Reading Lists - Dogs in fiction

The Art of Racing in the Rain by Garth Stein

A heart-wrenching but deeply funny and ultimately uplifting story of family, love, loyalty, and hope, The Art of Racing in the Rain is a beautifully crafted and captivating look at the wonders and absurdities of human life...as only a dog could tell it.

Unsaid by Neil Abramson

Neil Abramson explores the beauty and redemptive power of human-animal relationships and the true meaning of communication in all of its diverse forms.  The narrator, Helena, was a veterinarian before her death. Now she is a silent observer of the life she left behind—her shattered attorney husband, David; her houseful of damaged but beloved animals; and her final project, Cindy, a chimpanzee trained to use sign language. When Cindy is scheduled for a research experiment that will undoubtedly take her life, an explosive courtroom drama unfolds.

Started Early, Took My Dog by Kate Atkinson

Tracy Waterhouse leads a quiet, ordered life as a retired police detective—a life that takes a surprising turn when she encounters Kelly Cross, a habitual offender, dragging a young child through town. She makes a snap decision. Suddenly burdened with a small child, Tracy soon learns her parental inexperience is actually the least of her problems.  Meanwhile, Jackson Brodie, a detective, is embarking on a different sort of rescue—that of an abused dog. Dog in tow, Jackson is about to learn, along with Tracy, that no good deed goes unpunished.

I Thought You Were Dead by Peter Nelson

For Paul Gustavson, life is a succession of obstacles, a minefield of mistakes to stumble through.  Still, Paul has his friends at Bay State bar, a steady line of cocktails, and Stella. Stella is Paul’s dog. She listens with compassion to all his complaints about the injustices of life and gives him better counsel than any human could. Their relationship is at the heart of this poignantly funny and deeply moving story about a man trying to fix his past in order to save his future.

The Story of Edgar Sawtelle by David Wroblewski

Born mute, speaking only in sign, Edgar Sawtelle leads an idyllic life with his parents on their farm in remote northern Wisconsin. For generations, the Sawtelles have raised and trained a fictional breed of dog whose remarkable gift for companionship is epitomized by Almondine, Edgar's lifelong friend and ally. Edgar seems poised to carry on his family's traditions, but when catastrophe strikes, he finds his once-peaceful home engulfed in turmoil.

Dog on It by Spencer Quinn

Chet might have flunked out of police school (“I’d been the best leaper in K-9 class, which had led to all the trouble in a way I couldn’t remember exactly, although blood was involved”), but he’s a detective through and through. In Dog On It, Chet and Bernie investigate the disappearance of a teenage girl who may or may not have been kidnapped, but who has definitely gotten mixed up with some very unsavory characters.

Dog Tags by David Rosenfelt

A German Shepherd police dog witnesses a murder and if his owner—an Iraq war vet and former cop-turned-thief—is convicted of the crime, the dog could be put down. Few rival Andy Carpenter's affection for dogs, and he decides to represent the poor canine. As Andy struggles to convince a judge that this dog should be set free, he discovers that the dog and his owner have become involved unwittingly in a case of much greater proportions than the one they've been charged with. Andy will have to call upon the unique abilities of this ex-police dog to help solve the crime and prevent a catastrophic event from taking place.

Nose Down, Eyes Up by Merrill Markoe

At 47, Gil is the world’s oldest 22-year-old man, living in relative contentment with his four dogs, including the alpha, Jimmy. When he stumbles upon Jimmy delivering lectures on canine manipulative techniques to the rest of the dogs in the neighborhood, Gil’s not particularly surprised, and his eyes light up with dollar signs. But their money-making venture has barely begun when chatty canine Jimmy realizes the shocking truth: he’s adopted.

