Comments on: Summer Reads ‘09

By: The Books of Summer: Part 1 « Written in the Stars

The Books of Summer: Part 1 « Written in the Stars — Fri, 12 Jun 2009 15:24:59 +0000

[...] from NPR, bookseller recommendations (always among our favorite lists to [...]

By: Summer 2009 Reading Picks from NPR’s “On Point” « Knopf Doubleday - Vintage / Anchor

Mon, 08 Jun 2009 20:27:27 +0000

By: all the time in the world « Collection Developments @ Sno-Isle

all the time in the world « Collection Developments @ Sno-Isle — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 19:17:27 +0000

[...] [...]

By: Karen

Karen — Sat, 06 Jun 2009 23:33:22 +0000

I did not see mentioned (and these are older books) but my favorites have been Dorothy Dunnet’s 2 series: The Lymond Cronicles and The House of Nicolo. These historical fiction tales take place in the 15th-16th centuries in Scotland and England and have wonderful detail and plots. Not for the light-hearted but wonderful to read.

By: Kathy

Kathy — Sat, 06 Jun 2009 02:42:33 +0000

My advice to Tom who wanted to try – Stone’s Fall…. go for it! I just finished it and was enthralled. It bogs a bit in the middle, but the rewards of his tying up all the ends of the plot are so worth it.
My best recommendation is The Woman in White by Willkie Collins. I work in an independent bookstore and have sold 330+ copies of this in the past 2 years to people looking for a compelling read. Many have returned with great comments.

By: Martin Serna

Martin Serna — Sat, 06 Jun 2009 02:04:07 +0000

I have finished one and have started another of the Georgia Nicolson series by Louise Rennison. These books are fantastic! They are supposedly for teen-age readers, but I’m not. Perhaps this read is controversial in the manner the TV show “Married With Children” is, some said America was shown in a bad light. The series is British, though.
For Claudia Yellin on June 4th, 10:35, I’ve just finished “After London; or, wild England” by (John) Richard Jefferies published a few years before his death in 1887. A WORLD classic for sure. Part of it tells of a red ooze where London had been previously.
I read a book of some of the collected writings of Paul Goodman which included the essay “The Chance For Popular Culture”, originally published in Poetry Magazine (June 1949). If you are concerned about the loss of interest in the printed word exacerbated by digital devices consider joining Patrons of Print at:
http://patronsofprint.org/
For Bill Doughty, consider hard this book, “Kokomo Joe, The Story of the First Jockey in the United States” by John Christgau, U. of Nebraska Press. If you can’t see your way thru this one then perhaps this one, “I Cannot Forgive”, by Rudolf Vrba & Alan Bestic. I have not read either of these books, in part because I have not had the opportunity to acquire them.
Public libraries are going out of the business of lending books and not just by shuttering their doors but by discarding books at an increasing rate.

By: Beth

Beth — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 16:18:23 +0000

in advance of a trip to Japan to visit a son studying abroad, younger son and I are reading the Sano Ichiro mysteries by Laura Joh Rowland, set in 1600’s Japan. terrific!
my city’s Community Read book, Dark Tide, by Stephen Puleo, was fascinating for the story about the Molasses Flood in Boston, the anarchist’s movement, the resulting legal case and the resolution. One of the first successful class action lawsuits against a corporation, the book caught us all by surprise – great read, great history, the lives of great and not-so-great men and women.

By: Pat Suozzi

Pat Suozzi — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 15:45:48 +0000

So many great recommendations. I have a few additional suggestions:
1. Family read alouds (caller asked for ideas for kids 9 and 16): The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings Trilogy. These could take you through the fall – wonderful, I read these aloud to my two girls. They loved them. Also: Richard Peck’s A long way from Chicago and A Year down Yonder. Don’t be fooled into thinking they are for younger kids – they are not – really, really funny. Other great family books: Tangerine, Holes, E.L. Konigsberg’s From the mixed up files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler, The View from Saturday, and Silent to the Bone. Also, Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH. Finally, if you want to introduce them to Dickens, I would suggest Oliver Twist first (rather than David Copperfield), then watch the musical movie version together.

2. I listen to audiobooks at the gym a lot and would add to the good suggestions that Barbara Rosenblatt is a very very fine reader – in quality of voice and reading close to Jim Dale but American: Two very good mystery series that she reads are by Lisa Scottolini and Diane Mott Davidson (both by the way good summer reads as well).

By: Barbara Alfond

Barbara Alfond — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 14:30:37 +0000

Far from being a publishers’ ploy, the concept of summer reading is , for me, a tradition that embraces one of the fondest traditions of a reading family. My late mother and I would listen to a program such as this, or with the New York Times Summer Reading Issue as a reference, skip joyfully to local, independent booksellers to arm ourselves with a tower of books to trade, savor, and enjoy. Sadly, she is no longer part of that tradition, but a new generation has stepped in to fill the void. My grandchildren allow themselves to be snuggled and read to on our screen porch on summer afternoons. I’m not sure if these daily hours together mean as much to them as to me, but they certainly are good sports. “The Penderwicks”, “”Nurse Matilda”, and Don Robertson’s classic, now re-issued, “The Greatest Thing Since Sliced Bread” have made for many giggles and hugs. For more recommendations for Read=Aloud books, I recommend David Trelease’s “The Read-Aloud Treasury”.

