19 good reads for this summer

Summer reading is something I look forward to, and I love getting recommendations from other avid readers.

For this 2019 list, my local title pickers are Jennifer Puryear, a read-a-holic whose "Bacon on the Bookshelf" blog keeps readers up to date on new and interesting picks; Saralee Woods, of BookmanBookwoman TV Reviews; Amanda Dembiec and Laurie Handshu of the Nashville Public Library; Karen Hayes and Betsy Coughlin at Parnassus Books; plus some suggestions from my Facebook friends and myself.

Some titles are book club picks, while others are just considered to be great reads. Some are fiction, some nonfiction. Some are what would be considered beach books, while others are more serious. 

But all come highly recommended. Here you go, in no particular order: 

'City of Girls'

By Elizabeth Gilbert

"If you're like me, you've been anxiously awaiting Liz Gilbert's newest novel since the second you closed her last, 'The Signature of All Things.'

"This one is well worth the wait. 'City of Girls' is breezy and bright. Just when I became convinced Vivian Morris rollicking through the 1940s NYC theater world was an ode to youth and spontaneity, the novel took a heartful pivot toward the rest of her life. Loved it."

— Betsy Coughlin, Parnassus

'Southern Lady Code' 

By Helen Ellis

"Southern Lady Code" is the funniest book you’ll read this summer, especially if you grew up south of the Mason-Dixon Line. 'Southern Lady Code' is 'a technique by which, if you don’t have something nice to say, you say something not so nice in a nice way,' ” Ellis explains.

"In these witty essays, Ellis reflects on important things like how to get along with your husband, how to interact with family ghosts, and what to do when a birthday party goes bad. She reflects on the mother and father who raised her right in small-town Alabama and also tells stories about her Manhattan life now (where she enjoys a regular game of poker, loves her openly gay friends, and was once called 'Peggy Sue' by a passerby).

"With a light touch, she offers wise advice on such matters as 'How to Be the Best Guest' and 'When to Write a Thank-you Note.' Of course you’ll already know these things if you’re a Southerner, but a gentle and funny reminder never hurts."

— Jennifer Puryear

'The Guest Book'

By Sarah Blake

"My favorite book for summer reading is 'The Guest Book' by Sarah Blake, who authored “The Postmistress” in 2010. 'The Guest Book' is the saga of a wealthy East Coast family, the Milton Higginson bankers, from the 1930s to present."

— Saralee Woods

'The Woman's Hour: The Great Fight to Win the Vote'

by Elaine Weiss

There is sure to be a lot of talk about this book, which tells the story of how women got the right to vote and the pivotal role that Tennessee played in that struggle. "The Woman's Hour" is the citywide summer reading selection, sponsored by the Nashville Public Library and Parnassus Books.

There will be book events, including an author talk at the main library Aug. 18 and a book discussion at Parnassus on Aug. 21. Plus there is a 10% discount at Parnassus.

Details: https://library.nashville.org/event/womans-hour-great-fight-win-vote

'Daisy Jones & The Six'

By Taylor Jenkins Reid

This is a novel about the whirlwind rise of an iconic 1970s rock group and its beautiful lead singer, including details of the band's mysterious breakup.

"If you spent hours devouring album cover illustrations and liner notes, you'll love Daisy Jones. The interview format is addictive — the stay-up-all-night, driven-by-a-large- espresso kind of addictive. The seductive and static energy between band members will keep you transfixed."

— Laurie Handshu 

'I Miss You When I Blink'

by Mary Laura Philpott

"I felt like bestselling author Mary Laura Philpott had followed me through parking lots when she described being unable to find where she parked her car at the Atlanta airport at 2 a.m. I was laughing so hard that I immediately had to read aloud to my husband. ... Whether writing about her sense of direction, or lack of, or her how to value yourself, Philpott proves she has the ability to touch a chord in all of us, no matter what our age.