A Dog’s Journey by W. Bruce Cameron

Buddy is a good dog. After searching for his purpose through several eventful lives, Buddy is sure that he has found and fulfilled it. Yet as he watches curious baby Clarity get into dangerous mischief, he is certain that this little girl is very much in need of a dog of her own. When Buddy is reborn, he realizes that he has a new destiny. He's overjoyed when he is adopted by Clarity, now a vibrant but troubled teenager. When they are suddenly separated, Buddy despairs—who will take care of his girl?

Walking in Circles Before Lying Down by Merrill Markoe

Dawn’s only source of security and comfort, it seems, is Chuck, a pit-bull mix from the pound. So, when her boyfriend announces that he’s leaving her for another woman, a despairing Dawn turns to Chuck for solace. “I should have said something sooner,” Chuck confides, as he tries to console her. “Couldn’t you smell her on his pants?” Dawn is stunned. It’s one thing to talk to your pets, but what do you do when they start talking back? It’s not just Chuck, either; she can hear all dogs—and man’s best friend has a lot to say.

Reading lists - Fictional schools

School starts today! Here's a fun list of fictional schools for adults and children that the editors of Flavorwire would love to attend. I think this is a great list! What schools would you add?

1. Jordan College, The Golden Compass by Philip Pullman (YAF Pul)
2. Battle School, Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card (F Ca)
3. The Unseen University, Unseen Academicals by Terry Pratchett (F Pra)
4. Wayside School, Sideways Stories from Wayside School by Louis Sachar (J SC Sa)
5. Brakebills, The Magicians by Lev Grossman (F Gro)
6. Ms. Frizzle's School, The Magic School Bus books by Joanna Cole
7. Llanabba, Decline and Fall by Evelyn Waugh (Classic PB Wau)
8. Hampden College, The Secret History by Donna Tartt (F Ta)
9. Crunchem Hall Primary School, Matilda by Roald Dahl (J F Da)
10. Hogwarts, Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling (YAF Row)

Reading lists - Julia Child

Normally we stick to fiction and narrative non-fiction on this blog, but it's a special occasion! Today would have been Julia Child's 100th birthday. To celebrate, why not read a biography about the great lady? How about cooking something special from one of her groundbreaking cookbooks, such as Mastering the Art of French Cooking? If you're in the mood for a laugh, you may want to read or watch Julie & Julia. Bon appétit!

Biography

Appetite for Life by Noel Riley Fitch

An account of Julia Child's life, from her youth as a California girl, to her years at Smith College and as a volunteer during World War II where she met her husband who introduced her to the art of French cuisine. (Bio Child Julia)

As Always, Julia by Julia Child and Avis DeVoto

Shares the previously unpublished correspondence between the iconic celebrity chef and her unofficial literary agent from 1952 to 1965, offering insight Julia's early experiences as a new bride in Paris, her support of her diplomat husband, and her views on period politics. (641.5092 Rea)

Dearie by Bob Spitz

Draws on the iconic culinary figure's personal diaries and letters to present a one-hundredth birthday commemoration that offers insight into her role in shaping women's views and influencing American approaches to cooking.(Bio Child Julia)

My Life in France by Julia Child with Alex Prud’homme

Here is the captivating story of Julia Child's years in France, where she fell in love with French food and found "her true calling." From the moment she and her husband Paul, who worked for the USIS, arrived in the fall of 1948, Julia had an awakening that changed her life. Filled with her husband's beautiful black-and-white photographs as well as family snapshots.(Bio Child Julia)

Cooking

From Julia Child’s Kitchen by Julia Child

One of Child’s first—and most successful—cookbooks. Using a very accessible approach to French cooking from an American point of view, here are recipes and techniques for the beginner as well as the more advanced cook, using easily available ingredients for everything from soups and appetizers to dessert. (641.5 Chi)

In Julia’s Kitchen with Master Chefs by Julia Child

The popular television chef joined forces with twenty-six master cooks from across the country to present a collection of 150 recipes representing a variety of American and ethnic cuisine. (641.5 Ch)

