What to Read Summer 2024

Book blogger Susan Matheson is back with her picks for summer reading and I have a new name!

Books discussed:

The Glassmaker by Tracy Chevalier
Sandwich by Catherine Newman
Wives Like Us by Plum Sykes
You Are Here by David Nicholls
Anxious People by Fredrik Backman
The Other Valley by Scott Alexander Howard

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Transcript

Amy Mair: 0:22

Hello, welcome back to the Red Fern book review. I am your host, Amy Tyler. And I'm here today with a new name, and the final episode of season four. And I'm really excited about both these things and taking my original name back. And it feels like a powerful thing to do. And a great positive step towards kind of charting out my new life. And I'm recording this right now in my new apartments. And I'm in more of an urban area, and I can watch the cars go by, but it's not too busy. And I can walk to things and there's a grocery store really close by. And so it's brought me a lot of joy to be in my own new space. And also, I'm really excited to talk with Susan. She's one of my very favorite guests. And we always have a really comfortable discussion. And she does my wrap up every season and gives everybody sort of a preview about what they should be reading for summer. So and we always go back and forth sharing ideas. And this year, I think she came up with 10 ideas, and five of them were already on my list or I had something I wanted to talk with her about regarding those books. So we think a lot of like, anyway, with that, I wanted to hand it over to Susan. Okay, here we go.

Unknown: 1:58

Well, thank you, Amy Tyler, I like the fresh start. We will get into our summer reads, it is always our favorite thing to do. And I'm a bit of a chatter anyway. But when it comes to our summer books, you and I can certainly feel the air. And again, we have so many I think you actually published when you're my list of options. And the list was no less lengthy this year, I think you and I decided on four together and then you gave me an option to choose the fifth. And then I went rogue because I had a great thought about something else prompted the fifth choice. So well we'll chat through from one to four. And then we'll talk about number five is kind of a throwback, but kind of a neat one. So we'll start off I guess I don't know about you. But I always love a summer read it has time travel, as well as location travel. So while you may be anchored to a desk, and the summer days are anchored to a beach chair, you'll get that chance to vicariously experience other worlds. So I always use that as kind of my editing process to find one that does all of those things. The first one that we've talked about is The Glassmaker and it will be released, released shortly. It's by Tracy Chavlier and I know everyone's going to be going Tracy's to Sally. I know that she was famous for The Girl with the Pearl Earring member that was way back when we were all just starting the idea of book clubs. And she was that was a great historical literary fiction novel. Remember, it was set in Amsterdam and the time of Vermeer, and it made us all art historian by reading that and anyone who's been to Amsterdam since has certainly made an effort to go and see the painting that inspired that. So I was sort of thinking to myself, Oh, well, you haven't heard from her in a while. But the reality is, this is her 10th books since that. So she's been very prolific. And I have read a few of them. The Virgin Blue was one of my favorites. But each time she just takes you to a whole other world often art inspired. Or she'll just find some little niche in the world and explore it in great depth. remarkable creatures. Remember, she went and she was doing sell speaking on a beach in England. But this one takes us to Renaissance Italy. And the glassmaker takes us to Murano where anyone who's traveled in that area just outside of Venice is the island Moran, where all the beautiful Murano glass works are done. So if you take this into this world, in 15th century Venice and Murano and she follows a woman who is making her way in a man's world as a glass craft person, and then we follow her family and we learn about the city. We follow all the rival Reason love stories and all the all of it is in the context of world events. And it goes through five generations or 500 years, all the way up to present day. So it's really a neat way to travel and I feel pretty confident we're in good hands when it's the her writing because she she takes you so quickly to a place and just beautifully evocative writing. So I'm super excited about that one. And anyone who's traveled in that area or wants to know more about the glass works, or doesn't, but is going to find that they get there. Just by reading a great historical literary fiction novel. I think this one is going to be really, really fun. So it think release is just I didn't actually look it up. But in the next few weeks anyway, it'll be hitting the shelves if it hasn't already.

