COLUMN: Viewpoint – Pick up a book this summer

Summer officially began last Friday, so here is my annual list of recommended titles for summer reading chosen from books I read this past year.

Since American immigration policies are front and centre in the news I’ll start with two excellent novels addressing that issue. A Great Country by Shilpi Gowda is about a couple from India who have built a good life for themselves in the United States. When their twelve-year-old autistic son is mistakenly arrested they realize all their efforts to ‘fit in’ as citizens are easily undermined by the racism simmering just below the surface in so many institutions and people.

Susann Muaddi Darraj’s book Behind You is the Sea contains a collection of short stories about people from three Christian Palestinian families who have immigrated to the United States. It examines the conflicts that can arise between generations in immigrant families. Often older people find it difficult to let go of their former country’s traditions and attitudes and accept the way things are done in the new place where their children are growing up.

Next, two books that will be of particular interest to Steinbach readers. Mitch Toews’ collection of short stories Pinching Zwiebach has received rave reviews. Most of the narratives were inspired by his experiences growing up and living in Steinbach. Mitch has had more than a hundred of his stories published in literary magazines and in his debut book you can read some of the finest.

Prosperity Ever, Depression Never is the third book Ralph Friesen has written about his hometown of Steinbach. It chronicles the community’s history during the 1930s. I was particularly intrigued with the stories about women Ralph included like corset maker Helena Friesen Brandt, scholar Katharina Friesen, hairdresser Agnes Toews, teacher Katie Unger and wealthy businesswoman and philanthropist Annie Wiebe Reimer.

I read two charming books featuring isolated elderly people who escape from their loneliness. Sipsworth by Simon Van Booy is about a woman who has become reclusive following the death of her husband and son but is forced to establish some social connections in order to deal with a mouse who finds its way into her home. As she does so, pieces of her interesting past are revealed to the reader.

The Librarianist by Patrick deWitt is about a librarian named Bob Comet who lives in the world of books and seems unable to share his love of reading with others or use it to connect with them. A totally random encounter brings about big changes in his life.

I write fiction for middle grade children so I read lots of books in that category every year and always find some that would definitely appeal to adults as well. I’m going to recommend Swan by Sidura Ludwig a beautifully written historical novel about the childhood of a famous giantess named Anna Swan who was born and raised in Nova Scotia.

Radiant by Vaunda Micheaux Nelson is set in Pittsburgh in 1963. Its protagonist Cooper is the only black kid in her fifth-grade class. Radiant provides a moving portrayal of a young girl finding forgiveness and her self-worth during a turbulent time for civil rights.

I never miss an Anne Tyler book and she recently published a moving new one Three Days in June. It’s about a slightly socially inept woman dealing with several crises just before and after her daughter’s wedding.

I’ve been sharing a summer reading list in my column for 23 years. I’m appreciative of the opportunity it provides for me to look back over the past 12 months and remember the books I’ve particularly enjoyed.