Some Summer Reading Lists

I've meant to post the following book lists since the STRANGER HERE BELOW paperback launch on June 1. Now, back from travel to visit family in the Midwest (southern Michigan, southern Indiana, and Cincinnati, with husband, daughter, and new puppy along), I'm finally getting around to it.

The paperback launch at the Moravian Book Shop was also a celebration of area book groups and area authors, so the first list I'll include here is a list of books by Lehigh Valley (PA) authors, many of whom came to the Book Shop on June 1. Second is a really random list of novels I've particularly enjoyed in the last few years. I'm always asked what books I especially like, and it's always too hard to answer that question on the spot. I'm sure I've left some wonderful novels off the list I'm including here, but at least it's a place to start.

It's summer! And it's supposed to hit the upper 90s here in eastern PA by tomorrow. A good time to grab a book and a cold drink, find some shade, and start reading.

Books by Lehigh Valley, PA Authors

Paul Acampora, RACHEL SPINELLI PUNCHED ME IN THE FACE; DEFINING  DULCIE

Amra Brooks, CALIFORNIA

Mark Harris, GRAVE MATTERS

Bathsheba Monk, NOW YOU SEE IT . . .: STORIES FROM COKESVILLE, PA; NUDE  WALKER

Alix Ohlin, THE MISSING PERSON; BABYLON AND OTHER STORIES; INSIDE;  SIGNS AND WONDERS

Ruth Knafo Setton, THE ROAD TO FEZ

Lee Upton, THE GUIDE TO THE FLYING ISLAND

Stephanie Powell Watts, WE ARE TAKING ONLY WHAT WE NEED

A Random List of Some of Joyce’s Recent Favorites

Barbara Kingsolver, THE LACUNA

Per Petterson, OUT STEALING HORSES

Jennifer Egan, A VISIT FROM THE GOOD SQUAD and THE KEEP

Teju Cole, OPEN CITY

Louise Erdrich, SHADOW TAG

David Mitchell, CLOUD ATLAS and THE THOUSAND AUTUMNS OF JACOB de  ZOET

Marilynne Robinson, GILEAD and HOME

Wendell Berry, JAYBER CROW

Helon Hebila, OIL ON WATER

Kate Walbert, A SHORT HISTORY OF WOMEN and THE GARDENS OF KYOTO

Go Rovers!

Yesterday I spent a wonderful afternoon with this fine group of AP English students from Easton Area High School here in PA, and their teacher, my friend Sarah Wascura. They asked some of the most probing and intelligent questions I've been asked about Stranger Here Below, which they read during these last weeks of their senior year, God bless them. And God bless the remarkable Mrs. Wascura (and her daughter Emily, who graciously snapped this photo) for hosting us all. I had such a good time talking with these students about the book and about their future plans--and I even got to hear several of them (fine musicians besides being smart and thoughtful readers) perform a few songs from Wicked.

Their future college professors--at Ithaca College, Syracuse, Columbia, Muhlenberg, Rochester, and other schools--are lucky to get them. I wish them well, and I'm so grateful to Sarah for her tireless support of my work, and also for her deep commitment to teaching.