Time for a summer reads update, though there’s not much to report as I haven’t been reading much. I have been crocheting a lot and watching a ton of shows (Project Runway Season 16, Pose, Fleabag…).

And I have even more shows waiting (Stranger Things, Derry Girls). I don’t know if it’s everything else in life or if it’s just the books I’ve been choosing, but I’ve had a hard time really falling into a book lately. I’ve also had a real series of headaches again, and that makes it difficult to read in the evenings. I need to schedule an appointment with the eye doctor.

I started the summer reading with a light read. Emma Rous’ The Au Pair has an interesting twist. I wouldn’t say it’s the kind of book that is going to stay with you, but if you’re looking for a nice, easy beach read that will keep you entertained, it’s a good one.

When I was younger, I’d battle through a book to the very end, no matter what. As I’ve gotten older, I realize there are so many books I will never read them all, and why waste your time reading something you’re not enjoying?

Jillian Cantor’s In Another Time is a well-written, interesting book. However, I found it sad and distressing to read. I am sure everything will work out for the characters in the end of the book, but I just couldn’t finish it. I found myself sad thinking about it, and I didn’t want to pick it up to read it. I only got about half way through before I gave it up entirely.

Jamie Ford’s Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet was not on my original list, but it was recommended by a friend. It was a good read, though a little sad and stressful like the Cantor book, still I was able to get through it. I suspect my next read will be off the list as well, and something light.

• The Au Pair by Emma Rous
• In Another Time: A Novel by Jillian Cantor
• Caramelo by Sandra Cisneros
• Silver Sparrow by Tayari Jones
• The Gunners: A Novel by Rebecca Kauffman
• The Shortest Way Home: A Novel by Miriam Parker
• The Memory Painter: A Novel of Love and Reincarnation by Gwendolyn Womack
• Between Them: Remembering My Parents by Richard Ford
• Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet by Jamie Ford

Like reading? Check out previous summer reads:

Although we had snow on Monday, we are now heading towards the end of April and it’s never too early to start the list for our Summer Reads 2019. If you’ve read something outstanding in the past few months, drop me a line and let me know!

• The Au Pair by Emma Rous
• In Another Time: A Novel by Jillian Cantor
• Caramelo by Sandra Cisneros
• Silver Sparrow by Tayari Jones
• The Gunners: A Novel by Rebecca Kauffman
• The Shortest Way Home: A Novel by Miriam Parker
• The Memory Painter: A Novel of Love and Reincarnation by Gwendolyn Womack
• Between Them: Remembering My Parents by Richard Ford

Like reading? Check out previous summer reads:

Not only have I been slothful in posting, I haven’t been reading much this summer either. In fact, I sort of wonder what I have been doing. I had a nice little summer bucket list, and have checked off very few things (yoga on the beach at Lake Michigan, baseball game and attending an outdoor concert). Here it is, nearing the end of August and the trees are already starting to turn, and I’ve only been out paddle boarding eight times. Yikes.

I did read the Megan Miranda book, The Perfect Stranger. It was not bad.

Then I read The Ninth Hour and I think it was pretty good, but then I had to go look up the synopsis to write this as I couldn’t remember what it was about.

Then it was The Night Circus, which was interesting but I was more than ready for it to be over by the time I finished it.

I also read Slade House, but didn’t manage to get the cat and couch photo. The last two chapters, I realized it was sort of a sequel or at least had some characters in it from a previous David Mitchell book that I had loved. This one was just ok.

And that’s where I am. Rather, I’m about halfway through Tim Gunn’s Fashion Bible and it’s just delightful. Best thing I’ve read since last year’s American Fire. As it’s nearly Labor Day, it doesn’t look like I’m going to be finishing my summer reads as planned this year, but I suppose it’s not terrible as I did get more than half way through. I did pick up another couple books, including a real beach read and a more challenging novel. Maybe autumn will be a more fitting time to read this year.

How is your reading going?

The Perfect Stranger: A Novel by Megan Miranda

The Memory Painter: A Novel of Love and Reincarnation by Gwendolyn Womack 

Slade House: A Novel by David Mitchell 

The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern

Between Them: Remembering My Parents by Richard Ford 

The Ninth Hour: A Novel by Alice McDermott

Warlight: A novel by Michael Ondaatje

Like reading? Check out previous summer reads:

Dear friends, it is already past Memorial Day, and therefore time for Summer Reads 2018. I’ve been quite busy sewing and crocheting in the evenings, so I haven’t been reading much lately. I have a slightly smaller list this year as a result. I am starting with the Megan Miranda book, The Perfect Stranger.

The Perfect Stranger: A Novel by Megan Miranda

The Memory Painter: A Novel of Love and Reincarnation by Gwendolyn Womack 

Slade House: A Novel by David Mitchell 

The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern

Between Them: Remembering My Parents by Richard Ford 

The Ninth Hour: A Novel by Alice McDermott

Warlight: A novel by Michael Ondaatje

What are you reading this summer?

Can you believe it’s already August? Holy cats, the summer has gone by so fast. Time for the Summer Reads 2017 Update #3.

I read Kevin Wilson’s Perfect Little World, and it was good. Interesting story line. Well written. Something to think about. Everything turned out ok in the end and was wrapped up nicely. I would recommend it. If you’re interested, let me know and I’ll send it to you.

As soon as I had finished Nina George’s Little French Bistro, I put her Little Paris Bookshop in my cart. It’s just as good. I read it with one hand on my phone, as I wanted to see photos of the places in the book. It’s a lovely book, and set me in a perfect summer mood. It was delightful, and well worth reading. George puts her own recommendations of books in the back of this one. I picked up two. One is nearly unreadable from a story line, I think. The other is a nice story, but is so poorly edited it’s bothersome. Quotation marks the wrong way, wrong punctuation.

This is week 10 out of 14. I should finish up The Enchanted April this week, and then will start When Breath Becomes Air. Again, I can’t believe how quickly the summer has gone.

Summer Reads 2017:

It’s that time of year again – ready for Summer Reads 2017. It seemed to go straight from February to Memorial Day; time really moves more quickly the older you get. While I’ve been reading off and on this past winter (Rosemary: The Hidden Kennedy Daughter by Kate Clifford Larson which was really excellent, Imagine Me Gone by Adam Haslett which I hated, The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood which was amazing, Commonwealth by Ann Patchett which was ok), I never get as much reading done as during my Summer Reads project. It is a true hedonistic endeavor…I pick eight or so books to read from Memorial Day through Labor Day. I generally pick my books from Amazon.com recommendations, the New York Times Bestseller list and book reviews by NPR’s Maureen Corrigan.

Anyhow, I  believe I have set my list for Summer Reads 2017: