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Reading Rescue, June 2006: Books for Lazy Summer Days
By Anne Allen and Mary Anne Fulmer
 The
lazy days of summer are finally here! It's a time of long, hot, sunny
days, and warm nights. As the days get longer our lives become busier --
if that's possible! The children are home and our workload increases.
Let a good book borrowed from the library take you away.
A great book to help you relax is written by Debbie
Macomber, Susan Wiggs, and Jill Barnett called The Summer Place.
This book takes you to the Pacific Northwest. The stories are set in a
magical, serene, and outdoorsy setting. These stories revolve around
three women, a lodge, and a vacation that acts as a sanctuary to help
them draw deep breaths, rest, re-evaluate their lives, and heal. If you
want a book that will make you keep smiling all summer, this is your
book!
Another fabulous read is Stewart O'Nan's Wish You
Were Here. Just the name of this book reminds me of great summer
vacations. There are no deep plots, no car chases, no life or death
fights, no special effects, but it is well-written with interesting
characters. This is one great summer read.
Have a need to broaden your horizons? Judith Gould's
Dreamboat is sure to please. Who wouldn't enjoy a cruise? Chrissy, a
hair-colorist, and her wild friend, Jenny, book themselves on a cruise
sailing from Athens to Brazil. Chrissy has always been a wallflower,
while her friend Jenny has had more than her share of men's attention.
The tables turn when Chrissy's exotic beauty attracts a lot of men. All
Eden's have a serpent, and this one is no exception. Along with all the
beauty is a threat of betrayal, conspiracy, and cold-blooded murder!
Remember the summer of '62? The novel, The Bay at
Midnight written by Diane Chamberlain, begins during that summer.
Two families are vacationing on the Jersey shore when a
seventeen-year-old girl is murdered. The one most affected is her
twelve-year-old sister Julie. It is now forty-one years later, when
Julie, after a divorce, menopause, and a pregnant seventeen-year-old
daughter answers a knock on her door. It is the niece of a young man she
had a crush on that summer in '62. She has a letter from her uncle,
Julie's old flame. He claims that the man convicted of her sister's
murder is innocent. Who is guilty? The author gives you just enough
information to keep you turning the pages. It has enough suspense to
satisfy the most discriminating reader.
Barbara Delinsky's The Summer I Dared begins with
a ferry accident. Nine people die, and there are only three survivors.
Julie, one of the survivors, goes through all the emotions you may have
when you survive and friends die. Why were you so lucky? It is a page
turner from start to finish. It is a great book for a lazy summer day.
One of my favorite authors is Carolyn Hart. Her book
Murder Walks the Plank contains three of my favorite things -- a
bookstore, a mystery, and a cruise. Annie Darling, the bookstore owner,
is planning a benefit cruise. It is a getaway from the sultry heat of
Broward Rock, South Carolina. Everyone is having a good time when Pamela
Potts, the town's favorite volunteer, falls overboard. Annie's husband
rescues her, but she is unconscious. Annie, her husband, and friends do
not believe Pamela jumped. Was there foul play? Annie is determined to
find out!
So, you and the family plan to go on vacation, but what
do you do with the dog? After all he is man's best friend, and you feel
guilty putting him in a kennel. Have you ever tried to book into a hotel
with a dog? You know it can be complicated and even impossible. If you
want help, read Dawn and Robert Habgood's On the Road with Man's Best
Friend. It just might be what you need to take your pet on vacation.
You will find lists of pet-friendly places to stay. It is not a travel
guide, but rather a reference tool for you to use. The authors do give
their opinions of places they have stayed. Let your pet have a great
vacation with his favorite people!
Chris Casson Madden's book, Getaways: Carefree
Retreats for All Seasons is interesting to read as well as an
informative guide. The author has an antidote to the complexities of
day-to-day life, and that is to find spaces where families can gather to
relax and recharge. She writes about houses by the sea and cabins deep
in the woods. Chris Madden celebrates the easygoing spirit that creates
these havens. Her book is beautiful and includes many delightful
retreats. This book will be invaluable as you plan your getaway.
Don't have time to sit and read? How about a great audio
book? One good one is Sunset in St. Tropez by Danielle Steel. She
explores the seasons of an extraordinary friendship. The story revolves
around three couples whom are lifelong friends. They rent a ramshackle
mansion complete with a housekeeper in a bikini and six-inch heels.
Their summer in St. Tropez becomes one of change, revelation, secrets,
surprises, and new beginnings. It is a delightful story that is sure to
please.
The library has many audio books, MP3s, and CDs by your
favorite authors. They are invaluable on a long trip and just great to
hear as you lay in the sun. We also have DVDs and videos. The collection
is updated regularly. Try a DVD as you travel with the children or on a
rainy day.
Remember, Summer Reading is underway. You may register
until the last week of the program. Check out the news on our web site
http://www.pennlib.org. You can
find out dates of programs and all activities going on in the library.
If you have comments or suggestions, please e-mail
mfulmer@pennlib.org, or
call (724) 744-4414 ext. 102. Have a great summer!
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