These days, it seems that every single day of the year has a designation for some type of commemoration. September 6 is no exception, and I wondered if I might write about one of them. Barbie Doll Day? We’ve heard a lot about Barbie lately, so no. Fight Procrastination Day? Now there’s one I could apply personal experience to. National Coffee Ice Cream Day? Not for me; it’s one of my least favorite flavors. Great Egg Toss Day? Really?
Aah, but then there’s Read a Book Day. Bingo! I think we at Charleston County Public Library can help you with that. With hundreds of thousands of books on our shelves, surely you can find something to read. Search for something in our online catalog, come and visit or call any of our branches to ask for a title, author or subject (Mount Pleasant Branch on Mathis Ferry Road is 843-849-6161; Wando Mount Pleasant Branch in Carolina Park is 843-805-6888).
It doesn’t stop there; we also have tens of thousands of e-books that you can download and read on your computer or device. Find books for all ages at ccpl.org/digital-collections.
Of course, it all starts with your library card. Learn more at ccpl.org/getacard. If you don’t have one, it’s easy, especially if you’re a Charleston County resident.
May I share some of my favorite books with you and make a few recommendations?
My usual go-to is a cozy mystery. I love series and have read lots of them, starting as a child with Nancy Drew (true classics for me). Try the Agatha Raisin series by M. C. Beaton (fun stories); C. Hope Clark’s Edisto Beach Mysteries (great characters); Sherlock Holmes Bookshop Mysteries by Vicki Delany (wonderful setting); or the Stephanie Plum books by Janet Evanovich (laugh out loud funny, but the profanity’s not for everyone). You might also enjoy a couple of series set locally, Laura Childs’ Tea Shop Mysteries set in Charleston and Bill Noel’s Folly Beach Mysteries, filled with quirky characters.
If you like short stories, I recommend Jeffrey Archer, whose stories are well written and often have unexpected endings. His latest collection (as yet unread by me) is “The Short, the Long, and the Tall,” which I believe will be as good as his prior collections. My favorite volume is “Twelve Red Herrings”; although CCPL no longer holds this title, you should be able to get it through our InterLibrary Loan service.
After I retire later this year, I’ll have time to read more non-fiction. In the meantime, I highly recommend just about anything by Bill Bryson, especially “In a Sunburned Country” in which Bryson spectacularly covers the entire continent of Australia and “A Walk in the Woods,” his quintessential travelogue about hiking the Appalachian Trail.
Need more suggestions? Just ask.
Susan Frohnsdorff is the manager of the Mount Pleasant Library, 1133 Mathis Ferry Road, Mount Pleasant, SC 29464. Reach her at 843-849-6161 or frohnsdorffs@ccpl.org.
