This month at the library
A James Patterson book with a twist – that’s nothing new. Of course you’ve heard of author James Patterson, the best-selling writer of dozens of mysteries and thrillers and winner of numerous awards. We have two shelves full of his books in our library, and he’s always collaborating with a new celebrity author. But did you know that he’s also a huge promoter of reading, independent bookstores and, of course, libraries, having donated millions of dollars to independent bookstores and school libraries. His latest book isn’t exactly what his many fans might expect. Instead of a mystery or a thriller, it’s a tribute to all the people who run bookstores and work in libraries. The Secret Lives of Booksellers and Librarians: True Stories of the Magic of Reading tells the stories of small bookstores: how they started, how they survived disasters like hurricanes, the pandemic and the recession. With his co-author Matt Eversmann, he includes real librarians who inspire others, love their work and teach without a classroom. It’s a great book for anyone who loves reading, and it made me start thinking of all the books I wanted to talk about.
One new book that’s getting a lot of love is The Women by Kristen Hannah. I enjoyed reading this historical fiction about nurses serving in Vietnam. There were many of them, but sadly, they were not given the recognition they deserved until many years later. As a young and inexperienced nurse, Frankie McGrath joins the Army Nurse Corps after the death of her beloved brother. She’s completely unprepared for the tumult and horror she finds when she arrives “in country”, but quickly finds her way, thanks to two nurses who’ve seen almost everything. Now she must learn to survive while caring for the victims of a controversial war.
Another historical fiction that I’ve been waiting to read was The Armor of Light (Kingsbridge, #4) by Ken Follett. It’s 1792, and the world is beginning to be transformed by the manufacturing age. New inventions have made tasks easier, but things are not great for workers. Machines have taken over many jobs, leaving skilled workers unemployed and barely making ends meet. Child labor is legal, and anyone suspected of organizing a trade union can be sent to prison. War in Europe, class struggles, and the everyday lives of the local villagers all make this a fascinating time. I can’t wait to see what he writes next!
Reading Geraldine Brooks always shows me a different aspect of history, and Horse is no exception. Here she connects four characters from three different time periods and creates a compelling piece of historical fiction. The “horse” of the title is an actual racehorse, Lexington, but the fictionalized story involves a painting in a trash pile, a skeleton in the Smithsonian, and the connection between a young horse and the slave boy who cares for him. I could hardly put it down. Horse books used to be my favorites growing up. Girls and their horses by Eliza J. Brazier is a grown-up version of those books I loved as a kid, except it’s a lot darker. When the wealthy Parker family moves to California, they’re anxious to join the showjumping crowd, no matter what it costs. However, nobody anticipated the competition would be so fierce.It’s a good gossipy read for former horse girls.
Another fun read is The Bullet that Missed (Thursday Murder Club 3) by Richard OsmanIt’s a lighthearted series with the best characters! Once again the gang at the senior center is examining cold cases, but this time Elizabeth is in a real mess. Her past work with MI-5 (British version of CIA) has come back to haunt her and now her friends are in real danger. Even in their golden years, these senior citizens are so wonderfully different and make me laugh with their antics and remarks, but there’s always something to learn from the members of the Thursday Murder Club.
These are only a few of the books I could talk about, but if you want to hear about more, you know where to find me!