august books: reading in transition

The Lost Art of Keeping Secrets, Eva Rice
I’ve said it before: I love this book so much. The story of Charlotte and Penelope, Inigo and Rocky and Harry, captivates me every time. I love all the sweet period details; the funny moments; the poignancy of love at any age; the way Penelope finds just what she needs in the end. The perfect book for a crazy transition.

The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society, Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows
This is another favorite, and it was time for a reread. I’d forgotten how much I loved Juliet, the protagonist/narrator – she’s so quirky, sassy, smart and compassionate. And the supporting cast is excellent, and the stories of wartime Guernsey never fail to humble me. It’s no wonder every English town has a few war monuments, most of them etched somewhere with the words “Let us never forget.”

The Art of Eating In: How I Learned to Stop Spending and Love the Stove, Cathy Erway
This was my first pick from our new library. I enjoyed Cathy’s stories of cooking in Brooklyn, joining underground supper clubs and participating in cook-offs. Toward the end, her tastes turned a bit too “foodie” for me, and most of the recipes aren’t what I’d probably make. But I like her writing style, and I love her mission: to make home-cooked food more accessible to those of us who aren’t gourmet chefs. Especially those who live in urban areas with small kitchens.

The Lightning Thief, Rick Riordan
I’d been hearing about the Percy Jackson books for a while, but didn’t pick them up until Gail lent me Shanna’s copy, to be returned when Shanna gets to Boston. (Confused yet?) Anyway, I quite enjoyed the first installment of the series; Percy and his friends are funny, likable and smart, and Riordan’s renderings of the gods are really entertaining. I immediately borrowed the next two books from Abi and Nate.

The Physick Book of Deliverance Dane, Katherine Howe
I don’t know why I waited so long to read this. It’s set in Boston/Cambridge/Salem, and it’s fascinating, well detailed, slightly creepy and totally compelling. I stayed up waaay too late finishing it, because I couldn’t wait to see what happened to Connie Goodwin and the other main characters (most of whom lived 300 years before she did). It’s fiction, but it throws an interesting new light on the Salem witch trials.

The Sea of Monsters, Rick Riordan
I blazed through this in one afternoon – it was a Sunday, and I couldn’t put the book down. The second installment was better than the first. I love how Riordan weaves together Greek myths, familiar and unfamiliar, so you’re learning along with Percy and trying to figure things out as he does. These books have many parallels with Harry Potter, but they’re not an imitation – they’re almost like a different work in the Harry Potter genre, as my friend Drew says. Excellent.

The Titan’s Curse, Rick Riordan
After the surprise ending of Book 2, I picked up Book 3 and blazed through that one too. I love these a-bunch-of-kids-have-to-save-the-world stories, and these are endlessly entertaining and funny. (There is some sadness in this one, though.) On to Book 4!

The Battle of the Labyrinth, Rick Riordan
I loved this fourth adventure – so many fascinating characters, plot twists and surprises. Riordan’s stories just keep getting better and better. It’s hard to write about it without giving away important plot points – so I’ll just say – go pick up this series, if you haven’t already.