Summer often flies by – and this one has proved no different. The new school year begins tomorrow, when I’ll be heading back to work for teacher in-service. Soon, I know I won’t get quite as much reading done, so I’m grateful for all the books I’ve been able to read over the past few months. Since returning from Rhode Island, I’ve finished two more and loved them both. And it turns out, the end of the summer is the perfect time to read these stories.
The Paper Palace by Miranda Cowley Heller: [TW: sexual assault] This book tells the story of Elle Bishop and her family, and their summers spent at cabins in the Back Woods of Cape Cod. It traces her relationship with her childhood best friend Jonas, her husband Peter, and the complicated dynamics of her family. The story moves in time between present day, when Elle must reconcile her feelings for Jonas, and all the past events leading up to this moment, including a traumatic incident that changed the trajectory of her life. I loved this book; the descriptions of life on the Cape and raw emotions these characters feel are all beautifully written. It is certainly dark, and some parts hard to read, but it is worth it.
Her Last Flight by Beatriz Williams: This is a beautiful work of historical fiction. It tells the story of two pilots, Irene Foster and Sam Mallory, detailing their relationship, rise to fame, and the mystery of their disappearances. The book goes back and forth between their past (1920s and 30s) and the present (the 40s), when photojournalist Janey Everett is writing a book about Mallory and goes in search of information about what really happened to him and Foster. The writing is captivating, with rich detail; it truly feels like stepping back in time to when aviation was new and exhilarating. The adventures, romance, and time period make this book the perfect escapism for the end of summer.
Since finishing these, I’ve started reading Intimacies by Katie Kitamura, which is fascinating so far. What are you currently reading?
