Summer is finally here, and it promises to provide more time for leisure reading. Though browsing in a bookstore is wonderful, there are online options that create a comparable experience. National Public Radio’s Books We Love is one of my favorite virtual bookstores. “Patrons” can browse by individual or combined genres. My request for a novel blending historical fiction, identity & culture, and tales from around the world resulted in ten recommendations. By clicking on the book cover images, I displayed short summaries of each.

Though all sounded interesting, Loot by Tania James really caught my eye. The subject of the book, an automaton named Tippoo's Tiger, actually exists at the Victoria and Albert Museum! But to confirm this book was really for me, I checked Kirkus Reviews. Their enthusiastic critique sealed it. I’m off to explore the history of a museum piece that’s an artifact of forgotten exploitation and theft. 

The New York Public Library also offers online virtual bookstore browsing. Its Best Books has three sections -- Adults, Teens and Kids – and each of these offer forty or more genres to select or combine. Try your hand and see what title offers a unique mixing of your favorite literary styles.

If you’re traveling this summer, consider choosing a book that relates to your destination. It’s a great way to enhance your experience of a new place and culture. You’ll find an incredibly extensive collection of titles grouped by setting at Good Reads. Whether you’re searching for a location, time period, or state of mind, it’s likely you’ll find a match here. And if you’re without a book and it’s the last minute, most airports include bookstores offering best sellers. But better yet, grab a magazine for the flight, visit a bookstore at your destination, and begin your dive into a sense of that place. 

Whether your summer includes an exotic location or a staycation, keep a book in hand! 

Wishing you a relaxing and rewarding summer,
Karlyn Strand
San Domenico Librarian