Julia and Jacques Cooking at Home by Julia Child and Jacques Pépin

Two legendary cooks invited readers into their kitchen to learn the basics of good home cooking. Readers will sense the pleasure the two are having cooking together, tasting, exchanging ideas, joshing with each other, and raising a glass to savor the fruits of their labor. They demonstrate that cooking is endlessly fascinating and challenging and, while ultimately personal, it is a joy to be shared. (641.5944 Chi)

Julia Child & Company by Julia Child

Julia Child's inimitable ways of coping with common kitchen dilemmas are shared along with menus and recipes that range from a vegetarian caper and lobster soufflé to a country dinner of leek and rabbit pie. (641.5 Ch)

Julia’s Kitchen Wisdom by Julia Child

Julia Child gave extensive answers to countless common kitchen questions over the course of her career. Over the years she also developed some new approaches to old problems, using time-saving equipment and more readily available products. Find decades’ worth of answers compiled here. (641.5 Chi)

Mastering the Art of French Cooking by Julia Child, Louisette Bertholle, and Simone Beck

“Anyone can cook in the French manner anywhere,” wrote Mesdames Beck, Bertholle, and Child, “with the right instruction.” And here is the book that, for more than 50 years, has been teaching Americans how. (641.5944 Chi)

The Way to Cook by Julia Child

Child blended classic techniques with free-style American cooking and with added emphasis on lightness, freshness, and simpler preparations. To help readers who lack the most basic knowledge, she organized the book by techniques rather than by ingredients. (641.5 Ch)

Julie & Julia

Julie and Julia by Julie Powell

The blogger recounts how she escaped the doldrums of an unpromising career by mastering every recipe in Julia Child's 1961 classic Mastering the Art of French Cooking, a year-long endeavor that transformed her life. (641.5 Pow)

Julie & Julia

In the 2009 movie based on the book, Meryl Streep plays Julia Child and Amy Adams plays Julie Powell. The movie also draws inspiration from Child’s My Life in France. (DVD F Jul)

Reading Lists - Non-Fiction Dog Narratives

They star in movies.  They survive shipwrecks and live on desert islands.  They stop robberies and solve crimes.  They provide service to the needy.  Perhaps most importantly, they fill our lives with love, joy, and excitement.  Yes, dogs truly are man’s best friend.  Here is a list of true stories involving our fine four-legged friends:

A Big Little Life by Dean Koontz

Best-selling author Dean Koontz’s A Big Little Life may be quite different from his suspense novels, but fans of the writer and dog lovers of all kinds  will enjoy this entertaining and emotional narrative.  Koontz and his wife become first-time dog owners after many years of marriage, and the book tells how Trixie, a Golden Retriever, enriches their lives in unexpected ways.

Born to Bark by Stanley Coren

Psychologist and canine expert Coren, author of many dog training manuals, shares the story of the beloved pet that inspired his research.  In training Flint, a rambunctious but lovable Cairn Terrier, Coren gains new insight into the complex inner lives of our canine companions. 

 

A Famous Dog’s Life by Sue Chipperton

A Famous Dog’s Life is the biography of Gidget, a Chihuaha famous for a series of Taco Bell commercials.  Told by her owner and trainer, it is an insightful behind-the-scenes account of a dog trainer’s job in Hollywood.  Also included are many delightful anecdotes of Gidget’s life among the stars. 

A Friend Like Henry by Nuala Gardner

Gardner tells the story of her autistic son Dale and the dog that dramatically changed his life.  The family sees almost instantaneous results when they adopt Henry, a Golden Retriever puppy, to help Dale cope with his autism.  Readers will be brought to tears as Henry helps Dale open up to the world around him. 

Last Dog on the Hill by Steve Duno

When Steve Duno finds an injured Rottweiler mix on a hill by the side of a country road, he rescues the puppy, nurses him back to health, and christens him Lou. From these humble beginnings Lou goes on to amass a long list of impressive achievements, including stopping a rapist and preventing a robbery,  while also providing Steve with 16  years of devoted companionship.

