By D.G. Martin

Today, I am going to give you a list of North Carolina-related books for you to consider for your summer reading ó or for you to suggest for your book clubís upcoming season.

Why am I doing this?

If you know me well, you already know the answer. Here is a hint: Take a look at the dates beside each entry. Still wonder why?† I will give the answer later on in the column.

These ten suggestions are all different. So there will be at least one of them that is right for you. And they all have a North Carolina connection, which increases the likelihood that you will know something about the bookís setting or its subject matter and its author.

1. J. Peder Zaneís ìThe Top Ten.î Zane is the former book editor of the Raleigh News & Observer. He got more than 100 top writers to list and rank ìthe ten greatest works of fiction of all time.î The result: a total of almost 550 different books, all of which are briefly summarized, on the assumption that there is no way that you and I could be familiar with all of them. ìThe Top Tenî is a great choice for a book club,† because with a modest amount of reading there are lots of books and authors to discuss. (July 6, 8)

2. Mike Easleyís ìLook Out College, Here I Come!î Yes, our governor has written a childrenís book. And, yes, he really did write it in ìDr. Seussî style. His sister provided colorful illustrations ó all with the idea of getting young children to get a positive idea of their getting a college education. (July 13, 15)

3. Michele Bowenís ìHoly Ghost Corner.î† This ìAfrican American Christianî novel, set in Durham, gives its readers a humorous and serious inside look at the ups and downs of modern church life and church people. (July 20, 22)

4. Neal Thompsonís ìDriving with the Devil: Southern Moonshine, Detroit Wheels and the Birth of NASCARî has a title that tells it all.† (July 27, 29)

5. Joseph Bathantiís ìCoventryî is the fictional story of a North Carolina prison guard, his family, and the stress of complex and compromising responsibilities.† (August 3, 5)

6. Joanna Catherine Scottís ìThe Road from Chapel Hillî is a compelling Civil War tale that features the intersecting lives of a former southern plantation belle whose family has fallen on hard times, a ìred neckî white farm boy, and a slave. Itís It is fiction, but it challenges the ìmythî that there were few white supporters of the Union in North Carolina. (August 10, 12)

7. James Dodsonís ìBeautiful Madnessî is this Southern Pines based, award- winning golfing writerís description of his love affair with plants and gardens in North Carolina and all over the world. (August 17, 19)

8. Dan Heathís ìMade to Stick: ìWhy Do Some Ideas Thrive While Others Die?î Heath, a consultant to Duke Universityís Corporate Education program, co-authored this national best seller with his brother, a Stanford professor.† In a most entertaining way they teach us ways to make our ideas ìstickî in the minds of our audience. (August 24, 26)

9. Margaret Maronís ìHard Rowî is the 13th in her series of murder mysteries featuring Deborah Knott, a North Carolina District Court Judge. Maronís blend of unsolved murders and her rural North Carolina characters have made her the favorite author of many readers. (August 31, September 2)

10. James Peacockís ìGrounded Globalism: How the U.S. South Embraces the Worldî sets out a new way of looking at how our region is adapting to, resisting, and embracing the changes that the so-called ìflat worldî has brought to us. Some parts of UNC Professor Peacockís book are heavy reading, but it is also full of good Southern stories that will make you smile as your head goes up and down in agreement. (September 7, 9)
Why then have I suggested these 10 books? Right! They are the books that I will be discussing with their authors during the next weeks on UNC-TVís North Carolina Bookwatch on Fridays at 9:30 p.m. and Sundays at 5 p.m.
I hope you will be watching even if you donít read the books.
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D.G. Martin is the host of North Carolina Bookwatch, UNC-TVís weekly local literary series.