A Medley
What I'm reading, what I'm listening to, and a note from the trail
Happy Thursday, friends! It’s good to be back here with you.
In today’s letter, I’m sharing eight books1, three new-to-me singer/songwriters along with a few of their songs, and some thoughts about how we might catch our breath during full seasons.
📚 What I’m Reading
Bug Hollow by Michelle Huneven2 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
When Sally Samuelson was eight years old, her brother Ellis died in a tragic accident shortly after he moved away to college. A few months later, Ellis’ girlfriend Julia arrives at the Samuelson’s home to tell the family she is pregnant with Ellis’ child. Sally channels her grief into helping care for Ellis and Julia’s baby. Katie, Sally’s older sister, tries to deal with the loss of her beloved brother by distancing herself from her family. Their father, Phil, seeks solace far from home while his wife, Sybil, numbs herself by diving into her work.
This is a story of a family who learns that rebuilding a life after a tragic loss is rarely a linear process.
A Fever in the Heartland: The Ku Klux Klan’s Plot to Take Over America, and the Woman Who Stopped Them by Timothy Egan ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
My dad and I read this book for our book club in March, and we discussed it over coffee at our local Panera a few weeks ago. I had brought a list of just a few of the things I learned from this book:
I had no idea that the KKK had such a presence in the Midwest.
I didn’t know that in addition to Blacks, their hatred extended to Jews, Catholics, and immigrants as well.
I knew nothing of D.C. Stephenson, the man who orchestrated the KKK’s expansion in the Midwest and beyond by obtaining the endorsement of pastors and politicians.
The woman who eventually stopped the Klan’s growth by revealing the true character of D.C. Stephenson was not familiar to me, but I’ll never forget her name: Madge Oberholtzer.
I remember how I felt after watching the movie Schindler’s List3 years ago: I wished I’d never seen it, but I knew it was one of the most important movies I’d ever see. I felt the same after reading A Fever in the Heartland. I won’t forget what I learned.
The Other Side of Now by Paige Harbison ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
After a near meltdown at her own 30th birthday party, Meg books a spontaneous trip to Ireland, to the tiny village where she and her childhood best friend, Aimee, had always dreamed of living. But something feels off when Meg arrives, because even though she has never lived in Ireland, the locals in this tiny town seem to know her well. Surprisingly, Aimee also lives there now, but she refuses to talk to Meg.
This was a fun read. I love stories set in tiny towns where the locals are quirky and deeply rooted in their community. This book reminded me a bit of The Bitter End Birding Society that I reviewed here.
The Martha’s Vineyard Beach and Book Club by Martha Hall Kelly4 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Grieving her mother’s recent death, Mari Starwood travels to the island of Martha’s Vineyard to meet with famed painter Elizabeth Devereaux. Mari had found a piece of paper with Elizabeth’s name on it in her mother’s desk, and she’s hoping to learn more about her mother’s connection to the reclusive artist.
Elizabeth welcomes her into her home and begins to share the story of the teenage Smith sisters, who struggled to keep their family farm solvent during World War 2. As U. S. Army troops begin to arrive on the island’s shore for training purposes, and island residents spot German U-boats off the coast, the sisters and their friend start a book club. They needed some sense of normalcy in their lives.
As Mari learns more about her family history and her relation to the Smith sisters from Elizabeth, I learned about how books and reading encouraged our country’s soldiers during the war.
Make sure you read the author’s notes at the end of this novel—it’s so interesting to learn about the research she did prior to writing.
What Kind of Paradise by Janelle Brown ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Jane grew up in the mid-1990s in an isolated cabin in Montana with her father. She has so many questions about her life before the cabin, but her father’s replies are always cryptic.
When her father’s inherent distrust of technology causes him to commit a horrible crime, Jane decides to flee Montana and seek more information about her past. As a result, she must reckon with what she learns about her family as well as what she’s been taught about the emerging role of the internet in society.
I’m not sure I’ve ever read a novel that considered the themes of nature and technology alongside complicated family relationships. I loved how Janelle Brown explored the idea of the stories we tell ourselves, and the stories we tell each other.
