Chapter 28 September

Welcome Back and Happy Labor Day! Boy, it seems as if the summer just flies by as I get older. The last few months have been quite busy for me as I am sure they have been for you. Don't worry, though, just because I've stopped selling books it doesn't mean I'm not reading them. I have read over twenty books this summer. Some were great, some good, some of the books I won't even tell you about!

Since June 30, the day Norma and I settled on the store sale (you should go in to see the new owner, Mindy), I feel like I've been running. I helped Mindy with an event at Chapin Library, went on a family vacation to Walt Disney World in Florida, had a BFF weekend with my bestie, and got the opportunity to spend a week with our 10 year old grandson Max. Now I am back in relaxation mode until we go to New Hampshire in September.

So without further ado here are five of the notable books from my summer reading. Some I read for book club, some for pleasure, and some for enlightenment (because we all can use some of that).

The House in the Cerulean Sea by T.J. Klune - Out of all the books I read this summer this is the one which surprised me the most. It is considered a Young Adult book but it is captivating for adults as well. Linus Baker leads a quiet life as an inspector of group homes for magical youth. He is summoned by Upper Management to go to Marsyas Island Orphanage, where six dangerous children reside: a gnome, a sprite, a wyvern, an unidentifiable green blob, a were-Pomeranian, and the Antichrist. Linus must determine if the children are a threat to the world and whether the orphanage and the children should be eliminated. This would be a terrific read for a book club.

The Longest Day of the Year by Kim Wright - I got the opportunity to meet Kim Wright in July when I helped Mindy of Bookends at the Chapin Library. This story captured my attention almost immediately. Four women are sitting on the beach in June enjoying the solitude. There is Clio - a waitress, Amy - the wife of an ambitious developer, Josie - who has recently recovered from breast cancer, and Cully - an 80 year old woman. As the story develops and Wright tells the reader about each woman the reader understands what they all have in common.

The Final Revival of Opal & Nev by Dawnie Walton - This had been on my TBR pile since last summer and I'm so glad I got a chance to read it. In the story Opal and Nev were a duet back in the 70's with some modest success until one night at a showcase concert. When the fighting ended, Opal was left with a broken leg, and the duo was pretty much out in the cold. How Opal goes on to fight for the things she believes in is a big part of the story. If you enjoyed Taylor Jenkins Reid's Daisy Jones and the Six, I think you would like this.

The Rabbit Factor by Antti Tuomainen - Tuomainen (do not ask me how to pronounce his name) is a Finnish author who apparently has written some very dark mystery thrillers. When someone made a comment about his propensity for darkness he wrote this humorous, although somewhat dark, novel. Henri Koskinen is an insurance actuarial when he loses his job and his brother dies at just about the same time. Henri finds out he is heir to his brother's adventure park and the fun begins. Between kooky employees, a possible romance, and people who are trying to kill him, Henri's story is funny and satisfying. This is the first of a trilogy. Amazon is making this into a movie starring Steve Carell in the starring role.

The Messy Lives of Book People by Phaedra Patrick - I have loved most of Patrick's previous books so I knew I would pick this one up when it came out. Liv Green has often dreamed of being a writer but as a busy mother of two with a husband who is just barely keeping his family's publishing business afloat, she has become a house cleaner. Luckily she works for Essie Starling, famous writer and notorious recluse. When Essie dies suddenly, her dying wish is for Liv to finish writing her book for her. Some twists and turns lead to a very enjoyable ending.

As promised here are just 5 of the books I read this summer. Stay tuned for more as I get back into writing again!

How about you? What have you read this summer?