July: Beach Time Means Beach Books

Whether you’re really at the beach this summer, wishing you were, or basking in air-conditioning, just the thought of lying in the sun (well-covered against the harmful rays, of course) means summer reading fare. For many, this means, like our clothing, not too heavy, not too likely to raise our temperatures (or temper). Is that what summer reading means to you? Or do you set this time aside for finally finishing War and Peace? Do you adapt your reading to the season? Just what are you reading this summer? Please share with us us – and tell us why we might like to do the same!

Reading and Watching by Marilyn Moody

Books – lately I do very light reading and they’re mostly mysteries. Recently though I got hooked on The Handmaid’s Tale because a friend recommended it. I was so intrigued by it I went to our library and got the DVD to watch of it too.

A Year Round Pleasure by CC Barr

Reading is a year round pleasure for me. I’ve been reading non-fiction,memoir,&poetry lately. This summer I am going to tackle The Lord of the Rings trilogy. Heard it more than once: “Don’t die till you read it through.” High praise. But since this may take a while thought I’d warm up with “In This House of Brede” by Rumer Goddin. I get books and put some off. Now is a good time to catch up.

On My Summer List by Jean Lythcott

I am so glad you asked. I am reading, no devouring, the book “Overstory” – a novel by Richard Powers involving five groups of people and their involvement with trees. The botanist in me revels in any effort to bring the reality of trees … some older than Jesus … to our very existence … we wouldn’t be here without them. Let me not say more except to iterate that while it is a novel the facts re trees are that.

Next in line is “Women Rowing North” by Mary Pipher of “Reviving Ophelia,” thence to two quite extraordinary children’s books about SOPHIA. Each is a multiracial, multiage, unabashed-use-of-vocabulary book, about SOPHIA who is a wonderful, problem-solving little girl .. oh yes and her pet giraffe. One can tell, without yet actually reading, the bare bones of plot, characters, and resolution of the story while turning the pages, one can add more detail as the child gets older, eventually one can read all the actual dialogue.

Best wishes for a happy summer.

Sea Breezes by Betty Nudelman

Sea breezes reminded me of the time my husband and I took a freighter trip in the Caribbean. There were only 3 passengers and we were two of them! We sailed around to various islands and got as far as Venezuela. At every stop we were able to get off and visit whatever place we were at. Sometimes the lovely captain arranged a taxi or some other form of transportation to take us into the city, as the commercial ports were not set up for tourists. It was a lovely way to travel, although not available to anyone 80 years old or older, so I’m glad I got to do it while I could. Nice memories.