Attention, local authors
We’ve heard from avid readers. Now, we’d like to hear from the local authors in our midst. If you are a Chattanooga-area author (or an author with Chattanooga-area ties) who has published a book within the past year, let us know. We’ll run a roundup of selections in coming weeks.
Headed out for vacation and looking for a beach read? Maybe you're the mom of schoolchildren and have a little more time to delve into a best-seller this summer without the scheduling demands of school and after-school activities. Or maybe you've just replaced a book in your hand with your cellphone and find you've become addicted to quick, social-media posts rather than spending time reading chapters.
A study commissioned by Barnes & Noble taken in May found that more readers are committing themselves and their children to reading books and breaking their addiction to electronic diversions this summer. Of the 1,500 polled adults in the U.S., 80% plan to put down their cellphones and read. The survey was conducted by Atomik Research, an independent creative market research agency.
Furthermore, 55% of the parents responding said they plan to read the same books as their children in an effort to create bonding opportunities. This might be attributed to the fact the survey revealed that Americans believe constant scrolling on social media is detrimental to their relationships with family compared to time spent reading books; 75 percent said they would feel guilty ignoring their families if they were scrolling through social media.
Of those surveyed, 38% hope to read one to three books this summer, 37% were shooting for four to six.
An impromptu Facebook poll gave insight as to what Chattanoogans have been reading. Of the 46 comments, 10 endorsed Delia Owens' "Where the Crawdads Sing."
"Crawdads," the captivating story of a young girl who survives alone in the marshes of North Carolina and then becomes a murder suspect, was released in August 2018. One month later, it cracked the Top 10 on the New York Times' best-seller list. The novel had climbed the best-seller chart to No. 1 in January and remained there for six months.
"A story based in the South that covers a lot of bases: overcoming loss and adversity, a love story, a murder mystery and nature lovers will love it," says Betty Ann Fussell, a former Chattanoogan now living in Atlanta.
"Great read!" wrote Carol Walker Carter.
"This book is a total page- turner and so rich in detail. I was transported to the marshes of North Carolina every time I opened the book," agreed Lindsay Fussell.
"Could not put 'Crawdads' down! It's a late-into-night, flashlight-under-the-covers kind of read," quipped Tina Hullender.
Other suggestions for good reads from those responding:
» Anything by Mary Kay Andrews. - Debbie Spurling and Vicki Hixson Wyatt.
» "Dream Daughter" by Diane Chamberlain. "It's about a woman on an intriguing search for her lost daughter. I love the way she uses historical events throughout this story. I had a hard time putting it down." - Nancy Thompson.
' "Any of the Southern Sisters mysteries by Anne George. They are hilarious." - Rebecca Campbell.
' "The Mitford series by Jan Karon. I cannot put them down! Just wonderful." - Pamper Garner Crangle.
» "Forty Autumns" by Nina Willner. A true story of a family split by the Berlin Wall. It's a page-turner!" - Gaye Sellers Slaten.
» Anything by Gretchen Archer. - Vicki Trapp
» "South of Broad" by Pat Conroy. - Connie Shamblin DeBord.
» Anything by Pat Conroy. My favorite is "Prince of Tides." - Jan Belk.
» "Before We Were Yours" by Lisa Wingate. A novel based on a true story about the Tennessee Children's Home Society orphanage in Memphis, whose director was selling children. Also Barbara Kingsolver's "Prodigal Summer" is a great read. - Gloria Miller
» "The Hypnotist's Love Story" by Liane Moriarty. It's a great summer escape novel. It puts a new spin on "Fatal Attraction." Louise Penny's Inspector Gamache series is so good. But also I'd recommend "The Great Alone" by Kristin Hannah, as well as "The Summer Wives" and "A Hundred Summers" by Beatriz Williams, as fun beach or pool-side reads. - Maura McGeary Lambert.
» "If you like mysteries, the Stillhouse Lake series (by Rachel Caine) is spellbinding. - Jane Kaylor.
» Anything by Francine Rivers, an inspirational author who is a Christian writer. - Susan Qualls.
» "Educated" by Tara Westover. - Susan LeSourd.
Pick one up. You've got just over two weeks to read while your children are finishing their summer reading before Hamilton County schools start back Aug. 7.
Contact Susan Pierce at spierce@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6284.