Summer Reading List

It won't be long now until we return to our book clubs after our summer hiatus and are charged with recommending books for the year.  I'm sure I'm not the only one that when asked for a recommendation has sat there in a fog -- unable to remember what I did over the summer never mind what I read.  So to prepare for that impending moment of truth, I have decided to develop my summer reading list to keep my memory fresh and in case anyone else needs suggested reading.  I have to say I thoroughly enjoyed all these books.

The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls:  Currently a journalist for MSNBC, Jeannette has written a memoir which chronicles her life growing up in poverty with two brilliant and eccentric parents.  Her writing is powerful. You can truly feel for Jeannette and her sisters and brother as they face hunger, ostracism, and abuse with tremendous creativity and wit. 

Night by Eli Wiesel:  A book we should read every five years to remind us that evil exists and what can happen if the world chooses to ignore it.

Season of Life by Jeffrey Marx:  A "must read" for anyone who is a parent, teacher or coach of boys.   Marx writes about Joe Ehrmann, a former NFL football star and current high school coach.  Ehrmann devotes his life to teaching boys a new meaning of masculinity. "Being a man means emphasizing relationships and having a cause bigger than yourself."

The Last Days of Dogtown by Anita Diamant:  Set in the early 1800s in Gloucester, Massachusetts, with this book Diamant invents the last days of Dogtown from a sign that she came across outside of  Gloucester.  This character-driven novel is a touching view of the downtrodden -- ex slaves, whores, orphans, witches -- and an excellent piece of historical fiction.

Garlic and Sapphires by Ruth Reichl:  I loved his book because I've become addicted to cooking this summer and the food descriptions are unbelievable.  Reichl, the former restaurant critic at the New York Times, describes her life in disguise as she anonymously reviews New York restaurants in the 90s.  Its also is a great lesson on how outward appearance affects how the world treats you.

The Memory Keeper's Daughter by Kim Edwards:  I'm just starting this book.  I happened to stop by a book store at the same time Kim Edwards was doing a reading.  The book is on the NYTs Best Seller list for Paperbacks.  I'll let you know how it is when I finish.

Well now I'll at least have a reference point when I'm asked for my recommendations this fall.  Hope you find these recommendations helpful.