Amy Mair: 5:51

Have you seen there's a show on Netflix? I think it's called blown away or something. It's a reality show on glassmaking. Have you seen? Yeah, yes, I quite like it.

Unknown: 6:00

I know. And it's amazing. I remember, were we there was somewhere and I think we're on the Isle of Wight, or someplace. And we lived in England, and it was a glassblowing environment. And it was just incredible what a work of art it is and, and the vision these artists have and the confidence they have as they work with this molten glass. It's really quite stunning. And then Murano. Of course, if you follow architecture or interior design, their chandeliers and all of these things that they do is incredible. And then of course, Dale to Hooli, who lives just south of us in the Seattle area and his amazing works of art with glass. It's quite an interesting mediums. So yeah, I look forward to to reading this one for sure.

Amy Mair: 6:46

Okay, what's the next one?

Unknown: 6:47

Okay, so this one, again, so named sandwich, which there'll be all sorts of variations on why it's called Sandwich, it makes good sense when you get to know them. And it's written by Catherine Newman. Now, Catherine Newman, I've read essays of hers. She's a contributor to the blog, the cup of joe blog, which is quite well known. This woman is funny, and she's middle aged. And the term sandwich in this context refers to that middle age place where you're a parent to kids who are growing up and finding their way and all the stresses that involve plus. And then you're also the child of parents who are beginning to engage in complications related to aging, and you're in this middle place, and you're still trying to figure out who you are, as well. So this one is very much a summer read, when you see the the cover, it's absolutely beautiful. And it's about a family vacation to Cape Cod. And the woman who writes it is or the woman who's the main character, is the middle person, she's in the sandwich. And as he goes through this annual weekly vacation in Cape Cod sandwich, Cape Cod, he begins to find your way, but also all sorts of family, historical revelations, and things are all coming forth. And he is trying to come to terms with her place. And I can guarantee you it is she has a wonderful voice. And it will always be done with humor, everybody who reads it says on one page, you're laughing and the next year crying, and she has an ability to do that wears, he just knocks your socks off with the sadness of something or the terror of something, and then you're laughing and you're laughing out loud. Another book that she just wrote that I recommend it came out last year is called we all want impossible things. And it's about a 40 years of friendship with her best friend. And her friend is terminally ill. And it's about their time together in the palliative care unit. And I it's not a funny place, but she makes it funny. You're just but it's also the joy that she sees and in everything. It's just she has such an appreciation in her real life and as a writer of little things, and she just has a wonderful look at the world or perspective on the world. So I know this one is going to be all about life transitions, but it's set in Cape Cod on a summer vacation. And it will be even sandwich making has a role in the novel. So I think that it's this idea of sandwich really encompasses a number of different things. If you like Kelly Corrigan's the middle place, which is one of my favorite books of all time Yeah, that's a great fun. Yeah, this little probably evoke a lot of that and Kelly Corrigan is a wizard with humor as well. So I think it's it has the same sort of vibe there.

Amy Mair: 9:55

I actually had Katherine on to talk about we'll Do we all can do impossible things last year? Right? I don't know. But you gotta listen to it. Yes. It's my friend Allison. So a little backstory on that is before their mommy blogs you had to go through. It was after AOL. But it was when? I don't know you didn't have to do I don't think he did dial up but she had a blog on out of Baby Center. Do you remember Baby Center, and it will come out once a week and we had no iPhones and Allison and I that's how we got through the early days of having a baby, baby. And she had this blog called Ben and birdie about our kids. Very funny anyway. So it's funny because she's pretty famous. And while I'd like to think I'm famous, I'm a I'm working on that, but I didn't think she'd come on. And so Alison, never, my she's a friend of very close friend. And she has never wanted to come on the podcast, but she sent me a note. She said if you can get her on, I will come on knowing full well that she wouldn't. So then I wrote her a note and just said we love Ben and birdie. Because no one really knows about that. Because it was like 2000 Yeah. And she wrote back and like a second. Oh, I love it. What a great story. Anyway, she's funny. And she was she's, you're right. She does the sort of super poignant but hilarious take on everything in her life. And I read a review of this her current but they were talking about and they they talk about this genre. minnow let like menopause live. And they said, worse they do. But that's they said that's not really what she's doing, even though the topic might seem because she has this ability to just sort of rich, she's just so talented. Like Well, I

