Reading is my oldest and favorite hobby.  I literally can’t remember a time in my life when I didn’t love to curl up with a good book.  Here are my reads for July, 2013…

Main Street, by Sinclair Lewis (audiobook) – I’ve been meaning to read Main Street for years and I snagged it when I saw it on the library audiobook shelf.  This book was wonderful, and it really spoke to me at this particular moment.  Barbara Caruso’s narration was perfectly in keeping with the tone of the book, as well.  Loved.

 Much Ado About Anne (Mother-Daughter Book Club #2), by Heather Vogel Frederick – I enjoyed this second installment of the series more than the first, in part because the moms were more inclusive than they were in the first book, and also perhaps due to the fact that while I like Louisa May Alcott very much, I love L.M. Montgomery.  The girls and moms read their way through the Anne of Green Gables books, take a hilarious camping trip, and have to put aside their differences and band together to help one of their own when her family’s home is threatened.

She-Wolves: The Women Who Ruled England Before Elizabeth, by Helen Castor – This non-fiction history was long and dense but worth every bit of the attention it demanded.  A fascinating history of some remarkable women, each of whom confronted the paradox of female power in England: the Empress Matilda, Eleanor of Acquitaine, Isabella of France, Margaret of Anjou, and Queen Mary I.  Highly recommended to anyone interested in English history, particularly of the Medieval and Tudor periods.

 Summer for the Gods: The Scopes Trial and America’s Continuing Debate Over Science and Religion, by Edward J. Larson – I got on a bit of a non-fiction kick and reserved this 1997 Pulitzer winner from the library because it sounded right up my alley.  Law, history, and a little religion – what’s not to like?  Unfortunately, I found myself bored, which hardly ever happens.  The middle section of the book – discussing the trial itself and the legal strategies employed by each side – was fascinating.  The beginning and ending sections, less so.  Skimming happened.

 Changes at Fairacre (Chronicles of Fairacre #18), by Miss Read – I wish Fairacre didn’t have to change!  In this eighteenth volume of the Fairacre series, Miss Read explores the many ways that life has improved for the village residents, and the ways that it hasn’t.  One major problem: the Fairacre school population is dwindling, and Miss Read has to confront the very real possibility that the school will close – unless, of course, a miracle happens.  Fortunately, Miss Read has friends in high places, and some of them are capable of delivering miracles.

The Titan’s Curse (Percy Jackson and the Olympians #3), by Rick Riordan (audiobook) – My favorite so far of this series, The Titan’s Curse sees Percy and pals departing on another adventure.  This time, Percy has teamed up with Thalia, daughter of Zeus, his buddy Grover, and two of Artemis’s maiden huntresses to rescue Artemis from captivity by the Titans – and hopefully, save Annabeth, who is also being held, in the process.  We meet Artemis and Apollo, who are both fun gods, and we see a bit of Poseidon too.  The audio production bugs me (especially the stereotypical ethnic accents the narrator read into some of the characters, which strike me as kind of insensitive and not at all required by the actual book), but I am overlooking it for the sake of the story.

Farewell to Fairacre (Chronicles of Fairacre #19), by Miss Read – Confronted with some scary health issues, Miss Read makes the difficult decision to retire from teaching at her beloved Fairacre School.  Of course, the townspeople are sad to see her go, but the good news is that she won’t be far away – she’ll be right around the corner in Beech Green, living in what will always be “Dolly Clare’s cottage.”  This was a bittersweet but lovely read.

 A Peaceful Retirement (Chronicles of Fairacre #20), by Miss Read – Ha!  Fairacre being what it is, Miss Read’s dreams for a peaceful retirement are destined to remain just that – dreams.  The entire town schemes to drag the introverted retired teacher from her well-earned and cherished solitude with offers to join in all the community volunteer activities the townspeople can dream up.  (George Annett, headmaster of Beech Green School, is the worst offender.)  But Miss Read finds ways to enjoy her retirement – traveling to Florence with Amy, fielding marriage proposals like a pro, and discovering a talent for writing.

