Good Reads

There's no better time to get wrapped up in a good book than the dog days of summer. It's hot, humid and no one appears to be left in town. With no meetings, no carpools and no classes, this is your chance to grab some ME time.

Here are a few books we've recently read:

The Short and Tragic Life of Robert Peace by Jeff Hobbs: With race relations in the headlines, here's the timely biography of a young black man who initially succeeded against all odds; triumphing over a childhood in the crime-ridden streets of Newark to an acceptance at Yale where he studied molecular biochemistry and biophysics. However, reconciling these two divergent worlds and escaping a history of poverty, drug dealing and racial conflict posed challenges proved too difficult to overcome. The NY Times Book Review said, "Is it possible to reinvent yourself, to sculpture your own destiny? That one man can contain such contradictions makes for an astonishing, tragic story. In Hobbs's hands, though, it becomes something more: an interrogation of our national creed of self-invention.... The Short and Tragic Life of Robert Peace deserves a turn in the nation's pulpit from which it can beg us to see the third world America in our midst."

Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel: What becomes of those who survive a worldwide pandemic? When electricity, gas, running water, medicine and even the Internet are lost, what's left? In this post-apocalyptic novel, the author portrays a group of itinerant musicians who roam the shores of Lake Huron in Michigan performing plays and concerts in impromptu communities. Threatened by a religious prophet and his band of followers they come upon an abandoned airport housing survivors and 'museum of civilization" housing relics of the past such as cell phones, laptops and credit cards. Ann Patchett says, "Station Eleven is so compelling, so fearlessly imagined, that I wouldn't have put it down for anything."

Circling the Sun by Paula McLain: Fans of The Paris Wife will want to read McLain's new historic novel about the life of Beryl Markham, the first woman t fly solo, from east to west, across the Atlantic. Abandoned by her mother, Markham is raised by her father in Kenya, where she learns to ride horses and became the youngest, and only female licensed horse trainer in Kenya. This historic novel traces her love affair with big-game hunter Denys Finch Hatton who teaches her to fly but loses his own life in a plane crash. Jodi Picoult says, "Paula McLain cements herself as the writer of historical fictional memoir with Circling the Sun, giving vivid voice to Beryl Markham, a singular, extraordinary woman. In McLain's confident hands, Markham crackles to life, and we readers truly understand what made a woman so far ahead of her time believe she had the power to soar."

Big Little Lies by Liane Moriarity: Though some would dismiss Moriarty's books as Australian chicklit, we couldn't put down this story of suburban moms in a "down under" beach town. You'll recognize the characters, even though they live a half a world away from Scarsdale. According to Amazon, "One is a great beauty married to a fabulously rich businessman; they have a "perfect" set of twins. One is the can-do mom who can put together a mean pre-school art project but can't prevent her teenage daughter from preferring her divorced dad. The third is a withdrawn, single mother who doesn't quite fit in. Right from the start--thanks to a modern "Greek chorus" that narrates the action--we know that someone is going to end up dead. The questions are who and how." Moriarity is witty, insightful and an adept storyteller. Read this one or listen to the audiotape – you'll love the accents.

A Remarkable Kindness by Diana Bletter: This newly-released novel from Diana Bletter, an American born writer who lives in Israel, tells the story of four women in a small Israeli village in wartime. Centered on the burial circle, a ritual for the dead, Bletter portrays four memorable women whose friendship sustains them as they come to terms with love and loss. The book is a page-turner that offers a glimpse into what it's like to live in a threatened land and how death can teach us what it means to be truly alive.

Alexander Hamilton by Ron Chernow: Before you see Hamilton on Broadway, learn all you need to know about this hotly-debated historic figure. At over 800 pages, Chernow's landmark biography is the definitive word on a man who had an extraordinary impact on both New York State and the nation. In the book, Chernow, who has won both the Pulitzer and the National Book Award, chronicles Hamilton's journey from his early years as an orphan in the Caribbean to King's College, the Constitutional Convention, Treasurer of the United States and ultimately to his untimely death. People who have seen the play say the more you know about Hamilton, the more you'll enjoy the play.

What are you reading this summer? Share ideas in the comments section below.