Note to Shelf: July 2022

Created on June 27, 2022, 4:01 pm

Last Updated June 28, 2022, 1:33 pm

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Jill says, "If you’re looking for a fun summer read, look no further than Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus. Zany chemist Elizabeth Zott is ahead of her time and lives her life in the male dominated science world with no apologies. Set in the 1960s, Elizabeth agrees to do a cooking show, but in her eyes, it is a chemistry lesson, which just happens to involve cooking. Her show takes off, much to the chagrin of the producer. Always at her side is her dog Six-Thirty, who is a character all on his own! If you loved Where’d You Go, Bernadette, you’d be remiss not to add this title to your summer reading list!"
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Virginia asks "How far would you go to protect your child, even if you suspect they may have committed a crime? That is just one of the critical issues presented in Amanda Eyre Ward’s novel The Lifeguards. Welcome to the idyllic and privileged neighborhood of Barton Springs, an area of multi-million dollar houses, gorgeous scenery, and supposedly perfect families. Here you will find queen bees Whitney, Annette, and Liza who have been best friends since their sons were babies. But all of that is about to change when the boys, who are now teenagers and lifeguards at the local Barton Creek swimming hole, stumble upon a dead body. In a moment, the women’s world implodes when it is revealed the boys have a connection to the victim. Will their friendship survive or will they sacrifice each other to keep their children out of the line of suspects? This book has everything you would want in a beach read: mystery, suspense, and humor all while dealing with real issues such as friendship, loyalty, and motherhood."
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Kiera exclaims that this book "is sure to captivate its readers. It’s 1964 and Hollywood starlet Katie Barstow is enjoying her honeymoon on safari in Tanzania with her new husband and an entourage that includes other actors, her agent, and her brother and sister-in-law. The trip starts out just fine, with everyone snapping photos and enjoying the beauty of the lush flora and fauna...until Russian mercenaries show up and things take a sudden and violent turn. The narrative shifts among the various character’s perspectives and backstories, adding depth and complexity to this historical thriller. A heart-pounding ride!"
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Ann shares '“When I was in eighth grade my sister helped kill another girl." This is the compelling opening line of Ocean State by Stewart O'Nan. Marie is the eighth-grade sister and her sister Angel is in high school. They both live with their divorced mother who is searching for love in all the wrong places. Birdie is a classmate of Angel's. She is a quiet A-student who makes the mistake of seeing Angel's boyfriend, Myles, on the side. The plot builds steadily with well-developed truly realistic characters. This is a novel of the impact on environment, family, and life that will impact who these young women become. Ocean State develops slowly, almost like the fog of the beach community where this story takes place."
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Sarah found that "Trailed: One Woman’s Quest to Solve the Shenandoah Murders by Kathryn Miles explores essential questions about crime and justice in our national parks. Using a combination of case files, interviews, and personal memoir, Kathryn Miles details her ardent search into the unsolved May 1996 murders of Julie Williams and Lollie Winans in the Shenandoah National Park in Virginia. Miles learned about the murders when she was a professor at Unity College, Julie Williams’ alma mater. In 2016, Professor Miles was asked to write an article about the crimes. Miles embarked on her own investigation and quickly discovered serious errors in the Shenandoah case, including a lack of protocol for processing outdoor crime scenes as well as a greater pattern of violence against women in national parks that has not been reported. A recommended read for fans of I’ll Be Gone in The Dark by Michelle McNamara."
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