Unknown: 12:00

think for me going on the cup of Joe Bloggs. So we'll have to give you the link to put up. They do a tour of her house.

Amy Mair: 12:09

And oh, it's a mess. That's

Unknown: 12:12

spiracle Hi. And I love how she owns it. And the police makes me think we're so off topic. Now that makes me think of when Julia Child's had someone come to her house and ask what was in her fridge and she opened it. I have eaten sandwich and a half jar of dill pickles. And that was about it. And that was sort of the feeling I got with Katherine Newman's house and she just posted something the other day. He's so relatable

Amy Mair: 12:40

like she just she just like she's and then like when she came on, she just seems like your friend. Yes. And I think

Unknown: 12:47

that's what it is. It will read this book as we did with we all want and possible things. You feel like you're sitting with your peers, with your friends, and there's something you know, all the really silly things that come up that are just relaxed friendship, and that's how her books feel. They feel a bit relaxed to me and yeah, and so perfect summer read as far as I'm concerned, but boy, don't miss them because they're there. They're really I just say they hit that balance of poignancy and humor, which is my favorite genre if there was such a thing.

Amy Mair: 13:20

So what's your next book?

Unknown: 13:22

Okay, so this one is will bridgerton Downton Abbey, British British? I don't know what you would want to call because they're not necessarily aristocracy. But this is just a romp, a full on romp and called Wives Like Us by Plum Sykes. If you've lived in England, or you follow any of those fashion magazines or anything she writes for Vogue, but she was part of the Anna Wintour entourage that inspired Devil Wears Prada. He wrote a book her first book, I think it was was called Bergdorf Blondes. And it's about the group that shops at Bergdorf in New York City and so she has a very tongue in cheek approach to all of these kind of over the top crazy women and men that that travel in those echelons where they have money or at least they like to have people perceive they have money, and she sets this one and again the humor is so important to me. She sets it in a Cotswold British or the Cotswolds in England and it's a fictional little theories of towns and they're called the bottoms. So you like muddy bottom. And so I just I just love that you know, it's just a good it just this is not to be taken seriously or anything else and it's I just finished watching the bridgerton series last night and you just have to laugh Heat. It's a nice good entertainment. And there, there's no there's nothing morally positive about it or anything else. But it's

Amy Mair: 15:11

good because it's a confection. But it sounds fun. Sounds like it's like, well they call it like LA glossy posse. Like Catherine Elton's, right.

Unknown: 15:28

And I think way back when when when it was Diana, they had to Sloane Rangers. This is definitely true. Yeah. So that we all know where we're sitting now. So this is the is going to be a fun one. It's hilarious names of the characters and all of that stuff. But it's light. It's fun, and has the beautiful cover, I have to say, oh, yeah, the cover looks gorgeous. That total add to your bookshelf, if nothing else, but also while you're reading it, people might think you're reading something more.

Amy Mair: 15:56

What's it look like? What's it look like? Sort of?

Unknown: 15:59

It's kind of it's like paintings of small items. Absolutely gorgeous. And I would love a little artwork on a cover. So very pretty. So yes, we're actually doing well for covers of books as well. Okay. Okay, so we'll move on to number four. And this again, I mean, I am a sucker for anything British base, that this one I actually read most of the time when we have our, my blog post or your podcast interview. I'm always looking at books and interviewing them. So we are interviewing them, recommending them. Yeah, reviewing them. You're

Amy Mair: 16:36

no good at that, though. You're so good. It's like, I don't know how you do that. Like, I can't do it after I brought the book. But you are so good at previewing it. I can't actually tell.

