Summer Reading (part 1)

I Love to read. That's one of the reasons I love summer - I can sit and read all day if I want to. And I've spent a few days doing just that this summer. When the daily "To Do" list includes weeding, cleaning the house, working on tech. curriculum for school, etc. it's so much easier to pick up a book and read just a chapter or two ...


So, now that I've finished one sheet from our local library's adult summer reading program, I'd better start working on some of my other projects before beginning my second sheet. Meanwhile, here's a look at the books I've already read this summer. Maybe there's one or two that will interest you as well. 

• Caleb's Crossing by Geraldine Brooks  Geraldine Brooks often takes an obscure historical fact and then develops a novel around it.  In this book, set in the Puritan 1660s of New England, two children: a daughter of a Calvinist minister and a native Wampanoag boy become friends and grow up together. We experience the culture clashes of the Puritan English and the Native American as Caleb, the Indian boy, becomes the first Native American to graduate from Harvard College. The true historical fact is that a young man named Caleb was the first native American to graduate from Harvard (in 1665).  I also enjoyed Geraldine Brooks' previous novel, People of the Book, based on another historical fact - the discovery of an ancient Jewish Haggadah.

• Lost in Shangi-La by Mitchell Zuckoff  I can't remember how I discovered this book, but it is a fascinating true story about a small US military plane that crashed in the remote New Guinea area at the end of World War 2. The book tells how the injured survivors hiked down a mountain into a valley, met the native tribespeople, and eventually were rescued in a daring operation as the inaccessible valley was too narrow for most planes. The valley was called Shangri-La after the book Lost Horizon, so of course I had to watch the old movie "Lost Horizon" after finishing this book. 

• The Screwtape Letters by C.S. Lewis  I read this book in preparation of seeing the play based on the book.  It was a great combination of reading and then hearing/seeing the words come to life on stage; lots to ponder!

• State of Wonder by Ann Patchett  This novel takes place in the remote Amazon rainforest as a young pharmaceutical doctor sets off to find an older doctor who is doing research for a new drug in the rainforest. There's more to the story, of course, but it's a little difficult to describe quickly. It was an interesting book, but not one of my favorites. It's rather slow-moving and I couldn't really connect with any of the characters. I did realize that I have no desire to live out in the Amazon rainforest! 

• A Grown Up Kind of Pretty by Joshilyn Jackson  I've read several of Jackson's novels, all set in the south, after hearing her speak at Calvin's Festival of Faith in Writing conference several years ago. This story deals with three generations of women, their relationships with each other, and their personal growth as they deal with the effects of a long-ago secret after a small grave is discovered in their backyard.

• Sister by Rosamond Lupton  Wow! I discovered this author from another reader on Facebook. She's written two mystery novels; I read them both within a week. Lots of twists (some I figured out, others surprised me) in this mystery set in London, England. The story revolves around a young woman and her investigation into the death of her younger sister. Did her sister commit suicide or was she murdered?

• Afterwards by Rosamond Lupton  Another mystery, this time involving a school fire in which a mother and daughter are injured. In an unusual manner, the mother and daughter try to discover who set the fire and why. Again, lots of twists, along with an interesting storytelling technique.

• The Weight of Heaven by Thrity Unrigar  This is the third novel I've read by Unrigar, whose stories are often set in India. This novel relates the story of Frank and Ellie Benton, an American couple who move to India after their young son dies. It describes their different ways of dealing with grief  as well as the way they deal with a new culture as they befriend the young son of their housekeeper and cook.

• One Thousand Gifts by Ann Voskamp  I finally had time to sit down and read this book that so many people have recommended. It actually took quite a while for me to get into it as I found her writing a little distracting. She uses so much description that I felt it interfered with her overall message at times; I found it tiring to get through and had to force myself to continue with it.  It wasn't until I was over halfway through the book that I could finally focus on what she was saying. Although I was a little disappointed in her style of writing, I'm glad I read it as I really like much of her message and am trying to apply it - living in thankfulness and finding joy in all circumstances because of the love and grace of God.