Wednesday, June 17, 2009

Summer Reading List


I've got a couple of "real" books on my nightstand and several in a queue on my Kindle. Here's my current summer reading list:

On the Nightstand:

John Calvin: Pilgrim and Pastor by W. Robert Godfrey. I swore in public (on the PresbyBloggers blogsite) that I would read and review this by the 500th anniversary of Calvin's birthday (July 17). It's available on Kindle, but I thought I would want to keep a hard copy. Um. I'm on page 77 and finding it really tough slogging. The book is giving me a bad case of the MEGO's (my eyes glaze over). But I've got to pull it together and finish it. Somehow.

The Reckoning by Sharon Kay Penman. This last book in her trilogy about Wales in the 13th century was not available for the Kindle, but the other two were so I bought the hard copy. Penman is a fabulous historical novelist. I highly recommend her works. But its a very bloody and savage world she writes about so I try not to read it before bedtime. No MEGO here.

The Diva Wore Diamonds by Mark Schweizer. Ever have a book you put off reading because you know you will love it so much you will hate to finish it? That's how I feel about the books in the Liturgical Mystery series and thankfully Schweizer has produced a brand new book!

In the Kindle Queue:

The Shop on Blossom Street by Debbie Macomber. This is a book about a knitting shop and is the first in a series. I read it very quickly and found it okay but very formulaic and predictable. I'm not going to read any more in the series. I think avid knitters would be disappointed because the knit shop is just a device to bring the characters together and there is very little about knitting in the novel.

Drop Shot by Harlan Coben. My SIL recommended these Myron Bolitar mysteries. This is the first one I read and its quite enjoyable--witty, unpredictable and the perfect read by the pool or at the beach. I'll get some more of these.

Second Glance by Jodi Picoult. I like Picoult's novels, which usually involve medical-legal-ethical issues and have unexpected plot developments. I finished her novel Plain Truth (about the Amish and a suspected infanticide) recently and then ordered this one. Not great literature, but good reads.

What's on your nightstand and/or Kindle?

5 comments:

Gannet Girl said...

I used the Godfrey book as one of several for a paper last term and didn't think much of it. He tends to overgeneralize without presenting much support for what he says.

I will admit to having read a couple of those Debbie Macomber books, including one a few weeks ago when I was sick and needed breaks from writing papers (such as the one above). They provide some (very) light entertainment for circumstances such as that.

I love Jodi Piccolt and totally agree with your assessment. What I want to know is how she gets them researched and written so fast.

I'm using Silent in the Grave right now as a break from Hebrew. Did I get that recommendation from you? It's exactly perfect -- historical setting, some real dilemmas, well written, but not overly burdensome -- for my needs right now.

Anonymous said...

Plain Truth is my fave of the JP books - my mom, sister and I are ready for the new movie to come out - those are great summer reading. If you haven't tried the Alexander McCall Smith Sunday Philosophy Club books, they are good also!

Jody Harrington said...

GG--
You may have gotten that recommendation from me. Penman also writes some good medieval era mysteries.

ElastiGirl--
Didn't know Plain Truth was in production! I love the Sunday Philosophy Club books, too.

Reformed Catholic said...

You may like another Calvin book, by a Pittsburgh Theological Seminary professor: The Theology of John Calvin by Dr. Charles Partee.

Available on Amazon, and at Cokesbury.

Mary J DuVal said...

I love the term "WEGO" - so clever. I bought "Time & Chance" by Penman(as per your recommendation), but haven't started it. Right now I'm reading "World Without End" by Follet (book club), 800 pages and so far no WEGO. I also need to finish "Blue Like Jazz" by Donald Miller and "Called to Question" by Joan Chittister.