Author

Title

Comments

Karon, Jan

Light in the Window

Jan Karon writes a very heartwarming story about two very different people and how their lives become intertwined.  The whole series is a “must read”. HC

Dubois, Brendan

Buried Dreams

All of his stories revolve around the eastern seacoast. He changes the names of some of the towns, but Hampton, Seabrook, etc. are easy to figure out! This story digs into the history of the Vikings and the Native Americans—which came first?!  A good read on a lazy summer day!!! HC

Bradbury, Ray

Fahrenheit 451

An SF classic!  Immerse yourself in a world where what you read is determined by the government, not you… DG

Dr. Seuss

Horton Hatches the Egg

Who couldn’t admire an elephant who keeps his word through bad weather, ridicule and being sold to the circus? DG

Lindgren, Astrid

Pippi Longstocking

To a shy, young girl, Pippi’s antics were a secret pleasure. Introduce your children to this marvelous character with upside-down braids and who scrubs floors by wearing brushes on her feet! DG

Sams, Carl. R., II and Jean Stoick

Stranger in the Woods

A beautiful story to be shared by children and adults alike. The photographs of nature and the animals are captivating. RE

Russell, Mary Doria

The Sparrow

The sole survivor of a failed Jesuit mission to a new planet, Father Emilio Sanchez returns to Rome with a broken body and spirit. Read to find out what happened in this novel which explores humanity and faith. DG

Jackson, Shirley

The Lottery

Re-read Jackson’s most famous short story and dip into her many others. DG

Stegner, Wallace

Angle of Repose

A novel of history and transformation, here the main character, Lyman Ward, uncovers truths about his own life as he writes a family history of his grandparents’ lives. DG

Keene, Carolyn

The Secret of the Old Clock

Reconnect with long summer days sipping lemonade and wishing your life was as interesting as Nancy’s! DG

Banks, Russell

Cloudsplitter

Don’t be intimidated by its size, this historic novel is a fascinating look at Civil War “terrorist” John Brown (Harper’s Ferry) as told by his only living son, Owen. DG

Bemelmans, Ludwig

Madeline’s Rescue

Who knew living in a convent could bring such excitement? Another childhood heroine of mine! DG

Jackson, Shirley

We Have Always Lived in the Castle

Murder, poison, and madness set on the Blackwood family estate!  A captivating gothic tale dealing with the evils of the human mind. Shirley Jackson at her best. DA

Scottoline, Lisa

Dead Ringer

One of Lisa Scottoline’s best mystery-thrillers! Philadelphia attorney Bennie Rosato’s wallet disappears and her life spirals out of control.  Someone is cruising around town with Bennie’s ID, but she’s also sporting Bennie’s face!  Old world Italian mothers, pink haired business associates, and a cold blooded killer complicate the search for a sister Bennie never knew existed. DA

Frayn, Michael

Spies

Stephen Wheatley and his best friend think they have discovered spies in their neighborhood.  The Blitz is raging in nearby London, and they are caught up in the excitement. But dabbling in adult affairs brings its own consequences to these youths and their families. It’s a suspenseful read that raises moral issues for these young men on the brink of adulthood. It’s a page-turner with substance! CP

Evanovich, Janet

Eleven on Top

Janet Evanovich keeps you on the edge of your seat in this new thriller. Trouble follows Stephanie Plum when she tries to give up her life as a bounty hunter. Find out if she can take the heat! AL

Mistry, Rohinton

A Fine Balance

Set in a rural Indian town during the 1970’s, Mistry captures the struggles of four strangers thrust together. Caught up in a series of misfortunes, one more catastrophic than the next, they refuse to give up, pointing out, as Faulkner once said, “Man will not only endure but prevail.” Mistry paints an enduring panorama of the human spirit in an inhuman state. CP

Cather, Willa

My Antonia

One of the few modern voices who can aptly depict the positive forces of the American spirit. The beauty of the landscape amidst the hardships of pioneer life in Nebraska reveal the love of individuals for the land and its people. The striking image of the plow against the sun, the determination of Lena to better herself in this new country, and the stories of Russian Pavel and Peter give life to this raw country. As Jim Burden, the narrator, says, “This is not a country at all but the stuff of which a country is made.”  CP

Fitzgerald, F. Scott

The Great Gatsby

One of the most beautifully crafted novels that captures perfectly the Jazz Age and the search for the American Dream. His closing lines leave us with the haunting illusion that the dream is possible: Gatsby believed in the green light, the orgiastic future that year by year recedes before us. It eluded us then, but that’s no matter—tomorrow we will run faster, stretch our arms out farther… And one fine morning—

So we beat on, boats against the current, borne back ceaselessly into the past.

