05 June 2009

In Case My Reading Options are Limited This Summer

A few weeks ago Yankee Girl asked if I'd still be reading and writing about books while I'm in Europe. I hope I will be, but I don't have room in my bags to bring recreational reading with me. I may have to survive on whatever I can find through BookCrossing and the backs of cereal boxes and maybe by wrestling my traveling companions to the ground and insisting that they allow me to read the books they bring for themselves.

If I had easy access to a library this summer, these are the books I would be reading.

The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie by C. Alan Bradley - An adult mystery narrated by an eleven-year-old girl. I'm next in line for it at my library. If the person who has it now brings it back on time, I'll get it on my last day of work. If she doesn't bring it back, I will weep. And then look up her contact information and start leaving her threatening voicemail messages.

How to Buy a Love of Reading by Tanya Egan Gibson - Fiction about some girl who does something. And there are some books and a tutor or something. (No time for better descriptions. Must watch So You Think You Can Dance.)

Border Songs by Jim Lynch - Well-reviewed fiction about U.S.-Canadian border patrol from the author of The Highest Tide, which also received great reviews.

North of Beautiful by Justina Headley - A new YA novel about a girl who struggles with an abusive father and image issues resulting from a port-wine stain facial birthmark. YA librarians are liking it.

Don't Judge a Girl by Her Cover by Ally Carter - The third book in the Gallagher Girls series about a secret spy school. The first two books were delightful.

Along for the Ride by Sarah Dessen - The newest novel from one of my very favorite contemporary YA authors. Don't know what it's about. Doesn't matter, because her books are always good.

If the Creek Don't Rise by Rita Williams - A memoir from the niece of the last African American Civil War widow who was placed in her aunt's custody at age four.

In the Kitchen by Monica Ali - A new novel from the author of Brick Lane. A London chef struggles with a messy personal life and the discovery of a dead porter in the hotel where he works.

The Help by Kathryn Stockett - Civil rights in 1962. Received starred reviews from Publishers Weekly and Library Journal.

8 comments:

Janssen said...

I really enjoyed Along for the Ride, but then I too have drunk the Sarah Dessen koolaid and think she can do no wrong.

North of Beautiful didn't really live up the hype for me, sadly.

Courtney said...

I am so excited! My to-read list is up to 46 now all because of you ;)

Annie M. said...

HAPPY 31ST BIRTHDAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

MBC said...

Janssen--I'm glad to hear the new Sarah Dessen is good. I love all of her books, but her last one wasn't my favorite.

Yankee Girl--Yay!

Annie--Thank you!

Amy said...

HAPPY HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

JAMES said...

Yes, happy birthday. I sent you a text. I don't know if your savvy enough for those.

MBC said...

Thank you! James, I'm not very text savvy, but I did get (and appreciate) your text. It was late on the East Coast when I got it, so I didn't text back.

Rebekah said...

sometimes i make book lists but i never even try to read the books on the list. for some reason it doesn't bother me that much. i like lists.

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