Marley & Me by John Grogan

Marley, a Labrador Retriever, is the world’s worst dog.  He is full of energy and is always getting into trouble, yet Grogan and his family love the adorable rascal anyway.  The author goes into great detail about Marley’s 13 years with the Grogans, from his hilarious puppy mishaps to his heartbreaking final days.  A perfect read for anyone who has adopted a dog as a member of the family.    

 

Merle’s Door by Ted Kerasote

Ted discovers Merle, a Labrador mix, while on a camping trip and decides to bring him home.  Once there, Ted gives Merle the freedom to come and go as he pleases, and the two strike up a unique friendship in which both man and dog learn a great deal from each other.  Merle’s Door is a fascinating book that will cause dog owners to rethink their relationships with their pets.

 

My Dog Skip by Willie Morris

My Dog Skip is a heartfelt memoir about a boy and his dog growing up together in Mississippi in the  1940s.  The tender nostalgia of Morris’s descriptions of a bygone era merge beautifully with his fond memories of his adventures with Skip, his Fox Terrier.  

Part Wild by Ceiridwen Terrill

Part husky and part wolf, Inoyo is adopted by the author for protective purposes.  As Terrill tries to train Inoyo, she begins to question whether the wolfdog can ever be completely tamed.  An engaging mixture of personal testimony and thorough research, Part Wild is extremely informative and powerfully moving. 

Rin Tin Tin by Susan Orlean

The history of Rin Tin Tin, the famous German Shepherd of countless films, is so amazing that one might believe the story was taken straight from a movie.  Found in the bombed remains of a dog kennel near a battlefield in France during World War I, Rin Tin Tin was brought back to Hollywood, where he would become the biggest box-office draw in the nation.

Scent of the Missing by Susannah Charleson

Charleson and her Golden Retriever, Puzzle, work together as a search-and-rescue team for the Metro Area Rescue K9 unit in Dallas, Texas. Charleson writes about her decision to become involved in search-and-rescue, the intense training she and Puzzle must undergo, and the difficult but rewarding nature of the job.

Sophie: The Incredible True Story of the Castaway Dog by Emma Pearse

A genuinely remarkable tale, Sophie relates the details of an Australian cattle dog’s unbelievable adventures as a castaway.  When Sophie is lost at sea during a storm, she beats incredible odds by swimming six miles to a deserted island, where she survives for five months before being reunited with her owners.

Until Tuesday by Luis Carlos Montalván  

Tuesday is a Golden Retriever with trust issues.  Luis is an Iraq War veteran struggling with post-traumatic stress disorder and physical injuries.  When Luis is given Tuesday as a service dog, an incredible bond is formed that brings healing into the life of each. 

Read-alike Guides - The Hunger Games

Having been intrigued by its ubiquitous presence in the realm of popular culture, you (like many other adult readers) may have decided to read The Hunger Games just to see what all the fuss was about.  Perhaps after ravenously reading through Suzanne Collins’s entire young adult trilogy you find yourself hungry for more of the same, except that now you’re looking for something a little more, well, adult. You’re in luck.  We at Samuels Library have compiled a list of novels similar in action, setting, and/or theme to the enormously popular Hunger Games trilogy. Most of these novels feature futuristic dystopias much like Panem. (For clarification: dystopia is a word that pops up a lot in descriptions of The Hunger Games; it simply refers to a highly oppressive government.) Enjoy.

If you liked The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins, then you might enjoy one of these books:

 

Battle Royale by Koushun Takami

This book is probably the place to start if you’re looking for a more adult version of The Hunger Games.  The plot is very similar: 21 male and 21 female students are sent by the Japanese government to an island where they must battle each other to the death.  Longer, more violent, and every bit as exciting as The Hunger Games, Battle Royale is considered a cult classic. 

