Another Day in the Country
What have you been reading?
© Another Day in the Country
It seems to me that every summer, when my grandson comes to visit, he has some horrendous summer reading assignment from his English teacher at school because he’s taking advanced classes.
Last summer, it was a book about dictionaries, who writes them, and how words are included.
This summer, it’s a book about discussing literature and all the fancy terminology scholars use.
He has a list of a hundred words (I’m guessing) that he needs to know the meaning of, including “synecdoche” and “metonymy” — which, after this class, he’ll probably never use in a complete sentence again.
He also received a book to read, “Let the Great World Spin,” by Colum McCann.
To relate to what he was studying and be able to have conversation material, I asked to read some of the book when he wasn’t using it.
This book won an award, and for the life of me, I can’t figure out why. It wasn’t an easy read for me.
Anticipating Dagfinnr’s arrival, I set a stack of books in his room — some aimed at his interests and others that I thought he should know about, including the book, “How Not to Be a Dick,” a humorous book about manners. (For those readers who grew up learning to read with the “Dick and Jane” books, you’ll understand more about the play on words in the title.)
I read a review of the book “Democracy or Else” by Favreau, Lovett and Vietor.
It said, “Buy this book and give it to someone about to vote for the first time.”
So, I did — but I don’t know whether he’s read any of it yet.
Summer, I think, should be easy-reading time — light books, things that make you laugh. So, I’ve been curious about what other people in my sphere are reading.
My daughter has been reading a book written by fans of famous literary character Sherlock Holmes, titled “Stranger Than Truth.” Various writers are attempting to spin murder mystery yarns in the style of Arthur Conan Doyle.
“How’s that working out?” I wanted to know.
“They do pretty good,” she answered, “and on Audible, the reader is fantastic.”
Jess has been reading a book about Eleanor Roosevelt, “No Ordinary Time” by Doris Goodwin.
“It gave me an insight into Eleanor Roosevelt and what an extraordinary first lady she was,” Jess said. “She and FDR were this dynamic duo in the political world. She fought for civil rights and the rights of the poor, and her husband knew what a powerhouse she was. Politically, she was extremely important to him.”
My son-in-law is the most voracious reader I know. Years ago, he introduced me to the Daniel Silva books, beginning with “Unlikely Spy,” and I’ve enjoyed reading them ever since. Written in 1996, that first book probably still seems as if it deals with current events.
“I’ve just been doing garbage reading,” Richard said, with a “ha-ha” sign in his text, “about Travis McGee and Sano Ichiro, a Japanese Edo-period detective.”
I understood about three words in that sentence, but I do know the character, Travis McGee.
My friend Michaela is reading books all the time, and she gave me two recommendations. The first is “Remarkably Bright Creatures,” the debut novel of writer Shelby Van Pelt.
Even though it is fiction, this book reminds us that taking a good hard look at the past can help uncover a future that once felt impossible.
The second book is “The Summer Island” by Kristin Hannah. The title alone says summer reading.
“Somehow, it seems there’s no quiet time for reading for me this summer,” Norma said.
She lives in Sun Valley, Idaho.
“The women in yoga were talking about ‘The Women,’” she said. “It’s about nurses serving in the Vietnam War, so I’ve ordered it.”
I’ve read that book. It’s eye-opening, heart-rending, and an education in the experience of war that most of us have missed. I recommend it!
As for me, I do my reading at night, when I go to bed. During the day, deep cleaning with my family as the cleaning crew continues at my house. They’ve been shampooing all my carpets and even washing windows. It feels as if the house has taken a long, sweet breath and is refreshed.
In front of the cleaning crew, I organized beside my bed all the books that are waiting to be finished.
Usually, I read one book at a time, but most of these current volumes sound like work to me. And with family still visiting, reading isn’t a priority. I’ve had to recheck them from the library.
These books will come in handy, though, when everyone heads home, and I’ll still be here — spending another day in the country.