This week is hot and hazy here in New York. The city feels like a heavy whisper; most people are finishing up vacations and prepping for back-to-school. It's a good week to look back at the summer season and reminisce.
One of my favorite summer reading memories from this year is one sunny day when I left work a few hours early, grabbed a picnic blanket, and walked my 10 month old baby to Prospect Park. We spread out in the shade and I watched my daughter turn the pages in her favorite book, Hide and Peek from Little Scholastic. She's "read" that book a hundred times and still it's new to her; still she laughs in delight at the treasures inside. It's inspiring.
I asked the OOMers to share a favorite summer reading memory from this year. They're really lovely and remind me that the joy of reading can sustain us all year long. Here's what they shared:
Megan: I took a train to Boston in August and read In the Unlikely Event by Judy Blume the entire way. Four hours and 25 minutes. Quiet car. Window seat. I even remembered to sit on the right side of the train, which meant two things: I had the northeast coastal view and the sun was in my face for most of the ride.
Kristen: My favorite reading moment was having time to read magazines and a silly, light book while we did some train travel through Italy! Nothing like taking a break from your reading to enjoy the view of the Italian coast.
Deimosa: The best day I had this summer consisted of going to the beach at 9am with a mug of coffee and Go Set a Watchman by Harper Lee. With a few periodic breaks for wave-jumping, lunch-eating, and dolphin-watching, I finished the book in a day. I left the beach at 6pm with a tan and renewed love for Harper Lee.
Julia: My best memory from the summer was reading The Dead Girls of Hysteria Hall by Katie Alender during my daughter’s nap while we were on vacation in Maine. Because we had active days full of hiking and swimming, my daughter took long naps. I had two hours to lay on my bed and read, with the ocean air wafting in through the window (my husband and I call that “fish wind,” and I love it).
Mike: Getting through two days worth of jury duty (criminal court – eek!) by finishing book 1 and starting book 2 of “The Magicians” with time magically flying by.
Brittany: My favorite summer reading memory was reading Infinite Jest by David Foster Wallace in Washington Square Park here in New York City. One of my favorite weekend activities is getting a smoothie and finding a shady spot in the park to sit, relax, read and people watch. It’s incredible!
Share your favorite summer reading memories at #summerreading.
