Summer Reading

For most parents, finding time to read is challenging. Often, the only time I can read is just before I nod off to sleep. So depending on the day's events, reading can be for as little as 10 minutes.  With such limited time, I try to choose books that are well-written, poignant, thought-provoking.

I have read a few books recently that meet my stringent requirements for solid writing but are also entertaining enough to be classified as summer reading.  Here are a few that I highly recommend:


Beautiful Ruins, by Jess Walker 

If you haven't read this, pick it up NOW!  Its the perfect escape!  And what could be better summer reading than a book that takes place in a fictional Italian seaside town? Enough said.


Where'd You Go Bernadette, By Maria Semple

Bernadette is such an entertainingly (crazy) character.  This book is filled with humor, its sharp and is a quick page-turner.


Rules of Civility, by Amor Towles

Sophisticated, elegant and witty book set in romantic 1930s New York City.  I raced through this one!


Americanah, by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

Such a modern novel, interestingly observed from the perspective of a non-American African woman.  It is warm and multi-layered.  It most certainly will be made into a movie...

Oh, and pick up anything written by Colm Toibin!!!

 Just today I bought Empty Mansion by Bill Dedman and Paul Clark Newell, Jr.  Its about the mysterious life of the reclusive heiress Huguette Clark, who died recently.  We'll see..

Read! Read A Lot!

The day our daughter was born, my parents generously flew up from Florida.  This support was a real priveledge and looking back, a total godsend.  Prior to our daughter's birth,  I am not sure that I had even held a newborn. Needless to say I was novice, at best.  Luckily, like most new parents, I learned quickly.   One of the best pieces of advice given to me by my mother in these first days was that I MUST read to our daughter -- EVERY SINGLE DAY.  At the time, this seemed a bit silly, especially when reading to my newborn, only 48-hours old -- but the steady emphasis on reading paid off, with huge dividends.

After reading multiple books every day to her in her first few years, our daughter was able to recognize words at 2 years old.  At first, I thought, like most toddlers, she had simply memorized the books; but friends pointed out that she could actually read. At 3 years old, she could read simple books and by pre-K, she was fully reading.  In First Grade, she enjoys reading 200-300 page books.

While some of this early reading is a result of her innate aptitude, I credit a large part of it to the constant reading to which she was exposed all the way back to her earliest days.   These early days, months and years are so important on so many levels.  Religiously reading to your children every day can be tedious at times, but remember: What you put in, is what you get out!

Notice the disproportionate number of books to toys in these photos of our daughter! Brown Bear, Brown Bear...

See also:  http://www.nytimes.com/2014/06/24/us/pediatrics-group-to-recommend-reading-aloud-to-children-from-birth.html