Amy Kay
Hooked on Books
Here’s a roundup of some books L&A Libraries staff have recently enjoyed.
Coleen suggests Leave the World Behind by Rumaan Alam
Leave the World Behind is a literary thriller with short chapters filled with expressive language and the slow chipping away of the outside world that fits my love of the dystopian.
Amanda and Clay have rented a Long Island getaway, taking them away from the buzz of their Brooklyn lifestyle to a lovely upscale home with a pool, a much needed break for the family. “Step into our house and leave the world behind,” read the ad. An upper-middle class family with a teenager and a pre-teen, the vacation may be the last chance to interact as a family unit with Amanda’s promotion, and the children slowly leaning towards their own independent lives.
They are enjoying the luxuries of the home, falling into vacation mode of sunning by the pool, and meals of hamburgers and chips, when an unexpected knock on the door changes everything. The owners of the rental have come home.
Unrecognizable to Amanda (thanks to technology), GH and Ruth Washington, the owners, have come to their second home to escape the panic occurring in New York. Unaware of the impending pandemonium, Amanda and Clay have no idea what to do – does the payment entitle them to the full use of the house? A cheeky nod to the racial undertones of the novel.
The couples slowly learn to share the home as the impending disaster creeps in, the loss of contact as communication fades, and nature flocks around the home. Not a sharp panic, like many dystopian novels start out but psychologically suspenseful, trying to be prepared when you’re unsure of what is truly coming.
Kristin suggests A Deadly Affair by Agatha Christie
If you are looking for a book that will get your heart racing, then A Deadly Affair is just the book you need! This is an all new collection of unexpected love stories from Agatha Christie. Get ready to witness the dark side of love and all the ways it can go horribly wrong in this fine collection of short stories from the queen of mystery.
The crimes of passion, games of the heart and deadly deceits found within these pages will leave you flushed, breathing heavily and very satisfied! Even legendary detectives Miss Marple and Hercule Poirot make appearances here and there throughout the stories making it perfect for long time Agatha Christie fans. This collection would also be a great way for people who have never read a book from the world’s best-selling novelist of all time to get a small taste of her masterful story-telling skills!
Kate suggests The Many Half-Lived Lives of Sam Sylvester by Maya MacGregor
After a traumatic hate crime, Sam—white, nonbinary, and autistic—moved with their single Black adoptive father to the small town of Astoria, Oregon. They’re finally able to meet other queer teenagers, like Shep, their pretty neighbor who quickly becomes their closest friend.
After learning of the 30-year-old unsolved murder of a teenager named Billy, Sam and Shep believe that Sam’s new house might be figuratively haunted by ghosts of the past, and they become determined to prove that what happened to Billy was not accidental. This brings out the ghosts of the town, forcing Sam to decide what they’re willing to pay in order for the truth.
While the central mystery surrounding Billy’s death makes for a page-turner with truly chilling moments, the author stays focused on the characters, filling the story with a deeply lovable cast and nailing the realities faced by Sam.
All of these titles can be reserved at your local County of Lennox and Addington Library or online at www.countylibrary.ca.