by Beth Cronk, Litchfield head librarian
Summer is beginning, and for some people that means a chance
to lounge on the patio with a good book.
Some of the new books at the library might be just what you’re looking
for.
“Miramar Bay” by Davis Bunn is a gentle romance that has
been compared to the novels of Nicholas Sparks.
Bunn has been a bestselling Christian fiction author for some time, but
this book doesn’t have the inspirational aspect he’s been known for. A Hollywood actor flees his life of fame and
an engagement to an heiress, taking a job in an idyllic small town working as a
waiter. Reviewers say it’s emotional and captivating.
“The Burial Hour” by Jeffrey Deaver is the thirteenth book
in the Lincoln Rhyme series. Rhyme is a
wheelchair-bound forensics expert who is making wedding plans when he and his
fiancée get involved in the case of a businessman kidnapped from a New York
City street in broad daylight. The
kidnapper left a miniature noose at the scene, and soon a video appears of the
victim struggling for his life. Book
reviews say this one has a very complicated, even improbable, storyline and
that it isn’t the strongest installment in the series, but it’s still a solid
mystery novel.
For those who like historical romance, “My One True
Highlander” by Suzanne Enoch may be your cup of tea. Scottish Highlander Graeme must deal with the
disaster his foolish younger brothers have caused when they kidnap Lady
Marjorie, the daughter of their English neighbor. Reviewers call it “thrilling,” “colorful,”
and of course “romantic,” set in a beautiful summertime landscape in the
Highlands.
Donna Leon’s latest Commissario Guido Brunetti mystery has
been getting stellar reviews. “Earthly
Remains” finds the reliable Brunetti burning out on handling the criminals of
Venice; he takes a leave of absence in the villa of a relative, out on an
island in the lagoon. When the villa’s
caretaker disappears, Brunetti feels he must return to his job to
investigate. Reviewers say these novels
are strong on character development and a sense of place. Kirkus Reviews described this book as “a
vacation for your own soul.”
“The Stars are Fire” is Anita Shreve’s newest novel. The fictional story of an unhappily married
mother is set within the true story of the Maine fire of 1947. Between October 13 and 27 of that year, nine
towns were entirely destroyed, 851 homes and 397 seasonal cottages burned down,
and half of Acadia National Park was wiped out. In this novel, a pregnant
woman flees to the beach with her two young children, watching her house burn
to the ground while her husband works with the other volunteer firefighters in
an attempt to save the town. Reviewers
say the plot of this one is not really very strong, but that it’s worth reading
for the history and the writing style.
For those who prefer science fiction, there’s “The Book of
Joan” by Lidia Yuknavitch. A retelling
of the story of Joan of Arc, this novel is a dystopian nightmare set on a
platform floating over the destroyed and radioactive Earth. Humans are damaged echoes of what they used
to be, saving stories from history by branding and grafting them onto their
skin while they live under a dictator’s rule.
A group of rebels takes inspiration from young eco-terrorist Joan’s
story.
Science fiction, literary fiction, mystery, or romance –
find the book you want for a leisurely summer day by visiting the library.
