Summer Reading Wrap-Up

Today is Labor Day. September is here and, while I love a long weekend as much as anyone, this one always feels a little bittersweet. It's hard to say good-bye to summer... even though I really love fall! And this has been one great summer. We attended family weddings, a bridal shower, graduation parties, traveled to NYC twice, three times to central NY, once to both Pittsburg and Philadelphia, plus we had an amazing week in Santa Fe.

A side effect of all that travel (in addition to Covid!) was a summer of scarce reading time. I've only finished ten books since Memorial Day... BUT the quality of those books has, for the most part, been outstanding! The other notable aspect of my summer reading was that I made a "priority tbr list" in May and actually read 7 of the 10 books on it. I'm sure that's a record! It seems like I usually only manage a few.

To recap, here is my  SUMMER 2024 PRIORITY TBR LIST:

✅ Team of Rivals by Doris Kearns Goodwin - nonfiction, summer project read, 5/5 stars

✅ Horse by Geraldine Brooks - 4.5/ 5 stars

✅ Olga Dies Dreaming by Xóchitl González - 4.5/ 5 stars

✅ The Annotated Persuasion by Jane Austen, David M. Shapard -classic, 5/5 stars

Long Island by Colm Tóibín

✅ How to Read a Book by Monica Wood - new release, 4/5 stars

✅ September by Rosamunde Pilcher -  buddy read, 4.5/ 5 stars

✅ The Bodyguard by Katherine Center - romance, 3/5 stars

Dust Child by Nguyễn Phan Quế Mai

Fresh Water for Flowers by Valérie Perrin

I still want to read the three books I didn't get to over the summer. Maybe this fall. 

ADDITIONAL SUMMER READS

Sandwich by Catherine Newman - a new release, 4/5 stars

Elena Knows by Claudia Piñeiro - for Women in Translation Month - 5/5

Dayswork by Christopher Bachelder, Jennifer Habel - book club selection - 3/5

MY SUMMER FAVORITES

How was your summer reading season? What were your favorite books?

The Sunday Salon: The Last Lazy Days of Summer

Hello, friends! After a whirlwind 24-hour midweek trip to NYC for our daughter's final wedding gown fitting, I'm happy to be spending a quiet weekend at home. Yesterday we attended a local parade/celebration in honor of the Fire Department's 100th anniversary and today I'm hoping to just read and relax. 

Covid is behind me at last, but it took a full two weeks to get rid of the lingering cough and fatigue this time. At least the recovery period allowed for time to finish off a few books.

RECENT READING//

Team of Rivals: The Political Genius of Abraham Lincoln 

by Doris Kearns Goodwin

I started this book at the end of May. My plan was to read it slowly over the course of a couple of months, but travel and Covid stretched that timeline. It feels like I've been talking about Goodwin and Lincoln here all summer so, now that I'm finished, I'll just add that this is one of the most amazing books I've ever read!

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 

The Annotated Persuasion by Jane Austen, David M. Shapard 

I've read Persuasion before, but this was the first time I've ever read an annotated edition of an Austen novel. After a bit of experimentation, I settled into a routine of reading the unannotated chapter on my kindle, then picking up my annotated paperback to read the notes. Even though I am familiar with Austen's language, the notes still added plenty of interesting historical context and enhanced my overall reading experience. I plan to look for another annotated edition when it's time for my next Austen reread.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Dayswork by Chris Bachelder, Jennifer Habel 

This was unlike any novel I’ve ever read. In fact, I had to keep reminding myself that it actually was  a novel! It read more like the pandemic memoir of a Herman Melville enthusiast. Overall Dayswork  proved more interesting than enjoyable but, for the first time in my life, I briefly considered reading Moby Dick. And that's something! This is the September selection for MMD book club.

⭐⭐⭐

CURRENT READING//

 

September by Rosamunde Pilcher

I thought about waiting until September to get started, but I'm ready for a dose of Pilcher's coziness and comfort right now!  This will be a buddy read with Tina and Les.😀

In the kitchen//

I have a new recipe to share... finally! My favorite dish at one of our favorite Sanibel restaurants is Trout Amandine. I've been ordering it for years, but have never tried preparing trout at home... until last night. The trout was on sale at a local grocery, so I searched for a recipe and settled on this one from allrecipes. It was quick, simple, and tasted almost  as good as the restaurant! I'll definitely make it again.

