Summer Reading

When I was a child, one of the things I loved about summer was going
to the library and signing up for the summer reading program.  It was so
fun to check out lots of books and have time to read them.  I also loved
those tacky little prizes that they gave you when you met your goals.
So as soon as my kids would sit still long enough to have a book read
to them, the library was a place that we would hang out and we always
participated in the summer reading program.  When they were in high
school, they would have summer reading lists to prepare for the
upcoming year.  I would read along with them, so we could discuss
the books together and it gave me a chance to read some things that I
had never read or had read many years ago.
I think it is fair to say that I enjoyed it more than they did.  I find that
as an adult I'm enjoying reading things that I had to read in high school
and I'm getting a lot more out of it the second time around.

Yesterday, I went to the library to pick something up and I felt a little
thrill when I saw the posters for the summer reading program.  Now I
can read anything I want, but I still feel that summer is a time to get
some serious reading done.   This is what I read in May.

*We Took to the Woods - Louise Dickinson Rich 
   This is the true story of Mrs. Rich's adventure living in the back woods
    of Maine during the 1940's .   She and her husband raised their family
    in the wilderness and loved it.   Each chapter addresses a question such as,
    "How do you make a living?" or "Don't you get awfully out of touch?".
      I loved reading about her experiences.

   *Alice Waters and Chez Panisse - Thomas McNamee
    I'm an Alice Water's fan. I have four of her cookbooks and I love her
    philosophy of cooking using fresh, local ingredients.   Her restaurant in
    Berkley, California- Chez Panisse- is one of the most famous in America.
    Oh, how I would love to eat there someday.  She is credited with beginning
    a new way of eating, inspired by a time when she lived in France.  Before
    Chez  Panisse, even the grandest American restaurants relied on imported,
    often canned or frozen products. Today most great chefs cook the "Alice
    Waters" way - fresh, local, seasonal and whenever possible, organic.
    This book tells about Alice's life, how she became the person she is and
    about her struggles within the restaurant business.  I was surprised by
    some things I read, but probably wouldn't have been, if I had considered
    the time and place- 1960's in Berkley California. Very interesting biography.
    This was a birthday present from a foodie friend. Thanks Darlene.

*The Silver Chair - C.S. Lewis
   Once again, Aslan had a task for the children and Narnia needed them.
   Prince Rilian was to be saved from the evil Witch.  I  enjoyed this book,
   number six in the series.   One more to go.

*Daughters of God - S. Michael Wilcox
   This was typical Michael Wilcox and I loved it!  A great book about
   women in the scriptures who were spiritual giants, and how they played
   vital roles in sacred events.    He is one of my favorite LDS speakers
   and authors.

And these are the stacks that I plan to work my way through in the next
few months.

A Tree Grows in Brooklyn is our book club selection for June.  I have already 

read it and loved it.  So it will be a reread. 

What are you planning to read this summer?  Have you read any of

these books?  Have you read something recently that you think I would love?

*Goal #9 - Read 50 books