What’s good to read on the beach this summer

KENT — Business owners in the center of town say they are enjoying increased foot traffic this summer. With more foot traffic comes more business, and after a winter season that definitely was tough, shops such as the House of Books on Main Street are pleased.

While nice weather brings visitors to the store, it’s the books and other items at House of Books that get them to reach for their wallets. And summer is of course a time when people love to reach for a book on paper. The staff at the bookstore shared some of this year’s popular titles. 

One title that the shop owners can’t keep on the shelves is “The Girl on the Train” by Paula Hawkings. This thriller is being touted as the new “Gone Girl.”

Another popular seller is Antoine Laurain’s “The Red Notebook,” which is the story of a bookseller who finds a lost handbag on a street in Paris. There is nothing in the bag that might identify its owner except a small red notebook. The thoughts written in the notebook intrigue the bookseller, and he embarks on a journey to discover its owner.

Another popular title this summer is “Dead Wake” by Erik Larson (author of “The Devil in the White City”and other nonfiction bestsellers). His new book is about the Lusitania and its famous final journey from New York to Liverpool, when it was sunk by a German U-boat. The incident was instrumental in turning American opinion against Germany and bringing the U.S. into World War I.

 “Finders Keepers” by Stephen King is also selling briskly. The second installment of a trilogy that focuses on Detective Bill Hodges it is, like “Misery,” a tale of what can happen to an author who disappoints his readers.

For store hours and more information on House of Books, go to www.hobooks.com.