By Jill Fuller
Even though it’s been many years since I was in school and had a summer vacation, I still get the itch to dive into a huge stack of books when warmer months come around. Whether reading on vacation, on the patio or by the pool, there’s nothing more satisfying than long, slow afternoons spent paging through a good book.
If you ever need a book to read, asking a librarian is an excellent way to find a reading recommendation that’s perfect for your interests. With that in mind, I thought it would be fun to share some book recommendations with you from the librarians at the Bridges Library System.
If you’re looking for excitement this summer, look no further than “Razorblade Tears” by S.A. Cosby. Shawn Carlson, our CAFÉ system administrator, said the book has “oodles of action, a quest for vengeance and so much more. If you like it, you should also pick up “Blacktop Wasteland” too (you won’t be disappointed).
Want a riveting read with a dash of time travel? Laurie Freund, our coordinator of library development, recommends “Before the Coffee Gets Cold” by Toshikazu Kawaguchi. In this “memorable” book, customers can travel back in time at a small coffeehouse in Tokyo … but they must drink the coffee served before it gets cold.
Summer is for relaxing and recharging, but it also can be a great time to learn something new. If you enjoy exploring the natural world, Beth Bechtel, our database management librarian, loved the book “Rain: A Natural and Cultural History” by Cynthia Barnett.
“From the chemistry and technology to the art and religion of rain — even to how rain smells — the author makes this topic fascinating,” Beth said.
For the history lovers out there, or anyone wanting to learn more about race relations, I recommend a new release called “How the Word Is Passed” by Clint Smith. The author travels to historic sites and locations in the United States and Africa to explore how the history of slavery is taught and remembered, opening a wider conversation on how we all reckon with the tensions between history, memory, and nostalgia.
Finally, Karol Kennedy, our system director, recommends “Keep Sharp: Build a Better Brain at Any Age” by Dr. Sanjay Gupta, MD. The book teaches readers how to move, discover, relax, nourish and connect to keep our brains healthy.
Karol said, “I especially liked that he encouraged people to use their libraries.”
Now that you’ve got a list of new books to read, head on over to your local library to find them. You can even search for them right away and place an order to pick them up at your library with the new CAFÉ Libraries app, available to download from the app store.
It can be such a joy to discover a new book, so we hope one of these ends up being a new favorite for you.
Jill Fuller is the marketing and communications librarian for the Bridges Library System, of which Fort Atkinson’s Dwight Foster Public Library and all other public libraries in Jefferson and Waukesha counties are members.
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