 Blindess by José Saramago

In Blindness, Nobel Prize winning author Saramago has written a complex novel that is both horrifying and profound.  A plague of blindness strikes an unnamed city, bringing about societal collapse and governmental oppression.  Amidst the chaos a varied group of citizens must rely on the only person who has not been affected by the epidemic.  Saramago’s unusual writing style of dense paragraphs and sparse punctuation makes Blindness a challenging but richly rewarding experience.

Brave New World by Aldous Huxley

One of the earliest examples of dystopian fiction, Brave New World’s description of a futuristic society seems amazingly prescient when read today.  In his attack on mass consumption, Huxley imagines a world where technology has replaced many natural processes and the human race has grown increasingly robotic and dissatisfied. 

The Children of Men by P.D. James

In 1994, infertility strikes England as male sperm counts mysteriously drop to zero. By 2021, the last generation of  newborns has reached maturity, and a spirit of despair besieges the nation.  When Theo, an apathetic Oxford professor, is contacted by a group of young dissidents seeking his help, he sheds his malaise and becomes an active member of the rebellion. James’s greatest strength is her ability to depict the disillusionment and hopelessness of a world with no future.   

A Clockwork Orange by Anthony Burgess

Those familiar with the film version of A Clockwork Orange know all about the shocking  antics of Alex and his Droogs, a gang of wild teenagers who aimlessly roam the streets of futuristic England looking for thrills.  In the novel, however, Burgess uses these sensational elements to craft a profound statement about morality and freedom of choice. 

Cloud Atlas by David Mitchell

Spanning six stories over a period of hundreds of years, Cloud Atlas is an engrossing novel of immense scope.  Through the separate narratives, including a story about a clone who waits tables at a futuristic diner, Mitchell weaves a fascinating chronicle about the impact of the individual on the greater forces of time and history.  A film version is set to be released in October 2012. 

  

The Dispossessed by Ursula K. Le Guin

Subtitled An Ambiguous Utopia, The Dispossessed presents the reader with two societies with opposing forms of government.  Shevek is a physicist who does not seem to fit into the capitalist world of Urras or the socialist society of Anarres.  As he attempts to reconcile and unite the two governments, he starts to reevaluate his own beliefs. Le Guin refrains from choosing sides, illustrating that one man’s utopia is another man’s dystopia. 

Ender’s Game by Orson Scott Card

It’s The Hunger Games in space! Gifted young Ender Wiggin is sent to Battle School to be trained to defend the earth against a race of aliens known as “buggers.”  Once there he must prove himself against the other cadets in a series of perilous battle games. Can Ender successfully complete his training and lead the human armies to victory?

 

The Games by Ted Kosmatka

Those who loved the action and thrilling suspense of The Hunger Games will enjoy The Games, a novel about a futuristic Olympic gladiator competition involving genetically engineered beasts.  When designer Evan Chandler creates a powerful mutant for the United States' entry into the games, geneticist Silas Williams and xenobiologist  Vidonia João must try to keep the monster in check before it destroys more than just the competition.

The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood

In the near future, a revolutionary group named The Sons of Jacob has taken control of the United States and created a military dictatorship called the Republic of Gilead.  This new extremist government revokes women’s rights, such as reading and owning property, and assigns them various roles in the state.  Offred, the protagonist, is forced to become a handmaid of The Commander and is expected to bear him children.  This unforgettable novel speculates a future as plausible as it is terrifying. 

High-Rise by J.G. Ballard

High Rise is a disturbing look into total societal breakdown.  A 40-story apartment building with modern conveniences is erected, and its 2,000 inhabitants live peacefully for a short time.  However, life inside the high rise  rapidly deteriorates until survival becomes questionable.  Ballard expertly shows mankind’s inability to overcome its darkest urges despite advances in technology.