— Saralee Woods

'My Sister, the Serial Killer'

By Oyinkan Braithwaite

"My Sister, The Serial Killer" takes us to Lagos, Nigeria, where we get to know the stunningly beautiful Ayoola and her responsible older sister, Korede. Ayoola has a bad habit of killing the men she dates — and Korede has a bad habit of cleaning up after her. The author, who grew up in Nigeria and the U.K., writes with a dry British wit about strange things happening under the hot Lagos sun. In London and in Lagos, sibling relationships can be tricky. Even — you know — in Nashville. Bleach and rubber gloves are sometimes involved."

— Jennifer Puryear

'The Book of Essie'

By Meghan MacLean Weir

"The basis of this book is a family reality TV show — along the lines of 'Kate Plus 8.' Esther Ann Hicks is the youngest family member on 'Six for Hicks.' Her daddy is a pastor, and her mama does everything she can to hide/fix the fact that Essie is pregnant. I wasn’t expecting much until the book started taking some unexpected twists. I enjoyed it so much that I finished it the same day I started."

— Amanda Dembiec

'Late Migrations: A Natural History of Love and Loss'

By Margaret Renkl

Based on advance review copies, Jennifer Puryear, Karen Hayes and Saralee Woods all recommended this upcoming book by Nashvillian Margaret Renkl, who is the editor of the https://chapter16.org book blog, as well as a well-respected New York Times opinion writer.

"You may know Margaret from her fabulous NYT’s op-eds," Hayes said. "You will soon know her for this collection of beautifully written personal essays. Renkl lives here, but the buzz on this book is national. If you have lived through the loss of a loved one, or are moved by the natural world in unexpected ways, I dare you to pick up this book. You will not put it down." Parnassus will host a book launch event July 9. 

Puryear said it is "one of the absolute best books I’ve read lately — and ever."

And Hayes said, "This is my favorite book this year." 

10 more summer book suggestions

After polling my Facebook friends in search of good reads for this summer, I compiled 10 titles, including a few that I have read and can personally recommend, along with some that I am hoping to read this summer:

"Where the Crawdads Sing" by Delia Owens

This book got more recommendations from my Facebook friends than any other title, and having read it earlier this year, I can heartily recommend it.  

"Little Fires Everywhere" by Celeste Ng

"All the Light We Cannot See" by Anthony Doerr

"Underground Railroad" by Colson Whitehead

"Permission to Fly" by Layng Martine Jr.

More:From hit songs to a new memoir, songwriter Layng Martine Jr. writes to move you

"The Nightingale" by Kristin Hannah

"An American Marriage" by Tayari Jones

"Beartown" by Fredrik Backman 

"Educated" by Tara Westover 

"News of the World" by Paulette Jiles

Reach Ms. Cheap at 615-259-8282 or mscheap@tennessean.com. Follow her on Facebook at facebook.com/mscheap, and at Tennessean.com/mscheap, and on Twitter @Ms_Cheap, and catch her every Thursday at 11 a.m. on WTVF-Channel 5’s “Talk of the Town.”

T-shirt drive for the homeless update

There is still time to donate your shirts to the Ms. Cheap T-shirt drive for Room in the Inn. 

What we want are clean T-shirts — all colors, sizes, men's and some for ladies, too. They can be T-shirts from races, schools, trips, charity events, brands, bands — almost anything, but nothing lewd or alcohol- or drug-related. 

The collection points through June 27 are Christ Church Cathedral at 900 Broadway, where shirts can be dropped off between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. Monday through Friday; the Gordon Jewish Community Center, 801 Percy Warner Blvd., between 9 a.m. and 7 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 9 a.m. Friday; and Wiggins Jewelers, at 346 S. Cumberland St. in Lebanon, which welcomes donations between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. Tuesday through Friday. The owners will give you a $10 coupon when you donate shirts. 

Room in the Inn, 705 Drexel St., will also accept shirts between 8 a.m. and 2 p.m.  Monday through Friday through June 27.

Thanks in advance to everybody for your generosity. Please invite your friends and neighbors and co-workers to join you by having their own T-shirt drives and then bringing the donations to our collection points.

Details: Email or call Ms. Cheap.