I can’t believe it’s already the middle of July! That means it’s well past time for me to share my suggestions for your summer reading.
Continue reading “What books are you taking on vacation???”Category: Books
What we’re reading – beach reads!
It’s already the beginning of August, so I thought this would be a good time to share some ideas for end-of-summer reading. These two novels are both very entertaining and interesting – great “beach reads”!
Continue reading “What we’re reading – beach reads!”What we’re reading –
What were you doing in the summer of 1975? Were you babysitting for neighborhood kids? Watching Starsky and Hutch? Playing 45s on your turntable? Sharing twin popsicles with a friend, so that you each got your own stick?
Continue reading “What we’re reading –”How do you feel about getting older?
I recently read an article that I really wanted to share. It’s by Margaret Renkl, a writer from Nashville who covers a variety of topics, including current events, the environment and life in the south.
What we’re reading –
August is here, which means school is around the corner and days are getting shorter. We hope that you can squeeze a little more summer fun in before it comes to an end. So we’re giving you one more recommendation for a “summer beach read”. Take a look!
Summer Reading
What we’re reading –
For summer reading I’m recommending two great books; they’re both quick reads, but one is the perfect light beach read, while the other has a more serious and thoughtful tone. They really are quite different, and I enjoyed both for very different reasons.
The author Jennifer Weiner has a new book out. However, I’m not recommending that you read her newest book, as it’s only available in hardback and it’s difficult to get at the library! Instead, you should pick up her novel from last year – Big Summer. If you’ve ever read anything by the author, you know that her novels are funny and easy to read. But they also usually have some more serious underlying themes. Big Summer is witty and entertaining – about the life of an influencer, with a little bit of romance and a lot of mystery mixed in. At the same time the novel covers heavier topics such as self-worth, body positivity, toxic teenage friendships, and understanding how people change over time. It’s a nice way to escape! So definitely pack this for a summer trip – you won’t be able to put it down!
https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Big-Summer/Jennifer-Weiner/9781501133527
I’m slightly biased about the other novel I’m recommending. Afterlife is written by Julia Alvarez, a former professor at Middlebury College (my alma mater). This book is engrossing and easy to read, but the subject matter is not at all light. It’s eloquently written and interweaves three different stories in the main character Antonia’s life: her grieving as a widow after the loss of her husband, the challenges of mental illness within her own family, and the plight of illegal immigrant farm workers in VT (yes, this actually is a problem in Northern New England). These themes are all difficult to read about, but Alvarez’ writing draws you in. Her character Antonia often thinks in quotes from poems and prose, in the way that we may have lines and lyrics stuck in our own heads. But Antonia uses these as a way of thinking through difficult situations. This is just one example of Alvarez’ beautiful writing style. Take a look at both of these books this summer. Happy Reading!