Our book group discussion was interesting this month. On July 25 we discussed Eat, Pray, Love at Aqua S (Thanks to Michelle for making that happen! And a record turnout of 14!) This is a book that's been on the bestseller list for over a year, sells as fast as I get it in, and prompts many female customers to grab their friend's arm and say- "Oh you've just got to read this!" If I had a nickel for every person who's said 'I loved this book' I'd be dining at Aqua S more often. So I went into the evening prepared to be reviled for my not so positive opinions of Elizabeth Gilbert's self-absorbed, unrealistic post-divorce year o' travel. Surprisingly, my views were shared almost unanimously. Those who have been divorced commented on how 'fortunate she was not to have any children relying on her' and how nice it must have been to fund her self-explorations with a publishing advance. As a travelogue, I found the India and Indonesia sections much more interesting than Italy, or maybe she stopped whining so much. As a group, we wonder if perhaps a lot of unhappy women out there are perhaps living vicariously through this book. Comments?
Next up for us- The Vanishing Act of Esme Lennox by Maggie O'Farrell. Other book groups August selections include Can't Wait to Get To Heaven (Fannie Flagg) and Happenstance (Carol Shields) which is an interesting two-novels-in-one book about a marriage in transition. One half is the husband's perspective. Turn the book over and upside down and the other half begins telling the wife's point of view from the same time period. Very intriguing read.
Our sympathies to the family of Randy Pausch, who died last week after a battle with pancreatic cancer. Pausch is the Carnegie-Mellon prof behind the internet sensation and subsequent book The Last Lecture.
Chris and I both recently read an advance of
The Gargoyle by Andrew Davidson and
highly recommend it. It arrives August 5 and I can't wait to handsell it. The story is pretty complex but focuses on a horribly burned man who, in hospital, is befriended by a woman from the psych ward who begins telling him the story of their love in past lives. I would compare it to Audrey Niffenegger's
The Time Traveler's Wife which I also loved. A really unique and beautiful story that should catch a lot of attention.
The Story of Edgar Sawtelle (David Wroblewski) is still moving briskly. Seems a lot of people are drawn to this Hamletesque story of a mute boy and his dogs. There's still time to read
The Audacity of Hope by Barack Obama before the Democratic Convention and handily it just came out in mass market. Another one to get you ready for an upcoming event (Beijing Olympics) is
Lost On Planet China by J. Maarten
Troost. I now definitely never, ever want to go to China and am pretty much convinced that this nation's impact on global environmental and economic crises will be the ultimate undoing of modern humanity. This is a
MUST read for any resident of Planet Earth.
On a lighter note, Lisa is enjoying Passion on the Vine: A Memoir of Food, Wine and Family in the Heart of Italy (Sergio Esposito) and I have decided that World Without End is not a book to take to the beach or pool and am now saving it for Fall.
Some new titles on our summer reading wall include Elin Hilderbrand's Barefoot the cover blurb of which is 'Three women, three secrets, one long hot summer' and Charles Martin's Where The River Ends which promises a story of heartbreaking loss and undying love. Claiborne was less than enchanted with a similar tale told in the memoir The Geography of Love by Glenda Burgess coming out August 5.
Do you remember my mentioning Lesley Kagen this winter? She is the author who joined us for our discussion of her book, Whistling in the Dark which our entire group really enjoyed. We were very excited when she told us she would have a new book out this summer and I am pleased to say that it just arrived! Land of a Hundred Wonders is a new paperback release, takes place in Kentucky and looks again to be a fine product of Kagen's writing skills and story telling talents.
So despite my annual summer magazine binges I'm still getting in some real reading. I'm currently putting aside books to read while enjoying two weeks with my family at their beach house (including a book Chris and I want to read together- Don't You Forget About Me, which features essays by contemporary writers on the films of John Hughes. You know- Pretty in Pink, Ferris Bueller, The Breakfast Club, that John Hughes.)
What a great way to wrap up the summer - long hot days by the cool blue sea in a comfy beach chair with some good books. Can I get a drink with an umbrella over here please?
The Wright Memorial winter restoration project is complete and, for the first time in years, visitors can once again go inside and climb a spiral staircase up to a small observation platform atop the landmark pylon... a limited number of tickets are issued for each Tuesday starting the Saturday before, for reservations call (252)-441-7430... the wildlife population in Duck is alive and well and, for some species, booming... please DO NOT feed raccoons, opposums and foxes... teaching them to expect food from humans causes them to lose their natural fear (vital for their survival) and can turn them into dangerous pests.. the natural food chain is working, please leave it alone... kudos to Kathy McCullough-Testa and her intern Anna Sawyer for a job well done- the Fourth of July Parade went off without a hitch and was a smashing success; traffic flow was the best ever and an estimated 7,000 people came out to enjoy both the parade and the watermelon and music at the park... if you build it, they will come- summer events at the Park have been drawing crowds! Upwards of 100 people have been turning up for Pilates, Tai Chi and story times (see link below)... anywhere from 250 to 500 people have showed up for concerts and other cultural events... Sarah took part in a wonderful three week drama camp held by Dockside Theater which culminated in three performances of High School Musical.. director Connie Rose did an incredible job with the local talent and I speak for many satisfied parents when I thank her sincerely for all her hard work... as our summer staff starts trickling back to college or to life in 'the real world', Duck's Cottage would like to say THANKS to everybody!... for smiling when accepting sweaty money from morning exercisers... for pointing out the obvious to newspaper hunters... for explaining over and over 'that is the regular coffee of the day'...for taking the blame on lattes that were 'supposed to be skim' but weren't requested as such... for the help, the laughs, the good times, the busy times, the crazy busy times... Danielle, Piper, Mary, Kyle, Jeanne, Emily, Betsy, Mandy, Lisa.. it wouldn't and couldn't happen without you!!