Summer In Books

I like to read year round but quieter summer days mean I have few more spare moments to catch on my reading.
You can usually find me reading novels, but every now and again I try to spice in a little non fiction. I've noticed that when I do it's usually food related. Shocking right?
Anyways, I thought it might be fun to share a few books I've read recently, all of which will keep you happy and none of which will embarrass you if someone asks, “What’re you reading?”
All are available for Kindle, tablet, and should be out in paperback by now. They are in no particular order beyond the way I found them on my Kindle.

I loved Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel, a book about the end of the world as we know. After a pandemic flu exterminates 99% of the global population, the survivors have to start from scratch to rebuild the civilization. The story jumps back and forth between the time before and after the collapse.
Though I'm definitely not huge on Sci-Fi novels, this one is light on the science and heavy on the philosophy.

Everything I Never Told You by Celeste NG was one of those books that I just couldn't put down. A powerful novel that explores alienation, achievement, race, gender, family, and identity.
The story which takes place in the late 70s, begins with the death of the oldest daughter of a Chinese-American family. The death drives the narrative, and yet, this story is bigger, grander than this central mystery. The author delves into the lives of each family member and by the end of the book, the reader is fully in sympathy with all the characters.
I adored Celeste NG’s storytelling skills, she is such a beautiful writer. I’m sure you’ll do too.

I first got into reading Go Set A Watchman by Harper Lee because I loved To Kill A Mockingbird. I was not disappointed.
It’s a brilliantly written southern novel about a young woman who discovers that her father - who she taught was a God - is really not.
A book about change, and about how difficult it is to get people to let go their identities and move forward into the future.

I really enjoyed Brain Maker by David Perlmutter.
A book that explains the potent interplay between intestinal microbes and the brain.
The author describes how the microbiomes develop from birth and evolve based on lifestyle choices. How it can become sick, and how nurturing gut health and fortify your brain .
With simple dietary recommendation, Brain Maker opens the door to unprecedented brain healthy potential.

These are my recommendations, I’d love to hear yours. Don’t be shy.