Adult Summer Reading 2016: What our Community is Reading

Interesting story of a serial killer. The best part is the way he wraps it all together at the end to show how the killer committed all the murders.

Excellent!
I forgot how funny Twain's writing is! I loved sharing with my kids!

Excellent!
I am a very big fan of Mary Higgins Clark. This is the second one in this series that I have read. I really enjoy these mystery books. This one really had me guessing until the end. I recommend it.

Average
Not a very suspenseful read. The ending was disappointing. The first book, "The Cinderella Murder," was much better.

Average
I enjoyed this study of a character's roots. The main character, Kit, was realistic and likable. The book, at times, was overly detailed and read too slowly, though.

Good!
This book is by the author of The Thorn Birds. It is the story of four adult sisters, two sets of twins, set in Australia in the 1930s. This family drama combines family ties, sisterhood, and the rich history of a beautiful country.

Excellent!
I was hooked after the first few pages. You can feel the emotions of Katniss as she has to choose between her life and that of the country.

Excellent!
What a beautiful book about devotion on the yoga path! Krishna Das tells about his early years in India with his guru and how he came to be such a devoted chanter.

Excellent!
Historical Fiction of the 1920's and 30's about the famous actress Louise Brooks, known for popularizing the bob haircut and the flapper aura. From her teenage beginnings to her stardom, it was an interesting read.

Poor
The book seemed to be endless chatter with no real story. There did not seem to be a middle or end. Very strange story about a guy and an apartment building and a dog that seemed human??? A lot of talk about baseball. I would not recommend this book.

Excellent!
Even though the mystery was carefully laid out and backed up by main character Will Rees's discoveries, I had no idea until the denouement who the guilty party was!

Excellent!
Amazing story of two African-American women who live happy, healthy, and successful professional lives. Wonderful advice from these sweet sisters.

Average
Not enough story and sort of indulgent. It did make me want to take a year off to travel though.

Excellent!
Excellent read - tells the history of Mt. St. Helen and its eruption in 1980. The survivors tell their stories.

Excellent!
A story set during World War II, London, 1939, and the three main characters whose lives are affected by the war.

Average
My 8 and 11-year old daughters liked this book, but I found it far inferior to say the Harry Potter series or Narnia books.

Excellent!
Mary Oliver is one of my favorite poets, but this book of hers is my favorite! The poems are just magical!!

Excellent!
Engaging characters and good story.

Good!
A story about a doctor's professional and personal life and the decisions she must make.

Average
I liked the characters and story line, but I felt it was too long. I found the descriptions tedious to read.

Excellent!
The humorous tone of the narrator made this historical account of John Brown truly enjoyable! Loved the character "Little Onion!"

Excellent!
Excellent introduction to the world of hobbits, wizards, dwarfs, and elves -- all of Middle Earth. Suggest you read this before reading the Lord of the Rings trilogy.

Memoir from famous photographer Sally Mann who researches her past to the present time.

Excellent!
Beautifully written debut novel! The story of two half sisters, Effa and Esi, living in 18th century Ghana who never actually meet. This 300 page novel weaves the stories of six generations of each sister beautifully. My favorite novel of the year so far!

Good!
I enjoyed the story. I liked the characters and how the author brings the different loves together.

Excellent!
We all wonder of the path not taken. Beth Harbison explores choices and destiny with humor and insight. Well written. Worth reading. It will make you question your own life's path. Looking forward to reading her other novels.

Excellent!
Great read on Alfred Hitchcock including interviews with actors and crew who worked with him. Gives new perspective on his career and films.

Good!
Very different book for this author. Definitely adult reading, erotic fantasy theme, for main character. Very surprise, weird ending.

Excellent!
5 Stars!
This is one of my favorite all-time favorite books! An amazing story of Frank Lloyd Wright and his long love affair with Mamah Borthwick Chency. It was interesting to see her influence on his life and work. I highly recommend.

Good!
I like reading Maeve Binchy after having read several books on English history because her ordinary characters and wonderful story-telling are like sitting down with my Irish grandmother and a nice cup of tea.

Excellent!
Great read -- adventure, romance and terror in the frigid waters of Antarctica.

Average
The story involves four adult children fighting over their inheritance. It was not one of my favorite books. Life is too short to divide your family over money!

Good!
After a little bit of a slow beginning, this intriguing study of characters and their reliance on an inheritance hooked me till the end.

