Monroe County Library System

The Ida Branch Library recommends a diverse group of novels to end your summer reading. There are exciting titles here as well as informative ones, and those that will tug at your heartstrings.  There is something for everyone!

If you like historical fiction, Ida staff recommends Cooking for Picasso: a novel by Camille Aubrey.  It offers a look at the life of the famous artist and how he lived  in that period of time in Europe. Plus, there is the mystery of the missing Picasso! American duchess: a novel of Consuelo Vanderbilt by Karen Harper seems like an episode of the lifestyles of the rich and famous! A wealthy American girl is married off by her mother into European royalty. This title shows how she survives, became her own woman, and eventually one of the most well-known people in the world.

Are you more of contemporary fiction reader? Keep your hanky close for The Curious Charms of Arthur Pepper by Phaedra Patrick.  It’s a sweet, quirky book about quiet and reserved, 69-year-old Arthur Pepper. Even though it’s been a year since his wife died, Arthur is still grief-stricken and isn’t functioning well. He has always stuck to his daily routine to get through the day—until he finds an unfamiliar bracelet belonging to Miriam. Suddenly it occurs to him that she had a life before they married and he is overcome with curiosity. He embarks on a multi-country journey to uncover Miriam’s secret past.  If you read only one book this summer, this is the one you should pick up! 

Once Upon a River by Diane Setterfield is storytelling at its best. The author interweaves the stories of three families who all might have a claim on a four-year-old child who appears at the Swan Inn cold and thought to be dead by drowning. Each claim on the child is a tale of its own. Hearts will be broken and some will be mended, and some find a new direction. It’s classic Setterfield! Ida staff says the author “satisfyingly wraps up this intricately woven tale in every detail.“

For those with darker tastes, Ida staff highly recommend Kate Kessler’s Audrey Harte titles. This four-book twisted, murderous, and suspenseful series revolves around Audrey Harte, criminal psychologist.  She’s a main character with some skeletons in her closet. They are revealed when she moves back to her small hometown.  The writer’s style makes for a quick read and the suspense will not let you put the books down. You can start this must-read series with It Takes One.  In the heat of August, cool off with this suspenseful survival story, The Great Alone by Kristin Hannah. This is the story of a desperate family seeking a new beginning in the isolated wilderness of Alaska.  The father, Ernt Albright, has a traumatic past, as he survived the Vietnam War but came home a changed and volatile man.  This proves to be more of a challenge than the extreme wilderness of Alaska.  

Events at the Ida Branch Library this week: Teens and adults can join us on Tuesday, August 13 at 10:00 am for Chair Yoga.  Need school supplies? Join us on Wednesday, August 14 at 1:00 pm for Back to School Bingo.  Elementary students can register here. End your week with our Fun Fridays Cookbook Book Club on Friday, August 16th at noon.  New members are always welcome. Call (734) 269-2191 for more information.