June Books

"That time has perhaps come. Tired of buying bookshelves and anxious about the economic downturn, my wife recently instituted the First Law of Literary Thermodynamics, otherwise known as the conservation of libraries. No book can come into our household without another book leaving it. I am loath to give up any books. So I've been dipping more and more into my unread stock, which still numbers in the hundreds." (John Feffer, "Essay" in the New York Times Book Review section, June 13, 2010)

These are some titles from last month's New York Times Book Review section that I might like to read at some point:

Fiction

The Magicians - Lev Grossman; "After attending sorcery college, a young man lives the hedonist's life in Manhattan, dealing with crises existential and otherwise."

The November Criminals - Sam Munson; "Both a thoughtful coming-of-age story and an engaging teenage noir. Think of it as an existential murder mystery for the stoner pre-college set."

One Day - David Nicholls; "Checks in year by year on the confused, halting romance of two children of the '80s, she an outspoken lefty, he an apolitical toff."

The Overton Window - Glenn Beck; "A public relations executive and the woman he loves fight to expose a conspiracy to transform America."

So Cold the River - Michael Koryta; "If all good mysteries make ideal summer reading, what does a mystery fan turn to for true escape? How about a supernatural mystery that intensifies the suspense by thickening the atmosphere."

Nonfiction

Extra Lives: Why Video Games Matter - Tom Bissell; "Video games have created what must be the biggest generation gap since rock'n'roll. Sure, a generational rift of sorts emerged when the World Wide Web showed up near the end of the last century, but in the case of the Web, the older cohort admired and tried to emulate the younger crowd, rather than looking down on them with befuddlement or disdain. With games, a more traditional 'get off my lawn' panic has reared its head."

Geek Dad: Awesomely Geeky Projects and Activities for Dads and Kids to Share - Ken Denmead; "Projects to share with children, from electronic origami to home hydroponics."

Mint Condition: How Baseball Cards Became an American Obsession - Dave Jamieson; "Details early tobacco cards, stuffed into packs to keep the cigarettes from crushing; kitschy nonbaseball series like Mars Attacks; and the rest of the history."

Planet Barbecue! - Steven Raichlen; "Blazing grills, exotic seasonings, expert grill masters, renowned restaurants, cool fuels, tools, tips and techniques from all around the world. Plus 600 full-color photographs."

The Seasons on Henry's Farm: A Year of Food and Life on a Sustainable Farm - Terra Brockman; "By far the most informative and earnest of the back-to-the-land memoirs; anyone thinking about farming as a way of life should read it."