Summer Reading 2024

What I loved, liked and thought was just fine

Hi All!

When I first started to think about my summer reading, it felt a bit disappointing. I didn’t read a ton. I was distracted by the news of the world and the fact that our baby would be leaving for college at the end of the summer. The emotion of all of this along with the tasks needed to send two children off to college these days (one to a freshman dorm and one to an unfurnished off campus house) felt like a lot. I had a hard time really sinking into books the way I like to- especially in the summer.

All that said, as I look back on my list today, there was a lot to love about what I have read recently so here are some highlights.

Severance- Finally- a post apocalyptic book that fills the Station Eleven hole in my reading life. I liked it just as much and frankly, I think the writing was stronger and the story and the characters were just as compelling

Atonement- There are a few titles from the NYT 100 Best Books of the 21st Century that I am prioritizing and Atonement was the first one I read. What a great read that has left me thinking about family, loyalty, art, war. All the big stuff :). There is a reason some books stand the test of time.

The God of the Woods- This is the one super buzzy title that truly stood up to the hype for me. It’s my favorite kind of read- a well written thriller. At the library last night, a patron asked if it would be worth buying The God of the Woods because our hold list is so long and I had to admit it would be…

My Murder- This book is so fun and so clever and also a little violent- not descriptions that usually go together but wow- did this book work. I loved it! And if you are audio listener, I highly recommend this book on audio. I drove solo both ways to Richmond a few weeks ago and My Murder was the perfect companion.

Absolution- Unlike The Women, this is the book about the Vietnam War that everyone should be reading.

The Far Field- I know I just said that well written mysteries are my favorite kind of book but my other favorite kind of book are fiction reads that teach me something. I loved the characters and the story told in The Far Field but I also learned a ton about Indian and Kashmiri politics.

Please Look After Mom- This is a gorgeous book on caring for and knowing our parents as they age. The structure and voice in Please Look After Mom are also unusual which made me love it all the more.

The Sicilian Inheritance- This was a perfect summer read- well written and page turner-y. And I loved it all the more for having a chance to meet the author at our amazing new local independent bookstore- Dear Reader.

New People- Danzy Senna is married to Percival Everett and boy would I like to be a fly on the wall at their dinner table. If you have read and loved works by Everett I feel like New People is just as smartly written. I can’t wait to read her new release- Color Television.

Elevation- My mom read and loved Elevation so much that she bought a copy and had it waiting for me when I arrived for a visit this summer. She had told me a lot about Elevation and how much she loved it and it sounded great and only a tad familiar? Well, turns out I had already this book a few years back but hadn’t fully recalled this. It is super short and well worth the read or in my case, the re-read!

I am treading into dangerous waters here- I know these are well loved books. I am glad I read all of them but also don’t get the hype…

The Women- I LOVED the first half of The Women almost as much as I HATED the second half. I am glad I read and finished this book though- I like talking about it with the scores of people who loved it and I did learn a lot I had not know about the Vietnam War and the people who served there.

Sandwich- Why oh why did Catherine Newman feel the need to tell this story as fiction?! It was so relatable in so many ways but I did not like any of the characters, I found the writing to be off, especially the dialogue and there really wasn’t much of a story there. Catherine- more essays on menopause please!

Worst Case Scenario- I loved Newman’s previous two books and definitely wanted to get to the end of this one to see how she tied it all up but it will not be my favorite of her reads.

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