Two years ago I was perusing the “New Book” shelves, not finding anything that particularly grabbed me, so I picked up “Love Walked In” which I remembered had positive reviews in several library publications. And the book grabbed me. Big time. It’s still one of my favorite all-time reads.
So when I learned that the author, Marisa de los Santos, had a sequel due out, I had decidedly mixed feelings: Could it possibly live up to my expectations, or would I be mortally disappointed? Sometimes it’s better to leave well enough alone — think “To Kill a Mockingbird” (thank you, Harper Lee, for letting it stand alone) — but the thought of learning what happens to Cornelia, Tao and Clare won out and I grabbed “Belong to Me” as soon as I possibly could.
I admit to holding the book in hand for several minutes before cracking open the spine but I steeled myself and began reading. And was blessedly rewarded! The first chapter totally drew me in and once again I was charmed by de los Santos’ lyrical writing. Then it was on to Chapter 2. Wait a minute — who were these less-than-congenial characters? Not that I expected Cornelia’s life to be without some bumps, but these women were just plain mean! But I continued on and was rewarded with yet another positive reading experience.
Would I rate it as high as her first installment? Probably not, but it was certainly worth my time to read it.
Perhaps “Belong to Me” wasn’t the paradise I was hoping for, but that doesn’t mean that there aren’t other books sitting on shelves just waiting to whisk me away to a magical place. That is why the library is inviting you to “Book a Trip to Paradise” this summer by taking part in our summer reading program for adults. Between now and Aug. 2, we ask that you read 10 books of your choice — that’s one book a week — in order to win a free book bag. And we’re not talking about the book bags we gave away nearly 10 years ago but brand new ones! If you think you can’t get that many books read — and I count myself in that category — you have the opportunity to attend one of our “Friday Flicks” at 1:30 p.m. in June and each movie will count as a book. Public Performance Rights won’t allow us to publicize the movies outside the library, so be sure to stop by or call to learn what star attractions are being shown.
Even if the reading program sounds too daunting, we hope that you’ll stop in the library at some point this summer and find that magical book that will take you off to your own personal paradise. Whether it’s tropical or glacial, real or imaginary, in the past, present or future, book a trip to paradise at the Pittsburg Public Library this summer.
For more about books and reader’s advisory suggestions, go to http://pittsburgpubliclibraryra.blogspot.com/.
NEW BOOKS
NEW FICTION
“Stars,” Nora Roberts; “Devil’s Bones,” Jefferson Bass; “Honor Thyself,” Danielle Steel; “Before Green Gables,” Budge Wilson; “Anatomy of Deception,” Lawrence Goldstone; “Serpent’s Tale,” Ariana Franklin; “Treasures,” Nora Roberts; “Looking for Salvation at the Dairy Queen,” Susan Gilmore; “Opposite of Love,” Julie Buxbaum; “Capitol Conspiracy”; “Betrayal,” John Lescroat; “Song Yet Sung,” James McBride; “Mulberry Park,” Judy Duarte; “Where Are You Now,” Mary Higgins Clark; “The Day I Ate Whatever I wanted,” Elizabeth Berg; “Disagreement,” Nick Taylor; “Third Angel,” Alice Hoffman; “Lavinia,” Ursula LeGuin; “Wit’s End,” Karen Joy Fowler; “Whole Truth,” David Baldacci; “River of Heaven,” Lee Martin; “Third Circle,” Amanda Quick; “Small Favor,” Jim Butcher; “Melancholy Fate of Capt. Lewis,” Michael Pritchett; “Hellfire Canyon,” Max McCoy; “Widows’ Club,” Joyce Alexander; “Hold Tight,” Harlan Coben; “Fast Track,” Fern Michaels; “Mary,” Janis Cooke Newman; “Belong to Me,” Marisa de los Santos; “Sundays at Tiffany’s,” James Patterson; “Lady Elizabeth,” Alison Weir; “Hollywood Crows,” Joseph Wambaugh; “Sepulchre,” Kate Mosse; “Distant Horizons,” Rowena Summers; “Unaccustomed Earth,” Jhumpa Lahiri; “Shadow Command,” Dale Brown; “Reapers,” John Connolly; “Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull,” James Rollins; “Odd Hours,” Dean Koontz; “Comfort Food,” Kate Jacobs; “Steel Wave,” Jeff Shaara; “Wicked City,” Ace Atkins; “Blue Star,” Tony Earley; “Mercy Street,” Mariah Stewart; “Skeletons at the Feast,” Chris Bohjalian; “Things I Want My Daughters to Know,” Elizabeth Noble; “Twenty Wishes,” Debbie Macomber.
