Summer Reading: How's it Going?

Everyone in the Book World has been heralding "summer reading" since March. Hopefully, you've taken up the torch (or, perhaps, flashlight) for the cause.

What are you reading?

Myself, I've been bouncing all over the place. I've read fiction and non-fiction, listened to audiobooks, uploaded books to my e-reader, lugged hardbacks and paperbacks to the park, on vacation, and my backyard.

Here are a few of my favorites:

Ghost Fleet — What will World War III look like? This book supposes the event to take place at an unspecified time in the late 2000s. An archnemeses of the United States takes it upon themselves to restructure the world order, and we meet the key players on both sides. It read like a movie in my head. The characters were diverse and powerful, and the story riveting. Written in 2014 by military-technology experts, we got a glimpse of how it might go down. If you read the e-book, you can skip the embedded footnotes, which add nothing to the story but are an interesting read after the action is over. Thanks to My Library for hooking me up with this great book! (P.S. Visit ghostfleetbook.com on your laptop computer.)

When Women Were Dragons — This book surpassed all of the hype it's received thus far. In the hands of trusted YA author Kelly Barnhill in her first adult-fiction novel, the title is literal: women are turning into dragons, coming to a head in the U.S. during the Great Dragoning of 1955. The story is told from the perspective of Alex, a young girl whose family is affected, and Professor H.N. Ganz. The story alternates between first-person narrative and occasional excepts from federal committee hearing minutes on the phenomenon. It's an interesting look at America of the 1950s — yes, dragons aside, it really was like that — and an opportunity to speculate on our society now.

Love and Saffron — If you read 84, Charing Cross Road, you'll love this book. (If you haven't read 84, Charing Cross Road, you really need to rectify that soon.)  Joan writes a fan letter to a newspaper columnist she admires, Imogene, and includes a package of saffron and a recipe. The two exchange letters, share secrets, and connect in very real ways. I laughed, I cheered, and the final page made me sob good tears.

Let me know in the comments what you're reading, or send me a message.

Happy reading!