Read All About It

Reading from Health to Hammock

By Donna Ruth Morgan

As the weather cools in fall, refreshing storms gather and our fall reading list grows. Whether you’re seeking food for thought, advice for your brain, or a few hours of escapism in a hammock, you’ll find something to savor here. These recent reads are all available at Brunswick County libraries.

The Way of Integrity (2021) is a four-part journey based on Dante’s Divine Comedy. Readers can browse the topics in this atypical self-help book or can dig deep while completing the exercises. Life coach Martha Beck shares personal stories and humor to illustrate practical tips for moving beyond social and cultural expectations to living true to ourselves. Nutshell review: A guide to choosing between conformity and self-affirmation.

Run, Rose, Run by James Patterson and Dolly Parton (2022) is a delightful collaboration between two famous creators. The storyline hits high notes for characterization while harmonizing drama and romance. A plucky protagonist, a thinlydisguised musical diva and a band of supporting actors complete with backwoods bad guys are elements in a good suspense story. Nutshell review: An engrossing, feel-good story— perfect with a glass of sweet tea or a cold beer.

The Bone Orchard (2022) by Sara A. Mueller is a bizarre whodunit set in a gothic world of secrets, sorcery, and horrific imagery. Perhaps this debut novel introduces a new genre— science fantasy? Not a tale for the faint of heart as multiple mysteries and secrets gradually resolve in brutal, gruesome fashion. Nutshell review: Trees growing from the corpses of dead creatures to replace them in a Frankenstein-like process is just the beginning of the weirdness….

Keep Sharp: Build a Better

Brain at Any Age by Sanjay Gupta, MD (2021) spells out how we can understand and preserve brain function. Discover how movement, purposeful discovery and actions, relaxation, protective eating, and human connections are elements of a healthy brain. The narrative wraps up with a twelveweek plan to integrate the doctor’s guidance into daily routines. Nutshell review: Put your brain first—it is “ground zero in determining quality of life.”

Book Loversby Emily Henry (2022) is the perfect late-summer treat for beach or hammock. Anyone who loves books about books should grab a copy and enjoy a few hours of witty dialogue, romantic comedy elements, and layers of tension between opposing characters. Nutshell review: From enemies to lovers and sisters reconnecting in small-town North Carolina, this one was a must-review for the Buzz!