Summer Reading Wrap-Up

Fall is here. The meteorologist says it arrived at 8:05 PM on Tuesday, but for me autumn always begins with my first pumpkin spice latte! That happened last Saturday. So before I get too carried away with the colors and flavors of the season, l'll pause for a summer reading wrap-up. As you can see from the photo, I had the extra pleasure of late August and September reading on the rooftop of our NYC rental.

Here is the original list I posted in June, along with a note on how I fared with each title:

BOOK CLUB

Dolly All the Time by Annabel Monaghan  ✅   ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (my review)

Sisters of a Halved Heart by Nayantara Roy ✅   ⭐⭐⭐⭐  (my review)

AUSTEN IN AUGUST

The Annotated Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen, David Shapard ✅  ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (my review)

Jane Austen at Home by Lucy Worsley - In progress, 70%, now on the back burner 

The Other Bennett Sister  by Janice Hadlow ✖ - I wasn't in the mood for a retelling.

NEW RELEASE PRIORITIES

Whistler by Ann Patchett ✅   ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐  (my review)

John of John by Douglas Stuart ✖ - I'm still on the library hold list

Villa Coco by Andrew Sean Greer - DNF, 20%

Summerland Cove by Ellen Baker ✅   ⭐⭐⭐⭐  (no review yet)

ONGOING GROUP READ

War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy ✅ - 78%, still on schedule

I'm happy to have finished so many books on that original list. In addition I also read two early fall book club selections and several impulse reads. Those included:

Troika by Irena Smith  ⭐⭐⭐💫 (book club, my review)

Finding Grace by Loretta Rothschild ⭐⭐⭐💫  (book club, my review)

Murder takes a Vacation by Laura Lippman ⭐⭐⭐💫 (mystery, my review)

The Death of the Heart by Elizabeth Bowen ⭐⭐⭐⭐💫 (classic, my review)

Departure(s) by Julian Barnes  ⭐⭐⭐⭐💫 (literary fiction, my review)

Kin by Tayari Jones ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (literary fiction, my review)

Daddy Long-Legs by Jean Webster ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (classic, my review)

How was your summer reading? Did you stick to your original list?

A Sunday Salon from NYC

Hello, friends and happy Sunday from NYC! We've been here for a couple of weeks and have settled into a comfortable city routine. Baby Aaron is thriving, his parents are adjusting to their new lives, and we help out most days. I've also enjoyed exploring the neighborhood, spending some free time on our rooftop, and discovering new restaurants. This is the view from our apartment looking west to the Hudson River.

I've finished a couple of books and am still keeping up with the War and Peace reading schedule. This afternoon I'll walk to the massive Upper West Side Barnes and Noble... as soon as the rain lets up!

Recent reading//

Troika: Three Generations, Three Days, and a Very American Road Trip by Irena Smith

On the surface Troika is the story of a three-day road trip along the California coast, but it's actually much more. Irena Smith uses that trip with her mother and daughter as a vehicle (😉) to tell a larger story. She delves into her family history in Soviet Russia, their immigration to the US in the 1970s, plus her own life story. Along the way, she weaves in parallels with The Odyssey and discusses The White Lotus television series. I have not watched the show, but imagine these references contain spoilers. The memoir is well-written, creatively constructed, and I enjoyed listening to the author narrate her own story.

⭐⭐⭐⭐

Finding Grace by Loretta Rothschild

I'd decided to skip this debut novel when it was published last year for two reasons. I don't like the cover - shallow, I know - and I wasn't up for a domestic page-turner centered around a tragedy and reproductive technology. Then MMD book club announced its October selection.

 Since it was immediately available on Libby, I decide to dive right in. It was indeed a page-turner and I enjoyed it more than expected. I won't say anything more about the plot, but there is certainly plenty to discuss with book club!

⭐⭐⭐⭐  (3.5 stars, rounded up)

Current reading//

The Last September by Elizabeth Bowen

I've been craving another Elizabeth Bowen novel since I finished The Death of the Heart a few month ago. Just started this coming-of-age story set in Ireland yesterday.

War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy

The epic year-long group read continues...

How was your week? What have you been reading?

The Sunday Salon is hosted by Deb at Readerbuzz.

 

He's here!!

