For a history geek, “When Women Ruled the World” is a treasure trove of information on four queens: Mary Tudor; Elizabeth I; Mary, Queen of Scots; and Catherine de’ Medici. Informative and entertaining, I loved the way the author rectified some incorrect or biased information that has come down through history on these highly influential women rulers. I also gained a new appreciation for Phillip II of Spain, whose historical accomplishments have been somewhat overlooked, and who figured in some ways in the lives of all these powerful women.
Three words that describe this book: Intriguing; Readable; Encouraging
You might want to pick this book up if: you want to learn more about the ways powerful women have made influential marks on Western/European history.
-Connie
This reader review was submitted as part of Adult Summer Reading 2022. We will continue to share these throughout the year.
“The Thirteenth Tale” introduces readers to Margaret, a young woman working in her father’s rare book shop and an occasional writer of biographical essays about long-dead authors. She is summoned by Britain’s most famous writer, Vida Winter, to document the author’s story before she dies. Both harbor secrets and the tale Winter spins involves twins, a falling-down estate, a governess, violence, a fire, orphans, gardens and gates — all of the makings of a fairy tale.
This book has echoes of “Jane Eyre,” “Wuthering Heights,” and other gothic classics. It’s a twisty literary mystery with just the right amount of darkness. I listened to the audiobook and was absorbed. It would be a great vacation read.
Three words that describe this book: Gothic, spellbinding, twisty
You might want to pick this book up if: You are a fan of the Bronte sisters, fairy tales, and love books about other people who love books.
-Anonymous
This reader review was submitted as part of Adult Summer Reading 2022. We will continue to share these throughout the year.
There are many good examples of hard science fiction, books that follow the scientific rules of space, but their accuracy is often bereft of compelling human interaction. “Leviathan Wakes” nails both! The complex characters face the possible end of humanity as humans would, with pain, anger, righteousness, and love — the author demonstrates these human struggles with skill. The basis for the television show “The Expanse,” this is the first of several books about what happens when a molecule from another galaxy is introduced into a politically fraught solar system.
In the book, Earth, Mars, and the peoples who live on resource-strapped asteroids in “the Belt” are at each other’s throats as they battle for preeminence and access to resources. When an ice-hauling freighter is blown up by an unknown stealth ship, leaving five survivors, it launches a war between Mars and the Belt. But who is responsible? And why did they want to start a war? What are they covering up?
Three words that describe this book: What is humanity?
You might want to pick this book up if: You enjoy very well-written characters struggling to define humanity in the face of the unknown.
-Alexis
I came across “The Wife Upstairs” as a suggestion from Overdrive on a Friday evening, and although I wouldn’t normally gravitate towards a thriller, I also cannot resist anything “Jane Eyre” related, so I decided to give it a chance. Fast forward to Sunday evening, and I had devoured it — definitely one of my fastest finishing-a-book times in the past few years, as a mom of young children. But with all the plot twists and turns, I just could not bear to put it down!
It is by no means a perfect book or an enduring classic, but that’s okay — I think it does what it intends to do: entertains in its own right while hearkening back to the original. My favorite bits were the well-known quotes from the classic novel, modified and spiced up with modern curse words — absolutely delightful! I also enjoyed the self-referential bits, as when Jane finds herself “creeping around the upstairs like I’m in a gothic novel or a bad horror movie.”
Three words that describe this book: twisty-turny, Southern gothic, classic-based
You might want to pick this book up if: You are looking for a quick summer read and enjoy thrillers and/or “Jane Eyre,” but don’t hold the classic up on such a pedestal that vulgarized quotes from it will upset you. Other retellings that you might enjoy (I know I did!) are “Jane Steele” by Lyndsay Faye and “Brightly Burning” by Alexa Donne.
-Erin
This reader review was submitted as part of Adult Summer Reading 2022. We will continue to share these throughout the year.
I met Tunde Oyeneyin while cycling on my Peloton bike and felt a strong connection with her workouts. She is authentic, strong, inspiring, compassionate, beautiful and caring. I picked up her book “Speak” because cycling is a lot like life — you experience ups and downs, highs and lows; it pushes you to your limits; you have good days and bad, but you are getting stronger from each lesson, on or off the bike. She leads with love and teaches with true grit. Her leadership comes from deep down in her Nigerian roots, her personal trauma, her love and losses in relationships, her hard work, and her passion for others.
