Set in a coal mining town in Appalachia, “In the Garden of Stone” is a tale of loving, living and dying; of making do in a place where money is a more of a mysterious commodity — a necessary evil — than something sought after and accumulated.

Read this review, and more, at roanoke.com.

Jesse Norman’s “Edmund Burke: The First Conservative” is a decent enough read, and if Norman did his own writing, he is a good enough writer to carry the argument and the (often dry) history of the time forward.

Read this review, and more, at roanoke.com.

The book is an attempt to convince others that Grover Cleveland in his role as president of the United States deserves a high ranking from the historians who dole out such honors. But this book is different from the others because it does not attempt to lionize Grover Cleveland by making all of his activities fit a conservative agenda.

Read this review, and more, at roanoke.com.

A couple of my past posts have touched on classic literature — I talk about “Jude the Obscure” by Thomas Hardy in the open book stuff thread and “The Catcher in the Rye” in my Mother’s Day post.

I really like classic American and British literature. I love how layered those books are and how they make me think. I love interpreting actions and words and looking for symbolism. If there’s one part of high school I miss, it’s group discussions about literature where we discussed all of this. And when I was in college, some friends and I got together one afternoon and read “Twelfth Night” by Shakespeare, each of us taking one or two parts. I don’t care how nerdy that makes me sound, that was a really fun time and I would love to do it again.

But what elevates books to the level of classic? It’s not age, because lots of old books fade into obscurity. Good writing counts, obviously. The book must be intelligent, but not overly complicated. There’s still a story involved, and that part must be well executed, even though the goal is beyond plain entertainment. There are so many variables, and they are all subjective. On top of that, the age and maturity level of the reader also make a difference. I doubt I’d feel the way I do about “Catcher in the Rye” had I picked it up at 23 versus 16.

I think ultimately, it’s the timelessness of the lessons in a book that elevate it to a classic. No matter in which era the book is set, the wisdom within the pages still applies. And this despite the fact a lot of classics are snapshots of the societies and cultures in which they were written. Yet while they are windows into that time, they transcend it.

There are lots of books that deserve the label of classic. I’ve picked three that I think most deserve the label, based on my own criteria.

“To Kill a Mockingbird,” by Harper Lee

I read this book for the first time in high school and it was the first one where I thought, “This truly is a classic.” This is a masterful book, beautifully written. I love Scout and how clearly atypical she is in her Southern town. She is in turns bold, pensive, scrappy and thoroughly intelligent and charming. I love steadfast, upright Atticus, who is so wholesome and confident yet never crosses the line into unbearable. I love how Harper Lee conveys the children’s confusion and resilience during a time of great turbulence. The conflict of whether people are good or bad or both and why plays out marvelously in the setting and through the characters. My favorite scene? When Jem and Scout realize they don’t have enough snow to build a snowman and improvise, and Atticus tells Jem, “I’ll never worry about what’ll become of you, son, you’ll always have an idea.” Lee’s novel is perhaps the ultimate coming-of-age tale.

“Jane Eyre,” by Charlotte Bronte

This is my favorite Bronte novel even though Charlotte is not my favorite Bronte sister. I read this in English class as a preteen and have read it countless times since. I find Jane realistic as a child and as an adult; her passion and depth of feeling are portrayed well throughout the novel. I admit I find the supernatural elements, such as Uncle Reed’s ghost and Rochester’s voice echoing across the heath, unrealistic, but I’m willing to overlook them. Jane, like Atticus, is very steadfast, but that inner wildness that bursts out now and then makes her very human and appealing. I admire Jane for her independence and morals. She knew that if she chose to be kept by Mr. Rochester, even if she wouldn’t have to worry about material possessions ever again, she would always worry about something even more precious: her values. It’s such a simple lesson, but generation after generation, we fail to learn it. My favorite scene? When Mr. Rochester and Jane finally declare their love and a bolt of lightning splits the chestnut tree shortly after. Oh, man.

