Library Picks: 'Crooked Letter, Crooked Letter', 'The Fault in Our Stars'

A traffic-filled commute may be more bearable or a rainy afternoon at home more enjoyable when combined with a good audio book. 

When the narrator gets it just right, listening to a book on CD adds another dimension to the reading experience.  At the , we have a variety of audio books in many genres, including fiction, mysteries, science fiction and fantasy, westerns, and non-fiction. 

Here are three recent selections you might like to try.

Crooked Letter, Crooked Letter by Tom Franklin

I just finished reading this one in print, and I couldn’t put it down.  When Tina Rutherford goes missing, everyone in Chabot, Mississippi assumes that 'Scary' Larry Ott is responsible for her disappearance, as he was the prime suspect in the unsolved disappearance of another girl two decades earlier.  Although everyone else in town wrote off Ott long ago, Chabot’s sole police officer, Silas ‘32’ Jones suspects Ott might be innocent.  As the story unfolds, flashing back and forth between the present day and Larry and Silas’ childhood, the reasons for SilasJones’ particular interest in the case become clear.  This one has suspense, Southern atmosphere, and social commentary to boot.

The Fault in Our Stars by John Green

Young adult author John Green has written a story that will strike a chord with readers of any age.  Sixteen-year-old Hazel meets Augustus Waters at a support group for teens with cancer.  After exchanging their favorite books – hers a cancer drama, and his, an adaptation of a video game – the two cultivate a bond that quickly develops from friendship to romance.  Because Hazel should have died two years ago, she’s reluctant to give in to her feelings for Gus because, despite the leg that he lost to cancer, he seems to be more or less healthy now. Hazel and Gus are such well-written characters that it’s impossible not to fall in love right along with them.  But be forewarned - although Hazel’s razor-sharp wit keeps the reader laughing, you probably won’t be able to get through this book without a box of tissues at your side.

Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? (And Other Concerns) by Mindy Kaling

Fans of the NBC television show The Office know Mindy Kaling better as Kelly Kappor.  In this memoir and essay collection, narrated by the author herself, funny lady Kaling talks about everything from her childhood as the daughter of immigrants to her success as a television writer and actress.  Those who enjoyed Tina Fey’s Bossypants or are looking to literally laugh out loud might want to check this out.