Arapahoe Library District discussion

At the beginning of the summer there is lots of talk about summer reads. So what did you read this summer? Did the bestsellers live up to their hype?
Some of the summer's most popular new books included:
Inferno
The Yonahlossee Riding Camp for Girls
And the Mountains Echoed
The Shining Girls


Older Books that are still hot included:
Gone Girl
World War Z: An Oral History of the Zombie War
The Great Gatsby
The Fault in Our Stars
Divergent

I read a couple of frivolous but FUNNY novels, both taking place in Florida: Bad Monkey by Carl Hiaasen and Insane City by Dave Barry. Both were actually insanely imaginative, with bad characters and ridiculous plots, which somehow managed to come together neatly by the last page. (Barry really doesn't need to use the rather foul language he sprinkles liberally on every page - I don't think it makes his books any funnier. Which is really not possible.)

I read an absolutely marvelous book this summer called PALISADES PARK by Alan Brennert that was not a best seller, but much better than some of the
best sellers I read. It is my Hot Summer Read.

Pamela wrote: "I read a couple of frivolous but FUNNY novels, both taking place in Florida: Bad Monkey by Carl Hiaasen and Insane City by Dave Barry. Both were actually insanely imaginative, with bad characters a..."

I'm listening to Insane City in the car--it is very funny. I originally thought that I didn't like Dave Barry as the narrator but as I laugh out loud more and more, I'm finding I kind of like his straight forward reading. Very much like Carl Hiaasen.

I also listened to "Bad Monkey", but my version was narrated by Arte Johnson of Rowan and Martin's Laugh-In fame. A really good choice!

Arapahoe Library District wrote: "At the beginning of the summer there is lots of talk about summer reads. So what did you read this summer? Did the bestsellers live up to their hype?
Some of the summer's most popular new books i..."


I checked out Bad Monkey and never did read it. I'll have to check it out again!

I started World War Z. Enjoying it so far, but been so busy that I need to remind myself to pick it up again!

Would anyone like to participate in a twitchat hosted by ALD on hot summer reads next week? Say yes! :)

JoAnne wrote: "I read an absolutely marvelous book this summer called PALISADES PARK by Alan Brennert that was not a best seller, but much better than some of the
best sellers I read. It is my Hot Summer Read."

You loved Brennert's Moloka'i too didn't you?

So the hot book news of the summer was finding out that JK Rowling wrote The Cuckoo's Calling. Does that make it the hot book of the summer? Or is the delay in getting it going to make it the hot book of the fall?

Early Word blog had an interesting post about how the hot books of this summer were all published last summer!
http://www.earlyword.com/2013/07/25/h...

A book I really enjoyed this summer was The Bookman's Tale: A Novel of Obsession. I don't think it was the hot summer read, but it still does have a waiting list at the library.

My favorite read of the summer was miss peregrine's home for peculiar children! It was different than I had originally anticipated, although I enjoyed the twist the writer left us at the end. I'd recommend it for anyone who enjoys the different and interesting.

Hot summer books often involve upcoming movies. Anyone reading these books before they become movies?
http://library.booksite.com/5582/nl/?...

I read mostly teen books - most enjoyable this summer have been the Gallagher Girl series by Ally Carter and All Our Yesterdays by Cristin Terrill. All Our Yesterdays doesn't come out until September so I guess that's technically my hot fall read.

Arapahoe Library District wrote: "Hot summer books often involve upcoming movies. Anyone reading these books before they become movies?
http://library.booksite.com/5582/nl/?..."
I am trying to decide if I want to reread The Book Thief before the movie comes out. It might be better if the details of the book are not too fresh in my mind, so I can't compare too closely to the movie.

I am not much of a nonfiction reader, but have been enjoying the audio version of Unfamiliar Fishes.

Our patron picks for their hot summer reads were:

The Paris Wife
Gone Girl
Ready Player One
the Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry
The Other Typist
The Boy in the Suitcase

I am somewhat late to the party, but that's mostly because I haven't had a hot summer read! I've read some good stuff this summer, but nothing that got me super excited, until last week when I finished Full Body Burden by Kristen Iversen. It's a non-fiction biography/history of Rocky Flats here in Colorado and I cannot stop talking about it. It's remarkably well written and researched, and it got me all fired up, so I'd definitely call it a hot summer read!