“The Importance of Being Earnest,” by Oscar Wilde

If anyone dislikes Wilde, please tell me why. Granted his witticisms and pithy comments are plastered all over the Internet, but I don’t consider him tiresome or overrated. In fact, I’d say he’s underrated. Most people are familiar with this play and Wilde’s “The Picture of Dorian Gray,” but how many have read “An Ideal Husband” or “Lady Windermere’s Fan”? I’ve enjoyed everything I’ve read by Wilde, and I’d like to read more of his plays, except I dislike reading plays on my own. Anyway, the character of Archie really makes the play for me, with his laugh-out-loud observations that swing between nonsensical and profound. Settings provide crucial context for most books, but it matters so much here. Wilde is satirizing popular dramas of the Victoria era, while making wry commentary about the era itself. The plot is contrived, but the writing is brilliant. My favorite scene? The very end where everyone hugs and Jack realizes the Importance of Being Earnest.

What are your favorite classic books? What makes a classic? Which 21st-century books do you see becoming classics in the future?

The weather’s been crazy lately, but it’s starting to feel as though summer’s just around the corner.

When I think of summer, I think of vacation; and when I think of vacation, I think of what books I’m going to pack.

You could argue that for avid readers, there’s no such thing as summer vacation reading, that we read what we like to read and the location doesn’t matter. I disagree. A few years ago, I went on a cruise. The sun shone, the ocean sparkled, the food was delicious, and I had a wonderful time—except for those couple of days when I read “The Road” by Cormac McCarthy. It’s so depressing, even the punctuation had abandoned it. No matter how beautiful my surroundings, those were a sad couple of days.

The answer to what makes a great summer vacation read varies from person to person. I want something light, yet still substantial. There’s a good chance I’ll take a nap or wander off for a snack midchapter, so a book I can return to easily. Something that makes me think, but doesn’t weigh on my mind.

Below are my top picks for summer vacation reading. There’s a mix, because who packs just one book, right? But they meet my criteria: fun, simple and engaging. You might have a different list, and I want to hear it. The plan is to run a compilation in the newspaper, just when summer really kicks in. So tell me what you think makes a good summer vacation read and recommend some titles.

“The Wee Free Men,” by Terry Pratchett

If you love fantasy and satire but aren’t familiar with Terry Pratchett, let’s change that. Pratchett has been writing the Discworld series for about 30 years, and he gets better and better. Discworld satirizes our own world; Pratchett riffs on diplomacy, sport, Hollywood, religion, just about every institution and facet of society. There are plenty of recurring characters, and the books occasionally refer to past events, but you don’t have to read them sequentially.

“The Wee Free Men” is one of Pratchett’s few novels for children rather than adults. The heroine is 9-year-old Tiffany Aching, and when the queen of the elves steals her little brother, she taps into her latent witch powers and goes to get him back, with the help of little blue (usually drunken) creatures called the Nac Mac Feegle.

I admit that when I first got this book, I wasn’t sold on it. I enjoy plenty of young adult fiction, but 9 is a little young for a heroine, and the little blue creatures seemed obnoxious. But I’m a big Pratchett fan, and his Discworld novels are so funny and smart, so I gave it a whirl. And I loved it. It might be geared toward kids, but it’s something adults can enjoy, like Pixar in a book. Neither the plot nor the writing is as sophisticated as Pratchett’s other novels, but there was enough sass and sparkle to hold my interest all the way through. For lovers of young adult fiction, or fantasy in general, I recommend it.

 “The Little Women Letters,” by Gabrielle Donnelly

This is a book I likely never would have read had it not tied in to a book I’ve read many times: “Little Women,” by Louisa May Alcott.

The story revolves around three sisters. There’s smart, stubborn, unconventional Lulu who is trying to find her direction in life; big sister Emma, responsible and successful; and young, artistic, pretty Sophie. I’ll let you figure out how they correspond to the March sisters—Jo March, by the way, is the women’s great-great-grandmother, and letters she wrote to her own sisters decades ago are woven into the story of these three descendants. Lulu, Sophie and Emma have a wise, compassionate, patient, understanding mother, too. Guess it runs in the family.

It’s fluff, I won’t deny it; however, the “Little Women” angle makes it stand out a little more than other fluff. If you enjoy “Little Women,” you might enjoy comparing the March sisters and this crop, and Jo’s letters correspond to her own adventures decades ago (or at least they do as far as my memory takes me). Lulu’s mother is eye-rollingly saintly at times, but the other characters are likeable enough, and the book as a whole is easy on the brain. It’s not a bad way to while away the hours.

