Ti | Book Chatter

It’s been a little busy around here.

We hit another concert at the park yesterday. This time, it was 80’s music by The Spazmatics! What a crazy fun time. The Hub did not like the fact that they played mash-ups of 2-3 songs at once I didn’t mind it. It was just a way for them to get the most songs in, in such a short amount of time. But the crowd was crazy. It was the last concert and I think everyone in town went, which put The Hub on edge (a little bit). Who am I kidding? I was on edge too! It was close to 100 degrees and our umbrella kept getting blown over. In the end, it was fun though and two other families ended up joining us, which lightened the mood all around.

Then today, I had to do some shopping for myself. I do not like to shop for myself. In fact, I despise it. But I am in need of everything so it could not be put off any longer. Usually, I am a GAP girl and I did buy several tops from them, but everything else was…meh. Which led me to hit store after store and I really didn’t end up with anything else.

But, when I came home we picked up Chinese take-out and now I feel normal again. What is it about dressing rooms? They are about 10 degrees hotter than the store itself. I was so crabby after the whole experience.

What am I reading?

I am reading The Asylum by John Harwood. Still! It is a little slow for me but I am plodding along and should be done within a day or so. I am almost done with After Her by Joyce Maynard. This is a quicker read, and yet I find myself taking my time with it. I think I was reading these same books last Sunday so that should tell you how much reading is going on in my house.

What am I cooking?

Nothing! Chinese take-out saved me.

What am I watching?

I am watching Huell Howser right now and then I will watch whatever is on the DVR. Probably Seinfeld. My attention span is too short for a movie and it’s already late for me.

Tomorrow is the first day of school at the university where I work so it will be crazy busy with 45K+ students trying to find their way. Wish me luck!

The Last Summer of the Camperdowns
By Elizabeth Kelly
(Liveright Publishing Corporation, Hardcover, 9780871403407, June 2013, 383pp.)

The Short of It:

Money, greed, power and a young girl by the name of Riddle.

The Rest of It:

It’s 1972 and twelve-year-old Riddle James is not at all pleased over what the summer holds for her. Her father Godfrey, affectionately called Camp, is running for Congress and her mother Greer, a once famous actress, is the all too present figure in Riddle’s world of horses and fox hunts. With the pressure of running for office, Riddle’s father finds himself consumed with the process, and Riddle’s mother Greer spends her days being Greer. This includes open criticism of her daughter, Riddle and anyone she comes in contact with. What Riddle doesn’t anticipate, is witnessing a murder. Cape Cod’s idyllic location is literally shattered by what she witnesses and her decision to keep it to herself is even more shocking.

Things get really juicy when Michael Devlin, a friend of Camp’s dating back to their time fighting in WW II, threatens to uncover a secret that could jeopardize Camp’s campaign for office. The situation is especially touchy because Devlin was once engaged to Greer, which has always caused animosity between the two men so when Devlin’s son goes missing, Camp is the first person Devlin suspects in his son’s disappearance.

This book is all parties, glitz and glamour with a lot of nastiness thrown in. At first, I despised this family and could not remember a more miserable bunch since the time I read Wuthering Heights. At the half way point though, they started to intrigue me. Riddle is a great character. At twelve, she’s somewhat innocent to what is going on around her but at the same time, she possesses an edge. Probably due to the fact that she spends all of her time surrounded by adults and not kids her own age.

I can’t say that this is your typical summer read. Many might pick it up for its Cape Cod setting, thinking it’s an easy breezy read. It is definitely not that. But if you like being around wealth and all the joys and problems associated with it, then you’ll enjoy the setting as there is plenty to sink your teeth into. But what you’ll enjoy most is Riddle. She’s charming, wise beyond her years yet untainted by the idiocy around her. And dare I say it? You might enjoy the numerous jabs that Kelly takes at high society in general. The names of these characters were almost too much for me at one point, Greer, Gula, Godfrey and Gin? But in the end, they fit.

If you want something a little different to end the summer with, this might be a good choice for you. It’s a lot more complex than I thought it would be, and who can resist a Cape Cod setting? No one.

Source: Borrowed
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