Menu of 15 Books for 2012 Summer Reading

I have read and enjoyed many books so far this year. I have been reading the literary classics, but I have been balancing them out with books from other genres. Here are 15 book recommendations Summer 2012. For the books on the list that I have written reviews for, I will provide a link to the SummaReviews.

Appetizers

1. Peter Pan, J M Barrie (Review)
2. The Change Your Life Book, Bill O’Hanlon (Review)

Entrees

1. The Scarlet Pimpernel, Baroness Emmuska Orczy (Review)
2. The Count of Monte Cristo, Alexandre Dumas (Review)
3. Rebecca, Daphne Du Maurier (Review)
4. Little Women, Louisa Almay Alcott (Review)
5. Watership Down: A Novel, Richard Adams (Review)
6. The Railway Children, E. Nesbit (Review)
7. Divergent, Veronica Roth (Review)
8. Insurgent (Divergent), Veronica Roth (Review)
9. The Kingdom (Graveyard Queen), Amanda Stevens: This is the second part of the Restorer trilogy (Review of The Restorer). If you are prone to nightmares and/or are afraid of ghosts then do not read this book. Amelia Gray is a graveyard restorer who can see ghosts. Her father gives her a set of rules to use when it comes to ghosts so that she can protect herself. But there are always exceptions to the rule. Her parents have a secret, which they are not sharing with her. In The Kingdom, Amelia uncovers the secret and almost gets herself killed in the process. Should we walk away from potentially dangerous situations, or should we be fearless and relentless in finding the truth.
10. The Beach House, Mary Alice Monroe: I do not deal with death and dying very well, and for those who are like me, this is a book that will help, though it’s a work of fiction. Caretta Rutlege left home 22 years ago, and for the most part, hasn’t really looked back. She has had infrequent contact with the family she left behind. Caretta’s mother makes an unusual request for her to return home for the summer. She has recently lost her job and has some time before she regroups. Unknown to her, her mother is dying from cancer and wants to spend time with her daughter at the family’s beach house. This is a story of forgiveness and the process of preparing for death. This is a well-written book with realistic characters who are flawed.
11. The Good Father, Diane Chamberlain: Most times, a book such as The Good Father is told from the point of view of the mother. The downturn in the economy has affected many, including Travis Brown, which makes it very difficult for him to care for his young daughter. As a single parent, his mother is killed in a fire, which destroys their home, and now he is left homeless. At one point he and his daughter Bella are sleeping in his van. Travis loves Bella who is the light of his life. As the story unfolds, you see what one man will do to keep his daughter. Today, many are one pay cheque away from homelessness. While reading the story you cannot help wondering, “What would I do if this was happening to me?”
12. A Turn in the Road (Blossom Street), Debbie Macomber: I thought this was a beautiful story and it warmed my heart. I love Debbie Macomber as an author. This book is more suitable for women. Ex-daughter-in-law (Bethanne Hamlin) takes a road trip across the USA with her daughter, Annie, and ex-mother-in-law, who is attending her 50^th anniversary high school reunion. Bethanne’s ex-husband Grant is pursuing her after realizing what he gave up, and she needs time to think things through and clear her mind. On the road trip, Bethanne meets Max and a relationship starts. Who will she choose to spend the rest of her life with, her ex-husband Grant, or Max? This is a wholesome love story, and I liked it that Grant was not rewarded for his bad behaviour. Oops!
13. Oxford Messed Up, Andrea Kayne Kaufman: The main character, Gloria Zimmeran, is a Rhodes Scholar from the US studying feminist poetry at Oxford. Gloria has a brilliant mind, and it so happens that she suffers from Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD). When she arrives at Oxford she thinks she has a suite to herself, but she discovers that she has to share the loo (bathroom) with another student, Henry Young – they are loomates. Henry is a musician who procrastinates, and is lazy, and doesn’t live up to his potential. The unlikely pair comes together with their obsession with Van Morrison’s music. The two help each other – Henry helps Gloria with her disorder, and Gloria helps Henry to be more focused with the study. The reader experiences a beautiful love unfolding between Gloria and Henry. The book also gives great insights into Obsessive Compulsive Disorder.

Please let me know your thoughts in the comments section below.

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