Thanks for this! I'm always looking for new books to read and summer is the best reading season. Here's what I've been reading:
Fiction - just finished "The Doorman" and also loved it. Now about to start "The Woman in Suite 11" the new Ruth Ware thriller that just landed in my kindle
Book club - we always do a classic in July so this month we read "So Big" by Edna Ferber. I had never read any of her books and loved this book which won the Pulitzer in 1925. Definitely resonated with what's going on today in terms of the haves vs. the have-nots plus loved the main character of Selina who was a badass entrepreneurial woman in a time when that was incredibly unusual
Memoir - "You've Been Chosen" by Cynt Marshall, by the former CEO of the Dallas Mavericks that focuses on her cancer journey. I saw her speak at a conference last month and her story is inspirational
Non-fiction - "Super Agers" by Eric Topol, MD, as I'm moving into my later years (I'm 57), I want to incorporate best practices to ensure I stay healthy and mentally sharp for several more decades to come
For a page-turning romp with lots of humor is E. Jean Carrol’s book “Not My Type”. It’s a great diversion from the too-serious everything we’re drowning in every day. (But thanks for giving me new titles for my Kindle this summer!)
"Orwell's Roses" by Rebecca Solnit. She is such an incredible essayist on so many relevant subjects, I'm re-reading a few pages at a time every morning (like a book of days).
The Lost Girls of Paris by Pam Jenoff, historical fiction set during WWII, about a group of 12 female secret agents (gotta love female protagonists) deployed out of London to Occupied Europe as couriers and radio operators to aid the resistance, but they never returned home. Another woman, Grace, sets out to learn the truth.
For Norm, if you finish those 6 volumes….. I keep encountering WWII buffs who aren’t familiar with Lynne Olson. “Citizens of London” is a book for our time. It’s about Gilbert Winant, Averell Harriman and Edward R. Murrow, but the title of the book tells us who it is really about.
By way of the dedication of those 3 Yanks, they earned the appellation “citizens of London.” I have a sense that it is the mass mobilization of the Citizens of the United States that will see us through, as well.
"The Inheritance" by Cauvery Madhavan, "Small Things Like These" (a novella) by Clair Keegan, and "This Is Happiness" by Niall Williams. All three authors are Irish. "The Dictionary of Lost Words" by Pip Williams. This feminist novel is loosely based on the compilation of the OED and includes plot lines related to women's suffrage and WWI. I also recently read "The Confidante" by Christopher Grrham about Anna Rosenberg, a remarkable woman who should be better known. She influenced FDR, HST, DDE and LBJ.
That's very kind of you. I'm doing ok with historical fiction selections for Kindle from my public library. A recent good read was "The Women" by Kristen Hannah about nurses in Vietnam.
I haven't read The Women but it's on my list. Here are a few books you may like. You may have read some of them. All are historical fiction except for Boys, which is nonfiction history and fascinating.
The Chilbury Ladies Choir, Jennifer Ryan
The Wedding Dress Sewing Circle, Jennifer Ryan
A Gentleman in Moscow, Amor Towles
The Boys in the Boat, Daniel James Brown
The Berrybender Series by Larry McMurtry (four books)
I read several of Towles books. Loved the 'A Gentleman in Moscow' adaptation [I think it was HBO]. Also read "Wedding Dress". Thank you, Amy. I highly recommend any Donna Leon or Jennifer Chiaverini book.
You may have noticed my book exchange with Cindy where I highly recommended "The Goddess of Warsaw" by Lisa Barr. As a mystery fan, I also like Daniel Silva series with Gabriel Allon. His recent book, "A Death in Cornwall", really got my ire up about what the excessively wealthy and very immoral do to keep their wealth.
The Worst Hard Time by Timothy Egan. About people who stayed put during the Dust Bowl of the 1930s. Engrossing and well-written.
I also want to recommend Smithsonian Magazine, which I read cover to cover when it arrives. But many of the fascinating stories are also available on smithsonianmag.com Yes, I know, Trump is trying to ruin the Smithsonian, too. But for now, I love reading the in-depth stories in the magazine.
Suite Francaise by Irene Nemirovsky about the Nazi occupation of Paris in 1940 and the fate of those fleeing Paris. And the occupants of a village “now occupied by German soldiers”. To me, excellent insights into peoples’ minds, and the contradictions they have to deal with.
Recently finished "Squeeze Me" by Carl Hiaasen, an obvious comic put down of our current President. Clearly, the author thinks as highly of Donald Trump as do most of us Contrarians! Thus with his usual heavy-handed humor he has made it possible for readers to at least get some good laughs in between the never ending daily reports of the imbecility and ugliness of Donald Trump's administration.
Love Carl Hiassen's books. When I was in the working world I would occasionally startle other commuters on the subway by laughing out loud while reading Hiassen.
Running at Haleah....for anyone familiar with The Last Lecture, you'll recognize the author's name.
A Child's Work: The Importance of Fantasy Play
Re-reading The Book Thief.