Jennifer Government by Max Barry

Max Barry shows that dystopian novels don’t always have to be bleak.  His hilarious Jennifer Government is set in a United States where corporations have taken control, employees adopt the surnames of the company they work for, and “capitalizm” runs rampant.  The story follows Hack Nike as he runs into trouble with the law and is pursued by agent Jennifer Government. 

Lord of the Flies by William Golding

A plane carrying a group of British schoolboys and their teachers crashes on a deserted island in the Pacific Ocean.  No adults survive the crash, leaving the boys to fend for themselves.  They initially behave in an orderly fashion, using a democratic system to create a structured mini-society, but before long the island is thrown into disorder, as all sense of community unravels into a mess of petty rivalries and indifferent selfishness.  An electrifying classic that still resonates today.  

Neuromancer by William GibsonFirst published in 1984, Neuromancer predicted the world of cyberspace long before the internet had become a household commodity.  It tells the story of Case, a washed-up computer hacker, who is drawn back into the world of virtual reality when a mysterious ex-Green Beret offers him a job.  The dark and gritty urban setting will appeal to fans of The Matrix and Blade Runner movies.  

Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro

The students of Hailsham, an English boarding school, are kept isolated from the outside world by their “guardians.”  In these close quarters, Kathy, Ruth, and Tommy forge a strong bond.  It is only after leaving Hailsham that the trio discovers the full truth about the startling fate society has planned for them.  A  beautiful and subtle dystopian novel.

1984 by George Orwell

Every aspect of Winston Smith’s life is monitored by the totalitarian government of Oceania, which controls all forms of communication and closely watches its citizens for evidence of thought crime.  After meeting an attractive young woman named Julia, Winston is initiated into the world of the Brotherhood, a covert resistance organization.

 

Parable of the Sower by Octavia Butler

Civilization in the Los Angeles area has deteriorated so much in the year 2025 that most communities have become gated in order to ward off the destructive masses.  18-year-old Lauren Olamina lives in one such compound until her family is murdered and her town destroyed.  She then sets out on a voyage north with a few of the remaining survivors.  Lauren is gifted with ‘hyperempathy,’ a condition that allows her to physically experience the pain of others, and on her pilgrimage she attracts a disparate group of individuals who embrace the teachings of her religion, Earthseed.

Ready Player One by Ernest Cline

By 2044, life in the real world has grown so terrible that most people spend all their time in OASIS, a giant online virtual reality game.  When OASIS creator James Holiday dies and  wills his immense fortune to the person who can find three keys hidden in the world of OASIS, 18-year-old Wade Watts sets out on a quest to win Holiday’s contest.  Filled with 1980s pop culture references, Ready Player One is one fun read.  

The Road by Cormac McCarthy

The Road follows a father and son as they journey across a post-apocalyptic American wasteland.  Armed with only a pistol to guard against the cannibals that roam the countryside, they must use every ounce of determination and ingenuity to survive the unspeakable horrors in their way.  McCarthy has created a stark testament to the power of love in even the direst of straits. 

The Running Man by Stephen King

In year 2025, unemployed Ben Richards volunteers to become a participant on a violent game show called Running Man in hopes of earning money to support his family.  Once on the show Ben will be tracked by the malicious Hunters and will earn $100 for every hour he can stay alive.  Fast-paced and action packed, The Running Man is dystopian fiction as only Stephen King can write it.

A Scanner Darkly by Philip K. Dick

Philip K. Dick is considered a master of the dystopian novel by science fiction fans. Intensely personal and wildly imaginative, A Scanner Darkly is one of his most powerful and disquieting works.  A new synthetic drug called Substance D has become increasingly popular in Orange County, forcing narcotics agents to pose as drug dealers in an effort to discover the source.  Dick perfectly captures the paranoia of life in a police state, as each character suspects the others of turning informant. 

   

V for Vendetta by Alan Moore

From the writer of The Watchmen and The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen, V for Vendetta is a captivating graphic novel about a young woman named Evey Hammond and her encounters with a masked hero known only as V.  In a dystopian England torn apart by war, a fascist government takes control and quickly sets out to rid the country of undesirables.  The mysterious V represents the people’s final hope to defeat the regime.

