Summer is moving along nicely now, and before you know it, we will be saying goodbye to these long lazy, hazy, hot days. I have yet to post any of my summer reading, so I thought I better get a start on it before it doesn’t get done. I’ve decided to break it up a bit so that I can at least get a few of the really good ones up and then come back later with another pile. We have had more time in Maine this year than we have in the past few years, and there is nothing nicer than sitting on the dock or on the screen porch if the weather is iffy and reading. We haven’t had too many iffy days this year. It has been so nice. Along with reading, I always like to have a cup of hot tea and Daisy beside me. We share cookies together. She has her dog cookies, and I have my people cookie ( a ginger snap), and we get along just fine. She has been busy this year learning to go from house to house and has mastered the routine at both houses now… if she could talk, she would tell you that reading time and tea time are her favorite times…so let’s take a look at what I thought were some pretty good early summer books.
Elsewhere by Richard Russo If you haven’t read Richard Russo yet, you should give him a try. I love his books. He is from Maine, so that makes him pretty good right there. In 2002 he won the Pulitzer Prize for his book, Empire Falls. The story takes place in a diner in Maine. Elsewhere is a memoir. His first, I think. It takes place in his hometown of Gloversville, which once was famous for producing dress gloves in the United States. It is the story of his and his mother’s relationship all of their lives. Jean Russo, his mom, instilled in her son her dream of a better life elsewhere, a dream that prompted her to follow him when he went away to college. I got to thinking of my son, knowing he would not have liked me to follow him to college. So I was intrigued as to how this would turn out. “Their adventures and tribulations on that road trip were a preview of the hold his mother would continue to keep on him as she kept trying desperately to change her life. Recounted with a clear-eyed mix of regret, nostalgia, and love Elsewhere is a comic and heartbreaking tribute to the tenacious grip of the past.” I loved this book. It brought to life every kind of emotion that we all go through, raising kids and growing older. Five stars
Grief is Love by Marisa Renee Lee. This book crossed my path shortly after my brother died last year. I did not read it right away. I thought it would make me sadder than I already was. Later, when I was ready, I pulled it from the shelf, and after the first page, I was hooked. It was just what I needed at that time. Willie Geist says, “Authentic, all-inclusive, and utterly breathtaking, Grief is Love is the book that will help you deal with your darkest days and walks with you as you venture back out into the light.” It was that indeed. Lee is a beautiful writer, full of wisdom about what it means to claim your space and how you grieve a great loss. You actually never get over it. Healing is about learning to love the one we lost with the same passion, joy, and commitment that we had before when they were alive, perhaps even more. I would take this book to bed with me each night, and as I read, I knew my brother was still with me. This book helped free me from intense grief, and then slowly, I started to move forward. There is never a day that goes by that I don’t think of him and his love for me and mine for him, but now I understand more about how grief endures on a different level. This book is a keeper, and I check it out often. Five healing stars.
Three Weeks in Paris by Barbara Taylor Bradford Well, after those two books above, I felt like I needed something a bit more lighthearted, so I figured anything about Paris and anything written by Bradford was a good choice. She never disappoints. A slow, easy, fun book with a bit of a mystery. It’s the story of three young girls who met in Paris at the school of Decorative Arts. When they graduated, they all went back home to new jobs and lost touch with each other. One of the reasons that they were no longer connected is because they had a rift in their last year that never got resolved. Then came an invitation to the 80th birthday party of their beloved teacher, and so they all decided to go, not knowing who else would show up. The teacher, Anya Sedgwick, had plans of her own as to how to mend ways for these girls. It was an interesting read, and besides, Paris is always a good idea. 4 summer stars.
Tasha by Brian Morton Page 24 sticks in my mind still, along with the laughs from this book. I hardly ever laugh out loud at a book, but I will never forget page 24. It happens to be another memoir about a son and mother. Don’t ask me how that happened. Completely different, though, except both of these mothers were so needy. I loved this book. It was short, 198 pages. The perfect summer size, and I honestly couldn’t wait to read it each time I had an extra minute. Tasha was feisty and funny and fought anything that would land her in the way at the assisted living or an apartment that she didn’t approve of, which turned out to be a challenge for her son. From the back cover, “this profoundly moving memoir is both an absolute delight and a punch in the gut; Brian Morton writes without flinching about his often exasperating mother, his own considerable failings, and the impossible demands of balancing safety and independence, love and anger, guilt and grief. I urge you to read this astonishing work: part family comedy, part prayer for the dead, and wholly unforgettable.” I love giving this book as a gift. I had not read Brian Morton before, but I now have his books benchmarked in my Amazon library. Five brilliant and funny stars.
Write for Your Life by Anna Quindlen Now, normally, I like the books of Quindlen, so I was all in for this book, which I thought was going to be writing tips and lessons to help with my “life stories.” It turns out that the book was more about what is happening today and what happened years ago. She uses examples from Ann Frank to Toni Morrison, from love letters of World WarII to journal reflections from doctors and nurses today. She is trying to make the case that journal writing in today’s world is essential. That was o.k. for a while, but, frankly, it got boring, and before I knew it, I was skimming. I know it’s time to lay that book down when I start skimming. It might be for some of you. She is a good writer, so this one you will have to judge for yourself. I gave it two stars because of her good writing in other books. This subject matter just didn’t work for me.
Flashes of Life by Pamela S. Wight This was a great ending book for my early summer reads. It was fun, with short little essays about Pam’s life. So relatable to my own life. Pamela always has a positive attitude about life; that was just what I needed to get me in full swing for the summer. This book has a beautiful cover; it looks like a watercolor painting, which would make it a lovely coffee table book. I like a book that you can pick up and put down whenever you have the time. With this book, you will feel so uplifted after reading a few extraordinary stories. Four bright, beautiful stars.
So there you have it. Part one of my summer reads. I have many more, and hopefully, I will be back to post another group before too long. Enjoy some quiet time. Grab a cup of tea or a glass of wine, my two favorite drinks, pull up a chair, preferably outside, and if you are lucky enough, go find the dog. Sending good summer vibes your way.