Three words that describe this book: Love yourself first.
You might want to pick this book up if: You are in a rut in life, or your job, maybe school or a relationship. Do you want more for yourself? Have you experienced loss? Have you felt like you didn’t fit in or looked different from others, or were treated differently because of the color of your skin? Perhaps you’re looking to connect with Tunde on your Peloton?
-Roxanne
This reader review was submitted as part of Adult Summer Reading. There is still time to submit your own book review here for a chance to have it featured on the Adults Blog.
“Raising Good Humans” was a fantastic book about parenting. As a mother of two young children, I thoroughly enjoyed this book because it included practical, tangible exercises and advice on how to move from reactive parenting to forms of gentle parenting to create win-win parenting situations. It presents ideas how we as parents can work alongside our children to aid them in nurturing emotions, investigating solutions to problems, and evaluating better problem solving methods when conflicts arise.
Three words that describe this book: Enlightening, practical, eye-opening
You might want to pick this book up if: You are a parent to young or adult children looking to build stronger relationships with your children.
-Anonymous
This reader review was submitted as part of Adult Summer Reading. There is still time to submit your own book review here for a chance to have it featured on the Adults Blog.
The book “Chasing Science at Sea” is filled with the experiences of many, many scientists and researchers whose work brings them to the coast, the shorelines, the open seas, and underwater to coral reefs, ocean trenches and other fascinating places. In lay language, Prager helps to illuminate what these scientists are doing, and why science at sea matters to so many different fields within science. Their true stories are as gripping as any sea novel or movie. Some of the stories are funny, some are alarming, and they opened my eyes to how challenging it must be to work in these environments.
Three words that describe this book: Lively, surprising, humorous
You might want to pick this book up if: You are a Midwesterner (or anybody) wondering what it would be like to explore the oceans in real life.
-Lynn
This reader review was submitted as part of Adult Summer Reading. Submit your own book review here for a chance to have it featured on the Adults Blog.
“In the Wild Light” follows the story of two teens from east Tennessee who get the opportunity to attend a prestigious boarding school in Connecticut. Both have experienced trauma and neglect as children and struggle to adapt to the unfamiliar world of privilege at the school. However, they both find connection and purpose by leaning on each other and the friends they find there. I enjoyed the book because I identified with the guilt of leaving home, the culture shock of attending an affluent institution and the unexpected friendships with people from very different backgrounds. The book is beautifully written. Poetry is an important theme throughout, and the prose often reads like poetry.
Three words that describe this book: Challenging, emotional, beautiful
You might want to pick this book up if: You are looking for a challenging and beautiful coming-of-age story
-Jacob
This reader review was submitted as part of Adult Summer Reading. Submit your own book review here for a chance to have it featured on the Adults Blog.
While it is marketed as a novel, “A Visit From the Goon Squad” is more accurately a collection of linked short stories. These stories focus on multiple characters whose lives are interconnected through music, particularly the American punk rock scene of the 1980s. While the book has received praise for author Jennifer Egan’s use of alternative forms, like PowerPoint slides, the real strength of the book is Egan’s attention to character psychology and the complications of human relationships.
Three words that describe this book: Funny, poignant, sad
You might want to pick this book up if: You like short stories and are interested in the difficulty in remaining a rebel as you age.
-Tyler
This reader review was submitted as part of Adult Summer Reading. Submit your own book review here for a chance to have it featured on the Adults Blog.
“Everyone In This Room Will Someday Be Dead” follows Gilda, a 27-year-old lesbian who accidentally ends up working as a receptionist in a Catholic Church. During this time, Gilda is grappling with her identity, her mortality AND the potential murder of the previous receptionist at the church. It is an extremely unique book and following Gilda’s unusual thought process constantly keeps the reader questioning what is actually happening in Gilda’s world. I have never read anything quite like this; it made me giggle, it made me cry and it made me think deeply about my own identities and roles in life.
Three words that describe this book: Thought-provoking, quirky, relatable
You might want to pick this book up if: you enjoy introspective characters, love chaos and read a lot of books with unreliable narrators.
-Anonymous
This reader review was submitted as part of Adult Summer Reading. Submit your own book review here for a chance to have it featured on the Adults Blog.
