Say the words "summer reading" and the image of lounge chairs, umbrella drinks, and bowls of Chex-Mix evokes a Coppertone-scented reverie (OK, so that's my personal fantasy; feel free to weave your own.) But not all summer reading has to be of the so-called "beach" variety -- all fluff and stuff. A summer reading program such as our "Wild Reads" can be the perfect opportunity to dive into some of those weightier books you've been too busy to get to, or the chance to read the entire body of work of an author you've recently discovered. Created in a handy ten-item list (did we rip off David Letterman?), our "Wild Reads" log can make a perfect checklist to help you accomplish any reading mission.

So... go wild. Break out that Anna Karenina or War and Peace.

CH

One of the (only) benefits to being bed-ridden with the flu is that you can get some uninterrupted reading in. Here's what I did on my first week of Summer vacation while recovering from a nasty bug...

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All three books are about individuals trying to make their way in the world. Memoirs, more or less.

In Outcasts United the reader meets Luma Mufleh a Jordanian immigrant determined to make it on her own in the United States by starting a soccer program for refugee boys who have been transplanted from various horrific situations to Clarkston, Georgia, a small suburb of Atlanta. It's a fast and interesting read and, in the words of one of Luma's supporters, "No one person can do everything, but we can all do something."

The Mighty Queens of Freeville is a memoir from Amy Dickinson, the syndicated advice columnist. In the words of our very own Carol Haggas, "Buoyant and bright, Dickinson offers a refreshingly open and sincere tribute to life’s most important relationships."

And finally, Lost in the Meritocracy, is writer Walter Kirn's memoir about his formative education in Minnesota culminating in his matriculation at Princeton. Think "Holden Caufield goes to college" and you get the idea.

All three books were well worth the time. And now that my health is restored I can go back to getting caught up on Lost, the Complete Seasons.
JS

Looking for reading and/or listening ideas for the summer? Here are some lists to get you started:

NPR's Summer Books 2009 and Oprah's list of "20 Tantalizing Beach Reads" are online.

Deadly Pleasures Mystery Magazine and Mystery News have announced their nominations for the 2009 Barry Awards.

It might seem like the wrong season for horror, but these recent Bram Stoker award winners will help chill things down this summer.

And don't forget we have displays and lists in the Library and on our website, including audio book suggestions for adults and young adults (many of the titles have short audio clips so you can preview how they sound) and "It's Summer: Read for the Fun of It."

marlise

Have you read a romance lately? Apparently, lots of people have. According to an article in the Chicago Tribune dated April 7, 2009, sales of Harlequin Romances are way up, despite these difficult financial times. Not only are there subcategories to cover lots of different interests, but the stories are formulatic, with the heroine in an uncertain situation where she must learn to trust. And always there is a happy ending. This certainly does sound appealing after reading the news headlines. Although I haven't read much romance lately, there was a time when I did- back in graduate school, after a long week of classes, my own treat was going to the browsing library to pick out a romance to get lost in for a few hours. Again, comfort in unsettling times. Now I find myself in a study group with fellow librarians reading romances, and I'm again discovering how enjoyable they can be. Much to my surprise, I even found myself staying up reading way past my bedtime, when normally I fall asleep rather quickly while reading in bed. (In case you're wondering, that particular book was Slightly Married by Mary Balogh.) I'm also discovering that there's some very good romance writing out there, with great character development and background settings. Don't know where to start? The web site All About Romance features a page Favorite Books by Favorite Authors, where romance readers have voted on their favorites. (If you're already a romance reader, you can vote for your favorites at Favorite Books by Favorite Authors Ballot.) And of course, you can always ask the staff at the Reader's Services Desk for recommendations.

Fans of audiobooks may want to check out the latest nominees and winners of the Audie Awards which are sponsored by the Audio Publishers Association (APA). A complete list is available here with reviews and sound clips. Categories range from Humor (The Learners by Chip Kidd) to Mystery (Voice of the Violin by Andrea Camilleri) to Business/Educational (The Little Red Book of Selling by Jeffery Gitomer).

I'm not surprised Neil Gaiman won Audiobook of the Year (for The Graveyard Book) - he's one of those rare authors who is a wonderful reader as well. Do you have an audiobook to recommend? Leave your picks as a comment!

marlise