Don't know what to read this summer? Here are some ideas

(Sentinel photo by Magdalene Landegent) Kris Janes dives into a book at the Le Mars Public Library. Janes, a student from Le Mars Community School, recommends the "Artemis Fowl" series for a summer read. Want more suggestions? Read on. [Click to enlarge]

A cool glass of iced tea. A hammock in the shade. All that's missing from this picture is the perfect summer read.

But do you walk into the library and feel paralyzed with choices?

Never fear, the Daily Sentinel is here.

We talked with people around town and asked if they had any recommendations for a good book to read this summer.

Here's what they said.

"Pillars of the Earth," a historical novel by Ken Follett, comes highly recommended from Kathy Schwader, manager of Hole N' the Wall Wine Mercantile.

"It's a great big, fat book," she said. "I don't like skinny books. I need something that will take me more than a day or two to read."

"Pillars of the Earth" takes place in 12th century England where a cathedral is being built.

"It's a fascinating story about the priests, monks and England," Schwader said. "It's an excellent read."

And if you're in the mood for something stranger, Schwader recommends "Acheron" by Sherrilyn Kenyon.

"It's about a god born in Atlantis," Schwader said. "It's really a strange book."

Stu Dekkenga, Le Mars police chief, recommends picking up "Riding the Divide" by former Minnesota governor Al Quie.

"It's a day by day journal entry about his multi-year horse trek along the Continental Divide from Canada to Mexico," said Dekkenga, an avid horseman.

"It's very easy reading," he added. "It's a real life wilderness adventure with a spiritual aspect woven in."

Kris Janes, a Le Mars Community School student, recommended the "Artemis Fowl" series. Written by Eoin Colfer, the fantasy novels follow the story of a teenage criminal mastermind.

"It's not your everyday story," Janes said.

Le Mars City Councilwoman Delana Ihrke is in the middle of the series "The Last Jihad."

Political thrillers written by Joel Rosenberg, the books tackle current issues and the Middle East, Ihrke said.

"They're very timely -- the first was written before 9/11 and it talked about suicide bombings into buildings," she added.

Ihrke found the series while she was buying books for her church's library.

"I enjoy anything with current politics," she said.

Ihrke also invited the public to use St. John's Lutheran Church library, which offers about 3,500 books.

She recommended another novel, "Reconstructing Natalie," by Laura Jensen Walker.

"It's fiction, about a 27-year-old woman dealing with breast cancer," Ihrke said. "It makes you laugh and cry at the same time."

For a summer read, Le Mars Mayor Dick Kirchoff picks up a newspaper.

"I usually read the NASCAR news," he said.

Jeanie Roberts, who works at The Scroll library and bookstore in The Living Center, recommended a few authors to check out this summer.

She suggested the Red River series by Lauraine Snelling and Karen Kingsbury's Forever Faithful series.

Plymouth County Economic Development Director Andrea Westergard has been reading a lot lately -- but mostly children's books to her kids. But she does have a recommendation for mom and dad, too.

She's a fan of Dean Koontz' "Odd Thomas" series. The trio starts with "Odd Thomas," then "Forever Odd" and "Brother Odd."

This series, Westergard said, is about a man who can see people who have died, but he can't talk to them, so he tries to impact them through his life.

"It's a page turner," she said.

But you don't have to take her word for it. Pick it up at the library, or grab a few other recommended titles.

The hammock and iced tea are waiting.