Reading lists - Olympics

It's almost time for the 2012 London Olympics (July 27 to August 12)! Here's a list of books to read to get us all in the Olympic spirit. Don't forget that we have biographies of many athletes available too, as well as more extensive books about individual sports.

Fiction

Biting the Apple by Lucy Jane Bledsoe

Eve Glass was once an Olympic sprinter and now a motivational speaker. The problem is, her own endurance is waning and her confidence in her expertise on grace is paling. Even worse, her kleptomaniac tendencies are intensifying, and a friend from her childhood has begun stalking her. Glass, a product of other people's dreams her entire life, is now a woman in search of authenticity. (F Ble)

Bliss, Remembered by Frank Deford

Now an elderly woman, Sydney Stringfellow recounts for her son her experiences as a swimmer at the 1936 Berlin Olympics, where she had an unforgettable and forbidden love affair with the son of a Nazi diplomat. (F Def)

Flight from Berlin by David John

As Berlin welcomes the world to the Summer Olympic Games in 1936, British journalist Richard Denham and American reporter Eleanor Emerson are drawn into a deadly game involving the Gestapo and the British Secret Intelligence Service. (F Joh)

The Games by Ted Kosmatka

Silas Williams is the brilliant geneticist in charge of preparing the U.S. entry into the Olympic Gladiator competition, an internationally sanctioned bloodsport with only one rule: no human DNA is permitted in the design of the entrants. As his fast-growing gladiator demonstrates preternatural strength, speed, and—most disquietingly—intelligence, Silas and Vidonia find their scientific curiosity giving way to a most unexpected emotion: sheer terror. (F Kos)

Garden of Beasts by Jeffery Deaver

Reputed for his vow to take only morally righteous assignments in 1936 New York City, a German-American hit man is forced by the government to pose as an Olympic contender and kill a member of Hitler's regime. (F Dea)

Gold by Chris Cleave

Kate and Zoe have been friends since they met training for track cycling at the age of 19. Now, at 32, they are facing their last and biggest race—the 2012 Olympics. Kate is the more naturally gifted, but her daughter is fighting leukemia, and she has to balance that with her intense training. Zoe has a compulsive need to win at any cost, and her obsession may threaten her relationship with Kate. (F Cle)

The Long Journey Home by Don Coldsmith

A Native American track star training for the Olympics in the early part of the 1900s meets 1912 gold medal winner Jim Thorpe and Bill Pickett, the black cowboy who invented steer wrestling. (F Col)

No Mark upon Her by Deborah Crombie

When an Olympic rowing hopeful and a detective with the Met is found dead in the Thames, Scotland Yard Superintendent Duncan Kincaid, along with his wife and his team, is submerged in a complex case involving political and ethical issues that put both his career and reputation on the line. (F Cro)

Once a Runner by John L. Parker

Distance runner Quenton Cassidy is suspended from the track team for his involvement in an athlete protest and risks his future prospects to train on a monastic retreat with an Olympic medalist. (F Par)

Private Games by James Patterson

Private, the world's most renowned investigation firm, has been commissioned to provide security for the 2012 Olympic Games in London. The opening ceremony is still hours away when Private investigator Nigel Steele is called to the scene of a ruthless murder. Newspaper reporter Karen Pope receives a letter from a person who calls himself Cronus claiming responsibility. Karen hires Private to examine the letter, and she and Nigel uncover a criminal genius who won't stop until he's ended the games for good. (F Pat)

See How They Run by James Patterson

A long-germinating plot for revenge, first conceived in the extermination camps of Nazi Germany, erupts in full force during the 1980 Olympics in Moscow when a group of terrorists delivers a shocking ultimatum. (F Pat)