Re-reading The Last Lecture
As You Wish-by Cary Elwes. I beg of you. Get the audio version and see him tour with this book. You'll cry tears of laughter and your stomach will hurt from laughing that hard.
Boy, I wish I had Norm's stamina (in politics as well as reading)! I'm reading a Murakami I missed, "Norwegian Wood." Few writers can instantaneously create a world like he can. Also reading Peter Manuel's history of flamenco and learning to play flamenco guitar. I highly recommend flamenco guitar for challenging the brain cells and causing frustration unrelated to Trump. And I'm on an impressionist painter kick, so over winter break I read Wullschläger's "Monet: The Restless Vision" (extraordinary) and for summer I'm going to read White's "Renoir: An Intimate Biography," and "Wild Thing: A Life of Paul Gauguin," by Prideaux. I'm glad to hear "The Doorman" is good - I'm eager to read it!
I just read Mad Honey, by Jodi Picoult and Jennifer Flynn Boyle for my book club.It was beautifully written, and although it came out a few years ago, the subject matter is quite timely and culturally relevant. I won’t say more, because there is a very surprising revelation midway through the book that really challenges the reader’s understanding in important ways. Highly recommend - my whole group gave the book a five star rating!
I'm currently reading "The Septic System Owner's Manual (Subterranean Mysteries Revealed)" by LLoyd Kahn, Blair Allen & Julie Jones. It's quite entertaining, informative and well-illustrated. If you ever wanted to know what the remains of a guinea pig look like after three weeks in a septic tank, this is the book for you.
Nothing to do with books, just a random recollection: my father and friends built a concrete septic system in the yard of our farm house in 1956. Dug a huge hole and ditches, built all the forms from wood, poured the concrete from the truck my dad drove daily fot work. Installed the plumbing. It turned out great. Never had to clean it, big enough for an army. Very rural, no permit required. 👹
That sounds wonderful. We've got to empty our tank every two years because (I think) there's something wrong with the drainage field. I'm looking for solutions in this book.
Thanks for this! I'm always looking for new books to read and summer is the best reading season. Here's what I've been reading:
Fiction - just finished "The Doorman" and also loved it. Now about to start "The Woman in Suite 11" the new Ruth Ware thriller that just landed in my kindle
Book club - we always do a classic in July so this month we read "So Big" by Edna Ferber. I had never read any of her books and loved this book which won the Pulitzer in 1925. Definitely resonated with what's going on today in terms of the haves vs. the have-nots plus loved the main character of Selina who was a badass entrepreneurial woman in a time when that was incredibly unusual
Memoir - "You've Been Chosen" by Cynt Marshall, by the former CEO of the Dallas Mavericks that focuses on her cancer journey. I saw her speak at a conference last month and her story is inspirational
Non-fiction - "Super Agers" by Eric Topol, MD, as I'm moving into my later years (I'm 57), I want to incorporate best practices to ensure I stay healthy and mentally sharp for several more decades to come
For a page-turning romp with lots of humor is E. Jean Carrol’s book “Not My Type”. It’s a great diversion from the too-serious everything we’re drowning in every day. (But thanks for giving me new titles for my Kindle this summer!)
"Orwell's Roses" by Rebecca Solnit. She is such an incredible essayist on so many relevant subjects, I'm re-reading a few pages at a time every morning (like a book of days).
The Lost Girls of Paris by Pam Jenoff, historical fiction set during WWII, about a group of 12 female secret agents (gotta love female protagonists) deployed out of London to Occupied Europe as couriers and radio operators to aid the resistance, but they never returned home. Another woman, Grace, sets out to learn the truth.
For Norm, if you finish those 6 volumes….. I keep encountering WWII buffs who aren’t familiar with Lynne Olson. “Citizens of London” is a book for our time. It’s about Gilbert Winant, Averell Harriman and Edward R. Murrow, but the title of the book tells us who it is really about.
By way of the dedication of those 3 Yanks, they earned the appellation “citizens of London.” I have a sense that it is the mass mobilization of the Citizens of the United States that will see us through, as well.
Lynne Olson’s books are excellent!
My favorites are
A Question of Honor: The Kosciuszko Squadron
Madame Fourcade’s Secret War
Last Hope Island
I loved Last Hope Island, too!
Yes, I too read “Madame Fourcade’s Secret War”, “Last Hope Island” and a different book about the Kosciusko Squadron. Fine books.
Yes.
I am currently reading the memoir of Jacinda Ahern, the former prime minister of New Zealand. Terrific woman, terrific book!
"The Inheritance" by Cauvery Madhavan, "Small Things Like These" (a novella) by Clair Keegan, and "This Is Happiness" by Niall Williams. All three authors are Irish. "The Dictionary of Lost Words" by Pip Williams. This feminist novel is loosely based on the compilation of the OED and includes plot lines related to women's suffrage and WWI. I also recently read "The Confidante" by Christopher Grrham about Anna Rosenberg, a remarkable woman who should be better known. She influenced FDR, HST, DDE and LBJ.
I was hoping for lighthearted summer reading. Hmmm..
