Keeping up with my retirement pledge to read at least four books each month, July included a childhood re-read, two “overdue” books, plus the discovery of the Detection Club.

Book 1: Little House in the Big Woods by Laura Ingalls Wilder

Mom introduced me to the “Little House” books in the 1960s and I was soon hooked. They’ve been on my list to re-read as an adult, just to see what – if anything – might strike me differently.

Then along came Wilder, a podcast about the creation of the famous book series and why they’re shelved in the fiction section of libraries.

Here’s the first episode of the Wilder podcast, which carries a “the Easter Bunny doesn’t really exist” vibe (you’ve been warned):

The book, upon re-read, is still sweet and warm. Laura’s attention to detail is amazing and still brings alive pioneer life through Rose-colored glasses.

Book 2: The Floating Admiral by The Detection Club

An interesting concept: in 1930, a number of British crime novelists formed the Detection Club. In addition to dinner meetings and exchange of technical information, the group shared guidelines for writing mysteries that gave readers at least a chance of figuring out “who done it.” The Detection Club also published a number of collaborative works, including The Floating Admiral.

A full dozen members of the Detection Club each agreed to write one chapter of The Floating Admiral, plus submit that author’s best solution to the murder (in a sealed envelope, of course). An interesting concept, given that each writer had only the previous chapters to go on when putting together his or her chapter.

The group exists to this day. Here is their oath, written by Dorothy L. Sayers: Do you promise that your detectives shall well and truly detect the crimes presented to them using those wits which it may please you to bestow upon them and not placing reliance on nor making use of Divine Revelation, Feminine Intuition, Mumbo Jumbo, Jiggery-Pokery, Coincidence, or Act of God?

Book 3: The Old Man and the Sea by Ernest Hemingway

Surely this was on a list of “must-read” books back in high school. Somehow it took until this month for me to wade in …

The year started with Jaws, so it seems only fair to head back into the water six months later.

But is it safe?

Book #4: The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald

Here’s another title from my “overdue” list. Mom and Dad’s collection of Folio Society books includes this set of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s work:

Ah, the American Dream!

It was interesting to learn that this 1925 Jazz Age novel wasn’t a hit until during the second World War, when it was mass-produced by the Council on Books in Wartime and distributed to soldiers serving overseas.

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