Happy September from NYC. Baby Aaron (named after my father-in-law) has arrived! He checked in a few days early on August 28th weighing just over 7 pounds. Mom and baby are fine, Dad is as proud as can be, and Winnie-the-Whippet, initially suspicious, seems happy with her expanded pack. Grandma and Grandpa can't stop smiling!

I'll get back to books in another week or two, but for now I'm preoccupied with this little guy. 😍

 

The Sunday Salon: August 23, 2026

August is winding down... I'm not even sure how that's possible. We had a nice long weekend visit with my parents last weekend, got to see our new grandniece again (she's two months old and changing so fast!) and spend some time with our kids. We went out to dinner with friends last week and I was even able to spend an afternoon reading in the sunroom on my zero-gravity lounger!

Recent reading//

The Annotated Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen, David Shapard

Pride and Prejudice is one of my favorite novels. I'm not sure how many times I've read it, but it's always a delight. This year for Austen in August, I read an annotated edition slowly over three weeks with a group from Modern Mrs. Darcy. Shapard includes many historical facts and illustrations, plus he explains references Austen makes which she would have expected readers of that era to get. Naturally it takes longer to read these annotated editions (this one was 780 pages!) but I settled into a comfortable pattern of reading the notes after every chapter or two. This was my third Shapard-annotated Austen novel and I'm already planning to tackle another next summer.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Current reading//

Jane Austen at Home by Lucy Worsley

I'm wrapping up Austen in August with a biography.

War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy

The great read-along continues... 900 pages/70% in and counting!

In the kitchen//

My sister sent me this Baked Pineapple Salmon recipe a couple of years ago, and maybe I've even shared it here before. Since it's easy, delicious, and looks really special on a serving platter (perfect for guests) it's become a favorite.  I made it again a couple of nights ago... increasing the oven temperature to 425 degrees and baking just a little longer.  It's always a winner!

Coming up soon//

We will head to NYC next Sunday to await the birth of our grandson. The current plan calls for our daughter to be induced on Monday 8/31. We were fortunate to find a short-term furnished rental just a block from their apartment and have made arrangements to stay for a month. We can help out as much as needed, plus my husband has always wanted to spend an extended period of time in the City. I've renewed my Met membership and look forward to frequent walks in Central Park! 

Today I'm keeping my fingers crossed that this relentless rain stops soon. One of our favorite local bands is playing in the final outdoor concert of the summer. 🤞🤞🤞

How was your week? What have you been reading?

The Sunday Salon is hosted by Deb at Readerbuzz.

 

Top Ten Tuesday: Ten Years of August Reading

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly event hosted by Jana at That Artsy Reader Girl. It's been a while since I played along, but this week's prompt was too interesting to skip! 

What did your last ten years of August reading look like? I chose one memorable August book from each of the last ten summers.

2025 - Abide with Me by Elizabeth Strout

Last summer I became an Elizabeth Strout completist!

2024 - The Annotated Persuasion by Jane Austen, David Shapard

Another year of Austen in August

2023 - Tom Lake by Ann Patchett

When Ann Patchett publishes a new novel, I read it immediately!

2022 - Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt

I loved this audio production and can still hear the voice of Marcellus!

2021 - The Street by Ann Petry

What a memorable experience it was to read this classic in the author's hometown!

2020 - Beach Read by Emily Henry

If ever there was a summer that called for light reading, 2020 was it!

2019 - The Leavers by Lisa Ko

I still think about this book and, sadly, it's still relevant.

2018 - The Perfect Couple by Elin Hilderbrand

If it's summer, there must be a new Elin Hiderbrand novel!

2017 - My Life with Bob by Pamela Paul

Delightfully bookish memoir from the former editor of the NYTimes Book Review.

2016 - Dear Committee Members by Julie Schumacher

Very funny... in a passive-aggressive kind of way!

This topic was suggested by Anne at Head Full of Books.

Find other Top Ten Tuesday posts here.

 

July Reading Wrap -Up and A List of August Possibilities

It's August and still very much summer around here. We've had way too much heat and humidity (along with much of the country) punctuated by frequent thunderstorms. This past week our NYC daughter, son-in-law, and Winnie the Whippet have been here - their last visit before the baby arrives at the end of the month. Meanwhile our CT daughter and son-in-law are looking at an early October due date. It's going to be an exciting fall!

