So, it’s the middle of summer and you’ve read the rom-com and happy books. I really enjoy all the book choices from Jenna, Reese, Oprah and Good Morning America.
Now, it’s time for something thought provoking like The Poppy Fields by Nikki Erlick. Erlick introduces you to a place where mourning and grief can disappear by going to sleep. Ava, one of the characters, describes it best. “It’s a clinic where they put you to sleep for a month, and then hopefully your broken heart is all patched up in the end.” The book weaves science, mystical elements and emotional choices in a captivating tale. It’s perfect for your book club.
Speaking of book clubs. If you like historical fiction and mysteries. Our book club read Marie Benedict’s The Queens of Crime. We also read The Theater Kid by Jeffrey Seller. Seller is from my hometown in Michigan, and he reveals the cut-throat business of Broadway as well as how he became a famous producer.
There are so many new, well-written books to choose. Author Ann Patchett, owner of Parnassus books in Nashville, Tennessee, lists many. It’s a response to an opinion piece written by David Brooks in the New York Times who wrote that current literary fiction is neither relevant nor interesting. Patchett lists some current favorite authors: Louise Erdrich, Kiran Desai, Richard Powers, Barbara Kingsolver, Zadie Smith and Dave Eggers. You can find others on the Parnassus Facebook or Instagram page. Patchett introduces a book every Friday in her segment “It’s Friday, and if you haven’t read this book, it’s new to you.” Look for it on the Parnassus Facebook and Instagram page. Obviously, she and I disagree with Brooks.
For full disclosure, I channeled my magazine editor days and received a press copy of The Poppy Fields. Also, I’ve personally met the author and featured her in a previous post titled Do you Really Want to Know? about her debut novel The Measure. (You can put it in the search bar to read the story and see a photo of us.)
Happy Summer Reading! Let me know your favorite book these days. . .
Motown Savvy 
I was late to the party on this book, but I recently read The Dutch House by Ann Patchett and really enjoyed it.
I have both The Poppy Fields and Queens of Crime on my TBR shelf, I just need to get them in my rotation. I will have to check out the Parnassus insta page. Thanks for the tip.
Glad to hear you enjoyed Queens of Crime! I believe that one is on the list of books my book group is considering for next year. I liked elements of The Poppy Fields, but it didn’t work for me nearly as well as The Measure.