Seymour Library

September book recommendations

Looking for a good book to read? Follow the lead of our book clubs. Here's what our members are reading this month:

The Coffee and Crime mystery book club is reading from Michael Didbin's Aurelio Zen series in September. It meets at noon Tuesday, Sept. 11.

The Monday evening Coffee and Conversation book club is reading "Saving CeeCee Honeycutt" by Beth Hoffmann. You can join the discussion at 7 p.m. Monday, Sept. 17. The Thursday morning Coffee and Conversation group is reading David Foster Wallace's "The Pale King." The club meets at 10:30 a.m. Thursday, Sept. 27. By the way: The book "Every Love Story is a Ghost Story" by D. T. Max is on the New York Times bestseller list this week. It's a biography of Wallace, who committed suicide in 2008.

The Coffee and Classics book club takes up an American masterpiece in September: Mark Twain's "The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn." The group meets at 11 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 29.

Summer reading idea: Science fiction and fantasy

Magical powers, daring adventures, and space travel are the main focus for this week’s summer reading suggestions. Science fiction and fantasy allow us to travel to unknown lands or the deepest parts of space without ever leaving the comfort of our home. Here are this week’s staff recommendations:

In 2019 we discover intelligent life in space. But how should we deal with this discovery? Who should make first contact? While the United Nations debates, the Society of Jesus quietly executes its own expedition. “The Sparrow,” by Mary Doria Russell, follows Jesuit priest Emilio Sandoz and his companions on the journey to planet Rakhat, and his return home as the sole survivor in 2059. The book bounces back and forth through time as the story of the mission, and what went wrong, unfolds. The story concludes in “Children of God.”

Nicodemus Weal may be a gifted wizard, but his dyslexia has always corrupted his spell-casting, causing dangerous outcomes. It has also held Nicodemus back. Now, at the age of 25, Nicodemus remains an apprentice, only allowed to perform basic janitorial spells at the wizardly stronghold of Starhaven. Things go from bad to worse for Nicodemus when a powerful wizard is murdered by a mis-spell, and Nicodemus becomes one of the prime suspects. As more deaths occur and suspicions continue to build against him, Nicodemus flees Starhaven on a quest to unravel the truth. “Spellwright” is author Blake Charlton’s first novel. The second Nicodemus Weal book, “Spellbound,” was released September 2011.

If you take Harry Potter and the Chronicles of Narnia, mix them together, and make the leads college-aged, then you might have a story similar to that of “The Magicians,” by Lev Grossman. Quentin Coldwater can’t let the Fillory books go. Though he’s a senior in high school, he longs for the adventure and magic found in the fantasy realm of Fillory. But Quentin’s life takes a drastic turn when he is recruited by Brakebills, a wizard college in Upstate New York, and discovers that the world of Fillory may not be just a story. The adventure continues in the sequel, “The Magician King.”

 “Suffer ye not the life of a witch…” this is the main tenant of the Eodorian faith. Those that hear the songs of the earth must suffer death by burning. In “Songs of the Earth,” by Elspeth Cooper, Gair has heard the song since he was a child. He knows the dangers of using the magic of the song, and yet, he cannot resist. When he is caught and convicted of being a witch, a reprieve from the Rede saves him from the fires, only to brand him and exile him from his home and faith. Marked a witch, Gair leaves his past behind to seek out a place with the Guardians of the Veil, those who hear the song just as he does. As Gair discovers the full span of the powers within him, he uncovers a plot that may tear the world as he knows it to sunder, unless he can find a way to stop it.

 

Summer reading idea: Historical fiction

We learned something last week when we created a display of historical fiction: turns out a lot of our patrons are historical fiction fans. We've been replacing books on the display as fast as we can - and here are some more ideas for books that will transport you to a different era:

"A Blaze of Glory" by Jeff Shaara. A recreation of the Battle of Shiloh in 1862 from the bestselling author.

"The American Heiress" by Daisy Goodwin. Traveling abroad at the turn of the 20th century, the glamorous Cora Cash finds an English social scene full of traps and betrayals.

"Wolf Hall" by Hilary Mantel. The winner of the 2009 Man Booker Prize; the story of the clash between Thomas More and Thomas Cromwell in the court of Henry VIII.

"The Mission to Paris" by Alan Furst. In Paris in 1938, an actor stumbles into the clutches of Nazi conspirators who want to exploit his celebrity.

