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Health & Fitness

Ten Good Summer Reads

For those days when it's too hot to leave the house, or days when it's just the right temperature to go lay out by the pool, here's a list of good summer reads.

 

For those days when it’s too hot to leave the house, or days when it’s just the right temperature to go lay out by the pool, here’s a list of good summer reads. What makes a good summer read?  Well, it needs to be something that grabs you and never stops moving!

The first four are each the beginning of a series, which means two things: if you don’t like it, at least it was a quick read; or if you did like it, great news - there’s more where that came from! You can find any of these books at the library, available for check out.

Dead until Dark
By Charlaine Harris
This book is the first in the Sookie Stackhouse series.  For those who are a fan of the HBO show True Blood - yep, it began as books.  Not only are they fun and fast-paced, but there are alot of details that they left out of show.  These books are quick, fun reads with mystery, paranormal romance, and a lot of Southern attitude.

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Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone
By JK Rowling
This summer’s biggest movie is the last of the Harry Potter series- and what’s a better time to start reading where it all began? The first book was actually pretty short and the pages fly by. If you’ve read them before, it’s time to revisit beloved characters when they were young… and alive. (No spoilers here!)

Along Came a Spider
By James Patterson
You won’t be disappointed by the first volume of James Patterson’s Alex Cross series. Patterson’s books are fast-paced and action-packed. These thrillers featuring Detective Alex Cross are perfect for fans of police dramas and detective shows.  

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One for the Money
By Janet Evanovich
Janet Evanovich’s Stephanie Plum began her adventures in bounty hunting with this book. The 17th in the series just came out and the major motion picture is set to be released in January. It’s a great series full of action, romance, and tons of attitude and humor. 

Fables: Legends in Exile
By Bill Willingham
Hopefully we can all agree by now that comic books aren’t just for kids.  This is the first in a smart series based on characters from traditional fairy tales and fables.  They’re funny and dark. They might look like comic books, but they’re definitely not for children.  The beautiful art and epic plot will have you turning pages so fast you won’t need a fan.

The Martian Chronicles
By Ray Bradbury
And speaking of fans, this sci fi masterpiece is sure to make you one of Ray Bradbury’s. If you enjoy sci-fi or are willing to try it for the first time, give The Martian Chronicles a shot. It’s a series of short stories about Earthmen colonizing Mars, so it’s easy to read in bits and pieces.The tone ranges from lyrical to humorous, from horror to reflective.

Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society
By Mary Ann Shaffer
This is a great, stand-alone book written in the form of letters (that’s an epistolary, for you word-lovers out there). There’s romance, history, and the letters create a driving rhythm that propels you to the end and gets you cheering for the likable characters. I haven’t met a person yet who read this and didn’t find it charming.

A Walk in the Woods  
By Bill Bryson
Bill Bryson writes a hilarious and true story of two old friends hiking (parts of) the Appalachian Trail.  It’s a fun read, full of dry wit and historical insights and it just might motivate you to go for a hike of your own.

Into the Wild
By Jon Krakauer
This time of year sometimes gets me thinking about selling everything, buying a van and moving to Alaska.  This book tells the true story of a young man who actually did that- but the ending is not so romantic.  It’s a gripping read about dreams, the wilderness, and what happened to one man who pursued them.  

The Wedding
by Nicholas Sparks
You will enjoy this book if you meet either of the following criteria: 1) You’ve read or watched The Notebook and liked it. 2) You secretly want every book you read to have a happy ending and it’s okay to tug at your heartstrings in the process. This one’s an easy-to-read romance with a happy ending- perfect for a summer read.

What is YOUR summer read this year?  

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