August Reading Receipt

Linking up with Modern Mrs. Darcy.

When I looked back through the pics on my phone at the end of this month, I was stunned to see I had read three books.  I thought it was more like...one.  The fact that I didn't remember tells me something about how busy this month has been.  And even though I didn't remember the number, I do remember the books.

Love That Boy by Ron Fournier
This is the nonfiction story of a White House journalist who wanted to bond with his son, who has Asperger's, through sports.  Unfortunately for Fournier, his son had no interest in sports.  At the urging of his wife, Fournier attempts to forge a bond through their shared love of presidential history. 

I found this to be an honest, bittersweet story of a parent who finds it difficult to bond with his child whom he loves very much.  It also addressed parental expectations in a very real way that I thought was unflinchingly accurate.

The Aviator's Wife by Melanie Benjamin

This was the second book I read by Benjamin.  Again she took real people from history (in this case, Anne Morrow Lindbergh and Charles Lindbergh) and imagined their emotional lives based on historical events.  I so enjoy books like this, and this one fit the bill perfectly.  I did not know much about the Lindberghs before reading this.  (I had read Gift From the Sea many years ago and actually had to check the Internet to see if this Anne Morrow Lindbergh was one and the same as the author before I started reading this.)  I knew very basic facts about Charles Lindbergh's historic solo flight.  I had some vague idea that their child was kidnapped but did not know the details and again wasn't even sure these were the same Lindberghs.  I found Anne's deference to Charles throughout this novel infuriating, but that's what makes these types of books so intriguing to me.  I want to know more about why people do the things they do.  I suppose you could argue that Benjamin doesn't really know herself, but I find the notion of what she does in explaining these things fascinating.  I am currently enjoying another of her books.

Rebecca by Daphne du Marnier

This was not a typical choice for me, as I saw it as something similar to Jane Eyre (which is not a favorite of mine).  Instead, I found myself admiring the trailblazer for writers like Gillian Flynn and Mary Kubica, among others.  Rebecca had it all.  It was creepy, suspenseful, and tense.  And a twist?  Indeed.  (And yes, I suppose you could argue that Jane Eyre has all those things too.  I just didn't enjoy it like I enjoyed this.)  If you like modern suspense/thrillers, I suggest you give Rebecca a shot.  I did for $1.99 when it was on sale for Kindle, but you could just check your local library.  Speaking of which, The Friends of the Library big book sale is coming up this Labor Day weekend.  Life is good.