Manda picks:The Blind Contessa's New Machine by Carey Wallace

The Blind Contessa's New Machine tells the story of a young inventor, Turri, and a young Contessa, Carolina. When Carolina slowly goes blind, Turri creates a machine to help her write letters to her family and friends. However, the book isn't really about the typewriter--it's a love story. Turri's inquisitiveness and Carolina's blindness set them apart from their families and friends. No one really knows how to relate to Turri; his family and neighbors think of him more as a curiosity. Carolina's husband is confused at what to do with his wife. He wants to please her, but at the same time he tries to protect her too much and fences in a young woman who longs to explore the world around her. These two characters really have no one but each other, so watching them find each other is lovely and I dreaded the thought that their affair might be discovered. Great summer reading.

Claire picks:A Visit from the Goon Squad

Jennifer Egan has written another brilliant and entirely original novel showcasing not only her compelling writing but also her keen sense of where modern technology is taking us. A Visit From the Goon Squad is made up of chapters about different people in the music business. While each chapter can stand alone, this is not a collection of short stories. The stories are fully related to one another with the same characters showing up in different contexts, sometimes at different times in their lives for a result that is truly greater than the sum of its wonderful parts. Main characters include Sasha, a kleptomaniac, her record producer boss Bennie and Lou, another record producer whose life clearly peaked in the 70's with drugs, sex and teenage girls.

The "Goon" of the title is time and leaves few of these characters better off but the storytelling transcends what could be depressing tales. One chapter is written in the form of a Power Point presentation created by Sasha's teenage daughter. What could have been gimmicky is instead transformed by Egan's wonderful writing into a surprisingly touching and effective story.

The final chapter that takes place in the near future is such brilliantly creative yet deceptively simple storytelling that I didn't want it to end. In fact, I found myself wanting to read about those characters in a full novel by themselves. Anyone who is interested in the best of modern literature needs to discover Jennifer Egan. I also highly recommend her earlier novel, Look At Me.

"Brilliantly unnerving.... A haunting, sharp, splendidly articulate novel." The New York Times

Pat L-S picks: The Quickening by Michelle Hoover

A debut novel that captures Iowa farm life, but especially the lives of Iowa farm women. This is the story of two very different personalities who are bound by the loneliness of place. Mary and Enidina's perspectives, struggles and values are elegantly told through the use of alternating chapters detailing their lives.

Enedina's chapters are written to her grandson of the future, wanting to capture their life for him. He is a grandson she never meets and her story reveals why. Mary's chapters tell of a life of secrets and self-delusion. The inner life of each is delicately and intimately displayed.

Our one event in August is with James Tabor. His new book, Blind Descent is garnering great reviews and a lot of attention. Add his reading and talk to your summer pleasures.