The Books I'm Reading Now
I'm reading The Glassmaker, the newest historical fiction from Tracy Chevalier (Girl with a Pearl Earring); I'm reading Bear, the newest literary fiction from Julia Phillips (Disappearing Earth); and I'm listening to Sarah Adams's rom-com, The Rule Book.
What are you reading these days, bookworms?
01 The Glassmaker by Tracy Chevalier
I'm so excited about this new historical fiction from Tracy Chevalier (Girl with a Pearl Earring).
In fifteenth-century Venice, a family of glassmakers is living a charmed life on the island of Murano. Eldest daughter Orsola Rosso is forbidden from working with glass because she's a woman. But she has an inspired, innate, hidden talent for the craft, and when her father passes away, Orsola secretly begins to make glass beads, supporting her family with her efforts.
Tracking the family for six centuries, from Renaissance Italy to the present day, Chevalier's story skips through deadly plague, war, and the transformation of Venice from a city based on trade to a city that thrives because it teems with tourists.
I received a prepublication edition of this title, which was published June 18, courtesy of NetGalley and Penguin Group Viking.
Tracy Chevalier is the author of Girl with a Pearl Earring and nine other novels.
02 Bear by Julia Phillips
I loved Julia Phillips's book Disappearing Earth, and I can't wait to read her newest novel, Bear.
Along with their mother, sisters Sam and Elena struggle to get by on an island off the coast of Washington.
Frustrated by the challenge of supporting themselves on Sam's pay from driving the tourist ferry and Elena's job bartending, the sisters dream of escaping to somewhere new.
But when Sam spots a bear swimming alongside the ferry--a bear that then shows up near their home--she is terrified. Meanwhile Elena chooses to see the bear as a sign of something positive, and she begins to abandon the long-held plan of leaving with Sam.
I mentioned Julia Phillips's fascinating novel Disappearing Earth in the Greedy Reading List Six Chilly Books to Read in the Heat of Summer.
I received a prepublication edition of this title, which is scheduled for publication June 25, courtesy of NetGalley and Random House.
03 The Rule Book by Sarah Adams
I've been reading more rom-coms lately, which always seems like a good idea for the summer, and my latest read is Sarah Adams's The Rule Book.
Nora Mackenzie is a sports agent who's constantly fighting against misogyny and double standards as one of few women in the field. She's young and hungry--and thrilled that she's about to get her first really big client.
But the client, NFL tight end Derek Pender, and Nora were college sweethearts, and Nora abruptly broke things off years ago. They haven't seen each other since.
Derek is determined to make Nora so miserable, she'll quit her position as his agent, but Nora's never given up on anything in her life--except her youthful relationship with Derek. She's determined to look out for her career above all else.
When the two realize their feelings for each other never fizzled, and one thing leads to another (drunken Vegas wedding, anyone?), they're faced with one challenge after another as they try to balance their careers with making space for each other.
I'm listening to The Rule Book as an audiobook. Sarah Adams is also the author of The Cheat Sheet and Practice Makes Perfect.