Belong to Me by Marisa de los Santos

Marisa de los Santos shows that just as you shouldn't judge a book by its cover, you shouldn't judge the people you meet until you've had the opportunity to really get to know them. Chances are you'll be surprised with what you find.

Belong to Me tells the story of Cornelia Brown and the people she meets as she and her husband, Teo, move to the suburbs. Some she clicks with right away, others prove more elusive. However, their lives are much more intertwined than they first appear.

Belong to Me was an enjoyable read but not one I'd say would be a favorite. Stay tuned, though. De los Santos' Love Walked In is at the top of my "to read" pile. I'll let you know how that one goes.

~Submitted by Lisa

The Family Man by Elinor Lipman

I have never been disappointed with a book written by this author, and Family Man fits the bill! Anyone who enjoys books set in New York City will enjoy this story. Mrs. Lipman knows how to make her characters jump off the page and seem real. I was immediately involved with the main character Henry, a gay man who, after divorce, reunites with his now adult daughter, Thalia. The book was quite humorous and the supporting characters were full of personality. If you have not read anything by this author, run to the library!


~Submited by Susan

Still Alice by Lisa Genova

Lisa Genova's debut novel, Still Alice, is a moving story of a professor stricken with early onset Alzheimer's. What made the experience more vivid was the author's narration style. It was very straight forward and not emotional. Which made it seem as though it were possible in anyone's life - very realistic. I would highly recommend this book.

~ Submitted by Linore

Hope in a Jar by Beth Harbison

I was excited to find this book as I thoroughly enjoyed Beth Harbison's earlier works, Shoe Addicts Anonymous and Secrets of a Shoe Addict. They were great light reading - perfect for the beach or pool and I highly recommend them! When I discovered Hope in a Jar held references to commercials and beauty products from the 80s, the era of my youth, I was even more excited. Unfortunately, I found this book disappointing. I felt no connection to the characters and found the story to be choppy and disjointed. Finally, the 80s references, while nostalgic, weren't incorporated into the writing at all and they were often distracting. I wouldn't recommend Hope in a Jar but definitely pick up Beth Harbison's other books.

~Submitted by Lisa

Skinny Dip by Carl Hiassen

Do you enjoy a quick summer read? A book that makes you snicker? One that doesn't make you think TOO much? Then you may want to consider checking out the book Skinny Dip by Carl Hiassen. Joey Perrone is on an anniversary cruise with her husband, next thing she knows he has pushed her into the water. Her husband Chaz, believing her dead, plays the saddened widower. Little does he know that Joey survives the fall from the ship & is out to seek revenge against her husband! Skinny Dip introduces many interesting characters and you'll root for Joey all the way to the end, while Chaz is delectably hateful & you'll love watching him squirm. One downside to the story however, is Hiassen's portrayal of the male & female characters. The female characters were overly sexualized, meanwhile the men were all womanizers. That bit of the story just didn't sit well with me once I finished the book & gave it a bit of thought as a whole. However, without taking that into consideration, the story makes for an odd mix of crime fiction & light humor - a fun & quick read for those hot summer days!

~Submitted by Samantha C.

Cool off this summer with a Good Read!

Our Annual Fun in The Sun Adult Summer Reading Program kicks-off today! Stop by the Library to register & pick up your goody bag. Guess what? There's no required reading list - just read whatever you want & enjoy most. Just read or listen to books & submit short reviews online or in person. Review forms can be found in your goody bags, at laglib.org or in the Library. Remember - your book reviews are your raffle entries for fabulous prizes every 2 weeks and for the grand prize drawing on September 7th! Don't forget to check your goody bag for a lucky flip-flop!

Check back here as we'll be posting the submitted reviews so you can see which books others have enjoyed. We hope you'll add your comments to the postings too. Who knows, you just may help someone discover a new favorite author or even find one for yourself!

Happy Reading!

The Boleyn Inheritance by Philipa Gregory

This is a long, masterfully written tale about the era and person of King Henry VIII and his last two wives, Anne of Cleaves and Kitty Howard. I listened to the book on CD and enjoyed the use of four voices telling the story from the perspective of four different characters. My daughter, however, read the book; and found the use of a four-party narrative confusing. If, as I assume, Gregory painstakingly researched the time period and its events – then I learned an enormous amount of an era in which I had previously known very little. I now view this historical period with color, depth, and a profound interest. Of course, much of what is portrayed is based on Gregory’s speculation; but I think she does a very credible job. Under her pen the characters come alive to leave a lasting impression on the reader/listener. Her character development of Henry’s two wives is nothing short of amazing. They both mature very differently, but in an extremely appealing (though not entirely happy) fashion. If you read their story on Google, you will find black and white words on paper. Once you read Gregory’s book, the characters are ‘fleshed’ out into living breathing (and sometimes dying) people. I unreservedly recommend this book.

~Submitted by Elaine