Happy birthday today to Holden Caulfield. the protagonist of J.D. Salinger's novel about the phoniness of the adult world and required reading for so many years in high school English classes across the country, The Catcher In the Rye turns 75 as it was published on July 16, 1951.
Summer reading recs in July continue to pour in from the McIntyre's crew of booksellers. This week we have Sarah C. and Amy. Next week we power through with Pete, Johanna and Juliana's always stalwart recommendations.
We are delighted to let you know that we have selected dates for our fall Book Club events, While tickets are not available just yet, you can ink these dates on your calendar: Thursday, September 17th at 6:30pm and Friday, September 17th at 10:30am.
Speaking of calendars, for those hyperorganized or wannabes our calendars are arriving, and we are putting them out on display. For those wanting Elaine O'Neil's glorious 2027 calendar, those will arrive in October. Call us if you would like for us to put one aside for you. 919.542.3030.
We've added a great event for kids and families onSaturday, August 1 at 11:00am. Our friend Audrey Perrott returns, this time to celebrate her most recent book Once Upon a Tail. This will be a party! Audrey is a fabulous author and entertainer with great music, activities, and special treats planned. Please fill out thebrief RSVP on our website so we can have enough treats for all who attend. Once Upon a Tail is an early reader graphic novel great for ages 6-9, but younger (and older!) folks will absolutely enjoy the presentation and party.
From Sarah C.
So I just finished the new Daniel Mason, Country People, which Sarah G. wrote about last week. I loved it so much I was late to work because I just had to finish it. So sounds like we can double the recommendation.
Mad Mabelby Sally Hepworth
Elsie Mabel Fitzpatrick, 81, lives on a quiet Melbourne street surrounded by neighbors she either loathes or tolerates. She is independent, witty, opinionated, and newly "adopted" by rather annoying 7-year old neighbor, Penelope. When an irksome neighbor turns up dead, she becomes the main suspect in his death (as well as the unwitting caretaker of his yappy chihuahua, Nugget). Hepworth's domestic and psychological thriller is so much more than a simple murder mystery. As the novel alternates between past and present, it examines loneliness, resilience, justice and mostly importantly, redemption. Mabel is a character I won't soon forget. (Editor's note: this popular book is in reprint and we should have more copies soon).
Afro-Vegan by Bryant Terry
Summer's fresh produce always makes me yearn to add more plant-based recipes to my repertoire. I recently pulled this off my shelf and remembered how terrific Bryant Terry's recipes are. In this volume, he draws upon his heritage to offer up simple and amazing dishes. I love that his ingredients are easily available (especially during summer), and the techniques super familiar. Big bonus: each recipe comes with musical and literary suggestions. My playlist is already packed with new music and my tbr stack taller.
Land by Maggie O'Farrell
Hunger. It's strange to be talking about hunger during the bounty of summer but hunger is what drives O'Farrell's spectacular new novel. This tale is set right after the terrible years of the Great Hunger in Ireland, where whole families, homes, and stories, were erased. Tomas, orphaned during the lean times, works as a surveyor and cartographer for the British. He hungers to return the dead to their rightful place on the maps, just as he longs to find stability and settlement for his family. O'Farrell's prose had me dizzy with delight. It is a book so incredibly rich in place and character that I lost countless wonderful reading hours following Tomas and his family through the decades, each member hungering for their own measure of freedom. One of my top reads of 2026.
Amy chimes in…
Mutual Interestby Olivia Wolfgang-Smith
This book captured my heart. I don’t usually reach for historical fiction, but Olivia Wolfgang-Smith won me over fast with this luscious tale of a queer marriage of convenience interwoven with the establishment of a soap-making business at the beginning of the 20th century. The audiobook is perfectly narrated (ask us how you can support McIntyre’s with a subscription to Libro audiobooks!), but I am looking forward to reading the paperback this summer so that I can soak up those beautiful sentences again. I have missed Vivian, Oscar and Squire so much.
Hemlockby Melissa Faliveno
Not a classic beach read, but hear me out. If you are perhaps heading to a cabin in the woods or by a lake, and are looking for a deliciously spooky tale about a woman who has to grapple with more than she bargained for while fixing up her parents’ old cabin in rural Wisconsin, then this is the summer novel for you. Immersive, creepy, queer, and a talking deer!
Always great books are to be found when the Usual Suspects on the job--
Pete, Johanna, Sarah C., Tyler, Johanna, Amy, Sarah C. and Keebe