 Dear Pen Pal (Mother-Daughter Book Club #3), by Heather Vogel Frederick – These are getting better and better.  Inspired by Jess’s offer of a full scholarship to a prestigious boarding school (fortunately located right in Concord), the girls take on Daddy-Long-Legs.  They also begin writing to a mother-daughter book club in Wyoming and take a trip to a dude ranch.  Fun!  I read Daddy-Long-Legs a looooooong time ago (back when I was about the age of the daughter half of the book club) and had forgotten most of the story, but I loved spending time with the club nonetheless.

The Burgess Boys, by Elizabeth Strout – When Susan Burgess Olson’s son lands himself in serious legal trouble, she calls on the experts – her two brothers, Jim and Bob, both New York City attorneys – to return to the small Maine town where they grew up and help their nephew.  In the course of guiding Zach through the legal and PR maelstrom, Jim, Bob and Susan must confront demons lurking in their childhood.  This was a brilliant, lyrical, disturbing read, which touched upon issues of family, power, justice, race and religion.  (It would be great for a book club – so much to chew on.)  I loved it.

Pies and Prejudice (Mother-Daughter Book Club #4), by Heather Vogel Frederick – This series gets better and better, and I’m growing to love the characters.  In this installment, the Hawthornes move to England for a year, but the book club continues via videoconference and decides to finally give a nod to Mrs. Hawthorne’s beloved Jane Austen.  Emma enjoys exploring her little town (outside Bath, of course!) despite a nasty queen bee named Annabelle (a.k.a. Stinkerbelle).  Meanwhile, Stinkerbelle’s cousins Simon and Tristan, who are living in the Hawthornes’ house for the year as part of an exchange, wreak all kinds of havoc in Concord.  Oh, and Cassidy discovers that boys might be good for something other than scrimmaging on the ice!

The Battle of the Labyrinth (Percy Jackson and the Olympians #4), by Rick Riordan (audiobook) – Annabeth gets to lead a quest!  Yeah!  Percy returns to camp for the summer to discover that Luke and his cronies have a deadly new plan – to invade Camp Half Blood via Daedalus’s famous Labyrinth.  Annabeth, Percy, Tyson and Grover must race against Luke to enlist Daedalus’s help on behalf of the Olympians.  To get there in time, they’ll need help from a surprising source – Percy’s mortal friend Rachel.  Cue the girl drama…  Too fun, although my complaints about the audio production continue.

Home for the Holidays (Mother-Daughter Book Club #5), by Heather Vogel Frederick – The book club is taking on the Betsy-Tacy books (which I just read last year – how did I not know about these growing up?) and dealing with all sorts of drama as everyone’s holiday plans go badly awry.  The book choice was lots of fun, but I hated seeing the girls bicker so much.

Wish You Were Eyre (Mother-Daughter Book Club #6), by Heather Vogel Frederick – It’s the final installment of the Mother-Daughter Book Club series (why aren’t they going all the way through high school?) and the girls take on my favorite book, Jane Eyre.  Mrs. Wong runs for mayor, Megan gets her longed-for trip to Paris with Gigi, Jess confronts an unjust accusation, Becca meets a Mr. Rochester, and Emma and Cassidy deal with boy drama in this busy final volume.  The girls “get their Jane on” as they tackle these challenges, and we’re treated to appearances by the Berkeleys, Stinkerbelle, and the Wyoming pen pals.  A fitting end to the series, even if I wish it could have continued for a few more books.

The Introvert’s Way, by Sophia Dembling – I nodded so much throughout this slim book that I started to feel like one of Dwight Schrute’s bobbleheads.  Dembling writes for those of us who need space and silence to unwind, who get stressed out in large gatherings, who prefer a book to a party, who’ve been accused of being stuck-up or unfriendly when we’re really just slow to warm up, and who sometimes surprise people who believe us to be extroverts thanks to our skill at putting on a “dog and pony show.”  I liked her mix of research and anecdote, not to mention the heaping helping of encouragement she served up.  More thoughts on introversion coming next week…

Well, I did manage to do my fair share of reading this month, in between hosting visitors and tackling a number of chores that have suddenly become urgent (more on that later).  It was mostly comfort reading, once I wrapped up those last few hefty non-fiction picks – a little Fairacre, a little Mother-Daughter Book Club, a LOT of cozy, and those reads are fast.  The comfort reading will continue through August, since I’m still very much in need of it.  On deck I’ve got some Flavia de Luce and a return to Avonlea, and I can’t wait.  Bring on the tea, the blanket, and the books.