Your Next Summer Read

Long or short, serious or light, contemporary or classic, what makes a great summer read is a matter of personal taste. It's quite a challenge to figure what to read next. I'm not sure what Oprah's planning on reading on her Kindle III, but I've pulled together my list of 2009 Good Reads of Summer by some of my favorite authors to help you find your own good book to read this summer.


The Angel's Game by Carlos Ruiz Zafron. Highly touted page turner that explores the themes of obsession, art, money, love, and good and evil against the backdrop of 1920's Spain. If you're in the mood for an old-style good read, you might also want to read Zafron's previous novel Shadow of the Wind - a great read about murder, madness and doomed love.


The Girl Who Played with Fire by Stieg Larson. The highly anticipated follw up to The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo. Edgy and fabulous and I've been told wraps up with an ending that leaves you saying "Wow".


Very Valentine by Andrianna Trigiani. Colourful cast of characters showcase tricky family dynamic at play in Manhattan and Italy in a story about heart and humor. It's a chic flick book of the highest order. If you like this book, check out some of the author's other books such as Lucia, Lucia or Big Stone Gap

The Last Secret by Mary McGarry Morris - A thriller about the consequences of one family's crimes of the heart. Mary McGarry Morris is also the author of Songs in Ordinary Time - an Oprah Pick of the Month (but don't hold this against her. She is really a terrific writer!)

The Given Day by Dennis Lehane. This historical novel brings to life Boston's troubled past in 1918-1920 from one of America's finest crime writer. Lehane is the author of some other great Boston based mystery novels including Mystic River and Gone, Baby, Gone.

Flipping Pages

Looking for a few places to find books cheaply on a regular basis? Check out the places listed below to find good quality used books at a fraction of the full retail price (often for a $1 or $2).

Why go the low cost route for books?
- Cost savings. $1 versus $14 for a trade paperback.
- Low price point of most books will allow you to experiment with new authors or genres that you might otherwise pass on
- Find a book you've been looking for that is no longer carried in a traditional bookstore

So, with these advantages in mind, take a book adventure at one of these bookstores within the Boston Area:

Got Books 104 Glenn St., Lawrence, MA, 01843
(978) 664-6555
Http://www.gotbooks.com
Runs a charity book sale each weekend. Each weekend, the sale benefits a different non-profit organization. Hours are 9AM-6PM on Thursday and Friday) and 9AM - 4PM on Saturday. Most books run $1 each. Store also accepts donation.


Used Book Superstore
256 Cambridge Street, Burlington, MA
http://www.usedbooksuperstore.net
(781) 27 - BOOKS

This superstore is a subsidiary of GotBooks.com. (see above). Larger selection of books generally offered at 90% retail. DVDs and CDs are also sold. Large store, nothing glamorous - just shelves and bins of books.
The hours are: 10AM - 8PM (Tuesday - Saturday); 10AM - 6PM (Sundays)

Wellesley Booksmith Used Book Cellar
82 Central St, Wellesley, ma
http://www.wellesleybooksmith.com/
(781) 431 1160

The Used Book Cellar is open during regular store hours. Purchase "gently used" books at deep discounts. (FYI: excellent inventory of current good reads). Sell books back to the store for additional store credit on the 1st and 3rd Friday and Saturday of each month.

Local Library/Friends of the Library Book Sale.
Your local library

A hidden gem within your own neighborhood. Most libraries offer a bin or shelve of good reads for $1 or less. Books are usually placed near the front door or circulation desk. Donations usually welcomed. Exact change preferred.