The PJFL Summer Reading Program...It’s Not Just for Kids Anymore!

     The Port Jefferson Free Library hosts a trio of Summer Reading programs for Children, for Teens, and for Adults.

While your school days may be behind you, that doesn’t mean you can’t join in in the Summer Reading Club fun. Have “A Groundbreaking Summer” and dig up some great new reads as part of the Adult Summer Reading program (for ages 18 and up). Registration has begun! Sign up online here: https://ny.evanced.info/portjeff/sr/homepage.asp?ProgramID=11&PageLangID=1 Click on the button that says “Sign Me Up”. It is right under the banner on the left. Make sure you have your Library card handy and just fill in the blanks. You will be asked to create a user name and password as part of the sign up.  When finished click “save” and your account will be created! You will need to login once you have finished your book  to keep track. Write down your username and password that you created during the initial sign up and keep them in a safe place.

Need some help finding the perfect book to read? The Library has thousands of books just waiting for you to check out! Browsing is a great way to discover new favorites, but it does take some time. For those who are looking for an almost guaranteed good read, check out the New York Times Best Sellers list.

Fiction

For fiction, many of the books are making their debut on the list this week, 7 out of the 15 listed are brand new arrivals. One of the fiction standouts is Donna Tartt’s The Goldfinch http://alpha2.suffolk.lib.ny.us/record=b4627443~S50. It won the Pulitzer prize for fiction and much critical acclaim. While the story is fiction, the painting is very much real. It is called “The Goldfinch” and was painted in 1654 by Carel Fabritus, a student of Rembrandt. He was killed in a massive gunpowder explosion in Delft, and only a few of his work survive. Theo, the main character in the novel ends up at the Metropolitan Museum of Art during a bombing and in the confusion steals the painting. It becomes both treasure and burden. 

Laurell K. Hamilton fans who have been waiting 6 years for the newest adventure of Merry Gentry, fairy princess, will be thrilled to see A Shiver of Light http://alpha2.suffolk.lib.ny.us/record=b4709763~S50 make its debut on the list. 

Other new and notable books on the list include: Mr. Mercedes by Stephen King http://alpha2.suffolk.lib.ny.us/record=b4707777~S50 and Unlucky 13 by James Patterson http://alpha2.suffolk.lib.ny.us/record=b4674698~S50.

Nonfiction

Stand outs from the Non Fiction list include Malcolm Gladwell’s David and Goliath http://alpha2.suffolk.lib.ny.us/record=b4633193~S50. Gladwell has written four other books so if you like David and Goliath check out his other works! 

I am Malala by Malala Yousafzi http://alpha2.suffolk.lib.ny.us/record=b4641306~S50 tells the story of a teenage girl who was shot by the Taliban.

Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand http://alpha2.suffolk.lib.ny.us/record=b4284978~S50 has been on the Non-Fiction Best Seller list for a record 172 weeks, something that popular is a must try!

Monica Williams’ Picks

Not tempted yet? Here are few of my personal favorite reads that I would suggest:

Major Pettigrew’s Last Stand by Helen Simonson http://alpha2.suffolk.lib.ny.us/record=b4223800~S50

The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry by Rachel Joyce

http://alpha2.suffolk.lib.ny.us/record=b4517964~S50

Night Film by Marisha Pessl http://alpha2.suffolk.lib.ny.us/record=b4618940~S50

Memoirs of a Geisha by Arthur Golden http://alpha2.suffolk.lib.ny.us/record=b3714817~S50

For a reading club with a bit of twist try The New York Times Big City Book club, their online reading club that anyone can join is reading Lush Life by Richard Price http://alpha2.suffolk.lib.ny.us/record=b3975416~S50 Give it a read and then join the discussion! And yes the book you read for them also will count for the Library’s Summer Reading program.

If you have any issues with the Summer Reading program sign up just let us know and will be happy to help. You can sign up online or in person, whatever you prefer. As always if you need help finding these items listed or just want so additional recommendations just stop by the Reference Desk.