One of the best parts of summer is the opportunity to dive into the book stack. I am a compulsive book-buyer so this part of the year gets a little pricey. Awww, but it’s worth it, isn’t it?
Lately, I have read a range of things, and I thought I’d share. What are you reading?
I read One by One last month and enjoyed it overall. I tend to pick up thrillers when I am in a reading slump. They are always good for a jump-start. What I love most about this one is the setting. A group of people, all of whom are founders or have stake in a music startup, gather for a business trip at a chalet in the French Alps. Generally speaking, they make lousy guests. Most of them are self-involved or socially awkward. My favorite character is one of the two inn-keepers, who is also the chef. He brings levity to the situation, in addition to common sense. As the company ski vacation gets underway, people start to disappear. Then, they turn up dead, one by one. Erin, the second inn-keeper, ends up stuck in the chalet with the murderer after an avalanche snows them in. There is something about the social media/startup aspect of this book that turned me off a bit. The setting gives potential for this one to be more like a classic Agatha Christie, sit by the fire, old school read. I suppose I wasn’t in the mood for a modern twist. But, the storyline moves and turns, making this a pretty good read.
I am definitely late to the game with this one. I think everyone else has read it! Liane Moriarty is always a good bet for a solid read. Her characters are charming but more complex than those in a typical beach-read. This tale takes place in an Australian beach-side town and centers on a group of parents who all have kids at the local primary school. As expected, there are threads of school yard politics and drama that weave through the story. This, of course, makes it an entertaining read. The story ends up with one person climactically and dramatically dead. But, what moves me the most about this book is the nuanced writing of abuse. Celeste, the victim of domestic abuse, is educated, beautiful, and capable. She battles herself through the course of the book, constantly drawing conclusions and ultimatums, then validating or minimizing behaviors, before finally coming to the realization that her relationship is not okay. This is such a realistic portrait of how abuse can be gray, how relationships ebb and flow, how we construct our own realities and measure them in comparison to others. Definitely a good read.
I read this one a little while back, but it is so worth mentioning. Thank you, Maura, for recommending it. This book is the true story of a Colorado family with twelve kids, six of whom were diagnosed with schizophrenia. Their story is absolutely unbelievable. It is emotionally wrenching but simultaneously fascinating. The author retells the family’s narrative chronologically, from when Don and Mimi Galvin (the parents) are young, to when they meet and fall in love, and through each of their children’s births and upbringing. You become witness to the boys’ symptoms and behaviors and watch as they manifest. Between narrative chapters, the book presents medical information. This is not dry at all! It is amazing, and not entirely surprising, to hear how the treatment of metal health was handled in the not so distant past. I read this book with a maternal lens and often asked myself how I would keep my sanity in that environment. At the end, my feelings are mixed about Mimi, and my heart aches for the children, both the sick ones and the healthy ones. This is most certainly an unforgettable read.
Everyone needs a little kick-off-to-summer-book that requires little brain power and makes you smile. This book is adorable. It is the story of a young professional in London and her grandmother in the English countryside. The two switch places after Leena is put on leave from her fast-paced job, and Eileen decides she does not want to spend the rest of her life alone in a town of few. What follows is predictable, of course, but that is precisely why these reads are comforting. Both women fall in love with their new digs and with new people. The characters are clever and witty, and I love the nods to British food and culture. Plus, it’s fun to cheer on a Grandma who begins to have hot and steamy nights out in London town. A cute read.
Jason and I read Slow two summers ago. I have held on to it ever since, and I just put it back on my nightstand. I felt like the end of my school year was a turbulent landing on an airplane. It has taken me longer to find the smooth runway into summer. This book offers simple ideas; there is nothing earth-shattering here. But it’s a reminder. I like this from its introduction: “This book is about how you can choose to slow down. Opt out of the comparison games. Stop cramming a month’s worth of engagements into a weekend. Tread lighter on the earth. Create a home and a life that is simpler and slower.” I have a really important friend who I have not seen since before covid. She only lives an hour and a half from me. We want to see each other, and we want our kids to play, and when we compared calendars, we came up with exactly one day we were both free: August 6. I could not believe it. We constantly fill our lives. Anyway, this book is also a visual treat. It is an aesthetic read in addition to a little handbook for quiet.
Teacher talk moment …
I’m currently reading this book for a class I am taking this summer and am loving it. The book is not necessarily for meant for me; it is written for secondary English teachers. But, because I teach language arts to all sections of fifth grade, I wanted in. I am so glad that I did. Sometimes you need a little shot in the arm, a rejuvenation, a little reminder that others share the same philosophies you do. Often, the day to day in school does not allow for digging in to core beliefs. You are too busy doing triage (my last three months) or completing the micro tasks the day brings. But, I love this, and it’s worth remembering: “Reading and writing in school is rarely practiced for the life-sustaining force it is. Students leave one year after another having missed the personal joy, the satisfaction, and the power of creating their own canon of books they love and pieces of writing they cherish.” I love any book that gives reading and writing that much power. I love that what rings out from this is the importance of students falling in love with texts, not reading them as a chore.
This is Jason’s current read. Jas loves mysteries and thrillers, and this one was recommended to him from a few booksellers. The character in this one is navigating love, loss, and literature. Daniel and his father own an antique bookstore where he discovers an old book called The Shadow of the Wind by an author named Julian Carax. The author’s life was doomed, however, and Daniel is just discovering that his life is eerily similar to Carax’s.
Harper is enjoying the I Survived series of books. This summer, she and her grandmother decided to do a book club together. Once or twice a week, they get together to read and discuss. They are currently reading this one. Harper likes these, because they are based on true stories and are action-packed. Her favorite so far has been I Survived Hurricane Katrina.
Jameson just ordered the first book of the Monster Squad Series. He fell in love with the Desmond Cole Ghost Patrol series a while back and ferociously read them all. He is in a little bit of a “what’s next” phase of reading, having not quite found a book that has lived up to his favorite so far. These monsters look pretty entertaining, though, so we are giving them a try.
So much to read, so little time! Does anyone else also love magazine subscriptions? Maybe that’s a whole separate post …
