Books for a Brilliant Summer

I love to read during the summer, as my schedule is more flexible, reading helps keep my brain cells active, sparks imagination, improves vocabulary, and entertains and inspires me.

When I delve into an absorbing unread novel, memoir, book of essays or poems, or self-help book that’s written from a new perspective or diverse voice, it helps expand my horizons and stimulates personal growth.

 

My reading goal this summer is to spend more time reading, rather than count the number of books I’ve read.

Without further ado, here are brief reviews of those books I've read so far or ones I  aim to read this summer.

Courtesy of G. P. Putnam Sons

The Truth about the Devlins is the newest offering from the prolific writer Lisa Scottoline. Think of it as a thriller, mystery, suspense novel, psychological fiction, and legal story. 

See the author discuss details about this book that may help you decide whether you want to read it or not. 

Scottoline is the number-one bestselling and Edgar Award–winning author of thirty-five novels. Her law background and diligent research about topics, characters, and even settings makes her books so believable and life affirming.

 

 

St. Martin's Press, Jacket Design Michael Storrings

The Women by Kristin Hannah is a compelling historical novel, published in 2024 by St. Martin's Press. It is a story of devastating loss and epic love. The book's main character Frances "Frankie" McGrath is a woman who enlists in the United States Army Nurse Corps during the Vietnam War. 

The narrative reveals the struggles, heartache, and courage of this brave young woman and others who served in the war, yet were forgotten at home. Once started, it's hard to put it down. 

I was intrigued, because it presents many sides of the issue about America involvement in the Vietnam War. 

Simon & Schuster/37 Ink

How to Say Babylon is a memoir by Safiya Sinclair, published by Simon & Schuster/37 Ink. This non-fiction book, captures moments from Sinclair's childhood on the island of Jamaica, and her strict Rastafarian upbringing. 

It sheds light on the steps Sinclair takes to break free from harsh patriarchal views and repressive control, to find her own voice as a woman and poet. 

I enjoyed reading it, because it's an enigma. The style is poetic and beautiful, yet it holds no punches. It feels personal and universal, illustrating one woman's quest for equality and millions of women's courageous actions to overcome childhood wounds and come into their full power.  

This book has won the National Book Critics Circle Award, was a New York Times Notable Book, and Read with Jenna Today Show Book Club Pick. It was honored as a Best Book of 2023 by The New York Times, Time, The Washington Post, Vulture, Shelf Awareness, Goodreads, Esquire, The Atlantic, NPR, and Barack Obama.

Random House, Pete Garceau Cover Design, Photo David Brooks

How to Know a Person: The Art of Seeing Others Deeply and Being Deeply Seen is a non-fiction tome that offers tips about self-improvement, and provides psychological and philosophical insights for those who desire more effective communication skills, improved relationships, and a longing to be seen deeply and see others deeply. 

Rather than a lot of technical and/or tedious statistics and studies, author David Brooks’ clear, direct, and compassionate style shows readers ways he's learned to get more intimate in conversations. 

Brooks peppers the narrative with stories and illustrations of how life tasks, coming to terms with individual strengths and shortcomings, and the wisdom that comes from experience can foster empathy, and lead to improved understanding and connection with oneself and those we interact with.

I thoroughly enjoyed and was inspired by this book. I believe the world would be a better place, if people of all persuasions read it.

 

David Brooks is one of America’s leading writers and commentators, is an op-ed columnist for The New York Times, a writer for The Atlantic, and appears regularly on PBS Newshour. He is the bestselling author of The Second Mountain, The Road to Character, The Social Animal, Bobos in Paradise, and On Paradise Drive.  

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More books on my summer reading list and beyond are:

 

Dig In! Easy Gardening Projects Using Kitchen Scraps by Kari Cornell

 

A Thousand Mornings by Mary Oliver

 

Somehow by Anne Lamott

 

My Own Words Ruth Bader Ginsburg by Ruth Bader Ginsburg with Mary Hartnett and Wendy W. Williams

 

Breaking the Mold Changing the Face of Climate Science by Dana Alison Levy

 

Extra Virgin Recipes & Love from Our Tuscan Kitchen by Debi Mazar and Gabriele Corcos 

Those books I haven't reviewed in this post will probably appear in Part 2. That is, unless I lose interest in reading them or run out of time to finish them.🌞

 

Dear reader, perhaps you know other books not on my summer reading list that you'd like to recommend.

 

Please comment about your favorites in the comment section below.

 

If my post piqued your interest, please share that info.

 

Have you read books mentioned above? l sure wish you'd share what you thought of them. 

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Great Books For Summer Reading

I love to read books for sheer entertainment, relaxation, and escapism, and summer is an ideal time to get my fill of fun reads. 

What makes great summer reading? To prepare for this post, I did research to explore the history of summer reading.  

Based in part on that, I offer my recommendations for books I think you'd relish reading this summer. I sure did.   

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First up is The Paris Apartment by Lucy Foley. This mystery is published by Harper Collins, and is offered in Hardcover, Kindle, Paperback, and Audiobook editions. 

The setting for this thriller/psychological crime drama is Paris, primarily in and around an upscale neighborhood/Paris Apartment building. 

Secrets, lies, and family ties are gradually disclosed by the novel's characters. 

Told from several different points of view, the scenes occasionally move forward and backward chronologically.

Many situations and events are not what they originally seem, and suspenseful details makes this book a compelling read. 

Courtesy Ecco

Next up is Remarkably Bright Creatures, a debut novel by Shelby Van Pelt. Published by Harper Collins Ecco, it's available in Hardcover, Paperback (Harper Large Print), Kindle, and Audiobook formats.

This Goodreads’ Nominee for Best Fiction (2022) and Goodreads’ Nominee for Best Debut Novel (2022), fascinated me.

Although I found it challenging at first to accept the premise that an aquarium cleaning woman could communicate and befriend an Octopus, the writing is so awesome I suspended judgement and allowed myself to be thoroughly entertained. 

Once you start reading the narrative, bet you can't put it down.

                      Courtesy of Penguin Press
 

Last but not least is The Novel Cure: From Abandonment to Zestlessness 75 Books to Cure What Ails You by Ella Berthold and Susan Elderkin.

Originally published by Penguin Press in 2013, it's available in libraries and online in Paperback, Hardcover, and Kindle.

Classified as non-fiction, The Novel Cure is divided into 75 segments and offers book reading cures and/or literary comfort and support for ailments including insomnia, low self-esteem, unrequited love, and broken china. 

I read one topic at a time from this bibliotherapy source, and haven't restricted the dosage just to the summer.

When I'm looking for a book that has the power to distract me from worry and transport me to a better place, I grab and read a book featured in The Novel Cure.

Note: this post is offered for entertainment and educational purposes only and not suggested as medical/psychological advice.

 

For additional information about summer reads see "Summertime and Reading is Easy and Awesome."

What constitutes great summer reading?

I believe it is any type of book you enjoy reading. 

Some of us try to read or listen to stuff that doesn’t require a lot of concentration. 

Others prefer to read those tomes they haven't had time to persue during busier times of the year. 

As you stretch out on that beach blanket or sit in the shade of an old oak tree, take a minute to think of books you've enjoyed reading in summers past or want to read this year.

Which ones are they? Please comment below. Please refrain from putting links in your comments, as they won't be published that way.

Do you find a certain genre or particular format more appealing to read in the summer? Please share that info too.

Have you read any of the three books mentioned above? Please feel free to comment about them too.

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