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Check It Out: Intriguing titles to add to your reading list

By Jan Johnston

Published: August 9, 2020, 6:02am

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I am doing a happy dance right now because today is National Book Lovers Day. If that isn’t right up my book shelf, I don’t know what is. I truly enjoy writing about books I’ve read and sparking (I hope) interest in other readers of all ages. But I also get excited about books I haven’t read yet either because I haven’t had time or because the titles are not yet published. So for this column, my focus is on books that I’ve added to my TBR (To Be Read) list, and when time allows I’ll be fully engaged in each and every wonderful title.

“First Day Critter Jitters” by written by Jory John, illustrated by Liz Climo.

Liz Climo is one of my favorite cartoonists (her animals are adorable and hilarious), so I can’t wait to read Jory John’s picture book about those first day of school jitters. Will there still be jitters if schools resume online instead of in person? The first day is still the first day, so I’m guessing yes.

“The Museum of Whales You Will Never See: And Other Excursions to Iceland’s Most Unusual Museums” by A. Kendra Greene.

I’ve never been to Iceland, and the odds of my going there are pretty slim, but that doesn’t stop my fascination with this Nordic country. Now that I’ve read several reviews of “The Museum of Whales You Will Never See,” I’m even more intrigued. Despite it being one of the most sparsely populated countries in Europe, it has a heck of a lot of museums. If I do manage to wing my way north, I want to be sure to check out the “Herring Era Museum,” the “Icelandic Sea Monster Museum,” and the “Icelandic Phallological Museum.” Yes, it really exists, and it contains more than 215, uh-hum, male specimens from Icelandic land and sea mammals. Enough said.

“Sun Flower Lion” written and illustrated by Kevin Henkes.

Kevin Henkes’ books fill my heart with joy (“Kitten’s First Full Moon”. . . priceless), so when I discovered that he has a new picture book coming out in September I did another little happy dance. This time he invites readers to think about a sun, a flower and a lion and how they might be related to each other.

“Total Meditation: Practices in Living the Awakened Life” by Deepak Chopra.

This book came up in a webinar I watched about big fall titles, and I’d like to give it a try. The whole world could use more meditative practices, and I for one am ready to do my part.

“Vesper Flights” by Helen MacDonald.

Did you read “H is for Hawk?” The bestselling author is back with “Vesper Flights,” a collection of essays about how humans interact with the natural world. This one is a no-brainer addition to my TBR list.

“Why We Drive: Toward a Philosophy of the Open Road” by Matthew B. Crawford.

At first glance this title didn’t look like something that would appeal to me. But after I read several reviews, I was intrigued enough to mark it as a future read. Driving can be a real pain, but I’ve taken many road trips in my life and absolutely loved the feeling of being on the open road. Described by the publisher as “…a brilliant, first-of-its-kind celebration of driving as a unique pathway of human freedom, one now critically threatened by automation,” I’m looking forward to reading Crawford’s philosophical take on our desire to be on the road.

“The Writer’s Library: The Authors You Love on the Books That Changed Their Lives” by Nancy Pearl and Jeff Schwager.

One of my favorite things to read is a book about books, and one of my favorite book reviewers is Nancy Pearl, which means “The Writer’s Library” is a win-win. If you enjoy reading about authors favorite books, consider adding this bibliophile-friendly title to your own TBR list.

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