What We Are Reading This Summer
The long, lazy days of summer are the perfect time to pick up a book and lose yourself in its pages. Whether you’re lounging by the pool, relaxing on the beach, or enjoying a quiet evening on the porch, a good book is a great companion. Here’s a peek at what our staff is reading this summer, with recommendations that range from thrilling mysteries and heartwarming tales to inspiring nonfiction and classic literature. Dive into our summer reading list and discover your next favorite book! Stephanie: “Counted With the Stars” by Connilyn Cossette. It is a fictional novel about an Egyptian slave, Kiya, and is loosely based on the story of Moses and the Israelites exodus from Egypt as told in the Old Testament in the Bible. It is a wonderful book with a great mix of history and fiction. I also recently read “The Happiest Man on Earth,” which is the true story of Eddie Jaku, an Auschwitz survivor. He describes how against all odds he survived the terrors of Nazi Germany and was determined to live a life full of joy and love despite the awful things he and his family endured. (I actually read this book in less than two days because it was so powerful.) John and Hillary: Hillary just finished reading “The Wager” by David Grann aloud to John. The book recounts the unbelievable but true story of the doomed adventure taken by those aboard the HMS Wager. This Royal Navy ship was meant to sail the world and plunder Spanish treasure, but in 1741 it was shipwrecked while trying to sail around Cape Horn. It is a tale of death, destruction, betrayal, resilience, and survival. Courtney: This summer, I’m aiming to finish the fantasy series “Throne of Glass” and “A Song of Ice and Fire.” Alongside those, I want to complete “The Princess Bride,” a recent addition to my collection. I will also continue my tradition of rereading the “Harry Potter” books during the summer. Once upon a time, I could breeze through this list in a couple of weeks, but now, with the joys of adulthood, I will be kept busy all summer long!
Barb: I’m currently reading the series of mysteries starring Albert Campion by Margery Allingham. She was a contemporary of Agatha Christie and wrote in the traditional British mystery vein. The series consists of 21 novels published between 1929 and 1971. The character Albert Campion also appears in several short stories written by Allingham. Additionally, after Allingham’s death, her husband, Philip Youngman Carter, completed two more Campion novels, bringing the total to 23 books. I have read seven so far! Beth: I just finished reading “The Women” by Kristin Hannah. It’s a work of historical fiction that focuses on the women who served in Vietnam and the experiences they shared working as nurses at a field hospital for wounded soldiers. The nurses struggled with the transition back to civilian life and not being recognized as veterans since they didn’t see combat. An excellent read! Rachel: I am reading “The Fraud” by Zadie Smith. It’s a historical novel based on the Tichborne case, a legal battle that captivated Victorian England in the 1860s and 1870s. Roger Tichborne, rightful heir to a baronetcy and a family fortune, was presumed to have died in a shipwreck in 1854, but then a man showed up claiming to be him. Although set in 19th-century England, it keeps one eye focused clearly on today’s political populism.
by Ann Patchett to myself. In the spring of 2020, Lara’s three daughters return to the family’s orchard in Northern Michigan during COVID-19. While picking cherries, they beg their mother to tell them the story of Peter Duke, a famous actor with whom she shared both a stage and a romance years before at a theater company called Tom Lake. Tom Lake is a meditation on youthful love, married love, and the lives parents have led before their children were born. Savannah: I am rereading my favorite Steven King book, “Needful Things.” The sleepy New England town of Castel Rock welcomes a mysterious new shop owner. Curious residents soon find the shop contains objects of their deepest desires … for a price. Seemingly harmless pranks unravel into a deadly web of chaos and destruction as the people of Castle Rock fight for their mortal souls. Melanie: I’ve just recently started reading “Four Thousand Paws: Caring for the Dogs of the Iditarod” by Lee Morgan. Dr. Morgan is a veterinarian in Washington, D.C., who has volunteered for more than a decade as a treating vet for the sled dogs during the Iditarod race in Alaska. In sharing his experiences, challenges, and insights, Dr. Morgan weaves in many facts about the history of the Iditarod and about the fascinating dogs who run it each year. As a longtime follower of the Iditarod, I’m looking forward to learning more about the people and the dogs behind the “Last Great Race on Earth.”
Hillary: In addition to reading books out loud to John, I am currently reading “Tom Lake”
Looking for a summer read for your little ones? I’m excited to share some wonderful news about my mom, Carter Townsend. She has a special connection to our firm, having babysat the Rinehardt kids back when she was in high school. Her passion for fostering young minds continued to grow, leading her to become an elementary school teacher at Shelby City Schools. Some of my earliest memories are of her Sassy, Mo & Hopper bedtime stories, and she has always dreamed of sharing these tales with a wider audience. My mom’s creative spark has always been fueled by her deep love of reading and her desire to ignite that same passion in children.
Now, she has turned her dream into reality with her first children’s book, “ Sassy, Mo, and Hopper Go Fishing.” This read-
with-me adventure story features three unlikely friends — a snake, a turtle, and a rabbit — and offers the opportunity for children to tap into their creativity and change aspects of the story with every read. I’m incredibly proud of her accomplishment and can’t wait for everyone to enjoy it! You can find “Sassy, Mo, and Hopper Go Fishing” on Amazon. –Courtney Townsend, Intake Coordinator
2 Rinehardt Law | BeSmartLegal.com
Made with FlippingBook Ebook Creator