Summer Reads, Bookstore display

I have to post a photo of our new display in the Friends Bookstore. As always our creative Sue McMillan has a pure knack for a delightful display. Beach Book Babes unite!

City of Light by Lauren Belfer

City of Light by Lauren Belfer was published in 1999 - and I am sorry I missed it!! this was a tremendous book, especially for summer beach reads with a little bit of everything! Factually historical, wonderful romantic/tragic tale, interesting plot, mystery and story, excellent writing for a great read. Takes place in Buffalo NY in the early 1900s, you will feel right at home after reading Devil in the White City. Some similarities, but much more intricate story, much more academic. This does involve academic life, but also the electrifying of cities and houses (and businesses). The revelations and secrets were fairly obvious to me, but the facts on Niagara falls, electricity, girls schools, power struggles in class, society and between male/female is ever present. I read this one because I had heard of her newest book, which wasn't available from the library yet.

The opening, and closing will grab you, make you pause, reconsider and think on it for several days.
"I am lucky: I know what people say about me. To some I am a bluestocking: a woman too intellectual to find a husband. To others I am an old maid, though I do not consider myself old and I am no maiden." "Self knowledge as the greeks might say, the only knowledge worth having." Louisa Barrett 1909.
I will be looking for her latest fiction, to be sure. (A Fierce Radiance, 2010)

Kindle List Summer Beach reads

Travelling with my Kindle so I decided to look at what I have downloaded over the last few weeks and share those contents/books with you. Will of course describe the better ones in a review as I read them!

What a dragon should know. GA Aiken
Chicago Restaurants. Zagat Ann Christenson
They never die quietly. DM Annechino
Train your mind, change. your life Sharon Begley
Crossing Places. Elly Griffiths
City of Shadows. Ariana Franklin
The Devil and Sherlock Holmes. David Grann
Dark Tide. Andrew Gross
Poles in Minnesota. Bill Holm
Wild Hair. Neil Gaimen
Make it fast, cook it slow. Stephanie O'Dea
the coral thief. Rebecca Stott
Hopper. Mark Strand
World of Gerard Mercator. Andrew Taylor
Three Weissmanns of Westport. Cathleen Schine

Beach Reads contest entries

Remember to submit your entries for the beach reads contest by July 14!

Location, Location, Location! (Notice book title)


















Summer Beach reads can be anything.

Beach Reads Contest!

The next contest is Beach Reads.
Submit a photo of your favorite beach book. Photo can include your favorite beach location, pals, and/or treats! Include a caption or short commentary on what makes this a good beach read. This is a great opportunity to be creative! The best entry will win a book of your choice from our prize bookshelf. Entries must be submitted by July 14, 2010. Beach reads are for sale in the Friends’ Bookstore, during the month of June and July. And they will be having a special beach read book sale on July 10!
Official contest rules.

Kate Carlisle Beach Reads

Homicide in Hardback by Kate Carlisle
Just finished a library book which was a bibliophile mystery - start of a new series (murder is always a best seller!) Great summer fun read- light easy, description of amazing books (Faust)...and off to the Edinburgh Book Festival in the next one!! I did like the dedication: "Books have the same enemies as people: fire, humidity, animals, weather and their own contents." - Paul Valery.
Brooklyn Wainwright is the main character who lives and breathes book restoration in San Francisco. She has an interesting set of friends to say nothing of the 'far out family', and has a quick wit, convoluted past (three engagements?!) and a new possibility (Derek Stone, british security who drives a bently continental for heaven sakes!) So much is completely far fetched, but you will laugh. Light entertainment with a few heart strings. This was nominated for an RT First Mystery award. The author's blog: katecarlisle.com is also very entertaining, and reveals that alot of what was written, was actually personally lived. Her next book has been published: If Books could kill and she is at work on her third bibliophile mystery.