A project I am not failing miserably at. My monthly prompts have been going pretty well so far this year. I've mostly been able to keep up and most of the books have been great reads. And now it's time to choose a new book. Here's where I've been so far . . .
January: A Fresh Start: Elizabeth Jane Howard's The Beautiful Visit
February: An Affair to Remember: Agatha Christie's The Mysterious Affair at Styles
March: When Irish Eyes are Smiling: Jennifer Johnston's The Gingerbread Woman and William Trevor's Nights at the Alexandra
April: April in Paris: Helene Gremillon's The Confidant
May: How Does Your Garden Grow: Kate Morton's The Forgotten Garden (this one still in progress as it is part of my Summer Bookcation reading)
June: Play Ball: Doris Kearns Goodwin's Wait Till Next Year
July: Independence Day
So, Independence Day. I was thinking of it in a couple of different ways. Either it could be a historical novel or a nonfiction book about Colonial America. Taking the theme very literally and going back to its roots. Or I thought I could find a book about the idea of Independence and Freedom. My list was not quite as long or varied as I was expecting, but I think I have a few really good choices.
For historical fiction I was thinking of The Widow's War by Sally Cabot Gunning and Johnny Tremain by Esther Hoskins Forbes was suggested for a good classic of juvenile fiction.
Maybe not surprisingly I have a longer list of possibilities when it comes to novels about the idea of independence and also not surprisingly they are stories with female protagonists. Jotted down on my mental and paper list: Barbara Taylor Bradford's A Woman of Substance (for a little escapist type read), Rachel Kushner's The Flamethrowers, Elizabeth Forsythe Hailey's A Woman of Independent Means (though I have read this one already), I was thinking perhaps something by Anita Brookner or Mary Wesley. Maybe Isabel Allende's Daughter of Fortune (though the story sounds so familiar I might have read this one already, too) or Ali Smith's How to Be Both. I could also reread Fannie Flagg's Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe (a favorite of mine, and a perfect summer read, but I wonder where my copy is . . .), or pick up the next Laurie King Mary Russell mystery. And Elizabeth Gilbert's The Signature of All Things looks wonderful.
For nonfiction I was thinking of Dava Sobel's The Glass Universe (which I HAD to have when it first came out), or maybe her Galileo's Daughter. And I have Jill Lepore's The Secret History of Wonder Woman and Kathryn Harrison's Joan of Arc (both of which I have been eager to read), or I might look for Daring to Drive by Manal al-Sharif in the library.
You see how this can go on and on and how hard I make it by thinking about it too much or too long? Of course this is a mental exercise I can very much get behind! I have a good idea of what I want to read. It is tricky, though, if I choose something chunky I risk not finishing by the end of the month. But if I choose something either easier than more challenging or something shorter I might even squeeze in a second book.
I am happily looking forward to a long weekend as I am taking Monday off in anticipation of the Tuesday holiday. I have a coupon and a gift card to spend at the bookstore, so it may well warrant a visit at some point in the next few days. I think I'll see a movie or two. Otherwise it is just rest and reading I am hoping for. As it has already been really quiet here this week, don't be surprised if I take a few days off (though I might be back to quickly share my July reading choice).
Have a great weekend and happy reading!