Kris Waagen presides over the Woodknot Bookshop in Newport from the vantage of the store’s new espresso bar. Photos by Joseph GresserThe arrival of cold and inclement weather provides an ideal excuse for curling up near a warm stove. A good book is the perfect accessory for such times, but finding the perfect book is not always an easy matter.
The usual ways of discovering new books — hearing from friends and families, or seeing a review — are fine, but don’t always come up with a suggestion when one is needed. For that, there are people who cherish books for a living, librarians and bookstore owners.
A short road trip on a sunny November day proved that these community resources can still be relied on to provide suggestions for a wide array of literary tastes.
At the Galaxy Bookshop in Hardwick, Linda Ramsdell is excited by The Lonely Polygamist by Brady Udall. “It’s smart and funny, really hilarious and really hard to describe, but very entertaining,” Ms. Ramsdell said. The hero, she said, is a man in his mid-forties with three wives and a couple of dozen children who experiences a mid-life crisis.
For those who are looking for a nonfiction title, Ms. Ramsdell suggested American Terroir by Calais author Rowan Jacobson. “A really good read for anyone who is interested in food, farms and history,” Ms. Ramsdell said.
Her fellow bookseller, Sandy Scott, is enthusiastic about Remarkable Creatures by Tracy Chevalier, a historical novel about Mary Anning, an actual person who lived in the early part of the nineteenth century and made her name as a paleontologist and fossil collector.
Ms. Scott named Dennis Lehane as her favorite mystery writer. His new book, Moonlight Mile, brings back a pair of Boston detectives who starred in his earlier books.
“Fans of his Pat Kenzie books will be delighted to read this,” Ms. Scott said.
Ruth Rowell, who was holding down the fort at the Glover Public Library, overcame her initial reluctance and offered a trove of recommendations.
Her first was ApeHouse by Sara Gruen, the author of Water For Elephants. The novel tells the story of a scientist who learns to communicate with apes, Ms. Rowell said.
She also recommended The Bricklayer, a thriller by first-time author Noah Boyd. Another Boyd and another thriller suggested by Ms. Rowell is Ordinary Thunderstorms by William Boyd.
Another book for mystery lovers suggested by Ms. Rowell is The Secret of Rain and Lightning, by Nancy Pickford.
Ms. Rowell saved Pillars of the Earth for last. The book, by Ken Follett, which she admitted was her favorite, is a historical novel that depicts life in medieval England during a time when cathedrals are being built and rebellions against the monarchy sweep the country.
Glover’s librarian, Toni Eubanks, also runs the Barton library. When asked there about her recommendations for books she hesitated for just a Toni Eubanks, who heads both the Barton and Glover libraries, looks through winners of the Dorothy Canfield Fisher award in search of book recommendations. moment before fishing out In The Fullness of Time by Vincent Nicolosi.
The book, written by a summer resident of the Northeast Kingdom, is a historical novel focused on the life of President Warren G. Harding.
Ms. Eubanks said that she had never considered that there might be anything of interest to be learned about the Ohio-born president. She was, therefore, very pleasantly surprised to be drawn into the world created by Mr. Nicolosi.
She said Mr. Nicolosi combines historical figures with those of his own creation very successfully. Ms. Eubanks’ opinion was widely shared among those who have read the book.
Susan Guilmette, who was working at the Barton library’s front desk, agreed that Mr. Nicolosi has written an excellent book. Her judgment was seconded by Sylvia Manning, a former librarian, who was waiting to check out some books for herself.
Ms. Eubanks said that she was recently appointed to the Green Mountain Book Award Committee and has been spending a lot of time reading young adult fiction. She recommended Tales of The Madman Underground by John Barnes, which she said deals honestly with teenage issues.
The Woodknot Bookshop in Newport was bought last year by Megan Barcelos, who favors mysteries, and Kris Waagen, a fan of spy thrillers.
Ms. Barcelos said she is anticipating the return to print of a series by Bruce Alexander following the adventures of Sir John Fielding. “They are for people who like Agatha Christie and Sherlock Holmes,” she said. “They’re well written and entertaining.”
For those looking for more excitement, Ms. Barcelos offers a suggestion from her twin sister who she said produces “edge-of-your-seat thrillers.”
For aficionados of historical fiction and the Tudor dynasty, Ms. Barcelos recommends a look at the works of Phillippa Gregory, author of The Other Boleyn Girl and The Boleyn Inheritance. Ms. Gregory has a great deal of insight into that period, Ms. Barcelos said.
Mr. Waagen’s current favorites, along with old favorites by Tom Clancy and Clive Cussler, include Andy McNab, the pseudonym of a former member of the British special forces. Mr. Waagen recommends Exit Wound.
Up the street at the Goodrich Library, Toni Cross had suggestions covering a number of literary genres.
She described Emma Donoghue’s Room, which tells the story of a woman who was kidnapped and confined along with her child through the eyes of the child. “It’s such a dark subject but seen through such innocence,” Ms. Cross said.
The Puzzle King, by Betsy Carter, is a book set during World War II and describes the lives of several immigrant families “working through the American dream in their own way,” she said.
Another view of World War II, this one factual, is contained in The Nazi Officer’s Wife by Edith H. Beer and Susan Dworkin. It’s the story of a Jewish woman who saves her life by marrying a German military man.
In the category of difficult young adult fiction, Ms. Cross picked out Unwind by Neal Shusterman. “It’s about sanctity of life issues. He takes the issue of pro-choice versus pro-life to a different place,” Ms. Cross said. She added that Mr. Shusterman asks the question of what makes a person a person without offering any answers. While he allows people to make their own conclusions, he definitely makes you think, Ms. Cross said.
For a completely different look at books, Ms. Cross recommended The Altered Books Workshop by Bev Brazelton, a craft book that shows how old books can be taken apart and reassembled in startling and beautiful ways.
“It’s a scrapbooking book for people who don’t like scrapbooking,” Ms. Cross said.
