Late-summer titles
August is a long, hot month. Back to school starts too early, as do the Christmas ads. In keeping with my retirement goal to read a book each week, here are the late-summer titles.
Week 1: Ladies Who Punch by Ramin Setoodeh
This seemed like a good choice for “summer beach reading,” even though we didn’t go to the shore. Definitely an interesting read, but only made me less interested in watching The View than before. The egos and downright treacherous behavior by the various hosts was nothing like the feminist sisterhood of journalists that The View was supposed to create. Now that I’d have time to watch, I’ll pass. Too many good books await.
Week 2: The Scarlet and the Black by J.P Gallagher
This is the second book about Monsignor Hugh O’Flaherty I’ve read this summer (there are others as well; I’ll no doubt read all the titles eventually). O’Flaherty’s brave and selfless behavior during the final years of World War II often put him in danger, yet he carried on. This is the book that the film by the same name was based on, with Gregory Peck playing the good Irishman whose position at the Vatican mandated he be neutral. And yet he could not turn his back on someone in need. He is credited with stating: “God has no country.”
Week 3: Miss D & Me by Kathryn Sermak
Written by Miss D’s personal assistant and dear friend, this memoir is a fascinating study of the final decade of Bette Davis’ life. She mentors young Kath (whose name was Catherine, but Miss D felt a different spelling would help her stand out in the world). The stories range from sweet to prickly, as expected. Sadly, the publication of daughter B.D.’s Mommie Dearest-esque expose broke Bette’s heart (I don’t plan to read it). Learning how Bette Davis prepared to play a movie role as well as her fierce determination to recover from a near-fatal stroke makes this a worthwhile page turner.
Week 4: The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry by Rachel Joyce
On my last day of work as I headed into glorious retirement, I noticed a book with a sticky note on it, left for me by Andrea, the park’s print shop manager. She had very kindly picked out this novel as a farewell gift. Harold Fry, too, is a recent retiree. He receives a letter from a long-lost work friend, who is now in hospice care. He sets off on a pilgrimage to say goodbye. On foot. Over the more than 500 miles, his story unfurls, along with those of the many characters he meets along the way. (Thank you, Andrea – this charming book was a wonderful gift!)
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