Are you a patron of Talking Books Services looking for a good summer read? Here’s a list of available summer-y reads in our collection! Need help finding your next great read? Call our Talking Books department and we would be glad to help you!
● DB 93081 — The Mermaid and Mrs. Hancock by Imogene Hermes Gowar
○ BARD description: “1785. Merchant Jonah Hancock is shocked when one of his ship's captains returns home with the news that he sold the ship for the mummified remains of a mermaid. All of London wants to see the wonder, and Jonah finds himself engaged in a perilous liaison.”
● DB 82438 — The Soul of an Octopus by Sy Montgomery
○ BARD description: “Naturalist and documentary writer explores the world, intelligence, and consciousness of octopuses. Describes her interactions with captive giant Pacific octopuses named Athena, Octavia, Kali, and Karma at the New England Aquarium in Boston, and her field investigations in French Polynesia and the Gulf of Mexico.”
● DB116483 — The Summer I Turned Pretty by Jenny Han
○ BARD description: "Belly spends the summer she turns sixteen at the beach just like every other summer of her life, but this time things are very different.
● DB110397 — Why Sharks Matter: A Deep Dive With the World’s Most Misunderstood Predator by David Shiffman
○ BARD description: "Sharks are some of the most fascinating and ecologically important, yet most threatened and misunderstood animals on Earth. More often feared than revered, their role as predators of the deep has earned them a reputation as a major threat to humans. But the truth is that sharks are not a danger to us—they're in danger from us. In Why Sharks Matter, marine conservation biologist Dr. David Shiffman urges us to overcome our misconceptions and embrace sharks as the imperiled and elegant ocean guardians they really are. Touching on everything from Shark Week to shark fin soup, over-fishing to marine sanctuaries, Shiffman reveals why sharks are in trouble, why we should care, and how we can save them. A witty narrative highlighting the author's fascinating experiences working with sharks, this exploration of the essential principles of shark conservation science and policy is full of amazing facts about both little-known and iconic shark species. It spells out how healthy shark populations support marine ecosystems—and the coastal economies that depend on them—while carefully explaining what scientists, conservationists, and readers can do to help. With his signature pragmatism and irreverence, Shiffman doesn't shy away from explaining why much of what you've heard about sharks and how to save them is wrong. Perfect for shark enthusiasts, Why Sharks Matter provides an approachable, informative guide to the world of shark conservation, and an insider's introduction to the passionate, brilliant people who work to protect our oceans. This fun read will have you looking at sharks with a fresh perspective and an understanding that their survival is crucial to the survival of another apex predator—ourselves."
● DB 80491 — Death by Cashmere: A Seaside Knitter’s Mystery by Sally Goldenbaum
○ BARD description: “Not long after Isabel "Izzy" Chambers opens up a knitting shop in the sleepy fishing town of Sea Harbor, Massachusetts, a diverse group of women begins congregating each week to form the Seaside Knitters. When Izzy's renter drowns mysteriously, the women decide to investigate.”
● DB110072 — Hokuloa Road by Elizabeth Hand
○ BARD description: "On a whim, Grady Kendall applies to work as a live-in caretaker for a luxury property in Hawaii, as far from his small-town Maine life as he can imagine. Within days he's flying out to an estate on remote Hokuloa Road, where he quickly uncovers a dark side to the island's idyllic reputation: it has long been a place where people vanish without a trace. When a young woman from his flight becomes the next to disappear, Grady is determined—and soon desperate—to figure out what's happened to Jessie, and to all those staring out of the island's "missing" posters. But working with Raina, Jessie's fiercely protective best friend, to uncover the truth is anything but easy, and with an inexplicable and sinister presence stalking his every step, Grady can only hope he'll find the answer before it's too late. Perfect for fans of Peter Heller and |The White Lotus|, and from award-winning writer Elizabeth Hand, a master of crime fiction known for her magnetic characters, seductive prose, and fearless excavations into the darkest corners of our world, comes a chilling and illuminating new novel about a place unlike any other—and the deadly cost of keeping it so."
● DB85796 Hillbilly Elegy: a memoir of a family and culture in crisis by J.D. Vance
○ BARD description: " Memoir of growing up in the Ohio Rust Belt in a family culture rooted in Scots-Irish Appalachia. Explores political themes affecting these community cultures through the lens of personal and familial experiences. Discusses what it took to go from nearly failing high school to graduating from Yale Law School."
● DB121247 Think Twice by Harlan Coben
○ BARD description:"A man presumed dead is suddenly wanted for murder in this thriller of secrets, lies, and dangerous conspiracies that threaten to cover up the truth ... Three years ago, sports agent Myron Bolitar gave a eulogy at the funeral of his client, renowned basketball coach Greg Downing. Myron and Greg had history: initially as deeply personal rivals, and later as unexpected business associates. Myron made peace and moved on--until now, when two federal agents walked into his office, demanding to know where Greg Downing is. According to the agents, Greg is still alive--and has been placed at the scene of a double homicide, making him their main suspect. Shocked. Myron needs answers. Myron and Win, longtime friends and colleagues, set out to find the truth, but the more they discover about Greg, the more dangerous their world becomes"
● DB120802 Murder Inn: From the author of the summer house by James Patterson & Candice Fox
○ BARD description:"The doors of the Inn at Gloucester are always open to anyone running from trouble or hiding from life. Its owner, former Boston police detective Bill Robinson, welcomes them with no questions asked. Until two strangers arrive for a temporary stay and a longtime resident starts looking over his shoulders. There's another newcomer in town who puts the Inn under surveillance. When the surveillance turns into a series of attacks. Robinson launches an all-out fight to defend his town, his chosen family, and his home."
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