July highlights included spending the 4th with family, celebrating my birthday, a long weekend in  NYC, and a baby shower. July also turned out to be a very good reading month with a mix of new releases, a book club selection, and a classic. I enjoyed three new-to-me authors, plus a novel/memoir by an old favorite.

BOOKS READ IN JULY

Sisters of a Halved Heart by Nayantara Roy

New release, literary fiction, MMD book club selection,

my thoughts here, ⭐⭐⭐⭐ 

Departure(s) by Julian Barnes

Literary fiction that reads more like a memoir, purported final novel by a favorite author

My thoughts are here, ⭐⭐⭐⭐💫

Kin by Tayari Jones

new release literary fiction, new-to-me author

My thoughts are here,  ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Daddy Long-Legs by Jean Webster

Classic, YA epistolary novel, from my shelves

My thoughts are here,  ⭐⭐⭐⭐💫

ONGOING GROUP READ

War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy

The chapter-a-day slow read with Footnotes and Tangents continues. I'm loving this experience!

AUGUST READING POSSIBILITIES

I'm going all in for Austen in August this year!

The Annotated Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen, David Shapard

(in progress)

The Other Bennet Sister by Janice Hadlow

Jane Austen at Home by Lucy Worsley (nonfiction)

Troika: Three Generations, Three Days, and a Very American Road Trip

by Irena Smith (memoir)

How was your July? What was your favorite book?

 

The Sunday Salon : August 2, 2026

Hello friends, Happy August! We ended July with a whirlwind of activities which included another birthday celebration and a weekend in NYC for our daughter's baby shower. We tried to get back to a normal routine this week, but spent a couple of days at home midweek due to all the rain. Friday it cleared up long enough for a drive to Stonington, CT where we toured The Captain Nathaniel B. Palmer House, ate lobster rolls by the water, and walked around Stonington Point. We got home just in time for another round of thunderstorms!

Recent reading//

Kin by Tayari Jones

Wow. This was my first Tayari Jones novel, but now I want to read her entire backlist. Initially I was reminded of The Vanishing Half  by Britt Bennett, but Jones quickly moved into a space all her own. Kin is a story about two motherless girls growing up together in rural Honeysuckle, Louisiana in the 1950s and 60s. By high school it's apparent that Vernice (Niecy) and Annie's life trajectories will be very different, yet their "cradle friend" bond remains unshakable. Jones tackles issues of family, race, class, civil rights, identity, sexuality, and more. 

This was a read/listen combination for me. The story is told from Vernice and Annie's alternating points-of-view and the dual-narrator audio production was excellent. This is one of my favorite reads of the year so far!

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Daddy-Long-Legs by Jean Webster

This short, epistolary YA classic was originally published in 1912. Judy Abbot has lived in an orphanage for as long as she can remember and at the end of her senior year, she is selected by an anonymous trustee to receive a full college scholarship. The only stipulation is that she write him a monthly letter detailing her college life. Daddy Long-Legs is her nickname for this unknown benefactor and the novel consists of her four years of correspondence. Judy shares details of her classes, friends, travel, and aspirations, plus some deep feelings. The story is certainly dated and, when held up to modern sensibilities, possesses a certain "ick factor". Yet it is also charming, sweet, and so evocative of a by-gone era. 

⭐⭐⭐⭐💫

Current reading//

The Annotated Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen, David Shapard

Pride and Prejudice  has long been one of my favorite novels and I'm happy to be reading this annotated edition with a small group from the Modern Mrs. Darcy book club for Austen in August.

War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy

Are you getting tired of seeing this cover yet?  I'm 65% in and the yearlong chapter-a-day slow read continues...

The week ahead//

I finally have an eye exam this week! Last spring (2025) I was getting a lot of headaches and an exam showed that my glasses were too strong. My eye had improved!? After dialing back the prescription a couple of notches, all was well. Now, just over a year later, I'm having trouble seeing and getting headaches again. We'll see what happens this time...

We're having dinner with a group of friends later in the week. And it looks like the NYC "kids" are planning to visit for one last long weekend before the baby arrives. My heart is full!

How was your week? What have you been reading?

The Sunday Salon is hosted by Deb at Readerbuzz.