Library Picks: 'Beat the Reaper, 'Code Name Verity'
If you’re like me, you have at least one long drive ahead of you during the summer vacation season. Why not pass the time listening to one of the many books on CD that we have at the Orion Township Public Library? I’ve chosen three new selections, but there are many more to choose from. Stop by the library and we can help you choose one or even show you how to download electronic audio books to transfer to your devices.
Thanks to the FBI Witness Protection Program, former hitman Pietro Brnwa becomes Dr. Peter Brown. But when he’s recognized by a patient, his cover is blown. The dying patient threatens to sell him out to the mafia if Dr. Brown doesn’t save his life. Part mystery, part thriller, and part dark comedy this madcap tale will keep readers (and listeners) on the edge of their seats.
Code Name Verity has an impressive average review of 4.39 stars on goodreads.com and 4.7 stars on Amazon. It also got universally positive reviews in professional journals, so my interest was definitely piqued. But what I can’t quite seem to figure out is what exactly it is about. Almost every reader review mentions that to give anything away about the book would be to spoil the story. This is what I do know: In this historical novel for teens, “Verity” is a British spy is captured by the Nazis after the plane she and her pilot friend, Maddie, were in crashed in occupied France. In exchange for her life, Verity agrees to reveal vital war secrets. As she writes, she also tells the story of her friendship with Maddie. I’m intrigued enough to pick this one up, and I hope you will be, too.
This is the fourth installment in Robert A. Caro’s “The Years of Lyndon Johnson,” considered by many to be the definitive biographies of our 36th President. This volume covers Johnson’s vice-presidency and the beginning of his presidency after John F. Kennedy’s assassination. Caro, winner of the Pulitzer Prize and the National Book Award, among other accolades, is known for impeccable research and exceptional writing. Biography fans, especially those who enjoy reading about the Presidents, will not want to miss The Passage of Power. There will be a fifth and final installment covering the remainder of Johnson’s presidency.
