What should you take to the lake? Something old, something new

Here’s a few suggestions for summertime reading

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It’s hard to limit the "the books of summer" to 10 — so instead I’m giving you 11.

"The Maltese Falcon," by Dashiell Hammett: The classic tough-guy/noir-detective novel that never loses its appeal. Since it was first published in 1930, it’s the book mystery and thriller writers dream of writing.

"Once Upon A River," by Bonnie Jo Campbell: A strikingly original novel by one of Michigan’s most talented writers. Campbell just keeps getting better, and that’s a lot to say for an author whose last book was a finalist for the National Book Award.

In "River," she turns a journey by a teenage girl into an exploration of life in all its nuances. The book’s protagonist, 16-year-old Margo Crane, would make Huck Finn blush and Becky Thatcher cheer. “Once Upon a River” is one of those unusual books that will not only be read by women but many men and young adults. After all, Margo is a dead-eye, drop-dead Annie Oakley crossed with Lolita.

"Misery Bay," by Steve Hamilton: The cranky Upper Peninsula detective Alex McNight is back, and Hamilton is as good as anyone out there when it comes to fast-paced dark mysteries. Hamilton was one of the first authors to find a home for the Upper Peninsula in his books. He is often copied, never duplicated.

"In the Garden of Beasts," by Erik Larson: Larson isn’t prolific, just darn good. This time, he takes his patented parallel story structure, which he perfected in "Devil in the White City,” to pre-war Nazi Germany, following an American ambassador and his daughter for one year. This book will scare you to death as the Nazis begin their path of hate and world domination. Remember that this is Larson’s special brand of non-fiction as seen through the eyes of two protagonists. And isn’t the movie version of "Devil" out soon?

"The Paris Wife," by Paula McLain: The author gives Ernest Hemingway’ s first wife, Hadley, her due and she makes Hemingway come alive in this outstanding addition to Hemingway faux-oeuvre literature (which is an industry unto itself). This is Hadley and Ernest in Paris as you’ve never seen them before. A few years from now you will be standing in line to see the movie. If you think otherwise, check out the popularity of Woody Allen’s “Midnight in Paris.” 

"Last Call," by Daniel Okrent: It’s out in paperback — and what better book to take to the beach with a gin and tonic? This book may be the best book ever written about Prohibition, and it foreshadows much of the world we live in, especially the war on drugs. Okrent is from Detroit and was the inventor of Rotisserie Baseball.

"South of Superior," by Ellen Airgood: A debut novel by a Yooper waitress (by the way of University of Michigan and Chicago). This book paints a layered picture of life in the U.P. and of the landscape and inhabitants who make it so special, but often less than pastoral. You can almost feel Jim Harrison’s Brown Dog in here somewhere. It will have city dwellers packing up and moving north — or at least wanting to make a short visit. 

"Very Bad Men," by Harry Dolan: Dolan once again explores a strange literary life in Ann Arbor. Hey, it’s fiction, and did I mention that the bodies start piling up pretty fast as Dolan throws his amateur detective into an investigation? The trail takes him to the Upper Peninsula in search of the truth lurking behind a decades old bank robbery which somehow someway involves a U.S Senator.

"A State of Wonder," by Ann Patchett: Patchett takes you on the ride of your life to the Amazon in search of truth, or at least something close to it. Patchett sends a young research scientist into the jungle — sort of a heart of darkness — to ferret out what happened to another scientist who has gone missing.

Let’s see: man (or, in this case, woman) against the jungle and some nefarious characters. Who will win? Let me guess. Just a hint: James Rollins ("Amazonia") is better at this type of novel.

"Northwest Angle," by William Kent Krueger: Krueger reunites private eye Cork O’Conner and his daughter, who not only find themselves stuck on a island in Minnesota wilderness, but also find themselves a body. Krueger may be one of the most underappreciated mystery writers out there. Once again he works Native American culture deeply into his murder mystery. Far more successful mystery writers look up to this guy.

"I Gave My Heart to Know This," by Ellen Baker: An expansive story moves across generations, starting on the homefront during World War II. At a Wisconsin shipyard, Rosie-the-Riveter-style women work the jobs left behind by the men who have either gone overseas or on their way there. The book skips to modern times when a granddaughter of one of the female shipbuilders uses old letters and photographs to recreate a time when relationships were close to the edge.

Baker, who graduated from the University of Michigan, is really at the top of her game writing about the ships, the women and the coldness of Lake Superior. 

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