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Community Corner

2011 Summer Reads for Men and Women

Great books for a day at the beach

It’s summertime and the living is not always easy.

After sitting in summer traffic, scrambling for a parking spot and then finding an open area on the beach, there’s one thing that many can depend on to relax this time of the year: a good summer reading book.

Who better to recommend summer reading books than the one who has known books and this community for more than 25 years— Spring Lake Library director Kateri Quinn.

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Quinn offers popular summer reading books:.

1. The Greater Journey by David McCullough

With ambition on their mind and in their hearts, a range of professionals from American artists, writers, doctors, politicians and more, head off to Paris in The Greater Journey. The tales take place between 1830 and 1930 - a first time being away from home and experiencing a greater culture for many of the characters. This is the exciting tale of their travels.

2. Unbroken: A World War II Story of Survival, Resilience, and Redemption by Laura Hillenbrand

Louie Zamperini, a charmer and a prankster, began as a juvenile delinquent turned into a Olympic runner, followed by Army hero. As Louie was preparing for the 1940 Olympics, World War II began and now in the Army Air Corps, during a routine search mission over the Pacific, his plane has crashed into the ocean. Unbroken is a true story of a man who lived through unbelievable catastrophes.

3. Sixkill by Jonathan Kellerman

Sixkill is filled with action as a hero investigates a rape/murder case on a Boston film location. Bad-boy actor Jumbo Nelson is the accused suspect. This book is a series in a series.

4. The Help by Kathryn Stockett

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Not only a favorite summer reading book, but also a book club favorite, in vivid pictures, the Help is told from the perspective of three extremely different women in a small Southern town in Mississippi during the early 1960s when African American lady maids were mistreated and abused. Aibileen Clark is a fifty-something black woman. Eugenia “Skeeter” Phelan just out of college with dreams of becoming a writer. Minny, a friend of Aibileen, is the third woman. Close to Skeeter’s age, she has been fired from more jobs than she can count.

5. Lucia, Lucia by Adriana Trigiani

Here comes romance in Adriana Trigiani’s Lucia, Lucia. In this popular love story, Lucia is one lucky lady. She’s engaged to her childhood sweetheart, has a career she loves and a warm and loving Italian family. Before she knows it, she is having to choose between her career and marriage. She breaks the engagement and learns that even when you least expect it you can still find happiness.

The Spring Lake Library is located at 1501 3rd Ave. in Spring Lake.
More information: (732) 449-6654, http://springlakelibrary.org

Other local libraries:

  • Avon Public Library, 5th and Garfield Avenues, Avon, (732) 502-4525
  • Belmar Library, 517 10th Ave., Belmar, (732) 681-0775
  • Bradley Beach Public Library, 511 4th Avenue, Bradley Beach, (732) 776-2995
  • Brielle Public Library, 610 South Street, Brielle, (732) 528-9381
  • Manasquan Public Library, 55 Broad Street, Manasquan, (732) 223-1503
  • Sea Girt Public Library, Railroad Station at The Plaza, (732) 449-1099
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