Swift Edge by Laura DiSilverio

Hired by a world-class figure skater to find her missing pairs partner in time for the upcoming Olympics, Charlie Swift and Gigi Goldman tackle complications in the form of a smitten teen, an attack on the pair's coach, and the murder of the missing athlete's colleague. (F DiS)

Swimming by Nicola Keegan

Haunted by an agoraphobic mother, a lost father, and a drug-addled sister, Philomena, reluctantly known as Pip, transforms her suffering and rage into beauty, grace, and purity in the swimming lane as she rises to the Olympic level. (F Kee)

Trial Run by Dick Francis

Someone or something called Alyosha is linked to the mysterious death of a member of the German Riding Team and threatens the safety of England's prime equestrian who is competing in the Moscow Olympics. Randall Drew is sent by the British Royal Family to Russia to investigate. (F Fra)

Non-fiction

Athens to Atlanta: 100 Years to Glory

This book, an official publication of the U.S. Olympic Committee, highlights great achievements at the Summer Games. (794.4 At)

The Complete Book of the Olympics by David Wallechinsky

This book is a treasure trove of lore, drama, and anecdote from 116 years of Olympic history. It includes full descriptions of rules and scoring for every event included in the London Olympics, plus the top eight finishers in every Summer Olympic event since 1896. (796.48 Wal)

Gold in the Water by P.H. Mullen

Mullen examines the psyches, backgrounds, and motivations of the United States 2000 Olympic swim team and describes the journey theses swimmers must take to compete in the Olympics, including training and competitions. (797.21 Mul)

How to Watch the Olympics by David Goldblatt and Johnny Acton

As the subtitle suggests, this is the essential guide to the rules, statistics, heroes, and zeroes of every sport. (796.48 Gol)

Munich 1972 by David Clay Large

Large relates the compelling story of the most controversial of all modern Olympiads within the turbulent context of simmering global tensions. The 1972 Games will forever be remembered for the murder of eleven Israeli Olympians by Palestinian terrorists: a grisly episode that ruined a much-anticipated coming-out party for newly democratic West Germany and for "new Munich" itself, the erstwhile "capital" of Hitler's Nazi movement.364.1523 Lar)

The Olympic Games: Athens, 1896 – Sydney, 2000

Each Olympics boasts a recap of the major events and personalities that defined it, followed by several pages of portraits and action shots with informative captions. The book's last 100 pages are devoted to results and statistics— including every gold, silver, and bronze medalist and the lighter of each Olympic torch. (796.48 Oly)

The Naked Olympics by Tony Perrottet

Peeling away the layers of myth, Perrottet lays bare the ancient sporting experience—including the round-the-clock bacchanal inside the tents of the Olympic Village, the all-male nude workouts under the statue of Eros, and history's first corruption scandals involving athletes. Featuring sometimes scandalous cameos by sports enthusiasts Plato, Socrates, and Herodotus, The Naked Olympics offers essential insight into today's Games and an unforgettable guide to the world's first and most influential athletic festival. (796.48 Per)

Triumph: The Untold Story of Jesse Owens and Hitler’s Olympics by Jeremy Schaap

At the 1936 Olympics, against a backdrop of swastikas and goose-stepping storm troopers, an African-American son of sharecroppers won a staggering four gold medals and single-handedly demonstrated that Hitler’s myth of Aryan supremacy was a lie. The story of Jesse Owens at the Berlin games is that of an athletic performance that transcends sports. It is also the intimate and complex tale of one remarkable man's courage. (Bio Owens Jesse)

Which books should you read this summer?

As you may have guessed from my post about NPR's Top 100 Sci-Fi/Fantasy Novels, I love flow charts, especially ones that involve books. This is a fabulous group of summer reading suggestions from Teach.com. I'd be surprised if you can't find something perfect for your summer reading here, but if you can't, you know what to do—please come ask for a suggestion at the reference desk!

Via Teach.com and USC Rossier Online