As August’s reading comes to an end, I managed to squeeze in a fifth book.

Kinda wish I hadn’t, though.

Week 1: The Power and the Glory by Graham Greene

If memory serves, this title provided my introduction to Graham Greene back in high school. It was summer and Mom handed me a book from her vast collection.

High school was a very long time ago, so this re-read was a comfortable one. I didn’t remember a thing, other than I liked it.

Greene set this novel in 1920s Mexico, when the government tried to suppress the Catholic religion – including and especially priests.

As you may remember from last month’s reading, Greene sometimes writes about questionable Catholics. And this “whiskey priest” is no exception. As the story of his last weeks unfolds, the humanity – and inhumanity – of each character is stunning.

I won’t wait quite this long to read it again.

Week 2: To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee

When I saw To Kill A Mockingbird in the collection of Folio Society books we inherited from Mom and Dad, the title immediately made it to my short list.

I remember seeing the movie in high school (our history teacher was also the track coach, so we watched a lot of movies). It’s hard to believe I didn’t read it as a school assignment, but I simply don’t have a memory of some of the scenes that didn’t make the film.

If you haven’t read the book – or it’s been a while – it’s definitely worth the time to get to know Scout, Gem, and Atticus again. And Dill (did you know this character is based on Truman Capote?).

My favorite moment, in both the book and the movie, is when Scout innocently breaks up what could have been a lynching. She scans the crowd of angry men until she recognizes a classmate’s father: Hey Mr. Cunningham … don’t you remember me, Mr. Cunningham? … I go to school with your boy. I go to school with Walter; he’s a nice boy. 

Shamefully, this is still one of the most banned books in American schools.

Week 3: Mockingbird: A Portrait of Harper Lee by Charles J. Shields

This “unauthorized biography” is a great follow up to Harper Lee’s classic novel.

Although To Kill A Mockingbird was based on characters and situations from Harper Lee’s childhood, there were many differences that are explained in this book. Nelle, as she was called, spent a full decade working on her book – often living in less than comfortable quarters.

Her editor’s guidance was a powerful tool in focusing the story, which at first was titled Go Set A Watchman. And actor Gregory Peck used his influence to see that Atticus got more screen time than he did book time.

As her novel went to press, Nelle accompanied Truman Capote to Kansas to help him research the true crime story that would become his much-praised In Cold Blood.

Only one of them, however, would win the Pulitzer.

Week 4: Around the World in Eighty Days by Jules Verne

Here’s another classic that was introduced to me on vinyl during childhood naptime.

Around the World in Eighty Days is a rollicking adventure story. The unflappable Phileas Fogg sets off with his highly excitable servant, Passepartout, on a bet that they can travel around the world in just 80 days. (The record album from the ’60s, I must add, called the story’s hero “Phineas.” It took me until about halfway through the book to recognize it wasn’t a typo.)

This book was originally released in serial form, so the chapters are short and the storyline moves just as quickly as the cast of characters as they travel by boat, train, elephant, and a few other means. It’s a great adventure story.

Week 5: The Hours by Michael Cunningham

“Hey, Mr. Cunningham …” Oh, wait – that was from the other Pulitzer Prize winning novel I read this month (see: To Kill A Mockingbird).

This book – The Hours – should come with a trigger warning. It really should.

The premise is clever, as the chapters take turns telling the story of three women from different time periods. Since one of the women is Virginia Woolf, it’s no surprise that there’s a darkness throughout.

If you’re in mourning, please don’t read this. If you’re not, proceed with caution.

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