It’s Literally Wednesday: What I Read On My Summer Vacation
Dave | July 18, 2012We tend to associate “summer reading” with “light reading,” but it doesn’t have to be so. One of the lovely things about going away on vacation is the inevitable downtime that occurs without all the distractions of home. This provides opportunities to engage in concentrated reading. It may seem strange to look forward to reading while on holiday, but I have many pleasant memories of particular books linked to special places. I’m not alone. Roger Ebert, in his memoir, Life Itself (2011), wrote of his love of revisiting quiet cafés in various European cities in which to read. Here’s what I’ve been up to the last couple of weeks:
Short Stories
Blasphemy, by Sherman Alexie (10/2/12) – Short story collections make for great vacation reading when you have a half hour here and there. Blasphemy contains 31 stories; about half were previously published and the rest are new. Alexie is one of my favorite authors — I even like his poetry! — and he writes great first person narratives.
Cover to Cover
The Heart Broke In, by James Meek (10/2/12) – and the heart of my summer reading. Meek tends to introduce his characters in a snarky manner and telegraphs plot developments 100 pages ahead. These turn out to be quibbles: he writes about the complex realities of relationships rather well and is extremely generous with giving secondary characters fully rounded personalities.
Cold Quiet Country, by Clayton Lindemuth (11/13/12) – I rarely read murder mystery type books, but it’s good to stretch sometimes. This is three-quarters of a very good book by a first-time novelist. Set in 1970s Wyoming, a young man leaves an orphanage and seeks work, falls in love with the farmer’s daughter, and the farmer ends up murdered. A great set-up, but someone should have told Lindemuth to curb his excesses.
Almost Finished
How We Decide, by Johah Leher (2009) – A customer ordered this a year or so ago and I thought it looked interesting, so I ordered a copy for myself. It reads like a Malcolm Gladwell book if Gladwell was a brain surgeon.
In a Glass Grimmly, by Adam Gidwitz (9/27/12) – This kids’ chapter book is a follow-up to the superb A Tale Dark and Grimm, and maybe even better.
Never Will Finish
The Devil’s Causeway: The True Story of America’s First Prisoners of War in the Philippines, and the Heroic Expedition Sent to Their Rescue, by Matthew Westfall (11/18/12) – I never read military history. An inconsequential (but still!!!) error in the third paragraph, a prologue that belongs toward the end, and some 50 eye-glazing names mentioned in the first chapter reminded me why I never read military history.
Read any really good books this summer?
This Week
Iris and Roy Johansen, authors of Close Your Eyes, Thursday, July 19th, 7pm, Eagle Eye Bookshop, free.
Benjamin Busch, author of Dust to Dust: A Memoir, Saturday, July 21st, 1pm, A Cappella Books, free.
Stephen L. Carter, author of The Impeachment of Abraham Lincoln: A Novel, Monday, July 23rd, Decatur Library, sponsored by Georgia Center for the Book, free.
Stephen Mitchell’s translation of the Tao Te Ching
I’m having a grand time with Gillian Flynn’s Gone Girl, as is much of the rest of the country.
After finishing George R. R. Martin’s “Songs of Ice and Fire” series, I went back & am re-reading one of my early favorites he co-wrote with Lisa Tuttle, “Windhaven”. I looooved that book when I was in high school, am really enjoying revisiting that world today…also reading Christopher Andersen’s book, “Mick: The Wild Life & Mad Genius of Jagger”. So far, it’s pretty interesting– great pix, too.
Started “Summer Sisters” by Judy Blume and realized that “light summer reading” doesn’t suit me. I put it down after reading 3/4 of the way and realizing that I just didn’t care what happened next. I’m now reading “A Curable Romantic” by Joseph Skibell, local author. I find it very weird but cannot put it down. I’m late for work reading it. Like Skibell’s “A Blessing on the Moon”, it helps when reading of this book to have some familiarity with Jewish diaspora history and culture, and Yiddish folk tales. Or maybe it would be weird even if one grew up in an orthodox Jewish home with a rabbi father.
A Hologram For The King by Dave Eggers
Paris I Love You But You’re Bringing me Down by Rosencrans Baldwin
Gone Girl by Gillian Flyn
Canada by Richard Ford
I’m happy to see Sherman Alexie topping your list. I wasn’t aware he had done something recently. He’s been very quiet for a number of years. In the 90′s I saw him speak and he was fantastic and I really enjoyed his views on so many things. He joked about Custer and in essence said the only reason he was able to beat the Indians was because he kept showing up at dawn and that was just to early to fight. He also told a great story about a round table discussion he was in with President Clinton. Clinton had just related a story about his ancestral bloodline including some tribe and a bit later Alexie was asked about things that bothered him as an Indian. He said something like (and obviously I’m paraphrasing), “It really bothers me when people start claiming their Indian heritage and talking about how they are 1/25th this or 1/25th that.” Basically, he was having a joke at Clinton’s expense. He then said later that night at a dinner, Clinton caught his eye from across the room and made his way towards Alexie. Alexie commented that Clinton is a big man and as he made his way across the room he couldn’t help but think about how poorly most meetings between U.S. Presidents and Indians had gone in the past so he was a bit intimidated. When Clinton reached him, he leaned in close and almost whispered in his ear, “You know, you’re a really funny guy.” Alexie was relieved.