The week ahead//

Next weekend is Labor Day?! Most of the local schools start classes this week but other than a couple of lunches with friends, I don't have much planned. One thing I would like to do is review my summer reading, figure out what I still might finish by the end Labor Day weekend, and start working on a fall plan. September is coming...

How was your week? What have you been reading?

The Sunday Salon is hosted by Deb at Readerbuzz.

 

The Sunday Salon: Covid... again!

With all of our activities lately, I suppose it was bound to happen... and it did. I got Covid, again. I started feeling rotten Monday, tested Wednesday morning, and finally began feeling more like myself again by Friday night. Today I'm almost back to normal, but it's been a long week.

Recent Reading//

Elena Knows

by Claudia Piñeiro, translated by Frances Riddle

This novel really got to me. Several days have passed and I can't seem to shake it. The author was able to do so much in just 150 pages - truly masterful. Let me warn you thought, it's a difficult novel to read, especially if Parkinson's Disease has impacted someone in your life. 

Elena is an elderly widow suffering from Parkinson's Disease. Her daughter, and full-time caregiver, is  found hanging in the church bell tower one morning. The death is ruled a suicide, but Elena knows this can't be true and sets out to prove it. I thought this was going to be a murder mystery, but the novel evolves into an examination of their mother-daughter relationship instead.

I read this book for Women in Translation month. The ebook and audio are both available on hoopla.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Current reading//

The Annotated Persuasion

by Jane Austen, David M. Shapard

This is a reread for me, but the first time I've ever read an annotated edition. 

Dayswork by Chris Bachelder and Jennifer Habel

This is such an unusual novel! Strangely interesting, but I have to keep reminding myself that it's fiction. I've read about a third of it.

In the endless days of the pandemic, a woman spends her time sorting fact from fiction in the life and work of Herman Melville....

Absorbing, charming, and intimate, Dayswork considers the blurry lines between life and literature, the slippage between what happens and what gets recorded, and the ways we locate ourselves in the lives of others. In wry, epigrammatic prose, Chris Bachelder and Jennifer Habel have crafted an exquisite and daring novel.

Team of Rivals by Doris Kearns Goodwin

I didn't had the brain power for this book while I was sick, so set it aside for most of the week. With about 200 pages to go, I'm hoping to finish this week.

The week ahead//

This will hopefully be a low-key week. I'll be happy get the basics accomplished (grocery shopping, cleaning, laundry, etc.) and spend the afternoons reading.

How was your week? What have you been reading?

The Sunday Salon is hosted by Deb at Readerbuzz.

 

July Reading Wrap-Up and List of August Possibilities

Happy August, friend. This is not a month I usually look forward to, but after a June and July filled with travel, weddings, and family celebrations,  I am happily anticipating a slower paced, relaxed month at home.  

Despite our July travels, it turned out to be a better reading month than I was expecting. I finished four novels, plus made some progress  on my Team of Rivals nonfiction project. The novels were mostly light and easy to read... exactly what the month called for!

BOOKS READ IN JULY

Olga Dies Dreaming by  by Xóchitl González

fiction, ⭐⭐⭐⭐💫

my brief comments

How to Read a Book by Monica Wood

 fiction, ⭐⭐⭐⭐💫

my brief comments 

The Bodyguard by Katherine Center

romance, ⭐⭐⭐

my brief comments

Sandwich by Catherine Newman

fiction, ⭐⭐⭐⭐

my brief comments

The above graphic is a new feature at The Storygraph. As far as I can tell, Storygraph is a goodreads alternative which offers better statistics and lots of graphics. Last January I decided to test it out for a year, but so far it hasn't been quite as useful for me... probably because my friends are all on goodreads. Have you explored The Storygraph?

AUGUST READING POSSIBILITIES

Team of Rivals: The Political Genius of Abraham Lincoln

by Doris Kearns Goodwin

in progress, I'll finish this month

The Annotated Persuasion

by Jane Austen, David M. Shapard 

in progress - a community read with MMD 

Elena Knows

by Claudia Piñeiro,  Frances Riddle (Translator)

August is Women in Translation Month

Fresh Water for Flowers

by Valérie Perrin, Hildegarde Serle (Translator)

from my Summer Reading List, another WiT possibility

Dayswork

by Chris Bachelder and Jennifer Habel

MMD September selection

September by Rosamunde Pilcher

a buddy read beginning in late August

How was your month? What was your favorite July book?

 

The Sunday Salon: Home Again!

