5 Books I Love (Liz Edition)

October 16, 2010

My name is Liz, and I’m a sub at the Lone Jack Branch. I’ve worked here for five years now, and I walk out of the library with a full bag of books at the end of almost every shift. Here are five books I love--some are recent finds; others I’ve read and reread since my teen years because I love them so much.

The Spellman Files by Lisa Lutz
This humorous mystery novel (the first of four published so far) is about a young single woman, but it’s not ‘just for chicks’ lit. Everyone should read this book—it’s hilarious. Private Investigator Isabel Spellman has a good job, a nice boyfriend, and a family who simply cannot stop intruding into her personal life. Full of wisecracks and wire taps, The Spellman Files is a must-read for those craving complete comedic chaos. 

The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie by Alan C. Bradley
This witty first installment in a new series about a young girl in post-World War II England stars the unforgettably clever (and deliciously malicious) Flavia de Luce. Flavia lives a rather lonely life with her withdrawn father and two snippy sisters in a crumbling country estate, whiling away the time in her chemistry lab—until she is galvanized into action by an unsettling mystery involving her father’s past. 

The Stand by Stephen King
In the aftermath of a worldwide plague, a group of survivors bands together and journeys to the American Midwest to battle for the redemption of mankind.   One of my favorite bad weather reads, this book grabs you and pulls you down into its seamy depths.  Follow it immediately with something light and comedic.

Murder Must Advertise by Dorothy Sayers
This book is one of several in Ms. Sayers’ famed series about the dashing and wealthy Lord Peter Wimsey, and is set in 1930’s England. In this story, Lord Peter is hired by an advertising firm to pose as a copywriter while surreptitiously investigating the death of an unpopular employee. This book goes well with fine wine and cheese.

The Story of Ferdinand by Munro Leaf
Yes, this one is a children’s book, and if you haven’t read it, you should—and then you should read it to your kids. The quietly lovely prose combined with precisely detailed ink drawings by Robert Lawson make the book the classic that it has been since it was published in 1936. This book is at once funny and touching, yet manages to dodge the ignominy of becoming saccharine. For all ages.

What are five books you love? Let us know in the comments field! And be sure to check out the books Kathy, Nellie, Connie, and Peyton love!

Liz P.
Lone Jack Branch