Summer's Best Reads

The lazy days of summer are a time for catching up on those unfinished books collecting dust on the shelf, and to explore the newest hits on the bestseller list. That's why Port bibliophiles find the public library and newly relocated Dolphin Bookshop popular spots. From beach reads to required reading lists to books that call for intellectual heavy lifting, here are some recommendations from local book-mongers.

When it comes to beach reads, people want books they can open, read, finish, and enjoy in a few short sessions.

"People are looking for books that they can read and escape, especially over the summer," said librarian Kate Monsour, who specializes in adult and young adult titles.

For this category, Monsour notes that "Fly Away Home" by Jennifer Weiner remains one of the biggest crowd pleasers. Weiner's other titles, including "In Her Shoes," were listed on the New York Times Bestseller list as "chick lit." As a Jewish-American author, her books mainly portray the lives of Jewish characters in the modern world.

One of the most sought-after series by book-lovers of all ages this summer is Swedish author Stieg Larsson's best-selling Millennium Trilogy, including "The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo" and two other titles. Sony Pictures is set to release an American adaptation of the Scandinavian film version in December 2011, which will only add to the popularity.

A book that already boosted its audience with visual media is Ken Follett's "The Pillars of the Earth," featured as TV miniseries on Starz. Selected for Oprah's Book Club in 2007, this historical book is set around the building of an English cathedral and the cultural development of Gothic architecture from the preceding Romanesque style. As Monsour points out, the demand for books that have recent film or TV adaptations is always high.

For students, summer reading seems to mean more homework during a time when they want to relax. Still, some books on the reading list are favorites, including Mitch Albom's "The Five People You Meet in Heaven" and Stephen Chbosky's  "The Perks of Being a Wallflower." 

If, however, you've finished your most recent book or are motivated to read beyond the assigned books, the librarians have some recommendations. Monsour suggests Sarah Mlynowski's "Gimme a Call." This book is about a high school senior who drops her phone in a fountain only to find that when she retrieves it, the only calls she can make are to herself at age 14. She warns her younger self against certain relationships and regrets that she's had, which in turn begins to change the events of the present.

"It's easy to read, and I found it to be very entertaining," she said.

Suzanne Ponzini, head of the young adult section, recommends one of her recent reads, Colum McCann's "Let the Great World Spin," which features an interesting plot structure. The main story revolves around the tightrope walk of Philippe Petit between the former Twin Towers in 1974; however, multiple protagonists are introduced in the novel, each with his or her own chapter. In the end, the stories merge in a clever, complex, and satisfying way that ties the loose ends together.

If you're looking for some interesting reads you wouldn't otherwise have found, make a stop at the public library or Dolphin Bookshop and ask the experts for suggestions. You're bound to find something you will love.