Shelf life: Favorite authors

By Lauri Wilson

Do you have a favorite author? Don't ask me who mine is, because I can talk about the possibilities for hours.

I'll have to break it down into genres like mystery authors, science fiction, children's books and a bunch of others. Since column space is limited, for now I'll stick with just listing five of our newest books that I can't wait to read.

Some of them are from my favorite authors list, and a couple are from brand-new authors that I've never read, like "Remarkably Bright Creatures" by Shelby Van Pelt. Our book club is reading it now because I enjoyed it so much. Be sure to keep an open mind because one of the main characters is a giant Pacific octopus named Marcellus. The other is 70 year old Tova, a custodian at a Washington State aquarium.

Tova's a lonely widow who's fond of all the aquatic creatures, but most of all the giant Pacific octopus. She lost her young son many years ago, and hasn't been able to get past her grief. Talking to the octopus seems to help and she could swear he actually listens. The book starts with a chapter from the octopus's viewpoint as he watches the world pass by from his tank. These chapters are funny and touching, and he makes some surprisingly profound observations about human oddities. But Marcellus has some surprises of his own that not even Tova has figured out yet. It's so different, and that's why I think it's about the best book I've read this year.

Ken Follett would be on my favorite authors list. "Never" looks like another good one. Although he's written some fabulous historical fiction about World War II, World War I and the Middle Ages, Follett is no stranger to writing about contemporary history. Here he assembles a diverse cast of characters including the U.S. president, a CIA operative, a refugee in Africa and others around the world simply trying to survive in a rapidly-changing world. As they watch a developing global catastrophe, the major players work to keep the diplomatic channels open. It promises to be an addictive thriller.

Another thriller with a sci-fi edge is "Upgrade" by Blake Crouch. There's no need to be a scientist to enjoy this fast-paced adventure, but once again, keep an open mind. In the near future, when genetic modification is banned, agent Logan Ramsey and his team are dispatched to investigate a suspected genetic editing lab. There's an explosion and he ends up in the hospital, but thankfully he doesn't sustain any serious injuries. But very soon Logan realizes that he was exposed to a virus and has been changed at a genetic level... he's been upgraded. His mind and body are working at levels far above human ability. Now someone wants to upgrade the human race and if Logan wants to stop them, he's up against an opponent who's been upgraded like himself -- or maybe even better.

After a wild ride like those, sometimes it's good to get back to something routine like the legal world of John Grisham. I'm sure many of you are longtime readers of his work like me. In "The Judge's List" he revisits Lacy Stoltz, an investigator for the Florida Board of Judicial Conduct, who was also the protagonist in "The Whistler." Lately, her work has been limited and unchallenging, forcing Lacy, as well as her staff to contemplate moving to other jobs. After all, what kind of mischief could a sitting judge get into? She's about to get a surprise with the help of an amateur investigator.

Although I haven't read this yet, there are several reasons I can't wait to jump into this mystery within a mystery from Australian author Sulari Gentill. "The Woman in the Library" starts with a murder in a library. Another thread has wannabe writer Leo writing letters to Hanna, a successful author and praising her work, as well as suggesting story lines. Libraries, writing, and convoluted mysteries -- some of my favorite subjects!

As always, we welcome the public to visit us and get a library card. You'll most likely find your favorite author in our stacks.

Lauri Wilson is the cataloging and digital content librarian at South Arkansas Community College.

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