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Summer Reading for Adults. July 16, 2020.
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Most readers associate African crime fiction with Alexander McCall Smith's very popular series of No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency mysteries set in and around Botswana's capital city. But the continent has served as the backdrop for several outstanding contributions to the genre, each exploring a variety of social, cultural, or political themes. Here are a few titles you might want to investigate to gain a better understanding of and familiarity with the world of African crime fiction. |
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(Not sure what a greengage tree is? We looked it up for you - it's a particular type of plum tree! Its full scientific name is Prunus domestica, subspecies italica, variety claudiana.) |
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Forest Grove City Library |
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View of the Ginsburg Memorial Garden from the parking lot at the Forest Grove City Library Marker in honor of longtime library supporter Dick Ginsburg |
Visitors to the Forest Grove City library often notice the large glass installation in the entryway known as “Mollie’s Garden,” created in 2014 by internationally renowned sculptor Ed Carpenter as a tribute to his mother, who served as a volunteer here. But there are other examples of public art located throughout the building, including sculptures near the fireplace and outside the Rogers Room; several colorful tree-themed banners that help orient patrons to collections and services; the large kite in the Young Adult area; two rural landscapes by Oregon-based painter Robert Weller; a quilt from Forest Grove’s sister city, Nyuzen, Japan; and a pastel drawing depicting a scene from the 2012 Sidewalk Chalk Art Festival. And as part of our 110th-anniversary celebration last fall, we brought art and beauty outdoors with the dedication of a new memorial garden in honor of longtime library supporter Dick Ginsburg. |
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"With this translation of Katrine Engberg’s debut novel, devotees of Nordic Noir have much to celebrate. The Tenant mixes elements of the police procedural, lots of plot twists, and a brooding urban setting. Ideal for fans of intricately-plotted works by Sara Blaedel, Lars Kepler, and Jo Nesbo." - Bob,
Forest Grove City Library |
"In a strikingly familiar near-future America, we meet Paxton and Zinnia, who find themselves working for the mega-corporation that controls the whole economy. The Warehouse is a bleak but fast-paced dystopian thriller which gives a glimpse into a frightening future we surely don’t want to inhabit." - Jim, Forest Grove City Library |
"Jojo and his sister live with their grandparents and the occasional presence of their addict mother, Leonie, who is tormented and comforted by visions of her dead brother, which only come to her when she's high. Ward’s deeply felt story grapples with familial duty, generational trauma, and incarceration." - Jillian, Forest Grove City Library |
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Online (Facebook & YouTube)
Join Adult Services Librarian Bob Abbey for a new video series exploring writers whose works have been neglected, overlooked, or lost to the mists of time. |
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Online (Facebook & YouTube)
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Academy Award-winning filmmaker Taika Waititi and several of his friends, including Cate Blanchett, Chris Hemsworth, Benedict Cumberbatch, Mindy Kaling, Meryl Streep, and Gordon Ramsey, come together for a 10-part reading on YouTube of Roald Dahl's James and the Giant Peach to help raise money for Partners in Health. Watch it now! >> |
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*Every week through the end of August we will randomly draw a name from the list of people who sign up for adult summer reading. Even if you unsubscribe from the WCCLS Reads newsletter, you will remain eligible. Library staff, library board members, and their immediate families are not eligible for prize drawings. |
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This newsletter was handcrafted by Maggie and the staff at your local library. |
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