Tall Oaks by Chris Whitaker ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Three-year-old Harry Monroe has disappeared from his crib in the middle of the night, and every character in the small town of Tall Oaks, California, is a suspect. After the initial media coverage dissipates, only Harry’s shattered mother, Jessica, and the local sheriff, Jim, seem determined to figure out what happened and bring the perpetrator to justice.
Chris Whitaker’s All the Colors of the Dark was one of my favorite books last year, so I had been really looking forward to reading Tall Oaks, which he wrote back in 2019.
Whitaker is an excellent writer, and I found myself quickly caught up in the story. But this was a tough read for me—the plot was simply too dark.
Strangers: A Memoir of Marriage by Belle Burden ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Belle Burden moved her family to their home on Martha’s Vineyard in March of 2020, just as the pandemic was beginning. One afternoon a few months later, after they ate lunch together at their kitchen table, her husband told her he wanted a divorce. To this day, he hasn’t given her a reason.
Belle reflects on their marriage throughout this book, wondering where the fracture in her marriage began, and what she might have missed. Through her honesty and vulnerability, we watch her become stronger as she continues to practice standing up for who she is and what she believes. I especially appreciated how she brings us into her healing journey, and how she credits much of her restoration to long daily walks around the island.
Strangers was my only five-star read of the past month—I’m certain this memoir will be one of my favorites of the year.
Out in the Country by Kate Hewett ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Lynne Marshall has been a widow for just over a year, and she has decided that she’s ready to leave Manhattan for Scotland, where she was born and raised. She plans to open a small hotel out in the countryside with her childhood friend, Jess, but when their plans fall through, they need to regroup. After a weekend trip to visit Lynne’s husband’s family in rural Vermont, Lynne decides to relocate there, and begin renovating her husband’s childhood home.
This is a sweet novel about family, friendship, and second chances.
I’d love to hear what you’re reading lately! I’ll share my current reads in the comments.
🎧 What I’m Listening To
Jerry and I spent a few days in Nashville last week. We enjoyed an early glimpse of spring as we walked around our favorite city—it was a bit warmer there than it is here at home. On Tuesday night, we attended a writers’ round at The Listening Room. Three singer-songwriters took turns sharing the story behind a song they wrote, and then singing it. As a writer married to a songwriter, this was pretty much the perfect date night!
That night, we were introduced to Maddie Lenhart, Meg McRee, and Olivia Rudeen.
Maddie just released a new single this week called “Let Him Fly.” We also heard her sing “Take Virginia”, which I loved.
Meg has a cut on Ella Langley’s new album—it’s called “Somethin’ Simple”—and it reminded me of living at our house out in the country.
Olivia sang a song called “Seven Minutes in Heaven” that reminded me to never sit in the front row of one of these shows 😭
What are you listening to these days?
🥾 A Note from The Trail
In a conversation with a friend recently, she mentioned that she felt “winded”. She’s been running hard through an intense season that included emergency phone calls, more questions than answers, and complicated decisions. She described feeling like she’d been racing without a chance to catch her breath. We talked about how she’s caring for herself now that the most intense part of this season has passed.
If you’ve been barreling through life at full speed like my friend, I wonder if there’s a way for you to take a moment—even a brief one—to catch your breath?
Could you step outside, right now, and look up at the sky?
Maybe take a short, slow walk by yourself?
Are you able to read two or three pages of the novel that’s on your nightstand, even though it’s the middle of the day?
For me, catching my breath is sometimes as simple as paying attention to my actual breaths. Earlier this morning, I sat on our front step and breathed…
In for a count of four, out for a count of five.
In…out.
In…out.
Even a few deep breaths can make a difference.
I’d love for you to share how you catch your breath during hard seasons. What makes you feel more like yourself again?
Have a great weekend, friends. And thanks for reading.
Warmly,
Deb
All book links are affiliate links.
I chose this movie for a date night. Not my best choice.
Martha Hall Kelly also wrote Lilac Girls, which I loved.