Unknown: 16:47

I don't want to influence people. But I always I just loved peering in the anticipation of reading a good book. And I think that's what, how it started was my blog started because people were looking for what do I recommend book club and I was in the same boat. So always looking for what's coming next. And so I have books that are coming out in October, November on my list that not this list, but on my going ongoing list, because it's exciting to kind of anticipate what's coming and look forward to them. And then it's like, is it gonna be a hit or a miss? I'm with you. I don't know, hit or miss. This one. I can say I've read and I think it's a hit. It's a it's kind of a quiet book. It's called You are Here. And it's written by David Nicholls. Now he wrote

Amy Mair: 17:32

criminalistics One Day, one one day.

Unknown: 17:35

Yeah. And then he wrote after that another one called us, but one day is the one that's on Netflix right now. And he was very much involved. He is a screenwriter as well. But he was very much involved in the production of that. I thought it was well done. But it's

Amy Mair: 17:48

not the casting was really interesting in that I really, I liked the woman who played the love interest. I thought she was an unconventional. Yeah. And she, you just fell in love with her. So I thought she was really no,

Unknown: 18:02

and it wasn't. You know, it's hard these days to watch a show with an well known actress, because you just have so much baggage, you've seen them in so many different roles. And she was so refreshing. And you just sort of felt like you had a glimpse into a real life like Are these real lives that were going on, though? That was definitely I mean, it was a huge hit when it came out. And then the Anne Hathaway movie and everything else. This one is for the grown ups. This one is called you are here. And it's about you know, what it reminded me of is remember that book, The Rosie Project number of years ago, then who is the Australian fellow who wrote that, and it was about a fellow who was I think he was high level autism or he was on the spectrum anyway, and maybe Asperger's and he was kind of a socially awkward guy. This one is a man and a woman and but they're introverts in they've both their partner list at this stage in their lives and all of their friends are like, Okay, you have to get out and meet somebody or you know, someone's not going to, you know, stumble over your footstool, and you're you're watching TV at home, you have to get out these ones. So they're being encouraged by their friends. And serendipity intervenes, and they end up on this hiking trip. With the number of people going in, it's across. I guess it's sort of it's a well known hiking trail that goes from sea to sea across the width of Yorkshire England. And so again, you travel, you feel like you're there and the elements and the weather and, and views and the VISTAs are all described beautifully. But it's these these two people, they're sort of loners and lonely, and they end up kind of together in this and are they or aren't they not going to form a relationship and there's so many it's kind of a comedy of manners in a way there's a number of times when they just you're like, Oh, don't say that you've just missed each other and then it kind of prolongs a bit, but there's wonderful banter. You're and the British can do it like nobody else. It's just so funny. And the actual conversations are poignant and thoughtful. I know I sort of wrote down a few things like, Oh, I like that question like, you know, we should think about some of these thoughts on life and where we are and these sorts of things. But it's, it's just, it's also funny, and it's some it's cute, but it's a middle aged, middle aged without menopause. But it's really, and it's also from both points of view, it goes back and forth. So you, you get the male perspective, which I think David Nichols does really well. And he also does the women's perspective very well. But they're sort of Lost Souls, but they come through and whether they're with each other or not, it's more that they find themselves on this path. And it's, yeah, I really, really enjoyed it. So it's

Amy Mair: 20:50

kind of like a grown up one day maybe?

Unknown: 20:53

I think so. Yeah. Yeah, very much. Yeah. And, and a tagline that's attached to it often is hopeful and heartwarming. And I felt Yeah, that's exactly what they have this hopeful element to it. And you just love these characters and their friends are in you, you share in it all you again, you just sort of feel like you're part of the gang going through with it. But also very good humor, very good humor in it. So yeah, I really enjoyed it. The dialogue in particular, I really enjoyed talking about funny dialogue. I just sent you this link this morning. So now we have, you're gonna have to put this somehow I have

Amy Mair: 21:29

to put that on my, I'm gonna have to put that I have to put that on my social media. This is hilarious.

