SUZANNE MCDERMOTT
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What I'm reading this summer (2017)

6/20/2017

 
Picture
Clouds from my garden.
Summer rolls in on the 21st at 12:24 am. Do something special to mark the longest day of the year.

Any plans for the season? I'm preparing a set of new online drawing and watercolor courses that debut (to alums of my foundation courses) in September. Also, I am taking my first, actual, planned vacation in late August and truly looking forward to that. But on the other hand, I'm enjoying life immensely right now, so I can wait.

I am leaving behind the habits of checking the news more than once daily (if that often), and of streaming movies and tv shows online. I'm sick to death of both and am back to reading.

I've just discovered Andrew Garve (aka Paul Winterton, aka Roger Bax, aka Paul Somers), and finished his Hide And Go Seek this afternoon.  I discovered this book in a free basket (as I have several other fab reads over the years), opened to a random page, read a paragraph aloud, put it under my arm and am committed to three more of his. 

Here's what else I have stacked up for summer:
Alice Carter, The Red Rose Girls
Andrew Garvey, Murder in Moscow, Ashes of Loda, Cuckoo Line Affair
Umberto Eco, History of Beauty
M. J. Rose, The Book of Lost Fragrances
re-read, again, Landscape into Art 
Jacob Wenzel, Landscapes From Brueghel to Kandinsky 
Stephen Greenblatt, The Swerve
finish Jeffrey Archer's Be Careful What You Wish For √ and
next installment of The Clifton Chronicles, Mightier Than The Sword
Joyce Cary, Art and Reality
Alice Munro, 
Runaway
re-read Ram Dass, Still Here
and, if there's any time left, would like to re-read
Leonie Swann, Three Bags Full
Conrad Richter, The Light in the Forest and
Hansen & Davis, Boone

How are you celebrating the Solstice? What are your plans for the summer? Any good reading suggestions to share? Tell me everything! Leave a comment below.
Lucy Wilhelm
6/20/2017 04:10:03 pm

You asked? My Summer solstice, 2017: Invited a few of the neighbors that I don’t know (as well as some I do) for a potluck picnic in my backyard; most don’t have ‘real’ yards but I have grass and shrubs and a huge silver maple. Small urban oasis, rare for a Boston area city lot. I’ll string up some festive colored lights over the garden.

Summer Reading: just began Taylor Caldwell’s Dear and Glorious Physician. It came out to great acclaim when I was in 8th grade; had never read it. Beautiful writing, historical fiction, life of St. Luke.

Your memories of your dad are beautiful. What a gift to his memory to write them all down. A few of mine: He was a city boy, NYC, Eagle Scout, only boy in his family, among older sisters; always honored his parents. Liked women and was always comfortable with them (and vice versa) but had eyes only for my mother. Became a Methodist minister, over time, served 9 churches on the East coast. Once was invited to lunch with Eleanor Roosevelt in the White House, with other young clergy. Plowed and planted a huge vegetable garden in one rural home, learned as he went. He taught me along with the brothers, to load and shoot a .22 rifle, tin can off a stump. (Hated the gun, never used it again). Hauled me out to the driveway after I got my driver’s license, made me learn to change a tire. Six months later I needed the skill on a mountain road in rural Kentucky. Loved to teach the church youth favorite folk songs and rounds; played the ukulele which he later gave to me. Born in 1914, he was 30 when I was born (do the math!).

Suzanne McDermott
6/20/2017 06:28:48 pm

Thanks for sharing, Lucy. I love reading about your dad. Also reading Taylor Caldwell's name. Wow, that was a blast from the past. I think we had The Devil's Advocate and Captains and the Kings on the shelf. Enjoy your summer!


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