Summer Vacation Reads

I recently enjoyed a week of vacation. One of my favorite things to do to prepare for vacation is to anticipate the books I want to read. I always select way more than I can actually get through, to ensure that I have plenty of options. Here are the books I chose for my summer vacation.

365 Poems for Life edited by Allie Esiri

This is my favorite poetry collection, with something in it for everyone. Esiri has selected a poem for each day from a wide variety of poets, historic and current. My copy is dog eared and underlined and is my favorite book of all that I own. This anthology makes a great companion and is very accessible. Pick a day and try out a poem. If it doesn’t suit you, turn the page and try one in a completely different style. Many of these poems can be found read aloud by the talented Helena Bonham Carter on YouTube and Instagram. Listening to them is a great way to fall in love with poetry.

The Berry Pickers by Amanda Peters

Four-year-old Ruthie disappears from a field in Maine near where her parents and older siblings work picking blueberries. Her family, indigenous Mi’kmaq from Nova Scotia, desperately searches for her, but never finds her. This book switches between the perspectives of Norma, a young girl being raised by her oppressive, mentally ill mother, and Ruthie’s older brother Joe. As Norma grows older she questions memories that her parents can’t explain. Meanwhile, Ruthie’s family has never let go of the idea that she is still out there somewhere. This is a powerful read. It isn’t a thriller, but is more literary fiction. Excellent on audio.

Secrets of Adulthood: Simple Truths for Our Complex Lives by Gretchen Rubin

Gretchen Rubin has collected aphorisms, large truths about life distilled into simple sentences. It’s best to read slowly, stopping on phrases that resonate with you and reflecting on them. These ideas would make great journaling prompts. Some of my favorite sayings include “One day, now will be a long time ago” and “By changing our words, we can change our perspective.” I listened to a podcast episode of The Happiness Lab with Dr. Laurie Santos titled “Twelve Sayings that Could Change Your Life” featuring Gretchen Rubin talking about this book. The two of them mulled over these sayings, discussing different ways they could apply to life. For another book to prompt journaling, try “The Book of Alchemy: A Creative Practice for an Inspired Life” by Suleika Jaouad.

The Salt Stones: Seasons of a Shepherd’s Life by Helen Whybrow

This is a lovely memoir of Helen Whybrow’s decades as a shepherd in the Vermont mountains, raising sheep and restoring a 200-acre farm. Whybrow details her experiences with her flock, from her beginning as a new shepherd to gaining experiences over many years. Her stories of the sheep are compelling and honest, full of the difficulties of the life she chose as well as the joys. While I read this book in summer, it would be a great fall or winter read, as Whybrow’s descriptions of tending to the flock during cold seasons made me appreciate being warm inside. A treat to read.

Uprooted by Ruth Chan

This is a graphic novel memoir about Ruth’s move as a teenager from Canada to Hong Kong. She details the difficulties of leaving behind friends and navigating a new place where she can mostly understand the language, but isn’t a strong speaker. This gave me a glimpse into life in Hong Kong, which I found fascinating. While this graphic novel is aimed at children, there is a lot here for adults to enjoy.

I dipped into “Great Big Beautiful Life” by Emily Henry, a must-buy author for me. I’m enjoying the southern setting so far. I also grabbed a copy of “Spare” by Prince Harry at a local thrift store although I’ve only gotten a few pages in so far. I hope you are finding great books to read this summer, and if not, stop into the library and we’d be happy to suggest some.

Katelyn Boyer is the Adult Services Librarian at the Fergus Falls Public Library