Unknown: 21:35

Okay, so for those who don't know. And now I received this about well, when it first came out, because I follow all the publishers and they I know geek geek. But I came across this video with Frederick Bachman. And you'll go Frederick Bachman, who's that. And he is the one who wrote a man called is I don't know who found all of our Swedish listeners, but which became the movie with Tom Hanks. And he also wrote bear town, which was the hockey town, which actually was darker than I expected. But a great series, it actually became a trilogy, I believe, anyway, and he's written all sorts of books in different directions, even one called things My son needs to know about the world. This is one of those little grad gift book types. And this man has, he was coming to penguin house and Penguin Random House, I think to do a talk. And he gets up and he does this four minute talk. And it is the funniest bit of humor or speaking I've seen in forever, I shared it with so many people, it made me laugh. And he talks about his anxieties and his protectionism, and his procrastination, and all of these things that many of us deal with in a variety of forms, and levels. But this invitation to speak becomes a work of art when he talks, it was just the best. But what it made me want to do is and I wanted to do this on this list anyway, it was to go turn to the back list to some of the books we've missed. And he wrote a book called anxious people. And I thought, Okay, now that I've seen this man, and how he marks his anxiety, and is so vulnerable, and speak. So honestly, with such humor, I know this book is going to be a winner. So the premise of Anxious People, which is by FrederiK Backman. And our fifth choice is it's sort of a whimsical blog concept, if you can imagine going to an open house to see an apartment. And a runaway bank robber bursts in and takes everybody there hostage. That's the premise for the book. But what happens is that these eight different people, while they're confined together, all start sharing stories and their personal experiences and insights. And so this whole book becomes about the human condition. And now that I've seen that video of the author, and often we don't really the author doesn't necessarily play into consciously anyway, play into a book, our perception of a book because we don't know the author. It's unusual that we've met the author before we've read the book. And this one now I think reading it, I think we're again in very good hands. I think he has a very good sensitivity to these anxieties and he shares his own so I think this will be a really good one plus the premise even if it's a bomb I think the the premise is so funny like the idea of everyday life, you know, certain situations we're in and what if this turned into you know, and I you know, I always laugh like when I'm in the bank lineup and, good lord lately, the two banks merged in The lineups have been out the door and it's crazy. But the conversations I've had in the lines, I have to say have just been a delight. And I ran into a woman that I used to babysit for when I was 12 years old. All these different situations and you think, you know, that's where stories start. That's where the good stories are, because it's about people and, and people's interactions and all the background we bring to those little tiny interactions. Anyway, I know he's a very good writer, I know he's managed his humor well, and poignancy. Well, and I think that after seeing the video, anyone who sees the video will definitely want to read his entire back list. But this one in particular, I

Amy Mair: 25:41

think, I've read I was reading about him this morning that he's actually was in some type of robbery and was shot in a robbery. So I wonder, I wonder if he says his wife says weird things happen to him all the time. Yeah. And so I wonder if maybe keep a little fat to the shirt. A little that to the to the table? Um, what I have to ask you that what are you reading right this moment?

Unknown: 26:13

Right this moment, I am in that lovely position, where I've just finished a book. And I'm just about to start a book. And I'm reading a nonfiction. When I you know, every once in a while I try and throw in a nonfiction book about, you know, all the boring things. But the one that I just finished and so I'm afraid to pick the next one, because I don't know what will live up to it. So this one, I'm going to do an entire blog post on itself. And it's called how to read a book by Monica wood. And I just finished it and it's a little tiny book. And it is, it was so unexpected. It has the cheesiest cover, and it's beautiful, but it's kind of it's a picture of a cute little bookstore. It has a parrot in the window, and a little table with a little cup of coffee. It's just kind

