The book club I’m in decided to take a hiatus from required reading this summer so all of us could knock out some of the books on our To Be Read shelves. I’m not sure how you define “summer reading” — I don’t really read a certain type of book in the summer, I just read a lot more of them.
Here are my favorites (so far): “The Kite Runner” — I read it again because I couldn’t get Amir and Hassan out of my head. “Snow Flower and the Secret Fan” — a wonderful story of friendship and misunderstanding in the foot-binding days of old China. “To Kill a Mockingbird” — I read it in high school, but didn’t really appreciate it. Even without the lessons on racism and tolerance, it’s a great book — a wonderful character study. Scout, Jem and Atticus will stay with me for awhile. As will Owen Meany. John Irving’s “A Prayer for Owen Meany” is often mentioned as a reader favorite. It’s long, and I wasn’t sure what it was about until more than a third of the way into it, but I’m so glad I stayed with it.
I’m reading “Balzac and the Little Chinese Seamstress” now and taking “The Memory Keeper’s Daughter” and “The No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency” to the beach soon. What’s the best book you read this summer? What’s your all-time favorite?
Jeni Donlon is a deputy metro editor for The Commercial Appeal. A Hoosier and graduate of Indiana University’s School of Journalism, she came to Memphis in 1990 via Texas and Florida. She answers to a lot of titles: wife, editor, adjunct professor, Weight Watchers dropout, piano student, former PTA president and book club organizer, but mostly she answers to “Mom.” She is married and has two kids — Grace, 8, and John William, 10 — two cats and a dog.
Responses to “Guest Diva Jeni: The best of summer reading”
August 10th, 2006 at 4:48 pm
Of the ones you’ve read, I also loved The Kite Runner, To Kill a Mockingbird (it’s my very favorite book of all, EVER!), and The #1 Ladies Detective Agency — the latter is an entire series of books, all of which I read this year. They’re all wonderful.
My favorite book of the last year or so is Marley & Me by John Grogan. Grogan is a columnist with the Philadelphia Inquirer and Marley & Me is subtitled “the world’s worst dog.” I think I’ve gotten nearly everyone I know to read it — it’s funny and engaging and sad. It doesn’t matter if you’re not a dog person. At its heart, this is a book about a family, not just a dog, and about the universal themes of love, life and loyalty that go with being a part of a family. Add it to your list! 
August 10th, 2006 at 4:53 pm
Cynthia, I love Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil too! I also like the movie, but that might have more to do with my love of John Cusack and Kevin Spacey! My very favorite writer is Anne Tyler, and I just finished reading her book Ladder of Years. I really enjoyed it. She has a wonderful way of creating quirky characters you can really care about. Her books are very easy to read, too, which makes for nice summer reading.
August 10th, 2006 at 5:16 pm
Southern Girl, I bought “Marley and Me” for my dad for Father’s Day, but haven’t read it myself. It’s definitely going to be on my list for Christmas break…
August 21st, 2006 at 10:40 am
A great and helpful website when searching for books is the www.booksense.com. They have a marvelous online newsletter (also available in hard copy at Davis-Kidd or another independent bookseller). It comes out monthly and has some specialty editions as well, such as History, Book Group GUides, Children etc.
August 21st, 2006 at 10:41 am
I just started “Snow Flower and the Secret Fan” and so far it’s great. I thought the Kite Runner was good (in an excrutiating way) but ultimately a bit contrived. Best book I have read this year is “Small Island” by Andrea Levy. Also liked The March by E.L. Doctorow. My top 5 books ever would include “The Confessions of Nat Turner” by Wm. Styron, “Stones from the River” by Ursela Hegi, “Life of Pi” (forget author right now), “The Poisonwood Bible” by Barbara Kingsolver and “Look Homeward Angel” by Thomas Wolfe.
August 23rd, 2006 at 6:35 pm
Back from the beach with my book report… “The Memory Keeper’s Daughter” was very good. Lots to discuss here if you’re in a book club — I noticed it’s climbing the club charts. “The No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency” was a fun, light read. I didn’t get hooked into the series, though, like many others have. “Balzac and the Little Chinese Seamstress” was a good little read on the importance of books and freedom. Now I’m reading “The Blind Assassin” by Margaret Atwood — great writing.
August 10th, 2006 at 4:16 pm
I’ve been reading mystery and crime novels. They’ve been interesting but nothing to write home about. My all time faves (not including classics): “Midnight in the Garden of Good & Evil” by John Berendt(?). I never saw the movie as there is no way it could hold a candle to the book, which I read over & over. Also, “The Lovely Bones” by Alice Sebold. This story stayed with me long after completing it. One more, “The Girls Guide to Hunting and Fishing” by Melissa Banks. It’s just a fun read. I’m a fan of David Sedaris and Augusten Burroughs, but they aren’t for everyone! From your list, I’ll have to check out “The Kite Runner” and “The #1 Ladies Detective Agency” and I’m looking forward to it!