And now for something completely different

A summer reading list from my bookshelf

From the time I could read, books were essential to my happiness. For an early birthday, my parents enrolled me in a Dr. Seuss book-of-the-month program, and I remember greedily looking forward to the arrival of another shiny and colorful hardback. My eldest sister, an obvious influence, was famous (in the family) for spending hours reading in a high crook of the apple tree in our backyard. I went on to earn two degrees in literature and spent the summer between college and grad school working in a bookstore - perhaps the most fun job I’ve ever had. I’m currently in two book groups, although one (which I joined 30 years ago) has morphed into more of a social circle. The second, which I formed several years ago with a few like-minded women after we all found our way to Portland, is alive and kicking and exposing me to a wide range of authors and genres.

I am an omnivore, reading-wise. Depending on my mood, you might find me reading philosophical science fiction, a cheesy murder mystery, or a powerful memoir. For this post, I thought I would share some suggestions for books I am reading or have read, books you just might want to tuck into your backpack, beach bag, or briefcase.

Quick reads with propulsive narratives and deeply unsettling themes:

• Help Wanted, Adelle Waldman: Can the employees of a big box store manipulate the system to get the manager they want? Read for a clear-eyed look inside the world of hourly workers.

• Annie Bot, Sierra Greer: A glimpse of how AI might create a new kind of love relationship, and a tale about the devastating human drives for power and affirmation.

• James, Percival Everett: It seems crazy I even have to describe this given its prominence in the press and many awards. But let me tell you this: if you think it is simply a retelling of the Huck Finn story, you are in for a surprise. Compulsively readable and provocative.

Nonfiction that illuminates modern icons and the times they inhabited:

• When the Going was Good, Graydon Carter: A great read for anyone who lived through the heyday of American glossies. Graydon Carter shares stories from his life and his days at the helm of Vanity Fair. (A great read if you love name-dropping.)

• My Life on the Road, Gloria Steinem: A modern revolutionary recounts her love of travel and how it shaped her views and her role in the world.

Poetic novels with a dreamy feel:

• North Woods, Daniel Mason: The history of a house told through generations of its inhabitants. The linkage of disparate stories is masterful.

• Orbital, Samantha Harvey: One day in the lives of six people abroad an orbiting spacecraft. A poetic reflection on distance, solitude, and memory - among other things.

Novels that will break your heart:

• Mayflies, Andrew O’Hagan: A group of punk-loving lads in Thatcher’s England; the story follows two of them closely during the summer of 1986 and then again in the fall 30 years later.

• The Memory Police, Yoko Ogawa: As people’s connections to familiar objects begin to erode, a novelist schemes to protect her editor by hiding him in her home.

Next time, we’ll return to our regularly scheduled programming. In the meantime, happy reading!