Summer Reading

Back when I was a kid, I was the most insatiable book worm. Trips to the local library were at least a weekly thing and I would read anything I could get my hands on. Sadly, that petered out when I was in middle school because all of my free time was dedicated to swim team, something I was really excelling at. Since we’ve been able to spend so much time at home, I’ve been making reading more of a priority again and try to make time right before I go to bed. It’s a great way to decompress from social media, work, and current events. Because I’m always a learner, I tend to go for non-fiction books on topics that I’ve found interesting, but not always. Here’s a quick recap on some of my summer reading.

The Old Man and the Sea by Ernest Hemingway

This is a re-read. I distinctly remember reading this for the first time when I was in 8th grade, when my English teacher taught a unit on American literature. Regardless of how you feel about him, Ernest Hemingway is an iconic US author and one heck of a writer. I’ve had the pleasure of reading a lot of his novels, but this one always stands out. It’s fairly short, only 130 pages, and is an escape to a quiet fishing village in 1950s Cuba. If you want to dabble in American classics, this a great place to start. After all, it awarded him the Nobel Prize for Literature.

Bubble in the Sun by Christopher Knowlton

A book on young Florida during the 1920s? Color me sold! I thought this book was absolutely fascinating and tells the little known story of the Florida land boom. In hindsight, it actually serves as a cautionary tale about how developing the state way too quickly helped bring on the Great Depression. Even those it all takes place 100 years ago, it is eerily current and relevant. All of your favorite Atlantic and Gulf cities make an appearance in a never before seen light.

Currently Reading: Aesthetic Intelligence by Pauline Brown

One of my favorite bloggers, Julia Berolzheimer, listed this as a top book choice. Obviously, I had to read it for myself. Pauline Brown, the former chairman of Louis Vuitton North America, shares her years of industry insight on aesthetic. The result is richer and more meaningful experiences for your viewer, helping to build your brand. While I’m not very far yet, it’s a must-read for any creative or business owner. I only wished I knew about this book sooner!

Up Next: The Gulf by Jack E. Davis

While aimlessly flipping through my back issues of Coastal Living, I came across this book recommendations from their travel editor, Tracey Minkin. I had an opportunity to meet her in person and she is such a wealth of knowledge on the travel industry. I’ve lived on the Gulf Coast my entire life, but honestly don’t know that much about it’s history. This book is a whopper, at 500 plus pages it’s going to take me a while to get through, but I look forward to brushing up on the place I get to call home.

I joke that my eyes are bigger than the time I have in any given day. As soon as I see a book I find interesting, I compulsively buy it, worrying that I’ll never find it again. The result is an ever-growing stack of books about yay high, but there’s always room for more. Keep reading and I hope to share another list of summer reading soon.

Love from Florida,
Katie

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