Amy Mair: 27:08

of a little bait like because a lot of people like that right now,

Unknown: 27:12

I was looking at going Oh, that's cute. I walked by this book about 43 times. And then I didn't really know the back list of the writer. And I don't know, there's just something kept coming back to this book. So I pick it up doesn't really say what it's about when I take it home, I start reading it. And it is it's captivating in so many ways. It's again, a small, small book about people with little lives and how they interact and the relationships. And it's, it's just different and I and I really really liked it. So I like those little quiet books that catch you by surprise. So I just finished that. And I also finished Emily Henry's newest one, which was a good romp. And the other one I finished was called how to end a love story by using clang. And these are all these racy romances. I'm gonna my next one might have to be something more literary just to bring my temperature down. Good fun for summer but yes, I love any one of these ones on the list. I'm looking forward to reading. I have the Paris novel I think you read that Ruth RACHEL

Amy Mair: 28:27

Oh, yeah, I I didn't love it. Because I was comparing it to her her other books I liked I liked it.

Unknown: 28:37

Okay, so that was the other one is Long Island by Colm Toibin.

Amy Mair: 28:42

I just finished it. Oh,

Unknown: 28:43

did you? Yeah, how did you like it?

Amy Mair: 28:46

I really liked it. I actually just just right now I have a podcast out on it. And I liked it. It a lot, actually. But it's most people have if they haven't read Brooklyn have seen the movie. So sequel and it's clever, though. Good. Very good. Very, very well done. It's them in middle age.

Unknown: 29:11

Okay, I think we're embracing the middle age books today, aren't we? Yeah, yeah. Anyway, that's, that's great. So but I love Yes, this place of looking forward to what's next. And I was talking to a friend the other day big reader. And she is choosing 52 books right now and she's going to read 52 books this year. And she's selecting them in advance so she's working she's working through a list if you don't the reading right now war and peace in increments like she's like just a little bit every day along with her other ones but we always have great TAs and I know she listens to us that he KP good. Okay. It's kind of neat because we I always record the books I read so I know how many and I do You average every year I average about 50 to 56 books. So right in there. So 52 is a book a week for a year. So some of them we blast through others we, they take longer. So it's it's interesting to see the average of what we read.

Amy Mair: 30:16

I'm going to be lower this year. But I'm coming back. Yes,

Unknown: 30:21

I'm here to and then I came back. It's good. And it's funny the way books find you too. And I look at you know, we talk about moving house and all these things that we have done in recent years. And you look at your bookshelf, and every book kind of reminds you of a place you were when you read it. And some of them we toss out. Some of them we keep. And it's, but it's good. It's kind of I can't imagine not having books in our lives. It's their comfort and, and a great way to vicariously experience so many cool things. And in this list, it'll take us everywhere. It's kind of fun.

Amy Mair: 30:59

Well, thanks so much for getting everyone ready for summer. Yes. And I'm so glad to chat with you today.

Unknown: 31:09

Yes, always my pleasure and happy reading to everybody, but to you especially.

Amy Mair: 31:15

Okay, I'll talk to you soon. Bye. Thanks so much for listening. And thanks for Susan, for your great suggestions. And so that concludes season four. And I want to thank you so much for your support. And I love your feedback. I love interacting with you on social media, through my website and getting your ideas and hearing what you're reading as well. And I think I'm gonna kick off the summer, by reading David Nichols. It's supposed to be a middle aged version of one day, which I think a lot of you are watching on Netflix, and it's about two kind of opposites, who are recently divorced, and they go on a hike, and they find each other. So I think that should be it's supposed to be very funny. So I'm looking forward to that. And the book that I'm reading right now. It's called the other Valley and by a local author, Scott Alexander Howard, and I love it. It's some sci fi actually, it's speculative fiction, and I'm hoping to get him on the podcasts. So we'll see if that works out. I'm going to work on that over the summer. So with that, wishing you a happy summer and happy reading