"The Night Circus" by Erin Morgenstern. At a magical circus that whirls through major cities at the turn of the 20th century, two young rivals become collaborators as they fall in love.

Summer reading idea: Inspirational fiction

Have you ever read a book that changed your life? Chances are good it falls in the category of inspirational fiction, stories that illustrate the human condition and the capacity to overcome problems. Our book suggestions this week come from our book clubs and staff members.

“The Art of Hearing Heartbeats” by Jan-Philipp Sendker. When a successful New York lawyer suddenly disappears without a trace, neither his wife nor his daughter Julia has any idea where he might be - until they find a love letter he wrote many years ago, to a Burmese woman they have never heard of. Intent on solving the mystery and coming to terms with her father’s past, Julia decides to travel to the village where the woman lived. There she uncovers a tale of hardship, resilience, and passion.

“The Walk” by Richard Paul Evans. First in a series of books featuring a successful advertising executive who loses everything. He decides to walk across the United States, Seattle to Key West, meeting people and learning lessons along the way.

“Same Kind of Different As Me: A Modern-Day Slave, an International Art Dealer, and the Unlikely Woman Who Bound Them Together,” by Ron Hall and Denver Moore. We’re including this book even though it’s nonfiction because it reads like a novel, and because it sparked a memorable discussion at a recent book club meeting. It tells the story of the friendship between a drifter who grew up picking cotton in virtual slavery, an art dealer who lives a life of luxury, and how they transformed one another.

“The Ultimate Gift” by Jim Stovall. Another book club selection, this book tells the story of a wealthy man whose death makes his family members millionaires - except for a young nephew, who receives an entirely different gift.

 

Summer reading idea: biography and memoir

Our reading suggestions this week come from the category of biography and memoir, and they range from classics to current bestsellers. All of them allow us to look into the lives of others. In their stories, we may find inspiration and humor, cautionary tales and sorrow, life lessons and new insights. This week's recommendations come from library staff members: 

"Wild" by Cheryl Strayed. From Publishers Weekly:  "In the summer of 1995, at age 26 and feeling at the end of her rope emotionally, Strayed resolved to hike solo the Pacific Crest Trail, a 2,663-mile wilderness route stretching from the Mexican border to the Canadian and traversing nine mountain ranges and three states. In this detailed, in-the-moment re-enactment, she delineates the travails and triumphs of those three grueling months."

"I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings" by Maya Angelou. From Publishers Weekly: "Like a modern-day Kahlil Gibran, Angelou offers insights on a wide range of topics -- Africa, aging, self-reflection, independence and the importance of understanding both the historical truth of the African American experience and the art that truth inspired."

"Just Kids" by Patti Smith. Winner of the 2010 National Book Award for nonfiction. Before Patti Smith became a punk rock star, before Robert Mapplethorpe became a famous artist, they were just kids, immersing themselves in the culture of New York in 1969 and a community of influential artists and colorful characters. Their commitment to one another helped them survive the lean years, fueled their dreams and shaped their artistic vision.

"This Life Is in Your Hands" by Melissa Coleman. In the fall of 1968, Melissa Coleman's parents pack their VW truck and set out to forge a new existence on a rugged coastal homestead. Inspired by Helen and Scott Nearing, authors of the homesteading bible "Living the Good Life," Eliot and Sue build their own home by hand, live off the crops they grow, and establish a happy family with Melissa and her two sisters. They also attract national media and become icons of the back-to-the-land farming movement, but the pursuit of a purer, simpler life comes at a price.

Looking for more ideas? The New York Times nonfiction bestseller list has been a treasure trove of biography and memoir lately, from Walter Isaacson's biography of Steve Jobs to rocker Gregg Allman's autobiography "My Cross to Bear." Browse through the new biography and nonfiction in the Fireplace Room, or visit the biography section on the second floor.

And while you're at the library choosing books, make sure you pick up a brochure with all of the details on our adult summer reading program, "Between the Covers." We're offering you a chance to win prizes -  weekly prizes and a grand prize at the end of the summer. All you need to do is fill out a Between the Covers entry form every time you read a book or listen to an audiobook, then hand it in at the Main Desk. Turn in your entry by 6 p.m. each Friday, July 13 through Aug. 31, to be eligible for the weekly drawing. All entries in the weekly drawing will be entered in the grand prize drawing. 