NEW MYSTERY
“Incomplete Revenge,” Jacqueline Winspear; “Pale Horse,” Charles Todd; “St. Patrick’s Day Murder,” Leslie Meier; “Murders on Elderberry Road,” “Murder on a Starry Night” and “Murder of Taste,” Sally Goldenbaum; “Killer Mousse,” Melinda Wells; “Winter Study,” Nevada Barr; “Body in the Gallery,” Katherine Hall Page; “Through the Grinder,” Cleo Coyle; “Mummy Dearest,” Joan Hess; “Fatal Waltz,” Tasha Alexander; “Mack to the Rescue,” Jim Lehrer; “Girl of His Dreams,” Donna Leon; “Careless in Red,” Elizabeth George.
NEW NONFICTION
“Joy of Vegan Baking,” Colleen Patrick-Goudreau; “Legendary Route 66,” Michael Witzel; “Encyclopedia of Native Tribes of North America,” Michael Johnson; “Ultimate Soup Cookbook”; “Autoimmune Epidemic,” Donna Nakawaza; “Ghosthunters,” John Kachuba; “Everything Retirement Book,” Judith Harrington; “Insider’s Guide to Boulder and Rocky Mountain National Park”; “Insider’s Guide to the Great Smoky Mountains,” Dick McHugh; “Regional Railroads of the Midwest,” Steve Glischinski; “Pillsbury Annual Recipes 2008”; “Complete Pyramids,” Mark Lehner; “Hot Drinks,” Mary Lou Weiss; “Mr. Food’s Quick and Easy Diabetic Cooking,” Art Ginsburg; “Farmer’s Wife Comfort Food Cookbook”; “Sneakiest Uses for Everyday Things,” Cy Tymony; “Popular Mechanics 500 Simple Home Repair,” Norman Becker; “Ladies of Liberty,” Cokie Roberts; “Cop in the Classroom,” Jim Potter; “Guide to Kansas Birds and Birding Hot Spots,” Bob Gress; “Prisoners of War in Kansas, 1943-46,” Lowell May and Mike Schock; “Pursuit of Happyness,” Chris Gardner; “Prairie City: The Story of an American Community,” Angie Debo; “Y’all Come Eat,” Jamie and Bobby Deen; “Audition,” Barbara Walters; “Downhill Lie,” Carl Hiaasen; “Prince of Frogtown,” Rick Bragg; “American Eve: Evelyn Nesbit, Stanford White, the Birth of the It Girl and the Crime of the Century,” Paula Uruburu.
NEW LARGE PRINT
“Gentle Rain,” Deborah Smith; “Honor Thyself,” Danielle Steel; “Beware False Profits,” Emilie Richards; “When the Morning Comes,” Cindy Woodsmall; “Bishop at the Lake,” Andrew Greeley; “String of Lies,” Mary Ellen Hughes; “House Next Door,” Anne Rivers Siddons; “Naughty Neighbor,” Janet Evanovich; “Lady Killer,” Lisa Scottoline; “Whole Truth,” David Baldacci; “Guilty,” Karen Robards; “Where Are You Now,” Mary Higgins Clark; “Forbidden,” Beverly Lewis; “Home,” Julie Andrews; “Miss Julia Paints the Town,” Ann B. Ross; “Blue-Eyed Devil,” Lisa Kleypas; “Summit,” Kat Martin; “Doubtful Cannon,” Johnny D. Boggs; “Sundown Man,” Jory Sherman; “Last Words,” Mariah Stewart; “Duel at Low Hawk,” Charles West.
NEW BOOKS ON CD
“Dearest Dorothy, If Not Now, When?” Charlene Ann Baumbich; “Children of Dune,” Frank Herbert; “Parting,” Beverly Lewis; “Change of Heart,” Jodi Piccoult; “Kite Runner,” Khaled Hosseini; “Song Yet Sung,” James McBride; “Serpent’s Tale,” Ariana Franklin; “Tenth Circle,” Jodi Picoult; “Irish Country Village,” Patrick Taylor; “Atonement,” Ian McEwan; “Charlie Wilson’s War,” George Crile; “Jane Eyre,” Charlotte Bronte; “Christ the Lord: Road to Cana,” Anne Rice; “Naughty Neighbor,” Janet Evanovich; “Secrets of a Proper Lady,” Victoria Alexander; “Compulsion,” Jonathan Kellerman; “Homer’s Iliad and Odyssey”; “Sepulchre,” Kate Mosse; “Wit’s End,” Karen Joy Fowler; “Third Angel,” Alice Hoffman; and “Pilgrims,” Elizabeth Gilbert.
NEW DVDS
“August Rush,” “Charly,” “Bonnie and Clyde,” “Savages,” “Charlie Wilson’s War,” “27 Dresses,” “Great Debaters,” “Lions for Lambs,” “PS I Love You.”
PITTSBURG —
