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VPR's coverage of arts and culture in the region.

So Many Books, So Little Time

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Summer reading recipe: mix a sunny afternoon with a patch of grass and a favorite book. Perfection.

Long summer days seem to welcome every genre of literature -- from page-turning mysteries, to breezy romances, to classics that feel like old friends. It's our summer book show!

Independent Vermont booksellers preview titles that are coming out this season and help you choose the perfect books to pack for a long vacation or an afternoon in the park. Our guests are Becky Dayton of The Vermont Book Shop in Middlebury, Tod Gross of Phoenix Books in Burlington, and Scott Stearns of The Book Nook in Ludlow.

Below are all of the book recommendations mentioned in the summer book show, listed in the order in which they were mentioned. Happy reading!

Guest Recommendation: Todd Gross From Phoenix Books in Burlington

  • The Bone Clocks by David Mitchell. Gross describes it as a “sprawling novel” that could be categorized as science fiction.

Guest Recommendation: Becky Dayton of the Vermont Book Shop in Middlebury

  • Circling the Sun by Paula McLain. This novel is a fictionalized account of female aviator Beryl Markham’s life.

Guest Recommendation: Scott Stearns of the Book Nook in Ludlow

  • Jackaby by William Ritter. This is a young adult book that he describes as “a mixture of Doctor Who and Sherlock Holmes.”

Go Set A Watchmen by Harper Lee

All three booksellers have experienced a lot of buzz about this anticipated book and high pre-order sales, although they are a little skeptical about the quality of the novel from the famous author of To Kill A Mockingbird.

Dayton says she is looking forward to reading The Mockingbird Next Door: Life With Harper Lee by Marja Mills and that she just re-read To Kill a Mockingbird in preparation for the new book to come out.

Caller recommendation: Nichael from Gilford

  • This Present Moment by Gary Snyder, a poetry book.
  • Distant Neighbors by Gary Snyder and Wendell Barry, a book of letters.
  • The Language Hoax by John McWhorter, a non-fiction book.

Caller recommendation: John from Milton

  • Honor Harrington by David Weber, science fiction series

Caller recommendation: Diane from Montreal

  • I Am Scout: The Biography of Harper Lee, by Charles J. Shields

Caller recommendation: Chris

  • Ellie StoneMysteries by James W. Wiskin, a mystery series

Caller recommendation: Carolyn from Burlington

  •  Small Mercies by Eddie Joyce, a novel about the September 11 attack on New York City on an Italian-Irish family from Staten Island.

Guest Recommendation: Todd Gross of Phoenix Books

  • The Magician Series by Lev Grossman, a science fiction series that Gross calls “Harry Potter for adults.”

Caller recommendation: Miche in Plainfield

  • Dune by Frank Herbet, a long-running book series about “history and the evolution of culture,” says Miche.

Guest recommendation: Scott Stearns of the Book Nook

  • The Eye Stone: A Novel of Venice by Roberto Tiraboschi. Stearns says this is “A fascinating look at medieval Venice and glass-making … a perfect summer read.”

Caller recommendation: Chip in Hanover, New Hampshire

  • Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain. He says while re-reading it, he is “blown away” at how entertaining the book is.

Caller recommendation: Sarah in Montreal

  • Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand
  • Infinite Jest by David Foster Wallace

Caller recommendation: Hillary in St. Albans

  • The Shadows of the Apt by Adrian Tchaikobsky, a science fiction series
  • The Starling God by Tanya Sousa

Caller recommendation: Bonnie

  • Falling Glass by Adrian McKinty
  • The Ghosts of Belfast by Stuart Neville

Staff recommendation: Ric Cengeri, producer of Vermont Edition

  • The Perfection of the Paperclip: Curious Tales of Invention, Accidental Genius and Stationary Obsession by James Ward. “Stationary products have never been so much fun,” says Cengeri.

Guest recommendation: Becky Dayton of the Vermont Book Shop

  • A Little Life by Hanya Yanagihara. “It’s a hard book and I wouldn’t recommend it to just anybody, but people who appreciate books like The Goldfinch and who aren’t squeamish about sex will appreciate it,” says Dayton.

Host recommendation: Jane Lindholm

  • Lie Down in Darkness by William Styron. “Boy, is it a powerful book,” says Lindholm, but adds that people have told her it makes them feel terrible.

Caller recommendation: Julia in Chittenden

  • The Joe Gunther Series by Vermont author Archer Mayer, a mystery series.
  • The Education of Henry Adams by Henry Adams

Caller recommendation: Joslyn in Montreal

  • The Spanish Bull by Andromeda Romano-Lax, historical fiction
  • The Cello Sweets Suites by Eric Siblin, historical fiction
  • All The Light We Cannot See, Anthony Doerr, historical fiction
  • Someplace to be Flying by Charles de Lint

Caller recommendation: Michelle in Vernon

  • Percy Jackson and the Olympians by Rick Riordin, a great book series to read with children.

Guest recommendation: Scott Stearns on children’s books

  • The Day The Crayons Quit by Oliver Jeffers. “A fun read,” says Stearns.
  • Dragons Love Tacos by Adam Rubin

Guest recommendation: Becky Dayton on adult coloring books

  • Johanna Basford’s adult coloring books. All of the guests agree it’s meditative.
Patti is an integral part of VPR's news effort and part of the team that created Vermont Edition. As executive producer, Patti supervises the team that puts Vermont Edition on the air every day, working with producers to select and research show ideas, select guests and develop the sound and tone of the program.
Jane Lindholm is the host, executive producer and creator of But Why: A Podcast For Curious Kids. In addition to her work on our international kids show, she produces special projects for Vermont Public. Until March 2021, she was host and editor of the award-winning Vermont Public program Vermont Edition.
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