Summertime and the Living is (Too?) Easy
Confession–household chores, as my mother likes to call them, are not being completed to any noticeable degree at our home this summer. However, the list of summer books I’ve consumed has never been longer. If you stop by for a tall, cool beverage, you’ll likely find me stretched out on the sofa with iPad in hand. Never have I experienced a more sedentary, lazy summer. The type A motor seems to be sputtering, which is a change I have come to appreciate.
More to chronicle my summer (and lessen my guilt) than to entice others to read these books, here are brief notes on the books in the “Done” pile. In list form, it’s obvious there is a dearth of heavy, literary fiction and a plethora of light fluff. Like any good child, I can blame some of this on my Mom with whom I share a Kindle account. My purchases are often made in light of the fact that Wilma will be reading each download. The books are listed in order read, not in order of preference.
Stan Musial: An American Life by George Vecsey-A classic, in my opinion. Vecsey’s breezy, storytelling style about one of my childhood heroes makes this the perfect summer read. The humorous stories that took place during the olden days of baseball are charming. The landscape for professional athletes has changed drastically since Musial played. Humility of any visible amount is often lacking in modern day athletes, but that’s where Musial shines even today.
Lunch in Paris: A Love Story by Elizabeth Bard- This is a great treadmill book.* Bard tries to find herself between 
the rat race of NYC and the obscure streets of Paris. Each chapter includes recipes about which she writes in her story. I enjoyed the Paris scene, and though I feel as though I’m totally cheating on Rome for saying this, the book made me want to go back to Paris.
The Pretend Wife by Bridget Asher-I must have been on an Asher roll here. This was a nice story, as well and was the more entertaining of the two.*
Home: A Novel by Marilynne Robinson-This story frustrated me, but I stuck with it. I had the plot twist figured out early on, but was hopeful that there was going to be something more. Not bad, but surely not fabulous. Robinson tells her story through slow, sometimes tedious character development.
State of Wonder by Ann Patchett-Patchett’s research always sucks me in to her stories. She does a fabulous job of teaching as she tells a story. I’ve talked with others (my mother included) who did not attach to this story very well, but I enjoyed the characters and the way Patchett used the setting to power up her story.
The Beach Trees by Karen White-Loved this sweet story of the south. I purchased it on the advice of my reader friend, KW. It was definitely worth the read.*
On Hummingbird Wings by Lauraine Snelling-Though my disdain for hummingbirds almost stood in the way of buying this one, it was a KW suggestion, so I caved and enjoyed.*
The Pun Also Rises by John Pollack-This is a great book about words and the power of word play. Pollack, a former speech writer for
President Clinton, understands the power of a word and is the 1995 winner of the O. Henry Henry Pun-Off Championship. Pollack contends that puns require very high levels of critical thinking and analysis. This would be a fun book to use with high school students who have yet to discover the joy of word play. It may be a nice companion piece to any play by Shakespeare.
Major Pettigrew’s Last Stand by Helen Simonson-Probably my favorite light choice of the summer. I enjoyed this love story about two (gasp) older folks. Good redemptive story line, which always speaks to me. Another KW recommendation.*
NurtureShock: New Thinking About Children by Po Bronson and Ashley Merryman-This is a must read for parents, teachers and anyone who loves a child. It made me wish I had new students coming into my classroom this month.
22 Britannia Road by Amanda Hodgkinson-This one took a bit for me to get in to, but I enjoyed it in the end. Nice characters, and the setting is London in a post World War II world, which always lends a melancholy tone to the story. The protagonist does his best to pick up the pieces of the lives of his shattered family, but there is not only water under the bridge, there is a mighty flood.
Rules of Civility by Amor Towles- This is a great story. Combine plenty of plot twists and turns with richly developed characters and a setting of both great poverty and wealth, this is a sure winner. This is another book that is hard to put down. I definitely lost sleep reading this one!
There are many books waiting in the wings. I vow to read even the spur of the moment purchases, so as not to waste money.
Currently, I’m reading Sarah’s Key by Tatiana de Rosnay and Black Swan Green by David Mitchell.
What are you reading this summer?
*A treadmill book is generally a light piece of fiction through which one can easily flip (when in physical pain) while exercising, or a nonfiction work that allows for the ingestion of small chunks of new ideas upon which deep thoughts are pondered (when in physical pain).