Long summer days are meant for reading! In between catching a wave or a quick dip in the pool, give a new book a try. Here’s a list of romantic comedies and suspenseful thrillers that are perfect for a summer day.
Month: July 2019
Stellar Reads, Part 4: Nonfiction Reviews from Adult Summer Challenge Participants
From biographies to how-to and self-help books, Nonfiction has something intriguing to offer so many readers. Here’s a look at Nonfiction books that our Adult Summer Challenge participants are enjoying.
Robert B. on The Ghosts of Johns Hopkins: The Life and Legacy That Shaped an American City by Antero Pietila:
The author introduces this well-researched volume by noting that Johns Hopkins destroyed his private papers so thoroughly that no credible biography exists.
He then continues by stating that the purpose of his book is to analyze how Hopkins’ legacy, the hospital, medical school, and university “became the defining factors that they are today, the largest private-sector employers in the city and the state, with a robust worldwide reach.” The Ghosts of Johns Hopkins definitely fulfills the author’s purpose but there is more.
As Pietila states, “a main goal of this book is to help the reader understand the idiosyncracies and complexities of Baltimore.” And here he succeeds magnificently. This is an essential book for anyone wanting to gain a better understanding of how Baltimore got to where it is today. Pietila creates an amazing mélange of politicians, crooks, police commissioners, and local characters in a historical tour de force.
Kyla R. on Generation T: 108 Ways to Transform a T-Shirt by Megan Nicolay:
This is a cool and crafty book about turning T-shirts into one-of-a-kind styles. It’s my favorite DIY clothing book. Techniques feature cutting apart and reassembling shirts for beginners and more experienced crafters.
I must say that there are lots of casual, fun, and even insightful designs to make in this book. Great if you want to start making your own clothes.
It’s not too late to join the fun! For a chance to win fabulous prizes in the Adult Summer Challenge, create a free Beanstack account and log each book you finish between June 12 and August 14.
Great All-American Classics
Happy 4th of July! In between celebrating with fireworks and a plate (or two) of barbecue, consider spending the day curled up with a great book to read. Here’s a list of All-American classics, some new and old, some traditional, others not so much, that you might want to add to your reading list.
By Walter Dean Myers
Read | Download | Listen | Graphic Novel
Stellar Reads, Part 3: More Reviews from Adult Summer Challenge Participants
What book have you enjoyed lately? Here are some favorites of our Adult Summer Challenge participants:
Melina T. on Little Fires Everywhere by Celeste Ng:
I loved this book—it begins with fires and then works its way back to lead up to the event that opens the book. The author cleverly weaves in story elements slowly, building up and helping you understand the reason for the fires. It’s a slow build but done with such care and great writing.
She switches the point of view frequently, helping to develop the different characters and ultimately what assumptions you make at the beginning of the book are completely crushed by the end of the book. It’s a great read, totally engrossing, and you’ll love characters you thought you couldn’t, and find empathy lurking in every corner.
Helen B. on When All Is Said by Anne Griffin:
Join 84-year-old Maurice Hannigan as he makes final toasts to each of the five people who mattered most in his life. By turns humorous, tender, and shocking, his reflections paint a vivid picture of a man acknowledging his mistakes and appreciating his blessings.
Holly T. on The Sleeper and the Spindle by Neil Gaiman:
Neil Gaiman takes the “Sleeping Beauty” story and transforms it into something rich, sinister, and strange. The 66 pages of this novella feature intricate drawings by Chris Riddell that perfectly illustrate the chilling horror of this telling. Startling and unexpected, this is NOT the story you heard growing up.
Jedidiah S. on Level Up by Grace Luen Yang:
Thien Pham’s artwork is lovely, and Gene Luen Yang’s writing is really powerful. It sneaks up on you—I wasn’t expecting to be moved, but I was.
Aaron B. on You Know You Want This by Kristen Roupenian:
The viral hit “Cat Person” is only one of the stories in Roupenian’s debut collection. A fascinating series of examinations on evolving gender roles, one that’s funny and twisted, bizarre and honest.
Join the fun! For a chance to win fabulous prizes in the Adult Summer Challenge, create a free Beanstack account and log each book you finish between June 12 and August 14.