The Cathedral Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi, Santa Fe 

Hello, friends, it's good to be home. After nearly two weeks of travel and a couple family weddings, we're finally back! Wedding #1 was in the central NY town where we lived for 30 years. We stayed with my parents for 5 days and spent time with my entire family before returning to CT to regroup for a couple of days. Next we flew off to Santa Fe for wedding #2. This time for a nephew on my husband's side of the family... more relatives, celebrations, plus plenty of shopping and sightseeing. I'm exhausted, but very happy! The photo above is the view of Santa Fe's famous cathedral from the terrace outside the wedding ballroom. 

Now that we're back, unpacked, and the laundry is done, I'm ready to start MY summer vacation! The zero-gravity lounge chair and a stack of books are calling... 

Recent reading//

The Bodyguard by Katherine Center

I am not a romance reader, but decided to try this because it's the August selection at Modern Mrs. Darcy bookclub. The discussions there are fun and I especially enjoy the live author chats if I've read the book beforehand. Plus, readers seem to love Katherine Center. The Bodyguard featured a cute story and I did enjoy reading it - a perfect airplane book. But overall, it felt a little too light and far-fetched for my taste. 

⭐⭐⭐

Sandwich by Catherine Newman

Now this is my idea of a perfect summer read - family drama, coastal New England setting, some lovely quotes, realism (maybe too much?) with both humor and sadness, and quick reading. It's ideal for a day at the beach or pool... or zero-gravity lounger on the porch in my case. I have a feeling this may be one of those books where my rating rises as I continue to think about it.

⭐⭐⭐⭐ 

Life is a seesaw, and I am standing dead center, still and balanced: living kids on one side, living parents on the other. Nicky here with me at the fulcrum. Don't move a muscle, I think. But I will, of course. You have to.

Current reading//

Team of Rivals by Doris Kearns Goodwin

I'm 500 pages in now, but didn't pick this up at all during our travels. It's still an excellent read and I'm trying to decide whether to go back to my slow, steady pace or just power through. We'll see...

Fresh Water for Flowers by Valérie Perrin

I just started this one yesterday and after 50 pages, I really like the writing and am intrigued by the main character. 

The week ahead//

Even though we're home for a while now, I am planning another quick trip to central NY to see my parents, get my hair cut, etc. That'll just be for a night or two. Otherwise, I plan to read, take morning walks with an audiobook, and maybe I'll even rediscover my kitchen ;-)

How have you been these past few weeks? What have you been reading?

The Sunday Salon is hosted by Deb at Readerbuzz.

A July Check-In

Hello, friends. I hope you all enjoyed the long 4th-of-July weekend. That holiday holds so many special memories of our years on the lake in central NY... it's hard to believe we moved nearly five years ago! Here's an old photo taken from our dock that always brings a smile to my face. 

Our summer travel season continues, but we're home now so here's a quick update before the next trip. The second half of June passed in a blur of travel and family events. The highlight was a bridal shower in Pittsburgh for our daughter. We were also able to spend time with her future in-laws and explore a new-to-us city.  Who knew Pittsburgh has so much to offer? 

We enjoyed a long Independence Day weekend on the CT coast with our daughter, son-in-law, and grandpup. Their lives have been extra stressful lately, so we kept things pretty low-key... long walks, family meals, games, movies, and reading. It was just what everyone needed!

Next up is a family wedding in central NY, then a few days to regroup before flying to Santa Fe for our nephew's wedding and my birthday! Although there hasn't been a lot of time for reading, the books I have read are all quite good.

Recent Reading//

Olga Dies Dreaming by Xóchitl González 

With more heft and substance than the cover might imlpy, this book was a surprise hit for me. I thoroughly enjoyed the characters, the storyline kept me turning the pages, and I loved learning about Puerto Rican culture and history. I'm happy Modern Mrs. Darcy selected this for July's discussion... I surely would have missed it otherwise! 

⭐⭐⭐⭐💫

How to Read a Book by Monica Wood 

This is the book I read over the holiday weekend. My short goodreads review: Books, Maine, forgiveness and second chances. This feel-good story was a quick read... perfect for a summer weekend!

⭐⭐⭐⭐💫

Current reading//

Team of Rivals by Doris Kearns Goodwin 

I'm still reading a handful pages every morning and still loving Team of Rivals. For such a long work of straight up history, it is surprisingly readable and interesting. Even Ann Patchett is a fan... she featured DKG's books on last  Friday's "New to You" instagram video.

