Thursday, May 27, 2010

Summer's A-Comin'

I love summer in Southern California.  It's hot, dry--perfect for lounging by the pool.


And since we are so lucky to have a pool, this is where I plan to be sitting for the next 12 weeks.  Kids LOVE swimming.  Whole afternoons can go by in the pool, resulting in water-logged, sun-tired kids.  Bedtime is a bit breezier when they're exhausted.  But a mom's gotta watch those kids every afternoon as they create underwater worlds of mermaids, diving contests of Olympic proportions, and splashy, fishy games.  So what am I going to do?  Read.

There is pretty much nothing I love more when I'm off in the summer than reading.  It brings back memories of my childhood when I curled up in a massive chair and devoured animal books like One Hundred and One Dalmatians, Bambi, and Where the Red Fern Grows. 

So in the spirit of summer, here is my reading list for this year:

To Kill a Mockingbird  by Harper Lee (because it's the 50th anniversary)

Honolulu  by Alan Brennert (because reading about Hawaii of the past will be a great escape from the present)

I Feel Bad About My Neck by Nora Ephron (because I'm an older mom--enough said--except that I think Nora Ephron is tremendously funny)

The Year of Magical Thinking by Joan Didion (because Joan Didion is so smart, and this memoir of the year she lost her husband promises to be a brilliant look at love and grief)

Prodigal Summer by Barbara Kingsolver (because it's a beautifully written, sexy look at nature and all the sensuousness that summer can spark)

The Last Lecture by Randy Pausch (because my husband gave me this book 2 Christmases ago, and I haven't been able to bring myself to read it.  I think it's time to appreciate its beauty)

Snow Flower and the Secret Fan by Lisa See (because I think Lisa See is a fantastic, contemporary writer, and my niece says this is one of her favorite books)

What's on your reading list this summer?  I love comments.  Let me know what you're reading, and maybe I'll get inspired to add a few more to my list.

Happy Summer!

2 comments:

Organic Motherhood with Cool Whip said...

Love your reading list. Barbara Kingsolver is one of my favorites too. I love her Poisonwod Bible also. Well really all her books. But my favorite author? Haruki Murakami? Have you read anything by him? He is a genius. Check out Wild Sheep Chase if you haven't read it already. xoxoxo Naomi

Marie Green said...

Oh! I've read most of these! I LOVED I Feel Bad About My Neck, really liked Year of Magical Thinking, LOIVED Prodigal Summer, and loved Snow Flower and the Secret Fan.

Basically, I think you have an excellent list!