Volume 11

Book of the Week | One to Watch | Wild Card

Just for Book Groups | What We’re Reading
Top 10 Lists | Read a Banned Book

What’s New in Digital Downloads | Young Critics Blog
Back Issues

Last month’s focus on Go Set a Watchman created incredible response from you and I loved receiving all of your comments. One respondent said, “I cannot recommend a book with the backward “values” that allow ridiculously derogatory racist remarks and physical abuse of women. I don’t believe Ms. Lee or her sister meant for this book to be published.” Another thought, “It should be a must read for its historical value of author Harper Lee, but if you want to read it as a follow-up to To Kill a Mockingbird or as an early draft version as it is claimed to be, Go Set A Watchman is neither.” It’s great to know that a book can still create such strong reactions from its readers! It will be interesting to see if Watchman can stand up to time as Mockingbird does.

Now, shall we talk about Jonathan Franzen’s new book, Purity? He has been called glib, an intellectual show-off, constantly insufferable and an elitist. Others believe his novels are so good his detractors are just jealous. He does create characters that we love almost as much as real people. Although the title of this book would seem to indicate it is about one main character, Mr. Franzen has said in interviews it is really about four people and the worlds they populate. I can’t wait to see if all of his attackers are on target or just expressing sour grapes!

Please enjoy this edition which connects you – our readers – to the books you love. I have developed many other tools to find the next great read for our members, so please stop by, email or phone me to learn more. If you missed any of the previous volumes, they can all be found here.

Laurie Iffland

Resident Reader Advisor

Pre-Publication Alerts

Take a look at these coming attractions and click to place your reserve today!

September 8, 2015

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September 1, 2015

September 28, 2015

September 1, 2015

September 29, 2015

September 1, 2015

September 15, 2015

September 29, 2015

September 1, 2015

September 22, 2015

September 15, 2015

September 22, 2015

September 15, 2015

September 1, 2015

September 15, 2015

September 8, 2015

Click below and answer 6 short questions
and I’ll suggest a list of 6 great titles!

Book of the Week bookoftheweek

The Professor and the Madman by Simon Winchester

I have always been a huge fan of Simon Winchester. His books have brought history alive for me. Krakatoa led me from the legendary eruption to the ensuing tsunami right up the political repercussions. The Men Who United the States follows the incredible visionaries who unified what we now call the United States. I even witnessed the daring first navigation of the Atlantic Ocean in Atlantic. The Professor and the Madman follows this stream of exacting attention to detail as it chronicles the compilation of the Oxford English Dictionary. It is the extraordinary tale of a Professor tasked with overseeing the publication and one Dr. Monir, the largest contributor to the publication, who also happened to be a resident of an asylum for the criminally insane.

If you have a title you think deserves the spotlight, let me know!

Check out some of Simon Winchester’s other great books:

One
to
Watch

The Race for Paris by Meg Waite Clayton

Interest in WWII fiction has exploded in the last 10 years. Every book display, reading list and bookmark I create on the genre produces immediate buzz. It may seem this genre is a little saturated, but this new title caught my eye. This story features two incredibly strong females, Jane Tyler and Liv Harper, a journalist and a photographer by trade, who race to Paris to witness and document the city’s liberation from the Nazis. During this pivotal point in history, when women were not respected enough or even recognized by the military to allow access to stories, Jane and Liv must forge a bond that will help them thrive in the war-torn country. Of course, there is Fletcher, the man who will “stir the pot” for these brave women as they stare down dangers on their quest to reach Paris in time.

The Silent Wife by A.S.A. Harrison

Ever since the publication of Gone Girl, I have been inundated with questions about other titles that have a twisted ending: something that tricks the reader into believing one thing only to be totally shocked by the true nature of the characters. Defending Jacob, The Girl on the Train, The Dinner, Disclaimer, even We Need to Talk about Kevin have us shaking our heads at the end saying “Really?!? Really?!?” This might be my favorite type of book! The Silent Wife has been the sleeper of the bunch, but don’t let that deter you. Do not confuse this with The Good Wife. This book will keep you on edge, tricking you into thinking you know what will happen next only to switch voices and land in a totally unexpected place. This one is so good, you’ll want to stay up all night to find out who the victim really is. wildcard

Reserve your copy of The Silent Wife today!

Just For Book Groups

I have received tremendous interest in my “6 for 6” book recommendation service. Now you can have that same attention to detail with your next great read for your book group. Answer a few questions and I’ll be happy to suggest a few titles. We have an incredible Book Group Collection of multiple copies to choose from. If any of my choices sound good for your group, I can put together a book group packet with discussion questions, author information and more. Sound like a good idea?

What are you reading?
Tell us at our monthly meet-up on Wednesday, September 23
at 2 pm as we discuss the books that we are enjoying.

What We’re Reading

Click a photo see our entire reading list.

Cheryl

My reading tastes are pretty broad, but I tend to enjoy my books a little bit offbeat and quirky, and brimming with character. I like to be surprised. I love a good apocalypse, but I appreciate a quiet, literary story too — it often depends on my mood. I cannot put down a good book — I will read through the night to finish it, so it’s got to be worth it!

Cathy

Whether it is adult or middle grade fiction, my favorite books are historical and realistic fiction with strong characters. World War II is a favorite time period, as I try to imagine what I would have done. I try to read as many new middle grade fiction books as I can to keep up with my voracious readers of Young Critic and Pizza & Pages!

Laurie

I’ve always got a few books going, usually a mystery or popular fiction. Novels with a twist ending tend to be my favorite. I also love to read modern literary fiction. I’m willing to read most anything and rarely say no to anything!

Lisa

I guess the term for most of what I read would be Literary Fiction. I’m also a big fan of clever and well written mysteries. PD James was a fave. Currently I’m enjoying the Vish Puri novels of Tarquin Hall. Imagine a mustachioed Indian Hercule Poirot!!!

Alexa

Do you like audiobooks?! Nothing keeps me company on my car rides to Rhode Island like a good audiobook, some of my favorites have been Gone Girl, Half of a Yellow Sun, and Defending Jacob.

Max

I primarily read fantasy and science fiction books both adult and young adult with a healthy dose of graphic novels on the side.

Kathy

I almost exclusively read literary fiction; it can be deep or humorous or slightly quirky, but I love books that delve deeply into relationships and human interaction.

Laura

I like to read literary fiction with a touch of the fantastical or surreal, British Modernism & the ‘Lost Generation’. Some of my all-time favorite books include Mrs. Dalloway, Death on the Installment Plan, We Have Always Lived in the Castle & Wide Sargasso Sea. Cloud Atlas, The Cipher & Little, Big are my highlights of books I’ve recently read.