What are you reading this summer? Share the title, author and a comment about why you're reading it. We'll share reader's picks throughout the summer on the Read pages.
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What are you reading this summer?
Summer reading
Submitted by Jeanne (not verified) on June 14, 2008 - 9:23pm.
Books I am reading this summer:
"Three Cups of Tea" by Greg Mortenson and David Relin
This non-fiction presents a sweeping journey through 1990's Pakistan, a time when the Taliban was forming and taking hold. Greg Mortenson's failed K2 ascent leads him to his life's work building schools for impoverished communities in Pakistan. Inspiring!
"The Reason for God" by Tim Keller
I am a big fan of Tim Keller, the pastor and founder of Redeemer Church in NYC. His sermons,as well as his writing, are intelligent and thought provoking. He manages to inspire the listener/reader to action, not just contemplation.
"Prodigal Summer" by Barbara Kingsolver
I've appreciated how Kingsolver has developed as a writer from "The Bean Trees" through "The Poisonwood Bible." (I haven't yet begun to read "Prodigal Summer".)
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Local Authors Write Good Reads
Submitted by ebatson on June 15, 2008 - 11:02am.
It seems just as Los Angeles and New York seem to be meccas for folks who are drawn to be in movies or the theatre; North Carolina is a haven for writers. When my husband Jon Batson (author/performing songwriter) and I moved here from LA to be closer to family, we had the fortune to connect up with a number local writers through an online Meetup group called Write 2 Publish. While there, we formed an alliance with Stacey Cochran (NC State Professor/author) and several other authors and did a series of successful talks on "How to Get Published." Through our association we met a variety of wonderful people – bookstore owners, their hardworking staffs, current and future authors and folks who plain love books. Below are a few of my top picks: The Harrowing by Alexandra Sokoloff [Dark Suspense]- A massive storm dumps icy rain on isolated Baird College as the last students leave for Thanksgiving break. In spooky hundred-year old Mendenhall, five lonely students remain but they are not alone. Are these troubled misfits the victims of a college prank taken way too far, or is the mysterious presence a genuine haunting? They have three long days and dark nights to find out. The Secret Life Of CeeCee Wilkes by Diane Chamberlain [Contemporary Women's Fiction] Twenty-eight years ago, a North Carolina governor's young, pregnant wife was kidnapped. Now, her remains have been found and a man charged with her murder. Only one person-CeeCee Wilkes-can refute the charges against him. But CeeCee disappeared years ago. The Rands Conspiracy by Jon Batson. [Action-Mystery] This novella The Colorado Sequence by Stacey Cochran [Sci-Fi] - Physicist Dr. Amy Levine has discovered a mathematical sequence--the Colorado Sequence--that describes an underlying pattern and a guiding force within the very fabric of reality. Now she's on the verge of an astonishing breakthrough, and the U.S. government wants to know how she has done it. How has Dr. Levine learned to accurately predict the future? And they're willing to kill her to find out. After the Fairy Tale by Maureen Sherbondy [Poetry] Charmingly witty, wise and ironic, Sherbondy’s collection of well-crafted poems feature modern-day takes on what happens to our beloved fairytale heroes and heroines. Here you will find "the rest of the story." Right Lane Ends by Alice Osborn [Poetry] "Alice’s poems explore loss, love and family relationships through the lens of driving and being a driver. The poems are powerful, and sometimes personal, and connect emotionally with the reader as she reconciles past experiences with the present." - Sally Buckner
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summer read
Submitted by Carlton & Cathy Craft (not verified) on June 15, 2008 - 12:25pm.
Murder on the Cape Fear - Wilmington writer Ellen Elizabeth Hunter has an interesting sleuth, Ashley Wilkes an historic preservationist, who has some funny friends and relatives in her series set in and around the Wilmington area. It's fun to learn their local history while trying to figure out who-dunnit. Each book in the series is an absorbing read.
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for library patrons...
Submitted by AHamm (not verified) on June 17, 2008 - 2:39pm.
I'd like to add my own book, Dear Jane Letters, to those by locals. It is a humorous love story, very light reading, and is available for free through Wake County Libraries.
Personally, I have Anne Rice's Christ the Lord sitting on my shelf waiting for me. I bought it several months ago on the recommendations of a few friends and just haven't quite got to it. I also recently heard about Right Lane Ends and intend to check it out sometime this summer.
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What are you reading?
Submitted by d275 (not verified) on June 15, 2008 - 12:19pm.
Teashop Mystery Series by Laura Childs - starting with Death by Darjeeling. Set in Charleston, SC, historical district. Very Southern - culture, history, nature. Light, enjoyable read.
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what are you reading this summer?
Submitted by alice (not verified) on June 15, 2008 - 12:24pm.
Debbie Macomber - The Shop on Blossom Street
Debbie Macomber - A Good Yarn
Debbie Macomber - Back on Blossom Street
I wouldn't call myself a knitter (I've knitted a few things in my life) but these books are fabulous -- Debbie Macomber tells a wonderful story about the relationships that are formed between several women who gather for a knitting class. Highly recommended!
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The Tenth Gift by Jane Johnson
Submitted by Kathy Spade (not verified) on June 15, 2008 - 2:25pm.
My recommendation for summer reading is:
The Tenth Gift by Jane Johnson
This book is about two women in different time periods linked by a book on embroidery. This is one of my favorites. I received it for Mother's Day and couldn't put it down until I was finished!
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Stephanie Plum is the ultimate summer series
Submitted by Traci Nachtrab (not verified) on June 15, 2008 - 4:23pm.
I'm reading all the Stephanie Plum novels by Janet Evanovich. Perfect fun & hilarity for summer!
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Summer reading
Submitted by Karin (not verified) on June 15, 2008 - 7:19pm.
"The Book Thief" by Markus Zusak. There is not one wasted word in the entire text. It is beautiful, thoughtful, and a masterwork of creative writing.
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What I'm Reading This Summer
I'm the facilitator of my book club, the Wonderland Book Club, which meets once a month at Cameron Village Library. Our last book was "Atonement" by Ian McEwan and not only is McEwan a clever writer, he never insults his readers' intelligence and the images he paints stay in your head. One of his themes is the power of choices and how all of the choices we make (no matter how small) always have consequences and ripple effects. Great book and movie!
Right now I'm reading K. Hosseini's "The Kite Runner" for my book club, which is meeting this Friday and Sylvia Plath's "The Bell Jar."
More soon on these two books!
Alice