Goldengrove, by Francine Prose, explores family relationships and how death can change roles and identities abruptly.  Twelve-year-old Nico loves and admires Margaret, her talented and charismatic older sister, and is satisfied hanging back and playing a secondary role while Margaret shines.  This is Nico’s place in their family and around everyone they know.  But when Margaret drowns in a lake near their New England home, Nico is suddenly plunged into a depth of grief along with her mother and father.  The parents function, sort of, but cannot in any way manage to be the kind of parents Nico needs.  Complicating the situation is the enigmatic Aaron, Margaret’s artist boyfriend, who finds some degree of solace in sharing his memories with Nico, but who is deeply troubled and self-centered.  As Nico realizes she is emotionally on her own, she begins to value herself and find a new way to be, in a world forever changed by loss.  

Many people get book recommendations from family and friends.  Some join a local book club.  There was Oprah's Book Club too, but not so much anymore.  Who can fill Oprah's shoes?  Enter the largest and oldest library association in the world, the American Library Association!  Slightly less well-known than Winfrey, the ALA nevertheless is a great resource for anyone searching for that next perfect page-turner.  Recently the ALA announced their 2012 Notable Books winners.  The notable titles include: 

Fiction:

Gulf Coast Reads: On the Same Page is an exciting new initiative supporting community reading and discussion that will be held each September.  This program replaces and expands the Big Read and Books on the Bayou programs from previous years and brings together libraries and community groups from Houston, Harris County and surrounding counties.

The premise of the program is that people living in Harris County and the surrounding areas along the gulf coast will all read the same book at the same time, generating discussion among co-workers, friends, families and classrooms. The goal of Gulf Coast Reads is to cultivate a culture of reading in the local area by encouraging people to come together in libraries, bookstores, community centers, homes, churches, and schools to discuss the book. 

This year’s selection is One Amazing Thing by Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni.   This book was selected because it shows that culturally diverse people can come together during their collective struggle to overcome adversity. In a moment when the psychological and emotional stress seems nearly too much for them to bear, the characters in the book each tell a personal tale, "one amazing thing" from their lives, which they have never told anyone before.  The novel proves the transcendent power of stories and the meaningfulness of human expression itself.  We invite you to share your "one amazing thing" story on the Gulf Coast Reads website.

What did everyone read in June?  Take a look below at the titles Kingwood adults checked out the most and see if you find a good read or two here in the middle of the summer!

Fiction

1. Merely Magic, by Patricia Rice
2. Water for Elephants, by Sarah Gruen
3. A Light at Winter's End, by Julia London
4. The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest, by Stieg Larsson
5. An Unlikely Countess, by Jo Beverley