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not your typical SUMMER READING LIST

May 15, 2015 By Talya Tate Boerner 22 Comments

Grace Grits and Gardening - My Summer Reading List

This is NOT your typical Summer Reading List. This is a list of books I personally plan to read this summer. I expect that most summer reading lists include actual recommendations based upon personal reviews of the books. Not mine. I haven’t read any of these books. If you wish to read along with me, do so at your own risk, because I can’t vouch for a single title. I can tell you how I chose these particular books. Some are obvious (#NewYorkBestSellers). Some, not so much. But, don’t we believe fabulous “older” books are waiting to be read too?

  •  The Girl on the Train (Paula Hawkins). There’s lots of buzz about this book which has been referred to as the next Gone Girl. Am I the only person who hasn’t read it? Probably. Sometimes I’m slow that way.
  • All the Light We Cannot See (Anthony Doerr). A friend recommended this book to me just last weekend. She had that oh-my-God-drop-everything-and-read-this-immediately look in her eye. I went right out and bought it.
  • Hold Still Sally Mann (a memoir by photographer Sally Mann). I bought this book specifically because of a BookPeople Instagram post. See? Social media really works.
  • Words Fail Me (Patricia T. O’Conner). I typically have a book on the ‘craft of writing’ beside my bedside table, and I read paragraphs here and there before I go to bed. Since I love to write, I find these sort of books motivating, and this is the next one I plan to read.
  • The Life and Times of an Arkansaw Doctor (David Rattlehead, edited by W. K. McNeil). I’ve had this book on my shelf for quite some time. This book, written in 1851 (reprinted in 1989), was “the first volume solely devoted to Arkansas folk humor” and “provides a generally correct account of folklife on the Arkansas frontier in the 1850s”. I love reading about Arkansas history and consider it research for future writing.
  • Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance (Robert Pirsig). This is one of those wildly popular, forward-thinking, cult-ish books I’ve never read. I’m gonna change that.
  • Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World that Can’t Stop Talking (Susan Cain). Since I am an introvert, and I think people in general talk too much, this book grabbed my attention.
  • The Pleasure of my Company (Steve Martin). Well, who doesn’t love Steve Martin? I enjoyed his book Shopgirl, and this one sounded quick and easy and something that could be read on a plane ride, not that I’m going anywhere. His protagonist wins “Most Average American” award, which has already made me laugh.
  • The Deep Green Sea (Robert Olen Butler). I absolutely love Robert Olen Butler’s writing style, and this book, published in 1998, is one I missed. I can’t wait to read it.
  • Dinner at the Homesick Restaurant (Anne Tyler). This book dates back to the 1980s. I read somewhere that this book is possibly Anne Tyler’s best work and since I haven’t read it, I snapped it up at the Dickson Street Bookshop. Score.
  • Tales of the South Pacific (James A. Michener). This classic, published in 1947, inspired the Rodgers and Hammerstein’s musical South Pacific. This is also that book that (according to my Daddy) inspired my odd first name. For years, I’ve planned to read this book and find my name inside it, but I never have. I have Daddy’s original copy, but it’s brittle and fragile and I think the pages might disintegrate if I handle it, so I found this more recently printed paperback at a yard sale. Wish me luck, it’s Michener… (#wordy)

IN OTHER BOOK RELATED NEWS…

Saturday, May 16, is WORLDWIDE LITTLE FREE LIBRARY BOOK DRIVE DAY. Bring new or gently-used children’s and young adult books to your friendly neighborhood Little Free Libraries. Snap a photo of yourself dropping off books and post it in social media (Facebook/Twitter/Instagram) using the hashtag #givebooks. Random participants will be selected to receive goodies. Read more about this HERE.

Our Little Free Library has been a big hit in our neighborhood. The books constantly change as neighbors take and leave books. As I read the books on my “not your typical” Summer Reading List, I plan to add them to the library so others can enjoy them. Thanks to all who are supporting our library!

Our Little Free Library

For you Fayetteville book lovers, on Sunday, May 17, 2015, from Noon-6pm, Nightbird Books is having an Overstock Sale as part of the 5th Annual Block Street Block Party. Also, The Curious Book Shoppe on Block Street is having a Gigantic Spring Used Book Sale from 10am-7pm. What a great way to pick up a few good books for your summer reading! (Rain, rain, stay away…)

Summer Reading List - Dickson Street Bookshop

Whew! That’s all the book related news I have today. What’s on your summer reading list? I always crave more books!

Grace Grits and Gardening

Farm. Food. Garden. Life.

[tweetthis]”not your typical” Summer Reading List! @BookPeople @nightbirdbooks #givebooks @LtlFreeLibrary[/tweetthis]

Musical Pairing:

Summertime, Zombies

Simple Pleasures #5

November 3, 2014 By Talya Tate Boerner 11 Comments

Simple pleasures. Things I can count on like one-two-three. Uncomplicated things. That’s what I’m recapping from last week.

1. Decorating for Halloween. I’ve had this string of lights forever. Knock-on-wood, they don’t make ’em like this anymore.

decorating for Halloween

2. Perfect, homemade chocolate icing. Recipe coming soon…

perfect homemade chocolate icing

3. New Converse. Converse tennis shoes are part of my typical “uniform”. These are Razorback red. WPS!

new shoes

4. Spending time with my oldest best-est friend. Seriously. Elementary school.

friends

5. Cool find at Dickson Street Bookshop. Yes, I “adopted” another book. How could I not? It’s about the Mississippi Delta!

cool book about the Delta!

Here’s wishing you a week filled with comfortable shoes, best friends and chocolate.

Grace Grits and Gardening

Farm. Food. Garden. Life.

Musical Pairing:

Count on Me – Bruno Mars

 

 

 

Talya Tate Boerner


Hi! I'm Talya. Writer, Reader, Arkansas Master Naturalist / Master Gardener, Author of

THE ACCIDENTAL SALVATION OF GRACIE LEE (2016)

GENE, EVERYWHERE: a life-changing visit from my father-in-law (2020)

BERNICE RUNS AWAY (Now Available!)

Click to BUY NOW!

Talya Tate Boerner books
Gene, Everywhere

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