June Books
FICTION
The Summer Guests, by Mary Alice Monroe
When a hurricane threatens the coasts of Florida and South Carolina, an eclectic group of evacuees flee for the farm of their friends, Grace and Charles Phillips, in Tryon, North Carolina. They find the Phillipses’ daughter, Moira, and her rescue dogs; famed equestrian Javier Angel de la Cruz; makeup artist Hannah McLain; horse breeder Gerda Klug and her daughter, Elise; and another island resident, Cara Rutledge. They bring with them only the few treasured possessions they can fit in their vehicles. Strangers to all but the Phillipses, they ride out the storm together. During the course of one of the most challenging weeks of their lives, relationships are put to the test as the evacuees are forced to confront the unresolved issues they have with themselves and with each other. Rumor is that Caroline Young, who left Southern Pines for Tryon a few years ago, makes an appearance in the novel.
The Electric Hotel, by Dominic Smith
Aging mastermind Claude Ballard, the innovative filmmaker behind a lost masterpiece of silent film, The Electric Hotel, lives in a rundown Los Angeles hotel. He lives out his days walking the hills, foraging for mushrooms, attending to an elderly actress, and largely ignoring the decaying film canisters surrounding him. When a curious student working on his dissertation interviews Claude, the original film and stories spanning decades and continents are unearthed. You will be mesmerized by this work of historical fiction.
The Snakes, by Sadie Jones
Bea and Dan — a young couple seeking respite from their London life —travel to Paris to spend time with Bea’s brother, Alex, in the rundown hotel her parents purchased for him. Opening the door to the hotel opens a door to the family from which Bea has long tried to distance herself. Insanely rich, dabbling in dangerous play, and with twisted ideas about familial love, Bea and Dan find themselves drawn deeper and deeper into something they never wanted. Quietly terrifying, Jones’ writing grabs the reader on page one and, no matter how much you want to look away from the downward spiral of Bea and Dan’s fate, each page demands to be turned until the hammer falls.
Recursion, by Blake Crouch
The author of the best-selling Dark Matter returns with the story of New York City cop Barry Sutton investigating the devastating phenomenon the media has dubbed False Memory Syndrome — a mysterious affliction that drives its victims mad with memories of a life they never lived. As Sutton searches for the truth, he comes face-to-face with an opponent more terrifying than any disease, a force that attacks not just our minds, but the very fabric of the past. This book will satisfy those in need of a good, dark read and could be your favorite of the year.
Paris, 7 A.M., by Liza Wieland
In June of 1937, Elizabeth Bishop, still only a young woman and not yet one of the most influential poets of the 20th century, arrives in France with her college roommates. They are in search of an escape, and inspiration, far from the protective world of Vassar College, where they were expected to find an impressive husband, a quiet life, and act accordingly. But the world is changing, and as they explore the City of Lights, the larger threats of fascism and occupation are looming. There, they meet a community of upper-crust expatriates who not only bring them along on a life-changing adventure, but also into an underground world of rebellion that will quietly alter the course of Elizabeth’s life forever.
Summer of 69, by Elin Hilderbrand
It’s 1969, and for the Levin family, the times they are a-changing. Every year the children have looked forward to spending the summer at their grandmother’s historic home on Nantucket. But like so much else in America, nothing is the same. Blair, the oldest sister, is marooned in Boston, pregnant with twins and unable to travel. Middle sister Kirby, caught up in the thrilling vortex of civil rights protests and determined to be independent, takes a summer job on Martha’s Vineyard. Only-son Tiger is an infantry soldier, recently deployed to Vietnam. Thirteen-year-old Jessie suddenly feels like an only child, marooned in the house with her out-of-touch grandmother and her worried mother, each of them hiding a troubling secret. As the summer heats up, Ted Kennedy drives a car off a single lane bridge in Chappaquiddick, man flies to the moon, and Jessie and her family experience their own dramatic upheavals along with the rest of the country.
NONFICTION
Every Man a Hero: A Memoir of D-Day, the First Wave at Omaha Beach, and a World at War, by Ray Lambert and Jim DeFelice
The co-author of American Sniper joins forces with Seven Lakes resident Ray Lambert to write one of the most remarkable memoirs of our time. Seventy-five years ago, Lambert hit Omaha Beach with the first wave. Now 98 years old, he delivers a tour-de-force of remembrance evoking his role as a decorated World War II medic who risked his life to save the heroes of D-Day. Every Man a Hero is the unforgettable story not only of what happened in the incredible and desperate hours on Omaha Beach, but of the bravery and courage throughout the Second World War — from the sands of Africa, through the treacherous mountain passes of Sicily and beyond to the greatest military victory the world has ever known.
Gather at The River: 25 Authors on Fishing,
by author/editors David Joy and Eric Richstad
Reading Gather at the River makes you feel as if you have been invited to sit down to a feast with your favorite contemporary writers. These are not “fish stories,” but literary essays evoking nostalgia for a simpler place and time; growing up and growing old; what changes and what stays the same. If finding pure pleasure in savoring this collection isn’t enough, it’s wonderful to know that a portion of the proceeds from each sale go to the C.A.S.T. for Kids Foundation, benefiting children with special needs.
CHILDREN’S BOOKS
If I Was the Sunshine,
by Julie Fogliano; illustrated by Loren Long
In an ode to spring, nature and love everywhere, Fogliano and Long have teamed up to create natural beauty in this lovely picture book. It’s the perfect gift for a new baby or a delightful read-on-yout-lap book with that special little person. (Ages birth-6.)
Bruno the Standing Cat, by Nadine Robert and Jean Julien
Cat person or not, everyone must admit cats are just a little, well, weird — but in the most wonderful ways. Bruno is no exception. Young cat lovers will laugh out loud at Bruno’s escapades and his incredibly entertaining expressions. (Ages 3-6.)
You Made Me a Dad,
by Laurenne Sala and Mike Malbrough
The absolute perfect Father’s Day gift for brand new dads, this fun little book showcases all the fabulous opportunities that come with this amazing new job. (Ages birth-6.)
Diggersaurs, by Michael Whaite
No need to decide between that truck book and the dinosaur book when Diggersaurs is on the bookshelf! Young readers will delight in this rhyming ode to all things dinosaur and all things with wheels. (Ages 2-5.)
Finale, by Stephanie Garber
It’s here! It’s here! It’s finally here! Just in time for summer beach reading, this amazing third and final book in the Caraval series is sure to leave readers reveling in this lush, magical, and oh-so-dangerous world. Tella must decide if she’s going to trust Legend or a former enemy; Scarlett must do the impossible; and Legend has a choice to make that will forever change and define him. Called impressive, spellbinding, original and wondrous, the Caraval series is just perfect for warm beach days and long summer nights. (Age 14 and up.) PS
Compiled by Kimberly Daniels Taws and Angie Tally
