It’s already August! How did that happen? Even in quarantine/self-isolation the summer days and nights seem to roll by so quickly. Maybe that’s because the heat speeds things up? Who knows, but between online work and its related phone calls, grocery shopping, laundry, and disinfecting everything around me I’ve managed to carve out some free time to allow myself the pleasure of slipping onto the sofa or sitting on the beach and diving into a book.
So far I’ve read a couple of American classics, two different poignant tales of loss (one sent by a sweet pal in NYC), a very good contemporary novel that my friend Roger sent me from the UK and a fun guidebook to the Hamptons that features my husband Frank’s textile archive written by a close family friend.
Old Man and the Sea, by Ernest Hemingway
Now I finally understand the allure of this tale and this author. Each page was more compelling than the one before. Even reading the title I feel the grit and smell the saltwater.
The Pearl, by John Steinbeck
I thought a novella was something on daytime Telemundo! I LOVED this parable and it was packaged in such a loving way. The perfect sized “pocket” book and I’m still savoring and reflecting on the meaning of values in my own life.
The Secret History, by Donna Tart
I keep getting lost and thinking that I’m in a Brett Easton Ellis film- or maybe that’s the point, but I trust Roger and I know I’ll finish this book sometime this summer.
The Final Gift of the Beloved, by Barron Steffan
A very personal account of a man’s loss and his touching story of love. I learned a lot about the importance of the 13 days following a soul’s departure from this earth.
Graceful Exits by Sushila Blackman
If there ever was a moment to study death it would be now. This book is a rare gem and the way it’s written makes it very easy and manageable to take in the accounts of the deaths of great beings in a way that is completely uplifting and inspirational.
111 Places Not to Miss in the Hamptons, by Wendy Lubovich
Wendy is a friend, a neighbor, a talented writer and a true art buff and did I mention that she was one of the MCs at our wedding ceremony? This guidebook is sure to surprise event the most local of locals in New York’s East End of Long Island.
