Friday, July 15, 2022

About Reading in the Summertime




"Reading a good book
just goes with summer."
MARCIA GAY HARDEN



Warm summer afternoons bring out an especial longing in me to drift away on a cool breeze and disappear into a good book. While bees hum in the roses and leaves lay listless in treetops, and it's really too hot for intense effort, I reach guilt-free for my stash of summertime reading. I like books that are sunshine infused and lavender scented, where passages remind me of happy childhood and summer holidays. Where the beauty of God's summer-laced world drifts through the pages, and adventure, mystery, and romance surprise at every turn.

No matter the season, including summer, I enjoy a mix of fiction and non-fiction, beloved favourites alongside titles yet unread. I like the well-weathered friends of old classics and vintage books, but I also run with my current favourite bestsellers. I slip easily from one genre to another: whodunits, historical fiction, literary classics, memoir, garden, art, poetry, and spiritual inspiration. Sometimes I dip into stories I loved as a girl, such as Rose in Bloom and the Anne books, or I'll catch up on titles I missed growing up. I do the same with adult books. A couple of summers ago, I sought out well known works I'd ignored in the past and was pleasantly surprised to find this 'filling in the blanks' a most gratifying experience.

A storyline beautifully written is a must, but I also want characters I grow to care about as they grapple their issues and search out truths that set them free. I admire authors who can tell a hard tale, skillfully weaving difficult themes without utterly swamping my mind with a horrifying bleakness. There must always be a thread of goodness and beauty throughout. A good book, especially one read during the summertime, must have reasonably happy endings, and if not happy, well then, at least hopeful. I want to know the characters I've come to love will have a chance for better days ahead. In God’s world hope is ever present—it should be in books too.

Books fuel my writing. Reading about people who dedicate their lives to making the world a better place inspire me to keep dreaming of how I, too, can make my world a more beautiful place with my writing. These world changers invite me not to lose hope about making a difference, and I grab hold of the divine creative impulse with renewed joy. Often, I turn to my poetry books, devotionals, and nature diaries, meandering through the pages as if in a garden, breathing in a thoughtful line here, holding a poignant phrase there. Nourished and refreshed, my heart beats with a readiness to dust off my keyboard and share this beautiful life with others.

Wherever you are this summer, I hope there's a pleasant breeze and a beguiling pile of books to keep you company. Happy Reading!



Wishing you a beautiful day,
Brenda


From the Archives:
Originally published on the InScribe blog


Top Photo by Jill Wellington from Pixabay






16 comments:

  1. Enjoy your summertime reading.

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    1. Thanks, Ruth! Do you have any particulars you enjoy in summer?

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  2. Books are so very special any time but summer allows us to enjoy them in nature, making the experience even more delightful

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    1. Enjoying them in nature, really, that is the treat of reading in summer. Thank you!

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  3. You have perfectly captured my summertime reading habits. And of course, the pleasant breeze is a must!

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    1. Oh yes, a breeze that flutters tree tops or puffs out curtains is a must!

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  4. Brenda summer always is a favorite reading time of mine. It is those lazy late afternoons and evenings that find me on my swing reading something good. Just finished the "Rose Code" by Anne Quinn - it is a novel about the women and men who worked at Bletchley Park in the UK during WWII. A great fiction based on historical facts. Hope you have lots of good afternoons to read my friend. P.S. You always write posts that inspire goodness and are filled with God's Joy! Thank you for continuing to share your beautiful thoughts. Hugs!

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    1. I loved The Rose Code! A great story, isn't it? Thank you for your kind and lovely thoughts. I appreciate your affirming words - they are a big hug to my heart, Debbie!

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  5. Oops book was written by Kate Quinn - sorry! :)

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  6. Loved this post--and your last with photos of our wonderful English garden tour! I have such strong and fond memories of visiting all of those places. I thought of you when I read The Summer Book by Tove Jansson. It evokes the same kinds of feelings you describe as it follows a young protagonist and her grandmother at their summer home in Sweden. It was a true delight that I think you would enjoy.

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    1. Like you, I have such lovely feelings, and memories, of that wonderful garden tour with you and your aunt and Barbara and the others. I have placed that book you mentioned on order. It wasn't available locally so it was popped straight into my Amazon shopping cart (wink). Thanks so much for the recommendation, Lauren.

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  7. This post makes me want to take a little vacation (can one take a vacation from summer?) to stay home and read! It has been a very people-y summer here with lots of coming and going . . . although that is wonderful too!

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  8. "There must always be a thread of goodness and beauty throughout." Yes to that! Reading on a languorous summer afternoon is such a delight. I always read Daphne du Maurier's "Frenchman's Creek" in the summer time.

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    1. Dear Brenda,
      I’m sitting outside on my his summer morning, listening to the “buzz” of sound merry insects. Just reread your most recent thoughts. They bring such joy to me!☺️
      When I was working, my summer days were extra special as I felt the luxury of simply carving out time to read. That carved out time felt like a luxury. Retired, I still feel that “carving out” that time in a summer afternoon is still “a gift.”
      Love your comments about what you want to feel in a story. You described that so well.
      Hope YOU feel moments of great joy that “others” bring to you. You bring SO much to those of us who follow you!
      Happy Summer day ahead!!!🤗💗~ Ann

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  9. I enjoy reading year round! Have a wonderful summer day reading!

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  10. Hi Brenda. You love books as much as I do. You make me want to stop the world, get off, and go read! Thanks for stopping by and commenting, too.Susan

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To My Beautiful Readers,

Some people come into our lives, leave footprints on our hearts, and we are never the same. ~ Franz Peter Schubert

Thank you so much for leaving your 'footprint' here in my comment box. I do appreciate you taking a moment to share your thoughts today.

Brenda xo