander from home, and our bank accounts are lower than expected so international travel this summer may be a luxury few of us can truly afford. Instead, venture mentally from your porch swing or comfortable sofa into some fictional depictions of some real places for crime and detection.
In A Carrion Death by Michael Stanley, enjoy the exotic beauty of Botswana as Detective Kubu unravels a mystifying murder and uncovers a very tangled web of conspiracy. Continue »

Award winners are a great resource to turn to when you are looking for a sure-bet title to please your reading palate. Aside from some obvious sources like the National Book Awards and the Mystery Writers of America’s Edgar Awards—there is a group of librarians (RUSA) who choose the best genre fiction of the year—fantasy, historical, horror, mystery, romance, science fiction, suspense, and women’s fiction. Often this list intersects with other “best” lists, but what is always compelling about this group of titles is that often it is the under-appreciated writer that gets a nod. These writers often experiment with different ways of telling stories, in addition to producing books that readers will savor for a long time.
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