Hilda C. Landers Library & Archives

I can often see the “twist” in a story long before it is revealed, but this one caught me sideways! Elderly writer taps a young woman to write her life’s story, but the older woman is known to make up “stories” as real life, and the young writer is interested in the project only if Ms. Winter promises to tell the “truth”. Described as a gothic novel, I was immediately pulled into this telling of a tale.

Highly recommend for a light yet thought provoking read.

Availability: USMAI
Review Submitted by: Michelle Marble
Rating: Highly Recommended

The novel’s heroine is Lizzy Tucker a pastry chef who inherits her aunt’s family home in Salem, Massachusetts. She soon discovers her pastry skills may be more than just talent; she may have “special” gifts. The novel begins with Wulf, a dark character, trying to find seven deadly charms. These charms collectively unlock a dangerous secret stone. Diesel, Wulf’s cousin, is one of the good guys. His mission is to protect Lizzy and stop Wulf from securing the stone. Diesel tells Lizzy she is an  “unmentionable,” a person with special powers and that her power is the ability locate lost artifacts and charms. When Lizzy uncovers the gluttony charm and puts it on she discovers its power; she can’t stop eating and Diesel has to hide the charm.

There are other unique characters who help Lizzy and Diesel; a wannabe witch whose spells backfire, a one-eyed cat who has more than nine lives and Carl the monkey who likes to give people the finger when he’s angry. This novel is full of humor and light entertainment.

Availability: USMAI
Review Submitted by: Cheryl Colson
Rating: Recommended

Mort is a wonderful novella by Terry Pratchett that tells the tale of a boy who becomes Death’s apprentice. The book is set in Pratchett’s personal fictional setting Discworld, though no prior knowledge or reading is needed to enjoy this book. The humor is very sharp and dry, and the characters are wonderfully detailed. Pratchett’s interpretation of the Grim Reaper himself is probably the best part, offering a very unique spin on the centuries old icon.

Availability: USMAI
Submitted by: Kevin Koeser
Rating: Highly Recommended

The Monsters of Templeton is about a young woman [Willie], who had an unorthodox upbringing, and her journey to find herself. The book begins with Willie, an educated anthropologist, returning to her family home in Templeton. She’s distressed over an affair with her married mentor and the discovery that she is not the product of her mother’s 1970’s hippie lifestyle; her father actually lives in Templeton. As the story progresses the writer flips between Willie’s historical ancestors and her life in the present day. The book has photos of her ancestors, their diary’s and the family tree. As I read this book, I found myself caring less about Willie’s personal life and her struggle to find her own identity, and more interested in her colorful and somewhat neurotic ancestors.

Availability: SMCM
Review Submitted by: Cheryl Colson
Rating: Recommended

The Ominous Omnibus by Lemony Snicket is composed of the first three books of The Series of Unfortunate Events saga. Although these books are marketed towards children, they are rather dark and the literary allusions makes the stories an enjoyable read for all ages. I would consider this a must read.

The Omnibus includes The Bad Beginning, The Reptile Room and The Wide Window.

Availability: Individual titles via USMAI
Review Submitted by: Katie Schreven
Rating: Must Read

Ever on the hunt for something to appease my nerves for grad school, I picked up this book on a whim from the library. I know that I worry more than the average person; sometimes I appreciate that it keeps me alert and vigilant, but I also know that it distracts and stresses me. This book was simple and readable, with lots of stories of anonymous patients as examples. It was hard for me to get through the book because I could see certain bits of each example in myself, and sometimes it…well, worried me. The last chapter offers 50 ways to combat worry in its tracks, ways to form new habits and hopefully, eventually, “re-wire” the brain. Although an interesting and potentially helpful book, the most important aspect I took from it was confidence to know it’s okay to seek help or talk to another person when feeling overwhelmed…which most of us already know, right?

Availability: USMAI
Review Submitted by: Jordan Gaines
Rating: Recommended

Looking ahead to next year’s Summer Reading? Take a look at The Millions Fall preview. I’m looking forward to October, when IQ84 by Haruki Murakami and Zone One by Colson Whitehead will be published.

The literary story so far in 2011 has certainly been the posthumous publication David Foster Wallace’s The Pale King — though folks like Tea Obreht, Kate Christensen, and Ann Patchett have grabbed their share of the literary limelight. While the second half of 2011 is unlike to produce a media whirlwind to match the one that accompanied The Pale King this spring (or Freedom last year, for that matter), we will see new books from some heavyweights, including Haruki Murakami, Jeffrey Eugenides (both in October), and Don DeLillo (in November).

But, even as fans look forward to books from these favorites, there will undoubtedly be many new discoveries in the coming months as well, some of which, hopefully, we can introduce you to today.

See the complete list at The Millions : Most Anticipated: The Great Second-Half 2011 Book Preview.

Interested in getting a little advanced reading done? Post a review in July and you will be entered into a drawing for an Advanced Reader’s Copy of Agent 6 or Pure.

My Mother She Killed Me, My Father He Ate Me, edited by Kate Bernheimer, is a volume containing forty new fairy tales, each written by a different author. While each story can be read as a standalone, I would not suggest them for younger children. Although the stories invented are unique in their own way, in some instances they are so bogged down with symbolism that it detracted from the overall tale. I would recommend this book, my personal favorites from the collection are: “The Mermaid in the Tree” and “The Brother and the Bird.”

Availability: SMCM
Review Submitted by: Katie Schreven
Rating: Recommended

The Reader by Bernhard Schlick was a quick read. I’d seen the film two years ago and while I remembered few details, it all came back to me when reading the novel. It is an interesting premise: a 15-year old boy falls in love with a woman in her mid-30s. When she disappears one day and reappears on trial years later during his time as a law student, he discovers a secret about her that would only save her if she were not too proud to admit it. The storyline only elevates from there. This is an interesting piece of writing not only because of the plot, but also because I’d never read a “Nazi fiction” book before. The novel even dabbles in philosophy, to a degree, having been written by a German jurist.

Availability: SMCM
Review Submitted by: Jordan Gaines
Rating: Highly Recommended

Kevin Oldfield has won the monthly prize drawing for June.

Submit a review in July to be eligible for the our next drawing. Don’t forget prizes are available for all participants who submit a review between June 1 and August 15.

1. Submit one review and win a mini puzzle.
2. Submit three reviews and win a set of postcards.
3. Submit five reviews and win a poster from Unshelved.
4. Submit seven reviews and win a refrigerator magnet.
5. Submit 10 reviews and win a bag of library swag.
6. Monthly prize drawings.