What I Read on My Summer Vacation....and Beyond... (Part 1)

Hooo boy! Am I ever behind.  Here's a heaping helping of all I've read to date.  Our summer vacation was fabulous; it was filled with fun and activities. We saw beautiful things, stayed in beautiful places, we had lots of time for relaxing and playing.  And of particular delight to me, I had lots and lots of time to read (long plane rides and one glorious day devoted entirely to reading. Sigh!)

In roughly first to latest read order:

**** 4 stars
The Dry Grass of August by Anna Jean Mayhew

One of two book club choices for July/August.  I really enjoyed this book.  It had much in common with another book I had just read, Getting the Important Things Right by Padgett Gerler.  Similar setting and family drama. 

**** 4 stars
The Kitchen Daughter by Jael McHenry

Another excellent book club choice for this summer.  Generally, I would say magical realism isn't my favorite type of book (Peach Keeper, I'm looking at you), but for some reason this book charmed me.  I thought the portrayal of a young woman with Asperger's was quite touching.  Some lovely and gentle surprises in this story.  I really enjoyed this one!

** 2 stars
Silken Prey by John Sandford

Oh, such a bitter disappointment from a usual sure-fire author. I generally love Sandford's books and have read them since pretty much the beginning but this one was just dull. Politics is not my favorite topic anyway and the entire plot was pretty much a snore.  Bummer.

** 2 stars
Playing Dead by Julia Heaberlin

Another disappointing read but one for which I had no expectations. Picked it out at the bookstore because it sounded good; wasn't even on my "to-read" shelf.  Started out pretty strong with an interesting premise but I felt the plot grew quite muddled and confusing.  Was glad to finish it so I could move on to something better.

**** 4 stars
Tell the Wolves I'm Home by Carol Rifka Brunt

Okay, finally! A compelling read.  (This was my single-book-in-one-day read. Nice!)  A lovely, poignant coming of age in the 80s story about love and loss and families.  I really enjoyed this book.