Anderson, Sherwood

Winesburg, Ohio

Sherwood Anderson aptly depicts mid-western rural life during the early 20^th century. In a singe phrase he captures the essence of a character. His first character, “Wing Biddlebaum, forever frightened and beset by a ghostly band of doubts, did not think of himself as in any way part of the life of the town.” In a series of stories, Anderson not only captures Winesburg’s citizens, but he also traces the development of protagonist George Willard who grows to maturity to see his life there as “But a background on which to paint the dreams of his manhood.”  CP

McCullough, Colleen

The Thorn Birds

Colleen McCullough’s epic saga of the Cleary’s down under. A vast sheep station is the backdrop for this tapestry of their lives with threads that reach from the outback to the halls of the Vatican. DA

Cornwell, Patricia

Postmortem

The Kay Scarpetta novel that started it all! The Chief Medical Examiner of the Commonwealth of Virginia is on the prowl for a serial killer. Follow her through the CSI nitty-gritty, into the homes of victims, the medical examiner’s office, the autopsy theater…and Kay’s personal life. Is she also on the murderer’s list?  The first and still the best! DA

Clarke, Arthur C.

Childhood’s End

An enduring science fiction classic which was originally written in the 1950’s, this SF novel ventures into the stars with the arrival of the space ships of the Overlords. What is their purpose? Are they here to further their fortunes or to usher the people of the third planet into the vast possibilities of an unimaginable future? Spend a couple of hours and find out. DA

Sarton, May

Plant Dreaming Deep

Equal parts memoir, journal and survival guide, May Sarton has laid before us a work of contemplative stillness resonating with rich characters which include a run down old colonial house and its neglected gardens, various wildlife, colorful townspeople, and the ghosts of the past. This is a magical work, steeped in the mindfulness of everyday life in Norton, NH in the 1960’s. A balm for the soul! DA

DeMille, Nelson

Plum Island

Buried treasure and secret genetically altered viruses combine with foul play and a fierce storm at sea in this thriller set on Plum Island, off the coast of Long Island, NY. One of DeMille’s best page-turners! DA

Lee, Harper

To Kill a Mockingbird

Maycomb, Alabama during the Depression years is a hotbed of violence and bigotry. It is also the home of 8-year-old Scout Finch, her brother Jem and father Atticus (attorney-at-law). Over a three-year period, Scout recounts the people and events—dramatic and everyday—that shape her life, teaching her understanding and compassion. An unforgettable classic! DA

Naslund, Sena Jeter

Ahab’s Wife

Introduce yourself to Ahab’s Wife as you enter the story of a bright, strong woman whose life is adventurous, passionate and closely entwined with the sea. With the Star Gazer, we experience her vital and varied life during the time of Margaret Fuller and Ralph Waldo Emerson. AH

Robertson, Adele Crockett

The Orchard

A memoir of a young woman’s single-handed effort to save an Ipswich, MA farm during the Depression. Discovered by her daughter, Adele Robertson’s diary records her struggle to save the apple orchard. Her newly achieved college degree has not prepared her for broken machinery, killing frosts or reviving and orchard. We meet some fine characters in the workers who help her, to whom she is determined to pay a decent wage. A celebration of decency amidst grim prospects. AH

 Tey, Josephine

Inspector Alan Grant is in the hospital driving himself and everyone he comes in contact with insane. He’s bored and needs  something to do while in a hospital bed. What better thing to do than solve a centuries old mystery – who killed the nephews of Richard III. Josephine Tey does an excellent job of weaving historical fact into fiction, making all the characters come alive. After reading “Daughter of Time”, I think you’ll agree with Inspector Grant that history has done Richard III wrong. LZ

I discovered Ngaio March in my mid-twenties and at one point had everything that was available on my bookshelves. Needless to say, they were stuffed as Ngaio Marsh was a prolific writer. A “Clutch of Constables” is an enjoyable mystery featuring Troy Alleyn, Inspector Alleyn’s wife. Troy sets out on a last minute cruise, only to have her relaxing vacation broken up by murder. Once murder has been committed, Rory Alleyn and his sidekick, Inspector Fox are on the scene. If you enjoy British mysteries, a “Clutch of Constables” is a good pick. LZ

I’ve enjoyed many Dick Francis’ novels over the years but my favorite character is Kit Fielding. “Break In” is the first of two books that Dick Francis’ features Kit. Kit Fielding is honest, loyal and very intelligent; if there is anyone you want to assist you when you’re in trouble, Kit is the one. And when Kit’s twin sister, Holly, needs help, there is no way he can refuse to help, even if it means physical harm. Let Dick Francis take you into the world of steeplechase jockeys and England in the 1980’s. After finishing “Break In”, you are definitely going to want to read the sequel “Bolt”. LZ