Excellent!
A complex and quick-moving story in a period when politics and religion clash. The characters are engaging and the twists of the plot make it difficult to put down.

Good!
Picked up by accident - glad I did. Book is a real page-turner. When you think you have it figured out, think again.

Good!
Both sad and comical. The main character breaks your heart at the beginning, and then you realize how strong she really is.

Average
Fast read - the saga continues at Rose Harbor Inn. Good summer read - light and easy!

Excellent!
I think it is a great read for any tween girl trying to find her value. I'm recommending it to my daughter.

Poor
Depressing, weird thoughts knit together. Each short story does address an important social issue, but in such a mind-bending way that it's not empowering or motivating.

Excellent!
Such a good read - a great magical, realistic fiction. Watch out! You won't be able to wait for the sequel.

Excellent!
A sad commentary on the life of Catherine Howard living in the Tudor reign. She marries King Henry VIII only to follow the fate of Anne Boleyn.

Average
Story of a dysfunctional family vacationing in Mallorca. Good beach read.

Average
Interesting theory on overeating and the reason behind it. A very deep philosophy.

Good!
Slow start but quickly became interesting. Main character is not that great, but two side characters Audry & Soo Lin were hilarious.

Average
Mystery of two young boys in England with mental problems that end up in a lunatic asylum.

Excellent!
The books brings you through generation of various family in Afghanistan. Slowly all the families become linked. Brilliant read, great insight into Afghanistan and it's people.

Good!
More memoir than philosophy, but it does shine a light on the steady, slow, and random work that builds a success story.

Good!
Set in WWI Europe, this historical mystery addresses the sorrows at the battlefront and at home. A newly introduced character, Australian Sergeant Larimore, provides some exciting and unexpected relief.

Good!
Good tearjerker. Gives you hope.

Excellent
Honest, real and funny. Glennon's message made be feel better about me and gave me hope. Love

Average
This is a YA book written by an author more experienced in writing adult fiction. I expected a well written YA genre book but I feel Philippa simplified her writing for a younger audience. I think by doing so, she did a disservice to her readers. The plot and characters were entertaining and I would most likely read the sequel to see what happens next.

Excellent!
Nicholas Fox, internationally-known thief, teams up with FBI agent Kate O'Hare to uncover dangerous criminals.

Good!
A political mystery about refugees in Cairo. Not for the faint-hearted, but well-written and timely. Depicts prejudice in another culture.

This book has skeletons and witches and monsters, oh my! It was a real page turner! Just when you thought the ending was imminent there was another twist! Great book

Excellent!
Harry Bosch finds himself in trouble once again when his friend, a former FBI agent, targets Harry as the suspect in a murder investigation.

Excellent :-)
I truly enjoyed Eleanor Kuhns' historical mysteries and this one clearly illustrates her devotion to research and character development

Excellent!
"What Would You Discuss Over Dinner with Jesus?" That's the opportunity the main character gets and what follows is their conversation on topics of life, God, faith, etc...

Good!
While the author tells the story of the childhood impact of being partly immigrant of Asian heritage in a while society, the "hardship" incurred are normal adolescent hardships/normal adult regrets.

Good!
Hard to get through. Emotionally draining. Unrelenting misery described in excruciating detail. Vivid portrayals of poverty and endless struggles by these people to survive, to find a place to live. Unbearable! (and heartbreaking)

Excellent!
Author discusses the differences between the mindless march towards "achievement" and a true education.

Good!
An engaging mystery. Stark and spare writing style and description. The author leads you through the dedication and difficulty of living in a land of short, cold days while trying to keep life sane and humane.

Good!
The latest in Cussler's Isaac Bell series. A lot of history and action. Orange County and Storm King and the Italian gangs.

Excellent!
Interesting look at the first wave of Italian immigrants to America and the way the Mafia in NYC, called The Black Hand, made life more difficult for them. A Mafia boss teams up with a wealthy American businessman and plans the assassination of President Theodore Roosevelt.

Excellent!
Factual, amusing, interesting subject.

Excellent!
A fun, historical fiction set in 1946 England, the Isle of Guernsey, occupied by Germany during WWII. Love this book - perfect for book club readers, because it is about a book club! The afterward tells you why it truyly is a work of love!

Good!
Story is about two friends during the 1930's. There is romance, drama and the hurricane of 1938 to keep you captivated

Even though I was hesitant to read this book because I grew up with "The Lottery," I became hooked by the strong characters and suspenseful ending.

