Reading For Pleasure:: Recommended Books from the Mark Twain Library

Local resident Margi Esten is always on the lookout for a good read. This is not surprising as she has a background in publishing and a degree in English Literature. Friends rely on her for suggestions and as a source for what to read next. Here are a few of her favorite authors and her favorite titles by them for her favorite readers - Mark Twain Library patrons.

Death In Summer by Benjamin Black (AKA John Banville) - the latest installment of the quirky and enigmatic Dr. Quirke, an Irish pathologist who continues to find himself embroiled in solving mysterious deaths along with examining his own psyche. Quirke is also featured in Christine Falls, The Silver Swan and Elegy For April.

I’d Know You Anywhere by Laura Lippmann - the latest from this former reporter for The Baltimore Sun; most of her mysteries feature Tess Monaghan. Her writing is spot on. She is smart and fun. Also be sure to check out: What The Dead Know, The Girl In The Green Raincoat, The Last Place, Every Secret Turn, and The Sugar House.

Moonlight Mile by Dennis LeHane - the latest from the consummate Boston writer. The continuing and sometimes harrowing detective adventures in the Boston, MA area feature Patrick Kenzie and Angela Gennaro. Can you believe these characters are now heading toward retirement! Also be sure to check out: Darkness Take My Hand, Sacred, Gone Baby Gone, and Prayers For Rain and don’t forget what, I think, are his masterpieces: Mystic River and Shutter Island.

Started Early, Took My Dog by Kate Atkinson - the latest adventure featuring Jackson Brodie, Atkinson’s wandering ex- police officer/private detective English hero. Her writing is witty and original and all her books are good from start to finish. Must reads include: Case Histories, One Good Turn, and When Will There be Good News?

The Distant Hours by Kate Morton - the most recent English family saga from the wildly popular author. Don’t forget about these two: The House At Riverton and The Forgotten Garden.

The Hand That First Held Mine by Maggie O’Farrell (one of my all time favorite new writers) - a spooky tale of love, motherhood and madness!

Absolutely don’t miss The Vanishing Act Of Esme Lennox a wonderfully creative sort of gothic thriller reminiscent of Daphne du Maurier And After You’d Gone with suspense, tragedy and, of course, some madness.

Pillars Of The Earth by Ken Follett – a huge departure for this author known for his spy thrillers; this tome of a book is about England in the 1100’s, Kings, Bishops, Lords and Knights, the desire to build a most beautiful cathedral and the Priory of Kingsbridge. It is unbelievably good. Follow up with WORLD WITHOUT END which takes place over 2 centuries later in the village of Kingsbridge. Thanks to Ken Follett for going against the advice of his publishers and straying from the spy thriller genre.

Little Bee by Chris Cleave – originally published in the UK - the gripping story of two very different women from two very different cultures whose lives become inextricably linked due to one terrible decision. Magical. Don’t miss.

The Paris Wife: A Novel by Paula Mclain – a fictional journal of the words of Hadley Richardson, Ernest Hemingway’s first wife, during their years together living in Paris in the 1920’s. Based on real life events, it moved me to re-read A Moveable Feast –the journal Ernest Hemingway actually kept during those years.

Major Pettigrew’s Last Stand by Helen Simonson – a quiet, lovely love story that tackles race and religion in a small English village. Well worth the read.

Cleopatra: A Life by Stacy Shiff – a bit long and often somewhat wordy but a yet to be seen study of one of the most famous women who ever lived. A remarkable achievement.

The Piano Teacher by Janice J.K. Lee – Hong Kong. 1942. Love affair. I loved this book.

The Tiger’s Wife by Tea Obrecht – a first novel by a very young author is a powerful sort of parable about all sorts of things but especially about coming to terms with death. Extraordinary writing particularly for such a young author.

Sister: A Novel by Rosamund Lupton – a murder mystery in modern day England but more about the bond between two sisters an ocean apart.

The Guernsey Literary And Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows - I kept putting off reading this book not really even knowing why and then when I did pick it up simply could not put it down! WWII England and some sadness but overall an uplifting and joyous must read.

Unbroken by Lauren Hillenbrand – based on a true story by the author of SEABISCUIT this is her version of one soldier’s harrowing tale of survival during WWII. A compelling read with some unforgettable characters.

Angle of Repose by Wallace Stegner – a recent re-read and I felt like I was reading for the first time. An absolute must read. Stegner’s storytelling, character development and language are thrilling.

Saving Grace by Celia Gittelson – Celia was a publishing friend and this wonderful first novel is about a young pope who accidentially gets locked out of the Vatican. It was later made into a movie starring Tom Conti as the runaway pope. Delightful.

Stones From The River by Ursula Hegi – every once in awhile you come across what may be a “perfect” book. This just might be one of those. Meet one of modern literature’s most complex and compelling characters: Trudi Montag, a “zwerg” (dwarf) who knows all the secrets of a small German town during WWII. Spectacular.

Plainsong by Kent Haruf – a gem of a book. An odd assortment of characters and small town issues. Moving and ultimately uplifting. Beautifully written.

Time And Again by Jack Finney – the ultimate escape book especially if you know and love New York City – both now and in the late 1800’s. An enchanting tale of love and time travel.