Summer Reading Gone Wild!

Yes, your library is going wild and crazy this summer!! This year's statewide summer reading theme is Wild Reads @ Your Library and we've taken that theme to the limit!! How do you define "wild"??

How about "Edible WILD Plants and Mushrooms of New England"... Join us tomorrow night, July 15 at 6:30 for a slide show by Russ Cohen, author and professional environmentalist. Russ has an impressive resume of advocating for the environment as well as teaching about foraging for wild edibles. His guidebook, "Wild Plants I Have Known...and Eaten" will be available for purchase at this program.

"Forage" through our other wild and crazy summer programs in the column to the left. We definitely have something for everyone this summer! And don't forget our reading challenge for all ages...it's never too late to start! You receive a raffle ticket for every category you read...and we have some great prizes thanks to the Friends of the Monson Free Library. A beautiful wild bird basket complete with one of "Dave's Birdhouses" (handcrafed and located on Munn Road), gift certificate to go on a Wolf Walk n Talk (remember the wolves we had up at Peaked Mountain last year? Same guy, same wolves, same great program!), a donation to the MSPCA and for the teens, gift certificates to the Eastfield Mall.

I don't know about you but I've been needing some light reading lately. My brain has been too frazzled to concentrate on anything too serious, heavy or that requires much attention. And I desperately need a vacation! So to that end, I've been reading and listening to some lighter fare that has a great sense of place so I can mentally escape. My destination of choice has been Martha's Vineyard. I love the island landscape, the smells, the breeze. (I hate the rich playground it has become...) Anyway...a cheap way to vist the Vineyard is with author Jean Stone. It is very light reading (but not romance!) and I know every street and beach and restaurant she mentions. I have read three of her books, "Off Season", "Places By the Sea" and "Beach Roses". I skeptically begin each book but if I can endure, I end up really enjoying them. Another Vineyard author is the ever-popular mystery author Phlip Craig. I admit, I don't care for his novels. Too light for even a light mystery reader! But...I like to listen to him...go figure! I just finished listening to "A Vineyard Killing" and thoroughly enjoyed it. Again, a great sense of place and not much violence. And not to bore you too much, but one last fabulous Vineyard author is Henry Beetle Hough. Mr. Hough was a journalist, author and conservationalist as well as owner, editor and publisher of the Vineyard Gazette. His books are memoirs and essays commenting on beauty of the island. I relish his eloquent, simple style. His books are older, ranging from the late '60s through the mid '80s, yet his prose is timeless. Currently, I am reading "To the Harbor Light". He comes highly recommended!

Okay, I know I'm starting to lose you...but I've been busy! I want to share! Hang in there, just a few more titles!! Attention fans of the Mitford series, have you read the Lumby series? I just started "Lumby Lines" by Gail Fraser earlier today so I can't comment too much, but it seems like a nice litlle country town full of quirky characters. Reading the local police report is the favorite past time. Some police calls include goats trapped in the bank safe eating the money and kids catapulting chickens. Nothing like a small town! I've had a few people recommend this to me and liken it to a lighter version of Mitford.

And finally, my shameless plug for Lori's Book Discussion Group. This month they are reading "Angry Housewives Eating Bon Bons" by Laura Landvik. I must admit, the title didn't intially appeal to me but the concept did. Basically, a group of women from the same neighborhood, through a variety of circumstances, begin a book discussion group. The book follows their lives through major and minor life events that all are intertwined around their book group. With cigarettes, martinis and books these women form a lasting friendship. Real life issues of domestic violence, divorce, homosexuality and cancer are discussed. I started this book one Saturday afternoon and finished it at 3:09 am on Sunday. And if you think I'm nuts, Fran just told me she did the same thing. You can't put it down! I'll save further discussion for the book group which is now meeting on Thursday, July 24 at 7pm...complete with bon bons, I hope!

Okay, I lied, one final note, I promise!! This is my shameless plug for a great local business...Garden of Om Yoga Studio. Laura Mushenko is the owner / instructor and it originally started out with yoga for kids. She has recently added adult classes and I urge you to check her out! If you're a beginner, she does a great gentle yoga practice, but my favorite is her drop-in class on Wednesday mornings from 7am - 8am, outdoors in the field behind Town Offices. Outdoor yoga is a religous experience!! Visit her at http://www.gardenofomyoga.com/

Okay, I've given you plently of great suggestions! Read on...and don't forget to GO WILD!