August-September books

Since the end of August got completely squished into September, due to our two-week European adventure, I’m doing a combination books post. Here are my last two months’ worth of reading, including four books read or started on planes, on buses and in hostels:

It’s Not About the Tapas: A Spanish Journey on Two Wheels, Polly Evans
I bought this mostly because we were about to go to Spain, and because I miss riding a bike (though I would NEVER be ambitious enough to cycle around half a country). I enjoyed it, though it did get a bit repetitive towards the end. Evans is witty, observant, self-deprecating, and appreciates a good Spanish wine.

No Children, No Pets, Marion Holland
A re-read of a perennial summer favourite. This book evokes two totally different sets of images for me. The story is set in Florida, so it evokes sand and salt air and palm trees and unexpected hurricanes, and hours playing on the beach. The experience of reading it, though, takes me back to my grandparents’ Missouri farmhouse, lying in the middle bedroom in the afternoon, laughing out loud. (I did this for years, reading this book every summer. Made me laugh every time. Still does.)

Betsy’s Wedding, Maud Hart Lovelace
The last book in the Betsy-Tacy series is definitely one of my faves – and it speaks to me anew as a young married woman and a novice writer, like Betsy. Very old-fashioned, in a sweet way; funny; realistic; and full of charming scenery and characters. I love this whole series. So much.

The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie, Alan Bradley
I borrowed Jana’s copy of this book for our long plane ride – and read it in a couple of hours. Flavia de Luce, 11-year-old chemist and detective, is utterly hilarious and charming. And the book’s plot isn’t half bad, either. Intriguing, smart and funny, with interesting characters. I’m ready for the next one in the series.

Where Shall We Go For Dinner?:A Food Romance, Tamasin Day-Lewis
This was a Blackwells purchase, and chronicles the travels of one English food writer and her boyfriend, a fine cheese purveyor from New York. They go all over the place, from Venice to the Pyrenees to Somerset, and it was mouth-watering – and highly entertaining. Highly recommended if you like food, and don’t we all? With recipes (most of which are too gourmet for me, but a few look doable).

Home, Marilynne Robinson
Julie lent me this follow-up to Gilead months ago, and I read it on our return flight to Texas. And ached. And cried. And wanted to walk right into the pages and talk to Jack and Glory Boughton, brother and sister who are dealing with Jack’s return home after 20 years’ absence. This book deserves all the accolades it got. The characters are real, and Robinson’s writing is luminous.

Much Ado About Anne, Heather Vogel Frederick
This was a fun, quick read – second in The Mother-Daughter Book Club series. Makes me want to read the Anne of Green Gables series again, but I also enjoyed the modern-day antics of Megan, Cassidy, Jess, Emma and Becca, set in Concord. Technically YA lit, but so fun.

Two Feet, Four Paws: Walking the Coastline of Britain, Spud Talbot-Ponsonby
This one also came from Blackwells – and gave me quite a new perspective on Britain’s coastal areas, most of which I’ve never seen. The author/narrator walked a distance equivalent to London to Calcutta to raise money for a homeless charity, and had some fascinating adventures along the way. Occasionally she gets a bit preachy, but I did enjoy the story of her journey with her faithful dog, Tess.

Dear Pen Pal, Heather Vogel Frederick
This is the third Mother-Daughter Book Club book (see above). Not quite as good as Much Ado About Anne, but I enjoyed it anyway – it’s full of the perils and drama of eighth grade. Reading books like this makes me glad my own junior-high days are over, but also helps me remember what I loved about them. (Mostly my friends – some of whom are still dear to my heart.)

Forest Born, Shannon Hale
This is the fourth book of Shannon’s Bayern series – following The Goose Girl, Enna Burning and River Secrets. I love, love, love these characters and their stories, so I was thrilled to get my hands on this one. Forest Born features Rin, the younger sister of Razo (who starred in River Secrets). She’s a delight to get to know, and all the old favorite characters are back. I love Shannon’s writing – so smooth, but it has such depth, like a perfectly calm glassy lake. Her characters don’t just fight battles and become queens and fall in love – they grow up, and discover things about themselves – and other people – that they never would have dreamed.

That may sound a little lame, but trust me, the Bayern books are wonderful tales of adventure, with real heart. They’re supposedly young adult, but (as with so many “young adult” books), I loooove them. Read them. You won’t be sorry.

The Actor and the Housewife, Shannon Hale
This is Shannon’s second book for adults, following Austenland (2007). It began as a dream – no, seriously – and reads like a smart, quirky, wonderfully unconventional romantic comedy. Romantic comedies are involved in the plot, actually, since one character is a famous British actor and another is a screenwriter. I don’t know how to categorize this book – it’s not normal chick lit – but it’s funny, and heartbreaking, and fabulous. Just like everything else Shannon has ever written.

A Million Miles in a Thousand Years, Donald Miller
After hearing Don speak at ACU Summit, my husband bought this book – and wow, is it fabulous. Felicity posted her review here, and I agree with her – it blew me away. I read it in a day and a half, and will definitely be revisiting its principles about stories and dreams.

That’s all for now, folks. Stay tuned for October’s books!

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