- What you should read over the summer...

Best adult fiction

1. The Given Day  Dennis Lehane

Chris has selected this book because it is what all historical novels should be, expertly taking you to another time and place.The novel centres on a first generation Irish-American family and deals with the Boston police strike of 1919. Totally riveting and totally readable. Dennis Lehane known for his novel Mystic River and Gone Baby Gone. Both made into very good movies.

 

2. Girl with the Dragon Tattoo and the sequel Girl Who Played With Fire.  Steig Larsson

 It has all the ingredients of a fine crime novel. Suspense, page turner and a bit seedy in parts!

Amazing crime novels by a Swedish author who recently died. Intelligent and gripping crime where the characters are developed and the plot tight. The novels centre around Lisbeth Salander who stumbles upon a corporate crime.

  

3. Secret Scripture  Sebastian Barry

Chris says this should have won the Booker! Very readable. The definitive Irish novel. Barry examines Ireland's troubled past through two characters and the changes they both have to cope with. Very sad, very Irish and very good.

 

Best adult non-fiction

1. Dear Fatty  Dawn French

Chris choose this one because she likes Dawn French and then discovered she loved the way she wrote about her life through letters to her Mum and Dad. Has her touch of humour as well.

    

2. American Journeys  Don Watson.

Chris choose this one because Don Watson reminds her of Bill Bryson's writing, clever and funny. They are both wonderful observers of human behaviour! Don Watson travels around America by train and listens and observes the people he meets.

 

3. Ascent Of Money  Niall Ferguson

Chris choose this one because Niall Ferguson writes in a very clear way about complex subjects, also very much what she needed to read about at this time. He shows that finance is the foundation of human progress and gives an historical overview.

 

Best books for children and adolescents

1. Hunger Games  Suzanne Collins

Chris choose this one because when she read it she could see immediately see that young teens would love it. A novel that has action, adventure and yearning! Set in the future where young people are chosen to survive in the wild while being televised. Stephanie Myer (Twilight author) loves this book.

 

2. The Mysterious Benedict Society  Trenton Lee Stewart

Chris chose this one because the cover was attractive! A truly amazing book where four children are chosen to work out a mystery which is spine chilling and incredible. Also has the best ending!

Very funny and clever. Reminded her of Lemony Snickett and Roald Dahl books.

 

3. Foggy Foggy Forest

She chose this one because it meets all the criteria of what a great picture book should be. Rhyming, fun, written for kids rather than adults, strong pages, interactive, full of surprises.