BURLINGTON, Iowa — Whether you're enjoying a day beside the pool, or you're indoors trying to beat the heat, summer is a great time to pick up a good book!
News 8 is debuting a brand new book-club-style segment "Current Reads" on our 4 p.m. show, The Current. Twice a month, we will chat with libraries all over our viewing area to hear what people are reading in their community. For this edition, we head down south to the Burlington Public Library.
Library Director Brittany Jacobs joined The Current to discuss the three books readers in southeastern Iowa can't seem to put down this season:
- "The Women" by Kristin Hannah is a #1 New York Times, USA Today, Washington Post and Los Angeles Times bestseller. It's a coming-of-age story about a 20-year-old nursing student, Frances "Frankie" McGrath, who joins the Army Nurse Corps to follow her brother to Vietnam. She's quickly overwhelmed by the reality and destruction of war. But the real battle begins when she comes home to a changed and divided America. It's a novel about patriotism, veterans, friendship and women who put themselves in harm's way.
- "James" by Perceval Everett is a retelling of the classic Huckleberry Finn story that follows Jim, the enslaved man who escapes his owner and eventually travels down the Mississippi River on a raft with Huck. It's a new light on Jim's own intelligence, agency and compassion, with classic elements of the original story (floods, unexpected death, scam artists, etc.) still very much present. Everett is known for his humor and pointed observations, which have helped this book fly off the shelves.
- "Funny Story" by Emily Henry is what Jacobs described as the perfect 'beach book.' It follows young Daphne, who's just been faced with the fact that her fiancé Peter is actually in love with his childhood best friend, Petra. Now, Daphne is stranded in an unfamiliar state without her friends and family, and must move in with Petra's ex: Miles. It's a classic maybe-enemies-to-lovers story that's perfect to relax with this summer.
At the Burlington Library, historical fiction, novelized non-fiction and mystery books are the top genres among local readers. Books such as "The Wager" by David Grann to "The Frozen River" by Ariel Lawhon have a dedicated local following. And the library even has its own monthly mystery book club to discuss favorite reads.
Also down in Burlington, the library is hosting a "Vacation Thru Time: National Parks" event. This will close out the library's ongoing summer series. Attendees can travel back in time to explore the history of National Parks in America. It'll feature interactive exhibits and go over the parks' founding, ecological formations, wildlife and more. No registration is required. You have three chances to check this out:
- Friday, Aug. 9 from 1 - 5 p.m.
- Saturday, Aug. 10 from 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.
- Monday, Aug. 12 from 12 - 6 p.m.
Tune into The Current from 4 to 5 p.m. on weekdays to catch live interviews impacting you, your family and your hometown as well as all of the biggest headlines of the day.
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