Now that summer is definitely, apparently (?) upon us, it’s time once again for the Free-For-All to share with you some of our lovely staff’s selections for summer reading!
We are a staff of diverse reading/listening/viewing habits, which makes these posts so much fun. There is such a wide range of books and media that our staff enjoy that there is bound to be something in here to help make your summer that much more entertaining! And so, without further ado, here is our third round of Staff Selections:
From the West Branch:
Act One by Marion Hill:
Named by Rolling Stone as one of the “10 Artists You Need To Know”, steming from the wild success of their hit-single “Down” this Brooklyn-based duo have produced an album of bluesy, pop-y electronica-fusion songs. Very danceable, with a swanky energy.
From the Upstairs Offices:
Fates and Furies by Lauren Groff
Every story has two sides. Every relationship has two perspectives. And sometimes, it turns out, the key to a great marriage is not its truths but its secrets. At the core of this rich, layered novel, Lauren Groff presents the story of one such marriage over the course of twenty-four years. Profound, surprising, propulsive, and emotionally riveting, it stirs both the mind and the heart.
The Right Stuff by Tom Wolfe
Millions of words have poured forth about man’s trip to the moon, but until now few people have had a sense of the most engrossing side of the adventure; namely, what went on in the minds of the astronauts themselves – in space, on the moon, and even during certain odysseys on earth…Wolfe’s got a big personality and it’s all over every page but I really enjoyed reading it nonetheless. It doesn’t read like a lot of older nonfiction, which is fun.
From the Reference Desk:
Bellevue : Three Centuries of Medicine and Mayhem at America’s Most Storied Hospital by David Oshinsky
From its origins in 1738 as an almshouse and pesthouse, Bellevue today is a revered public hospital bringing first-class care to anyone in need. It treated tens of thousands of Civil War soldiers, launched the first civilian ambulance corps and the first nursing school for women, pioneered medical photography and psychiatric treatment, and spurred New York City to establish the country’s first official Board of Health. It took the AIDS crisis to cement Bellevue’s enduring place as New York’s ultimate safety net, the iconic hospital of last resort. Lively, page-turning, fascinating, Bellevue is essential American history.
Big Little Lies by Lianne Moriarty
Follows three mothers, each at a crossroads, and their potential involvement in a riot at a school trivia night that leaves one parent dead in what appears to be a tragic accident. I was expecting some sort of catty mystery novel, but this book turned out to be really powerful, moving, insightful, engaging, and, above all, empowering, in ways I really was not expecting. For those who have watched the HBO mini-series, or are planning to–read the book, too!
Happy Summer, Beloved Patrons!