Summer Vacation


 Anna Quindlen: "Books are the plane and the train and the road. They are the destination and journey. They are home."
                                                                                                                               


Somewhere right now, with a pencil firmly clutched in a sweaty hand, a student is writing the dreaded "What I Did On My Summer Vacation" essay. Traveled to Grandma's house? Fought off mosquitoes on an ill-advised camping trip? Broke an arm while skateboarding? Learned to play the piano?

Then, as now, my essay would revolve around the books I read and characters I met. Packing books along on a trip is as necessary as sunscreen and jeans. This summer,  I had conversations about books on porches, in hallways, in restaurants and cars. Future reading ideas came from sisters, cousins and friends. Thanks for the ideas. This fall, I'll be reading "Orphan Train" by Christina Baker Kline and William Faulkner's "Light In August."

The fall season promises many new books to read, enjoy or wonder how was this ever published?

New books are on the way from Stephen King, Wally Lamb, Linda Ronstadt (memoir), Jhumpa Luhiri, Thomas Pynchon, Donna Tartt, Bill Bryson, Doris Kearns Goodwin, David Baldacci, Janet Evanovich, John Grisham and Terry McMillan.

September is Be Kind to Writers & Editors month, and library card sign-up month. Treat yourself to a visit to your public library and check out the new books and events. Email or tweet your favorite writer/author and say "thanks." 


What I read on my summer vacation: 

Full Body Burden - Iversen, Kristen. A somber look at Colorado's Rocky Flats nuclear facility and the people who lived and worked in the area. Iversen was raised in Rocky Flats, surrounded by secrecy - what was happening at the facility and in her own home. The title refers to the "state of activity of a radioactive chemical in the body at a specified time after administration" according to Mosby's Medical Dictionary. 

Silent Wife - Harrison, A.S.A. If you liked last year's Gone Girl, you'll enjoy this thriller about a philandering husband and his discarded wife. Enough said.

Joyland - King, Stephen. I kept checking the cover to make sure I was reading a King novel. To answer a friend's question about it being typically King scary, no it's not. This is King's maiden voyage in pulp-style fiction. I think it's more of a character study of the flamboyant, sad and complicated people who worked at the Joyland amusement park.

The World's Strongest Librarian - Hanagarne, Josh. I can't stop talking about this book or recommending it to everyone. Hanagarne's writing is strong, almost poetic at times. We join him as he is diagnosed with Tourette's syndrome, struggles at relationships and at finding a suitable career path. We're all fortunate he chose to be a librarian. He writes of the importance of libraries in ALL of our lives. Hats off to Mr. Hanagarne. His blog: 
http://worldsstrongestlibrarian.com/

Fourth State of Matter - Beard, JoAnn. A beautiful essay on a tough and heart-breaking topic - the shooting of six people at University of Iowa in 1991. Five died, one later recovered from her injuries. Beard is the author of "In Zanesville" and "The Boys of my Youth."    

Top of the Morning - Stelter, Brian. You will never watch the morning news the same again. Stelter looks behind the headlines to the ratings wars, over-the-top personalities and salaries, and (alleged) rampant backstabbing.

Dad is Fat - Gaffigan, Jim.  Laughter broke out often as I read this tale of family life. Right off - Gaffigan lives with his wife and five children in a two-bedroom NYC apartment. His own childhood had its painful struggles. However, this is not a self-pitying book. He writes lovingly of his wife and writes humorously of his children.

Blue Plate Special: An Autobiography of My Appetites - Christiansen, Kate. A memoir formed by food and its importance in Christiansen's life. Her novels include: "The Great Man" and "In the Drink."