Anyone who knows anything at all about me knows that I thrive in the coldest of winters, and that I suffocate--heart, body, and soul--in an oppressive summer heat wave. I always survive, barely:), but life would not be possible in these conditions without loads of books by my side. Not one, not two, but many.
Coupled with the heat wave or heat dome, this is the absolutely most touristed time in my town of the entire year. It would be insane to go anywhere! For some reason that I can't possibly fathom, the first two weeks of July are madness. We have learned the hard way to pile up the food and other essentials way ahead of time and pray we haven't forgotten anything that would necessitate a trip into bedlam. Thank goodness for Wimbledon, as a diversion from reading too many books!
So! I'm still reading The Cliffs by J. Courtney Sullivan, and am still reading and loving!!! Whistler. The latter was not on my 20 Books of Summer List, but it sure is now. I'm in way, way deep!
I have a number of other books on my agenda in the coming days, and I do hope I will be able to post regularly. Like often.
Other reading possibilities on the horizon: Departures by Julian Barnes, Ghost Stories by Siri Hustvedt, and....I Must Confess that before I fall asleep at night, I've been reading The Lord of the Far Island by Victoria Holt--talk about a blast from the past!
I hope any heat coming your way will inspire you to reading your way out of it!
I melt in the heat as well, confining my outdoor time in the summer to early morning and evenings (which in CO are actually perfect). So, I feel your pain. Reading is an ideal way to beat the heat.
ReplyDeleteI have got to get a copy of Whistler. Good to hear that you are immersed.
I'm out early in the morning as well. My dog Sandy will humor me with a short walk, but after a few tenths of a mile, she announces she is "on strike." I then bring her home and go solo, though at a much slower pace than is my norm. I love seeing nature up close that way.
DeleteI am sorry that I have been inactive here for a while. I have some health-related reasons, but I still feel guilty. My motivation goes up and down. This morning I had an endoscopy to check the status of my upper GI tract, and it went much quicker and smoother than previous ones I have had. But I am still pretty much worn out and falling asleep.
ReplyDeleteWe have had coolish weather in Santa Barbara / Goleta lately. That happens a lot in June but I expect it to get warmer and sunnier in July. I would rather have June Gloom all year.
I have not gotten very far with my 20 Books of Summer. I started with a book by Stuart M. Kaminsky, Murder on the Yellow Brick Road. Then I started Middlemarch, not realizing what a commitment that was. It is not so much the length, but I have found it to be a difficult and slow read. I like it much better now that I have read nearly 500 pages, but I am taking a break. I read a Rex Stout Nero Wolfe book very quickly while I was on jury duty. Then I read a mystery by Ray Bradbury which was also challenging, although I liked it in the end. Now I am reading Lillian Boxfish Takes a Walk, which is very good. When I am done with that I will return to Middlemarch.
I hope that July in your area turns out to be less insane than you expect, and that you are enjoying all your reading.
Hi Tracy,
DeleteI'm so sorry to hear that your summer has started out on the wrong, or on a lame foot, so to speak! Middlemarch is a challenging read, no question. I'm glad you're enjoying it more as you get deeper into it. I read it in college, and it was fascinating to me then--I think because we had a wonderful woman professor.
And how I do understand that you'd rather have June Gloom than ultra-high temperatures! I get it!
Actually, I think it sounds to me as though you have read quite a bit in the past month! Good luck!
Avoid heat & the town! I can relate ... and often try to escape humanity here. It's good you enjoyed Whistler which seems to have plenty of heart to it. You saw my review. Is The Cliffs any good? And thank goodness for Wimbledon. I'm a big tennis fan too. Given house chores or Wimbledon I will procrastinate as long as possible in front of a good match. And only switch to the World Cup on commercials. Otherwise it's strawberries & cream at Wimbledon, lol.
ReplyDeleteActually, I have 40 pages to go in Whistler and almost can't bear to come to an end! The Cliffs is very good, but I wasn't sure until I was exactly one third of the way into it. I'm loving it now!
DeleteI'm a little worried--I've loved all of the books for my 20 Books of Summer List, but feel, or fear, that the other books cannot possibly measure up. Well, if so, I'll have to do some switcheroos!!! Here's to joy while reading, no matter what!