Ahhh, summer reading ... Maybe the pressure of classes has eased off a little bit ... Maybe you're looking for a good book to take on vacation ... Whatever your motivation, remember that the Library is a great place to find recreational reading - we offer a bit of something for most every reader. Parkland Library purchases New York Times Best Sellers, and we also have a collection of paperbacks for your reading pleasure. The paperback and Best Sellers collections have been relocated to a cozier corner of the Library south of the Circulation Desk. Take a moment to browse the shelves and you might find these recent additions:

     A Light on the Veranda by Ciji Ware -- A romantic tale of intrigue (paperback)
     U.S.S. Seawolf by Patrick Robinson -- A suspenseful naval technothriller (paperback)
     In Harm's Way: The Sinking of the USS Indianapolis and the Extraordinary Story of Its Survivors by Doug Stanton (Best Seller - D 774 .I5 S73 2001)
     April 1865: The Month that Saved America by Jay Winik -- A narrative history; well researched and as readable as a novel (Best Seller - E 477.61 .W56 2001)
     The Skies of Pern by Anne McCaffrey -- An adventure through imagination (Best Seller - PS 3563 .A255 S55 2001)
     On the Street Where You Live by Mary Higgins Clark -- A gripping novel of suspense (Best Seller - PS 3553 .L287 O5 2001)

Recommendations from fellow readers are sometimes a great source for something new to read. Sharon Matthews of Parkland's Marketing and Creative Services office makes these suggestions:
I've read Tis by Frank McCourt. I've also read everything Parkland Library owns by J. California Cooper, a great short story writer, and most of the works by Langston Hughes. Two of his works that stand out are The Ways of White Folks and Tambourines to Glory. My newest love is Edwidge Danticat, author of Breath, Eyes and Memory and Krik Krak. I found both of these books to be great. And you don't want to miss Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood by Rebecca Wells.

A display in the Library now features some suggestions for summer reading, including the annual "Summer Reading" special section of the New York Times Book Review. If you want other ideas, you can check out NoveList, a cool guide to pleasure reading which you can access from computers in the Library. (You can find a link to it on the Library's home page in the "Books, CDs, Tapes" section. Ask a librarian for assistance in getting started using NoveList.) NoveList will help you find books similar to those of a favorite author and in a particular genre, such as science fiction or mystery. It also features headline stories that are full of reading suggestions. Recent stories have been on "Beach Romances" and "Fantasy Fiction for Cat Lovers."

On the Web, look for good books in Salon Magazine and the Go-Go Girls Best Beach Books sites. Online book sellers like Amazon and Barnes and Noble also have summer reading lists available at their sites.

So come on in and stay a while in air-conditioned comfort, or grab a good read, check it out, and go!

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