Library Reads: September 2016

I already had a post today, but I don’t want to forget to post this so that every list stays accessible with one click on the Library Reads tag.

This is also your monthly reminder to use that tag to access the huge store of backlist titles that all make great suggestions to patrons hungry for a good read. And, you have the annotation at your finger tips so you can book talk it too.

September 2016 LibraryReads List

Leave Me: A Novel

by Gayle Forman

Published:9/6/2016 by Algonquin Books
ISBN: 9781616206178

“Aren’t there days when you just want to leave it all behind? After a life threatening event, that’s exactly what Maribeth Klein does. Maribeth, wife, mom of 4-year old twins, and editor of a glossy magazine is told to rest. Sure! The choice she makes is not the one for most, but following Maribeth on this journey is compelling nonetheless. Fast paced narrative and terrific writing make this one hard to put down. Recommended!”

Carol Ann Tack, Merrick Library, Merrick, NY

The Bookshop on the Corner: A Novel

by Jenny Colgan

Published: 9/20/2016 by William Morrow
ISBN: 9780062467256

“Despite losing her job as a librarian who liked to put the right book into a patron’s hands, Nina continues her mission by moving to rural Scotland, purchasing a van, converting it into a bookmobile,and taking to the road. The plot revolves around the romance of the road, the romance of books and reading, and just plain old romance. Another marvelous book by Colgan! A gem of a book!”

Virginia Holsten, Vinton Public Library, Vinton, IA

Commonwealth

by Ann Patchett

Published: 9/13/2016 by Harper
ISBN: 9780062491794

“The Cousins and the Keatings are two California families forever intertwined and permanently shattered by infidelity. Bert Cousins leaves his wife for Beverly Keating, leaving her to raise four children on her own. Beverly, with two children of her own, leaves her husband for Bert. The six children involved are forced to forge a childhood bond based on the combined disappointment in their parents. As adults, they find their families’ stories revealed in a way they couldn’t possibly expect. Patchett has written a family drama that perfectly captures both the absurdity and the heartbreak of domestic life.”

Michael Colford, Boston Public Library, Boston, MA

The Tea Planter’s Wife: A Novel

by Dinah Jefferies

Published: 9/13/2016 by Crown
ISBN: 9780451495976

“When Gwendolyn Hooper comes to Ceylon as a young bride, she has no idea that she’s entering a region on the cusp of political upheaval or that she’s living with a widower and his secret-filled past. The Tea Planter’s Wifehas all of the elements that I’m looking for in historical fiction: compelling characters, an evocative setting, a leisurely pace, and a plot that unfolds like the petals of a flower, or, in this case, the tea plant.”

Amy Lapointe, Amherst Town Library, Amherst, NH

Daisy in Chains: A Novel

by Sharon Bolton

Published: 9/20/2016 by Minotaur Books
ISBN: 9781250103420

“Another great book from Bolton! Convicted serial killer Hamish Wolfe has proclaimed his innocence from the beginning and has solicited the help of lawyer Maggie Rose who is known for her ability to get convictions overturned. The story unfolds in alternating chapters from the past to the present and keeps readers on the edge of their seats with a twist you won’t see coming! Highly recommended!”

Karen Zeibak, Wilton Library Association, Wilton, CT

Darktown: A Novel

by Thomas Mullen

Published: 9/13/2016 by Atria/37 Ink
ISBN: 9781501133862

“In Atlanta in the late 1940s, the integration of black police officers into the force is proving to be challenging. White civilians don’t respect their authority, and black civilians don’t trust that they can protect them. Lucius Boggs and Tommy Smith are men with heavy burdens on their shoulders. Every move they make is examined. When the body of a young black woman is found, they will put everything on the line to gain justice for a woman who turns into a symbol of all that is wrong with their town. Despite its historical setting, so many elements of this tale seem timely, and readers will have much to think about after turning the last page.”

Sharon Layburn, South Huntington Public Library, South Huntington, NY

The Masked City

by Genevieve Cogman

Published: 9/6/2016 by Roc
ISBN: 9781101988664

“A mysterious new Fae couple is causing Irene and crew major grief in this second installment of the Invisible Library series. After getting a book, Irene and Kai get attacked by a group of werewolves. Irene plans to go to the Library, turn in the book, and find information on the newcomers while Kai will go to Vale’s house. Kai is attacked and taken away. To get to the chaos filled world where Kai is held, Irene has to get help from Silver and fight to not be overrun by chaos and the Fae. I like this series because Irene is a smart, tough, stubborn, and loyal librarian who has survived many crazy, dangerous, and interesting worlds and people.”

Julie Horton, Greenwood County Library, Greenwood, SC

Thrice the Brinded Cat Hath Mew’d: A Flavia DeLuce Novel

by Alan Bradley
Published: 9/20/2016 by Delacorte Press
ISBN: 9780345539960

“Flavia deLuce has returned from Canada to find her father in the hospital and her sisters distant. When she is sent to deliver a message for the vicar’s wife, she steps into another mystery – one she is determined to solve, preferably before Inspector Hewitt can do the same. Flavia is once again a fun, science-loving protagonist. Flavia arrives at a turning point in her life and how she handles what happens next will tell much about the path that she will take into adulthood.This series entry ends on a note that begs for the next story.”

Chris Andersen, Stow Munroe Falls Public Library, Stow, OH

Blood at the Root: A Racial Cleansing in America

by Patrick Phillips

Published: 9/20/2016 by W.W. Norton
ISBN: 9780393293012

“Phillips digs into the history of a series of events in his hometown in Georgia. After a series of crimes were blamed on some of the area’s young black men, the citizens of the town saw fit to run off the entire African American population. Phillips researches the crimes and the mob mentality that followed, and shows how certain citizens of Forsyth County continued to intimidate and assault African Americans who wandered across their border for almost eighty years.This is the type of history that is far too important ever to forget.”

Amy Hall, Jefferson County Public Library, Wheat Ridge, CO

The Secrets of Wishtide: A Novel

by Kate Saunders

Published: 9/13/2016 by Bloomsbury USA
ISBN: 9781632864499

“A charming mystery introduces Laetitia Rodd, a widow who moonlights as a sleuth in 1850s London. She’s tapped to help uncover the mysterious past of a prospective bride, but the more Laetitia digs, the more certain individuals want to keep their secrets buried. And when those secrets turn deadly, Laetitia may be in danger herself. Saunders nails the raucous world of Victorian London, capturing the Dickens-like characters from the lowest of society to the lofty ranks of the wealthy. A fine read for those who love vivid settings and memorable characters.”

Katie Hanson, Madison Public Library, Madison, WI