Arts & Entertainment
Attention All Bookworms!
From classics to genre-busting new tomes, check out this varied array of book recommendations from librarians and bibliophiles.
Ed. note: In recognition, albeit a tad tardy, of Wednesday's Read Across America Day, Smyrna-Vinings Patch writer Jennifer Duncan was asked to provide 10 book recommendations. Jennifer, who does wonderful work for the local nonprofit , is quoted in her Patch bio that she “considers the five years she spent as a reference librarian a dream job.’’ That’s a qualification we’re good with, so with a mindset for the recommitment to improving literacy, here is her compiled list.
KIDS
Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel by Virginia Lee Burton - A well-known and beloved classic for many years about the invincible team of Mike and his steam shovel, Mary Anne.
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Stella, Star of the Sea by Marie-Louise Gay - The authoritative Stella and her little brother Sam spend a humorous day at the beach. Gorgeous illustrations make this a lovely picture book.
Mercy Watson series by Kate DiCamillo - Mr. and Mrs. Watson and their adored pet pig Mercy get into all kinds of hilarious snafus, most of which involve firefighters, police officers and their crotchety neighbor, Eugenia Lincoln.
Find out what's happening in Smyrna-Viningswith free, real-time updates from Patch.
Diary of a Wimpy Kid series by Jeff Kinney - Penned in an engaging comic book style, this mock diary of a not-so-popular middle schooler is a humorous hit with the elementary crowd.
Betsy-Tacy books by Maud Hart Lovelace - Written in the 1940s, these are gently (but entertainingly so) old-fashioned books about friends Betsy and Tacy having fun and getting into mischief. In the classics, the storyline always transcends time and place, which is what makes this series a keeper.
ADULTS
Pillars of the Earth/World Without End by Ken Follett - Massive in length but focused in scope, this detailed historical novel about 12th century Britain (and its sequel) are vivid and well-researched.
The Book Thief by Markus Zusak - Classified as a Young Adult book, this mesmerizing story, which takes place in 1939 Nazi Germany, is about a young girl's love affair with books.
The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nightime by Mark Haddon. The 15-year-old protagonist suffers from Asperger's Syndrome and is fascinating as he tells the story in the first person.
The Historian by Elizabeth Kostova - An intellectually astute thriller/mystery set in Amsterdam. Well-paced and suspenseful, this substantial book should satisfy most readers.
The Sunday Philosophy Club series by Alexander McCall Smith - This delightful series unfolds in Edinburgh and, although technically mysteries, the books are about daily life, relationships and philosophical and ethical dilemmas.
