The Motley Reader

  Around the world in 80 Days is written by Jules Verne was my summer classic pick for this year. For those who don’t know, many years ago after reading Pride and Prejudice one summer, I decided every summer I was going to read a classic literature book. Since then I’ve read through most of Jane Austin. I’ve also read, Poe, Alcott, Shelly, Dickens, Bronte, Fitzgerald, and many others. Now this book may not seem like your ordinary classic. But a few years ago during my librarian days, we did a month long reading challenge. The goal was to read as many books as possible in a month. I was competing against my students so took the opportunity to read books I had always wanted to when I as that age.  That’s when I read 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea and it became one of my favorites. I’m not sure if it was that most of the story took place under water or if it was just that it was so far ahead of its time. But I was completely taken in by the adventures of the Nautilus and Captain Ne...

  The Last Train to Key West by Chanel Cleeton is a historical fiction novel set in 1935. Cleeton also wrote When We Left Cuba and Next Year in Havana.  She is from Florida with a family of Cuban immigrants who lived through the Cuban Revolution. Here's the back copy: In 1935, three women are forever changed when one of the most powerful hurricanes in history barrels toward the Florida keys. For the tourists traveling on Henry Flagler's legendary Overseas Railroad, Labor Day weekend is an opportunity to forget he economic depression gripping the nation. But one person's  paradise can be another's prison, and Key West native Helen Berner yearns to escape. After the Cuban Revolution of 1933 leaves Mirta Perez's family in a precarious position, she agrees to an arranged marriage with a  notorious American. Following her wedding in Havana, Mirta arrives in the keys on her honeymoon. While she can't deny the growing attraction to her new husband, his illicit business...

  So, thanks to dog sitting for the weekend, and staying up waaaaay too late, I have already finished the first book on my summer reading stack. South of the Buttonwood Tree is the second book I've read by Heather Weber. The first one I read was Midnight at the Blackbird Cafe.  Here is the background of the story-Blue Bishop has a knack for finding lost things. While growing up in charming small-town Buttonwood, Alabama, she's happened across lost wallets, jewelry, pets, her wandering neighbor, and sometimes, trouble. No one is more surprised than Blue, however when she comes across an abandoned newborn baby in the woods, just south of a very special buttonwood tree. Sarah Grace Landreneau Fulton is at a crossroads. She has always tried so hard to do the right thing, but her own mother would disown her if she ever learned half of Sarah Grace's secrets. the unexpected discovery of the newborn baby girl will alter blue's and Sarah Grace's lives forever. Both women mus...

  Well, it's that time again. Time for the summer reading stack picture. These seven books are most likely just the beginning of my summer reading, but hey...gotta start somewhere. Below are individual pictures of each book and a brief description and the reason it landed on my summer reading stack. One thing you will notice about these books, is most of them are backlist titles. Meaning, they are not new, recent, or on the best sellers list. If you know me and my reading habits, you will know that I do not read best sellers, when they are currently best sellers. I do not get drawn in by hype, especially for books. I usually wait a while before I will read a best seller, and then I only read it if it is a story I'm interested in, NOT because it was a best seller and everyone raved about it. Any woo. Here's the individual titles. South of the Buttonwood Tree by Heather Weber. You may not recognize the author's name but if you remember my posts from last year, Ms. Weber...