SUMMER READS

[rapa]

This week will hit triple digits here in Texas.  Am happy to be able to stay inside with the company of a good book. Just finished Lisa Scottoline's CORRUPTED. Have found all her books captivating!

Arriving at library today for me is THE SUMMER I MET JACK. This is a ficional story based on JFK.  

What do you recommend for a summer read? I recently returned from a trip to Leesburg, VA, visiting my daughter for a few days. Enjoyed watching The Royal Wedding with her.

Tomorrow my youngest granddaughter graduates from high school here.  All her sibs are flying in to wish her well.  She plans to begin college in the fall majoring in Deaf Studies. She already signs and plans to be an ASL interpreter.    

Wishing all a safe and healthy summer. 

[Ioruach]

Rapa, I have read some books by Doiron and liked them. I'll check my library for Stay Hidden.

I recently have been reading Northland by Porter Fox. With all the talk about the Mexican border recently, the author sets out to travel (over a three year period) what he describes as America's forgotten border-the U.S./Canadian border. Of course,where I come from up North in Minnesota, the border is hardly forgotten. The book is his report of the journey, starting in Maine and ending in Washington State. 

I am just about finished and have really enjoyed it. It is rich with both his description of the scenery along the way and the history that took place at the various points on his trip.  Of special interest to me, living in Minnesota, was the story of the Northwest Angle. It is a tiny part of the State that can only be reached via land by driving through Canada.

As for fiction, I have been reading How it Happened by Michael Koryta. Very good. A murder mystery, of course. Summer reading. I also picked up Bear Town by Fredrik Backman at my library and will get to that as soon as I finish the others.

[rapa]

If any of you have read THE RED TENT you'll know that Anita Diamant is a terrific author. I recently finished her THE BOSTON GIRL  and highly recommend it!  It was released in 2014 so should be available in your library.  Enjoy!  

[Carci]

For fans of WWII novels...  I recently finished Once We Were Brothers by Ronald H. Balson about Germany's invasion of Poland.  It was excellent... highly recommended.

I followed it with The Red Collar by Jean-Christophe Rufin...  set just after WWI in a small town in France.  It was short, confusing, and mostly boring. I kept expecting it to end well but it just... ended... not recommended.

Just starting The Promise starring Elvis Cole, Joe Pike, Scott James and Maggie, the dog... all in one book.  Should be good.

[rapa]

Struck gold today for a summer read!  Picked up Sandra Brown's new release TAILSPIN.. Picked it up at the new three story Arlington Central Library in downtown Arlington.  Interesting, spacious library with lots of bells and whistles. There are special rooms for Tinker, Innovate, Explore, Create, sewing machines, Genealogy and Local History and a Children's Playroom. 

The cover of Brown's book describes the story as a spine-tingling suspense thriller about a daring pilot caught in a race against time. I think I got the first library copy after the release.  Did get it in large print so should go quickly.  Now to bed for story time!!!!

[rapa]

First time I've found a book so "sick" I don't care to finish it. Am referring to Gillian Flynn's best seller SHARP OBJECTS..     Flynn authored GONE GIRL..      Anyone else read this book????

[Carci]

I never got into Gone Girl...  not my type of book so I won't be trying anything by her (him?)

[rapa]

Just found out today that HBO has been running the movie "Sharp Objects." Can't imagine watching it if it's as graphic as the book.  Any of you watch it?  I don't have HBO. 

[Lip Service]

I have all eight episodes recorded (I like binge watching TV series). The last episode just aired recently. I will let you know when I see it and how graphic it is. Amy Adams stars in it, she is very good.

[rapa]

Thanks Lip Service! I know the show has good reviews and a good actress for Camille. I did read about 3/4 of the book and still haven't returned it.  Figured out the killer fairly early. For me my reading images are usually more graphic than the movie.  I have quite a fertile imagination!!!!

[Ioruach]

Rapa, I think all dedicated readers have fertile imaginations. By the way, I don't have HBO either.

[Glenda Scheideler]

Summer is almost over, but it doesn't feel like it yet.  While I felt there was a real drought of good books this summer, I have stumbled over some excellent books -- partly due to the pressure of book clubs.  One of the books is AN INVISIBLE THREAD by Laura Schroff (memoir) -- I have become a real fan of memoirs.  It is the story of a successful professional woman and reaching out to a black child who has to beg for food on the streets.  Another book which made me laugh and cry was MY ADVENTURES WITH GOD - by Stephen Tobolowski (you probably know who he is, but you may not realize it.)  It's his story and he reads it on Audible.    He was in Ground Hog Day.  For you Jack Reacher fans, I have been discouraged by his last few books, but he has a good one out at last and it will be made into a movie.  If you are a Kent Krueger fan, his most recent book is DESOLATION MOUNTAIN.  For those of you who do not know his books, there is a lot of American Indian lore in the book.  Our current book club read is ZEN AND THE ART OF MOTORCYCLE MAINTENANCE.  I understand it has been out for years - well respected - but I have never read it.  I will report back on this because the peacefulness of the book makes me sleepy every time I start.   Have any of you read this?  Did you like it? Hope everyone had a wonderful summer!  Oops!  one more.. THE SKY BELOW BY SCOTT PARAZYNSKI - The true story of a an astronaut, his medical career, his family, and his opportunity to fly with John Glen.

[Lip Service]

I have read Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance, it is an inquiry into values and ethics as the other embarks on a trip on motorcycle with friends. I remember being stimulated by the book and liking it in general. The author died recently.