August 31, 2023

long live summer

I'll never get enough summer. To the fall lovers and those who live in hotter climates, I'm sorry for you. Yes, I can see the beauty in fall, but it's so melancholy. On this last day of August, let's recount all those summer joys. 



The weather
I'm finally warm! Well, not always if I'm inside. Some people like to set the AC icy cold. Long evenings. The season of outdoor meals. No need for cumbersome extra clothing. 

The sounds
Symphony of crickets and katydids. Children's laughter. Lawn mowers. Roll of thunder and pounding rain.

The sights
Deep blue skies, dense green trees. Brilliant flowers frequently visited by butterflies, hummingbirds, and bees. Nighttime fireflies. Tall corn in the fields. Dazzling sunshine.

The feel
Laid-back schedule, infrequently waking to an alarm. This might be the first summer in a long time that I can say that! Impromptu excursions. I finally feel whole.

Books
Leisurely schedules allow time for extra reading. Nothing too heavy, breezy as the air. One to recommend:


Mukesh, a widower, finds a forgotten library book under the bed and reads it to feel closer to his wife. It takes him out of his house to the library, where he encounters a troubled teen librarian, Aleisha. She's never read much, but finds a book list while checking in books. Curious, she reads the first one on the list, To Kill a Mockingbird. It changes her. She needs to talk to someone about it! Aleisha gives it to Mukesh. Soon they're both devouring books and discussing characters. Mysteriously, the book list turns up for other people, who read the books as well. 

The list is as follows:
To Kill a Mockingbird 
Rebecca
The Kite Runner
The Life of Pi
Pride and Prejudice
Little Women
Beloved
A Suitable Boy

I love a good bookish book, so this one snagged me. The list itself intrigued me, and made me wonder what books I'd include if I were to make one.

LONG LIVE SUMMER ♡