Summer Reading Challenge!
Thirty days into my summer reading challenge and I’m excited to say I’ve read five of my seven books. I’m less excited to say I am suffering through my penalty book. I will be posting about that when I’m finished. For now, let me say, there’s a reason it’s my penalty book.
I’ve listened to an audiobook, A Sociopath’s Guide to Marriage by MK Oliver. I started laughing from the beginning and never stopped. A twisted ending wasn’t as satisfying as I’d hoped but still enjoyable.
I read Dan Gutman’s Red, Weird and Blue for a book with my favorite color in the title. It was a lucky coincidence; I just wanted to read it.
Shoot the Moon by Okie Billie Letts has a verb in the title. Love it for a light mystery/romance but mostly love Billie.
My PD book was Vivian Gornick’s The Situation and the Story. This is a wonderful how-to for writing memoir and I picked up some great tips for all writing!
My most shocking read was my “make up my own category” read. The last few years Amy included the category of re-reading a “book you read as a child/teenager”. Since she left it out this year, it was my “Choose your own adventure.” In honor of Nancy Drew’s 95th birthday, I read the original mystery by Mildred A. Wirt Benson. Carolyn Keene was a pen name. The Secret of the Old Clock originally published in 1930. I’m not sure it would get published today. There are long blocks of text telling the story with little action showing. Some of my favorite, out of date quotes: “Becomingly dressed in a tan cotton suit” “sales force” “he will have you discharged” “it was her mother’s ambition that Isabel marry into a socially prominent family.” “shower abuse on the young woman” “it’s Nancy Drew’s fault”. They always refer to her by her full name. And that’s from ONE chapter. LOL This book is from a time where stories were simple and heroines had no political inclinations. I recommend everyone read a book from their childhood.