Jen wrote: "This was the summer of catching up on books & series that I should have read a while ago. It included:
A Song of Ice and Fire (first two)
the first Harry Potter (so far - I'm eagerly awaiting my ..."

We love the Harry Potter is still a "hot summer read!"

Bridget wrote: "I am somewhat late to the party, but that's mostly because I haven't had a hot summer read! I've read some good stuff this summer, but nothing that got me super excited, until last week when I fini..."

And it will be the library's hot read of the fall because the author is coming in October! Details closer to the event.

I saw a presentation by Kristen Iversen last spring. She's a wonderful presenter and had photos of the inside of the part of facility where she was working--very interesting! Outstanding book, should be read by anyone living in Colorado.

I, too, am coming in late. But I did enjoy a young adult series by a new author-T.J. Brown. The series is called Summerset Abbey. It's quite good.
Nonfiction- Impossible Odds by Jessica Buchanan is pretty good too.

I loved Freud's Mistress, The Son and am just finishing A Killing in the Hills which is older but outstanding, The author has a new book upcoming that is reviving rave reviews, Bitter River

I enjoyed a duet of history books: Bunker Hill: A City, a Siege, a Revolution by Nathaniel Philbrick, and Revolutionary Summer: The Birth of American Independence by Joseph Ellis. Both very readable and accessible to a non-historian. So if you want something un-beach read-y, give one of these a try!

The library just got lots more copies of The Cuckoo's Calling, so that might be a hot summer read for more of our patrons, rather than a hot fall read.

I just started Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children. Like!!

I read a LOT of books this summer - the ones I enjoyed the most were - "The Interestings" by Meg Wolitzer, "Joyland" by Stephen King, "NOS4A2" by Joe Hill, and "Inferno", by Dan Brown.

Amanda, I look forward to your comments about MPHFPC - I was firmly on the fence about it :)

I loved loved loved "The Book Thief" when I read it last year, and just watched the trailer for the movie and the casting is just marvelous.

Like Jeri I've read quite a few books this summer. I just finished one that was so good--The Lavender Garden by Lucinda Riley. It was hard to put down--I literally was up until the wee hours finishing it!

Ooooh, Cheryl, that sounds good! Now on my "to read" list :)

It really was good! I hope you'll like it as much as I did!! It alternates back and forth between the present time and World War II.

Read many books this summer and the titles that I felt were outstanding were JOYLAND by Sephen King, BRILLANCE by Marcus Sakey, THE HEALING by Jonathan Odell and THE DOLL by Taylor Stevens.

Since it's Labor Day--the "last" day of summer, I thought I'd slip in a few last minute books that I really enjoyed. Spring Awakening, the last book in the Summerset Abbey trilogy was really good. All three of the books were wonderful and a great way to read until the next Downton Abbey program resumes!

The Lavender Garden was so spellbinding! I literally could not put it down. Anyway I enjoyed seeing everyone's recommendations and got lots of suggestions for future reads!
Cheryl

Just spent a week on the Outer Banks - great reading time. Like JoAnne thought The Doll was excellent. Also really enjoyed Engagements by J Courtney Sullivan and Sisterland by Curtis Sittenfeld

I just finished a great book! It's a graphic novel prequel to the sci-fi film Pacific Rim that came out this summer: Pacific Rim Tales from Year Zero and I loved it. It hits all the great action movie buttons the movie pushed, but it also includes a wonderfully diverse cast and some lovely emotional moments. I'd definitely call it a Hot Summer Read!

Cheryl wrote: "Since it's Labor Day--the "last" day of summer, I thought I'd slip in a few last minute books that I really enjoyed. Spring Awakening, the last book in the Summerset Abbey trilogy was really good...."

I liked Lavender Garden also.

Laurielib wrote: "Just spent a week on the Outer Banks - great reading time. Like JoAnne thought The Doll was excellent. Also really enjoyed Engagements by J Courtney Sullivan and Sisterland by Curtis Sittenfeld"

I just placed a hold on Sisterland.