Wednesday, August 3, 2016

Summertime Reading

by Deanna


Reading in the summertime is a favorite pastime during the hot, hazy days of July and August. Not much happening on TV so I turn to the written word for entertainment.  I have read several this summer including one entitled "The Marriage of Opposites" by Alice Hoffman. It is a fictionalized story focused around the mother of Camille Pissarro, the famous impressionist painter during the 1800's. Centered on the island of St. Thomas, Hoffman writes beautiful descriptions of the lushness and colors of the land. The Jacaranda Trees are mentioned throughout the novel as being part of the distinction of the land and its colors.

On my very recent trip to California to visit my son and daughter-in-law I kept noticing the trees with the lovely purple flowers that hung from its branches. My son pointed out that they were Jacaranda Trees. What?? So ofcourse, I had to find one that I could photograph. They were past their prime according to my son but the ones that remained were stunning. If you have ever traveled to South or Central America, to the Caribbean Islands or Bermuda apparently they are very prevalent to the landscapes in those areas. But lucky me, they also grow in Southern California.

Just fyi....several other books that I have read and would recommend for summertime reading are:
The Nest by Cynthia D'Aprix Sweeney
Lily and the Octopus by Steven Rowley
The Forgetting Time by Sharon Guskin
When We Meet Again by Kristin Harmel

And I am into about a 100 pages of Before the Fall by Noah Hawley

Happy Reading!!  

7 comments:

Sandra said...

What a gorgeous image, Deanna, to accompany your summertime reading blog entry. How wonderful that you found a Jacaranda Tree bloom to remind you of the book you have recently read.
I agree that summer is the very best time for reading! Thank you for sharing your titles!

Carol said...

Always my favorite posts of yours. We read many if the same things so I take your lists seriously!
If I have ever seen a Jacarana I don't know it, so this was intersting!

Jackie McGuinness said...

Hope you enjoy Before The Fall.
I just added When We Meet Again to my TBR list.

terriporter said...

Oh, yes, the beautiful jacarandas are plentiful here too! When they're blooming, it's like the whole town turns purple! I too have read many of your suggested books and have loved them all so, like Carol, I read your book suggestions with interest! Right now I'm reading The Nightingale which you recommended a while ago and that I got for Christmas and hadn't read yet. So glad I have it to read during the hot days of summer! It's such a great book! Thanks for a list I can use to decide what to read next!

Cathy H. said...

I've never seen one of these trees, it is gorgeous! I find that I have a hard time reading in the summer. I'm just too restless, needing to be outside. But, I'll keep your list in mine for winter!

Sarah Huizenga said...

Thanks for the list of books, always adding to the list.

Liz said...

I love Jacarandas! The bloom here in October to November during our Spring. The city and surrounding suburbs are a mass of purple for around 4-6 weeks. It is absolutely beautiful!

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