From the Stacks
By Carol Ann Robb, PPL Reference Librarian
Recommendations from Readers
Members of the Third Tuesday Book Discussion group met this week to share titles of some of their favorite reads so far this year. It’s always interesting to learn what other people have read—and liked—so one can have a list of books to look for when you’re not sure what you want to read next.
The following is a list of what sixteen hardcore readers recommended (and the library owns most of them if one catches your fancy). Naturally, they are alphabetized by the author’s last name (even the non-fiction; easier than doing it by their Dewey numbers)
FICTION: Reading List by Sara Nisha Adams; Last Dress from Paris by Jade Beer; Venice Sketchbook by Rhys Bowen; Last Flight by Julie Clark; Most Beautiful Girl in Cuba by Chanel Cleeton; One Hundred Years of Lenni & Margot by Marianne Cronin; Sisters of the Great War by Suzanne Feldman; Four Winds by Kristin Hannah; Book of Lost Names by Kristen Harmel; Billy Summers by Stephen King; Seven Year Dress by Paulette Mahurin; various titles by Charles Martin; Last Suppers by Mandy Mikulencak; Three Sisters by Heather Morris; Where the Crawdad Sings by Delia Owens; Magnificent Lives of Marjorie Post by Allison Pataki; Horsewoman by James Patterson; Maid by Nita Prose; Perfect Marriage by Jeneva Rose; Beneath a Scarlet Sky by Mark Sullivan; Good Left Undone by Adriana Trigiani
NON-FICTION: Living History by Hillary Clinton; Wolves at Our Doors by James Dutcher; Poet Warrior by Joy Harjo; Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin Wall Kimmerer; Ride of Her Life by Elizabeth Letts; Greenlights by Matthew McConaughey; James Patterson by James Patterson; Smile by Sarah Rule; Mockingbird by Charles Shields; Taste by Stanley Tucci
I like to do this “book potluck” once a year for a couple of reasons. First (and foremost), I’m always on the lookout for a good book and this is a pretty easy way for me to gather titles.
Secondly, I can get a feel for what the core group of attendees like to read. Their tastes are rather diverse but there’s an overriding preference for historical fiction (with nearly a third set during WW II so it’s not just me reading that time period). Also, by having this sharing session, I don’t have to prepare for a discussion (some might be surprised that I do any prep work at all).
I know most of these folks well enough to say without hesitation that these are titles that would be welcome on any book list. When you’re unable to find one that’s on your to-read list, try one of these. I don’t think you’ll be disappointed.