Beautiful Old Broads find some summer reads

Hello Dear Ones,

As almost every paper and magazine has a column on beach books, I decided to add my suggestions to the many grains of sand out there and after writing a book review column for years for the Kerrville Times, I know readers like short reviews.  So here goes. 

First up, “Transatlantic”, by Colum McCann

Not a frothy chic flic by any means.  Anchored at both ends by the historic first non-stop flight across the Atlantic in 1919, this book is a sail through a century of Irish and American history.  Three different stories are braided together following four generations of women.  Complex, but once you get your sea legs, it’s a mesmerizing journey.

Next book is “The Crane Wife” by Patrick Ness.  I confess I haven’t read this novel (I’m on the wait list at the library) but it’s been recommended by a BOB (also a favorite niece) who is a discerning reader.  Based on a Japanese folk tale, the author has updated it to present day London where a crane lands in the main character’s garden to start the story.

One of my favorites, “The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry”, by Rachel Joyce, is a perfect read summer or winter.  When sadsack, meek, henpecked Harold pops out the door to mail a letter strange things unfold.  No one, especially his wife Maureen, anticipates a 627 mile journey across England to make a connection with his old dying friend, Queenie.  Surprises await at every mile.  Discovery, fulfillment, humor, love—what a journey.  You’ll be uplifted…and transported.  And how nice is it to have oldies for main characters?

Whew!  When I heard Elizabeth Gilbert had a new book out, I wasn’t interested.  Her last memoir, “Eat, Pray, Love” gave me indigestion.  Lucky I overcame my distaste and checked out “The Signature of All Things” or I would have missed one of the best books of the year.  Born in 1800, Alma Whittaker is the daughter of one of the richest men in the world.  She has a lonely childhood on a huge estate outside of Philadelphia and grows into a curious and bright young woman who is fascinated with growing things; mosses in particular.  Like the mosses Alma treasures, this story moves slowly and concentrates on the small events until Alma falls in love and discovers her emotions.  This is a glorious sweeping book that transposes you to another time and place.

Two more suggestions: “The Aviator’s Wife”, by Melanie Benjamin is a rich historical novel about the Lindbergh’s 40 year marriage.  An intimate picture of Anne and her struggle to fit in with her high flying husband. 

Last suggestion is “The Art of Fielding”, by Chad Harbach.  This is a baseball novel…sort of.  It does start and end with baseball but in between pages are packed with a love story, a campus story, and so much more.  I liked the setting on the shores of a Great Lake.

            “Writers keep staring at nothing until they write something.”