What is written in the book of love? Bliss? Surrender? Muddling? Madness? In the month of St. Valentine, thoughts turn to love. And where better to find love than at your neighborhood library where there is surely something for everyone?
What is written in the book of love? Bliss? Surrender? Muddling? Madness? In the month of St. Valentine, thoughts turn to love. And where better to find love than at your neighborhood library where there is surely something for everyone?
Today’s Book Buzz list shows a small sampling of recently published novels on love. Readers will find these new publications reflect the pith of life in all its gloriousness, richness or wretchedness.
A Guide to the Birds of East Africa: A Novel
By Nicholas Drayson
In this beguiling novel, a charming love triangle in Nairobi, Kenya forms the center of a sweet and gripping story. Mr. Malik and his playboy nemesis Harry Khan both fall in love with the widow Rose Mbikwa. Malik’s social club organizes a bet: whoever can spot the most bird species in a week will win the privilege of asking Mrs. Mbikwa to the Nairobi Hunt Club Ball. Captivating character sketches and glimpses into Kenyan life and politics.
Off Season
By Anne Rivers Siddons
No one does coastal (Maine) melodrama like veteran Siddons. After decades of happy marriage to Cam, Lilly returns to her childhood home after her husband’s death and reflects on her childhood. It is the changing relationship between Lilly and the elusive, enigmatic Elizabeth, her mother, that makes this story fresh.
That Summer in Sicily: A Love Story
By Marlena De Blasi
In her fourth Italian memoir, American writer de Blasi utilizes her personal narrative as merely bookends for a larger story, a fragrant tale of life and love unfurled to the author by Tosca, the mistress of the villa where de Blasi stays.
True Colors: A Novel
By Kristin Hannah
Best-selling author Hannah portrays the delicate and enduring bonds of sisterhood in this heart-wrenching story with a happy ending. Vivid characters and over-the-top drama about sisters, rivalry, forgiveness, redemption.
What I Did for
Love: A Novel
By Susan Elizabeth Phillips
A contemporary love story to warm the heart and tickle the funny bones. In a paparazzi free-for-all, down-on-her-luck actress Georgie York, once the co-star of America’s most popular sit-com, finds herself in a fake marriage, with a fake husband and maybe a fake sex-life. What is she to do?
The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao
By Junot Diaz
Diaz presents an astonishing vision of the contemporary American experience and the endless human capacity to persevere — and to risk it all — in the name of love. A sweet but disastrously overweight Dominican ghetto nerd battles the ancient curse that has haunted his uproarious family for generations — until the fateful summer he decides to be the last victim of the family curse.
Beginner’s Greek
By James Collins
Deeply romantic Peter Russell falls madly in love with Holly on a five-hour flight. When they part, Holly gives him her phone number written on the title page of the book she was reading. Peter can’t believe his luck; but later in his hotel room, when Peter reaches into his jacket pocket he finds the page is inexplicably, impossibly, tragically …gone. A thousand complications ensue in this delicious novel of missed opportunities, second chances and lost love.
Appassionato
By Yo-Yo Ma
Classical CD
No one since Leonard Bernstein has personified the joy – or the passion – of music as has Yo-Yo Ma. The passion is obvious in the romantic themes of this CD. The selections tell a musical autobiography.
• Carolyn Larson is head librarian at Lihu‘e Public Library. Her weekly column brings you the buzz on new, popular and good books available at your neighborhood library.
