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LibraryReads May 2014

May 1, 2014 by Reader's Connection

I should read at least one book recommended on LibraryReads each month. I enjoyed And the Dark Sacred Night, which was recommended in April by Kelly Currie of Delphi, Indiana. Kelly’s back this month, and I’ve already requested the book she reviews.

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Here are the ten May releases chosen by librarians around the country.

We Were Liars by E. Lockhart

We Were Liars

 

This brilliant and heartbreaking novel tells the story of a prestigious family living on a private island off the coast of Massachusetts. Full of love, lies, secrets, no shortage of family dysfunction, and a shocking twist that you won’t see coming. Though this book is written for teens, it shouldn’t be overlooked by anyone looking for a fantastic read. — Susan Balla, Fairfield Public Library, Fairfield, CT

 

 

 

 

All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr

All the Light We Cannot See

 

Set during World War II Europe, this novel is sobering without being sentimental. The tension builds as the alternating, parallel stories of Werner and Marie-Laure unfold, and their paths cross. I highly recommend this beautiful and compelling story. — Kelly Currie, Delphi Public Library, Delphi, IN

 

 

 

 

 

The Bees: A Novel
by Laline Paull

The Bees: A Novel

 

This book is set entirely in a beehive, but the novel and its characters are so beautifully rendered that it could have been set anywhere. Societal codes and social mores combine with the ancient behavior rituals of bees, bringing forth a remarkable story that is sure to be a book club favorite. — Ilene Lefkowitz, Denville Public Library, Denville, NJ

 

 

 

 

 

Delicious! by Ruth Reichl

Delicious!

 

Billie leaves college to take a job with a soon-to-be disbanded food magazine. What follows is an intriguing story involving dusty archives, long-forgotten letters written during World War II to the illustrious James Beard, and a young woman in New York City who learns to trust her culinary talents. This novel is a delectable feast. — Paulette Brooks, Elm Grove Public Library, Elm Grove, WI

 

 

 

The Forgotten Seamstress by Liz Trenow

The Forgotten Seamstress

 

Two women’s stories, separated by close to 100 years, connect through a patchwork quilt. Carolyn finds a quilt in her mother’s attic and is intrigued by its origin, and quiltmaker Maria’s story is told through transcripts. Trenow carefully stitches together a novel about family secrets, using many interesting details about fabrics, needlework, and textile conservation. A strong sense of place and well-told story make this book superior women’s fiction. — Leslie DeLooze, Richmond Memorial Library, Batavia, NY

 

 

Bird Box by Josh Malerman

Bird Box

 

Close your eyes! Don’t look! Something is out there that will drive you mad if you see it. Is it an alien invasion? An environmental toxin? Two sisters, Malorie and Shannon, embark on a journey seeking safety and other survivors. I was unable to put this book down. Horror at its best, not graphic, but truly creepy and scary. Highly recommended for fans of psychological suspense. — Mary Vernau, Tyler Public Library, Tyler, TX

 

 

 

Bittersweet by Miranda Beverly-Whittemore

Bittersweet

 

As unlikely a pair of roommates as you’re ever likely to meet: plain, working class Mabel Dagmar and beautiful, privileged Genevra Winslow. Mabel spends the summer in the Winslows’ idyllic lakefront property in Vermont, dreaming of being one of them–only to discover that being a Winslow is not all sunshine, yachts, and ease. Being a Winslow means keeping very disturbing family secrets. — Nancy Russell, Columbus Metropolitan Library, Columbus, OH

 

 

 

Delancey: A Man, a Woman, a Restaurant, a Marriage by Molly Wizenberg

Delancey: A Man, a Woman, a Restaurant, a Marriage

 

As Wizenberg tells the story of how she and her husband opened the successful pizza restaurant Delancey, I felt like I was hanging out with a close friend. She also shares delicious sounding recipes for the everyday food they made at home during the hectic days of launching the restaurant. Wizenberg’s writing is so sincere and relatable. — Michelle Marx, Eagle Valley Library District, Avon, CO

 

 

 

 

Sixth Grave on the Edge by Darynda Jones

Sixth Grave on the Edge

 

The continuing adventures of P.I. Charley Davidson and Grim Reaper (not as mutually exclusive as one would think) are just as delightful as in previous books, with new characters including a wonderfully snarky new demon. Jones expands on Charley’s existing relationships and supernatural powers. It’s the perfect paranormal-romance-mystery blend that you never knew you always wanted. — Donna Matturri, Pickerington Public Library, Pickerington, OH

 

 

 

The Blessings by Elise Juska

The Blessings

 

This finely-crafted story is told through a series of Blessing family members’ points of view over a two-decade span of time. A deceptively small book with very big themes, this novel is gentle and wise. It made me look at my own close and extended family with new eyes; now I see the ways in which we are alike, not the ways in which we are different. A transformative reading experience. Highly recommended. — Janet Schneider, Great Neck Library, Great Neck, NY


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