Summer Reading

Hello, cafe friends!

Do you like to challenge yourself with an ambitious summer reading list? I do! I've been accumulating a few books that are on my "must read soon" pile at the night stand. I can't wait for the long, lazy days of summer.

I have a ten good books to recommend that I have read in recent months. You may want to add these to your own Summer Reading List!

Louise Penny's Inspector Gamache mystery series is very good. Many of the stories center around the inhabitants of the small town of Three Pines in Quebec. I am reading these in order, and I think I'm on number six.

It's hard not to love Flavia de Luce, the genius girl scientist and mystery solver. This Alan Bradley series is always fun, and I plan on reading number four soon.

I'm a big fan of Stephanie Barron, especially her Jane Austen series of fictional books. This story tells the tale of Winston Churchill's mother, Jennie, an American heiress.

Based on the true story of children who were stolen and sold in adoption rings, this fictional story tells of one family and their tale throughout the decades that followed.

This fictional account of Joy Davidman, the late-in-life wife of C.S. Lewis, is very interesting. I had to get about half way through before I really came to appreciate the characters, but it does give an interesting look at post-war England and the writers of that time.

Based on a true story (but perhaps dramatized by some accounts), I hear this will be made into a movie soon. It tells the story of a young Italian spy during WWII, and his escapades with the Third Reich.

A wonderful retelling of the prodigal son story, set in the Nashville music scene.

I picked this book up at the used books sale at my library, and was so touched by this sweet story that I started passing it around. My Mom loved it, her friends loved it, and it's still being passed as far as I know. It tells the story of a young girl who goes to live with her aunt in Savannah, and starts a new life after tragedy.

This book, by the same author, is the one that I'm currently reading, and thus far I like it just as much as her first novel. It tells the story of Teddi, a woman who rescues and restores lost furniture and antiques for her store in Charleston. It also tells of her family's history in Kentucky, and the mystery of her brother's disappearance.

I am a big fan of Mary Jane Butters, and I just love her magazine Mary Jane's Farm. I purchased this book recently, and am hoping to get into this over the summer. Her sourdough method is really interesting, and this book is filled with wonderful photos and recipes. I can't wait to give this a try! There is even an online forum of Wild Bread bakers who help each other with the process. I will keep you posted!

Tell me, do you have any good books to recommend?