By: Marissa Rossi

Marissa Rossi — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 13:45:09 +0000

Some recent reads I’d highly recommend (in no particular order, although the following sequence provides a good mix of reading experiences!):

1. T.C. Boyle ‘Drop City’ -Begin your summer reading on a high note.. literally and figuratively
2. Mohsin Hamid ‘The Reluctant Fundamentalist’-Quick, relevant and quite entertaining
3. Beth Goldner ‘The Number we end up With’- Witty and quirky
4.John Wray ‘Low Boy’- How can so much talent be packed into so few pages? Unpredictable and as twisted as the subway track setting of Lowboy’s adventure.
5. Jayne Anne Phillips ‘Lark and Termite’- Wonderful story of two incredibly interesting siblings
6. Andrew Davidson ‘The Gargoyle’- I won’t even attempt to do this one justice by describing it. Just read it and thank me later.
7. Michael Greenberg ‘Hurry Down Sunshine’- Well written and gut wrenching memoir of a 15 year old daughter’s psychotic break. Not exactly a beach read, but “important” nonetheless.
8. Muriel Barbery ‘The Elegance of the Hedgehog’- Funny and intelligent novel set in a French apartment building. Will make you (happily) question your assumptions of others.

ENJOY and happy reading!

By: Bill Doughty

Bill Doughty — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 03:17:13 +0000

Perhaps little known outside the Navy, we have a professional reading program with recommended “reads.” Even less known is my blog about the program (smile).
Latest comments to a review of Khaled Hosseini’s The Kite Runner come from sailors serving in Afghanistan… They offer recommendations, and one lieutenant shares what’s on her Kindle.

On Point is my favorite podcast. Thanks.

By: Kirsten

Kirsten — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 02:18:39 +0000

I was very pregnant during summer three years ago and on bed rest. Got completely engrossed in Until I Find You by John Irving. I’d love to find a book that captivates me the same way again, any time of year.

Now, I’m hoping to get my hands on “Slavery by Another Name” http://www.powells.com/biblio/1-9780385722704-1

Thanks for the show.

By: steve manning

steve manning — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 01:24:23 +0000

Check out Jean and Roscoe, vanno a perugia by Jean L. Farinelli. Unbelievable!

By: Deb

Deb — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 00:55:29 +0000

Hi Tom,

Great reads all and I am so pleased you invited an independent bookseller, but I am so disappointed that, at the very least, you didn’t link the titles recommended by Jamil to his bookstore. I work at an independent bookstore and though I understand linking to Amazon, why not link to http://www.indiebound.com as well and give people the choice to choose an independent. My other concern is the use of “Kindle” as a generic reference for all ebook readers, which is not the case. Please give us independents a chance. We do so much to support our local communities financially as well as with our expertise, service and free events. All that being said, thank you for presenting such great book recommendations.

By: Calvin

Calvin — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 00:49:21 +0000

I posted recently on facebook for a list of books to read while i spend 7 weeks on the road this summer while my band is on tour.

i’ve had some excellent suggestions and also gained some through listening and reading both here and elsewhere on NPR.org.

here are some of the suggestions that i’ve had that i will be buying and reading this summer.
and i was surprised and greatly pleased to discover (and hear from you) that my favourite author has written another book: charles baxter.

dark places – gillian flynn
castle – j. robert lennon
herzog – saul bellow
the soul thief – charles baxter
Naked Lunch – William S. Burroughs
On The Road – Jack Kerouac
House of Leaves – Mark Z. Danielewski
James Wright – Collected Poems
the dance most of all – jack gilbert
Poetry as Insurgent Art – Lawrence Ferlinghetti
Stiff: The Curious Lives of Human Cadavers – mary roach
The Book of Vice: Very Naughty Things (and How to Do Them) – Peter Sagal

By: Merleen

Merleen — Thu, 04 Jun 2009 23:45:57 +0000

I was driving when as I listened to the first portion of today’s summer books show, including some calls from other listeners with recommendations. Unfortunately, the website I counted on for a list has only the guests’ lists. I would love to have a list of the books callers mentioned!

By: Debby Grace

Debby Grace — Thu, 04 Jun 2009 23:03:57 +0000

I recently listened to a CD of Hillary Jordan’s Mudbound. The brilliant audio rendition further augments a stunningly powerful first novel. It is a grim reminder of the racial strife that dominated the Deep South during the immediate post W.W. II era.
Debby G.

By: Patricia Lojek

Patricia Lojek — Thu, 04 Jun 2009 22:25:54 +0000

I didn’t hear any one talk about getting books from the library. When you responded to an email from Marty of Leicester VT, you spoke of discounted books, used books, etc., but no one mentioned the library. I go there to get all my books and its free!!

By: Kim Gans-DeLuca

Kim Gans-DeLuca — Thu, 04 Jun 2009 18:13:39 +0000

Thanks for all the great recommendations. So many wonderful books, so little time….!
I recommend the following:

Fiction: With by Donald Harington, What is the What by Dave Eggers, The Book Thief by Zusak

Nonfiction: The Tender Bar by Moehringer, Falling through the Earth by Trussoni, Mayflower by Philbrick.

By: Bill

Bill — Thu, 04 Jun 2009 17:57:28 +0000

I missing the presence of Chicana/os-Latina/os this year… What happen? I heard that “The Mariposa Club” By Rigoberto Gonzalez is fantastic!. The Story of four teenagers in senior year, try to open a LGBTQ club in their High School! Sweet, moving and real.