My favorite book so far this summer is “Loving Frank” by Nancy Horan, a novel about the true life relationship between Frank Lloyd Wright and his second wife, Mamah Cheney. I was reluctant to read it at first since so much has been written about this, but Horan is a fine writer and has done a ton of research resulting in believable characters and life in the early 20th century. Their affair was scandalous when they left their spouses and children and ran off to live in Europe for a year. Their years together had many challenges and ended abruptly and horribly. I live not far from Talliesen West in Scottsdale, Arizona, and have taken the tours there 8-9 times, so that may have influenced my take on the book — I could picture the spaces they were talking about and knew about Frank’s philosophies of life and architecture and nature. Mamah’s involvement in the suffrage movement was interesting also. Above all, it’s a good story, well told.

I’m half way through Maria Callas by Arianna Stassinopoulos (Huffington). Two of our book club members bought a Greek dinner at a silent auction and invited the rest of us and our spouses/sig-others for the September meeting. The meal will be cooked by a Greek lady and her mom. Hence, the book choice. For August we’re reading The Zookeepers Wife. And then there is the on-going cookbook reading pile that I have an addiction to… right now its Peter Reinhart’s The Bread Baker’s apprentice and Nancy Silverton’s Breads from the La Brea Bakery. I’ve got 2 jars of Silverton’s starter in the frig, waiting to be used.

I am an avid reader from way back and I think I read many good books, but for the life of me , I really have a hard time with Jane Austin. I really dont know what the attraction is for her. Am I alone or do others hate to say such a thing? The made for tv movies of them are really wonderful, but the writings I just dont get. a

The Classic Slave Narratives edited by H.L. Gates, Jr. (Signet, 2002). Always wanted to read; was engrossed in the poignant “Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl.”

In honor of the Olympics I made a promise to myself to read a Chinese author. Gao Xingjian’s “One Man’s Bible” was recommended to me by a student and I must confess that it was one of the most compelling reads in my life. I had a similar experience with Ishiguro a few years ago, but Xingjian has captured here all the elements of Chinese life in the last thirty years. His style is simple, direct, and, for lack of a better word, melodic. He had earned praise for an earlier work, Soul Mountain, which I have not read but do intend to. One Man’s Bible is some of the best prose I have seen in a very long time

Dear Frank, Maurine and all the other readers. Your selections of Books is fabulous. Some of them I have already read. I see that the Jane Austen books as well as books about the war time era seem to be very appealing to you. My suggestions are by the Author ” Beverley Nichols”. He was a prolific writer on subjects ranging from religion to politics and travel. In addition to authoring several novels, detective mysteries, four children’s stories, autobiographies and plays. He is best remembered for his gardening books. The first, “Down The Garden Path” centers on his home and garden with the most colorful and drawing discriptions that you too will be hooked and looking for more. Then followed by” A Thatched Roof, A Village in a Valley, Merry Hall”, and its sequels “Laughter on the Stairs, and Sunlight on the Lawn”. I hope you all will try them and make this author a part of your growing libraries. My the way Frank, ( all the rest of are welcome also) if you would be serious about getting more space to live in. I am just a phone call away. Refer to my website, www. AvenuesofDesign.com Have a great day!!!

I happened to pick up the (relatively) recent “Olive Kitteredge,” by Elizabeth Strout, earlier this summer. A wonderful, illuminating study of the title character, carefully woven thru a dozen tenuously but intricately related short stories. I thoroughly recommend it to anyone looking for a great read that is also toothsome…and with unusually beautifully elegant, non-mannered writing. I’m also reading “Age of Innocence” for the first time, and am sorry that—somehow—my only reading experience of Wharton up ‘til now (and that’s a long time!) was “Ethan Frome”—a splendid book, to be sure, but not nearly as subtle—nor as funny—as “A of I.” Not since I last read George Eliot have I been so enchanted with the pure ability of a language-master (-mistress?) to make a single word—or a pair of words—speak volumes, or (perhaps with the exception of Flaubert) to bring to life a scene or situation in a way that can only be described as “hyper-cinematic.”

Well-written books that keep you turning the pages are hard to find, but they are out there. I found some. I like books in a wide variety of genres. I found these all on Amazon.com and I recommend them all for different reasons. I read twenty or so books this summer, the one’s I liked best were about strong, smart, determined woman, go figure. I enjoyed Blue-Eyed Devil by Lisa Kleypas for that very reason. I read A New Earth by Eckhart Tolle, and was impressed that one could find the path to inner peace through breathing, joy, acceptance, and enthusiasm. Even though at times I found it a bit difficult to understand, it awakened me to a new way to look at my life through his interesting spiritual perspective. For that I am grateful. But my favorite book this summer, without a doubt, was: The Strength of a Sparrow, by Tim ‘Dr. Hope’ Anders. This is a true love story about the author’s parents and more particularly about the strength of an extremely remarkable woman, Bouvette Sherwood, his mother. Set in the 1940’s Bouvette was a successful Broadway actress and producer when she met and fell in love with a charming alcoholic, Hughie Hewitt, who, she later found out, was a Catholic priest. In spite of this seeming deal-breaker their passion and love for each other forced them to continue their relationship and to hide their unsanctioned affair from the church, while he covertly continued his priestly duties. When they spawned two children her life became replete with interesting, and at times, painful twists and turns. Obsession, suspense, betrayal, sizzling romance, humor, this book has it all. I stayed up all night reading until I was done, even though I had to go to work the following day, I just couldn’t stop. When I went to work the following morning my eyes were all puffy from crying (yes, it’s a tear jerker). Friends at work asked me what was wrong; I was somewhat embarrassed to tell them that it was just a book. I found this book to be an inspiring story that was heart-felt and uplifting. Was anyone else touched by this book like I was? Maybe I’m not the only one who went to work with puffy eyes? I’d love to hear from you. Those are my recommendations, I hope I was helpful. Lucy

“Brideshead Revisited,” by Evelyn Waugh, was my best summer read. What a book! What a story! Beautifully written; impossible to put down. I’ll see the movie just for the fun of it.