SUMMER BOOK PICKS

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As a parent of a five-year-old, a parent of a five-year-old, I love Raleigh author Kelly Starling Ral lei e gh author Kelly Star a ling Lyons’ picture book Tiara ' s Hat Parade. ctu ure r book H P . Beautifully illustrated by Nicole Tadgell, ly illustrated by Nicole Tadg gell, this book captures the joy of storytelling, captu ures the joy of storytelling, craft and family in bright colors and nd family y in bright colors and wonderful prose.” wond der rful prose. ” —Kwame Mbalia—Kwame e Mb M alia a

I’ve launched into h d The Light Years, the first of the five volume English saga The Cazalet Chronicles by Elizabeth Jane Howard. The family story (remember Upstairs, Downstairs?) begins before World War II, following the Cazalet family and households through the sweep of history. Witty, vividly written, rich in characters—delicious!” —Frances Mayes

Looking for books to add to your summer reading list? We tapped local authors to find out what they are loving right now.

—Melissa Howsam

I'm loving A Death in Harlem by Karla FC Holloway. This exquisitelycrafted novel transports me with its bold reshaping and retexturing of the intricate, secret societies that weave the endearing complexities of ‘death by misadventure.’ This is the perfect mystery for me during this moment. The nuances and characters carry me across and beyond vivid thresholds of a community declaring its self-expression against that period’s backdrop of race and class elitism.” —Jaki Shelton Green

I’m enjoying Blue Marlin, a just- I’m en nj joying M released novella by Hillsborough’s own released d novella by Hillsbor ro ou Lee Smith. A 13-year-old girl observes her Lee Sm mith. A 13-year-old gir rl l ob parents’ attempt at a second honeymoon pa arents’ attempt at a second d ho in the Florida Keys with precocious eyes, i in the Florida Keys with precoc and feels excitement at meeting movie and feels excitement at m meetin stars staying at the same hotel. Smith is stars staying at the sam me hotel in high form here; her inimitable Southin high form here; he er inimitab ern voice carries the story throughout.” ern voice carries the story thro —Samia Serageldin—S Samia Serageldin

It was a National Book Award s a N Na i tion l al Book A Award finalist in 2017, but I just discovered Her Body and Other Parties by Carmen Maria Machado. It’s a collection of stories about the reality of women’s lives, which somehow integrates myth, folk tales, science fiction, humor and horror stories into a series of compelling and transfixing tales. It’s so good.” —Daniel Wallace