Last word, before you all call me out on being politically incorrect by not using the term “Native American” above, I did that by design. Alexie, in his speech, made a point of not only not having any issue with being called an Indian, but actually having an issue with the term Native American. He said, most of us in this room are Native Americans. If you were born here, you’re a Native American.
I’m looking forward to reading his latest. My favorite has been Reservation Blues. It’s just so beautifully written.
Keith, Alexie has been my favorite author for years and years. He spoke at the Decatur Book Festival a few years ago – did you catch that? He’s also been on Colbert – you’re right, he’s a very funny guy.
He has another recent(ish) book of short stories and poetry called War Dances from 2009. Brilliant! I’m so jealous Dave got to read his new one a bit early.
If you haven’t, you should check out his website. He posts on it pretty often.
I did not see him at DBF…before my time here n Decatur. My experience with him was mid-90′s. I will check out his site. After my initial introduction to him, I read most of his stuff and then for a number of years when I would check to see if he had something recent, I never found anything. I guess I finally quit looking and he fell of my radar. Glad to have him back on it.
I’ve enjoyed ebooks by Edgar Rice Burroughs from Project Gutenberg, including Thuvia, Maid of Mars and A Princess of Mars. Started Tarzan of the Apes last night.
Just finished Beach Music by Pat Conroy. That boy can write!
Gone Girl has been on my list for a long time; I have heard and read so many good things about it. All my reading for the next six weeks is geared toward the Decatur Book Festival, but after that for sure.
I think the genius of Sherman Alexie is his great ear for dialogue and his fluid writing style make it all appear so effortless. Then, WHACK, you get the point he’s trying to make. The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian (it’s actually semi-autobiographical fiction) should be read by every kid in high school.
And, yes indeed, Pay Conroy can write!
Alexie’s DBF appearance several years back is one of my top 5 DBF memories. I love the film Smoke Signals.
I’m an avid reader, but when on vacation, I usually read only on the plane or at the airport. All other times it seems a better idea to people watch or scenery watch or just stare into space.
American Tapestry: the Story of the White, Black and MultiRacial ancestors of Michelle Obama. (author Rachel Swarns)
This is a fascinating book by a NY Times reporter. It’s a blend of heroic stories, tragic ends and a reminder of the often cruel turns of Southern history. Mrs. Obama’s ancestors included an enslaved woman, a successful Birmingham businessman, orphaned children, Southern tenant farmers, Pullman porters, and very plucky people who left their small towns as part of the Great Migration north. The author does a great job of telling individual stories as well as the sweep of history.
In a few cases, her reporting introduced members of the family to each other where they had lost touch in previous generations.
There was a very interesting New York Times article (with a Clayton County connection) published last month by Ms. Swarns based on her research for this book.
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/06/17/us/dna-gives-new-insights-into-michelle-obamas-roots.html
I love Alexie. I too have been wading through Game of Thrones and am finally on the fifth book. Then I’ll watch the series. Those books have finally cured my post-Harry Potter blues!
Definitely for me, too– but now I’m impatient for the GoT/SoI&F 6th book, and Sr. Martin is notorious for taking his own sweet time to crank out a book. It could be anothe 2 years!!
I am enjoying all the Nora Ephron I never cared about reading before I read, in her obit, how good it was. I can honestly say it seems like she would have been a great person to have lunch with, witty and smart, without the weight of a full meal. Definitely lighter, even as a summer read, than all of you smart neighbors!
I too read Gone Girl, which led me to reading all her other books. Man, can Ms. Flynn write some disturbing female characters. I did enjoy reading all of the books, though I thought Gone Girl was the best.
I can’t wait for Adam Gidwitz’s new book!
I’ve read the new Bess Crawford mystery and a couple of the Inspector Rutledge series, both by Charles Todd. I also just finished reading Karin Slaughter’s newest, Criminal, one of my guilty pleasure series. I also finally read Unbroken, by Laura Hillenbrand.
The happiest reading event this summer was that my rising 5th grader finally has read the Harry Potter series, my ultimate favorites. He’s loved them as much as I did, and he’s already talking about rereading them. Yeah! In addition, he’s loving Camp Half Blood at LSOS right now, which has made me want to reread The Lightning Thief series again. Unfortunately, all our copies have fallen apart due to extreme love.
Just came back from 5 days on Mackinac Island, Michigan….read “South of Superior” by Ellen Airgood…wonderful novel of life in an isolated town in Michigan on the shore of Lake Superior. The last few pages had me riveted to my seat, even though I had landed in ATL and it was time to get off the plane.