“Raiders From the North,” by Alex Rutherford

Historical fiction holds a special place in my heart, and it’s the bulk of what I review.  Most of the stuff I read is very Euro-centric, so it was nice to step away from that into 15^th- and 16^th-century Asia, with characters I’d never heard of in a setting unfamiliar to me.

The main character in this book is Babur, who becomes ruler of a land near Afghanistan as a young teen. It’s a dangerous age at which to assume power, and soon he is ousted and roams as far as India, maturing and conquering along the way.

This isn’t glitzy, breezy historical fiction, but nor is it ponderous. It’s a nice, middle-of-the-road balance, well written and well paced. There are enough details to keep the book interesting, but not so many it bogs the story down. The characters are strong and consistent, and if Babur’s feats seem a bit extraordinary, well, they aren’t outrageous enough to detract from the story. In all, it’s a good, solid read.

“Ex-Heroes,” by Peter Clines

This book came out as a reprint earlier this year and has received many positive reviews, with some saying it has tones of “The Walking Dead.”

The book is set in Los Angeles after zombies have overrun the United States (possibly the world). A community of humans is holding out in a former movie studio; their guardians are superheroes, who usually have no problem keeping the zombies at bay, or the gangs that roam the city. But a new type of zombie has appeared with powers that will test the will and strength of everyone.

Much as I enjoy a good superhero novel, I’m not fond of zombies. I find them more creepy than fun, but this combination really intrigued me. The novel gets off to a shaky start—there are loads of characters, and it switches from present to past in a way that requires some adjusting—but the book soon finds its feet, and there’s some light humor in the occasional mention of zombie celebrities. The science behind the zombies is fairly interesting, the reveal of the virus’ cause is a nice twist, and the final battle between heroes, zombies and gang members is flat-out awesome. For a novel with a shaky start, it sure accelerates into a smooth ride and spins to an elegant stop.  Well done, that writer.

Do you read differently when you’re on vacation? What are your top books for a summer vacation read?

Description:  Debra Ann Miller, who charmed audiences as 19^th century author Jane Austen during Dead Authors Month last October, returns to South County Library for a repeat performance, this time as Mary Todd Lincoln at 7:00 p.m. on Wednesday, May 22.

Mrs. Lincoln’s Salon takes place in her Blue Room on April 4, 1865. Mr. Lincoln and their youngest son, Tad, are at City Point. Robert, their eldest, is with General Grant in pursuit of Robert E. Lee. Mary is alone in the Executive Mansion. The audience is invited to reminisce with Mrs. Lincoln about her childhood, her days in Springfield, and her children as she celebrates Tad’s 12th birthday and the end of the Civil War with you. Drawing from her own letters to friends, family, and political figures of the era, Mrs. Lincoln’s Salon paints a picture of Mary Lincoln that is both sympathetic and truthful.

Debra Ann Miller has been an actress and voice over talent for over 25 years. She has toured the country with Child’s Play Touring Theatre, Artreach, and the Reading is Fundamental program, as well as working in Chicago theatres. Debra is also currently touring the country with Abraham Lincoln impersonator, Michael Krebs, in Visiting the Lincolns. Debra has been working as an historical impersonator for the last 15 years. In 2004, Debra won the Best Actress award at the Chicago Indie Fest for her first film Zen Noir.

When: 7:00 p.m. on Wednesday, May 22

Where:  South County Library, 6303 Merriman Road, Roanoke

***There is no charge to enjoy this performance and seating is on a first-come basis.

Description:  Author Rosalie Turner will discuss her book “March with Me.” The book discusses 1963 as a significant year in the Civil Rights Movement.

This book will take us beyond the Children’s March and the Civil Rights Movement to understand what life was like for blacks and whites in the very separate south and bring us to understand what is needed for true reconciliation.

When: Wednesday, May 22, 2013 starting at 7:00 pm

Where: Christiansburg Library, 125 Sheltman St., Christiansburg

Contact: 540-382-6965

Description:  Madeline & Summer Hays, mother and daughter authors of “Mrs. Gambel the Quirky Quail” will be have a special Storytime of their book!

