My summer reading

Lillian asked what everyone is reading this summer. Here's what's on my nightstand for the next few months.

I'm currently reading Wives and Daughters by Elizabeth Gaskell. I go on sprees every once in a while where I read a bunch of classic novels. This one is centered around a widower and his daughter in early to mid-nineteenth century England. Here's an interesting bit of trivia about the author. Wives and Daughters is Elizabeth Gaskell's last book that she ever wrote. While she was writing the final chapter of the book, she suddenly fell over dead while eating dinner. So, the novel is incomplete, but it is still considered her greatest work.

My book club is currently reading The Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett. I finished it already and it was a fascinating book. It does have over-the-top sex and violence in it, but if you skip over those parts it is really an amazing book. It is set in 12th century England and is about the building of a great cathedral and all the people that that involves. I feel like I really learned a lot about how these amazing structures were built as well as about the Church during that time period. Our book club plans to go on a tour of our new, local cathedral after discussing the book.

Also in the queue is Theology of the Body for Beginners by Christopher West and The Digital Photography Book Vol. 2 by Scott Kelby. The titles pretty much sum up these books and they're probably all of the non-fiction that I'll get to this summer.

I've also been on a big Jane Austen kick. I seem to do this every few years since she is my all time favorite author. After watching the movie Becoming Jane (which I absolutely loved!), I read the book it was based on, Becoming Jane Austen, a biography of Jane Austen, which was also very good. I recently reread Sense and Sensibility and am getting a hankering to read Pride and Prejudice again or maybe Emma or maybe both :).

Wow, there seems to be a pattern emerging here; historical English novels. Does anyone have any others of this genre to recommend?


P.S. Some pictures from my new camera are coming soon. I'm kind of nervous to share them. Just remember, I'm not a professional so keep your expectations low.