Whether on the beach or under a favorite tree, this is the season for reading. During the high summer of humid days and lethargic sunsets, lots of people like to take the opportunity to get caught up on bestselling books or take in favorite fiction reads. This summer options abound and readers can embark on a solo hike across the Pacific West Trail with author Cheryl Strayed or solve a murder mystery with famed prosecutor Alexandra Cooper.
We’ve compiled a few suggestions from the staff at the Secaucus Public Library that will take your imagination in different directions across the globe.
Jenifer recommends
Secaucus Library Director Jenifer D. May likes to carry her books on her e-reader everywhere she goes but especially loves reading in parks, where she can get completely lost in a book for hours without any interruption.
WILD . A memoir, this is the story of an eleven-hundred-mile solo hike of the Pacific Crest Trail from the California deserts to the wilds of Washington State after the author nearly lost everything in her life. Strayed tells the story of her solitary journey, as well as the emotions that led her there and the lessons she took away from her adventure.
THE LAST POLICEMAN By Ben H. Winters. Jenifer really loved the dark humor of this book, which is set in New Hampshire in the months leading up to the end of the world. Detective Hank Palace works to solve a mysterious murder while pondering the meaning of life as well as his drive to keep living and working, despite the hopelessness of the coming apocalypse.
PARIS IN LOVE By Eloise James. After successfully completing her treatment for a serious illness, professor and historical romance novelist Eloisa James makes a decision to move to Paris for a year, with her husband and two children. This memoir is great for the beach or for daydreaming during a staycation: light, funny, and filled with beautiful descriptions of Parisian life.
Valerie recommends
Valerie Giambona coordinates the library adult book displays and selects most of the adult fiction books. Her favorite reading spot is at her kitchen table on a Sunday morning.
THE CHAPERONE By Laura Moriarty. Take a journey to the 1920s, 30s and beyond as fifteen-year-old Louise Brooks, a silent-film star, much to her chagrin is accompanied by a thirty-six-year old chaperone Cora Carlisle as she leaves Wichita, Kansas, to study dance in New York. The five weeks together prove to be a transformational time that changes their lives forever.
FATHER’S DAY: A JOURNEY INTO THE MIND AND HEART OF MY EXTRAORDINARY SON By Buzz Bissinger. A memoir, this story takes the reader from Philadelphia to Los Angeles as a father attempts to get closer to his son who is a savant, challenged by intellectual deficits but with amazing qualities and talent.
NIGHT WATCH By Linda Fairstein. When a young woman from New York’s Village is found murdered, NY prosecutor Alexandra Cooper is pulled away from a vacation in France with boyfriend Luc Rouget to handle the high profile case. The only evidence discovered on the body is one of Rouget’s matchboxes promoting his new, upscale restaurant in New York. The fourteenth caper in a crime series, this thriller keeps readers guessing with a number of surprises along the way.
Lanora recommends for teens
Lanora Melillo, Youth Services Librarian, listens to audiobooks in her car, particularly on her ride to the library and home.
THE SUMMER I LEARNED TO FLY by Dana Reinhardt. This coming of age story begins during the summer of 1986 when thirteen-year-old Drew, who is a bit of a loner, starts working in her mother’s cheese shop. In the summer before eighth grade, Drew enters into the first adventure of her life as she meets and a strange boy and her mother begins dating.
THE SUMMER I TURNED PRETTY by Jenny Han. Jenny Han’s “Summer” books series revolve around the world of Isabel “Belly” who spends her summers at the beach. Having just turned sixteen, Belly notices that this summer, both terrible and wonderful, is very different from the previous ones.
ROT AND RUIN by Jonathan Maberry. Life for Benny Imura isn’t easy. In this post-apocalyptic world, Benny and his civilization are fenced in with border patrols to protect themselves from zombies. Now fifteen years old, Benny must find a job or have his rations cut in half. When he does become an apprentice as a zombie hunter with his older brother he learns what it really means to be human.
Henry the Pig recommends for kids
Henry Krajewski is a pot-bellied pig that serves as the Secaucus town mascot. When he isn’t running around in the sun he likes to stretch out over children’s books while he eats his vegetables.
DRAGONS LOVE TACOS written by Adam Rubin with illustrations by Daniel Salmieri. Henry the Pig loves to eat and he discovers that dragons do too in this book. Dragons eat many, many tacos and all kinds including beef and chicken. However, if they eat spicy salsa with the tacos it can lead to some fiery trouble. This book is for ages three to five.
Adriana Rambay Fernández may be reached at afernandez@hudsonreporter.com.