When: Tuesday, May 21, 2013 starting at 10:30

Where: Gainsboro Branch Library

She uprooted three of the plants and bound them together to carry with them. “Never take more than you need. Plants are like a town: if you take all the strongest, the babes and old folk die.” — “Sold for Endless Rue,” Madeleine E. Robins.

There were a lot of great comments on last week’s open book stuff thread, so I’m updating the original thread to preserve them all. Next month I’ll start a new thread and link to this one. I was thrilled to see so much discussion, I did a little jig every time I visited the blog.

I finished “Jude the Obscure,” by Thomas Hardy,” over the weekend and highly recommend it, especially for those who like “Tess of the D’Urbervilles.” I’ve half a mind to re-read “Tess” to examine the comparisons and contrasts between the two novels. Interestingly, these two were the last novels Hardy wrote before he concentrated on poetry, and they are the two society found most controversial. Hardy was a man with ideas well before his time.

The book I’m reading now, “Sold For Endless Rue,” by Madeleine E. Robins, is of a different genre. It’s a retelling of the tale of Rapunzel set in 13th-century Sicily. I plan to review it later, so I won’t go into too much detail, but I like it so far. It has a cozy feel to it, the kind of book you can curl up with in bed and read to set your mind at rest. Maybe even a good summer vacation read!

What did you read this weekend, and what did you think of it?

*     *     *

As soon as the horse had learnt the road and the houses at which he was to pause awhile, the boy, seated in front, would slip the reins over his arm, ingeniously fix open, by means of a strap attached to the tilt, the volume he was reading, spread the dictionary on his knees, and plunge into the simpler passages from Caesar, Virgil, or Horace, as the case might be, in his purblind stumbling way, and with an expenditure of labour that would have made a tender-hearted pedagogue shed tears. — “Jude the Obscure,” Thomas Hardy.

This thread is a free-for-all for book stuff — share what you finished reading this weekend, what you started, what caught your eye at the bookstore. I consider movie adaptations of books fair game, so feel free to talk about “The Great Gatsby.”

I’m reading “Jude the Obscure.”  In that quote at the top, Jude, about 9 years old, is determined to enter university at nearby Christchurch and has started teaching himself Latin and Greek with the help of some old books and a dictionary. The quote stood out at me because that’s very determined for such a young child, and how many of us have balanced a book precariously so we can read while we do something else?

Jude’s not going to make it, by the way; you can tell by a) the title and b) the fact it’s a Thomas Hardy novel. Characters rarely make it in Thomas Hardy novels, his books are sadder than wet chickens. He is one of my favorite authors, however, and “Jude” has yet to sag in the middle, as I find many Hardys do.

Oh, and that image to the left is of a bookmark I own. I love bookmarks; I pick a new one at random with every book I start, and I’m always tickled if they are completely different.

How is your reading coming along? And if you saw “The Great Gatsby,” what did you think?

When: Saturday, May 18th

Where: Barnes and Noble : Valley View Mall  11am-12:30pm

Where: Barnes and Noble : Tanglewood 2-4pm

David Covell is the author and illustrator of picture books for kids. This week, he traveled from his home in New York City and is reading to over 1,000 kids in the Roanoke County public schools.

“Rat and Roach Friends to The End” is his first book. This is a story of two friends. Rat and Roach. They get along great! Except when Rat makes a mess . . .Or Roach cooks too fancy . . .Or Rat HUGS TOO TIGHT!! In fact, why are these two friends? Rat and Roach aren’t so sure either, but they’re more unhappy when they aren’t friends. Here is a book that shows friendship in a whole new, wonderful, hilarious light.

and there’s a sequal:
Rat and Roach Rock On!

Rat has finally agreed to let his friend Roach sing in his band… but not if Roach makes everyone wear shiny, sparkly outfits. No way! Roach can still sing, though, right?
Wrong. He can’t even get out a squeak!

With just the right touch of silly and sweet, Rat and Roach Rock On! gets at the heart of friendship and makes us laugh along the way.