Summer reading idea: Armchair travel

The theme of this year's summer reading program for adults is "Between the Covers" - and with that in mind, we're going to dive between the covers of all kinds of books and offer you reading ideas. And if reading a book weren't reward enough, we're offering you a chance to win prizes - weekly prizes and a grand prize at the end of the summer. All you need to do is fill out a Between the Covers entry form every time you read a book or listen to an audiobook, then hand it in at the Main Desk. Turn in your entry by 6 p.m. each Friday, July 6 through Aug. 31, to be eligible for the weekly drawing. All entries in the weekly drawing will be entered in the grand prize drawing. Pick up a brochure with all of the details and entry forms the next time you visit the library.

This week's books are in the category of armchair travel - books that let you explore the world without ever leaving home. Paris is always a dreamed-of destination, and here are five armchair travel books from our collection that will transport you to the City of Light:

“Paris, My Sweet: A Year in the City of Light (and Dark Chocolate)” by Amy Thomas. Thomas gets an opportunity of a lifetime, leaving Manhattan for Paris to write ad copy for Louis Vuitton.  

Working on the Champs-Élysées, strolling the charming streets and exploring the best patisseries and boulangeries, she marvels at the magnificence of the City of Light. But as much as she adores Paris, part of her feels like a humble chocolate chip cookie in a sea of pristine macarons. “Paris, My Sweet” explores how the search for happiness can be as fleeting as a souffle's rise, as intensely satisfying as molten chocolate cake, and about how the life you're meant to live doesn't always taste like the one you envisioned.

“Paris in Love” by Eloisa James.  In 2009, New York Times bestselling author Eloisa James took a leap that many people dream about: She sold her house, took a sabbatical from her job as a Shakespeare professor, and moved her family to Paris. “Paris in Love” chronicles her joyful year in one of the most beautiful cities in the world. With no classes to teach, no committee meetings to attend, no lawn to mow or cars to park, Eloisa revels in the ordinary pleasures of life, discovering corner museums that tourists overlook, chronicling Frenchwomen's sartorial triumphs, and walking from one end of Paris to another.

“French Lessons: Adventures with Knife, Fork and Corkscrew” by Peter Mayle. A joyous exploration and celebration of the infinite gastronomic pleasures of France. Ranging far from his adopted Provence, Mayle now travels to every corner of the country, taking readers to tiny, out-of-the-way restaurants, starred Michelin wonders, local village markets, annual festivals and blessed vineyards.

“Paris: The Collected Traveler,” edited by Barrie Kerper. Articles by a wide variety of writers, woven throughout with the editor’s indispensable advice and opinions.

“Chronicles of Old Paris: Exploring the Historic City of Light,” by John Baxter. Experience 2,000 years of history as John Baxter leads eight walking tours following in the footsteps of Marie Antoinette, Napoleon, Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec, Ernest Hemingway, and many other innovators, artists, and expats who found inspiration in the City of Light.

 

 

Remembering Maurice Sendak

“The night Max wore his wolf suit and made mischief of one kind and another…” That opening line, written by Maurice Sendak, who died Tuesday, is etched in the memory of children who grew up hearing “Where the Wild Things Are” - and in the memory of parents who read it aloud again and again.

Although best known for “Where the Wild Things Are,” Sendak was author and illustrator of more than a dozen books, and the illustrator of many others. Among his works available at Seymour Library:

“Chicken Soup with Rice,” written and illustrated by Sendak, with a poem about soup for every month of the year.

“Pierre: A Cautionary Tale,” written and illustrated by Sendak, a funny story about a little boy who learned to care.

“Outside Over There,” written and illustrated by Sendak, about a little girl who must rescue her baby sister from goblins.

“Bumble-ardy,” Sendak's last book, published last year. It's about a mischievous pig who throws a birthday part for himself.

“Brundibar,” retold by Tony Kushner and illustrated by Sendak, based on a traditional opera about children who must defeat the bully Brundibar.

Books in Elsie Holmelund Minarik’s Little Bear series, including “Little Bear,” “Little Bear’s Visit,” “A Kiss for Little Bear” and “Father Bear Comes Home.”

“Swine Lake,” by James Marshall and illustrated by Sendak, about a hungry wolf who intends to eat the pigs performing a ballet but becomes distracted.

 

 

 

 

More like 'The Hunger Games'

Looking for books from the teen collection similar to "The Hunger Games"? Here are some suggestions. Be sure to see the previous post for suggestions of books from the adult collection.