About to start//

Spoon River Anthology by Edgar Lee Masters 

This classic was mentioned so frequently in How to Read a Book  that I was inspired to look for a copy. I found a multi-voiced audio production to download via hoopla and the ebook on Libby. Here's the publisher's summary:

Deemed "essential" in the canon of American literature, this audiobook masterpiece performed in its entirety by a full cast makes the classic accessible to everyone. From a cemetery in a fictional mid-American town, the dead speak the truths about their lives. Some speak of hardships and sordidness; others, of their simple, honest, happy lives. Some are elderly and others are youthful or children; mortality has claimed them all. Their voices reach us deeply, alternately plaintive, anguished, enigmatic, angry, contemptuous, and comedic, evoking themes of love and hope, disappointment, despair, and abiding faith. As the Spoon River residents examine their lives, they invite us to do the same.

I'll let you know how it goes...

Also near the top of the TBR pile//

The Bodyguard by Katherine Center

Persuasion by Jane Austen

Fresh Water for Flowers by Valérie Perrin

We're traveling for much of the next few weeks, so I'll check in again after our 'travel season' is over. In the meantime, I hope you all stay cool and have plenty of good books to read!

 

My Summer "Priority TBR" List

Inspired by all of your 20 Books of Summer lists, I've decided to put together a priority TBR list of my own. It consists of ten books I'd like to read by the end of Labor Day Weekend. Rather than joining a challenge, I'm formulating a reading plan. Though I may not get to them all, there will at least be a direction to my reading.

MY SUMMER "PRIORITY TBR" LIST

Team of Rivals by Doris Kearns Goodwin

(in progress)

Horse by Geraldine Brooks

(in progress)

Olga Dies Dreaming by Xóchitl González

Persuasion by Jane Austen

Long Island by Colm Tóibín

How to Read a Book by Monica Wood

September by Rosamunde Pilcher

The Bodyguard by Katherine Center

Dust Child by Nguyễn Phan Quế Mai

Fresh Water for Flowers by Valérie Perrin

ALTERNATES

This Strange Eventful History by Claire Messud

The Half Moon by Mary Beth Keane

Wellness by Nathan Hill

North Woods by Daniel Mason

May Reading Wrap-Up and A List of June Possibilities

Hello, friends. It's June and summer is here. We spent several days in Manhattan this past week and one of the highlights was enjoying a beautiful sunset from our daughter's Upper West Side rooftop. I especially loved watching the lights come on in all those buildings as darkness descended... quite a sight! Also on our agenda was a visit to a local indie bookstore, walking in Central Park, taking in a museum or two, and a few great restaurants. I love New York City!

We're well into the month now, but it just occurred to me that I never posted a May reading wrap-up... probably because I read so little last month! Between finishing up Florida repairs, packing, our road trip north, and then unpacking here in CT, I only finished three books.

BOOKS READ IN MAY 

Death Comes for the Archbishop by Willa Cather 

classic novel, ⭐⭐⭐⭐

my brief comments

The Plot by Jean Hanff Korelitz

fiction, ⭐⭐⭐⭐

my brief comments

Sipsworth by Simon Van Booy

new release fiction, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

my brief comments

*May favorite

JUNE READING POSSIBILITIES                                             

Team of Rivals by Doris Kearns Goodwin

nonfiction, currently reading

Horse by Geraldine Brooks 

fiction, currently reading 

Olga Dies Dreaming by Xóchitl González 

June selection MMD book club, fiction

Long Island by Colm Tóibín

new release, fiction 

How to Read a Book by Monica Wood

new release, fiction

Also in June//

June is a busy travel month for us. We started the month with the trip to NYC. This week I'll make a quick trip to central NY for an early Father's Day visit before our daughter and son-in-law come to spend Father's Day weekend with us. Later in the month we'll travel to Pittsburgh for a bridal shower for our daughter, and finally a graduation party for my nephew in the Philadelphia area. Perhaps my list of reading possibilities is a little too optimistic!

Inspired by all of your 20 Books of Summer lists, I've decided to put together a "priority TBR list" of ten books I'd like to read before Labor Day Weekend. I don't know if I'll get to them all, but it's always good to have a plan, right? Look for that post on Tuesday.

What was your favorite book last month? Do you have any special plans for June?

From the Gallery of Tiffany Lamps

New York Historical Society Museum & Library