“One benefit of summer was that each day we had more light to read by.” – Jeanette Walls, The Glass Castle
It will come as no surprise that we are a team of voracious readers here at Lilja. As lovers of the written word, we often pass books around the office – and even have a little office lending library to share our favorites with each other!
To mark the return of summer, we’re delighted to share our summer reading recommendations with you. May the longer summer days provide you with plenty of opportunities for quiet moments with a book.
Current selections at our lending library
Fiction
Howards End by E. M. Forster (Mary)
This 1910 classic tale of two families – one with an artistic/intellectual bent and the other with a commercial/practical one – is striking in its modernity as two sisters find their way in a man’s world. Or you can watch the new Starz four-part series that brings the story to life with brilliant acting and gorgeous cinematography – but why not indulge in both?
The Little Paris Bookshop by Nina George (Alicia)
If you’re looking to be transported into the life of a stoic, love-burned Parisian bookseller, this is the book for you!
Where’d You Go, Bernadette? by Maria Semple (Hannah)
This book is utterly hilarious (I mean, the author was a screenwriter for Arrested Development – what’d you expect?!). It would be a perfect choice to read at the cabin or to throw in your beach bag on the way to the lake. The story is told via emails and other documents, which I typically find annoying, but it works for this book. And now is the perfect time to read it, since the movie adaptation comes out this fall!
Uncommon Type: Some Stories by Tom Hanks (Linda)
Tom Hanks’ collection of short stories is at times hilarious and at times deeply moving. He’s not only a wonderful actor; he’s a great writer, too!
Nonfiction
Braving the Wilderness by Brené Brown (Kate)
Both inspiring and easy to read, this latest work by Brown is perfect for quiet afternoons spent reading on the porch – preferably with a pen in hand to underline favorite passages. This book is thought-provoking in the best possible way.
The Princess Diarist by Carrie Fisher (Claire)
This is the book you’re looking for! (Sorry for the requisite Star Wars joke.) Carrie Fisher’s last book is a memoir based on the diaries she kept as a young woman during the filming of the first Star Wars movie. While it delights Star Wars fans like myself, it’s also a revealing look at that time in Fisher’s life – vulnerable, youthful, self-analyzing and on the verge of fame – and provides an interesting backstory to Fisher’s role as a mental health advocate later in life.
Born a Crime: Stories from a South African Childhood by Trevor Noah (Linda)
Trevor Noah’s story of growing up in South Africa during apartheid is both tragic and inspiring – a testament to the power of a mother’s love.
Calypso by David Sedaris (Alicia)
I can’t say much about the book itself, since it isn’t out yet. Needless to say, I’m anxiously awaiting this book, which focuses on Sedaris’ beachfront vacation home, the Sea Section. Due May 29!
