Tuesday, June 10, 2014

Reading Ahead: July 2014, part 3

There are so many amazing books coming out in July, I'm absolutely giddy with anticipation.  Now, most of those titles are going to be on my picks list, coming in the next few posts.  But some of them, well, I just can't keep them to myself any longer!





The Book of Life, by Deborah Harkness

Close Your Eyes, Hold Hands, by Christopher Bohjalian

Remains of Innocence: A Brady Novel of Suspense, by J.A. Jance

The City, by Dean Koontz

Night Searchers, by Marcia Muller



Does anything catch your eye?  For readers who enjoyed Deborah Harkness's first two installments of her supernatural All Souls trilogy, A Discovery of Witches and Shadow of Night, please make some time for this final book, The Book of Life.  The tale returns to the present as Matthew and Diana travel from Auvergne to Venice and beyond as the chase for Ashmole 782 gains even greater urgency.  From what I've heard through the grapevine, this answers many questions and brings the series to a deeply satisfying close.  I can't wait!

Also, Chris Bohjalian's new novel is a bit of a departure from some of his more recent, historical novels, like The Light in the Ruins and The Sandcastle Girls.  In his latest, Close Your Eyes, Hold Hands, Bohjalian brings his signature delicate narrative touch to an inventive, heartbreaking tale of a teenage runaway in the wake of catastrophe and chaos.  This is not your average beach read, for sure.  Instead, I'd recommend this one for readers who are looking for something a little more substantial and moving to lose themselves in this summer.  Lots to discuss for book clubs, too.

Finally, Dean Koontz's newest novel is receiving huge amounts of critical acclaim already, about a young musical prodigy who grows up in an extraordinary family and then, when he sets out on his own, he encounters a group of dangerous people with disastrous results.  What ensues is a story that covers three years, as our young hero endeavors to find his way in the world again.  Advance praise is calling this a masterwork--I'm intrigued to see if it lives up to the hype!




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