July 25, A Week at the Lake

I would place a bet that, if you asked ten Minnesotans what they were doing this summer, at least eight of them would say “Going to the lake.” Which lake? It really doesn’t matter, since we have over eleven thousand of them in the state. I have to admit that I am one of those eight. I have been going to the lake since I was a baby and while I spend a lot of my time fishing, there are still moments that can be captured for reading.

If you are among the two Minnesotans asked who does not go to the lake, perhaps reading about lakes (or lake-related stories…sort of) will get you in the north country mood.

Lake Woebegone Summer, 1956 Garrison Keillor
If you enjoy listening to Prairie Home Companion on NPR on Saturday nights, you should definitely give this book a try. Gifted humorist Keillor spins tales of the fictitious town of Lake Woebegone, a place where all of the stereotypes you’ve grown to love live and thrive. This story centers around a boy named Gary, who is just coming of age, and his Underwood typewriter. It’s funny, it’s very readable, and it’ll transport you back to growing up in rural Minnesota.

The Lake, the River, and the Other Lake Steve Amick
Okay, so not a Minnesota lake book. Michigan is the setting for this social comedy about a small town that is experiencing rather severe growing pains. The regular locals, who have lived in Weneshkeen their whole lives, come into conflict with ritzy rich folk coming for the summer, with migrant cherry pickers, and with men who make their living off the river. Several stories combine into one, examining how unlikely friendships can be forged in the most interesting of places.

Summer at Willow Lake Susan Wiggs
This one is for all the romance fans out there. Again, not Minnesota, but a story like this could happen anywhere. A young woman moves from her trendy New York home to an old resort camp, once owned by her family, to revamp a cabin for her grandparents, who want to spend one more summer filled with family memories. Since the camp is a mess, the woman has to hire a contractor to assist with the renovations and you can guess what happens next…

The Lake House James Patterson
This book is for anyone who has ever read the Maximum Ride series, or for anyone who likes their adventure novels with a little bit of a twist. This book is part of the story of six children who have had to fight to live normal lives since they were first released from the hospital. They live with different families now, but must come back together to keep themselves safe. The only place they have ever felt really safe is at the building they call the Lake House. The catch? These kids have wings…

Lake News Barbara Delinsky
Romantic New Hampshire, in the town of Lake Henry. Singer Lily Blake is escaping from a terrible picture the media has painted of her, though coming back to her hometown is no picnic either. She finds herself forming a friendship with the editor of the local paper, who used to be a bigwig in the newspaper industry himself until his career was abruptly ended. At first, the journalist only sees Lily as a subject for a future book, though that changes the more time they spend together. This book is a touching story that examines family relationships and the relationships of people living within a small community. And the conclusion is very satisfying.

The Lake Superior Images Craig Blacklock
This book is not a novel, nor is it something you can easily carry with you on vacation, but it certainly is beautiful. The images of Lake Superior were taken by Craig Blacklock and were first exhibited at the tweed Museum of Art in Duluth, Minnesota, August 22, 1993. Having picked up this book on a whim, I think I spent about two hours looking through it at home. The images are stunning and well worth turning the pages. If you can’t make it to a lake this summer, this book will satify all your lake-viewing needs.

Though summer is halfway over, August is the time for most vacations, before school starts again and once most summer programs have come to an end. Here at Meinders Library, our Summer Reading Program ends on July 30th, so if you haven’t had a chance to come and participate yet, you can at least join us for the last day, which will be a great celebration involving cupcakes and marshmallow sculptures. We look forward to seeing you there!

Have a safe and happy August and we wish you joy in all your travels!

If you have any questions, or you have a book you need to reserve or renew, give us a call at 507-825-6714. Summer hours for Meinders Library are Monday through Thursday, from 10 AM to 8 PM, and Friday from 10 AM to 5 PM. We are not open on Saturdays from Memorial Day to Labor Day.