One of the best parts of the summer for me, as a teacher, is getting to spend afternoons (and mornings and nights….) lazily reading a good book. This summer we’ve been on an “epic family road trip” from Boston to Colorado and then down to Texas and Oklahoma to stay with family. So, I have enjoyed reading in hotel rooms overlooking mountains, curled up on a couch surrounded by family members, and at coffee shops with my husband on coveted afternoon dates.
Here are the best of the many books I have read this summer:
1. House of Dreams: The Life of L.M. Montgomery by Liz Rosenberg
As a L.M. Montgomery superfan (the Emily series was my childhood obsession!), I could not wait to read this new biography of the author. Written for young adults, the book gives details about Maud’s childhood and marriage. If you love Anne, Emily, or any of Montgomery’s heroines, this is a must-read! The books was easy to read yet filled with interesting, well-researched information that was (mostly) brand-new to me.
Verdict: 4 stars
2. Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel
This is a post-apocalyptic dystopian novel. I tend to enjoy the genre as a whole (if it is not too violent or graphic), but this one came particularly recommended by Anne Bogel of Modern Mrs. Darcy–one of my all-time favorite blogs and the absolute best place to get book recommendations. After a devastating flu that wiped out 99.99% of the global population, hope and culture are kept alive by a traveling Shakespearean troupe. The writing is absolutely beautiful, the characters memorable, and the plot haunting. This will likely be one of my favorite books of the entire year.
Verdict: 5 stars
3. The River by Peter Heller
This was another Modern Mrs. Darcy recommendation, and it was certainly outside of my typical go-to genres. In this novel, two college buddies, who bonded over a shared love of nature and outdoor sports, take the canoeing trip of a lifetime in northern Canada. However, a wildfire and an attempted murder change the dream trip into a nightmare. Heller’s prose is beautifully minimalistic, which adds to the dream-like intensity of the plot. This is likely another top pick for 2019.
Verdict: 5 stars
4. Daily Rituals: Women at Work by Mason Currey
A follow-up to the bestselling Daily Rituals: How Artists Work. After the publication of his first book, Currey realized that the vast majority of the artists profiled in his work were men. So, he began to research the lives and daily routines of women artists, authors, dancers, sculptors, etc. Each artist’s profile is just a page or two long and contains a brief description of their routines, process for inspiration, and more. I find this type of book to be fascinating and inspiring. I especially identified with the women (like author Shirley Jackson) who worked hard to balance their art and a family life.
Verdict: 4 stars
5. Juliet’s School of Possibilities by Laura Vanderkam
I really enjoy Laura Vanderkam’s writings and have now read all of her books. (She also has an excellent podcast called Best of Both Worlds that I highly recommend for mothers who work outside the home.) This book is slightly different from her norm but still enjoyable and informative. Plus, as a fable, it is super short and can be read in one day, which can be helpful when you’re in a reading slump. Riley is a young executive trying her hardest to climb the corporate ladder but finding herself madly putting out fires and answering hundreds of e-mails a day. While on a retreat at Juliet’s School of Possibilities, she learns that her life can be different and begins to treat her time with more care.
Verdict: 4 stars
What are your favorite books that you’ve read this summer?
What is an Orthodox Christian? Never heard the term. I am just a plain old Catholic.
Hello Jim! That is a shortened term for an Eastern Orthodox Christian of which their are many jurisdictions based on country. You may have heard of the Russian Orthodox Church, the Greek Orthodox Church, etc. The broad category for that is the Eastern Orthodox Church. I hope that helps!