Little Brother by Cory Doctorow. When Marcus and his friends are whisked away to a secret prison and interrogated for days in the aftermath of a terrorist attack, he realizes who his enemy is: the Department of Homeland Security.

The House of the Scorpion by Nancy Farmer. Matt longs to escape from the country called Opium and its lord, El Patron. But even escape is no guarantee of freedom because Matt is different from others in ways that he doesn't even suspect. National Book Award winner.

Uglies by Scott Westerfeld. Conformists, conscientious objectors and rebels populate a future world in which a compulsory operation at sixteen wipes out physical differences and makes everyone pretty by conforming to an ideal standard of beauty.

The City of Ember series by Jeanne DuPrau. The great, underground city of Ember was designed as a last refuge for the human race. But when the storerooms run out of food and the lights begin to fail, it’s up to two teens to decipher the fragments of an ancient parchment and find a way out of Ember.

Feed by M.T. Anderson. In this future world, television and computers are connected directly into people's brains when they are babies, resulting in a consumer society where kids are driven by fashion, shopping and a constant urge to buy.

Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card. When brilliant Andrew "Ender" Wiggin is drafted to Battle School to learn to fight against aliens, what he thinks are just battle games carry some very real consequences.

The Maze Runner by James Dashner. When Thomas wakes up with no memory of his past life, he finds himself surrounded by kids who welcome him to the Glade – a large, open expanse surrounded by stone walls. Just like Thomas, the Gladers don’t know why or how they got to the Glade. All they know is that every 30 days a new boy is delivered.  When a girl arrives, she brings with her a shocking message.

Legend by Marie Lu. A trilogy set in a dystopian world rife with inequality and rebellion, with personal dynamics complicated by romance and betrayal.

Ashfall by Mike Mullin. The explosion of a supervolcano is followed by fire, power outages and blanketing ash - and a boy's search for his parents a hundred miles away.

After the Snow by S.D. Crockett. Willo has only known a world locked in an ice age. One day he returns home from trapping to find his family gone, stranding him alone in the frozen mountains.

The Way We Fall by Megan Crewe. When Kaelyn’s island community is hit with a mysterious virus, her microbiologist father frantically works to diagnose the illness, and she tries to help her panicky neighbors.

 

 

What's like 'The Hunger Games'?

If the movie premiere of "The Hunger Games" has left you wanting to read more books like the trilogy by Suzanne Collins, we have some suggestions. Today's books come from the adult collection; tomorrow we'll have suggestions from the teen collection.

1984 by George Orwell. The classic that brought us such terms as "big brother" and "Orwellian," the novel is the story of one man's odyssey through a world ruled by warring states and a power structure that controls information, thought and memory.

Pure by Julianna Baggott. In a world ruined by the Detonations, a girl named Pressia faces a bleak future in the militia, where she will be trained as a soldier or used as a live target.

The Drought (also known as The Burning World) by J.G. Ballard. A global drought, brought on by industrial waste, has left mankind in a life-or-death search for water. Violence erupts and insanity reigns as the human race struggles for survival in a worldwide desert of despair.

Without Warning by John Birmingham. A wave of inexplicable energy slams into the continental United States, destroying America and opening an era of survival, violence, and a new, soul-shattering reality.

The Postman by David Brin. A man wandering in the aftermath of a devastating war borrows the jacket of a long-dead postal worker and transforms himself into a symbol of hope.

The Pesthouse by Jim Crace. The United States has become sparsely populated and chaotic, leaving families with only one hope: passage on a ship to Europe.

One Second After by William R. Forstchen. An electromagnetic pulse weapon has destroyed America’s power grid and ignited a desperate struggle for survival.

Alas, Babylon by Pat Frank. A small town is cut off from the rest of a battered world after a Russian nuclear attack on America.

World Made By Hand by James Howard Kunstler. The world's oil wells have run dry, the global economy has collapsed, the price of food has skyrocketed, and the mayor of a small town in New York attempts to rebuild civil society.

Our American King by David Lozell Martin. An upstart leader declares himself king after America's infrastructure has been destroyed, its government no longer functions, and only the wealthiest can survive.

Wastelands: Stories of the Apocalypse. The most renowned authors of speculative fiction, including George R.R. Martin, Gene Wolfe, Orson Scott Card, Carol Emshwiller, Jonathan Lethem, Octavia E. Butler and Stephen King explore the scientific, psychological, and philosophical questions of what it means to remain human in the wake of destruction.

 

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