Excellent!
I enjoyed this book, especially seeing how so many different lives are connected in roundabout ways and can be affected by one person's secret.

Good!
Interesting story about a man being stalked by an ex-girlfriend. The middle got long and boring and the story seemed to be going nowhere. The ending was a bit of a surprise!

Excellent!
I love the time the story took place - 1951. I was unaware that 3 planes crashed within months of each other right near Newark. It was a very good read - I couldn't put it down.

Excellent!
Part of a gentle series. Well read by John Keating on C.D. Life in a small Irish town in the mid 1960's (Start from the beginning - An Irish Country Doctor).

Excellent!
Latest in the Maisie Dobbs series. Between the wars espionage and intrigue, and the rise of the Third Reich.

Good!
I learned so many more details behind the assassination of President Lincoln. This book is very thorough, but easy to follow. I really liked reading the history behind this event, from the author's perspective.

Good!
This reads in some places like a text book. The author is a professor. The details are many, sad, true.

Excellent!
Fast-moving and suspenseful. It held my interest throughout and made me want to visit these places myself.

Excellent!
The story of Margaret Douglas told using many of the letters that she wrote showing a very strong and fearless woman.

Excellent!
I love his books because the way he develops story is art. His drawings are beautiful and create a world you can't wait to explore.

Excellent!
I love the Gaslight Mysteries for their glimpses into old-time NYC. This one was an interesting story about the deaf schools during that time.

Excellent!
This book was so good! It kept true to the Tudor line in England, all for a little magic in the middle. A great read.

Average
This book tells the story of several friends living in Manhattan. Needed a little more plot.

Good!
Written by David McCallum, the man From U.N.C.LE. Entertaining NYC crime caper with mafia, money-laundering and hapless N.Y. actor

Good!
A cute, fun to read summer book. Witty and light reading. Slightly unrealistic, but that's OK too.

Good!
Hopeful - Gives the reader hope as you watch Coco through her journey.

Good!
The short stories were relatable and just short/long enough for a pool session outside

Excellent!
Set just before WWII in Germany, you feel the influence of Hitler on two wealthy families and their connections through generations

Excellent!
Awesome - life is a circle; people are connected. Interesting to follow the web.

Excellent!
An absolutely fantastic mystery from the Todd's Bess Crawford series. In addition to the intriguing plot, the reader learns much about W.W.I. (turn to page 80 for the stark contrast between British and German trenches.)

Good!
Very interesting cookbook, Middle Eastern spices and recipes. Love the way she describes food.

Excellent!
What a story! Mixed emotions! Misunderstandings! and, finally, True Love! This story had me almost crying from sadness and happiness.

Excellent!
If you are into fantasy trilogies that are well-developed and written, then this series is for you. Shadowfell (Book 1) is an excellent read. The book is based in a time and place where evil kings rule and people/good folk (fairies) need to work together to defeat the ruling king.

Average
The book had a great premise, but it took too long to hook me because of the tedious details given about the characters' everyday lives.

Excellent!
An up-to-date history as seen from the Middle East and Asia. Well-written and thought-provoking for those of us looking at history as viewed by the events in Europe.

Excellent!
Part of a series, I enjoyed Father Tim's and new wife Cynthia's challenges as they figure out how to live as an older married couple in Mitford. It has good humor.

Excellent!
Anyone dealing with elderly parents or who is an elderly parent will laugh and cry in equal measure. It examines old age and life and death - across all generations - with humor and pathos. Loved it!

Good!
This was a nice vacation read, light and with a happy ending. I enjoyed that it was a romance where the main character found a daughter, not a partner.

Good!
I truly enjoy the historical fiction genre. This series provides a very compassionate look at WWI Europe. The downside of this book was the convoluted use of characters

Excellent!
A contemporary retelling of "The Taming of the Shrew", it also stands on its own as a delightful, witty and yet poignant story of a young lady finding happiness - loved it!

Excellent!
Love this book! Alice has an accident and cannot remember the past 10 years of her life. A thought provoking story.

Excellent!
Picked up this book by chance and LOVED it! A nice blend of humor, story, and a plot twist to keep you interested!

Excellent!
This is one of the best YA books I've read in a long time! The main character is brave, spunky, and believable, and the story-line is realistic, although about a tough subject.