I'd be happy to recommend some lighter hearted reading. What do you like and how light is light?
That's very kind of you. I'm doing ok with historical fiction selections for Kindle from my public library. A recent good read was "The Women" by Kristen Hannah about nurses in Vietnam.
I haven't read The Women but it's on my list. Here are a few books you may like. You may have read some of them. All are historical fiction except for Boys, which is nonfiction history and fascinating.
The Chilbury Ladies Choir, Jennifer Ryan
The Wedding Dress Sewing Circle, Jennifer Ryan
A Gentleman in Moscow, Amor Towles
The Boys in the Boat, Daniel James Brown
The Berrybender Series by Larry McMurtry (four books)
I read several of Towles books. Loved the 'A Gentleman in Moscow' adaptation [I think it was HBO]. Also read "Wedding Dress". Thank you, Amy. I highly recommend any Donna Leon or Jennifer Chiaverini book.
I've read most of Donna Leon's books, but not Chiaverini. Will look her up!
You may have noticed my book exchange with Cindy where I highly recommended "The Goddess of Warsaw" by Lisa Barr. As a mystery fan, I also like Daniel Silva series with Gabriel Allon. His recent book, "A Death in Cornwall", really got my ire up about what the excessively wealthy and very immoral do to keep their wealth.
Try The Correspondent, by Virginia Evans. Not historical fiction, but I loved it.
I highly recommend "The Goddess of Warsaw" by Lisa Barr.
Thank you! I'll look into it!
Thank you Cindy.
The Worst Hard Time by Timothy Egan. About people who stayed put during the Dust Bowl of the 1930s. Engrossing and well-written.
I also want to recommend Smithsonian Magazine, which I read cover to cover when it arrives. But many of the fascinating stories are also available on smithsonianmag.com Yes, I know, Trump is trying to ruin the Smithsonian, too. But for now, I love reading the in-depth stories in the magazine.
Suite Francaise by Irene Nemirovsky about the Nazi occupation of Paris in 1940 and the fate of those fleeing Paris. And the occupants of a village “now occupied by German soldiers”. To me, excellent insights into peoples’ minds, and the contradictions they have to deal with.
Recently finished "Squeeze Me" by Carl Hiaasen, an obvious comic put down of our current President. Clearly, the author thinks as highly of Donald Trump as do most of us Contrarians! Thus with his usual heavy-handed humor he has made it possible for readers to at least get some good laughs in between the never ending daily reports of the imbecility and ugliness of Donald Trump's administration.
Love Carl Hiassen's books. When I was in the working world I would occasionally startle other commuters on the subway by laughing out loud while reading Hiassen.
Thanks for the list.
Incognito: The Secret Lives of the Brain.
Everything is Tuberculosis
The Girls Who Fought Crime
The Danish Way of Parenting
The Art Thief
Running at Haleah....for anyone familiar with The Last Lecture, you'll recognize the author's name.
A Child's Work: The Importance of Fantasy Play
Re-reading The Book Thief.
Re-reading The Last Lecture
As You Wish-by Cary Elwes. I beg of you. Get the audio version and see him tour with this book. You'll cry tears of laughter and your stomach will hurt from laughing that hard.
Boy, I wish I had Norm's stamina (in politics as well as reading)! I'm reading a Murakami I missed, "Norwegian Wood." Few writers can instantaneously create a world like he can. Also reading Peter Manuel's history of flamenco and learning to play flamenco guitar. I highly recommend flamenco guitar for challenging the brain cells and causing frustration unrelated to Trump. And I'm on an impressionist painter kick, so over winter break I read Wullschläger's "Monet: The Restless Vision" (extraordinary) and for summer I'm going to read White's "Renoir: An Intimate Biography," and "Wild Thing: A Life of Paul Gauguin," by Prideaux. I'm glad to hear "The Doorman" is good - I'm eager to read it!
I just read Mad Honey, by Jodi Picoult and Jennifer Flynn Boyle for my book club.It was beautifully written, and although it came out a few years ago, the subject matter is quite timely and culturally relevant. I won’t say more, because there is a very surprising revelation midway through the book that really challenges the reader’s understanding in important ways. Highly recommend - my whole group gave the book a five star rating!
Never too late for "the Ministry for the Future", second reading even better.
I'm currently reading "The Septic System Owner's Manual (Subterranean Mysteries Revealed)" by LLoyd Kahn, Blair Allen & Julie Jones. It's quite entertaining, informative and well-illustrated. If you ever wanted to know what the remains of a guinea pig look like after three weeks in a septic tank, this is the book for you.
Nothing to do with books, just a random recollection: my father and friends built a concrete septic system in the yard of our farm house in 1956. Dug a huge hole and ditches, built all the forms from wood, poured the concrete from the truck my dad drove daily fot work. Installed the plumbing. It turned out great. Never had to clean it, big enough for an army. Very rural, no permit required. 👹
That sounds wonderful. We've got to empty our tank every two years because (I think) there's something wrong with the drainage field. I'm looking for solutions in this book.